A/n: Please review, the more I get the sooner I will update!

Oh, BTW, I own nothing, except the plot, although I wish I did.

Now, on with the show!

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Recently, Severus had been coming over more often to try and get to know better, the members of the Order.

The very same day that Hermione was up in the library, contemplating as to whether she should go and play quidditch with Ginny and the boys, Severus had decide to come over and chat with Molly. He originally had a plan for coming over, but it soon turned to just chatting with her.

After a while, the subject of their conversation turned to school.

"Speaking of school, shouldn't you be there making your semi-annual round of potions for Madame Pomfrey?" asked Molly, concerned.

"Oh, yes! I almost forgot! That is the reason of why I came here. I am going to ask Miss Granger if she would like to assist me in making those very potions," he exclaimed excitedly, "I am using this as a test, for, if this summer's work goes well, I am going to offer her an apprenticeship in potions for next year. It would help me greatly if she would be able to assist over the Christmas holidays with these potions again."

By now, Molly was beaming. She said, "I am sure she would love your offer seeing as she has practically gone through every book in my family's library, because I won't let he work around the house. I am proud of you for finally asking for help instead of taking the burden of doing this all yourself, Severus."

"Yes, I am sure she will be happy until she realizes it will be I whom she will be working with for the rest of the summer," he said with a sigh.

Molly frowned, "I wouldn't judge her reaction before it happens. She is so bored to tears that she would probably be willing to work with anyone. But I am sure that she would be willing to work with you, even if she wasn't bored. She respects you too much to be unwilling to work with you."

Severus scoffed, "She does not respect me. She pities me because of all I had to go through to get to this point."

She responded simply, "You are wrong. I have known her since her second year, and she has told me how much she has respected you time and time again. She respects you mind and would love to have the privilege of working with such a brave, brilliant man."

"Well, if she does accept to be my helper, she will have to either move to Hogwarts for the rest of the summer or commute there every day," he said reluctantly.

Molly froze, staring at him intently, "No, if you require that of her, then you must stay here and use our potion's room, in the basement. You are welcome to pick an empty room, because we have plenty of them this summer."

"Thank you Molly. That would be a major help to the both of us, and that way we are both here if anything goes wrong. Do you, by any chance, know where Miss Granger is?"

"Yes," she said laughing. "She is up in the library. I am sure you know where that is?"

"Of course I know where it is! I have been there before," he said defensively.

"Well then, go ask her," she shot back.

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Hermione had been sitting in the library for the entire day. She was now sitting on her favorite chair, though with nothing to read. She had looked at every book in the library and had read them all. She was disappointed because there was now nothing for her to do but go out side and try to play quidditch with the boys and Ginny.

So that was why she was found sitting in a room full of books, and, very uncharacteristically, had none in her hand.

She could hear someone coming up the stairs outside the door, and when she heard the door open, she assumed it was Ginny or one of the boys trying to get her to come out and play.

Without looking at them, she said, "If you guys would just leave me alone for a while and stop bugging, me I might come out and play with you soon. I am practically bored to tears here and thinking about giving in. But let me chose when I want to play. I will come out when I am ready."

Severus stepped into Hermione's line of view and started smirking.

Hermione jumped up and started apologizing, "Oh, sorry, Professor! I thought you were one of them trying to get me to go play quidditch with them."

"Obviously," he replied.

"Sorry," she mumbled one last time.

"Well, since I know you are no good at flying on brooms, you must be terribly bored to be thinking about playing with the younger Weasley's and Mr. Potter," he said with a sneer.

"Yes, sir. I am bored. But don't mind me, you must have come up here for the books so I will just get out of you way. I guess I will go play quidditch." With that, she began gathering up her stuff.

"Wait."

She slowly turned around, looking kind of hopeful, but he couldn't think why. "Yes, sir?

"I actually came here to see you." She raised her eyebrow. "Please sit." She did. "I am here to ask for your help with the potions I am to make semi-annually for the Hospital Wing at school."

Hermione's eyes just lit up at the thought of actually doing something with her hands. "Really, Professor?" He nodded. "I would love to work with you! Doing the potions I mean," she ended, looking embarrassed at what she just said.

"Wow, you must really be bored if you are considering working with me, the 'Bat of the Dungeons.' Molly has also given us permission to use the potions room in the basement. So then you would not have to commute to Hogwarts everyday, or live there for the remainder of the summer."

Hermione's face fell. "Well doesn't that mean you would have to commute here everyday? I wouldn't want to inconvenience you," she said, concerned.

"No, Miss Granger. Even though I appreciate you concern, Molly has given me the permission to use one of the empty rooms here for the remainder of the summer. So I will not have to commute except when we finish a potion and have to bring it to Poppy at the school."

"Well, in that case, I accept your offer." She rose, sticking her hand out for him to shake, which he did.

He jumped a little, at the shock he received when his hand touched Hermione's, looking at their still clasped hands.

He looked up at Hermione and realized that she too was shocked. She let he hand go slack and he let it go, not really wanting to though.

"There is more Miss Granger. I have brought some books containing the recipes of the potions we will be making." Saying this, he took a handful of shrunk books out of his pocket. He set them on the table between the two of them and waved his wand over them, causing them to jump back to their original sizes.

"These books are marked by muggle sticky notes." He saw her raise an eyebrow. "I went into a muggle superstore a few years ago and bought a package, thinking them ingenious. I have finally put them to use. To continue, we will be first working on a few of the harder, longer potions, and those will be marked in a pink note. Then green, followed by blue, and ending in yellow.

Now, these books are from my own personal library and I trust you will be able to take care of them. You will, undoubtedly want to read the rest of the books and I give you permission to. You may keep the books until you are either done with them or until you have finished with me and the potions."

Without thinking, Hermione was up and around the table between the two and had her arms around her professor. She felt him stiffen and instantly stepped back, ashamed of what she had just done. Looking down, she mumbled a barely audible "Sorry Professor."

Wiping invisible wrinkles out of his robes, he said, "That is quite alright Miss Granger."

She suddenly blurted out, "Would you like to stay for dinner, Professor? I am sure no one will mind," she added hopefully.

Suddenly they both hear Molly call out, throughout the house and gardens, "Dinner is ready!"

Snape smiled down at her, "I am sure they won't mind, see how I have stayed for dinner every night this week. I just love Molly's cooking. May I escort you to it then, milady?" he asked, holding out his arm, crooked at the elbow.

She took his arm. Smiling she responded with a "Thank you my good sir."

He brought her to the, then, empty kitchen, and pulled out her chair for her and then rounded the table and sat at his seat, three seats, to her left.

Throughout the meal, Hermione kept sneaking glance's at Severus. The funny thing was, that every time she looked at him, she found him looking back at her.

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Hermione had had a crush on Severus since the first day at school. But what she didn't know was that he had liked her for the same amount of time.

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A/N: Well? How do you like it? Please leave reviews. The more you leave, the sooner I will be posting the 2nd chapter!

Luv Ya,

AmberLynn