I Think You Mean It Like That

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters herein. All the characters in the Harry Potter universe belong exclusively to J.K. Rowling. I am publishing this only for my own selfish desire to be a part of their world.

The song “Drift Away” isn’t mine, obviously! As far as I know it was first sung by Dobie Gray, and then reprised by Uncle Kracker. It belongs to them, and their record labels, etc, etc.

The song “You Shouldn't Kiss Me Like This” isn’t mine either. The version I’m referring to was sung by Toby Keith. I would guess as he writes most of his songs, he owns it, or co-owns it with the other guy who he writes with. There may be others who own it more than he does, aka his record label. Lyrics quoted are borrowed from listening to my very own purchased CD.

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Chapter Three – They’re All Watching Us Now

By the time Harry and Hermione had gotten to the Ball their nervousness had returned.  Both had realized over the past couple of years that their feelings for the other were more than friendship, but neither had been willing to risk that friendship on what they both supposed was unrequited love.  As the two milled around, mixing with various friends throughout the night, two very frustrated Professors sat at a side table comparing notes.

“I swear to you Severus they are more frustrating than Lily and James.”

“I do agree with you Minerva.”

She smiled warmly at her former student, and squeezed his hand gently.  “I’m so glad that you helped Harry get ready.  He looks simply stunning.”

“Thank you, Minerva.  I must say that Hermione looks positively radiant as well.”

“She does, doesn’t she?  Oh, Severus, I wish you could have been there to see their reaction when they first saw each other.  They both were positively glowing.”  Minerva’s lips thinned as she glared in frustration at the two young people in question.  “I’ve no idea what overcame them between the Common Room and here.  I would have laid a ten galleon bet that they would have never made it to the Ball, but instead wound up snogging in the rose bushes.”

Severus chuckled.  “No, unlike you, I didn’t think it would be that easy.  They are similar to Harry’s parents, but these two have seen far more at their tender ages then Lily or James had seen at the time.  James was willing to take the chance of losing Lily’s friendship by declaring his feelings for her.  Harry is not.  He will go to any lengths to protect his friendship with Hermione.  She is the only one who has consistently stood by his side no matter the circumstances.  Even Ron has been prone to fits of jealousy and anger, but Hermione has never wavered in her steadfast loyalty to him.  I’m afraid desperate measures are called for.”

Severus strode over to the wizard who was supervising the playing of the music tonight.  He had obviously chosen to play only the newest Wizarding tunes for the group of young people.  Minerva watched inquisitively as she saw Severus arguing with the young man.  She saw Severus discreetly toy with his wand, and the young wizard suddenly stand up straight, cease his arguing abruptly, and nod in agreement to whatever Severus had suggested.

Minerva pursed her lips in annoyance, but her eyes danced with amusement as Severus returned to her side smirking like the proverbial cat that swallowed the canary.  “Please tell me that you didn’t cast an Unforgivable, Severus.  I would hate to have to Obliviate the young man at the end of the night.”

Severus chuckled evilly.  “Ah, the good old days!”  Severus rolled his eyes with disdain, as Minerva’s eyes grew wide with concern.  “No you silly old feline, he was simply hesitant to play the songs I suggested, so I reminded him that even though he is no longer a student here that I could make the lives of his children a living hell when they come to attend Hogwarts in a few years.”

Minerva clapped her hands with glee.  “Tsk, tsk, Severus!  How evil of you.”

Severus shrugged dismissively.  “Whatever works.”

“So what music did you suggest?”  The two Professors leaned their heads forward and whispered conspiratorially. 

“Well, it occurred to me that neither Harry, nor Hermione, are very interested in Wizarding music.  They both have favorite Muggle artists.  I simply gave a couple of requests for appropriate music, and now I believe I must encourage a young man to take his date for a dance.  Perhaps you can make yourself useful and suggest she accept?”

“Done.” 

Minerva and Severus moved to their positions, and Severus cued the nervous young wizard to start the first song.  As the wizard spoke to the graduating students, announcing what he was about to play, Severus leaned over and spoke to Harry.  “You don’t seem to be having much fun.”

Harry shrugged noncommittally.  “I’m all right.  I just don’t care much for this music.”

Severus nodded in remembrance.  “Ah, yes.  If I recall from the past summer at you were constantly harassing us with songs from that young Muggle American artist who can’t even come up with his own songs.”

Harry smirked at Severus’ obvious attempt to goad him into a disagreement.  “Uncle Kracker is quite talented, and I believe you agreed that his rendition of ‘Drift Away’ was just as good as Dobie Gray’s?”

Severus snickered in reply.  “Perhaps, but my opinion doesn’t really count.  I believe that it was Hermione who quite agreed with your choice in artists.”  Severus listened as the strains of the song started off.  “Ahh, it seems someone has requested just that song.  Perhaps you should take her out to dance to it.  I seem to recall the two of you dancing quite smartly together to this song.”

Harry narrowed his gaze in annoyance.  “Severus, Hermione is just a friend.”

Severus crossed his arms and raised his eyebrow challengingly.  “So dance with her like a friend, if you can.”

“And just what does that mean?”

Severus smirked knowingly at Harry.  “Nothing, absolutely nothing.  Go on.” 

Harry rolled his eyes towards Severus, but quickly returned his gaze to Hermione.  He smiled at her and nodded towards the dance floor.  She grinned broadly and nodded affirmatively and the two swept through the crowd towards each other.  The two met and fell into an easy rhythm as Harry alternately held her close, rocking his hips with hers, and then spun her perfectly outward and back. 

The longer the song went on, the more the two seemed to drift under its spell.  Their fellow students, unbeknownst to Harry and Hermione, had for the most part stopped dancing and had encircled the two watching their smiles grow as they softly crooned the song to each other and got lost in each other’s eyes.  The two had never looked more alive, more whole then they had at that moment in each other’s arms.  For some, like Ron, it was a startling revelation.  For others, like Ginny and Draco, a twinkling Headmaster, and two certain conspiring Professors, it confirmed any doubts they might have had.  No one witnessing the display could have a question:  Harry and Hermione were in love.  But, would they ever figure it out?

And finally, at the last moment, when the group collectively groaned as the song faded away thinking that neither would be willing to take the chance on love, Harry lowered his head just as Hermione raised hers and their lips met in a tender kiss.  Magic flowed through the room as their lips touched.  Both felt their bodies and their magic react as they continued to deepen the kiss.  As the music changed, Harry suddenly realized just who he was kissing, just who was making his body react so passionately.  As Harry pulled back from Hermione’s lips he suckled her lower lip into his mouth gently and she moaned softly as her eyelids fluttered open. 

Harry pulled Hermione close to him, unwilling to risk his shaky voice at the moment.  Hermione buried her head in his chest, and could feel his heart beating rapidly as she felt his chest rise and fall with the effort to control his breathing. 

Harry looked out over Hermione’s head and noticed Severus chuckling, with a broad smile plastered on his face.  Harry began chuckling himself when he realized that almost every eye in the room was glued to them, and that Draco and Ginny both even wiping back tears of joy as they embraced. 

Hermione heard Harry’s chuckle and looked up to see him nodding towards the crowd around them.  Hermione turned her head to the side and blushed as she saw Minerva smirking and Ron and Luna clapping with glee. 

Harry took in a deep breath and looked down at Hermione uncertainly.  “Is this just about tonight ‘Mione?  Because if it is, I need to know now.”

Hermione’s expression grew serious as she ran her hands lightly along his back.  “It’s never been just about tonight for me, Harry.  What about you?”

Harry smirked at Hermione as he realized what song was now playing.  “Why don’t you let me sing to you, and maybe you’ll find out?”  Hermione nodded in agreement as she slid her arms around Harry’s shoulders and stepped in to nestle closer to his body. 

Harry smiled and tears of joy filled his eyes as he crooned the words of the song to her.  Hermione reached up to brush the tears away from the corners of Harry’s eyes and cupped his face lovingly in her hands.

“I've got a funny feeling, the moment that your lips touched mine.  Something shot right through me, my heart skipped a beat in time.  There's a different feel about you tonight, it's got me thinkin' lots of crazy things.  I even think I saw a flash of light, it felt like electricity.

“You shouldn't kiss me like this, unless you mean it like that, ‘cause I'll just close my eyes and I won't know where I'm at.  We'll get lost on this dance floor spinnin' around, and around, and around, and around.

“They're all watchin' us now.  They think we're falling in love.  They'd never believe we're just friends.  When you kiss me like this, I think you mean it like that.  If you do, maybe kiss me again.”

Hermione pulled Harry’s face down to hers as she stepped up on her toes to seal their lips together.  Harry smiled and his lips parted as Hermione traced his lips with her tongue.  Hermione deepened the kiss and she felt Harry’s arms encircle her more tightly.  Her tongue lovingly mapped out the inside of Harry’s mouth as she attempted to convey the depth of her love for him through her kiss.  The song continued on as the two gently swayed back and forth to the music as they continued to kiss.  Hermione and Harry’s tongues danced together until his finally pushed forward and invaded her mouth taking control of the kiss.  Hermione moaned as she felt his body’s reaction to her and an answering pulse of desire shimmered through her own body. 

The group around them still watched the couple, but returned to their dancing and partying as Hermione and Harry seemed to get lost in their own world.  The songs continued to play as the two continued to snog, oblivious to the world around them.  When they pulled back briefly to catch their breath, Hermione looked up at Harry expectantly.  “Harry, I think we’d better talk about this.”

“Please don’t say you regret this, because I…”

Hermione nodded her denial vehemently.  “I don’t.  I couldn’t, not ever.  But I just need to be sure about one thing.  If the girl you wanted to kiss was the girl who was all dressed up tonight, I’m not her.”

Harry smiled with relief.  “Of course that was the girl I wanted to kiss.”  Hermione felt her heart plummet as she felt the tears building up in her eyes.  “But not in the way you think.  You’re my Hermione whether you’re all dressed up or not.   The same girl who sported an inkstain right below her ear for the last week.”  Harry gently nuzzled the skin below Hermione’s earlobe.  “The only girl that I can picture waking up next to every day for the rest of my life, looking just as gorgeous with her fresh, clean face and bushy hair as she does tonight.  I love you, ‘Mione.  If I was only in love with the beauty you let everyone else see tonight, I would have taken you up to the for a night of passion instead of taking you into my heart.  Dancing with you made me show you my feelings, not how you’re dressed or how your hair looks.  You’re the only person who makes me feel normal in this whole world.  You ground me.  When I’m with you I feel like I finally have a family.”

Hermione embraced Harry even tighter, as her tears spilled down her cheeks.  “Oh Harry.  I love you too.  I don’t need you to wear the finest dress robes.  I love it that your hair looks like you’ve just rolled out of bed.  It’s been the subject of many a morning-after fantasy of mine.”  Hermione smiled shyly at her implication, and blushed profusely.  “And as for your eyes, I like that they’re usually hidden away from most of the world.  That just means that there are less women I have to battle for you.”

“Trust me, there’s no one else but you.  I don’t want there to ever be anyone else but you.”  Harry’s expression grew serious as he took one of Hermione’s hands in both of his and dropped to one knee on the dance floor, eliciting sighs and whispers from those around them who had once again stopped dancing to watch the tableau before them.  “Hermione, I know this is rather sudden, but I’ve been in love with you one way or another since first year.  Would you do me the honor of becoming my wife some day soon?”

“Oh, Harry.”  Hermione’s eyes opened wide, as she covered her mouth with her hand.

Harry babbled on.  “You don’t have to answer now.  I promise I’ll do it more properly again once I get my Mum’s engagement ring from our vault at Gringott’s tomorrow.  It’s a Potter family heirloom, and I’d like you to wear it, if you would, of course if you’d rather…”

Hermione chuckled.  “Harry, shut up.”

“Sorry, Hermione.”

“Yes.”

“Yes, what?”

Hermione beamed at the clueless Harry.  “Yes, you ruddy prat, I’ll marry you, and I’d be honored to wear your Mum’s ring.”

Harry jumped to his feet and swept Hermione up into his arms, spinning her around on the dance floor, to the applause and catcalls of their friends, schoolmates, and professors.  Hermione and Harry both blushed furiously at the attention, and Harry quickly spied Severus in the crowd and mouthed a quick ‘thank you’ in his direction just as Hermione was nodding her thanks to Minerva.  Harry then leaned down to whisper in Hermione’s ear.  “All right with you if we get out of here for a while?”

“Yes, definitely.”  Hermione waved to Ron and blew him a kiss in thanks for his insistence that they attend the Ball tonight.  Ron bowed to the two of them and grinned.

“Then wrap your arms around me tightly.  I’m going to apparate us to the .”

Hermione did as Harry asked, but looked up at him confused.  “But Harry you can’t…”  Suddenly the occupants of the Great Hall heard a loud ‘pop’ as Harry and Hermione disapparated. 

Minerva looked at Severus bewildered.

Severus laughed out loud.  “What Minerva?  ‘You can’t apparate or disapparate on the grounds of Hogwarts?’”  He mimicked in a falsetto tone.  “Oh, but you can if you hold the wards of the castle.  Dumbledore has been training him to do so.”

“That conniving old coot.”

“Well, now that that’s settled, fancy a walk in the rose bushes.”  Severus offered his arm to his colleague.

Minerva graciously smiled at the younger professor and linked her arm through his.  “Ah, Severus, up to your old tricks, blasting rosebushes and scaring poor young lovers off into the night?”

They reached the door to the Great Hall, and Severus escorted her through and down the steps towards the entry way of the castle.  “Actually I was thinking of a much older trick, using the rosebushes for cover as I attempt to fumble through my seduction of a bewitching older woman.”

Minerva stopped abruptly on the steps, and smirked at his implication.  “Severus!  I am almost thirty years your senior!  You were once my student!”

Severus stopped on the step beneath her so his face was level with hers and smiled evilly.  “I haven’t been your student for twenty years now.  Besides, I’ve had this wicked fantasy for ages about serving a detention with you.”  Severus waggled his eyebrows suggestively as he teased his colleague.

Minerva giggled as she sighed dramatically, draping her arms around the younger wizard’s neck.  “You are incorrigible young man!  You’d better watch out.  One day I’ll actually take you up on that offer.”

Severus chuckled as they resumed their walk outside.  “I won’t stay up late waiting for you.  Besides I think a certain Headmaster might be a bit put out if I ever laid a hand on his lady love.”

Minerva and Severus laughed together for a moment, when suddenly she stopped him.  “By the way, Severus, how ever did you ever get Harry’s hair to lay flat tonight?”

“Quite sorry, but I can’t answer that.  Had to dabble in the Dark Arts for a spell to settle that hair.  I’d gladly tell you, but I don’t want to have to explain to Albus why I had to ‘Avada’ you tonight.”

The two friends chuckled as they walked into the night whilst Harry and Hermione were tucked away in the watching the stars and planning their future lovingly ensconced in each other’s arms…

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“…And that, sweet child, is the story of how your parents shared their first kiss.”  Severus looked down upon the sleeping child he was rocking in his arms.

Minerva chuckled from her place by the fire in the staff room.  “Oh, Severus, do you honestly think that was an appropriate bedtime story for young Mister Potter?”

“Minerva, little James isn’t even a year old yet.  He has no idea what I’m saying.  I promise by the time he’s old enough to understand, I’ll only tell him the G-rated version of Harry and Hermione’s first kiss.”

“See that you do.  I plan on us being their designated babysitters for quite a few more years.”

THE END

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Author’s Note:  Thanks so much to everyone who reviewed.  I know a few of you have questioned how realistic Snape and Harry having a positive relationship is, but I truly think that JKR has given us a lot of clues that the two have a great deal in common, and we have seen each book from Harry’s perspective.  It’s quite possible that Snape hid the memory of James in the pensieve to try to protect Harry from his only bad memory of Harry’s father.  Remus gets along with Snape despite their troubles.  It’s only Sirius who had a serious problem with Snape and he was in jail for twelve years. 

Given a chance to get to know each other, I suspect that a maturing Harry could get along with Snape, just as I suspect that Snape and James Potter could have buried the hatchet long before James and Lily died.  But, of course, that’s just my opinion.  I’m not entering it as a point of debate, just clarifying what perspective the story was written from.