Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters, only my pathetic plot

Author's Note: Thanks again to my reviewers. You guys are awesome! Also, sorry that this chapter is a little shorter than the other two. I'll try to make the next one longer for you guys :) Keep checking back for updates cuz ill probably post the next chapter within a few days! thanks

Recap: Hermione's decided to play it cool. Will Snape do the same? Lets find out...

A Yearning - Chapter 3

Severus –

I was sitting in my quiet office marking third year essays. Well…I was trying to. Needless for me to say, marking essays isn't something I particularly enjoy, but such are the woes of a teacher. I was trying to finish them quickly so I could go outside for a stroll in the sunshine, a habit that would shock most of the students and some of the teachers in this place. But despite rumours, I do not enjoy sitting hunched up in the dungeons all day.

Unfortunately it was very difficult for me to concentrate on the essays because I was getting very distracted. Even more frustrating was that the source of my distraction was, unusually, my own imagination.

No matter how many times I tried to read the pathetic manuscripts in front of me, all I saw was Hermione Granger in my head. I scowled at the image and shook my head. Concentrate Severus! I told myself. Here I was, a Professor of Potions, thinking about one of my students!

The very idea was sickening, even for me. A teacher wanting a student? It was perverted. But all the same, a little voice at the back of my head kept reminding me that Hermione was no longer a little girl, but a fully-fledged witch. She was also of age now, so it wouldn't exactly be illegal….

I flung down my quill in disgust, as though it was someone else who was suggesting this idea. As though it wasn't my own fault at all that I was thinking these things.

But even as I sighed and looked out of my window, I kept seeing her in my head. If that wasn't bad enough, my imagination was starting to create little scenarios where she would come to me in my office, whispering softly in my ear, begging me to have her. I'd peel off her clothes, savouring the feel of her soft skin; slowly kissing her, being turned on by her moans. Moving down her neck, I'd plant tantalizing kisses on her beautiful pink nipples and stroke her lovely breasts until she begged me to–

I stood up violently, knocking over the ink pot, sending black ink flying over the floor.

'NO!' I bellowed, to no one in particular. Cursing silently at myself for being so stupid, I muttered the spell and the ink flew back into the bottle. I stood, waiting. I thought for certain that someone had heard me, or if not, they must have certainly heard my heart, it was thumping loud enough.

No one came. Thank Merlin my office is in the dungeon, I thought. I sat down, trying to calm myself, but my body didn't seem to want to. If anything, my heart only seemed to beat faster. I realised I was shaking.

I breathed deeply and closed my eyes. Then I opened them straight away. Closing my eyes was only going to get me into even more trouble with my imagination! I looked away, trying to clear my head. Still, all I could see was Hermione.

This wasn't fair, I told myself. It wasn't.

I was having sexual fantasies about a woman who was totally out of my reach. Even, if (and this was a very big "if") she did have feelings for me, she was a student.

And of course she doesn't have feelings for you, smirked a nasty voice in my head. How could she? You've despised her since you met her, even made fun of her. Now you turn around and want her to moan in your ear? Get real.

I slammed my fists on the desk in anger. It was starting to get difficult for me to conceal my emotions here, something I was usually exceptionally good at doing. I had the feeling that I was losing control of myself and it was scaring me.

It was all her fault, I thought childishly. Yes, that's right Severus. Put the blame on someone else, the voice was whispering again.

I gritted my teeth. Standing up, I walked out in front of my desk and began pacing. I knew that there was no way that I could ever get any work done if I didn't mull this over.

Okay, I thought, so I knew what was going on here. But what could I do about it? I paced faster. Certainly, I couldn't tell any of my colleagues. I strongly doubted that even Dumbledore would feel sympathetic towards me. So that meant I couldn't even ask for help…not that I needed help, of course…

I stopped pacing, suddenly furious again. This was ridiculous! I am Severus Snape! I don't need help from anyone because there isn't even a problem! This is just some silly phase I'm going through and I'll get over it. Hermione Granger? Bah! She might be intelligent, witty, have a gorgeous figure and…

I was starting to lose myself again. I very nearly slapped myself across the face. Granger is a student, I thought firmly. Just a student. Having these thoughts won't get you anywhere, Severus. So just stop thinking about her and everything will work itself out.

I nodded to myself and went back to my desk. Sitting down again, I sighed as I looked at the pile of essay still waiting to be marked. Getting back up again, more calmly this time, I walked across the office and to the door.

To hell with the essays, I thought. I need some fresh air and lunch. And you're going to need it to, considering you'll be seeing Hermione straight afterwards, sneered the little voice.

I slammed the dungeon door behind me in anger, hearing the pile of marked essay topple over in the office. Fuck you, too, I thought irritably, and stormed away.