He sat in his chair busy doing whatever it is Potions Masters do after the end of the school year, or at least, pretending to. He was waiting. Waiting for the knock at his office door he was sure was coming. He wasn't disappointed.
Looking up, he smirked, "Miss Granger. What may I do for you?" He knew why she was here; he just wanted to make her say it.
The girl in front of him stood and shuffled her feet as he stared at her. With an uplift of her chin, she stood straight and tall and stared him in the eye, "I came to say goodbye Professor, and to thank you for being the one teacher who refused to let me be anything less that I could be. You pushed and pushed me to be the absolute best I could, and even though I don't agree with your teaching methods," she dropped her eyes for a moment, "after all constant bullying and intimidation are not really necessary to teach. Fear is not part of the curriculum." She stopped and waited for what she expected to be his sneering reply.
"It worked didn't it?" he said calmly, "did anyone die in my class while you've attended?"
"But that's not the point professor!" she exclaimed.
"Oh but it is Miss Granger," he sighed, "Now, what else is it you have to say? Please hurry, I do have a life you know."
She stood rooted to the spot at the very idea that the Greasy Git had a life. With a small cough to clear her throat she spoke in a low voice, "I also wanted to tell you that I admire you greatly. I know I shouldn't but I do, I've spent the past year watching you. Watching the way you move, your hands as you prepare ingredients, even as you mark essays." She gulped, "I wanted you to know that I'm in love with you."
Snape looked at her for a long moment before speaking, "What exactly do you wish for me to say? That I have been secretly harbouring a longing for you? Or that you have brought light into my otherwise hopeless existence? That I return your feelings and wish for you to marry me?" He shook his head, "I'm sorry Miss Granger, but all of that is untrue. I have been... aware of your feelings for me." At her small gasp he gave her a tiny smile, "Even I in the years I have taught here have had students declaring their love for me before. A fact that no doubt surprises you, but it is indeed so Miss Granger. I recommend that you leave now before you say anything else to embarrass yourself and soon you will find your infatuation has passed. After all, who could really love the Greasy Git?" he stopped as he saw the tears on her cheeks.
Standing up he took her arm and gently led her to the door, "You will recover Miss Granger I assure you. Your heart is not broken I promise. Soon you will find yourself a nice young wizard who will appreciate the mind behind that hair. Although I do offer a word of advice,"
She looked up at him as she wiped her eyes on the sleeve of her robe, "Professor?"
He leaned down and whispered, "Don't marry the Weasley boy, you know you hate Quidditch and you're just not groupie material, you actually have a brain."
Despite herself she gave a small chuckle, astounded that he'd made her laugh.
"Now go Miss Granger, hurry or you'll miss the train," he told her.
"But professor..." she began.
"No, there are no buts. I am your teacher Miss Granger and you are my student. It is as simple as that. Now please, this is embarrassing for both of us so let's pretend shall we that it never happened. Goodbye Miss Granger." With that he stepped back into his office and closed the door.
Hermione Granger walked away, convinced that despite his words her heart was indeed breaking, how could he know how she felt, after all the whole school knew he lived a solitary, lonely, miserable life alone in the dungeons.
As she did so Severus Snape reached for some floo powder and threw it into the fireplace.
Stepping out at the other end he sighed contentedly as a small boy ran towards him, "Papa! I did it! I did it! I flied my broom! Come and see!"
"Show me" he smiled.