Just some drabble, possibly a first chapter, or one in the making. shrug I have another idea for a Slughorn party, but it's... lengthy, lol.

I've obviously gone AU until Book Eight. And if you leave a comment about there not BEING a Book Eight, I'll sic a grindylow on you. So please just deal with it ;) kthx

"So I wake up to this ugly owl banging its beak against my window glass this morning. Five a.m., mind you." Severus Snape removed his gloves and shoved them into his pockets, then proceeded to warm himself by the fire. He continued, his voice echoing through Hermione Granger's expansive library. "And he drops this letter at my feet," he said, pulling a piece of folded parchment from his inner pocket. "And then hoots like he's waiting for a damned treat. And when I make it very plain that he's not getting one, he has the nerve to bite me!" Snape held his hand up for Hermione to examine, but she merely let out the bemused giggle she'd been holding back since he's come in and started grousing. He silently flicked up another finger and gave her a rude gesture for her response.

"Come now, the most accomplished Potions Master in all of England, and you couldn't whip up a simple healing balm?"

"That, Miss Granger, is not the point."

"Ah," she nodded, standing now, "so it's back to Miss Granger is it? I would have thought last night changed all that... Would have thought it changed a few things, actually."

"Ah. Yes. Your note," he continued, curt but not entirely unkindly. He one-handedly unfolded the parchment and read by the light of the fire. "'Dear Severus.' Lovely bit of familiarity there. I should have known the rest of the note would be just as atrocious. 'Dear Severus, I was just writing to see if you'd received an invitation to Professor Slughorn's holiday party. I only just received mine,' etcetera, etcetera..." He stuffed the parchment back in his pocket and glared, though only slightly less menacingly than Hermione remembered him doing in school.

"Well," she began, "I wasn't sure you'd been invited..."

"Oh?"

Obviously he was not buying that, she thought. "And every year, Professor Slughorn tries to sit me next to some pompous rich snob in hopes we'll get engaged between courses."

"You've survived worse, Miss Granger. I happen to remember a certain Dark Lord - - "

"Regardless! I still don't particularly fancy having to play find the Bludger with a tipsy Cormac McLaggen either!"

Snape remained still but raised a perfectly arched eyebrow.

"Oh, all right." Hermione sighed. "Without pretense, or disillusion, I would very much like to go with you."

"Go on."

She very nearly stamped her foot. "I'd like... For you to accompany me."

His eyebrow raised another nearly imperceptible millimeter.

"Oh, for Merlin's sake! I want to been seen with you! I want everyone in the British wizarding world -- and possibly Africa, Asia, and the Americas -- to know you and I are seeing one another!"

"There. That wasn't so difficult, was it?" He turned to exit the way he'd come in and said without turning around "I'll be picking you up at half-six. I expect you'll be ready."

The door closed behind him as Hermione smirked and muttered "Prick."