A/N:

Hey readers! I am sorry I have taken such a long time with updates.

I had writer's block! Grrr, I really hate it! I am sorry for the shortness of this chapter. I write as I go, so that is also why it takes to long.

Rest assured that I will continue with all of my stories. Do not think I have given up.

Weirdly: Thanks! I'm glad you like it! It was just a spir of the moment story. Cuz you know Hermione and how much she likes training. Thanks for putting me on your list!

Enjoy this!

Chapter two: The Walls Have Been Breached

Hermione pushed herself up from the bed and took out a book on defence dueling. She was sure that it would come in handy for the coming training. As she read, she found her mind wandering inexorably toward Severus. She wanted him with her now. She longed for the talks they would have by the fires in his rooms last year, but knew they had to be patient. She wondered though, since they were alone here if they could talk, just talk.

Getting up, she made her way toward his potions lab and knocked softly on the door.

Severus was jolted from his daze by a hesitant knock. He knew who it was and waved his hand, allowing the door to swing open.

"Ms. Granger, is there something you need?" She frowned at him.

"Professor, Severus, can't we drop the formalities since we are alone? Can't we just talk, like we did last year?" Need had crept into her voice despite her trying to stop it and Severus noticed. He stood up from his stool and waved his wand at the potion, making sure that it would not ruin itself. Then he came to Hermione, putting his arms gently around her. She melted into his embrace, desperately trying not to cry. It seemed to her that she was trying not to cry a lot lately.

"Hermione, I understand your pain. We have to be careful, but we can talk, as long as it's only here. We are alone, and I can grant you that much.

He pulled back, still holding her hand and they made there way to the living room where he started a real fire.

The two of them sat down on the black sofa close together. Severus put his arm around the girl and she snuggled up to his side. She had missed this and was glad that she didn't have to spend the entire summer at home, thinking of him and missing him.

They had been in a relationship since last year. Hermione would sacrifice anything for him. It was coming up to her seventh year, and she had just turned Seventeen, the age of consent, the other day. Severus was aware of this, but hesitant. After all, she was still a student. The thing was, he didn't know if he could handle being in the same quarters, and not do anything about it. He could see the same in Hermione's eyes. He decided to talk to her.

"Hermione?"

"Hmm?" She was half asleep against his shoulder.

"We need to talk, about us," he said softly, running a gentle hand through her soft hair. She straightened and looked at him.

" I know," she said softly. He smiled at her answer, and thought of what he wanted to say.

"I need to know what you want from our relationship." She looked at him blankly. What did he mean? What was she to say? And then she knew what she wanted, and looked into his black eyes.

"I want you, what you're willing to give me. I know that a relationship such as ours is not one that will work in public, but.. I don't want it to end."

Severus looked at her, not sure what to say. He had known this would come sometime, but it was a shock to hear her say it. It was his wish too, but he figured they should wait to do anything more for at least a little while. He looked at her, amazed that she would want him, the evil potions master.

"Are you certain?" He asked to be sure.

"Yes," she said unblinkingly. "I have felt a connection to you for a long time. I know that we should wait till I am no longer in school to go any further, and I also know that it will be hard for both of us." Severus nodded in agreement, resigning himself to many cold showers.

"Good. I wanted us to understand how we both felt and what should or should not happen. Now, it is getting late and tomorrow is going to be a strenuous day," he said, getting back into professor mode.

"Yes professor Snape," she said playfully, but she made no move to leave the warmth of his arms.

"Am I going to have to take points?" he mock sneered.

"Why not do something better?" She raised her face to his, and their lips met in their first passion-filled kiss. Hot sensations ran throughout Hermione's body, and she knew that this man was the one for her. This just felt right, even though it was wrong.

Severus reveled in Hermione's soft lips upon his. It had been so long since he had felt this depth of feeling for anyone. For the last 15 years, his heart had been incased in a block of ice. Now, it was melting, fully allowing this girl, his student into his heart, his walls. Now, he would have to protect her with his life. Spying would once again be hard, because now he had the will to live. He cared once again, for life.