Let It Be Forever

The Bluffing Game

Harry crowed in delight when he read Minerva's letter. "Ginny, you've got to read this!" he shouted excitedly.

Ginny rushed into the dining room with wide eyes. "What's going on?" she asked. Harry thrust the letter into her outstretched hand with a triumphant smirk. Her eyes flew over the page, her mouth hanging open in surprise. "Bloody hell," she said in a shocked whisper.

"You sound like Ron," Harry laughed.

"Shut up," she said absently. "Hermione snogged Snape." She shook her head in disbelief.

"Actually, I think Snape started it," Harry remarked.

"As if that matters," Ginny retorted. "It doesn't sound as if she tried to fight him off." She waved the letter in front of his face for emphasis.

"This is great," Harry said, chuckling. "I was so sure that they'd put up a fight, but they're following our plan well."

"You haven't done anything yet," Ginny said rolling her eyes. "This is a result of Lexie being fussy and McGonagall being nosy."

"Harry let out a disgruntled sigh. "Kill-joy," he muttered petulantly.

"That's me," Ginny said brightly. "Now go to work." She kissed him swiftly and shooed him out the door.

Minerva sat at the head table shooting curious glances at Severus who was calmly drinking his coffee. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, though Minerva thought that he looked particularly relaxed that morning. However, she knew that she very well could be imagining it. "Sleep well Severus?" she asked politely.

"Yes," he replied simply. He turned to look at her. "And yourself?"

"Me?" she asked, instantly regretting it. Severus looked around, as if trying to figure out who else she thought he could be speaking to, before looking back at her with raised eyebrows. "Yes, I slept quite well. Thank you," she muttered, feeling flustered. She had intended to question him more and hadn't expected him to ask her anything in return. Disliking being caught off guard, she returned back to eating her breakfast, casting sidelong glances at Severus.

She looked up curiously when Severus suddenly stiffened. Hermione had just arrived in the Great Hall carrying Lexie. Minerva glanced at Severus, her lips twitching slightly as she saw him clench his jaw and grip his coffee mug a little tighter. He was refusing to look directly at the young woman approaching the table, shifting a bit uneasily in his chair. Minerva suppressed the urge to laugh. She was enjoying his discomfort far too much.

"Good morning," Hermione said, taking her seat next to Severus.

"Good morning," Minerva said cheerfully, eager to scrutinize Hermione's behavior after witnessing that kiss the night before.

Severus chanced a look at Hermione, feeling immense relief when she offered him a warm smile. He had been worried that she would regret the kiss from the night before, or be angry with him for making such a bold move when she had so recently been through so much. But, Hermione had apparently not taken offense.

"Sleep well Hermione?" Minerva asked. She suppressed a delighted grin when Hermione blushed.

"I slept very well, thank you," Hermione replied, carefully avoiding meeting Severus' eyes.

"Is there any particular reason that you are so interested in our sleep habits?" Severus asked, pinning Minerva with a look of exasperation.

"I was making conversation," she retorted defensively. She sighed inwardly when he rolled his eyes and returned to his coffee. Her gaze shifted to Hermione who was tearing a piece of toast into small pieces for Lexie. Minerva frowned thoughtfully. Hermione simply hadn't been herself over the last several weeks. The young woman continued to work as if nothing had happened, but the divorce seemed to take it's toll on her and Hermione suddenly seemed less confidant and more fragile.