Chapter 1

It has been a month we've been together, and no one even knows. No one is suspicious, no one is jumping to conclusions and the best part is the snogging is better than ever. Not to say that she's easy, but I have a feeling it's what we both want.

When everyone came back from Hogsmeade at Christmas, we went back to our menacing ways of pretending to hate each other. Well, I did anyways. She went back to her timid and shy ways. Harry and Ron pestered her about what she did over the holidays as soon as they came back, but being the smarter one, rescued her from her stuttering.

'I expect the 10 page paper that you've been working on over the holidays on the importance of cherry wood on my desk tonight at seven Miss Granger.'

The first month was interesting as well. Not only did she go back to befriending those horrid scoundrels, she still put on the ploy of dating Mr. Weasley. In my opinion, they make a horrible couple. Every time the walked into my potions room holding hands I shot her the evil eye. Of course that night she made it up to me by telling Ron she was going for a walk or to the library and came to visit me in my potions room. This time we didn't make the desk.

Today was our first month anniversary. Not that I'm counting, but she deserves the best and I know that. There is a common misconception that I don't know how to treat women but I, Severus Snape, do know how to treat a woman.

I awoke feeling reenergized having already planned the whole day and sleeping peacefully the whole night. It was a Tuesday which meant I still had to put up with her schedule of going to classes, but I could do that.

I sauntered out of bed and slipped on a pair of robes. As I stepped out of my room, I took out my wand and flicked it around the room. Flowers bloomed and wrapped themselves around any table leg, chair leg and whatever else you could imagine flowers growing on. I flicked my hand at my window and the depressing picture of the snow covered courtyard disappeared and was replaced with millions of stars and a glowing moon. I flicked my wand one last time and all the candles around the room were lit.

Tonight was going to be a wonderful night.

And the best part?

Our first month anniversary fell on Valentines Day.

I walked up to the great hall for breakfast and sat down to my usual place. I looked down at the Gryffindor table to see Ron presenting Hermione with a small red box and smiling up at her with anxiety. I scowled. What a git. Hermione then opened the box and it looked like she faked the emotion of surprise. I chuckled a bit under my breath. She pulled up a necklace that had a small locket. I bet that there's a moving picture in there. Harry then handed her a gift and handed one to Ginny as well. It was just chocolates. Hermione smiled, thanked them both and turned back to her food. She then caught me off guard and jerked her head over discreetly to see if I had arrived yet. I jumped up in my chair as her eyes met mine. She smiled and I nodded.

Her first period class was defense against the dark arts. Then it was history of magic, and then it was my turn in potions. I had the first years in my first class so I decided they would find it amusing mixing odds and ends to create a potion that bubbled hearts. And of course I was right. The potion was useless though. Someone actually tried to drink it but the little bugger quickly was discontented as all the potion did was enable you to hiccup heart shaped bubbles.

Second period I had the fourth years. They probably don't know the difference between a tree and rock. So, I made them read their textbooks and gave them an easy class. Most of them fooled around and talked, but I didn't care. One of them tried to perturb me so I showed them I was perfectly fine.

"Mr. Beasley, 10 points from Ravenclaw. And 50 if you do that again." I saw, my legs resting up on my desk. I barely even moved from my book as I said that. I heard his gasp and he quickly went back to reading.

After lunch, it was finally Hermione's turn to come into my class. I smiled my coy smile as I looked at every face entering my room. With that one smirk I had plastered on my face, everyone turned from calm to apprehensive with each footstep they took into my class.

I really didn't have a plan although. I was just thinking of assigning them a written assignment. Then Hermione would be finished first, I could take her into my study, close the door and discuss the non-existent cherry wood paper with her.

"Afternoon class. Today you will all be writing me a five parchment paper essay on the usage of worm wood. It will be due next class."

The class moaned and groaned but eventually started writing. After about thirty minutes, Hermione came up to my desk and handed in her paper.

"Miss Granger, finished first as usual I see." I picked up the paper and glanced over it. "You know what they say Miss Granger, what's usually done first lacks detail."

I put down the paper to see Malfoy snickering with his comrades. I looked up at Hermione and crossed my hands together.

"Speaking of detail, we need to discuss your essay on cherry wood. Will you please join me in the study?"

I stood up from my desk and sauntered over to the room connected to the class. I shut the door behind Hermione and she let out a sigh of relief. She sat on the table in the room, swinging her legs back and forth and smiling at me.

"Hermione, I don't know what you're smiling at but we're not going to shag while you're 'boyfriend' and the rest of my class are out there. Plus, you're very loud in bed. I wouldn't want Mr. Weasely to get jealous. I bet he hasn't heard half of the things I have." I said, feeling a sense of pride saying those last few words.

"But Severus… oh alright. What did you want then?"

I dug deep into my pocket and pulled out an envelope. I handed it to Hermione and tried my hardest to smile.

"Happy Valentine's day and one month anniversary."

She looked up at me, her eyes glowing. She opened up the card hastily. As the envelope was dropped to the ground and the card was opened, a ton of confetti burst up from the card and a single red rose emerged from the centerfold of the card. She blushed with joy, which was the expression I was hoping for. She hopped off the table and wrapped her arms around me.

"Thank you Severus, this is the sweetest gift I've ever received."

I hugged her back and then pushed her back slightly to look at her neck.
"Better than the locket Mr. Weasely gave you?"

She chuckled a bit and picked up her necklace. "I'm only wearing it to keep him happy and us under wraps."

I smiled and this time it actually looked like a smile. She blushed and I leaned in to give her a kiss. As I had hoped, it turned into one of those passionate movie kisses.

I knew I would be receiving many of those tonight after what I have planned.

Chapter 2

After potions, it was the last period in the school schedule. I wasn't teaching anyone at the time so I strolled around in the dungeons until I reached my room. I looked around and smirked as the stars and flowers and candles were still flickering, shining and growing. I shut the door behind me and flicked my wand, closing the curtains a bit to give more of a medieval effect. I flicked my wand again and levitated a bottle of champagne over to myself. I walked with it over to the table setting I had in the middle of the room. I moved away the couches in the main the room into my room, far, far off into a corner so that they wouldn't get into the way. I placed the champagne in some ice and looked at the table setting. Flowers growing on the legs of the table, a feast already prepared, and the room was just as I had pictured it. I felt quite smug knowing that if all went well this night would end in great bliss.

As the last period finished and the clock stroke four, all the students went up to their dormitories to get ready for the Valentines Day dinner. I had already invited Hermione down at the end of our passionate kiss in the potions room and I was just waiting for her to come down in her radiance.

"Ron, what the bloody hell are you doing here?"

"Hermione, what in the bloody hell are you doing here!? Especially in that dress?!"

"None of your business Ronald! Now get to dinner... Harry?!"

"Blimey Harry, you were supposed to stay under cover! Hermione, you better tell us what's going on or else we'll----"

"What is going on out here? All of you disperse! I am trying to relax on this treacherous day and I don't need you miscreants out here yelling and babbling at each other!"

They looked up at me in shock, Hermione trying her hardest not to laugh or smile or blush. I could see her biting her lip. It was quite cute actually, but I was still in the evil mood.

"What are you staring at me for?! Get to dinner now or else 100 points each will be taken from Gryffindor and all of your classmates won't be rather fond of any of you anymore."

"C'mon 'Mione. Let's get to dinner."

"Ron, let go of my hand! I don't wish to come eat dinner with you. I have other plans I'm sorry. Plus you weren't supposed to come spying on me!"

"Then tell me what plans do you have that are more important that eating dinner on Valentines Day with your own boyfriend!?"

"I'll tell you what…"

Oh please don't I thought to myself. As amusing as it was to see her yelling and shouting in the type of style I do, and as attractive as it was, I couldn't bear anyone else knowing about us other than us. The secrecy made it that much hotter not only in the bed and the risk was always a good adrenaline rush after a boring day of teaching children. As she opened her mouth I gave her a brooding look in hopes that she wouldn't tell if she had decided she would.

"Anything is more important than spending time with you today! Just get away from me Weasly! And Harry… I can't believe you… either of you. Spying on me… I suggest you get out of here now before I really do unleash my fury on you two and you both know that I know five times the magic both you do combined."

Ron walked away appearing to be heartbroken, and Harry comforted Ron as they exited the dungeon obviously in shock of what Hermione has just done.

"Well done." I said, finally being able to tale a good look at her in her deep red dress that reached her knees. The sleeves were spaghetti but she wore a shawl around her shoulder. Her hair was pulled up a flowing mass of curls.

"And if I may say so," I said as she stepped in. "you look beautiful."

I put my arm around her shoulder and slipped the shawl off her shoulders.

"Thank you Severus." She said her head down and her cheeks obviously cherry red. As I placed the shawl aside, I walked back to her, lifted her chin with one finger and pulled her lips close to mine. I know I've kissed her many times before, but it feels like every kiss feels like the first one, if not better. And this one surpassed our first kiss by miles. I let go of the kiss after a few short seconds and guided her to the table, placing my hand on the small of her back. Her eyes lit up as she saw the stars and the candles and the flowers and all of the food.

"Severus… I… I…" I placed my finger on her tender lips.

"You don't need to say thing. It's all for you because…"

Was I about to admit it? No, that's not me. I could feel Hermione's back tense and I saw her eyes glisten with hope.

"…Because it's our first month anniversary."

Her back released its tension and she looked away in mild disappointment. I know she wanted to hear it, but I couldn't do it just yet, or ever for that matter.

I walked her over to the table and pulled the chair from under the table. She sat down and I pushed the chair back in. I was being a gentleman and I knew that Hermione adored it when I acted like this. I walked to the middle of the small table and uncovered the food. She smiled and we both ate together, smiling and laughing and talking about our day and that run in with Mr. Weasly.

"Yes, that was horrible, but really Severus, he shouldn't have stalked me."

I nodded and looked up at the table. I whisked out my wand and levitated the empty plates away and brought over the champagne. The levitating bottle poured one glass for her and another for me. I lifted my glass (with my own hand now) and made a toast.

"To us."

"To us." She replied and we both took a deep sip.