I actually wrote more! Again this chapter is not too heavy on the SS/HG pairing. It will get there i promise! All rights to Rowling, and if you don't like it hem please don't read! Enjoy!

Dumbledore's letter sat on the edge of the dresser as Hermione had finished reading it. Her stomach knotted and she felt a little sick. She didn't even know how to make Wolfspane potion, it was very advance potion making. Was Snape going to teach her all of this? And not only that, her O. weren't far away either. Hermione began to panic at the thought if it all.

"Blimey Hermione, I know you're smart but this is completely unfair!" Exclaimed Ron.

If Dumbledore had asked her for this kind of help, she really couldn't refuse. She was very anxious about spending a lot of time and closeness with her least favourite professor. He disliked all Gryffindors and the fact that she hung around with Harry Potter. Although she admired his abilities, it was going to be awkward and uncomfortable.

As soon as January dawned and the carriages had left the students at the gates of Hogwarts, Hermione was filled with dread despite her best friends efforts to reassure her. One evening a week, was a evening without being able to study for exams and she felt like a failure already.

As she strode the school she heard a shout of,

"Miss Granger! Follow me."

And with that Professor Snape walked away with his robes billowing behind him. Seeming as she had no choice, obeyed and followed. She followed him to the usual dungeon classrooms, but instead he lead her further into a rather cosy room with beautiful stone fireplace home to a roaring fire. She hesitated and gulped slightly. She had to be in his private quarters. Had any other student been in here before? Had anyone been in here before? There was one deep black leather sofa in the middle of the room and a chair perched perfectly in the corner, both had a Slytherin green throw over them. How could a chair look so intimidating? Hermione's eyes continued to scan the room and landed on the impressive collection of books. She could see the countless of books she had never read but noticed that many looked rather dark and dangerous.

"Speechless Miss Granger? A first I thought would not happen."

Severus smirked, as his back was turned to her and began flicking through some pages of a book then handed one to her.

"I would like to read this by next Saturday Miss Granger. You will need to be very well informed about this potion. Only the Order members and I'm supposing you have told Potter and Weasley already about this arrangement, but no one else is to know! I will see you 8 o'clock sharp Saturday night."

And with that he shooed her out and slammed the door shut. Hermione looked down and heavily sighed at the sheer size of the book he had just given her.

Hermione managed to read some of the book each day. Umbridge was irritating her unimaginably but at least Dumbledore's Army was still going strong. She was becoming stronger with Harry teaching her and with Snape teaching her Wolfsbane, she was beginning to feel like a powerful witch.

Scribbling down the last of her notes, she closed the book which made a loud echoing thud. It was 7:45, and she wanted to be punctual for their first session.

As she entered she immediately noticed that Snape had a more causal appearance about him, not too surprised as it was after teaching hours. He was still in his teacher attire but he did not wear the outer cloak and a few of his shirt buttons were undone. Shifting her gaze before she felt herself looking too closely, she noticed some ingredients upon his desk.

"Sit. Now Miss Granger, I want to look closely at the all of the ingredients and identify them with their benefits, risks and the quantity needed. It is essential to make sure that you are fully ready."

Naturally, Hermione had done her reading and found it relatively easy to identity them and she knew how important the task at hand was. However, Snape's question continued and became more challenging for her, and finally after half an hour of interrogation, Snape looked happy as Snape could look. As he stood to dismiss her she noticed how much he towered over her petite figure and Hermione felt quite vulnerable as she would in lessons.

"That's is all for tonight Miss Granger, if you would kindly leave me be I would be most grateful." And with that she headed back to the common room.

Soon a few weeks had gone past and the potion making was stressful and intense. They had successful brewed a few batches already but Hermione felt she was always flustered around Snape when she was working, she did not want to disappoint him. He did not treat her much differently than his usual skulking self. Though any other time she tried to talk to him about anything other than educational topics, he usually shut her down. While she had been in his company she couldn't help but let her mind drift to other things, like how he became potions master at Hogwarts. Or even ask what he did for the Christmas holidays.

"This is not a social calling Miss Granger, this is a time to focus on the task at hand." This was his usual response. It frustrated her but then again she didn't expect for him to pour his heart out to her.