Hermione felt rattled at seeing Severus Snape running Sem's shop, but she would not let it deter her from going back there. She liked Sem a lot, and while they were still strangers somewhat, there was something about him that said he knew more than he led on.

So a few days later, Hermione in Diagon Alley for the sole purpose of visiting him, she went into the shop and let out a relieved sigh to see Sem in his rightful spot behind the counter.

He excited at her presence, her own heart jumping at the sight of him.

"Hello!"

"Hello," he replied smoothly, "I heard you stopped by while I was away."

"Yes, and I received quite the shock."

He searched for an answer, seeming to know the discomfort the situation had brought her. Hermione thought briefly about this, wondering if that meant that Snape knew she'd been unhappy with his presence there. It wasn't like she'd tried to hide it either! She needed to be a bit more tactful, she wasn't a teen anymore!

"I can imagine so, he doesn't run the store very often."

Hermione bit back her reply that having him do so probably wouldn't be good for business.

"Well, I suppose it didn't hurt anyone... though I had dropped in to see you. How did your readying for the wedding go?"

"It went well. I wanted to get fitted for new robes, and the shop wasn't open during the evening."

Hermione narrowed her eyes just enough to look as though she was looking at something at the desk, her attention not on the small vials of herbs, however. Most robes shops were open far into the evening, and she couldn't understand why he wouldn't have just made an appointment. Regardless, it wasn't like he would have left her to find Severus Snape in his place on purpose.

"I got dress robes a while back, I've been filtering in other items as time moves on like things for my hair," she said with a grin.

"And have you run out yet?"

Sem moved around the counter, and seeing the little shop empty, Hermione's anticipation jolted.

"No, thankfully. You don't have to worry about losing your business, though. I won't be able to leave the flat without it now."

Hermione stood awkwardly as he casually leaned against the counter, looking so much more comfortable than she felt with a small smile. Her limited experience in flirting had all been helped out by happenstance, and this actually having to try thing was a bit of a struggle. Then again, she did very well have this wizard as a date for Draco's wedding. He couldn't go with anyone else if he already promised her.

The part of her that itched to have him sign something concrete made her snicker.

"Something amusing?" Sem asked, snapping her from the thoughts she'd been involved in.

"Just a funny thought is all. Are you excited for the wedding? I know you originally had reservations about your attendance..."

He seemed almost concerned, but he put a smile over it nonetheless.

"I will be in attendance with the most beautiful witch in London, I don't think I have anything to dread."

Hermione couldn't stop the blush from coming up on her cheeks, but she tried to ignore the heat when she asked, "And who were you attempting to avoid at this wedding? It seems you only know Draco?"

She didn't mean for it to sound harsh, but she'd said it before she could think it over.

As luck would have it, Sem found it funny.

"Truth be told, I sort of lied when I said that I was attempting to avoid people there. Really, I was attempting to avoid being known... but, I think that now that someone is getting to know me, it isn't that horrible."

Hermione let him approach her as he talked. It was... smooth, and his hand slipped around her waist, but something was stopping him from going further. She wished she knew what it was, not caring to have it there, wanting Sem to go the next step and lean in.

She swallowed down the command to just tell him to do it, and she didn't have nearly enough experience to kiss him first.

"I'm not always an easy person, either."

"I know," he muttered, but Hermione heard it. She was greatly confused, too, because that wasn't exactly something she'd put forward... in fact, Sem had won her over almost instantaneously.

"How?" She wondered sternly, backing up a little from his hold, almost glad he hadn't gotten any closer in the first place.

"I just... agreed," he fumbled, looking lost as to how he'd mucked their moment up.

Hermione couldn't believe she'd gotten this close to him just to find out he thought he knew her like everyone else thought they did. It was disparaging. She'd gotten rather attached to Sem over the past several days, and without knowing him all that well, she still had liked him. There was something familiar about him that had resounded in her, and the familiarity was good... up until that moment.

He looked as though he was grasping at straws, and Hermione felt pity in her. She didn't care to act upon the pity, though, and with a final turn, she left Sem in the shop.

-

His mind was whirring with thousands of thoughts with how badly he'd fucked up the entire situation. Severus had been his usual, all-knowing self, and it had bit him in the arse this time. Hermione hadn't clued into his secret yet, but if he let her go and think into her own head, she was going to figure him out.

Severus could not disappoint Draco. If he couldn't get Hermione to go with him to the wedding, he was certainly not going to be in attendance, but he had to convince her to come back first if he was going to keep everyone happy. The only thing now was to convince someone who rightfully hated him not to.

Hating both of his personas wasn't an option for her, Severus couldn't let it be. No more mistakes, nothing else could get in their way before the wedding, or else he'd be angry at himself forever.

Severus ran from the shop, feeling little more than dignified. He'd hardly ever ran before. Walked briskly, yes, but there'd never been a need to run, everyone had always feared him enough not to chase.

This was different, though... he was doing the chasing.

"Hermione!" He yelled as he left the glass doorway of his shop, "Hermione, wait!"

Luckily for him, she had not been running. His fast pace had allowed him to catch her in time, and by the grace of Merlin, she looked back on him.

"What?"

The entire alley was looking their way now, and if this didn't show up in the Prophet by daybreak the next morning, Severus would be truly surprised for once in his life.

"Come back, let me explain?"

She looked as though she'd already made up her mind, but something in her seemed to be compelled forward as she took a slight step in his direction. Rather unused to grovelling, Severus couldn't say anything else on the matter. It was her choice now.

Hermione huffed, but moved forward, and Severus could not have felt any more relieved than when he saw Harry Potter on the night of what he thought would be his death.

They went back to his shop, the smell of it hitting them as they both re-entered the vacant space. The old part of him scolded them both for leaving the place unattended, but the risks of theft were far lower than someone he cared for leaving him again.

Then again... he couldn't go on as Sem Samsen forever.

"What did you have to say to me?"

Not having gotten this far in wanting to get Hermione back, Severus stared blankly at the young woman. Part of him screamed that he was doing something absolutely outrageous by being here, and part of him screamed at him to say something to make sure he had a date for Draco's wedding. It had become more than that, of course it had.

"It's not hard to separate the you that everyone knows in the world from the you that I have been getting to know, Hermione. It is hard, however, to suddenly have you here in front of me, when but weeks ago you were nothing but a vague thought in my mind. I don't want to mess things up. The real you is far more lovely than the one they print about in the papers, and if I had to go back to only knowing her, I would be a very sad man."

All of it was true, but it was only a matter of whether or not she would believe him.

Her contemplation was long and torturous, but eventually he seemed to have earned smile.

Severus felt like a boy more than a man.

How his life had turned so drastically was beyond him, but the beauty of someone he once found slightly intolerable was nothing short of a miracle. It was only a shame he would be breaking his heart when the whole thing was over, the wedding and the charade of Sem Samsen. He only hoped she didn't figure it out before then, or else he wouldn't be prepared for the heartbreak that would ensue on so many levels.

"Well, I can't say I'm not looking forward to the wedding, because I think I would be rather sad to not want to acquire any more of your wonderful hair product."

Severus felt a million weights lift off of his shoulders, but almost all of them came back when he remembered he still wasn't himself. He really was the foulest of creatures.

Part of him wanted to blame this on Draco. The way she walked towards him and embraced him was most certainly the boy's fault. He was the one who had to have the bloody wedding, and then nonetheless invite him to it, with that dauntless plus one scribbled over it.

She left, and almost immediately he called Draco for advice. Because Severus could care less about his honor, no, he was going to a child for help... it wasn't like there was anyone else he had to call.

"You're overly worried. If you can fool Hermione, then I don't reckon anyone else will figure you out." Draco had been mildly understanding about Severus's hesitation in attending the wedding.

Then he'd explained the mishap earlier before, and Draco went quiet on the phone.

"You've actually been bewitched by Granger, haven't you?"

Severus had grumbled his protests, but he hadn't exactly called Draco a liar either. Hermione was... well, he didn't know why he felt this way, he hated to feel things other than the mere satisfaction of a sale. She was different though... kind and thoughtful, strong. Way too strong to ever let him into her life. Not as himself anyways.

Talk about crazy.

When the conversation was over, Severus decided he had a few decisions to make regarding the situation that was now presented to him. Granger was a million things, but an idiot she was not, and whatever excuse he might come up with to keep her in his life wouldn't work unless he presented himself to her at some point.

But she wasn't attracted to him, she hadn't even liked his personality. Merlin, he was in a load of trouble. The man she cared for... or whatever it was that she felt was with Sem Samsen, not him, and it never would be him. Of course, it was his own personality, likes and dislikes, ticks, drives, attractions. Everything was him... accept his face, and his hope was dashed in an instance.

He had a final few ideas before the day was out, and one of them would come to fruition, it was merely up to him to decide which one.

{3/4}

A/N

I have a bit of a longer story coming soon, maybe 8-10 chapters, but full-lengths have been escaping me as of late. I'll think of something, though, don't you guys worry! Hope you all are enjoy this one!