Was he really doing this?

Evidently he was, Severus realized as he glanced at his reflection in the mirror. He'd showered, shaved, and groomed as best as he was capable of.

He sighed as he regarded himself. As best he was capable of was not much of an improvement over what she'd been witness to for years. He wasn't sure if that was good or bad.

And yet she'd extended the offer knowing what he was like, both his physical appearance and demeanor. That had to mean she wasn't expecting him to be anyone else.

He'd ask Draco for assistance, but that would lead to questions that Severus did not have answers to. And the answers he did have, he didn't want to give to his godson.

Yet.

Was this a date?

Why was that idea not at all offensive to him?

It certainly should be. Hermione Granger was a former student. A student he'd been more than necessarily cruel to. And yet he wasn't offended at the idea at all. He wasn't sure what that meant.

"Where are you off to so early?"

The somewhat slurred words betrayed his godson's sleepiness. He asked the question from the other side of the living room. He obviously recognized that Severus' … primping (good lord, he had been doing just that. Should he start over? Would it appear he it more effort than usual in?) exceeded what he usually did to conduct surveillance in his car all day.

Severus scoffed at him. Where Severus was dressed and presentable for company his godson was not. He'd clearly just rolled out of bed and very much looked the part.

"It's after eleven."

"Well, I didn't get in until after four, so I ask again. Where are you off to so early?"

"Out," he said. He wasn't ready to say where, or with whom, he was spending his day.

Draco was accustomed to Severus giving him succinct if not vague answers so this was nothing new.

"All right then, have fun," he said.

"I shan't be long," he said.

He couldn't imagine this … outing or date, whatever it was, taking longer than a couple of hours. He'd probably get there and have nothing to say to the witch, or she'd realize inviting him was a grave mistake. Oddly, that thought bothered him more than the idea of him being unable to hold a conversation with the witch.

He glanced at his godson's state of undress and dishevelment and took it as an indication he had not slept alone last night. Nothing new there.

"Be sure whoever is with you is gone by the time I return. And I don't want anyone … rummaging through my things while I'm gone."

Draco rolled his eyes. He was living here essentially rent free so he did the smart thing and said nothing, nodding his head. Severus knew his godson wouldn't let anyone have run of the house unsupervised, but Severus was still a very private person and did not ever want there to be a question as to his feelings on people in his space where his personal things were.

The only thing personal here that belonged to Draco was his bedroom furniture, bathroom, and the spare bedroom he used as a lounge. Everything else, down to dishes and pictures on the wall were Severus'.

Draco was currently working as a bartender at a muggle bar. It was more rare for him to come home alone than not these days. Severus had had to tell him about muggle condoms. There were limits even to what he could cure with his potion making skills. Not to mention that he shouldn't be casting charms on muggle women to avoid pregnancy. Draco didn't always come home with women. Even Severus, having lived mostly in the magical world since his time as a Hogwarts student knew that condoms prevented more than pregnancy and men carried those things just the same as women.

"You're really not working?"

"I am not."

"Oh, okay, I assumed you were joking, leaving without your equipment."

"No. I'll see you later. Lock up if you leave before I've returned, Draco."

"I know, Godfather."

Severus gave a curt nod. Sometimes he felt as if he treated Draco little better than a child. Sometimes he felt Draco hadn't done anything to deserve to be treated as an adult. A thought for another day because he knew the wizard was trying. Sometimes. Probably not as hard as he could.

Nope, not the day for that thought. He was not going to let Draco infiltrate his thought and potentially ruin his day through no fault of his own.

Severus went to their garage then, which did have his car in it, but he wouldn't use it today. He apparated instead to a spot near the Art Institute he knew of. Muggle Chicago proved difficult for him at times because he still wasn't completely familiar with it, but the Michigan Avenue area near the Art Institute he knew well enough.

He glanced at his wristwatch once he'd arrived in the parking area he'd chosen. He was right on time. He still couldn't believe he was doing this. Of course, that was assuming she was really going to show up and hadn't been playing a joke of some sort on him.

He didn't get that impression.

The smile she'd given him when he'd said fine left him with the thought that her invitation had been sincere. Odd that she would extend it to him, but sincere just the same.

He spotted her standing by one of the bronze lions, appropriate. She hadn't seen him yet so he took a moment to take her in. He really hadn't had the chance to the last couple of days when they'd bumped into one another. She certainly looked … healthier than last he'd seen her (the recent run-ins aside). She looked nervous, he noticed. About meeting him? He couldn't help but realize - again - that he wouldn't be put out if this was a date.

What did that mean? Did he want to date the witch? Or was it just because she was here and familiar?

He approached her, realizing too late that she wasn't alone.

"Granger," he said with a slight frown at the small child standing next to her. He looked young. Not a toddler, but not old enough for school. So, three? Four?

"Hermione, please," she said.

"Of course, Severus will do."

"And this is my son, Cade," she said.

He frowned further, but did the polite thing. "Nice to meet you, Master Cade."

He was … confused.

Thoroughly.

Unusual for him.

And he wasn't sure he liked it.

Was this a joke after all?

He knew for a fact that she had not had an infant at the end of the war. He could not lay claim to knowing whether she was pregnant or not, but of all the witches in the world to get pregnant while a student, this one was the last he'd ever expect that to happen to.

She regarded him and gave a soft chuckle. Clearly, she knew where his mind was going. He wasn't sure if he liked that idea or not. Of course it wouldn't take a genius to realize he would be curious, and confused. It wasn't a chuckle aimed at him. He knew the difference by now.

"I suppose you left before the request was passed."

"Request?" he asked.

Was that supposed to mean something to him? Evidently so.

He watched as she focused on the boy, Cade. She was clearly ensuring he didn't hurt himself as he walked along the stone ledge just this side of the lions that separated the public sidewalk from the museum's landscaping.

"Yes, there were so many orphans after …" she trailed off here. No one was listening, but it was clearly ingrained in her the same as him not to mention the war. "Well, anyway, anyone over eighteen was asked to adopt."

Really? He glanced at the boy again and then realized he needed to answer her.

"Ah, I guess I missed that, yes," and then a thought occurred to him.

His first impression hadn't changed, which meant the boy couldn't be more than three or four. That meant he would have been an infant when she adopted him. Was that what the Ministry thought prudent? He was very glad he'd gotten out now. Merlin, he could barely handle Draco let alone a child this small.

"And they made you choose one so young?"

"No, actually I could have claimed an exemption to take a delayed seventh year, but I sat my NEWTs without needing to do that. I went to one of the orphanages one day, just to see I guess. I don't know. I saw him and something drew me to him. I thought of my parents. I altered their memories before Bill and Fleur's wedding and sent them to Australia so that they'd be safe. I thought of my being alone as a result of that decision, not knowing whether I'd get them back at that time. Then I thought of Harry and what a difference being placed with the right people could have made. Cade's parents were followers. I thought of someone taking him in to punish him or something, and that made me angry. Or no one taking him through no fault of his. Well, here we are."

She surprised him. Truly. He hadn't quite processed what she'd said, but the idea that this witch would take a child just because when she wasn't actually required to (and she'd said request not a decree or command so that meant they weren't going to order people to) was beyond him. And she evidently did care for the boy for she hadn't taken her eyes off of him while she explained how she'd come by him. Not to mention he was dressed and groomed appropriately as well as looked healthy.

"I see. That's very commendable."

What else was he supposed to say? He was more than glad he'd left, though. Draco was about as much responsibility as he wanted to shoulder.

"He came with an elf, and I get some financial assistance until he turns seventeen. Twenty-two if he elects to go to university. That was my idea, I don't think anyone else made the request. I don't normally explain to anyone despite the odd looks I get when I introduce him as my son."

"Oh?"

"Yes. For some reason I'd rather you not think I got pregnant while hunting cursed objects and fighting a war."

He chuckled softly. He found it pleased him that she cared to explain herself to him. That she didn't want him to think exactly what the logical conclusion would be. And then it dawned on him. Her altercation outside the police precinct the other day.

"That's why that officer thought you were married."

"Yes. He evidently thought I was married when we met. I'm not sure why. Everyone else who knows that I'm not married assumes that I'm a divorcee, it seems, and insists on calling me Mrs. Granger."

"The polite thing to do versus calling you Miss Granger and have you be insulted that they think you're an unmarried mum."

"You know," she said, tilting her head a bit to look at him. "I hadn't thought of it that way. Thank you. I feel a little … better now."

"It really bothers you?"

"Bothers me? No, but I don't wear a ring, at least not a wedding ring so I've wondered why people just assume. It's only since I came here. I didn't have the problem back home."

"No, I suppose you didn't."

Rita Skeeter would have had a field day with her otherwise. She probably did regardless of the adoption request.

Obviously she wouldn't have had that issue of people not knowing her marital status, at least not in magical Britain.

"So, I sort of sprung Cade on you. I admit I wasn't sure you'd even show today and you were obviously in a hurry. So I  figured why go through the effort to explain. If you don't want to…"

He regarded her for a moment trying to ascertain if she wanted him to go home. She didn't seem to, so he took his cue from her because he found himself not wanting to either. He'd caught a glimpse of the model car exhibit the other day and had found it interesting as she had said. And surely if this witch could take on a former Death Eater's son full-time, Severus could spend a few hours of a day with the boy and his mother.

Who was he kidding? He didn't really care if the boy was along or not. She'd invited him to join them, though. Him. No one else and surely she had to have someone to invite instead.

"Nonsense, you promised me model cars, Hermione. Lead the way."

She smiled at him then, extending her hand to the boy. He jumped off the stone ledge onto the sidewalk with no fear that he might fall or otherwise get hurt. Hermione watched him closely, though.

"You must find this incredibly boring and tedious," she said, after they'd toured the exhibit for a little while. There were some pretty neat models, but she had no idea if this was really his type of thing. And, yet, he'd accepted.

Cade on the other hand was in awe, getting his nose as close to the glass encasing keeping each of the model cars safe from curious bystanders as he could. He alternated between wanting to be in Hermione's arms, sitting on her shoulders with his hands clinging to her head and hair, and walking. Walking was his least favorite because he couldn't see as well.

"On the contrary," Severus said.

"Oh?"

"You know, I have very few fond memories of my father. I can count them on one hand I think. I do remember watching entranced as he put together a model of James Bond's Sunbeam Alpine from Dr. No. Are you familiar?" he asked.

"Somewhat. I've seen the film. My dad loves James Bond."

He nodded, he didn't seem surprised by that. He supposed her father not liking James Bond would be more unusual.

"He let me assist him. I was probably not much older than Master Cade, and I felt so grown up that he would let me help with such a meticulous project."

"Really?"

"Yes. I hadn't thought about that in years. So, this is not at all boring or tedious."

"I'm so glad. I felt bad just springing a toddler on you, but I was somewhat afraid you'd say no if I told you about him in advance."

"You wanted me to say yes?"

Interesting question, because she wondered more than once the past couple days why she purposely hadn't told him about Cade or that a child would be accompanying them today.

And not surprisingly, despite bumping into him three days in a row, she did not see him yesterday to admit it even if she'd wanted to.

"Yes! I suspected the odds that we kept bumping into one another weren't good. Three times in a matter of days was rather shocking. I hadn't heard you were in Chicago."

She hadn't heard he was anywhere. No one had. He'd pretty successfully disappeared. By design she imagined. And realized there were a lot of people who would probably pay good money to get such information. She wouldn't do that.

"I'm not sure anyone knows."

"Well, if there was anyone capable of dropping off the face of the earth, it's certainly you."

"You haven't told anyone?"

He was trying not to sound … apprehensive as to her answer. He was curious if she had. It would have to be tempting.

"That I've run into you? No. What would I say exactly? I admit I spoke to Harry late Thursday night and thought about it, but decided it wasn't my secret to tell."

"I guess I don't know what you'd say, but I thank you," he said.

He was more relieved than he cared to admit that she'd answered in that way. He didn't want reporters or whoever on his doorstep.

Yet.

One day it would happen, he was sure of it. For now, he truly was enjoying privacy and some time to heal. As well as settle himself as far as a career and a future went. Merlin, he didn't want people to think he'd survived a war just to be as pathetic as they thought he was.

He knew eventually he'd likely rejoin the wizarding world, but he preferred his anonymity here in the United States of America's Midwest at the moment. He didn't hate it, truly loved magic, but thought some time to discover who he was without war and Albus in the picture was best for all. If he returned, he wanted to be certain of his decision to do so.

"So, may I ask what you do here in Chicago?"

"You may. I work as a private investigator."

"Shut up," she said.

Cade covered her mouth with his hand. "Not nice."

"You're right," she said with a light laugh.

He could tell by the look in her eyes she was amused at her son's correction of her choice in words not upset. He would not have gotten an amused laugh if he'd told either of his parents to shut up.

"It's not nice to tell people to shut up. I didn't really mean it, and Mr. Snape knows that I wasn't serious, Cade."

She smiled at him, though. Severus wondered what it would be like to have a parent to teach him such things. He'd had worse than shut up aimed at him throughout his childhood. Cade tilted his head a bit, as if thinking that over. He imagined she'd have to answer a question on the difference eventually.

"So you're really a private investigator?"

"I am. It suits my needs well. At first I could work whatever hours I needed to. Eventually, well, I actually got good at it. I can cast a Notice-Me-Not and get pictures others cannot. I can fly so someone being on the second floor isn't problematic."

She gave a slight nod. He knew (as anyone at Hogwarts did) that she didn't like flying and couldn't help but wonder what she would think of his ability to do so without a broom.

"I can see that. And you are certifiably sneaky."

He chuckled, and she glanced at him curiously.

"What?" he asked.

"I'm not sure I've ever heard you laugh."

"Admittedly when we first met, I had few occasions to do so."

"I suppose that's true. We didn't help much."

"No, you certainly did not."

He glanced at Cade. "Your mother, Master Cade, was an insufferable troublemaker." Despite the words used, he ensured his voice was light so the boy wouldn't take him seriously. Or read too much into that statement.

"Yes, well, Mummy was eleven. It goes with the age or so I'm told."

"Indeed."

"So, did your dad have more than the one model car?"

"He did. Not too many came after he lost his job and he took to drinking. Hard to do such intricate work when your hands are shaking or you're too impaired to see straight."

"I suppose. I'm sorry."

"It's all right. I brought it up. I spent so many years remembering only badness and darkness. It's good to remember it wasn't always that way." He set his hand over her son's shoulder lightly. "And yet I stayed in that darkness so that children like yours have a chance to live without it."

"You're right. Even if he can't appreciate it, so many do."

"So, what's next?" he asked. They'd toured the model car display area twice.

"Oh, I think that's about all Cade can handle. I'm not sure I trust a three-year-old around priceless works of art."

"All right." That answer was surprisingly disappointing. This wasn't a bad way to spend a few hours at all.

"I was truly surprised you showed up. I was given three tickets when I was here the other day to drop something off. I saw you and figured why not ask so the ticket had a chance of being used," she shrugged. That explained it, surely she could have asked someone else if she really wanted to. "So thank you for surprising me."

"You surprised me by asking me. I was on a job when I ran into you so was trying to disengage without losing who I was following."

"Ah. A day at the museum. Do you get reimbursed for that?"

"Yes, it goes in with the expenses."

"So that means you have to keep money on you, I suppose."

"It does."

"I hadn't thought about things like that."

"Mm."

"Well," she said once they'd made their way back to the doors that would take them back outside to Michigan Avenue and the lion statues.

"Does Master Cade like the lions?"

"He did. We were a little early, I never know how long it's going to take me to drive anywhere yet. I do it so that I can get to know such things. Anyway, he wanted me to put him on one. He knows I'm capable of doing such a thing. You came just in time to distract him from having a meltdown about my saying no to that request, just by the way. So thank you for perfect timing. I've heard they have a couple of nice zoos here with real lions."

"You haven't been?"

"No, not yet. We just moved here in the spring. Moving, finding a house, adjusting to life being eight hours earlier, settling in when I did, starting a new job. Well, we did do things this summer, but I'm afraid things like today or a zoo weren't thought of."

"And what are you doing, Hermione?"

"I was offered the job of running a second DMLE office that opened down here. It's part of a cross jurisdiction unit. Magical crimes or issues that cross into muggle territory. It's an attempt to see if something other than a team of aurors might be used. A way to better track magicals who might be abusing their magic. When I bumped into you at the police stations Tuesday and Wednesday I was picking up some muggle police reports we were waiting for. A wizard apparated into a park this past Sunday. Any other week it would have been no big deal, but because of things on Tuesday people were calling us to report a wizard was apparating where they shouldn't be. They were calling the police reporting someone doing suspicious things in a park." She sighed here. He withheld a chuckle. People were dunderheads and he had no doubt that she would come around very quickly to that way of thinking if she was involved in the public in such a capacity. "Here, I'd just dropped off a painting that two heirs are bickering over. One thinks it's an original and the other thinks it is not, and that he's getting jipped in the will."

"Ah. And you moved to Chicago for this?"

"It was kind of a step down I suppose just running the Chicago area, but it's a new opportunity. One I'm suited for living as a muggle until I went to Hogwarts. And the Chicago area, I'm learning, is rather broad. How could I resist? I've been called down as far south as Kankakee once." She shrugged. "I decided why not? I also thought of Cade and that being away from Britain might be in his best interest. Eleven years later or not, I'm not sure his origins would be easily forgotten or swept aside."

"Valid point. Draco is with me."

"Draco is? Really?" She truly seemed surprised, so evidently they had disappeared well. He hadn't really been trying to make it so no one could ever find them, but was pleased to know that his whereabouts were not watercooler fodder for those at the Daily Prophet , Hogwarts, or the Ministry.

"Yes, he came with for similar reasons as you mentioned regarding Cade, though neither of us have ever spoken about those reasons outright. We probably should, I realize. It's been three years, but I just can't bring myself to initiate the conversation that we should probably have."

"I can understand that. Is he well?"

"He is overall, yes. I don't see him often despite him living under my roof, and I think we both prefer it that way."

"Well, if you'd like to prolong having to return to him I was going to take Cade for pizza."

"You like pizza, Master Cade?"

"Yeah," he said. It went without saying, he supposed, so perhaps it seemed as if it was a ridiculous question. "My name is Cade Granger."

Severus glanced from Cade to her, and she shrugged.

"He doesn't get called master often here." She drew him away from her a bit as he was still in her arms. "He's being respectful, Cade. Just like you would call him Mr. Snape and people call mommy Mrs. Granger."

"Things do seem a bit more … casual here."

Hermione snorted softly at that, but he heard her.

"You think that's an understatement I presume?"

"I think to anyone involved with Britain's world, yes, it would seem very progressive and lax."

"You wouldn't believe the dates Draco gets just by doing things like opening doors, kissing hands, and such."

"I can imagine," Hermione said. He couldn't tell if she was amused or displeased at the thought.

"Are you sure you wish for me to join you?"

"Well, if you join us, that's less I'll have to take home as leftovers. He'll eat a piece, maybe if I'm lucky. I'll eat maybe two. Even a small that leaves a lot to take home and eat later, myself mind you."

"I see. How very … cunning of you, Hermione."

"Right? In fact, I may just send you home with the leftovers. You can give them to your roommate."

Severus rolled his eyes. She was obviously teasing him, something few dared to do. It was rather refreshing to have someone treat him like any other person. He wasn't used to it. He liked that she felt she could. Even Draco held back, as if he wasn't truly sure his godfather wouldn't hex or curse him if he said the wrong thing one day.

"How at forty-one I have a roommate I'm not sure."

"I suppose that's an adjustment. You've lived alone far longer than you shared space with people. Technically, I realize it's about fifty-fifty, but you wouldn't remember the first year or two of sharing space with your parents. And obviously, that's a given."

"You're rambling."

"Yes, sorry. You get my point."

"I do. It is an adjustment, you are right. I keep hoping he'll find a place of his own, and yet he's still there. I have actually put off buying a place because I don't want him to think it's a permanent arrangement. I haven't actually looked, but I've thought about something more permanent than renting. He realizes he's supposed to be responsible for half the rent. I think that's important, responsibility. He pays me how much and when he can. Some months it's nowhere near half, but some months he compensates for those light months. I can afford it, so I don't hound him. Maybe that's wrong, but I know it's difficult for someone who never had to worry about budgeting to do so overnight. I can't deny I like being able to keep tabs on him to some degree. He is my godson so I feel something akin to a responsibility for him."

"Of course, and twenty-one isn't old. If he'd attended university he'd be just finishing. Here, he'd have another year left."

He nodded. Valid points. Yet, she wasn't struggling to pay rent, but then he didn't know her financial circumstances and they were none of his business. Even without any assistance from the Ministry for her son, she was just more mature than Draco ever had been when it got down to it. So it was not surprising to him that she was succeeding with a young child in tow while Draco was still figuring out who he was.

"Did you drive?" she asked now that they were outside and back by the lion statues. 

The lions wore American football helmets, which Severus had come to learn was representative of the Chicago Bears. It seemed it was their time of year to play. He was still learning the different sport seasons. One thing about this city, they seemed to take their sports rather seriously. The only one that interested Severus to this point was hockey; it was the closest to football (the kind he was familiar with, not the American version) as he found here.

"I did not."

"Well, that's convenient as I did. Would you like to be my passenger?"

"This isn't a trick, is it? Lull me into complacency and drive me head first into Lake Michigan?"

"Not today, no. Now I make no promises for any future time you make me angry."

"So long as today my person is safe from harm."

"It is."

He fell into step beside her, noticing the ease with which she managed to carry her son and her bag. She'd never once in the two plus hours they walked through the museum appeared to lose her patience or not be able to … handle him capably. Yes, the child had gone from her arms to walking and back again several times, but she didn't mind and he genuinely seemed curious and intrigued by the antique model cars on display. He wasn't moving around, wanting up and down from his mum's arms to be a pain in the arse.

He saw no indication that she treated this child she'd adopted, the son of Death Eaters, in any fashion other than he'd presume she would treat a child she'd given birth to. It was curious, given what she'd gone through during her time in the magical world. She'd really never known peace. She'd never known acceptance. Even her friendship with Potter and Weasley had come under uncommon circumstances.

He wondered what the financial assistance was. Not that it was any of his business, but he was curious if, say, she was getting less for a Death Eater's son than someone might for a member of the Order's son. It would be interesting to find out. Her own personal elf was nothing to laugh at either. He assumed one was assigned to her who could assist with basic education and fundamental needs for a child. They would have had to have been made aware they'd be working for Hermione Granger, too. Some elves might have chosen not to take on such an assignment.

"You've been quiet," she said once they stopped by what was obviously her car in a nearby parking garage.

"Just enjoying the day."

She regarded him through the car window as she settled her son in the baby seat in the back of the car. He knew what they were for, had seen countless children riding around in them since coming here. However, he'd never really watched as someone put a child into it and then strapped the child in.

"If you say so," she said, sounding very much as if she didn't believe that was the case.

"I admit I do not take much time to take things such as a model car exhibit in, and perhaps you've just made me realize that I should."

"Oh my, maybe I should check to be sure you're really Severus Snape."

He snickered. He couldn't help it. It wasn't out of the realm of possibility that people would still be after the brains of the operation that was Potter, Weasley, and Granger.

"Yes, well, I wouldn't change myself into a cat if I used polyjuice potion."

She grimaced but blushed a bit he noticed over the roof of her car. Like the first time he saw her in the police precinct Tuesday of this week, he once again found her fetching.

"I realized today that I've been alive but really haven't been living for most of my life. I will not deny that I may also have been thinking on your treatment of Cade and how … commendable what you're doing is. I saw no sign that you treated him any differently than any of the other mothers I saw with a child today."

"Of course not!"

"That you've taken offense to my statement pleases me, Hermione. Not because I'm trying to insult you, I'm not. It would be easy. There would be some who would take the child and punish it for its parents wrongdoings. Or to get back at those who wronged them."

"I would never…"

"As I said, I find it commendable. I'm sure there were other children available."

"There were, but I felt so awful for him that he was getting passed over because of who his parents were. That isn't his fault. And not caring for him would only turn him into exactly what people fear!"

"Spoken like the true Gryffindor and brightest witch of your age you are reputed to be."

"Yes, well, it is what it is. You can't expect someone to grow up right if they're not treated that way from the beginning."

"I think Master Cade's odds of turning into a productive member of whichever society he chooses to be a part of have gone up drastically with your assistance."

She tilted her head a bit, regarding him.

"I have an idea."

"Uh oh," he said with a low chuckle. "I assure you that I am me. I'm not under the Imperius or anything else."

"No, I believe that you're you. I'm just realizing that between the car ride and over two hours in a museum he's going to be rather wound up. I'm not sure pizza will work."

"It's fine. I wasn't expecting…"

"Let me finish, Severus. If you'd like to come home with us we can order pizza and eat it at my house."

He regarded her closely.

"You would be comfortable doing that?"

"I wouldn't have offered if I wasn't. What are you going to do? Kill me? Well, stupid me then. Much easier to let Remus do it a few years ago, though I think."

"I envy you your view of the world."

She shrugged. "Maybe it's just my view of you. I'm not sure I'd invite Draco into my home."

He scoffed quite sure his godson wouldn't know what to even do with a woman like Hermione. Severus honestly wasn't sure he knew either. He'd long ago gotten his oat sowing out of the way, though, that bedding a different person nightly didn't hold the appeal it did to Draco. (Not that he'd ever been nearly as … active as his godson. Of course he didn't look like Draco Malfoy either so there was that.)

"You are certain?"

She opened her door then. "Either get in or go home, Severus. Don't make me beg you to share a pizza with me."

Well, put like that, it almost did sound as if that was what he might be doing.

Once he heard the click of the automatic locks being activated he opened his door and slid into the passenger seat.

He wasn't stupid. If she left here today believing he didn't want to be in her company he wouldn't hear from her again. And somewhere in the pit of his stomach, but deeper than that, he didn't like that idea. At all.

"It's the offer of pizza, isn't it?" she asked as she turned the car over.

Was she … flirting with him? Or was she seriously questioning his motivation for joining her? No offense to her, but he could get pizza anywhere.

"You caught me."

Story ©Susan Falk/APCKRFAN/PhantomRoses.com