Disclaimer: I still don't own the characters :(

Author's notes:Well hello! Thanks for stopping by again! We have plenty of Snape/Hermione interaction here!
I've discovered I'd probably be a Slytherin o_0 ! Look :

Gryffindor - I'm not brave at all!
Hufflepuff - I'm not always so achingly polite.
Ravenclaw- I guess I'm clever but I don't have a THIRST for learning, y'know?
Slytherin - I bought a snake necklace when I was younger for some odd reason, and have been wearing it all the time while writing this. And I would do anything to sort my future!

Eep! Then again, I guess with all the Slytherin hotties it wouldn't be that bad xD

Oh and 'Type like this' is people's thoughts in Occulemency when they are talking to each other via thoughts.

Please keep up with the amazing reviews!! Enjoy :)

A silence fell across the Great Hall. The "eighth years" all simultaneously shuffled forward to the edges of their seats.

The goblet was sat on the middle of the teacher's table, blue flames dancing happily, seemingly oblivious to the thick tension in the magnificent room.

In most Muggle schools, a mere field trip would hardly cause such sheer excitement, but after the horrors of the war such peaceful memories bound to be gained on the trip would give each lucky teenager a link (however small) to their lost childhoods.

Dumbledore eased himself slowly out of his head chair and made his way to the front of the wooden cup. As if it sensed his movement - which it probably did, reasoned several momentarily awestruck students - the fires turned a burning red and spat golden sparks into the air. For a second the flames stilled, before a path of hot fire rumbled towards the ceiling. Several teenagers who had not witnessed the choosing of the Triwizard Tournament Champions winced as if a dragon had soared into the hall.

A slightly smoking, charred slip of parchment fluttered down into the Headmaster's outstretched hand.

"James Harrison!" Albus announced, smiling gently as a dazed Hufflepuff stumbled to his feet. "Just go through that door to the right…that's it m'boy."

After the estatic boy stumbled out of sight, the whole display repeated and this time…

"Hermione Granger!" Dumbledore beamed, and the Hall erupted with applause. The Headmaster turned to look at Severus, with the infamous twinkle back in his blue eyes.

'Now you really can converse with Hogwart's finest Gryffindor Princess!' The older man spoke in the Potion Master's mind using the powers of Occulemency.

'I thought I made it clear that I would not talk to any Gryffindor, let alone one of "Perfect Potter's" friends.' Snape responded, even his thoughts sounding full of disdain.

'You and Miss Granger would be well suited Severus, if you'd only see it."

Snape frowned heavily, noticing the way Dumbledore's statement could be perceived in two very different ways…

Severus snorted as he watched Hermione make her way to the door on the right of the room. Like he would be interested in such an insufferable girl. Woman, he corrected, insufferable woman, and he watched her closer.

No! Girl, girl, calling her a woman was far too dangerous, even if she had blossomed into a curvy, womanly figure.

Snape started and pointedly glared at the wood of the table he was sat at, until she left the room.

An action not unnoticed by Dumbledore.

*****

Severus Snape, Minerva McGonagall and Albus Dumbledore stood before the thirty chosen students, waiting for them all to settle into the chairs provided. Hermione was joined by Harry and Ron on a cream leather sofa.

For some reason, Severus didn't think it was a mere coincidence all of the Golden Trio were going on the trip.

Hermione slowly looked up at him, and noticing her Professor was already looking at her, she smiled.

This wasn't a forced smile, one you give an acquaintance when you pass them in the street, it was a small but genuine smile meant for only him to see.

Snape cleared his throat and looked away to see which other students had been chosen. A small group of giggly Ravenclaws gathered, cross-legged on brightly coloured beanbags. A few Slytherins, he noted with pleasant surprise, had forgotten all house rivalries and were mingling with a few Hufflepuffs, and even a couple Gryffindors!

Sat alone in a high wing back chair, was a lost looking Draco Malfoy. Snape pitied the boy. He may be a coward and a bully, but Draco didn't actually mean anyone any real harm. Now the blonde boy was friendless and alone. Severus couldn't help but be reminded of his own school days.

'Potter.' Harry's head snapped up to look at Snape with shock in his eyes as he heard his teacher talk in his head. 'You have a "saving people" addiction, which must be feeling quite bored by now, correct?'

'I do not have a saving people thing!' Harry thought, and Snape smirked.

'You really do.' The older man argued, but the two kept their faces carefully empty so no one in the room could guess they were conversing via thought. 'But never mind that. Do you want to help someone?'

Harry ever so slightly inclined his head in a nod.

'Talk to Draco. Befriend him. Don't let him push you away. The boy is lonely.'

Potter's eyes widened in slight shock, then darted over to where Malfoy was sat. Then the teenager smiled at his teacher and nodded again.

"Oi Malfoy! Come here!" Harry called across the room, and patted the empty space next to him. Draco narrowed his eyes.

"Why?" The Slytherin asked suspiciously, but slowly rose from his chair anyway.

"So you can talk to someone and stop looking like a miserable sod!" Harry replied with a lopsided grin.

Draco sat gingerly next to the Boy-Who-Lived (who discreetly shot a 'don't you dare say anything' look at his two friends) and then was launched into an enthusiastic talk about the amazing products available from Weasley's Wizard Wheezes.

When the blonde hesitantly replied, Harry looked up to meet Severus's eye, and the older man's lip twitched with approval.

Maybe the Potter boy wasn't so bad after all.

"Are we all sitting comfortably?" Dumbledore chimed in, and the light chatter stopped immediately. "Then let's begin."

"Here I have a list of all the things you will be expected to take on the trip." McGonagall peered over the top of her glasses forbiddingly, as if daring anyone to talk. Snape had a sudden jump out and scream 'boo', just to see her reaction.

The Potion's Master frowned heavily. Ever since the end of the war he had felt weird urgings to go through with stupid acts. It made him feel childish. He surprised himself almost daily now that he wasn't weighed down by huge responsibilities.

To be honest, it made Snape unsure as whether to laugh or cry.

And he almost leapt out of his skin when a long sheet of parchment was thrust under his nose. After a split-second he realised it was the list Minerva had mentioned. Which he supposed applied to him if he was also getting a copy, so he quickly scanned it with ever-disbelieving eyes.


HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY SCHOOL TRIP

To take a place in the Hogwarts school trip you will need:

A swimming costume

Sun tan lotion (optional, depending on if a Sun Protection charm is cast beforehand)

A beach towel

To arrive in Muggle clothing, suitable for hot weather

Toiletries

An overnight bag

A change of clothes

Sleepwear

Severus slowly raised his eyes, eyebrows knitted together.

"Minerva," He growled through gritted teeth. "Why should we need sleepwear?"

McGonagall pursed her lips and jerked her head towards Dumbledore.

"Ah. Well." For a moment the old man looked uncomfortable, as if he knew that Snape would have arguments. "To make the most of this trip, we will stay the night in a hotel, then travel back here the next morning."

The headmaster's announcement was met by a flurry of excited whispers and wide beaming smiles.

"Why could we not just apparate back to the front gates in the evening?" Severus ground out, mortified at the thought of the forced trip becoming longer.

"Because this trip," Dumbledore paused, making sure he had everyone's attention. "Will be completely magic less."

There was a collective gasp, and Snape's frown deepened.

"Sir, why?" A brown haired Gryffindor questioned.

"This trip is meant to be a relaxing, peaceful time for you, so you can all get away from the stress of the NEWTS and the events of the war. As such, you shall be performing absolutely no magic while we are away."

The situation only just seemed to hit Severus as his eyes widened comically until they looked like saucers.

A light giggling caught the room's attention and all eyes turned to a blushing Hermione, who was covering her mouth and trying in vain not to laugh at the dark haired teacher's shocked expression.

Snape tried his best to scowl at her, but failed miserably when the corner's of his mouth twitched upon seeing the mirth dancing in the woman's (no, girl's he reminded himself) eyes.

"Anyway…" Minerva continued, eyeing the pair curiously. "You will be to meet up at exactly 2am in the Great Hall on Wednesday morning."

"Two in the morning?!" Ron exploded, looking positively outraged.

"Despite how reassuring it is to know that you have maintained your hearing Mr Weasley, it is not necessary to repeat everything you hear!" Snape said coldly, and smirked as Ron's ears flushed red.

"You need not worry about oversleeping," McGonagall went on. "I think you'll find the lists you are holding perform the most wonderful wake up calls."

The students simultaneously looked warily at their papers, and with a clap of Dumbledore's gnarled hands they were dismissed.

*****

"Good job of bewitching those lists Minerva. The damn thing nearly killed me." A bleary eyed Snape groaned, on Wednesday morning in a sleepy voice.

"Then you should have woken up earlier!" The Transfiguration teacher snapped.

"You said to meet here at two. It's only 1:45!" Severus protested.

"I told the students to meet here at two!" McGonagall argued, hands on her hips.

"You didn't exactly specify a time for us teachers!" The Potions Master said angrily. "And what on Earth are you wearing?"

Minerva looked down at her black trousers and smart jacket, then at her colleague's usual teaching robes.

"I'm wearing the Muggle clothes that you are also supposed to be wearing."

Snape groaned, and slapped a hand to his forehead. He knew there was something he had forgotten. And he had no idea what Muggle clothes would look like on him.

"Would you like me to sort your clothing Sir?" A quiet voice asked, and Snape span around, robes billowing. "It's just that I probably have more experience with Muggle clothes and could save you the trouble of performing some, err… 'foolish wand waving' "

"…Okay, Miss Granger." He finally agreed after a minute, not quite sure why he was letting her do this.

The brunette, who seemed to have appeared from no where, grinned wickedly and slipped her wand out of her pocket, which he realised was much too small to really fit her wand in.

He looked her up and down, taking in her tiny denim shorts and her tight lemon coloured vest top.

"I'm not going to wear shorts, Miss Granger." Snape glared. "So make me wear any and you'll never see the light of day."

To his surprise Hermione just giggled a tinkling laugh.

"I promise I won't!" She grinned. "Hang on…" Then she muttured something under her breath and swished her wand.

Snape glanced down to see he was dressed in blue denim jeans, and a long sleeved white shirt, which was thin and light so that he would not get too hot in the afternoon sun.

"Ooh Severus!" McGonagall chuckled, and Snape looked over his shoulder to see she was…checking out his denim-clad backside?!

"M-Minerva!" He gulped, jaw dropping in shock.

"Really now Severus, you have such a nice bottom, you shouldn't hide it under all those robes!"

The little colour in Snape's face drained away, and he looked horrified. Hermione couldn't help but bite back a smile.

"Ah, here already my dear?" The three turned quickly - one of them very thankful for the interruption - and this time all of them gawped in awe.

"Albus." Minerva finally regained her voice, but it was understandably strained and croaky. "What in the name of Merlin's left nostril are those??"

Dumbledore stood, beaming brightly at them all in long shorts which reached his knees, and a short-sleeved Hawaiian shirt which revealed his wrinkly bingo wings, and large blue veins seemed to shine from his translucent skin. His legs were so wrinkled they looked as if they had been stretched and the skin was as fragile as tissue paper.

"This could very possibly be the most disturbing moment of my life." Snape said after an awkward silence. "Oh no, wait, there was that game of strip poker at Lucius's house…"

This statement drew the other three's attention - quite unexpectedly for Snape, as he was unaware he had spoken aloud - and he cursed softly when he knew he had to explain.

"Lucius held a party at Malfoy Manor with a few…'friends'. There was a lot of alcohol, we were all very cocky, and it turned out none of us were that good at poker, especially when drunk. I think at one point we started a conga line throughout the grounds…" Snape stared out into space, forehead creased slightly. "The next morning I woke up dressed only in my underwear and a pink feather boa, covered in glitter and draped over a chandelier. I'm still not sure how or why I got up there in the first place."

"…Aha, good morning dear students!" Dumbledore said enthusiastically, as a large amount of teenagers stumbled into the room. Harry and Ron joined Hermione, half asleep, and though she greeted them happily enough, Snape noticed the far away look in her eye, so quickly delved into her mind.

He almost laughed aloud when he saw she was picturing him half-naked on a chandelier. Below on the ground, there were several Death Eaters clutching there heads and moaning, trying to relieve their hangovers. She was picturing him as very skinny with protruding hip bones, and being covered in large scars and cuts.

'Close, Miss Granger, but you got my chest all wrong.'

Hermione jumped, and stared at him. Her lips twitched upwards.

'What does it look like then?'She questioned in his mind, and he was momentarily stunned she could perform Occulemency, but then he smirked.

'Wouldn't you like to know?' He teased before stalking away to Dumbledore's side, satisfied smirk still painted across his face.

Maybe this trip could be more interesting than he previously thought…

More Author's Ramblings - I mean Notes: What do you think? Please review and let me know!

I'd like to take this time to thank everyone who has reviewed this story so far - you make my writing and typing all worth it!

And I'd also like to thank anyone who happens to be reading this who has read my other story "Stare Fear in the Face" and reviewed - I'm still getting reviews on it today!! You are all way too kind!!

Next time -- The bus trip to the beach, and flirting Muggles!