Title: Bitter and Sweet
Summary: Hermione had a nightmare so she goes down to the kitchen to get some tea. What happens when somebody finds her there? What happens when she finds out his secret? HG/SS
Notes: HBP disregarded. Mortal Vampirism.
Part 1
Hermione Granger woke up suddenly. Her head was pounding and her palms were sweating. She had yet again had a nightmare.
This nightmare was about what most of hers were about, Professor Severus Snape, Bat of the Dungeons. Hermione had a gigantic crush on the Professor.
Why was she having nightmares about him? It was because she was afraid. Afraid that if she revealed her feelings to him he would laugh at or mock her.
Half and hour later Hermione still could not sleep. She decided to go down to the kitchens to get some tea.
She took her invisibility cloak – the one she had begged her parents to buy her ever since she had laid eyes on Harry's – and put it on.
Hermione walked through the halls uneventfully when she finally reached the kitchens she tickled the pear and walked in.
"Miss Granger!" Dobby exclaimed. "How is you and Harry Potter and his Wheezy?"
"We're all fine Dobby, but I was wondering if I could have some tea…" Hermione asked.
"Of course Miss!" Dobby squeaked and ran off to get some.
Hermione sat down at a round wooden table in a corner of the room. Dobby brought over her tea.
"Stay as long as you like, Miss!" Dobby exclaimed and then waddled over to help the other house elves.
"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" said a voice.
Hermione looked up from her tea. It was Professor Snape. She gasped.
"And what, may I ask, are you doing in the kitchens at this hour?" Snape asked with a sneer.
Hermione, deciding to be truthful, said, "I had a nightmare, sir. I couldn't get back to sleep so I came here to get some tea…"
"Do you realize that your common room password has just changed?" Snape asked a small smile playing on his thin lips.
Hermione cursed softly.
"I do believe you wanted to go back to sleep, then" He stated.
"Yes, I did," Hermione said with a sigh.
"Then you will just have to follow me, Miss Granger." Snape sneered.
Hermione got up, thanked the house elves and followed her Professor.
He led her down to the dungeons and placing his wand on a brick in the wall said "Carntortiem Abhorse"
A door appeared and Snape walked through it, with Hermione closely following him.
The door closed behind her, slamming shut. It was pitch black. Suddenly more than a hundred candles were lit, as well as a fireplace. Now Hermione could see everything.
There was a large black leather couch on one wall, the rest of the walls were lined with bookshelves.
Hermione was astounded to see that all the bookshelves were full. More than full, the bookshelves were overflowing. She walked over to one of the shelves and was going to take a book down to look at it when a sharp voice interrupted her.
"Miss Granger!" he exclaimed, placing a hand on her shoulder and jerking her back. "I will ask you not to touch any of these books. If you do I might have to reconsider my act of charity."
"I'm sorry Professor. Thank you for letting me stay here." Hermione said blushing. "But, this leads me to a question."
"And what would that question be?" The Professor asked.
"Why are you letting me stay here?" Hermione asked, confused. Snape had hated her since Year 1.
"Because, Miss Granger, I am trying to be nice." Snape explained quietly.
Hermione sighed. It's now or never, she thought.
"Professor, there is something I need to tell you." She said softly.
"What would that be?" Snape asked, coming closer to her.
"I love you!" Hermione blurted out.
In Hermione's dreams she always pictured what would come after this. Snape's face would twist into a look of utter revulsion and he would start yelling at her.
Surprisingly he did neither. Instead her flopped down unto the couch.
It was a few minutes before he spoke. "Miss Granger – Hermione – please do not say that again. If this is some stupid joke Potter, Weasley and yourself came up with, you should know that I will take away all of Gryffindor's points for this."