A/N: It's been a while since I've posted a story, and I've only recently gotten back into writing. So, please be gentle! I absolutely love a good Grape pairing and I hope I can do this justice. Also, there will be smut in a few chapters and maybe some dark content. I haven't made up my mind, yet, BUT I will give warnings cause I love yall. As always, reviews are appreciated.

One

Hermione sighed as she waved her wand aimlessly, stirring her tea. She closed her book and glanced out the window at the dying light.

The witch stood and stretched languidly. She was tired, exhausted really, from her recent adventures with Harry and Ginny in Romania. Her inner thighs were still sore from test-riding the newest additions to the dragon sanctuary but it had been a welcome vacation. With the war still fresh on everyone's minds, it was great to get away for a bit. Hermione felt a little bit more at peace, a little bit more connected with the world after the break.

She took a long, deep breath of the sweet country air and gazed at the mix of oranges and purples in the sky. It truly was over, wasn't it? It had been almost two years. Two long, rebuilding years and finally the nightmares were abating, she was gaining weight, she was making herself happy. Slowly but surely.

Walking over to the sink, she waved her hand and cast a silent spell. Dishes from the small dinner she prepared for herself began cleaning themselves. The sun had set long ago and the sweet night air blew in gently through the open window of her cottage. With another spell, she shut it and raised her wards for the night.

After the war, people had been reunited with families, mourned the loss of those they loved, and tried rebuilding the lives they had led before. Hermione stayed with her friends for as long as she felt they needed her. Harry and Ginny moved in together and were getting married in a few months. Minerva had reopened Hogwarts a year ago and students had slowly trickled in. Hermione was there for that as well. She was there for it all. The foundation her friends and allies had needed to rebuild their lives. Hell, she even made sure Ron was happy before she left.

She smiled wistfully as she readied for bed. Her and Ron had been together during the rebuilding of the wizarding world. She stayed with him at The Burrow for a time, though it took her two weeks to realize her feelings for Ron were simply friendly. The kiss they had shared was heated and much needed, but it had stemmed from knowing death could come any day. They had seen so much death, lost so many people, and they needed to feel something. Looking back, Hermione was surprised they hadn't slept together.

Chuckling, she disrobed and set her wand by her bed. A single candle lit itself by her bed and she sat on the edge. Sleeping with Ron was something she would have blushed at a few years ago. She had pined for the redhead most of her Hogwarts career and after moving into The Burrow, Ron and her had gotten close. There had definitely been heavy petting in the few instances they had been alone.

With a little smile, Hermione thought back to those brief, heated times. She never let him penetrate, but she was no virgin to a man's body anymore.

Falling back against the plush comforter, Hermione couldn't help but reminisce on the time she decided to break away on her own. The realization hit her hard one day at the Weasley manor. Harry and Ginny had been visiting after settling into their new home together. Ron had just been offered a spot on the English Quidditch team and he was parading around the entire house making sure everyone knew about it. Molly and Arthur Weasley was out back babysitting their newest grandson, Percy Jr.

Hermione sat at the table with a cup of coffee and smiled at her two friends. Harry and Ginny were so obviously in love. The pureness and stability of it exuded a warmth that filled Hermione to the brim. It was lovely feeling something other than intolerance and a growing strain in the back of her neck.

"We got a dog last week, His name is Orion and he's the cutest chocolate lab. He's a rescue," Ginny said enthusiastically. Harry nodded and swallowed the pastry he had been working on.

"It's great having something so happy to see you when you get home. It completely changes things. He's healing us, Hermione. Slowly, but it's just a distraction. You know?" Harry asked.

She nodded. "Of course. I might have to get a pet. Ever since I lost Crookshank, it's sucked."

"That fluffy bastard was horrible to everyone but you, Hermione," Ron said as he plopped down next to her. His face was flushed with excitement from his recent letter.

"Congratulations again, mate," said Harry with a smile. Ron grinned.

"Thanks! You know, you could play too, if you wanted to," he said. The boy with glasses shook his head and took Ginny's hand in his.

"No, I like being an Auror. Plus, all that time away from Ginny? I don't think I could do it," Harry replied. Ginny smiled up at him tenderly. Hermione blinked. Oh, yeah. Ron would be leaving soon for preseason. She breathed a sigh of relief. Some time to herself would be much needed.

"Psh. Hermione would come along with me, won't you?" Ron asked. She could tell it was rhetorical the way Ron left no room for her answer. "We've always been on the move, anyways. She won't mind."

Hermione raised his eyebrows at him. Granted, he gotten the letter earlier that day and they hadn't had the chance to talk about what they would do. She knew he would take it, and she knew she wouldn't go with him. In fact, the thought never crossed her mind. Was he really not going to ask what she wanted?

Both Harry and Ginny awkwardly looked at them.

"Oh yeah? You are, Hermione?" Ginny asked tentatively. Hermione's coffee was cold now. She glared at Ron.

"No, I'm not."

Ron and Hermione had fought almost immediately after Harry and Ginny left. Her anger had bubbled up out of her, fueled by Ron's previous words circulating in her head for hours. Ron had accused Hermione of not supporting him and not loving him. He claimed she had no dreams of her own, so she should come with him. If she came with him, he wouldn't be tempted by all the swooning fan girls.

Hermione slipped out of her robe and tossed it onto the chair. Hah! As if she was going to act as his girl repellant. She wouldn't become the poor girlfriend who had no ambitions of her own, following her famous boyfriend around and sitting in a great seat at every match. All alone. No way.

She hadn't spoken to Ron since. That was nine months ago. She really hadn't spoken to any people, really. Harry and Ginny, yes. Remus. Minerva. That was about it. And Hermione preferred it that way. For the first time in years, Hermione was doing what Hermione wanted. And it was damn satisfying.

Slipping under the covers, Hermione let the soft cotton sheets cradle her naked body. Soon, sleep was upon her.

Deep in the woods, a pair of glinting eyes watched the single witch walk around her small cottage through a forgotten bedroom window in naught but her skin obviously lost in her own thoughts. The candlelight from within danced over her curves, licking her smooth skin.

She thought she could hide herself away from me, did she? He thought maliciously. He licked his lips as the girl slipped into bed. One day. She would be his.

The next morning as Hermione sipped her coffee and nibbled at her eggs, she skimmed The Daily Prophet.

HOGWARTS CELEBRATES REOPENING WITH BALL

Headmistress Minerva McGonagall has announced a grand celebration of the reopening of the famous school. Ever since the fall of You-Know-Who, students have been slowly returning to either finish or begin their studies. To commemorate the stability of the academic year, Headmistress McGonagall-

She was cut off by the loud flapping of wings. A clumsy owl toppled into into her kitchen through her window. Startled, she stood quickly.

"Gods, what the hell?" she cried as hot coffee fell into her lap. The large barn owl righted itself on her table and scratched its head. It looked around, fluffing and preening its feathers while Hermione righted herself.

She all but snatched the parchment off the poor owl's leg and opened it. Immediately she recognized it as Minerva's handwriting.

Dearest Hermione,

I'm sure by now you have heard of the ball taking place in honor of Hogwarts' successful reopening. It is imperative that you attend. Having all of the heroes from the war at the ball would be a testament to the safety of Hogwarts. It takes place on Midsummer Night's Eve. Please respond with your acceptance. I understand your situation as of recently out in peaceful Wales, but I hope to hear from you soon with good news.

Your Friend,

Minerva McGonagall

Hogwarts Headmistress

Hermione could be a stupid git and still have picked up on Minerva's desperation. The old tabby had a point. Having everyone who made a stand against Voldemort at Hogwarts that night would be great for the school's image. It would encourage more students to come to Hogwarts. More and more normalcy would be restored for the children.

Pursing her lips, Hermione knew she really didn't have a choice. Minerva knew she would agree to come. Midsummer's Eve was two weeks away. Groaning, she scribbled out a quick reply and gave it to the owl. Hooting loudly, the owl crashed through her open window again, sending pots and pans clattering loudly to the floor.

Hermione could be heard cursing loudly within.

Severus Snape slammed the textbook closed and sent a blistering glare towards two first years. Moments ago, they had been poking at the Cornish Pixies in the cage which sat upon their desk. The pixies' annoyed cries alerted him as the professor scratched notes on the board.

"Ten points from Gryffindor. If you do not stop antagonizing the pixies, I shall lock you in the cupboard with the whole lot of them," Snape hissed. The two boys' eyes widened and they shrunk in their seats. Their classmates snickered behind their books.

"The whole class will turn in five parchments' worth of reasons why tormenting Cornish Pixies is an ill-advised action. Class dismissed," Snape muttered, annoyed. The class groaned, but one look from the tall professor silenced them. As they filed out, they all sent hate stares at the two boys who had caused their unfortunate assignment. The room was once again filled with silence and Severus let out a breath.

Waving his wand, the pixies apparated away and he left in a flourish of black robes and long dark hair.

Minerva had made him the new DATDA professor upon the reopening of Hogwarts. She hadn't asked his opinion or if he wanted to return at all. She knew he craved the familiar halls he had spent most of his life in. They were safe. They were secure. Familiar. He had coveted the position his entire career, though now that he had it, the luster of it was gone.

Students no longer stood out to him. Seeing what witches and wizards could become at such a young age, it had warped his opinion of them. When students failed to rise to any challenges, his disappointment was palpable. Life was boring now. Faces blurred into the days as they passed. Meals in the great hall was a combination of white noise and lights.

With Dumbledore gone because of him and Minerva in his place, she had worked hard in restoring the image of Severus Snape. She had crowed about his undying bravery and the many sacrifices he had to make for the sake of justice. But even still, after almost two years of her trying to right his wrongs, he could still see fear and judgment the eyes of those he looked too closely at.

Retiring to his rooms, he shed the heavy outer layers of his teaching robes and settled for a pair of black cotton pants and a dark shirt. A fire was already crackling softly in the parlor and he settled himself onto his favorite arm chair. It creaked in protest against his weight, but his form fit perfectly into the spot he molded for himself over the years. A stack of ungraded papers lie on the small table next to him. As well as half a bottle of firewhiskey. Helping himself to the bottle, Severus tried to relax.

That damned ball was two weeks away. Minerva had caused such a stir about it in the wizarding world that everyone and their second cousin would be attending it to see if Hogwarts had indeed succeeded in reopening. Families, powerful families would be coming to judge Minerva's work. The poor woman had been in frazzles ever since Dumbledore's portrait suggested opening Hogwarts' large doors for everyone to see for one night.

Most of the students are home for summer break, anyways. It was the perfect time for such a thing. Severus had to agree with Dumbledore. Logically speaking, if Minerva wanted to dispel any rumors circulating Hogwarts and her running it, she had to do something like this.

His lips turned downward. He just wished it wasn't something so formal. As a professor and presumably famed war hero, he knew he had to attend. People he didn't want to ever see again would be there. Faces from the war reminding him of all the painful shit he had to endure for the sake of Dumbledore's fucking…

He took a deep breath and followed it with a long gulp of whiskey. It burned down his throat and sat in his gullet like an ember. His fingertips tingled and the anxiety began melting away. Properly fueled with whiskey, he might be able to withstand a few hours of blotting out painful memories enough to make a good enough impression on the world.

Severus stretched his feet out to the fire and let it warm his toes. Even in the summertime, the old castle still was drafty. He tapped his wand idly, transfiguring the stack of papers out of boredom. Teapot. Boots. Bird. Candle.

Along with himself, the three golden students would attend as well. At least, he assumed they would. Harry would most likely come out of loyalty and devotion to not only Hogwarts, but to those who stood behind it as well. Granger was a given. That girl would do anything anybody asked her to.

He swirled the contents of his glass before draining them. Weasley? Last he heard he was off being some Quidditch superstar. Whether or not he would come was a mystery.

Honestly, Severus didn't care about any of it.

Liar. His conscience whispered before he could stop it. Granger is coming.

"Stop it," Severus hissed. Whatever infatuation he had with the girl after the war was over. She was twenty years his senior, for gods' sake.

She saved you. She exonerated you. She stood by you when others were unsure. She wants you.

Severus poured another glass. Memories of that night two years ago in the Shrieking Shack flitted through his head.

Yes, Granger had saved him. After the python had left him there to die and Harry had taken his memories, Granger had whisked over to him. Her clothes torn and bloody. Her white knuckle grip on her wand, deep brown eyes wide with fear and determination.

"Snape, goddamnit don't you die on me," Hermione said in a choked voice. She ripped a piece of his cloak off and pressed it to his neck. It hurt, but just barely. Severus could hardly feel anything anymore. It was fading away, slowly. The noises, the light, the sensations. Soon, it would be over, he thought. Relief swept over him and he welcomed it.

But a soft voice pulled him back to reality. The Granger girl was kneeling over him. They were alone in the Shrieking Shack. And the stubborn girl was healing him. Her hands felt warm. Overpoweringly warm. Something was happening. The pain was returning and his vision focused.

Granger was muttering a spell under her breath. She took a vial from her pocket and poured the contents of it into her mouth. Then, she grasped the back of his neck tenderly and pulled him to her, mindful of his leaking wound.

Her lips met his tentatively at first, as if she was frightened he would disappear. Then they gained force as her tongue slipped into his mouth and it was filled with a liquid that tasted like honeysuckle. Severus' vision danced and if it weren't for the near-death experience, he might have enjoyed the kiss. But his mind didn't have time to process what had just happened. Before he could, Granger pulled away. Her lips were swollen and the need to kiss her again was suddenly all he could think about. But his body wasn't working. At all. All he could do was blink at her.

Then Granger was back in the war. She cast protective wards and illusions over him and disappeared.

She never mentioned the kiss in the few times they had seen each other after the war. Once at his trial, the next at an after party, and finally when Hermione came to say goodbye to Minerva. And Snape, the supposed bravest man alive, lost the courage to bring it up to her every single time.

Severus put the forgotten glass down. What was he supposed to say? Thanks for saving me, oh hey the kiss was amazing. Want to do it again?

He scoffed. Never. He would save them both the embarrassment. The young witch's quick thinking had saved his life, and he still wasn't sure that was a good thing. But that didn't mean anything else.

He had scores of women wanting to sleep with him after the war. Dumbledore's double spy, who had danced with the devil and had emerged scathed but unbroken. Women wanting him was alien. Never had a woman begged for him the way these women had. Hell, they still do. The newest Potions professor, for instance.

But Severus was smart. In the beginning, he embraced all the women falling at his feet. Attention was not something he was used to, especially from beautiful women with wandering hands. These women wanted to sleep with him for the thrill of it. To say they did it and that's all. Not for him. He knew that well enough, but for a time he didn't care. He drowned himself in alcohol and forgettable women. He saw the looks on their faces when his scarred body was bared for them. Judgmental, horrified looks barely concealed under a forced smile. When the thrill of bedroom activities died away, he couldn't stand these women touching him. It had been four months of a dry spell, and it was starting to show.

For a time, Granger had caught his attention and he blamed it on his brush with death. Death changes people. Makes them slaves to their emotions and they crave attention. The adrenaline accompanying death had worn off now, and Snape was in his right mind again. Granger was a girl. A beautiful, smart girl. But a girl nonetheless. A girl who he was quite certain was dating the Weasley boy. Their destinies had touched briefly for a time at Hogwarts and during the war. But that was over now. It was time to snub the infatuation before it took root.

And just like that, Severus steeled himself for the upcoming weeks and what it would hold. He had lived through a lot, and he would live through

this. His conviction made the tension between his shoulders relax and visions of Granger's lips melted away as he finished off the firewhiskey.