A/N-This whole story will be the prequel to the Letters to Hermione series, and will be multi-chaptered. Again, this is un-betaed, so I apologise in advance for any mistakes.

Hermione Granger really was struggling to deal with the press today. It was late August; she was hot, tired and getting very irritated by the morons with cameras getting in her way as she tried to peruse the shelves of Flourish and Blotts. All she wanted was a quiet moment to get at her books without being mobbed by nosy, gossip-hungry vultures every time she rounded a shelf. She was a private person by nature, and certainly didn't need the public looking into her private affairs. There had been enough of that after her rather fractious breakup with Ronald, where she had caught him cheating on her with his old flame Lavender Brown.

The backlash from that little incident had been awful, because apparently men didn't really appreciate it when women tossed them out on their scrawny arses for something that was entirely their own fault. Molly Weasley still refused to speak to her, even though it had been at least eighteen months ago. This was despite the fact that she herself had forgiven Ron, and she was the wounded party in this scenario. Thankfully, Ginny had refused to side with Ron, and the pair were getting along famously after a slightly shaky start immediately after the war's end.

Nevertheless, the situation stood that she still had to try and evade reporters while doing the most basic of errands; no place was sacred to them. They had even followed her into the apothecary once, taking photos of the brand of contraceptive potion she had bought and splashing it all over the papers, with the tasteful title 'Is the Golden Girl Getting Some?' along with an extremely detailed analysis of all of her known ex-boyfriends. So here she was, slipping into the quieter areas of the bookshop in the hope of escaping notice.

Hermione didn't recognise this part of the bookshop, having mainly visited for research and Ministry purposes rather than pleasure. But that was clearly what that area had been designed for. She reasoned that she must have stumbled into the Romance section, as the covers she could see mostly depicted well-muscled, half naked men and scantily clad women, under titles such as 'The Wizard's Wand' or 'The Three Knights Ride Again'. Curious, if slightly ashamed of herself, she looked closer at one entitled 'Dark Desires'. The witch on the front had her wrists tied together above her head, and the rest of the image was a half-naked wizard with dark hair walking towards the bound woman. Unconsciously, Hermione bit her lip at the thought such a thing. On impulse, she decided to buy it, and tucked it between her Magical Law texts in case the photographers were still hanging around.

Thankfully, by the time she appeared at the end of the section there was no sign of the press. As she rounded the corner she bumped straight into a man going the opposite way, her books falling from her arms as she cursed quietly. Apologising, she quickly leaned down to retrieve her books, only to find he had got there first as she almost smashed her head into his nose on the way down. Upon looking up, she was staring into the dark eyes of her old Potions Master, who was now holding her romance novel.

Shit.

Severus was rather surprised at seeing his old student in public so soon after the potion fiasco a week ago, knowing she'd still be embarrassed about the whole thing. And yet, perhaps she had taken a more mature path and decided to simply ignore it. She had certainly matured physically over the two years since the war had ended. Her hair had smoothed into soft ringlets rather than frizz, she had gained at least two inches in height and far more curves than he was expecting, not that he was disappointed. Rather, he was just a little surprised at how much she had changed over the last two years. His irritation at being run into turned to shock when he saw the title of the book he had picked up for the witch, particularly as it was this witch, Gryffindor's Princess.

Raising a single, aristocratic eyebrow, he asked "'Dark Desires', Miss Granger? I must say I'm a little intrigued, what with the rumours going around about our famous 'Golden Girl'."

She blushed furiously, feeling her face heat as blood rushed to her head. "With respect, Professor, the rumours are just that. What I do with my private life is no-one's business but my own."

"I quite agree, and I can only sympathise seeing as how often you're featured in the gossip rags these days. Particularly after that debacle with the Weasley oaf."

"Yes, well, are you going to stand here and mock me all afternoon, or give my book back?" She raised an eyebrow in question, the light dancing in her eyes almost daring him to defy her.

Rising to the challenge, he drawled "I'm just a little curious as to what manner of erotica the Gryffindor Princess finds worthy of her. Perhaps it'll give your suitors helpful hints."

Hermione had thought that it was impossible to get this incensed with one wizard, but apparently not. Coolly, she replied, "Professor, is that the new edition of Potions Today? I have been dying to find someone to discuss the possible repercussions of combining Muggle chemistry with certain types of healing potions.", only half in an attempt to distract him. After all, it was a fascinating subject.

His face didn't register his annoyance at her not taking the bait. "It is indeed, Miss Granger. In fact, I have been rather curious about that theory myself." He refused to acknowledge the idea that had it been most others, he would have ignored her comment and carried on as before.

"Well," She started, "If there was some way to begin a potion with simple chemical bases, it would open up a whole new avenue of study to the entire field."

Silently, he agreed. "While that would be ideal, there is the issue that those chemicals simply won't react with each other to form the bases in a magical environment."

"But what if we created the base in a Muggle environment, or at least one here that is magic free, it would allow the potion to be made from it without consequence."

He slowly nodded. "What you're suggesting is a completely magic-free area, in which muggle chemistry is performed before the potion is begun."

"Essentially, yes. And I have found a spell to create such an environment."

True surprise registered itself on his face momentarily. "How?"

"The spell itself is one I found reference in a case I was arguing, where the witch's husband cast it on her to prevent her from doing any magic. However, I found that it could be adapted for use as a ward, which can make any room in a magical area completely Muggle. Even electricity works."

"This, this has the potential to revolutionise the magical world Miss Granger."

She blushed faintly at his praise, having not quite got over a schoolgirl crush on the imposing man.

"You must come over for dinner next week, we will discuss this further. I have a large amount of research that can be practically applied if this spell works, if you would be willing to demonstrate?"

She nodded slowly. "Of course, it only requires an incantation."

"Wonderful. I shall have my familiar deliver the details this evening. Good day, Miss Granger." He stated curtly, before striding away to exit the shop.

"Blimey." She thought, biting her lip. "Dinner with Professor Snape…" Unbidden, an image of her kissing him came to the forefront of her mind, which she banished with a shake of her head. She finished her shopping and apparated home, refusing to give any more thought to the dark man's proposition.

Upon her return home, she spotted a raven tapping her window with its beak. She assumed it was the Potions Master's familiar, judging by the way it attempted to poo on her head after delivering its letter. Inside, the invitation was written in his usual, spiky scrawl, denoting that she should Floo to his home the next Saturday evening.

Hermione considered her options. She could not go, and snub the man completely, or she could wander blindly into his home and possibly discover something entirely new, and not just about Potions.

Needless to say, curiosity won out.

A/N-What did you think? Tell me in the reviews! The next chapter should be up soon, although exams are definitely a factor in how quickly I write.