I just wanted to let you know that this is my very first story. Please be gentle.

Also, I do not own these amazing women. Wish I did though…But, alas, they belong to J.K. Rowling. I promise to return them…Eventually…

Ch.1

The huge oak doors slammed shut behind him, signaling his entrance even though he had already traversed the entire Entrance Hall. His black robes billowed out behind him as he swiftly made his way down to the dungeons, slipping his mask into one of his many pockets.

"Someone's in a good mood."

Snape's head snapped up at the voice and he glared at the stern Headmistress standing on the stairwell.

"I do not believe I asked you," he snapped to the unwelcome intrusion into his thoughts.

"I am quite aware that my opinion had not been asked." McGonagall's icy tone reprimanded him. "I am, however, allowed to say what I want, when I want."

The Potions Professor did the closest to an eye roll he could and stalked off down the corridor. 'How dare that woman think she can properly take the place of Albus. Insufferable know-it-all.' A small smile crept up on the corners of his mouth. 'I bet her and Ms. Granger would pair up nicely…Ew. Nevermind.'

He swiftly made his way to his chambers, hissing "Sexy Beast" so the portrait of Salazar would move aside, unfortunately this was accompanied by a smirk and a haughty "I know." For the second time that night, Professor Snape had to resist the urge to roll his onyx eyes.

Upon entering his private quarters, he quickly disrobed and sat down, conjuring up a shotglass and a bottle of firewhiskey. As he drank, however, the shotglass lay forgotten and the bottle was soon drained.

Leaning comfortably into his couch, he let himself think about the night's events. The Dark Lord had not been happy…at all. He had refused to tell what was bothering him until the very end, after he had already performed the Cruciatus Curse on everyone present, even Snape. The Dark Lord had told everyone in his Inner Circle to stay behind, the rest were allowed to leave.

Once he was certain only his Inner Circle remained, Voldemort started into one of his infamous rants. This particular one was the worst in awhile. It wasn't because anything had happened, more like the fact that nothing had happened. His usual methods of torture had not been giving him the pleasure he longed for, and many of the raids his "loyal servants" had gone on, went wrong. Voldemort finally sent his followers home.

Finally Snape was able to relax. Well, as good as a man can who has the Dark Mark permanently etched into his forearm. Snape set down the long-empty firewhiskey bottle on the coffee table and retired to bed. 'Tomorrow's going to be a long day.'

A ray of sunlight shone through one of the many windows in the Head Girl rooms, piercing through Hermione Granger's eyelids as though they were transparent. She groaned at the intrusion. Slowly stretching, she remembered the too perfect to be real dream she had just been woken up from. Strong, slender hands at her waist, passion-filled eyes holding hers as the owner leant down to whisper playfully into her ear…

Hermione shot out of bed so fast she hit the floor.

"Owwww…." She rubbed her head and sat up with her back against the four-poster bed. 'Okay, so thinking about your professor is a bad idea. Check.'

Hermione got up off the floor and dusted herself off. She gathered up everything she would need for the day and set all of it in a pile on her desk. Then she went and got a shower, letting the warm water cascade over her body as she let the stress of having such a dream roll off her.

After getting out of the shower and drying off, she quickly dressed. Realizing the enormous hunger clawing at her stomach, she threw her overweight bag across her shoulder, struggled to lift her monstrous load of books, and headed out to breakfast. As soon as she left her chamber, however, she was ambushed by a very distraught Lavender Brown and a slightly amused Parvati Patil.

"Have you seen my Won-Won?" Lavender asked as she cornered Hermione.

Hermione cocked her head to the side. "What?" she asked, uncharacteristically unfocused. "Oh…No, I just got up a few minutes ago." 'I know who I wish I had seen though…'

When Lavender sighed dejectedly and turned to walk away, Parvati grabbed her arm. "Wait a minute Lav…Look at Hermione." The two girls slowly turned to scrutinize Hermione. Said girl was dreamily walking down the hall, quietly humming a tune they didn't recognize.

"Hermione!" Parvati called to her. "Wait up!" Parvati and lavender caught up to Hermione right at the top of the staircase. They both took hold of her arms, startling her out of her reverie. "So," began Parvati. "Who's the lucky guy?"

Hermione turned towards her, none of the earlier daze left in her features. "Whatever do you mean, Parvati?"

Parvati rolled her eyes. "You're never that dreamy. So that means you have to like someone. Who is it?"

A smirk played upon the corners of Hermione's lips as she thought of an answer that was sure to get them off her back. "Why, Severus Snape, of course."

As expected, both girls' hands flew to their mouths, effectively freeing Hermione. Her smile grew as she purposefully strode towards the Great Hall. As soon as she was out of earshot and eyesight she burst into laughter. 'The look on their faces…'

Finally, she strolled through the huge oak doors leading to food. The smell that greeted her was amazing. She began to salivate, not realizing exactly how hungry a dream like that could make someone. She slid into her usual place between Harry and Ron. She leaned into Ron with a small smile.

"I just thought I'd let you know, Won-Won, that someone is looking for you."

Ron's face paled considerably and he hurried to get out of his seat to leave the Hall. Lavender and Parvati, however, had quickly come to and were just entering. The entire Great Hall was treated a shrill "Won-Won!" before Ron was whisked away by lavender to some unknown location.

Hermione was paying absolutely no attention to them. Her chocolate eyes were instead directed at the Head Table, observing a certain Professor's every move. The way long, slender fingers curled around the stem of a golden goblet, bringing it to pink lips, wetting them to a darker shade. The small scowl that twisted said lips after the Professor realized only straight pumpkin juice was there, instead of the usual laced with Bailey's Irish Cream.

Harry noticed his friend's far away look and followed the direction of her eyes. It was hard to tell exactly who she was gazing at, but he could narrow it down between two of them, as they sat beside each other.

"Hermione?"

"…"

"Hermione!"

She jumped, startled, and shyly turned back to face Harry. "Yes?"

"I've just been trying to ask you what's up. You've been staring at the Head Table for a good five minutes. What's goin' on?" Harry scooted a little closer with a concerned look on his face.

Hermione blushed and looked down, pushing her mashed potatoes around her plate. "I-Nothing. I'm just tired. I don't really know what I was even looking at." She glanced sideways at him with a small, reassuring smile.

Harry sighed. "Whatever you say. You should probably start getting more sleep though. You really are doing too much."

"Sure." Hermione's smile widened as she got up for class. "Coming?" She held out her hand.

Harry took it reluctantly. "Of course. Yay for Transfiguration." With a roll of his eyes he got up also and followed her to the Transfiguration classroom.

The lesson progressed as usual, one teacher striving to get too many students to actually learn something. Today, Professor McGonagall was trying desperately to get both Gryffindors and Slytherins alike to follow the directions and turn their quills into pins. A very easy lesson, as she was not feeling well, but difficult nonetheless to get her students to…

"Pay attention, Mr. Weasley!" Professor McGonagall strode towards his desk, nostrils flaring. "What is that you have on your desk?"

"N-Nothing, Professor." Stuttered Ron as he tried to slip the note he had just been about to pass to Harry underneath his book. "Just some notes for Transfiguration." His ears were gradually taking on their trademark red as he slipped down in his seat, trying to hide from everyone's stares.

"Well, if that be the case…" McGonagall extended her hand. "Then you won't mind me looking at what you thought was important enough to be written instead of watching." The last word was ground out with a low growl.

Ron's face got, if possible, even more red, and after glancing guiltily at Harry, he slipped the note out of its hiding spot and held it out to McGonagall.

McGonagall's long fingers snatched the note out of his hand. She quickly unfolded it and scanned the contents. Only one person noticed the slight blush that formed on her cheeks.

"Back to work, everybody." She barked as she slid the note into her robe pocket. She sat back down at her desk, quietly fuming, and glared at the redhead and his friend.