A/N: Very important note: this is a co-authered story between me ( vsev ) and cearrae27.

Hope you enjoy it, we are loving it. Please do review, after all it is our first story and your opinion is very important. hugs


The stars were shining in the clear night sky and the moon cast its silver glow over the grounds of Hogwarts. A venerable wizard looked out in quiet contemplation of the unusually beautiful evening, appreciating the mild Scottish weather. A far cry from the normal fogs and rain the highlands were known for. Voices radiating from the Forbidden forest caught his attention and he turned to discover who had bravely ventured out of the safer territories of the school. Dumbledore smiled when he recognized the pair. He wondered if they were conscious of the attraction between them.

From between the trees, two figures emerged lost in debate. A short female was gesturing widely, swept up in scholarly discussion with a tall dark wizard. So distracted was she, she failed to notice a short bush immediately in front of her and promptly went sprawling in front of her companion dropping a basket.

"Miss Granger, we have spent the past hour gathering delicate potions ingredients from the forest. Items, I might add, that can only be collected on a night such as this. If your clumsiness has damaged anything, we will consider this detention null and void to be repeated with Mr. Filch!" snarled an annoyed Severus Snape. He grasped her arm pulling Hermione to her feet while reaching for the basket the precious harvest was held in. Releasing her, he opened the basket to peruse the contents.

"I'm so s'sorry professor!" she stammered, "I get so caught up in intelligent conversation when I work with you; I tend to become oblivious to anything else. If there's anything ruined by my fall, I'll return to the forest right now to replace it." she declared.

"Silly girl, you'll do no such thing!" he spat "It was dangerous enough for both of us to be in there earlier. The forest denizens are wide awake by now and would see you as a particularly tasty bite if you were to enter there by yourself." Snape finished checking the contents of the basket and grunted, "It appears everything is undamaged, lucky for you. Let's get back to the castle." he said, while turning to continue on the path they were originally heading in.

"Am I to take it then Miss Granger that your little clique of friends does not offer you stimulating repartee over the Gryffindor dinner table in the evening?" Snape was trying not to smile as he watched Hermione's face frown in annoyance.

'The conversation is sterling if the topics are Quidditch, the latest broom, Witches Weekly or who needs to borrow who's notes for homework!" she pouted. "I shouldn't say things like that about friends, I know. But they're all just so….so…." she paused looking for the right word. "Immature, Miss Granger?" Snape finished the sentence for her.

They had reached the entrance to the castle by now and the professor pulled the doors open allowing Hermione to enter first. Hermione stopped and looked down at her feet embarrassed at how she had portrayed her friends.

"They are my friends Professor Snape. I dare say there are things I talk about that they find boring. It just seems our priorities are so different. I still wouldn't trade them for anything. They are all very dear to me." she stated.

"Such loyalty Miss Granger! I hope your friends realize how lucky they are to have an ally such as you. I seriously doubt it however. One can only hope they grow up quickly so that they might appreciate your talents for what they are instead of seeing them as a means to an end for mischief." he snorted. Snape turned towards the stairs leading to the dungeons "Good night, Miss Granger. You may return to your dormitory" he called over his shoulder as his robes swept behind him. "Good night Professor." replied Hermione wondering again how Snape could turn a compliment into an insult. She turned and headed for Gryffindor tower.

From the window in the Headmaster's office, Dumbledore had watched the scene between the professor and his student play out. He wondered, not for the first time, when Severus would admit his admiration for young Hermione. Dumbledore shook his head and laughed silently to himself. That would be terribly un-Slytherin of the head of that house. Never the less, Hermione would be finishing school soon and would need to make decisions regarding her future. She was a treasure in the Wizarding world. He only hoped Snape would realize it before it was too late.

A movement in the sky caught his attention. "Ah! There you are my friend" called Dumbledore "I had wondered when you would return." Fawkes, the Headmaster's Phoenix familiar, swooped gracefully into the office after an evening foraging for some fresh food.

"I trust your hunt was successful, Fawkes?" said Dumbledore. He turned to close the window glancing once more to see the pair outside on the grounds.

Watching them enter the castle together, Dumbledore leaned against the window sill when a flurry of old memories washed over him. The events of the past and present were so similar. The situation between the couple he just watched and that of his past were enough alike to trigger the memory of another time; another place….. 'Don't make the mistake I did my boy.' thought Dumbledore 'When you find what you want, grab on with two hands and hold tight. Once she's gone, you may never get her back.'

Dumbledore turned and stroked Fawkes head before sitting down wearily in his chair. His reminiscence left him feeling oddly empty. Fawkes sensing his human's distress flew over and perched on his knee. The magnificent bird began to sing and Dumbledore's soul was soothed.