Hermione made her way to the dungeons, Harry and Ron flanking her. She was barely paying attention to the conversation at hand. The boys were cooking up some practical joke to play on Malfoy and she could personally care less, as long as she wasn't involved. She had given up trying to stop them last year.
"I bet Fred and George have something we can use," Ron said excitedly as they came to a stop in front of the potions classroom door.
Something had been bothering Hermione all morning, she'd had a somewhat disturbing yet extremely delightful dream the night before. The star of this dream, however, was what bothered her. She had never thought of him as anything but her overgrown of a bat potions master. Hermione Granger was trying to find a logical explanation for Professor Snape's appearance in her very erotic dream.
The door to the classroom opened at exactly three and the students all filed in. Hermione had been so deep in thought she didn't hear Pansy Parkinson make a particularly rude comment about her.
Professor Snape stood before the class and stared them all down. Hermione studied the man, she'd never really looked at him. He wasn't horribly built, she found herself wondering what was really under his dark robes. Suddenly an image of her Potions Master pressing her up against a wall, his lips locked on hers, popped into her mind. Before Hermione could regain her composure, the Professor had taken notice of the know-it-all's lack of motivation.
"Miss Granger, Are the instructions for today's brew written across my face," Snape said with sneer curling about his mouth.
Hermione blushed even deeper than before, "Sorry, Professor Snape,"
She put her nose into her potions book and quickly began work on her potion.
Severus smirked at the girls blush, he enjoyed invoking such embarrassment, especially in Hogwarts' resident know-it-all. He watched as she fervently tried to catch up. He knew he would get a perfect potion from her regardless of her late start. Her perfectionist attitude irked him, it always had.
Hermione thought as she added her ingredients. What was wrong with her, not only had she been daydreaming in class, she had been daydreaming about Professor Snape. Well I do admire his work, he's a brilliant potion maker.
"It's more than just respect", a little voiced chimed in from somewhere in the back of her mind.
"Shut it!" Hermione whispered harshly to the voice. As much as she wished to suppress the voice she couldn't stop thinking that perhaps it was right. It didn't seem logical to her that she would fall into the schoolgirl stupor that is a crush. This isn't just any crush, it's Snape, Snape!
"What was with you during Potions, Hermione," Ron asked on their way to the Great Hall.
"I just had a lot on my mind, I was remembering that I needed to add another 10 inches to my Ancient Runes essay," she replied rather convincingly.
"Another 10 inches! You said the assignment was for 12 inches, you're barking to add another 10," Ron exclaimed dropping his bag to the floor.
"Well, Ron, you have to admit that you and I do the bare minimum," Harry chimed in sitting down next to Ron.
Hermione gave Harry and Ron a look that said she didn't approve and the boys just shrugged. She was glad she could brush off her behavior as something else, if they ever found out, there would be no hiding it from anyone else. Yes, she had finally come to accept that she had a crush on the most unlikely suspect.
Now, what are you going to do about it?, the small voice prompted. Id there anything that I can do about it?, she answered. You could always try to get close to him.
"Hermione, are you still thinking about your essay?" Harry asked looking at her with a strange expression on his face.
Hermione pushed the little voice into silence, "Sorry, what were you saying?"
She managed to make it through the rest of the meal without drifting back into her subconscious.
" Is that all you two can think about?," Hermione asked in an exasperated tone. She'd been sitting in one of the armchairs before the fire, attempting to read. This quip at the boys helped her mask that she wasn't actually reading.
The two boys looked at each other and then back at Hermione, "Are you sure you're alright? You've been acting strange all day,"
"Yes, but I think I'll turn in for the night, I'm completely knackered," she stood with her large book and trotted up the stairs to dormitory.
"Miss Granger, late for detention…further punishment is in order, I think," Snape drawled from his desk as Hermione walked into the room.
"Yes, sir" she replied, her voice heavy with lust.
Without looking up, Severus replied, "You'll be cleaning cauldrons,"
Another sultry 'Yes ,sir,' sounded from the front of the dungeon. This one caused Snape to look up. He was taken aback by Miss Granger's appearance.
He cleared is throat, "Miss Granger…your attire is not appropriate, you have desecrated your school uniform,"
Desecrate wasn't exactly the word he wanted to use. He watched as she leaned down to pick up the cleaning solution. The too short skirt skimmed the line of her buttocks dangerously while her school tie was tied loosely around the neck of her slightly tight and unbutton shirt.
Severus gulped silently, surely the thoughts going through his head at that moment deserved a good obliviate.
Her large chocolate eyes met his dark puddles, "Am I doing it wrong, sir?"
Her breasts had been moving with an enticing jiggle, Snape gulped again, "Actually Miss Granger," he stood and walked to her, "there is a better way,"
He took the rag from her small hand, instead of leaning over the cauldron, he threw the rag into the cauldron.
He backed Hermione up against the cold dungeon wall, "Professor, Your method is much more hands-on,"
A dark and sultry smirk graced his features as he pressed himself flush on her and crushed his lips down upon hers. He slid a hand up her leg and under her skirt, causing a delicious blush to brush her cheeks.
Hermione sat up in bed, her cheeks as red as the hangings, "What the hell was that?"
"I don't know but I want some," she heard Lavender giggled to her right. Hermione rolled her eyes, grabbed her book, deciding that sleep wasn't what she needed at the moment.
Hermione knocked on the 5th year girls dormitory door. A very disheveled Ginny opened the door. She looked very annoyed until she saw who her visitor was.
"Hermione, Is everything ok?" the red head asked, inspecting her friend's face.
Hermione fiddled with her fingers, "Can I talk to you? It's a bit ridiculous…in fact never mind,"
"Don't be silly," Ginny returned to the darkness of her room and came back out with her dressing gown.
"Let's go talk downstairs, I don't think there's anyone else up," she said leading the way to the common room.
Hermione had never been really good with guy troubles, she almost felt foolish asking the youngest Weasley for advice. Ginny almost had a gift with boys; not only had she dated several but she also had them figured better than any girl she knew. It seemed only logical to ask Ginny, despite the embarrassment. This was far from the first time she had asked for help, when Viktor Krum had taken to Hermione the year before, Ginny was her coach.
They sat on either end of the squishy couch before the fire.
"Now, Hermione, What's the trouble?" Ginny asked brushing her hair behind her ears.
Hermione hesitated, "Well it's a guy issue, as usual," she said miserably.
"A guy? Ooh a new suitor?" Ginny asked excitedly.
"Not exactly," Hermione replied looking at her companion with a somewhat guilty expression.
Ginny just looked at her expectantly, legs folded and hands resting in her lap.
Hermione could see it would be fruitless to try to make Ginny do all the work of asking, as usual.
"Well, the last few nights…I've been having these dreams, I can't explain them; they just keep happening. They're not exactly bad dreams, in fact, they're quite…pleasurable," she fumbled for the words to tell her best friend who the leading man of these dreams was.
"I have a pretty good guess who these dreams have been about considering how much trouble you're having. It makes a lot of sense when I think about it. I mean he's obviously brilliant, although I'm not sure if you'll ever have an equal. Hermione," Ginny said looking at the brunette with a warm smile, "Snape may not be everyone's favorite but who wants the popular guy?"
Hermione sat with her mouth wide open. She couldn't believe that Ginny had guessed so easily.
"Oh Lord, Am I that obvious?" she said pathetically.
"No, you're actually quite subtle. In all honesty I'd always figured it was only a matter of time. Like I said he's very smart but he's also got that whole mysterious guy thing going for him. Let's face it Hermione, that's your type," Ginny chuckled.
This eased Hermione's mind a bit. At least if she was being subtle, he would never have to know. She fidgeted with the pillow on the sofa; was this good news?
"So, what's your first plan of action?" Ginny asked with a mischievous spark in her eye.
"What?" Hermione said in alarm, "I'm not going to do anything,"
"Why not? Surely he could use a good lay and so could you my dear," Ginny said elbowing her friend.
Hermione blushed furiously, "He's a teacher, and he would never want something like that from me. The man absolutely despises me with his whole being,"
"People will surprise you, maybe you just need to give him a chance to like you," Ginny furrowed her brow in thought, " Isn't there an internship this year, starting in October?"
"No! I don't think so, he would never hire me and I…I just…" Hermione was trying to run through all the reasons why it would be a bad idea.
"You can't think anymore reasons can you?" Ginny asked crossing her arms.
Hermione's face flushed as she slowly realized that the red head would not let her say not and would not let he opt out on the possibility of the internship.
"So it's settled then, you'll go to Professor Snape tomorrow and ask for an application and set up your practical interview," Ginny's tone meant this conversation was over and there was to be no more discussion about it.
Hermione groaned in defeat and slumped over on the coach.
The next day the brunette lagged after class and waited until the last bit of people trickled out. She took a deep breath in and let it out. You can do this Granger. Just go up there and say it. He can't exactly tell you 'No you may not have an application'. Oh dear what if that was exactly what he did. He won't, he is bound by the Headmaster to let every 6th year student that would like to try, have a chance.
"Miss Granger, have you lost your way out of the classroom or do you wish to serve detention voluntarily?" a cold voice came from the front of the room.
Hermione's prep time was over, she had to do it now, no matter how nervous she was.
"Actually Professor, there was something I wanted to ask you about," she swallowed hard, "The Potions internship, that starts in October, I was wondering if I might be able to get an application for it,"
She prayed that she hadn't rushed through the whole thing as fast as she thought she had.
The Professor's expression for a split second, shown one of intrigue.
"I was not under the impression that you were so interested in this subject Miss Granger," this sounded very close to a compliment until he continued his statement, "Or do you wish to just trample all who attempt to top you?" Hermione blushed at his quip, "Sir, I…wish to pursue a career in Potion Making and an internship with a Potions Master such as you would be the best spring board into the field,"
He silently handed her a thick stack of papers, "I will need it in a week's time if you wish to be eligible,"
Hermione took the small stack and walked as fast as she could without running from the room.