A/N: Yes, this is just what it sounds like. I put my Ipod on shuffle and challenged myself to come up with a chapter for every song, no matter what it is. It is a collection of AU oneshots, basically, that are all in the same universe but may not be in any sort of order. My apologies. Hopefully it works out...let me know in reviews! =) Constructive criticism always welcome.

I wonder if she's here with someone?
A girl like that can get attention
I could just go walking her way.
All I've got to do is figure out the words I need to say…

Severus Snape brought the glass to his lips and tilted it back until the last droplet of the sweet liquor was drained. It was only his second glass, so he knew he couldn't blame the alcohol for his current thoughts…so what the hell was causing them? He stared at her from across Rosmerta's bar as he signaled for another drink. She was over there laughing with a group of her contemporaries, and he resisted the all-too-powerful urge to sneer in that direction. He hadn't seen the chit in the months since her graduation. She had filled out well in the post-war times that were upon them. As his drink arrived, he allowed himself a moment to puzzle. He often saw Potter and Weasley gracing the front pages of the Daily Prophet in various stages of their new lives, but he couldn't recall seeing Miss Granger more than once or twice. He hadn't actually taken the time to consider it before, but it was odd. He took a deep drink from the new glass and almost choked on it as she suddenly glanced up and caught his eye, her smile widening for that brief moment.

He turned his attention away, but was well aware that it was too late to take back that significant glance. The I know you've been watching me for a while now glance that she had bestowed upon him in the half second it had taken him to look away. Was he overreacting? Maybe the drink was finally kicking in. He needed to leave, he realized with a drop in the pit of his stomach. The sooner the better.

Throwing a sufficient amount of money on the counter, he rose to his feet and spun to the door, only to be confronted by a grinning Hermione Granger who was holding a half-filled glass of wine. When the bloody hell had she moved? Severus didn't find it possible that she could have abandoned her friends and conversation and made her way over to him in that sort of time, yet here she stood. He fidgeted automatically, shifting from foot to foot with the nervousness caused by her closeness. He couldn't think of a single thing that would get her to leave. She spoke first and saved him the trouble.

"Nice to see you out and about, Professor." Even the timbre of her voice had altered, he realized with a jolt. All he could do was nod as he licked his suddenly dry lips and fumbled for something to say that would get him out of here. In his rooms he was comfortable and alone, two words which fit perfectly together in his mind. Hermione, however, seemed to have no intention of being put off by anything he could possibly say, so he settled for a classic sneer and glare.

"Surprised the Daily Prophet isn't here to record the stunning front page of the brains of the Golden Trio gracing a pub," he snarked. Just the mention of their fame-given name flashed painful memories, and he regretted it immediately. She seemed to have no such compunctions.

"It isn't hard to avoid them once they've chased you for so long," she admitted, taking a final drink from her glass and setting it on an empty table. "Were you heading back to Hogwarts, then? I must confess I would love to see the place." She blinked at him, and he found himself swallowing air in a fitful attempt to rid himself of the sudden lump in his throat.

"Surely there are people just dying to give you a tour of your old stomping grounds," he drawled, his eyes targeting the door as she tried to reason the quickest way around her and toward freedom. Her grin widened, and she even laughed. Her laughter was so rich and full of genuine amusement that he couldn't help but be redirected toward her face, which was beginning to shine under the lighting in the building. He definitely needed out.

"There are, but none of them are here in such a convenient manner as you are right now." Her nerve was obviously Gryffindor bravado; it never left, he noticed with another sneer. Severus wasn't sure if he had decided there was no easy way out, or if he was actually tempted by time alone with her (Merlin forbid it be the latter) but he found himself shrugging.

"Very well, Miss Granger. I shall show you around until we reach the dungeons, and then I will leave you to roam as you will."

The fact that her smile apparently could get larger did nothing to help his current confusion of mind.

Ooooh, oooh
I just need an introduction
I keep coming up with nothing
Why do I lose my voice and choke when all I wanna say is:
Hey, hey, I've gotta be with you and
Hey, hey, you're beautiful in every way, way
What I need to say is hey, hey, and change the world in a day

It had been awkward, to say the least, seeing as how he knew that she knew every faucet of the castle so there really was nothing for him to say. It hadn't change a bit in the few months since she had left, and the both of them knew it. Severus found himself wondering what her ulterior motives were; perhaps it was the Slytherin in him that looked for it, but something told him it was there. It was when they were heading down the final corridor of their evening that he could stand it no longer. When he reached his door and she turned to leave him, he called out to her.

"Why, exactly, did you ask for this?"

She graced him with that smile that was starting to get on his nerves. "I missed you, Professor." At his scoff, her eyebrows knitted and she continued in a more urgent fashion. "Really. You were one of the only regrets I had when I left here, and that hasn't changed with time. We misjudged you; all of us did, and none of us ever apologized." When he opened his mouth to point out that the First Class medal of honor hiding in his room seemed to say otherwise, she flicked a hand to silence him (and ignored his thunderous expression). "I meant personally. I wanted to take the opportunity to do so, and maybe even get to know you a little bit, but I chickened out. Besides, you're obviously…busy."

His glare only worsened at her flippant tone, but he felt something tugging in the vicinity of his chest. She seemed sincere, and it puzzled him. Could she actually have been concerned for his status? He must confess to not having thought of her at all, but it seemed as though she often thought of him. He swallowed uncomfortably once more. "Perhaps a cup of tea?" It was impromptu and completely unplanned by his brain, and he wanted to take it back immediately, but somehow the sparkle in her eyes and that somewhat less annoying grin convinced him to open his door for her.

Once inside, though, it was a different matter. An awkward silence filled the room as he poured the tea that had been sitting in his kitchenette, and brought it back to her in the sitting room where she perched on the edge of his sofa cushions. The fireplace was empty and sent forth waves of cold, so not even a crackle of warmth could fill the background. It seemed too obvious to light it now. Severus felt his eyes darting around as he searched for something to say that would make this go faster, but once again she beat him to the punch.

"Being a war hero isn't as glamorous as everyone seems to think, I've noticed." At his surprised look, she lifted up one side of her mouth in what seemed a self-depreciating smile. "It's rather lonely, actually."

He felt himself snarl. "And you thought that invading my privacy would make either of us less lonely, Miss Granger?" He was on the defensive almost instantly. Some things never changed. She sighed, rising from her current spot and setting the glass of tea on the coffee table.

"I hoped this might." Within seconds, she was perched on his lap and resisting any attempt that he (might have) made to throw her off. She pressed her lips to his, and it was clumsy and unprepared-and also questing, and gorgeous for its innocence. He felt a small spiral of hate for himself wind through his chest as he returned the light pressure and felt her smile against his mouth. This was completely wrong, in so many different ways. What the bloody hell was she thinking? At that moment his mind and his mouth couldn't seem to reach any kind of agreement, for all he did was move lightly under her control and part his mouth. It was when her tongue wound around his that he stood up, rudely knocking her off his lap and wincing as she hit the floor.

"I don't understand," he found himself admitting as he helped her to her feet. She rubbed her hip as she responded, making such direct eye contact that he almost wanted to look away. Brave little thing, she was.

"Everyone deserves a little happiness, and we are more alike than either of us realize. I just know we are," she told him firmly. He felt himself smirk, though for once it wasn't in a negative way.

"Such confidence," he purred, and was amused when she flushed.

"The world can change in a single day if we take a chance," she quoted from somewhere in her childhood. "Without intentionally sounding sappy, sir-we belong together, and I know it. I just have to find a way to show you."

He was taken aback, that was certain. He didn't dare to analyze anything else very closely at the moment. "Fast mover, aren't you?" he murmured with the intent to lighten the heavy mood.

"In the pub…I had this entire story all set to go when I walked over to you. And the moment you looked at me-I forgot every word of it. Everything just jumbled inside of my head-" he winced as she describe his exact predicament, "and I knew it was serious. And even if it isn't, well, it can be worth trying."

"You're insane, you know that?" he relented after a long pause in which her heart sparkled in her eyes. It was sickening, really, but what could he do? All she did was smile.

In your eyes I see you're lonely…
Look at me I want you only
We belong together, this I know
Just gotta find the words to tell you so.
I had my lines, and story set
You look at me and I forget
These thoughts are running through my head
Jumbled up and left unsaid...

Credit: Hey by Matthew Morrison