"Severus?"
"Mmm hmm."
"Why did you become a Death Eater?"
"I was young and stupid. All the cool kids were doing it."
"No - I really want to know."
"I just told you."
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"Hermione?"
"Yes?"
"That cat is the most consistently unpleasant creature I've ever encountered in my life."
"Mr. Pot, meet Mr. Kettle."
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"Severus?"
"Yes?"
"That night we went to your house – where were your parents?"
"My father died when I was nine, and my mother remarried during my fifth year at Hogwarts. She and her husband moved to France, and she deeded the house to me then."
"Is your mother still in France?"
"Yes. They're happy there. I saw a lot of them during my apprenticeship, and now only see them about once a year. She doesn't have much contact with the wizarding world anymore."
"Why not?"
"Her husband is a Muggle."
"You're joking!"
"Of course I'm not joking. It was quite a scandal for a while."
"Does your mother know you were a Death Eater?"
"Probably, but she never asked. She pretends I developed a sudden preference for long sleeves."
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"Severus?"
"Mmm?"
"Do you think your mother would like me?"
"Very much."
_________________________________________________
"Hermione?"
"Yes?"
"What would your parents think of me?"
"Er, would you like to eat out by the pond tonight?"
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"Is this where it was?"
"More or less."
"And it just…disappeared, like Harry's scar?"
"It was a magical link to Voldemort, so when Voldemort was gone, there was nothing left for it to link to. It's one reason I was sure he'd come back after he disappeared the first time. The Mark faded, but it never disappeared."
"I'm glad it's gone for good then - for more reasons than one."
"I am too - don't do that!"
"I'm sorry. Does it bother you for me to touch you there? Does it still hurt?"
"No, it's just…"
"It's just what?"
"Never mind."
"Tell me."
"No. Let's change the subject."
"What…? Oh! You're ticklish, aren't you?"
"Don't be absurd."
"Fine. Then you won't mind if I do this…"
"Hermione! Don't ever, ever do that again!"
"Severus Snape is ticklish! I can't wait to tell Harry."
"You wouldn't dare!"
"Of course I'd dare. You don't scare me anymore."
"I really don't, do I? How utterly demoralising."
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"Severus?"
"Yes?"
"Do we have to go back to Hogwarts?"
"Of course."
"I don't want to."
"I don't either."
"Let's just stay here."
"We can't."
"Why not?"
"Because you haven't finished school, and I'll not be seen with an ignorant witch."
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"Hermione?"
"Yes?"
"There is a potion that will permanently straighten your hair."
"Really?"
"Promise me you won't use it."
"All right."
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"Would you wear a red shirt if I gave it to you?"
"Do not give me a red shirt."
"What about some other colour? Green maybe. Or bright yellow."
"I'd look like a canary. No.
"How about some blue jeans?"
"If I say yes, can we change the subject?"
"Of course."
"Maybe."
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"Severus?"
"Yes?"
"Why don't you have anything personal in your rooms?"
"Why were you snooping in my rooms?"
"I wasn't snooping – I was just noticing."
"Semantics, Hermione."
"You're avoiding the question."
"Not very successfully, I'm afraid."
"Why are your rooms like a hotel? You've lived there for years, and it's just so empty."
"I have a few personal items in my bedside table. I take it you didn't notice quite that far."
"No. But you're still avoiding the question."
"Very well, Hermione. I am not, by nature, very acquisitive, though I do have some things of sentimental value stored at my parents' home – the one you visited. I will be happy to show you my little collection of rubbish one day if it will restore your faith in my humanity. However, I dislike the idea of people going through my things, so I have taken care that my rooms at Hogwarts remain fairly impersonal."
"Ignoring the gross understatement, why on earth would anyone go through your rooms at Hogwarts?"
"In the event of my death, it would be necessary."
"Oh."
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" So, is Professor McGonagall still your favourite teacher?"
"Well…"
"Answer carefully."
"Do you want my intellectual response or my hormonal one?"
"Hormonal, I suspect."
"Oh, you're the clear favourite then."
_________________________________________________
"So, who is your favourite student?"
"You are."
"Is that an intellectual response or an hormonal one?"
"Both."
_________________________________________________
"I've decided to resign my position at Hogwarts."
"Because of me?"
"Because of me. It's time I did something new. Something I actually enjoy."
"Well, if you're not my teacher, then…"
"I'll have to give Dumbledore some notice. I won't leave until the end of the upcoming term, and then you'll be busy preparing for N.E.W.T.'s. We should still wait."
"You're really beginning to irritate me."
"Just beginning? I thought I'd irritated you for years."
"Oh, you did. Then you stopped for a while. Now you're irritating me in a whole new way."
"Good. I have a reputation to maintain."
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"So have you always hated Harry as much as you seemed to?"
"And then some."
"Do you hate him now?"
"No. Not now. But if he were here, I'd probably hate him."
"That's terrible!"
"What? Wanting to be alone with you?"
"Oooh. Sneaky answer. The Sorting Hat knew what it was doing with you."
"I've heard that before."
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"Severus."
"Yes?"
"Nothing. I just like being able to say your name."
"Hmm. Enjoy it while you can then."
"I know."
_________________________________________________
"Professor."
"Why did you call me that?"
"Just seeing if that still felt right. It doesn't."
"I'm not looking forward to saying 'Miss Granger' again either."
"Good. I'm not looking forward to hearing it."
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"Hermione?"
"Hmm?"
"So when didn't I irritate you?"
"Are you that concerned about your reputation?"
"Of course."
"Well, you rarely irritate me when you're kissing me."
"Hmm. No more kissing, then."
"Careful what you wish for."
_________________________________________________
"Severus?"
"Yes?"
"Do you think Professor Dumbledore knows about us?
"Of course. He probably knows what colour shirt you're wearing and exactly how much milk I put in my coffee this morning."
"That's a little creepy."
"It's a lot 'creepy'. But you get used to it after a time."
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"So do you still think this is insane?"
"What?"
"Us, of course."
"Did I say that?"
"Several times."
"Hmm."
"So, you're glad we tried, right?"
"Why do I have the feeling this conversation is leading up to an 'I told you so'?"
"Because it is."
"Get it over with, then."
"Severus?"
"Yes, Hermione."
"I told you so."
"Yes, you did. Feel better now?"
"Immensely."
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"Hermione?"
"Mmm hmm."
"Do we really have to leave tomorrow?"
"You said we did."
"Damn."
"What?"
"I'm always right."
"You could be wrong just this once. I'd never tell."
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"I'm going to hate this."
"I am too."
"I'm really not sure I can do it."
"You can."
"Are you sure we can't just…"
"No."
"I could borrow Harry's invisibility cloak."
"No."
"It's only a few months, right?"
"Only a few months."
"And then…?"
"And then everything."