Chapter Text
The world felt close, the air stifling. She removed her cardigan, closing her eyes as she rested her head on the back of the chair.
She must have nodded off because suddenly she was awoken by rough hands pulling her to standing, throwing her cardigan over her head and running in through the door of her house.
“For goodness sake, you really should pay more attention to the weather!” His eyes darkened as she pulled the cardigan from her head, glaring.
“What gives you the right…” she started indignantly.
“That does, Miss Granger,.” he said, pointing to the heavy rain.
***
“Why is it that the moment the sky is blue, British people all head to the blasted coast?” His words held no real venom though they were crammed too tightly into the train seats.
“Because it happens so rarely that we all want to enjoy it.” Hermione shook her head, laughing at him.
“But the damn beach ends up so crowded. Makes me wish I could have stayed home, gone to the park instead,.” Hhe groused, his voice a soft almost-growl.
“Okay, our next date we can go to the park,.” Hermione spoke softly. Snape’s eyes widened in shock.
“Date?”
***
“It’s the food that is doing this you know?”
“Are you blaming my food, Mr Snape?” she laughed softly as he closed his eyes, his head resting on his hands.
“Mmm… definitely.” She smiled down at him indulgently.
“I think it might be the sun…”
“Don’t you fall asleep, you know what happens when you fall asleep…”
“What happens when I fall asleep?” Hermione smiled again, knowing what he was about to say.
“I have to rescue you from the rain and help you warm up.” He smirked and she laughed, leaning down to brush a kiss on his lips.
***
She lay on the grass, hands behind her head and eyes closed against the brightness of the sun, her wand moving lazily, the warm air moving in its path and rustling the leaves above her.
“Lemonade? It’s a little… pink…” hHe laughed softly and she sat up, smiling at him sweetly. He laughed more now, smiled more. He had changed so much, become so much more… free.
“Yes, please, love. Would you join me?” Sshe had started peppering her language with endearments just to watch his ears pinken.
“Happy to, if you’ll have me.”
Oh yes, she’d have him. Eventually.
***
“You know, Herms, if I didn’t know better I’d say Snape was living here.” Harry smirked at her, surprised at the stain of pink on her cheeks.
“Well, he sort of, just never left. He turned the outhouse into a lab and works out of there now.” She smiled at the small white- washed building that had once been her parents’ laundry room.
“And you’re okay with that?”
“I am, Harry, I really am.” The dark rain clouds rolled overhead and she paused, thinking. “I should get him to come home, the walk in the rain is never fun.”
“Home?”