A/N: Anything by J.K. isn't mine - obviously.

Everything in italics is Hermione remembering. Enjoy.

Chapter 2

Hermione fought to restrain a grin as she walked back into Severus' office. If someone had told her a year ago that she would be Severus Snape's accomplice in a plot to get revenge on her two best friends she would have laughed in their face. It had taken being almost completely isolated from them for her to realize how much Harry and Ron had changed. Or maybe she was the one who had changed. She no longer found their childish antics funny, and she refused to put up with their inconsiderate remarks towards her. Hermione had been at the brink of lashing out at them for their cruel words when she overheard them talking about her the previous morning.

"Can you believe she's working for Snape?"

"You know she's always been a bloody know-it-all."

"But why Snape?"

"Probably has a thing for the greasy ol' git. You know Harry," Ron said thoughtfully. " I really do miss having classes with her."

"Me too, Ron."

Both boys laughed.

"After all, who else do we have to cheat off of?"

"Ron, don't be that way…"

"Why not?"

"She also did our homework."

"Right, mate. Can't forget that. Bloody useful she was."

Both boys walked off down the hall laughing. Neither one of them noticed Hermione silently crying in a shadowed alcove close to where they had been standing.

Hermione tried to shrug off the hurtful words as she made her way to the dungeons, but she was still wiping her eyes as she stumbled, face first, into the warm chest of Severus.

"Hermione?" Severus asked in concern as she burrowed deeper into his body.

"Harry…Ron…"

"Come with me, Hermione."

Severus wrapped his arm around her shoulder, and led her down the hall and into his chambers. He sat her down on his couch and listened silently as she repeated what she had overheard. As she finished she realized that Severus was practically shaking with rage.

"Those two should be taught a lesson."

"I want to help." she whispered tearfully.

"One of those dunderheads will more that likely come to you sometime before my class tomorrow about the essay they were assigned. Find a way to distract them, and then simply relieve them of their papers. I will do the rest."

"They'll fail. If I take away their essays they will have to repeat their seventh year - regardless of how well they do on their Newts."

"You only have to take the essay from one of them, not both. And think of it this way - if it wasn't for you they probably would have failed my class years ago."

After a moment of consideration she finally agreed.

Hermione snapped out of her musings as Severus practically skipped through the door. She laughed as he grabbed her by the hand and danced her around his desk. This was a side of Severus that few people ever saw, and she considered herself lucky to be counted among those few.

"I take it you enjoyed that." She struggled to say as he continued to twirl her around and around.

"Immensely. That expression on Potter's face almost made up for every single thing wonder-boy and his prat of a father have ever done to me."

"I must admit that I rather enjoyed it as well."

Severus opened his mouth to respond, but was interrupted by a loud knock at the door. He stopped twirling her around, and quickly smoothed his robes as he went to open the door.

"Ah, Mr. Potter."

"I need to talk to Hermione."

At a small nod from her, Severus opened the door wider to allow Harry in.

"Yes, Harry?"

"Don't 'Yes, Harry?' me, Hermione. You know what I want."

"I'm sorry, but I really don't have any idea what you're talking about."

"Don't lie to me Hermione!"

"I believe, Miss Granger, that Mr. Potter is referring to his little fable about you stealing his essay."

"Harry, do you really think I would do that?"

"You're working with Snape! Hell, the two of you are probably having some sort of pervy little tryst!"

Hermione felt her anger burst over the top like a volcano.

"Get out! Now! OUT!"

Harry turned tail and ran.

"I apologize, Hermione. Boy-wonder was only trying to get a rise out of you. No sane person would ever believe that someone as smart and beautiful as you would even consider a relationship with a snaky old bat such as myself."

Hermione did the only thing she could think of to set the record straight - she kissed him. As he wrapped his arms around her and deepened the kiss Hermione envisioned the look of abject horror on Harry's face as she gleefully thanked him for getting her and Severus together. Then Severus moaned into her mouth as he backed her into the door and all thought was lost.

A/N:

Hope everyone enjoyed it. Remember my muse feeds off of input so please review.

Thanks to everyone who reviewed or favorited already.