Severus found Hermione seated quite comfortably in his chair, so he magicked a second one for himself. Before him were several notes written in Hermione's family handwriting, but as she took a bite of a sandwich triangle Severus spoke, "This is nearly several days' worth of notes, I have never met another person who reads and retains as much information as you."

Hermione flushed slightly at the compliment, much to Severus' delight.

"Thank you, Professor. Here look at this one, I think I found the perfect way to mix our ingredients, so they react together. Most of what we're going to need will be natural opposites and won't mix well, but I had an idea based of these notes I found in the restricted section. We could construct an apparatus that continuously mixes our potion drop by drop. Typically, stirring can change the potion's properties. But not if we continuous mix them in small concentrations."

"That's brilliant, Miss Granger."

"I already started some sketches."

It took them the rest of the day to agree on a final design for their invention.

"Miss Granger, we're about to change magic. Our names will be in history books." Hermione came to sit on the edge of the desk where Severus was now seated.

"Ah ha, Professor! Only if it works. Not very many witches and wizards get into history books for being almost successful."

"This is true. But I think together, we will be successful. I finally feel like my impossible task is no longer impossible."

Severus sat back in his desk chair, feeling slightly uncomfortable in a good way at the girl's proximity. He faked a yawn and stretched his arms behind his head.

"I think we should get pasta, and drinks from the kitchen!" Hermione cheered like a sweet parakeet, perched on his desk.

"Just pasta. Let's not get carried away Miss Granger."

Still, the girl smiled and filed her request with a house elf. Two large bowls of pasta appeared on the desk along with a bottle of wine.

"I said just pasta, Miss Granger." The girl moved her chair so close their arms were practically touching.

"Well, this break through has been from mostly my genius. So, are the very least, I deserve a glass of wine. You're more than welcome to one yourself, Professor Snape."

Two month's ago, Severus would have expelled Hermione for such a speech. But, like always, she was correct. This break through was due to her competence, and despite himself Severus smiled.

"Alright, one glass of wine."

Three bottles of wine later, Severus vaguely recognized his clock chime midnight. Both him and Hermione had continued their celebration in his personal study. Severus now having moved on to a stronger drink of choice, watched as Hermione played with Cat on the floor.

"Professor…."

"Yes, Hermione."

"Have you ever been married?"

"No." Severus replied in his usually curt tone whenever anyone asked that question. Hermione looked up at him, obviously hurt by his tone so Severus tried again. "No, I have never been married. One would have to feel love and have a relationship to be married."

"So, you've never been in love before?"

"I was in love… once. A long time ago. But she never loved me back, in fact she went off to marry the worst sort of person."

Hermione rolled over to follow Cat, and in doing so allowed a button from her blouse to come undone. Severus felt a tightening in his stomach and laughed uncomfortably.

"But that was a lifetime ago." Severus took another sip from his glass.

"I'd like to be in love someday." Hermione said softly.

"You will one day. You're the brightest witch I've never met, not to mention young. I can't image how any young wizard could not falling completely in love with you." Severus took another sip.

"Can I have a sip of that?" Hermione asked suddenly. Severus watched her sit crossed legged on his floor, her hair a cute mess from rolling around, one too many buttons undone on her blouse, and her checks already rosy from the wine. It took a lot of strength for Severus not to groan at the sight.

'She can't know how attractive she looks right now.'

"I doubt you would like it."

Hermione just gave him a hazy grin in reply. 'Maybe, she would like it. Merlin, I want to kiss her right now.'

"Come here."

Hermione stood too quickly and toppled mostly into Severus' lap.

"Hahaha, sorry, Professor."

Hermione perched on the armchair, to which Severus was immensely grateful. There would be no way she would missed his erection if she had sat in his lap.

"Just take a sip. It's going to burn but notice the flavor at the begin and end of the sip."

Hermione took a sip out of his glass and winced at the taste. Severus' body was throbbing as intensely as his erection at her nearness—at her innocence.

'I have to kiss her. I have to just taste her. She's brilliant, and beautiful. No other student has been like her. She's practically a colleague. Smarter than most of my colleague's now.'

As his mind was screaming this, he felt himself lean closer to her. It felt as if he was watching someone else control his body, and he was a bystander.

"Professor…. I"

Severus placed a hand against her cheek and pulled her into the kiss. He meant to be gentle, he meant for just a quick kiss. But as soon as their lips touched it was like a spell was cast. Hermione's hands wound into his long locks taking root, and Severus pulled her all the way into his lap against him.

"Mmm, Hermione!" Severus gasped between wild kisses, her only reply was to moan into his mouth. Severus unbuttoned the rest of her blouse pulling her bra down, nearly ripping it in the process. Hermione gasped with excitement, kissing him back as vigorously as he was kissing her. He grabbed her hip with enough force to leave a bruise, but the girl didn't whimper or complain, guiding her to grind against his manhood. He took one of those perfect nipples into his mouth and began sucking and teasing.

"Ahh! Professor, yes! Please!"

Severus lifted the girl, still clutched around his waist, and took her into his bedroom. He placed her on the bed and frantically took off his clothes, she mirrored his actions. He finally pulled his briefs off and his erection sprang to life making Hermione gasp in what Severus hoped was excitement. She grabbed his shoulders pulling him on top of her, both of their breathing erratic.

"Please, Professor. My body is on fire, don't wait."

Severus groaned audibly as he slid into her. She was so unbelievably tight, and it had been so long for him, Severus was nearly undone right there in her hot warmth.

"Please…"

Severus looked into the girl's pleading face and began to move, slowly. He was already at his limit.

"Oh Merlin! Yes! Yes, please!"

Severus slid out slowly before slamming into her again and again. He had to make this last, he couldn't come inside her as much as his throbbing member might want.

"Severus, please. I want you like I've never wanted anything."

Severus buried his face into her neck leaving soft kisses as he sensually pulled out and pushed in as far as he could go.

"Hermione, you feel so good. This feels so good."

Hermione pushed Severus and rolled on top of him.

"I can't wait!" She said as she pinned his shoulders to the bed and rode him.

"Hermione, no! Ah, I'm going to come!"

Hermione rode him even faster, her breast bouncing up and down, his manhood slamming into her.

"Please, Hermione. Wait…I'm so close. AH…WAIT!"

Hermione leaned down and covered Severus' mouth with her own, never slowing her pace. Severus couldn't take it anymore. Into her mouth he screamed her name just as she screamed his.

Severus panted as did the slick girl who rested on his chest. Wow, he had never experienced an orgasm like that one. He could still feel the waves of pleasures slowly ebbing away. Severus shuddered, wrapping his arms around Hermione.

"Wow…That was…that was…" Severus couldn't even say what that was.

"Hermione?" Severus looked down and the girl was fast asleep, completely naked, lying on top of him.

'This is going to be one big headache in the morning.'

Severus went to the bathroom and pulled on a pair of briefs before slipping back into the bed. He knew he should have found somewhere else to sleep, but he had never had a woman stay the whole night with him before, and probably never would again. He tucked the covers around her and pulled her close to his chest. For the first time in Severus' life, he fell asleep completely content.

Severus pulled the girl sleeping in his bed closer to him, just as he was waking. He wasn't ready to let go of this dream, burying his face into her neck and frizzy hair. Severus replayed what had occurred last night, blood already rushing to his lower abdomen. Severus knew he had started to develop feelings for the girl, but what had occurred last night seemed so intense. He had no idea she even had feelings for him.

'It's not possible for her to have feelings for me. I mean…it's me. No one has ever had feelings for me. She probably just had too much to drink—I shouldn't have let her drink. And she is only a girl, it could have just been a rush of hormones. Yes, a rush of hormones.'

"Mmmm" Severus felt the girl's moan against his bare chest. He knew this could never happen again, so he might as well enjoy it. He pulled her closer, so her breast brushed against his chest. This girl truly was someone to be admired. Severus glance down at her smooth, soft skin. Her perfect freckles along her cheeks and the light dusting across her shoulders.

Severus wrapped an arm around her waist pulling her flush against his erection. Even through his briefs the contact felt amazing, better than anything he had experienced. But this was wrong, he needed to shoo the girl from his bed. He needed her to never try anything like this with him ever again. Not only was his life more in danger than ever before, but even being near him endangered her life as well.

"Miss Granger." Severus said aloud, fully expecting her to start at his voice. But the girl simply grumbled and nuzzled closer to his chest.

'Ah, this is going to be difficult.' Severus thought as his offending member twitched at the contact. Severus disentangled himself from the girl, lighting the torch on his wall, and unceremoniously dumbing her clothes on top of her.

"Miss Granger," Severus boomed which thankfully got the girl's attention. "Please, get dressed, and kindly get the bloody hell out of my place."

Hermione gathered her clothes and looked around in shock, almost as if she didn't remember where she was…or what they had done last night.

'Lucky for you if you don't remember. I'll definitely try to forget.'

"Professor, I"

"I do not care what you have to say or what you think. Get. Out."

Severus turned and slammed the door to bathroom before she could say anything else. He hoped by time he showered and was dressed she would be long gone, and they could both begin to forget what had happened. Even as Severus stepped into the shower he remembered her warm lips on his, her eagerness, and even this morning the closeness she desired even as she slept. He let his forehead rest against the tile of his shower and couldn't help but place a hand around his throbbing erection. He squeezed once just to revel in the how it ached. As much as he knew he shouldn't, he began to slide his hand back and forth along his member. His breath began to quicken, and he thought of the girl, holding him down riding him with abandon. He thought of her small breast bouncing up and down and she rode him. Her beautiful face pinched in ecstasy. Severus quickened his pace, already close. He felt the familiar release and warm ejaculate leave his body in bursts—covering the shower wall.

'I'm in serious trouble.'

Severus left the bathroom in only a towel and found his bedroom empty to which he was immensely grateful. He did not know what he would do if he was forced to talk to Miss Granger again in just his underwear.

'What got into me last night? What got into her last night?'

Severus paced his small apartment thinking. There was nothing in their exchanges that hinted she was even remotely interested in him, and Severus thought he had been doing a great job hiding his own growing affections.

'I just need to cut off all emotions with her. I don't even like her that much.' Even as Severus thought that, he knew with every passing day his feelings for her had grown and would continue to grow.

"I just need to treat her like any other student, right Cat?"

Severus reached down to pet his little kitten who had begun following him as he paced. He scooped Cat up into his arms and continued his pacing absent mindedly petting him.

"This never happened. And we will limit our contact to just work…"

Much to his displeasure, Miss Granger was waiting for him outside his living courters when he left for dinner that evening. He found her sitting with against the wall, her head hung between her hands. She lifted her tear streaked face as he opened the door.

'Great, Severus. Look what you've done.'

"Miss Granger, I do not recommend sitting on the floor. It's already chilly down here."

Severus sprinted up the corridor trying to get away from her, to get away from the wrench of his heart.

"Professor, wait!" She shouted as she followed him up the stairs.

"I have nothing to say to you, Miss Granger. I think it best we both pretend what nothing occurred last night. It was certainly a lapse in judgement on my part. I would never be interested in a bushy haired, in sufferable know-it-all like you."

Fresh tears ran down her cheeks, and the girl had the audacity to grab his cloak as he turned away from her.

"Please," She sobbed, and he could feel his heart breaking at the sound.

'This is for her own good.'

"Good day, Miss Granger."

Severus swept up the stairs, away from the crying girl, his own eyes pinpricking with tears. He strode past the hall and went outside to his favorite tree. He wasn't dressed for the chilly evening, but he couldn't be inside any long. Not with her there, not knowing he was causing her pain. Severus sat under his favorite tree as the sun set against the horizon and shed tears for the second woman he had ever dared to love.

Long after dinner had surely ended, Severus decided it would be safe to return the castle. He had classes to prepare for, and he needed to come up with a plan to deal with Miss Granger. He slowly opened the door to his office and noticed all the candles lit, but instead of danger upon his desk was a letter. Severus pulled out a simple note and although it wasn't signed he knew its sender.

"I'm sorry." Severus read the note aloud to Cat.

"She couldn't even be bothered to sign it!" Severus felt his heart warm with affection before he tucked it into the desk.

Next the morning Severus woke early, he took extra time to make sure his appearance was immaculate. Hair washed and presentable, face clean, clothes adjusted just right. He sat at his desk and felt his heart pound as he waited for Hermione to open his door. He waited and waited. Today was the first day she didn't barge in like this was her own personal office. It was close to his lesson, and he couldn't wait any longer. Especially if he needed to prep his classroom without her assistance. Severus entered his classroom to find everything set out and prepared. There was another note on his desk.

I put extra supplies on McGover's table.

HG

"Well, at least she finished her duties and signed it this time. She could have still asked if I needed anything else done before she left though…" Severus said aloud to the empty classroom.

The next several days were the same. Severus would wake early and wait in his office only to find his classroom set up exactly the is should be with a little note waiting for him. Occasionally, he would find notes about their project on his desk when he returned from meals. He hadn't seen her at a single meal since the night he left her crying in the hallway. Every time he found a note he felt a pang of guilt in his stomach and tucked each one into his desk.

After Friday's dinner, Severus found a complete sketch and notes indicating she was ready to start building a prototype for their mixing apparatus. Dutifully, Severus tucked the note in the growing stack.

"Enough is enough. She can't hind from me forever."

Severus left his office to seek out Miss Granger. They would talk, if about nothing else, then their project. He first checked the library, but only found a handful of 7th years studying for their N.E.W.T.s. He was really hoping to find her there and not in Gryffindor tower. He swallowed his pride and ascended the steps to the tower.

He was greeted by the Fat Lady but ignored her, knocking sharply on the frame. A lowly first year opened the painting door and nearly fainted at the sight of Severus.

"P-P-Pr-Professor Snape,"

Severus rolled his eyes, "Yes, that is my name. Are you going to stand there or let me in?"

"I'm not supposed to let people in who don't know the password…Sir."

'Stupid Gryffindor bravery and principles.' Severus thought annoyed.

"Well, go fetch Miss Hermione Granger, I assume you know who she is? I can't imagine anyone who doesn't."

"Yes, Sir."

The first year sprinted up the stairs and returned a minute later with Hermione. Severus felt his heart squeeze as she descended the stairs, wrapped in her bath towel clearly still damp from a bath. Severus swallowed hard before speaking.

"Miss Granger." Severus drawled, trying his hardest to seem disinterested.

"Professor." Hermione stood in the doorway with her arms crossed, clearly annoyed herself.

"We need to talk. About our project."

"I believe, I left a note indicating everything I have found so far. I do not have anything else ready to tell you."

Severus sighed with displeasure. "I received your note. But I would like to continue this conversation in my office. If you would be so kind?"

Hermione nodded, "Let me put some clothes on. I'll be out in a minute." She shut the portrait door in his face.

"Hahaha serves you right, Professor," chortled the Fat Lad.

Severus glared at the fat lady and paced as he waited for the cleverest witch he had ever known to meet him.

'What if she doesn't come back out?' Severus thought after several minutes. But just as that thought crossed his mind, Hermione opened the portrait hole.

"Ready, Professor?" She asked as she climbed out into the open. They descended the stairs in silence, but both walked close to enough to each other that their arms kept touching. Severus opened his office door for her, in attempt to be chivalrous.

"I really just wanted to touch base about the design you created. I would like to start a prototype tomorrow, if you're available." Severus turned to face the girl still standing in the doorway, looking at him as if he was the only person in the universe. Severus felt both his heart beat double and stomach flip. He pulled out the design and set it on the desk.

"If you'd want to look at it with me?"

Hermione stepped up to Severus, pushing him back against the edge of the desk. Without breaking eye contact she picked the design and held it so the both of them could view it. Severus felt his heart pounding in his eats at their proximity. There was barely an inch between them and it seemed she had no intension of releasing him.

"Um, right. If you can see here, I think this should be made of steel instead of Oak like you suggested. Wood would be too flexible and may catch fire if heated…too…much. Miss Granger?"

Severus was pinned between the girl and his desk, unable to move, but Hermione wasn't even looking at the parchment. He watched her lick her lips and felt his own erection twitch. The girl placed the parchment back onto the desk and held both of his hands against his desk.

"Miss Granger, this is entirely inappropriate, and what caused strain in our relationship to begin with."

"I tried resisting, but I can't anymore. It's too strong…I feel like my body is burning from the inside out every second I'm away from you."

Severus moaned as she pressed all the way against him. Her hands sliding up his arms to tangle in his hair.

"And I know you want this, too, Severus." She breathed into his ear.

"Hermione," Severus breathed as he pulled the girl into a kiss. She placed both delicate hands on his chest as he ravished her mouth. His mind screaming her name.

"Wait, wait." Severus tried to pull back and the girl whimpered at the lost contact, still clutching onto him. "We can't do this. You're my student, and there are dangerous people who want to hurt me. And if they found out about you…well, they'd hurt you too."

Hermione pulled Severus back down into a kiss, her tongue hot and moist against his.

"I don't care if this is wrong. I don't care if it puts me in danger. I'm all ready in danger, and I don't know how to stop it. I can't stop this feeling. Kiss me, Severus!"

Severus lifted her onto his desk, both planting wild kisses wherever they could reach, tearing at each other's clothes.

"Please, Severus. I need you inside me, please."

Severus groaned as he pulled off her pants and she took his erection into her soft hands.

"It's so much bigger than I expected. I was completely surprised last time."

Severus growled in response. The girl curiously began stroking him and Severus couldn't help but throw his head back buck into her tiny hands.

"I can't… Hermione…"

"Fuck me, Severus."

Severus grabbed Hermione, much rougher than he intended, and pulled her to the edge of the desk. She clutched his shoulders as he pushed into her, and she was practically screaming as his hilt slammed into her.

"Wrap your legs around my waist." She did as he instructed, he gripped her hips and pounded into her.

"YES, SEVERUS. Yes, please!" Severus felt her hot sleeve squeeze him so tightly he thought he might not even fit. As he thrust into her Severus practically growled with each stroke. This woman was his, and he wanted to do it again and again and again.

Severus pushed her all the way down onto the desk and held both legs to the side and he watched himself enter and exit her. With each trust her beautiful breast bounced. He leaned down and captured one of those breasts between his teeth biting softly.

"Ah, please. Harder!"

Severus was already at his limit but met her request. He held her down at the hips with as much strength as he could and pounded into her harder than he had ever before. He knew he was bruising her, but her cries of pleasure kept him close to his own peak.

"Yes, Sev. Yes, I need this. Come inside me. Come inside me! OH god, yes! YES!"

Severus pushed in one final time and held her as deep as he could as he reached his own climax. He felt his own seed seep out from inside her onto his desk. But neither cared as they panted sticky and sated on his desk. Hermione pulled Severus into one last passionate kiss before collapsing.

Severus put himself back together all the while staring at his beautiful assistant.

"Here, put some clothes on. I'll make us some tea."

Severus left her to get dressed and put on a kettle in his tiny kitchenette, though it wasn't long before he felt small arms wind their way around his waist. Severus couldn't remember the last time someone had reach out to touch him willingly, and he couldn't help but smile.

"I don't know what's gotten into you, but I can't say I don't like it." Severus turned to face her and pulled her into a strong embrace. She was much shorter than he, but he couldn't help but like the feeling of holding something so delicate. They comfortably sipped their tea, each sneaking looks at each other and smiling like idiots.

"Professor, may I spend the night?"

Severus thought about it, and he desperately wanted to say yes but, "You'll be missed from your dorm. We were lucky last time no one noticed your absence."

"It's Friday, I could just saw I slept in a friend's dorm or that I stayed all night at the library. I doubt anyone would think twice about that."

Severus chuckled, and it felt so good.

'Of course, no one would think twice about Hermione Granger staying up all night studying.'

"I suppose you could, but we must keep this a secret."

"Who would believe me even if I told someone?"

Oh, yes. Who would believe that Severus Snape not only spent the night with a student but actually cared for that student? No one, of course. They were more alike than Severus ever would have noticed if he hadn't asked her to assist him.

"Are you ready for bed then?"

Hermione placed her cup in the skin. "Yes. Although, do you mind if I wore one of your shirts to bed?"

"Not at all."

Severus watched as Hermione changed into one of his shirts. It looked great on her, mostly because she was wearing something of his. It was like she actually belonged to him.

'This is just a fling, Severus. Nothing can actually come from a relationship with this girl.'

Severus pulled her into the bed and delighted at her yelp of shock. He tucked her into the crook under his jaw, and he sighed with happiness.

"Do you feel it too? I have never felt this way around someone else before, Professor."

Severus chuckled again, happier than he had been ever in his life. "Come now, I think after two tussles in bed you can call me Severus."

He could feel her beaming even in the dark. "Good night, Severus." He buried his face in her hair, inhaled her unique scent. "Good night, Hermione."

Thank you to everyone who has read so far! I have a general idea of the plot behind this story, but if there's anything specific you'd like to see pm me! I am currently working on my first real novel, but I like to use my fanfictions to relax/try out new writing styles or scenes. Reviews are love :3