War heroine Hermione Granger, and previous Death Eater, Severus Snape, friends?

It would come as a shock to us all to learn that the two war veterans were seen once again out on the wizarding scene. Just last evening they were spotted at the Leaky Cauldron, a destination only a short walk from Snape's current, reinstated occupation as Potions Professor for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Miss Granger had two drinks of butterbeer, a favorite from her school years according to The Golden Trio: Unknown Facts and Favorites, and Master Snape indulged in a double Firewhiskey. They abstained from anything other than light food items.

The pair was rumored to have actually enjoyed the evening, caught laughing and smiling nearly the entire evening. Most who witnessed saw it as strange considering many were either students of Professor Snape or went to school with Miss Granger and knew of his hatred for him in her youth. This went unexpressed, however, as she was known to be the smartest witch of her age, referenced many times in the biographical novel titled the same.

Miss Granger has been seen with many other eligible wizards of her time, leading the friendship with Snape to look somewhat suspicious. If she is attempting to ward off a suitor, she may have just found a way. As Professor Snape does seem to take a protective role, setting his arm to her back as they exited the pub for the evening. It is likely she looks up to him as a father figure considering the lack of her own parents memories, a sad article featured in Not Just Children: Heroes (Selfless acts of the Golden Trio).

It is known Severus Snape's affection for Miss Granger's best friend Harry Potter's mother is strong, and those who know him best are confident that his love for Lily Evans Potter has not diminished since her death. Even Harry himself has stated it was what brought us through the dark times and even the war.

Speaking of Mister Potter, he was one of Miss Granger's only friends to comment on the cordial drinks shared by her and Snape:

"I love Hermione dearly, so whoever she chooses to spend her time with is, of course, her decision."

It's easy to see Mister Potter supports his friend, and wishes her to form strong bonds in the world around them.

No one would offer comment for Severus Snape.

The occurrence before this had been an entire dinner that went slightly more serious than the evening full of laughter just last night. They'd shared a meal and a bottle of white wine, Golden Wizard 1942, that was said to have been finished by the end of their meeting. Witnesses could not catch any of their conversation, their table hushed by silencing charms, but they suggest it was also cordial.

These surprising encounters are enough to make one think! Especially considering the amount of flack that was known to be given to Gryffindors students from Professor Snape, to anyone a friend of Harry Potter especially. Neville Longbottom said in his essay, How I Helped Defeat Voldemort, that Snape had "no mercy" for the students in his class, but "proved himself to be extremely knowledgeable in a snobbish way."

Hermione Granger is known not to shy from knowledge, and after graduating at the top of her class with her lowest grade being in potions, it is obvious to also see that she is simply fluffing her education with the Potion Master. Severus Snape earned his mastery before becoming a professor at a surprisingly young age. Though we all know now from the Extended Chronicles of Dumbledore Untold that is was merely a war maneuver on Dumbledore's part, Merlin rest his soul.

In short, while the two are an unlikely pair, we here at the Daily Prophet look forward to seeing how this friendship evolves.

Hermione snorted. The prophet read things all wrong, as usual. Severus and her could never be friends, not by a long shot, and this is exactly why she told him they could not venture out into the wizarding world for their dinners.

Last month's article had been even more abhorrent, calling them co-workers because of her supplementary lectures at the school for the sixth and seventh years.

She shook her head and threw the damnable paper back to her coffee table, ready to wring Harry's neck for the comment he gave them.

He picked up the receiver with a snicker.

"You think you're funny, Harry Potter?"

"I do, actually."

"We'll wait till Severus gets ahold of this article before determining that, I think. Friends? Can you believe it?" She attempted to keep her voice down, but it just wouldn't do to keep in all of her anger at the bloody papers.

"It could be worse," Harry tried to say over the cry of his firstborn, James. "They could've said you two were shagging."

Hermione gagged, she really hated that word. "They didn't even imply it. I'm shocked, truly. When you want them to know something, they never do, and somehow always end up telling the furthest thing from the truth."

She put her feet up directly onto the paper and settled into a conversation with Harry on the telephone until a warm kiss was placed directly to her neck.

"Mhm, Harry, gotta go."

"Bye, Hermione!"

She hung up and opened her neck further to the feeling.

"Morning, darling."

"Good afternoon, Severus. How was sleeping in?" She drew in a sharp breath as he grazed a particularly tender spot on her neck with his lips.

"Delightful."

"Oh good, then I can ruin it."

He growled and back away, circling the sofa to sit next to her as she handed him the battered paper.

"Friends?"

"That's what I said. Read what Harry had to comment," Hermione said, pursing her lips.

"He loves to send them reeling, I'm surprised anyone takes him seriously any longer."

She chuckled and slipped around him as he finished reading the offensive paper.

"Well, my friend, they truly got last month's dinner very wrong, didn't they?" He asked, pulling her left hand. "I know for a fact half the people there saw me get down on one knee, if not the whole bloody restaurant. It was supposed to start rumors not dispel them."

He sealed his baffled statement with a kiss to her ringed finger.

Hermione could only laugh, "The prophet will never tell the truth, will they?"

"I suppose not... now how about I continue in the spirit of a Saturday off and take my "Friend" back to bed with me, slip off her clothes..."

Hermione gave into him in an instant, feeling her eyes close. They didn't make it to the bed, and the Prophet article didn't make it false, either.

A/N

Just a short idea I had. Sometimes the Prophet gets it wrong in all the right ways.