Disclaimer: See first chapter.

A/N: I know, I know, I've been really bad about updating, but this year has been hectic, and I wasn't able to sign onto my account until a week or two ago, for some reason. Stupid internet. Anyways, I hope you will forgive me and cheer me up by reviewing! Enjoy!

Sense and Sensibility

Chapter 4

Ginny watched Hermione as she practiced a new transfiguration spell on one of the dining room chairs, turning it into a kangaroo and back, checking the notes in her book.

"It's a shame Professor Snape never loved transfiguration," She said, causing Hermione to be distracted on her next round of the spell, and the chair to hop around on its furry-looking legs. Ginny smiled to herself and continued, "Mum said he was quite horrid at it in school. Silly wand-waving and all that."

Hermione righted the chair to its natural form before sitting in it and turning to face her. "Just because he doesn't excel in transfiguration doesn't mean he finds it distasteful or useless. If it's the Professor we both know, he would have worked on that weakness in his spare time until it was anything but. I'm sure that to use it in front of those who knew his lack of skill in it before would remind him of his embarrassment, and possibly encourage teasing from them. I also think he doesn't have much use for it in his everyday life, quite like he does with potions."

Ginny, noting to herself how fervently she seemed to vouch for the professor, kept it at that. She could tell that Hermione was overly-exaggerating the man and his talents, but blind partiality, in some cases, could be easily forgiven.

Hermione continued, "He is a capable man, Ginny. We would all be wise to trust our friendship with him, just as we entrusted our lives to his care while Voldemort lived. I think, anyway, that you like him, even if you won't admit it. You aren't nasty to him like those you normally dislike, and that just proves that you find him to be admirable enough to be respected."

Ginny blinked. Hermione must like the man a lot if she had been observing the interactions of others with him so closely as well. She didn't know if she approved of her friend's affections leaning that way. She would have to tiptoe delicately about what she was to say concerning him to her friend. She turned another chair around and sat facing her.

"Don't be offended if I don't quite like him as much as you do, Hermione. I do not really know the man, just the teacher. I do have a very high respect for him though, concerning all he did for us during the war."

Hermione smiled, "I'm sure he would appreciate the sentiment. I don't know how better you could have said things, considering how little acquainted you two are."

Ginny smiled back, glad that she had said the right things.

"Anyone who truly knows him, I think, could never doubt where his loyalties lie. And, oh, is he intelligent! And honorable; you wouldn't know, by the front he puts out, but he is a very respectful man. Even you can see a bit of that, in the way he has treated Mrs. Weasley. I have seen him in situations, outside of his role as teacher, and it has strengthened my respect for him. His opinions and way of thinking is quite advanced. He has had much practice at predicting possible outcomes and coming up with fool-proof ideas from his years working as a spy. I also must say, he has an excellent taste in books." Ginny snorted at this. "His abilities and manners are improved in my eyes every day. He is not someone to be called handsome at a casual glance, but his eyes are so expressive and his countenance so strong, that there doesn't really need to be any superficial beauty to improve him. I don't think his looks bother me at all, to be honest. What do you think, Ginny?"

Ginny smiled a teasing smile that made Hermione squirm. "I think I will come to like him very well, Hermione. When I can call him brother, there will be no doubt of it."

Hermione's cheeks flushed at this and she turned away from the knowing look in the red-head's eyes. Severus was someone she highly respected, and she felt that he was starting to respect her as well, but there was nothing so far that could lead her to believe he would ever see her in a light other than friendship. She knew Ginny and Mrs. Weasley had been observing their interactions, and speculation was easily turned into almost-truths in their minds. With them, to wish was to hope, and to hope was to expect. Hermione felt she should disillusion her dear friend and sister.

"I will not deny that I think very highly of him—that I greatly esteem, that I like him."

"Esteem him! Like him!" Ginny laughed, "Those are the coldest words you could ever use to describe the feelings no doubt blossoming within you! If you don't tell the truth, I'll leave."

Hermione smiled, "I don't mean to be dishonest with you, or speak with less feeling than I own. Indeed, you can think all you want about how much I like him, but further than that, do not believe. I have no idea what he thinks of me, and until I know, it's best we keep this quiet. I don't want you to encourage me more than I am hopeful, or I might think things are more than they are. I really have no clue what he feels about me in that sense. There are other things to think of than that, anyway. I'm sure he has obligations to his family. You know how the old families work, especially those from Slytherin. They are all about getting higher status through any means possible, and, at this moment, I would have nothing to offer one of them. I have no great fortune or high rank, doubly so because I was in opposition to a lot of the old families during the war. No doubt they see me as a radical young annoyance."

Ginny was a bit surprised. By what her mother was saying, the two weren't far from tying the knot.

"So nothing has happened? You haven't even had a snog yet?" Hermione choked on air, giving Ginny more time to continue, "It's sure to happen soon, I bet. Not too soon though, which is good. It means I'll have more time to be with you before he consumes your every thought, and he will have more time to ingratiate himself to you. You could even practice transfiguration together!" She laughed at her own words and looked over to see her friend still red from embarrassment.

Hermione felt slightly relieved that she was able to share this with her friend. She felt that, though they got on well with each other, there were times when Severus Snape acted indifferent towards her, and it struck at those tender feelings she had gained for him enough to where she had very little confidence in the matter. She figured that he was still in the habit of keeping things to himself, but it hurt nonetheless. Now that the war was over, and he was his own man, it seemed as if the expectations of those around him loomed ever more over him, pressuring. She didn't want to cause any more problems for him. She felt very uncertain about where they stood. In fact, she grew more uncertain the longer they were together, to the point that it seemed at times he was just humoring her, barely an acquaintance.

She wasn't the only one wary about what was going on between them. Penelope saw how close they had gotten in the few weeks since he had arrived, and didn't like it one bit. Thinking about it made her grumpy, and when she was grumpy, she forgot to be as polite. She took the first opportunity she had alone with Mrs. Weasley to talk about the great expectations for his success, whether in the field of innovative potions, or acquiring a wife that would raise the family name. She even hinted at how dangerous it would be for a young woman who attempted to draw him in considering the vindictive attitude of most Slytherins, and Mrs. Weasley had no doubt of whom she was talking of. She gave a nod of understanding before abruptly leaving the room, determined to get a new house, no matter the inconvenience or expense. She would not tolerate her daughter being talked about in such a way under the same roof.

Luckily, help came in the form of a letter, delivered by an owl just after her leaving the room. It was from Kingsley Shacklebolt, inviting them to rent the summer cottage he owned in Devonshire. Kingsley and Arthur had been good friends, and he was more than willing to help them out in whatever way possible. He had recently married Nymphadora Tonks, and she had wholeheartedly agreed that they stay in the cottage. It wasn't too far from where they lived, and Tonks, not knowing many of the neighbors yet, was excited to have friends live so close by. It was also relatively close to Remus Lupin's house. It was smaller than the Burrow, but it could fit four women all the same. Kingsley even pressed that they should come and take a look, and that he would make things as accommodating as possible. It was all written in such a friendly and entreating way, just what Mrs. Weasley needed to hear in her moment of vexation, that she was determined to accept it by the time she had finished the letter. Yes, it was further away from the neighbors they had made friends with, but it was also further away from Penelope Weasley, which balanced it out. To leave the Burrow was no longer something painful to be done, but something desired. It was a blessing in the face of the snide and badly veiled insinuations of that impertinent woman. To leave would be less painful than to stay and suffer the insults of one Mrs. Weasley now considered a blight on her family, even if she didn't share such things. It wouldn't help anything.

She immediately wrote back to him, giving the owl a treat and stroking down it's feathers before seeing it off, whispering a soft thank you. She then decided she had better tell her daughters.

Hermione thought it was wise to move farther away from the Burrow, and she had no qualms accepting what had been done. They would be able to afford it, and have comfort from the friends around them. She only wished she was less attached to one of the occupants of the house as the others where.