Granger had taught alongside Snape for a little over seven months now. Since "graduating" five years prior to beginning her career, Hogwarts had adopted a newly Ministry approved cross-curricular teaching approach. Thus, forcing the infamous dungeon bat and Gryffindor princess to create an intertwined DADA and potions curriculum. The Ministry, having been inspired by the Golden Trio's horcrux hunt, practically flooded the budged with funds to ensure that students received a top-notch magical education; for the first time in half a century, Hogwarts was the school to be at to receive your education.
The aforementioned dungeon bat was leisurely eating his usual afternoon snack and on the receiving end of one of Hermione Granger's glares.
"What do you want to do with curriculum?" he offered.
Hermione was fuming: curriculum had been continuously pushed to the bottom of the staff meeting agenda as OWLs and NEWTs approached. She had fantastic ideas for next year's defense and potions curriculum that she hoped Severus would be interested in piloting after the spring holidays. "Plan next year, of course!"
"Well Granger, we have to get through NEWTS and OWLs before we can really dive into things. You know the Ministry is looking for us to make a mistake and pull funding."
"I'm well aware of what the Ministry of Magic is looking at, Professor Snape." And with that statement, Hermione practically billowed out of the staff room towards Headmistress McGonagall's office.
The gargoyle leapt aside at the sight of the potions mistress, and Hermione quickly ascended the staircase.
"What did he do now?" Minerva McGonagall barely looked up from her stack of parchment as Hermione ungraciously flopped into the chair in front of Minerva's desk.
"Asked him about curriculum for next year and he goes 'what do you want to do with curriculum?' The fuck do you think I want to do with curriculum—pilot it, you daft dimbo!" Hermione shrieked and threw her hands up in the air in frustration.
"This really is getting out of hand, Hermione. You need to either come clean to the man or build a bridge and get over it. He hasn't mentioned being interested in more than the one woman in all the years I've worked with him." Minerva paused and looked over her spectacles. "Gryffindors are protective of their cubs, and I just don't want to see you get hurt."
Hermione sighed and looked at her hands dejectedly. "You and I both know that this is uncharted water. The man is impossible to read."
"Yet he showed up to one social gathering, and we're still reeling." Minerva returned to reading her correspondence. "You have NEWT potions in ten minutes."
The statement hung between the former head of house and potions mistress. Hermione pulled herself out of the chair and left the headmistress's office in a huff.
"To be young and in love, correct, Albus?" Minerva questioned the portrait.
"To be young and years older than she truly is," the portrait replied.
