Slice of Life

Coffee

A familiar chirp and a headbutt awoke Hermione from her light slumber, as ear suckling was usually followed by the pursuit of Crookshanks' 'morning snuggles'. As much as she wanted to believe that the cat was being purely affectionate based on mutual love and need for cuddles, the feline was actually undertaking a mission to remind her it was time for his breakfast. The obnoxious purring of the feline drifted from her ear as the cat found a place to perch on the small of her back and knead.

Rolling over to further herself from the feline, the scent of freshly roasted coffee beans then greeted her as it frolicked in the air to only entice her once more out of bed.

Daring herself to open her eyes, splashes of sunlight poked through the curtains, as it reminded her where she was.

Sitting up, she realized she'd slept unusually very well.

She recalled last night as a cluster of memories reminded her of her embarrassing meltdown in front of Severus Snape, of all people... On their wedding night.

He led her to the guest bedroom later that night, only to provide many sweet comforts and promises she wasn't sure she could let herself believe.

Upon getting ready, she slowly eased her way down the stairs and followed the trail of scents to find her old brooding professor cooking in front of an old gas cooker. She attempted to look her best today, with her curls in neat, proper little coils instead of sporting a frizzy rat's nest.

Her big, amber eyes studied the brooding Slytherin cooking in front of an old gas cooker.

"Good morning," she greeted, while she safely tucked herself behind the kitchen table.

Turning around to place a plate of eggs down.

"Good morning," he returned quietly as his eyes met hers.

Looking down, dishes magically began flying onto the table, along with forks and knives neatly placing themselves beside the plate.

"I wasn't sure what your preference was to drink in the... morning," Severus drawled as he gestured to the freshly poured coffee and English Breakfast tea sitting at the center of the table.

Hermione stared back up at him. Blinking, she caught herself gawking at the wizard as she pulled her eyes back to the table.

"You made all this?" She found herself asking.

"It appears so," he drawled.

She stood a little longer... unsure of what she should say or do. She had never been alone with this man before, and such ideas still seemed strange to her.

When he turned around again to turn the cooker off and place sausages on the table, he seemed to have recognised the uncertainty in her eyes.

"Sit, Hermione. We will have breakfast." He instructed as a chair pulled itself from the table for her to sit on.

She sat herself down, waiting for the man to seat himself, which he did so, across from her.

The concept had somehow grown strange to her as she had never eaten with her previous husband at the table before; her blood status deeming her unworthy to sit and eat with him and his family.