Yours Truly

Author's Note: I'm just new in writing fan fics so please don't be too hard on me! Please review so that I can improve. Thanks! Enjoy reading )

Disclaimer: I don't own these characters and I'm not making money out of it.

Chapter 1

A Letter from a Black Heart

Severus Snape, the potions master is the least favorite teacher of every student (except those in Slytherin) in Hogwarts. He is cold, cruel, and a death eater. Unbeknownst to everyone, there is a softer side of him - a side which loves a certain person. There is a room for a girl in his heart, Hermione Granger.

It is Potions class again – Double Potions of Gryffindor with Slytherin. He watches Hermione Granger with awe. She really is perfect. He thought. He walked towards her table to look at her work. Same as always, there is nothing to criticize.

"Nice work, Miss Granger," he said. Wait, did I just complement her? He thought. Hermione seemed to notice because her head snapped up and looked at him and she blushed. Snape smirked. He strode to Harry's table and looked at his cauldron.

"Mr Potter, once again your work is pitiful. You won't be receiving any marks today. Evanesco." Harry's potion vanished.

Harry gritted his teeth and tried to talk back to Snape but Hermione held him back. "No Harry, he'll just put you in detention!" Hermione warned.

"Thanks for the reminder, Hermione." Harry said flatly.

The lunch bell rang and all the Gryffindors were all eager to go out of the dungeon.

Snape tried to talk to Hermione but she left quickly with Harry and Ron. After all the students have gone out of the room, he began pacing. How would he tell Hermione that he loved her? How? And then it hit him.

Why not write her a letter and then send it by owl post? Satisfied with his decision, he picked up a parchment and a quill and started to write what was eating inside of him.

During lunch, Harry, Ron, and Hermione sat together and talked about the injustice of Snape.

"He criticizes everyone's work except for his beloved Slytherins!" Ron said in anguish.

"No, not everyone. He praised Hermione. I think he likes you Hermione." Harry said jokingly.

"Oh please! As if he would ever like me! I'm just a student… And – and… I'm in Gryffindor - ," Hermione stammered.

"I'm just joking!" Harry cut her off laughing. Ron joined him in his mirth. Hermione just smiled and looked down on her plate.

Yes, she was happy when Snape had praised her. His voice was really sincere and when she looked at him, he actually blushed! Was I just imagining things? She thought. Yes, I liked Professor Snape. He's smart, mature, and he's handsome in a way. And –

"Hey Hermione! You've been smiling at your plate for a minute now! Are you okay?" Ron interrupted her thoughts.

"Oh, I'm fine. I'm really fine." Hermione said with a smile and began eating her lunch.

That night on the Gryffindor common room, the Golden Trio took their favorite spots by the fireplace to enjoy their homework-free day. Harry and Ron were playing Wizard's Chess while Hermione was staring at the fire. Harry finally noticed her silence.

"Uhm, Hermione, are you okay? You're so quiet today. Aren't you supposed to read the latest innovations in Potions or something?" Harry asked.

"What?" Hermione woke up from her trance when she heard the word Potions. "Oh, I'm sorry Harry. I was just preoccupied."

Ron raised his eyebrows and looked at Harry. Okay something's wrong with her. Ron thought. And by the way Harry looked meaningfully at him; he must be thinking the same thing too.

Finally, Ron voiced out his thoughts. "Hermione, what is wrong with you? Did you finally crack from your strenuous reading?"

"No, I'm not. I just - ," Hermione was cut off by a tapping sound on the window. It was an owl. She crossed the room to the window and opened it to let the owl in. The owl flew to the table and looked at Hermione. She took the letter from the owl and afterwards the owl flew away to the window.

It was addressed to her. She was surprised. She was unaware that Harry and Ron were watching her.

"Who's it from?" Ron asked. Hermione turned to them. "I don't know. I haven't opened it." She said.

"Well, open it!" Harry urged. Hermione opened the letter. Her heart was caught up in her throat when she read it.

Dearest Hermione,

From the first time I laid eyes on you, I knew you were different from the other women I met. You are smart, kind, and beautiful. To me, you are perfect. I want you to know that I love you. I am too coward to tell you straight so I decided to write you this letter. Do not show this to anyone. Keep it to yourself.

Yours truly,

Your secret admirer

Who is this person? She asked herself. Is this some kind of a joke? But he seems sincere and so true. Shall I tell this to Harry and Ron, my two best friends? But he said I must not tell it to anyone.

"Who's it from?" Ron asked again, intrigued.

Shall I tell them? Okay, here goes… "Uh, it's from… from… my mother…She wants to know if I'm doing all right with my studies." She lied weakly. Did I just lie? Okay, I did but they won't buy that lame lie. She thought.

"Oh, from your mom. If you're writing to your mom again, tell her Ron and I said 'hi'," Harry said smiling.

Hermione thought he was joking but a closer look at him told her that he was sincere. She was a bit surprised at herself for telling an effective lie.

"Oh okay. I…uhm…have to go….I mean sleep…see you in the morning." Hermione babbled as she turned away to go to the girls' dormitories.

"Good night Hermione!" Harry and Ron called out to her. Hermione waved and skipped up to the stairs leading to the dormitory.

As she lied down in her bed, she could not help wondering who the person that wrote her a sweet letter is. She finally dozed off smiling and holding the letter in her hand.