Disclaimer: None of this belongs to me and is definitely due to the creativity and brilliance of JK Rowling and the magical universe that she built. I also want to say that this idea was born from an old harlequin romance novel I read when i was about 13 years old. I dont remember much about it but I remembered the story and since being introduced to ss/hg fanfiction have always thought it might make a nice adaptation. I hope you enjoy and feel free to review - we all know that reviews are a plot bunnie's favorite meal.

Chapter One

It was raining in chilly gray torrents, and Hermione made puddles on the floor beside her desk as she shed her beige raincoat and hat. Even her hair was soaked, and she pushed it angrily out of her eyes. She was already ten minutes late and now her new suede boots were drenched along with the hem of her new green ruffled robes. She sighed wearily. What was the use? She had just bought the new robes on Saturday, and this morning she walked out of her small apartment with confidence. Today she was going to make Draco look at her and see a woman, not just an efficient and smart witch who had helped make his department a success. Feeling confident, she had decided to walk to the ministry, but then it rained and she hadn't had a chance to cast an impervius. It was starting out to be a typical Monday.

Draco's office door opened just as she had known it would, and he walked into the outer office. One fair eyebrow rose expressively as he looked across at her, and she could see that he was struggling not to laugh. She could imagine how she looked: skinny, frizzy hair wearing clothes that suddenly seemed to emphasize all the faults in her figure. To complete the image of disaster, her muggle mascara was running down her cheeks.

"Go ahead, say it," she dared him, pursing her full lips, which were ineffectually painted with pink lipstick. "I look ridiculous."

"Honestly, did you forget that you are a witch?" He took out his wand and cast a drying charm in her direction - she could feel her hair fluff up and frizz as it was dried so suddenly. "That should help," he said letting his white teeth show in a smile as he slipped his wand back up his sleeve and moved closer. "What's on the agenda today?"

Just like that. No notice of anything except the job, even when she looked horrible. She should have known better than to try to dress up for him. She reached into the top drawer and pulled out a few rolled up scrolls covered in complicated arithmancy figures.

"Nothing too taxing today, I approved a few of the more recent patents last week so nobody will be expecting much from us for a while. We should be able to spend the next few weeks on testing and research," she said with relish.

She liked it best when their department had the freedom to experiment and research some of the more esoteric branches of magic. She considered it lucky that Draco had been able to move past the old Hogwarts prejudices and invite her to join him when it came time to introduce this new branch in the ministry last year. Utilizing the influence that the Malfoy family money still held, he had put together a department focused solely on scientific research and testing. At worse they were required to test out new patents as the applications came in, but at best (in Hermione's opinion), they had the freedom to really dive in and experiment. He glanced at the scrolls Hermione was holding.

"Great, then I can sneak out a bit early this afternoon," he sighed. He winked at her. "I've got a heavy date with Astoria tonight. I don't know how I live from evening to evening!"

She tried to smile and look unconcerned, while her heart was being slowly strangled by the thought of the dark-haired, dark-eyed beauty he'd been dating for the past two months. It was beginning to look serious, and she was really scared. How would she live if Draco married someone else? She seemed to have loved him forever—at least for the past year. And all he ever noticed were her talents in arithmancy and charms.

"Has Severus come in yet?" he asked.

She felt herself tense at the thought of their newest co-worker. She couldn't quite get past her earlier impressions of him from Hogwarts, despite his being generally acknowledged as a reformed Death Eater and War-Hero. He intimidated her with his hard, dark face and his tall physique. He was the most abrasively masculine man she'd ever known, and the six months since he'd joined their little department had been the most trying of her work history. She still couldn't understand why he had even chosen to come work with his godson – she personally knew he could retire off of a few of his own potions patents.

"I don't think so," she murmured after a minute. "I just walked in the door, and I haven't looked."

"You won't, either, unless I insist, will you?" he asked curiously. "It amazes me how nervous you still are around him. The other day he told me that you seem to go into hiding when he's here. He has to hunt for you if he needs your help on anything."

She shifted restlessly. She wasn't a timid person. She had a temper, and on occasion she showed it even to Draco. But Snape made her bristle. She couldn't be in the same room with him for five minutes without wanting to levitate his trash can and dump it over his oily, dark head of hair. And that wouldn't do at all because Draco worshipped his god-father. So she tried to avoid trouble by avoiding Severus Snape. In her mind they were one and the same.

"I'm busy most of the time," she reminded him.

"I know, I know," he sighed. He cocked his head at her, and his fair hair, so unlike Snape's, glinted gold in the bright lamp lights.

"You don't like Severus, do you?" he asked bluntly. She shrugged her shoulders in response.

"I suppose I'm a little in awe of him," she said after a minute, searching for a tactful way to admit that she hated his guts and finding none. "I still revert back to being a fifth year, afraid he will criticize my potion."

"It's been so long since we were students, and nobody thinks of him that way anymore –now that he's a hero. He's even gotten pretty popular with women nowadays. He's not a bad-looking wizard, and, God knows, he's not poor. Oh, well, hey – are you going to make yourself some coffee? Can you make me some too?" he asked – throwing her a hopeful smile.

Sure, she muttered to herself, rolling her eyes. She may be a respected scientist and scholar but Draco still seemed to want to treat her as an assistant rather than colleague sometimes. She felt a small prick of shame at her disloyal thought.

"Of course," she replied sweetly. "Just let me get settled, okay?"

He sighed. "I guess it will have to be," he mumbled, closing his door behind him.

"Oh, damn men everywhere," she muttered as she opened her drawer and started pulling out files. She looked up and noticed Severus Snape standing in front of her desk. She had to force herself not to start at the unexpected sight of him.

She was all too familiar with his almost frightening vitality, and his aura of pure menace when he was out of sorts. And it seemed he was always out of sorts with Hermione.

"I'm expecting a shipment of ashwinder eggs from the Apothecary," he said without preamble and without a trace of good humor, "Will you let me know if there is a delivery." His broad back disappeared back into his office and the door closed behind it.

She glared at it and, giving in to a sudden whim, went down on her knees and salaamed in front of his closed door. Just as she was giving her best to the effort, the door suddenly opened again. Snape's eyebrows rose while Hermione struggled to regain both her feet and her forgotten dignity.

"I'll need you to work out the equations for this potion I am working on, maybe you could let me know when you are free," he said curtly. "And if you're auditioning for the stage, don't practice on my time.''

He turned back into his office and slammed the door. There was a muffled laugh from behind her, and she turned to see Draco struggling to keep a straight face. They looked at each other and burst into laughter, rushing out into the hall together to keep from exploding where Snape could hear them. This was Draco at his best, a co-conspirator with a sense of humor that she loved. Snape's exact opposite, in every way.

"I thought you were going to faint when he opened the door," Draco chuckled, leaning back against the wall in the deserted corridor as the laughter passed. "That made my morning."

"I wasn't expecting him to open the door," she confessed. "I couldn't help it, he throws orders around like a conquering army."

"He always has – leftover from being a professor I guess. I've learned to nod my head and listen and then go do what I please. It works half the time," he added with a rueful smile. "Poor kid, he's rough on you, I know. I truly thought you and he could move past any old habits born from Hogwarts and our school days."

She flushed at that unexpected sympathy and smiled up at him. "It's okay," she murmured, ready to wade through inferi infested waters for him. "I'd better get to work before his lordship comes out with battle axe in hand. I'll get you some coffee too, as promised."

"No rush, I'll survive," he said with a wink. "Don't let him intimidate you, Hermione. He's not what he seems. In a lot of ways, I think he struggles with trying to lead a normal life after the war."

A little over an hour later, she was sitting at her desk when Draco came out, shrugging into his cloak on the way. "I'm late again," he sighed and smiled at her. "I have a meeting with the head of The Department of International Magical Cooperation. I should be back by three-thirty."

"Have a nice day."

"I'll do my best."

"Hold the fort, honey," he called over his shoulder, wiping the smile off her face. She hated being called 'honey' like some muggle secretary from the 50's. He stopped with his hand on the doorknob.

"Oh, if Astoria floos, tell her I'll pick her up at six for the ballet, okay?" And he was gone.

She glared at the door, feeling vaguely betrayed. She hated Astoria, because Astoria was beautiful. She hated the assumption that she would answer the floo if anyone called. Astoria was black-haired and black eyed, with a complexion like ivory and the most sensuous figure Hermione had ever seen. She ached to look like that, to have that slinky walk and that air of unshakable confidence that drew men like flies. She got out her muggle compact and stared at the plain little face in the mirror with a rueful smile. She wasn't going to set any men on fire with desire, that was for sure. With a sigh she put away the compact and bent over her arithmancy. The morning went quickly, and pleasantly; Snape stayed in his office and there were no floo calls to disturb her concentration.

She liked days like this, when confrontations could be avoided. She didn't like Snape. She didn't exactly know why, but compared to her other colleague, he was like winter to spring. Since school Draco had become so personable and pleasant, such a charming man. The only thing Snape might appear charming to would be something as dangerous as he was—maybe a Basilisk. She was grinning wickedly at that thought when Snape's office door opened and he came out into the office with curt, deliberate steps.

''Did you make any headway with those equations?" he asked curtly.

She had the scrolls on the desk, having just finished them. He rattled her, though, when he used his Professor tone on her, and she jumped up and started looking through her drawers for it. His dark eyes went over her with distaste before they fell to the desk. His big hand moved, lifting the edge of the scroll.

"Isn't this it?" he asked, his voice sharp. She turned, flushing as she realized it was.

"Yes, that's it," she said for lack of anything more original. His eyes moved quickly as he read over it.

Apparently satisfied, he looked up and studied her. She wished she hadn't been standing up; that derisive going-over was embarrassing. "Seen enough?" she asked, angry at his bold inspection.

"I saw enough the day I walked in the door," he said, turning. "Is he taking Astoria Greengrass out again tonight?"

She felt a surge of pleasure at the disapproval in his voice. He didn't care for Draco going out with Astoria either, by the sound of it. "You'll have to ask him that." she said demurely.

He gave her a sideways glance. "So protective, Miss Granger," he growled. "Draco's a grown man, he doesn't need a bodyguard."

"I'm just being a good friend," she parried.

"You carry friendship to new heights." His glittering eyes narrowed. "How long have you been working with Draco?"

"For about a year," she said.

"How long have you been in love with him?" he continued, and she didn't like the mocking smile that held no trace of amusement. She felt her muscles contract, every one of them, and she could feel herself flush,

"It's hard to work that long around a man without being fond of him," she countered.

He stuck his hands in his pockets, obviously enjoying himself.

"Are you fond of me?" he returned.

"Oh, just burning up with fondness for you, sir," she replied, and grinned wickedly.

"Is that why you were salaaming at my office door this morning?" he asked politely. She felt the flush coming again and averted her face before it showed, pretending to gather up the scrolles on her desk.

"I dropped a quill. I was picking it up," she informed him.

"The hell you were." She glanced up at him.

"Was there something else, Snape? I do have a lot of work to get to today." She said.

"Eager to get rid of me?" he questioned, arching one eyebrow. "I wouldn't think a woman of your attributes would turn away male attention." She felt her face grow red at that,

"My attributes?" His dark eyes narrowed as they appraised all of her that was visible over the desk.

"Small though they are," he added with pursed lips.

"Was that outfit supposed to catch Draco's eye?" She clenched her jaw.

"I beg your pardon?"

"Those robes," he repeated, pulling a hand from his pocket to gesture toward her.

"You'd look better in a pair of muggle overalls." She stood up, seething.

"Snape, you may have once been my professor," she began coldly, "but that gives you no right to criticize the way I dress."

"I have to look at you," he replied. "Surely I have a say in the decor of our office?"

"I am not décor! Besides, its not like you should really be criticizing the way anyone looks!" Her fingers clenched. Her lips compressed. She wanted nothing more than to attack him.

"If you want Draco to notice you, you'll have to do better than that," he persisted. "You look about twelve in that getup. And what do you do to your hair to make it stand on end like that—stick your wand into an electrical socket before you come to work?" Her fingers twitched and she longed to pull out her wand.

"Are you such a prize, Snape?" she asked coldly. "Your nose is too big and your hair is oily and you're nobody's idea of Mr. Beautiful!" His eyebrows arched.

"This, from a witch who could qualify for the Frump of the Year nomination?"

"Oh!" she burst out, she could feel her hair crackling with her rage.

"Interesting reaction, Miss Granger, you should learn how to control your emotions better."

"You started this!" she accused, her eyes bright and brilliant, changing her face so that despite the inadequacy of her muggle makeup, she was almost pretty. He pulled out a cigarette and lit it calmly. It always surprised her to see him revert to an old muggle habit like smoking –something she had never imagined any of her professors indulged in back at Hogwarts. Her fingers were trembling; her body was trembling. She wanted nothing more than to curse him, to wound him. She couldn't remember ever feeling such rage at any man. She had to calm down – she knew there was a chance this encounter would get back to Draco. Like it or not, Draco was in charge of this department and he would never go against Snape. She'd seen proof of that often enough, he always seemed to defer to his godfather.

She took a few deep breaths, trying to calm down and glanced up at him apprehensively.

"Feeling apologetic?" he asked, and the cold smile told her he understood exactly why she was regretting her temper.

She swallowed her pride. Any sacrifice, for Draco.

"I'm very sorry, Snape," she choked. "I think it would be better if we avoided personal conversations while at work."

"Poor little Cinderella," he murmured mockingly, and took a draw from his cigarette while she blushed again. "Sitting among the ashes while the wicked stepsister makes away with the handsome prince."

"Yes, indeed," she returned curtly, "almost as bad as having to kiss the frog." She smiled meaningfully at him, raising her eyebrows. He turned away.

"I wouldn't hold my breath, if I were you," he murmured. "I'm damned particular about who kisses me."

"I'm amazed," she muttered. "You probably frequent Knockturn Alley to do that."

"What was that?" he asked, turning. "Not a thing," she replied with a theatrical smile. "Just commenting on the weather."

He scowled in her direction and abruptly returned to his office, slamming the door shut.

She spent the rest of the day avoiding him, finding excuse after excuse not to go near his office. She didn't like Snape, but it was even more apparent that he disliked her. He always had, since the day he walked into the office for the first time and saw her. She didn't think she'd ever forget the coldness in his eyes, the instant hostility that had met her tentative greeting. She knew right away that things hadn't changed all that much from when she had been in school. Any hopes she had for collaborating with a brilliant potion master who saw her as a colleague, rather than an errant student, were dashed. He couldn't have made his dislike more obvious if he'd shouted at her.

When Draco walked back into the office at three-thirty, she was still simmering.

"Hey Moine." Draco grinned, adopting the nickname he had heard Ron and Harry sometimes use around her, whistling as he sauntered in and perched himself on her desk.

"How's it going?" She smiled, warming to his boyish charm. He was like a breath of spring compared to his wintery godfather. "Is Severus in?" She felt her face go rigid.

"He left about a half hour ago." He cocked his head at her. "You say that with such satisfaction," he murmured, grinning.

"For my part, I wish he was in darkest hell, being slowly roasted over a fire, like a muggle cartoon." she said, visualizing the scene with glee.

"Did something happen between you two while I was gone?"

"He called me a frump," she returned with glittering eyes. "He what?" She cleared her throat. "Well, never mind, it's too complicated," she murmured.

"He doesn't like you, does he?" Draco asked quietly. "I really thought you two would work well together, but I guess I was wrong. I've noticed how hostile he is toward you. It's not like Severus; he's usually courteous and respectful to someone who can match his level of intelligence and dedication to work. You two are actually somewhat similar."

"Ah, but that's the problem," she explained, grinning. "He probably still sees me as a third year student in his potions class. I look about twelve in these robes, he said."

Draco didn't say a word, but his eyes revealed that his own opinion matched Snape's.

"Might I ask what you were doing while all this commentary was going on?"

"Trying my level best to not whip out my wand and hex him, that's what," she returned. He chuckled softly, his eyes gleaming with delight.

Want me to talk to him about you?" he asked with genuine concern. She sighed.

"Don't talk to him, please. He'll just accuse me of crying on your shoulder and it will only make things worse. I can take care of myself." She sighed, deciding to change the subject.

"He asked me if you were seeing Astoria," she confided. He frowned.

"And what did you tell him?" he asked, his voice cool.

"Nothing," she said quickly. "I told him that if he wanted to know, he ought to ask you." His face relaxed.

"Good girl. Astoria is none of his business." His eyes warmed, softened. "Isn't she a beauty, Hermione? She so different from her sister, all fiery and determined. A very strong woman with great business sense. I've never known anyone like her."

His voice had gone as soft as his eyes, and Hermione wanted to scream with jealousy. She couldn't remember ever hurting so much in her life. Oh, Draco, look at me, she pleaded silently. Look at me and love me for what I am, for what I could be_ But he only smiled that friendly charming smile that he always had ready.

"Well, I better get to work – I want to get out of here early."

Yes, because he was taking Astoria to the ballet and wanted to look his best, she thought miserably. So she'd go home early, back to Crookshanks and her lonely apartment, and stare at a book. Because she didn't have any plans - she rarely did. No one ever asked her out, her social life consisted of an occasional night at the pub with Harry and Ron and some of their old friends from Hogwarts.

When she got home she put on her jeans and T-shirt and glared at herself in the mirror. The jeans were too big and the shirt was too big and she looked older than she really was with her hair hanging down around her face. Her eyes weren't bad, though, and her mouth had a full, nice shape. If only she could get rid of the rest of her and just be eyes and a mouth, she might catch Draco's eye. The thought amused her and she grinned, turning away before the mirror could tell her how different she looked with her face and eyes animated by laughter. She went into the small kitchen to fix herself a sandwich for supper. She'd never had much appetite, but she seemed to have even less lately. Well, she wouldn't have to worry about getting fat, she told herself. She walked around the dining room with her sandwich and a glass of wine, smiling at the modest furniture. She enjoyed this apartment where she'd lived for the past two years. It wasn't expensive, but it was cozy and the brightly colored sofa and matching chair looked friendly in the gray-carpeted room with its pale gray drapes. She'd splurged a month ago to redecorate the living room in a burst of early spring fever. Now it was really beginning to be spring, and she liked the new look. It made her feel brighter inside just looking at the furniture.

She read for the rest of the evening, trying not to think about Draco out with Astoria. She'd seen him in dress robes before and remembered miserably how gorgeous he was in black. It emphasized his blond good looks. He was so handsome. A prince if there ever was one. Prince. That brought back Snape's horrible remark and she bristled again. Wasn't it bad enough that she had to listen to Draco moon over Astoria without having to put up with Snape's evident dislike as well? She stormed off into the bedroom and went to bed before the memory had time to work her into a rage and keep her awake half the night thinking up horrible things to do to him.

The next morning she wore a muggle sheath dress that flattered her smaller stature. The color did nothing for her, although the fit wasn't bad. She left her hair long, hating its frizzled look, but she didn't suppose it made that much difference. Draco never noticed the way she looked, anyway. He was whistling when she got to the office, already pouring himself a cup of coffee and looking like a man on top of the world. He turned when Hermione walked in and grinned.

"There you are," he said. "Severus already made coffee." She flinched at the sound of his name and bit her tongue before she could say something foolish.

"Did he?" she asked. "How nice."

"He's an early bird, all right." She hung up her coat and sat down.

"You're cheerful this morning," she said with a careful smile.

"I feel cheerful. I'm off Friday for a long weekend away. "I'm taking Astoria to the Malfoy Villa in Tuscany with me.

Hermione felt like a candle went out in her heart.

"Oh, really?" she murmured calmly.

"I'm looking forward to the relaxation," he confessed. "I've been putting in twenty four-hour days lately." Hermione hadn't noticed him working any harder or longer than usual but she refrained from saying anything.

"Miss Granger!" came a muffled roar from Snape's office. She gritted her teeth, casting a helpless glance in Draco's direction.

"Better go," he chuckled. Hermione sighed audibly

"Thanks, I'll do you a favor someday, he probably just needs clarification on some of the equations I gave him yesterday."

She muttered, tossing him a dark look as she poured herself a cup of coffee. She deliberately moved slowly, taking her time going into Snape's office. He knew she'd delayed on purpose, it was in his glittering dark eyes when she opened the door after a perfunctory knock and walked in. He was standing at a lab table in front of a steaming cauldron, his outer-robes were off and his white shirt was rolled up at the sleeves. It was hard not to notice how strong his forearms appeared and the woman in her involuntarily appreciated the sheer masculinity of him.

"Did you need something?" she asked sweetly. He looked her up and down, and something in his eyes made her knees go weak. He was always appraising her, as if she were for sale, and it disturbed her more than she liked to admit. She tingled when those cold, dark eyes traced her body, feeling things she'd never experienced until he walked back into her life. She didn't know why she felt that way, and she didn't like it. As a result, her hostility toward him grew by leaps and bounds.

"I need you to help me figure out a few variants for a specific ingredient," he said, gesturing to the scroll of equations beside his cauldron on the table. She started toward the table, pulling a quill out of her hair where she had a habit of putting it, aware of his eyes assessing her coldly.

"Have you been crying on Draco's shoulder?" he asked suddenly.

She scowled at him "No, of course not." "He asked me this morning if I minded letting up on you."

Her chin came up. "I slay my own dragons," she returned. "I don't need help."

He raised an eyebrow. "Should I be flattered? Yesterday I was a frog, today I'm a dragon..."

"I didn't call you a frog, Snape," she reminded him.

"At any rate, that's the wrong fairy tale. I've got something in mind for you, Cinderella,"

"Whatever do you mean, you have something in mind for me? We are work colleagues and nothing more Mr. Snape," She said indignantly, "I think can both agree to remain professional at least."

"Draco's taking Friday off; did he mention it to you?"

She swallowed. "Yes, he did."

"Then presumably he told you why?" he added with narrowed eyes. She only nodded.

"I'll be out of the office for a couple of days. But I'll be back Friday morning. We're going to talk."

"About what?" she asked curtly.

"Well, Miss Granger," he said, leaning back again with his lips pursed, "you'll just have to wait and see, won't you?

Hermione quickly noted down the additional equations he had asked for and left his office in a huff. She wanted to scream and throw things. It was if nothing had changed since she was a first year at Hogwarts. He still treated her like a child. Why or why did Draco have to bring Severus Snape on in their department. It had been so nice before.