Disclaimer: Not mine, which is a shame.

The Aftermath of Explosions

A/N: Well I have a snow day today because we've had a few more inches of snow overnight so I've decided to write a little sequel to my previous story 'Explosions'. If you haven't read that, read that before this I guess but it's not 100% necessary because I will try to make the story understandable without knowing what happened in 'Explosions'. Hope it is okay for you all, and I will try and make the chapters a little longer!

Hermione was sitting at the Gryffindor Table in the Great Hall and it was early morning. There wasn't that many students in yet but she was expecting Harry and Ron to be joining her any minute, or at least they said that they would follow her down soon. She looked up at the High Table to see him sitting there, surveying the Hall and the students within. He always seemed to keep a close eye on the Slytherin Table at meal times, well all the time actually. He was much more protective over his Slytherins than the other Heads were over their own Houses. Hermione knew first hand what it was like to be at the receiving end of his protectiveness, and had experienced it rather a few times when Ron Weasley had tried to make advances on her, stating that they were meant for each other, and that no time was better than the present. This enraged Severus, how could the boy be so oblivious? Clearly Hermione did not like him in that way, especially after the incident with that Brown girl. Hermione was far too good to be with someone like Ronald.

Soon, the Hall was full of chattering students who were getting ready for the day ahead of them by filling their mouths with the wondrous food which the house elves prepared – and never failed in producing an amazing banquet. Even with the Hall full, and all of the students at their table Severus never failed to find her, you couldn't miss her. She looked so happy surrounded by her friends, throwing her head back in laughter at some sort of joke Potter had told. Suddenly, she turned to gaze around the Hall, trying to find the owner of the eyes which were boring down on her and as she reached the High Table she found him. Her eyes met his, and he saw a twinkle in her eyes. He tried his best to return the smile through his eyes (because students would surely be creeped out if they saw the greasy git smiling liked a lunatic into space) but he wasn't sure if he had managed properly. She returned to the conversation with her friends after giving him a reassuring smile. He had her for Potions last thing today, so he would try and speak to her.

Hermione managed to get through the day with little bother but she was inundated with assignments. Though she knew that she would get through them reasonably quickly, she knew that Ron and Harry would pester her for 'help' on theirs meaning she would have to waste more of her time to assist them. She often wondered how they got through exams!

Last lesson was Potions, she would get to see him and at least be reasonably close to him. She enjoyed time away from lessons with him in his quarters or wandering the grounds after curfew with him (she was able to do this since she held the Head Girl position at Hogwarts) but also enjoyed being in Potions with him because he always kept a close eye on her work, giving her criticism for her work. People may think he was harsh on her, but he knew that she wanted to become a Potions Mistress after graduation so he wanted to push her. She was more than capable of doing it in half the time required to train as a Potions Mistress and he was happy to be the one who pushed her to reach her goals.

As she headed down into the dungeons with Harry and Ron flanking her, she was wondering what this lesson would have in store for her. She knew that Potions has had its shocks in the past (not saying they were bad shocks, but they were still shocks to her) and was sure that before she graduated Hogwarts there would be plenty in store for her. Walking through the door into the Potions classroom, she realised that they were the first to arrive so they took their seats silently, not wanting to disturb the Professor who was sitting up at his desk grading some papers. The funny thing was, though, that he was not actually grading. Merely pretending, and he would steal glances at the beautiful girl that was Hermione. If it was not for those two dunderhead boys she called friends, he would have gone up to her and kissed her senseless. But that would be saved for another time. For now, he had to teach. Fill their minds with the knowledge needed to get them through N.E. and, in Hermione's case, through their future career. She was sitting there at her desk with her books out on the desk, looking up at him expectantly. He had not realised, as he sat there returning her stare from under the veil of dark hair falling around his face, that the classroom had filled up and in actual fact, Hermione was not the only one looking up at him expectantly...

He cleared his throat, and stood up, striding over to the chalkboard where the instructions for the potion they were to brew this lesson appeared on the board. Hermione was the first to get started, making sure she had written down all of the instructions firstly, and she busied herself collected the necessary ingredients from the store cupboard. As she returned and continued in her concentration, he went back to his desk and seating himself, watching each and every one of his students carefully. Even though the last explosion in this classroom had brought him closer to the young girl Hermione, he did not want any other accidents. He was surprised at how well Longbottom was coping in Advanced Level Potions, but this is probably only because the little know-it-all was managing to whisper help into his ear. He pretended not to notice, but finally got so sick and tired of it. If Neville wanted to learn, he had to do it alone.

He stood from his chair, it's legs scraping across the stone floor and he strode over to the shared desk of Hermione and Longbottom. He did not utter a word, he just stood and watched over them (well mainly the girl, she took such care over her ingredients and had such precision whereas it seemed Longbottom was just plopping in ingredients left right and centre). He saw Hermione lean over towards the dunderhead, and he intervened. "Miss Granger, no assisting others with their brewing. Do you understand? Ten points from Gryffindor and a detention tonight at 8pm. Do not be late." Hermione looked at him, shocked that he would dare give her a detention, but he gave her a look that said 'I can't give you special treatment, regardless of what happens between us. Sorry' and so she took his apology, continuing with her work. It was not long before Hermione had completed her potion to perfect standard, and approached his desk with the vial in her hand for marking. She placed it on his desk, but strangely she also left a note. She then proceeded back to her desk and cleared away used ingredients and cleaned her cauldron. He tried to catch her eyes, and when he did, he raised his eyebrow at her. She just smirked back at him. Severus opened up the note she had placed on his desk as inconspicuously as possible, revealing a short message to him in her neat, slanted lettering.

Severus,

I guess I will see you tonight then. I look forward to it.

Yours,

Hermione x

He couldn't believe she had given him a note just to say this, though why on earth she was looking forward to a detention he could not tell. He hoped that she didn't think she would get special treatment...and at that, he sat pondering a suitable 'punishment' for the girl. He was also flabbergasted with how she had signed her note, not just because of the 'Yours' (he already knew that she was his, and nothing would change that) but the kiss after her name. What did it mean? He decided not to worry about it, not that he was too bothered anyway it was just that she hadn't done that before.

It was before dinner and Hermione was sitting in her room reading when she heard a faint tap-tap coming from her window. She looked out to see an owl sitting on the ledge looking rather peeved at not being let in straight away. She went and opened the window, retrieving the rolled up parchment from the owl and letting it fly off after giving it a small owl treat. It had practically pinched it out her hand, taking a finger with it too but she had quick responses, luckily. She sat back at her desk, and unravelled the parchment. It was not signed, but she knew precisely who it was from.

Hermione,

I shall see you tonight, please wrap up as it is, after all , nearing winter.

Take care.

She smiled, wondering whether or not she would follow his instructions. If she did not take her robes, then maybe she would be able to go to his quarters and warm up with him there. She did not worry too much about it, making a final decision and rushing down to dinner...robeless.

A/N: Hope you enjoyed this first chapter and that the length was satisfactory. Snow days are great, aren't they? ;D Also, I'm not sure I chose the best title so if anybody has any better ideas PLEASE let me know! Remember to review, I appreciate them so much and love to have feedback on my writing and want to know how I can improve to please you all and I'd like to know what you all think of my story and where you think I should take it in the following chapters...