For Mudblood_andProud

Severus glanced the clock on the wall then back to his drink. He'd arranged to meet Hermione at a pub in Muggle London, somewhere far away from Diagon Alley. He felt almost guilty that he had to sneak around to see her, as if he were somehow ashamed to be seen with her. But it was for her safety and his own that it be this way, they both had roles that still needed to be played. But with Dumbledore gone he truly had no one who cared for him, cared whether he lived or died. To find someone who genuinely did was both amazing and terrifying.

He blew out a breath of air shaking his head. He'd been distracted, thinking about her, of what could be and that wasn't good. If he was going to do this, to be friends with the girl -- woman, then he needed to compartmentalize her, keep her away from the darkness. Now he glanced at the door, almost willing her to walk through it.