Fic Title: “Clovers & Ambrosia”
It’s a warm day, a week after graduation, that finds the duo out by the lake, the scent of clover heavy in the air as they engage in a celebratory drink for having survived.
For Hermione, it’s about having survived her first year as a teacher, for Severus, his last.
“I still can’t believe you’re retiring.”
“Even after everything you went through this year?” He replied, his voice a low, teasing purr. “Even after McLaggen Junior professed his undying love for the Fat Lady at the Christmas feast and vowed to never leave her side again?”
“You’re giving a very specific example of a child who somehow got their hands on a bottle of Firewhiskey-”
“He did it again when he came back from the hols, Hermione.”
“…so the boy takes after his father in the idiocy department…”
Severus let out a low chuckle at that, reaching into the pocket of his robes to pull out a little flash and add a bit of liquor to their tea.
“…you really are leaving, aren’t you?”
Severus looked up at that, surprised to see the sadness etched into Hermione’s features and it took him a moment to compose himself enough to reply.
“I never wanted to teach. This…” He waved his hand about to indicate Hogwarts in general. “…was a mean’s to an end. That end has come and gone, and yet I am still here. It’s time to move on.”
She gave a nod, but was looking down at her tea, and Severus could see she was biting down on her lower lip.
“…but you’ll be all the way in London.”
“You can still come see me,” He replied, surprised at the honesty in his tone almost as much as the ache in his heart that reminded him it wasn’t going to be the same.
“But London has plenty of apothecaries,” She countered, lifting her eyes to his again. “Hogsmeade doesn’t have any.”
He wasn’t aware of lifting a hand to wipe away a stray tear that had fallen from her eyes, but he had just seconds before he was cupping her cheek and gently swiping his thumb back and forth across the bone.
“…I’ll link myself up to the Floo network. Just for you.”
“So, what? I can come and have dinner with you once a month when I’m not on duty?” She shook her head, but was leaning it into his touch all the same.
That spark he’d felt at Christmas, when she’d kissed his cheek after he’d walked her to her chambers was back, and he wanted it more than he could understand.
“…it’s not enough, Severus.”
In that moment, he realized it wasn’t enough for him either.
He leaned in to close the distance between them, somehow not surprised that she met him halfway, that her lips parted beneath his in a gasp.
She tasted of tea and whiskey and orange and spice and Severus was sure that even Ambrosia - the literal nectar of the gods - was nothing compared to the flavor of Hermione Granger.