'Awkward' did not begin to describe the current atmosphere of Severus's little flat. 'Awkward' was like saying that Voldemort had a trifling penchant for power or that Crucio might sting a little.

Not that Severus, sloshed as he was, would ever admit this to Hermione.

Miss Granger.

Hermione.

Dammit.

It might never have occurred to him if she hadn't sighed. That interruption of the silence had suddenly made him entirely too aware of the fact that he had been staring at her legs.

There was nothing particularly special about her legs. They were medium length, bony knees dipped into a curve of calf muscle that rounded itself into a narrow ankle. Her shoes were most ordinary. She wore no stockings.

But he had never seen them before. He had seen her in all manner of robes, a long dress or two, several Muggle outfits... And the realization that he could recall these details only disturbed him further.

There must have been sometime when she was a student... but he certainly would not have been looking then. He should not have been looking now.

When she sighed at him, he took it as a sign that he had been caught.

It seemed he was wrong. It was a very rare day indeed that Severus Snape enjoyed being wrong.

"You just looked so... awkward." She said, and then blushed deeply.

It was rather charming.

Severus cursed inwardly.

"That's not what I meant..." She began.

"Perhaps it is. If you are implying that the events of a few weeks ago have left us in a rather precarious position, I will freely agree."

"And that doesn't bother you?"

"If uncomfortable situations had any effect on me, I'd be long dead, my dear."

That, at least, was true. He could wade through this and emerge victorious. Even if he had to fight his most primal urges every step of the way.

Why on earth was she staring at him like that?

Oh.

Merlin's arse, had he said that out loud?

Apparently he was not as sharp tonight as he had hoped. As she seemed to lose herself in thought, he gave serious consideration to the idea of simply glaring at her until she left in tears. Somehow, it did not seem the most prudent course of action.

"Did you want the last biscuit?"

The words were innocuous, but something in her eyes told him that Miss Granger had come to a decision.

He shrugged a response.

"Fine then. I suppose we could save it for later."

Later.

Later meant she would likely be back. Later meant she intended to go off and analyze every aspect of the night's encounter. Later meant she would come to Merlin-knows-what conclusion before she returned- if she returned- to share it with him.

Later was simply no good.

"Fine."

Hermione worried her bottom lip for another minute before nodding swiftly and rising from her seat. "Thank you for an... interesting time, as always."

She was going to leave and he wasn't going to stop her. He was simply going to drink himself into oblivion and wait for a knock on the door to drag him back out. That was much easier than trying to explain how badly he wanted her to stay.

He cursed himself again. If he spoke up, he would have to say something convincing. She would want to hear all those lovely flowery things that he had never even been able to think without repugnance. She would want to hear how empty his flat felt when he thought she would never return. She would want to know that, much to his dismay, he could not help but think of her in her absence. She might even like to know that he could picture every curl on her head when he closed his eyes.

It was disgusting.

Besides, Severus Snape had spent enough time groveling in his life.

Not that Miss Granger had much in common with either of his masters. In fact, he felt servitude to her might be more than bearable.

If she would just ask.

A/N: not finished just yet…