Prologue - A Fateful Kiss

Hermione was having a very good day. It was her eighteenth birthday, and so far, she had received many presents. Of course, she didn't think that birthdays (and Christmas) were all about presents, but knew that love and friendship were the best presents one could get - but a first edition copy of 20th Century Potions still managed to make her heart speed up and her breath hitch in her throat.

Unwrapping, the expensive book, she carefully examined the soft leather and the exquisite parchment.

"Hello, Earth to Hermione!" Harry waved his hand in front of her eyes, trying to get her attention, while Ron stared at him, not getting the Muggle reference.

"Hmm?" She didn't look up. She had wanted this book since the beginning of her sixth year. She had asked Professor Snape repeatedly to give her a pass for the restricted section of the library so that she could study it for her N.E.W.T. Advanced Potions class. Among seven other students, Hermione had chosen Potions as one of her N.E.W.T. classes, simply because she liked the subject and had hoped it would provide a bit of a challenge. So far, the exacting Professor had not disappointed her, making the assignments increasingly difficult until, at the end of her sixth year, she had to stay up one night in order to finish an essay. She had been thrilled.

"Hermione!"

"What?" she asked, finally looking up.

"I asked you if you wanted to go to Hogsmeade tonight, with Ron, Ginny and me," Harry said. "We want to celebrate your birthday."

"Sorry, I was a bit distracted, but of course I'll come," she said, still a bit absent. She opened the book and gasped. In Professor Snape's elegant handwriting was a short note written on the first page.

Miss Granger,

I hope now, that you finally own a copy of the book so obviously special to you, you will refrain from knocking at my office door late at night because you feel you are not able to sleep without reading paragraph two of page 143 once again.

- Professor S. Snape

Hermione giggled. That was typically Snape. He spent more money than any reasonable person would, only to get rid of her.

"Hermione!" Ron said empathically. "I know it's your birthday, but I was trying to have a conversation with you."

Hermione looked at him, an apologetic look on her face. "I'm really sorry, Ron. I promise I'll listen."

Ron eyed her suspiciously. She had her hand on the cover, protectively hugging the book to her chest. He could practically see her mind wandering back to the book.

"It's only a book, Hermione!" he said, a bit miffed that she paid more attention to that stupid book than to her supposed best friend.

"It's not just a book! It's 20th Century Potions!"

She said the book title as if he was supposed to bow in front of the thing, her eyes shining with excitement.

Ron just shrugged."Who sent it, anyway?" he asked.

"Professor Snape did," she smiled, opening the book again.

"Snape!" Ron echoed, although his tone of voice very different from Hermione's. "Whatever for?"

Hermione's head whipped around to look at him properly. She narrowed her eyes and snapped, "Ron, just because you don't have a sense for academics and literature doesn't mean that everyone has to be as ignorant as you are." She put the book into her bag, along with various other gifts she had received during breakfast. "And for your information, I respect Professor Snape for his intellect and skill in potion making, and now, I'm going to thank him for the present he gave me."

Hermione stood up and wanted to turn towards the Head Table, but then saw that Professor Snape wasn't present yet. Determined not to sit down again, she stalked off towards the huge wooden doors that led out of the Great Hall in search of her teacher.

Just when she was about to step through the doors, she bumped into someone."Professor Snape!" she gasped. "I'm sorry. I wasn't looking."

"That much was obvious," he said, straightening his robes. He wanted to move on to his place, but found that his prize student was blocking the way. "You are standing in the way, Miss Granger."

"Sorry, sir. However, I wanted to talk to you. About the book-"

"Miss Granger," the Potions Master interrupted. "I can only advise you to take the note seriously. I hope I will not see you in my office after hours again."At his words, a couple of Ravenclaws sitting near them raised their eyebrows. Professor Snape glared at them.

"I'm sorry, sir. I promise I will not disturb you any more," Hermione said. She wasn't intimidated in the least, but that came probably from her euphoria. She still couldn't grasp the fact that she now possessed one of the best contemporary guides to brewing potions and testing their effectiveness. Her heart nearly stopped when she thought of the chapter about developing potions.

Maybe it was that thought that triggered it; maybe it was one of those situations that people said was inevitable. Nevertheless, one way or the other, what was about to happen would change the lives of the two people who least expected it to happen.

"Sir, I just… I wanted to say… Thank you, Professor Snape," she said, and probably out of impulse, leaned forward and gave him a quick kiss on his cheek.

The professor's eyes widened and almost every sound in the Great Hall died.Snape stood stock-still; shaken to the core by the magic he felt shoot through him and the strange warmth that seemed concentrated on his right hand when Miss Granger kissed him. Fortunately, not everyone in the Great Hall saw the light that appeared to engulf both.

Hermione too felt the effects; she did not know what had just happened she expected Professor Snape to be furious. However, he simply stared at her. Looking around, she found others staring, too. She frowned. "What?"

She looked over to the Head Table; Professor Dumbledore's eyes were twinkling so brightly she thought they would blind her.

Her professor interrupted her, once again. He grabbed her arms and dragged her out of the Great Hall. He didn't let go as they made their way to the potions classroom.

The Headmaster intercepted them.

"Professor Snape, Miss Granger, I would like to see you both in my office now, so we may discuss what just occurred."

Following the Headmaster to his office Snape pushed her towards a chair, gesturing for her to sit down, and then started pacing.

"What have you done, you foolish little girl?" he asked finally, his eyes staring accusingly at her.

"What…?" Hermione was confused. "What was that light Professor? What happened? What does it mean?"

"Why did you kiss me you foolish chit?"

"On the cheek," she defended herself.

"Exactly!" he yelled, as if a quick peck on the cheek was worse than grabbing his privates in front of everyone.

"And only to say thank you," she continued.

"You really don't know, do you?" he said, and started pacing again.

"Know what?" She was getting more confused by the minute. He didn't make sense at all, and it was Professor Snape, for Merlin's sake. He had to make sense. It was one of those unwritten laws that Snape knew the answer to every question, and made fun of everyone who didn't.

"That's enough Severus." Dumbledore said, "Miss Granger obviously has no idea what has happened. You cannot blame her for this and you know it. This would have happened sooner or later."

"Miss Granger, I'm afraid that, the Ancient Ones have decided that you and Professor Snape are to be bound to each other."

A/N: This story is rewritten with permission of Donotsrocks story "It All Started With a Kiss" on It was originally posted by me in July of 2006.

I have changed some things from the original first four chapters of the story in order to make it more my own. Otherwise, those chapters are as Donotsrock wrote them. This story is not complete but I do have twenty chapters written and will be finishing this story. (With help from Nicole! –hint hint-)