Disclaimer: I do not claim anything Harry Potter or J.K. Rowling related. I just happen to love the idea of Hermione and Severus being together. They just seem to be made for one another and are alike in many ways. Just a small note, all words in italics are the inner thoughts of a character. Reviews are always welcome. Enjoy!

Stairs

It was yet another typical day within the life of Hermione Granger. With the Dark Lord finally defeated as well as his horcruxes, they were one hundred percent sure Voldermort would never come back to haunt them ever again. Though her adventures with her friends Harry, Ron and Ginny had brought them all closer together, especially one Ginny and Harry, she still held nightmares of capture and torture. Images would shoot across her mind's eye every time she closed her eyes even for a moment. She never wanted to relive those last days. No one went unscathed from the last battle, even Snape, who as always surprised everyone in the end; thrusting himself between the golden trio and the Death Eaters at that last moment along with the spirit of Dumbledore himself making a surprise entrance that enveloped the form of their professor in a loving glow that put all their previous assumptions of him being a murder to the wind. Needless to say Harry Potter, The-Boy-Who-Lived-Twice was a hero among the wizarding community. Yet here they all were, finishing up their last year at Hogwarts. It seemed surreal in a way. She thought she would never see these halls again. The students all revered them with great respect so that in itself was even more surreal to her. Though she had always been Harry Potters friend, former Prefect and now Head Girl she never held this much attention. Ginny was convinced it had more to do with her looks then their hero status. Granted they had been gone nearly a year and they had grown but she never really looked at herself in that sense. Gone was her untamable mass and in its place was left a radiant chord of gently brown curled tresses that seemed to have spun gold within them. She had grown to a five foot seven and her figure showed all too well. Anyone who looked within Hermione Grangers eyes could tell you that there was wisdom there beyond her years. She was in every sense of the word...beauty.

Hermione was once again in the library curled next to the hearth with her books all around her when she felt hands go around her eyes and she smiled immediately, "Yes Ginny?"

Ginny pouted behind her friend while removing her hands, "You're no fun! How long did you know I was there?"

"Well, I could hear your distinct footsteps and then I could smell your perfume."

Ginny flopped down next to her friend near the hearth on the rug while flipping her waist long red hair, the symbol of all Weasleys', behind her head and focused her hazel eyes on her friend in worry, "You've been working too hard. Why don't you come out with us to Hogsmeade and have some butter beer. It'll be fun." She smiled.

"No thanks, I still have two more books to review and take notes on. Maybe tomorrow." she continued her notes.

Sighing Ginny spoke in a hushed tone, "You don't have to keep in mourning forever you know. Everyone knew what they were getting into. And," she began hesitatingly, "I may not know what happened to you in those few hours you were taken from us but, if you ever need a shoulder to cry on or talk to, you know I'm here for you right?"

Hermione looked up from her notes, "I know...I'm just not ready yet."

They both looked at one another in understanding when Harry and Ron burst in breaking the silence, "What's going on here now?" asked Ron as he stood over Hermione while Ginny stood up and went to Harry with a kiss. Ron groaned and turned to her, "Please tell me you're coming. I don't know if I can endure watching Harry spit all over my sister. It's disgusting!"

They all laughed as she replied, "Sorry, I still have lots of work to do. Tomorrow. I promise."

"All right," said Harry, "but we're holding you to it."

"No worries."

"See ya than. Have fun."

"Bye."

They all left then leaving her in the silence of the crackling fire to continue her work. She gave her time turner still dangling around her neck a tiny spin to give her a few extra hours for the night to study. Merlin only knows how she felt so behind in her studies and she knew that with these last few books she'd be back on track. Besides, it helped her sometimes...to forget. Her eyes were never shut then.

Many hours into her time turner and the night she finished and felt adequately ahead in her studies. She gave a little sigh as she stood and stretched her tightened muscles while placing all of her things away. Picking up her items to leave she fingered her time turner while heading toward her Head Girl rooms. Having private rooms held many advantages along with her own bath and loo. Unfortunately she did miss the sound of her sleeping friends. She began to walk down the dimly lit corridors then onto the moving stairwells when her bag snagged onto the filigree of the stair as her notes tumbled out, "Damnit." She huffed and went to grab for her notes when the stair moved quickly beneath her, causing her to lose her balance and fall forward - only, there was nothing there. Quickly thinking, she made a grab forward and caught the edge of the other moving stair well as it flung her with against a wall. She tried to gain purchase with her feet but her Mary Janes just couldn't find anything.

She cried out, "Help! Someone!"

The stairwell moved again startling her and caused her to lose her grip as she gasped and felt nothing but fear as she fell through the air. She grasped her time turner until she saw stars then darkness."

Making his usual rounds he heard someone. Someone, perhaps a student calling for help. He walked faster to the stairs when he saw a woman lying on the floor with what looked like blood around her head. Quickly he stepped onto the stairwell waiting for it to bring her to him. Bending over her he quickly cast a healing charm on her head and picked her up. Looking at the woman he could not identify her. What was this stranger doing in Hogwarts and how did they manage to get in? She looked to be 25 years old and strikingly beautiful. Snape sneered at this. What the hell is wrong with you he thought, acting like a school boy with a crush. She snuggled deeply into him sighing, further making him decidedly uncomfortable. Thank Merlin it's dim as the signs of a blush rose to his cheeks. Madame Pompfrey would know what to do, but he would definitely need to speak to the Headmistress about the appearance of this stranger. Looking once more down at her he noticed the Gryffindor tie and uniform...What the bloody hell!

Well, it is a first HG/SS fic for me. I'd love constructive criticism.