Chapter 2

Hermione's birthday had come at last and she was finally eighteen. With the time turner however she was closer to nineteen. But she was happy. Her day started as usual. She woke up and showered. It was Saturday and there was nothing special happening this weekend so she had nothing to really do. All of her homework was complete so she figured she would have a quite day reading a book or something.

When she got out, she noticed a new vase of Roses. Usually when he sent roses it would be one every few days or on a test day if he knew that she had one that day, but today it was different. Today there were eighteen and they had a beautiful scarlet and gold ribbon tying them together. The note on them said,

One for every year. As for the color, it represents what I hope that we could have.

She dressed in her jeans and a grey jumper. She swept her hair up in a bun using his chopsticks as she had just about everyday since she had gotten them. Then she made her way to the Great Hall for breakfast.

For Hermione it was her best time of day the little interaction that she had with him. The notes everyday were almost worth more to her than the roses and the chopsticks had been. Their letters were stimulating as he had said they would be, discussing topics like transfiguration, potions, latest ministry gossip, as well as some of the things that were happening in the castle. She found that she could be completely herself in her notes to him and he enjoyed the conversations in them.

She sat down and tucked into the pancakes on her plate when post arrived. By now, everyone was used to seeing Baila make her deliveries. Today was different. Today Baila had a large package and his usual note. After relieving Baila of her burdens, she fed her a piece of pancake and began with his note.

Hermione,

Happy birthday. Today should be a very special day for you. Now I know you told me that you didn't want anything spectacular from me and I can tell you that if you would have asked for anything I would have given it to you if I could.

I managed to bribe a certain elf to assist me with part of your present. You will find out about it later tonight. As far as what is in the box, I promise that it is nothing too personal that you couldn't open it here in the great hall.

I am sure that you will have something to do today with your friends and so I hope that you will have a good day with them. I wish that I could spend the day with you and show you what a proper birthday should be celebrated but I am afraid, that I can not.

You asked what house that I am from and at one point I told you that you might not like the answer if I told you but alas I am from Slytherin. Now tell me the truth, after these past few weeks, do I appear to be a typical Slytherin or am I in your opinion something more?

Our next conversation will be back on topic. But for now enjoy your presents and your friends. You deserve to be happy today.

Most sincerely yours today and always,

Your friend from afar.

Hermione unwrapped the scarlet and silver wrapping paper fromthe box and opened it up to reveal a black great cloak with a lion for its clasp, a set of hair combs in Gryffindor scarlet and gold along with a large velvet box that she had not opened yet. She opened the box to reveal a beautiful gold necklace with a large ruby pendant. On the inside of the box, the note said,

Something beautiful for an equally beautiful woman. Wear it for me.

Hermione pulled the necklace from the box and slipped it around her neck. Professor Snape failed to mention that it was a very powerful protective amulet and could transmit the emotional state of the wearer to whoever had the other object.

Snape had the object tied as a bracelet and was wearing it. When she put the necklace on there was such a surge of elation professor Snape literally took a ragged breath. All eyes at the head table were focused on him as he began to rub the area around the amulet.

"Excuse me." He said as he removed himself from the table and went to the antechamber behind the staff table. He waited to hear if they said anything about what had happened. After a few minutes, he left to the infirmary to get a pain relief potion just so he could cover up what had happened. Even though he could not see her again till lunch, he was inwardly smiling. He could still feel how happy she was. It made him happy on the inside.

Hermione meanwhile was putting the cloak and the hair combs back into the box before she finished her breakfast and ran swiftly to her room. She was going to write him a very nice long thank you for everything. While she was sitting on her bed, a house elf delivered a note.

Come to the Room of Requirement this afternoon at two o'clock. A birthday present waits.

Your friends of DA.

She left the room of requirement and stopped by her room before she went to supper. She made sure that she looked her best. She had a white pressed button down shirt on un-tucked with her best slacks. The shirt was unbuttoned to show her off her neck and expose the amulet that he had given her. She had managed to tame her hair into soft waves and pulled the sides back with the combs.

When she entered the Great Hall she had a beautiful smile on her face and Professor Severus Snape was floored by the stunning enchantress as she entered. He didn't care that she was dressed as a muggle. The only thing that mattered was the smile on her face. It was a smile for him and he knew it. She was showing his jewelry off just as he had asked. He ate his food at a contented pace and slowly after some of the others had finished eating their meals, the conversation centered once again on Hermione and her mystery man.

"Well, it seems that today Miss Granger had a special day you could call it. She spent a good bit of her morning with me in the library skimming a new muggle book while absent-mindingly playing with a rather expensive looking new ruby pendant. I think a troll could have been released in the library and she would have had no clue it was even there." Madam Pince said smiling.

"She does seem happy doesn't she?" Vector said.

"Yes she does." Remus said.

"Well, it has lasted what three weeks now and she has been thoroughly gifted and no one knows who he is." Flitwick said as he cleaned the last of his plate.

"I for one would give even money on this gentleman, whoever he is, is trying to get her for keeps." McGonagall said.

"I tend to agree with you Minerva. I think this one is playing for keeps." Hooch said over her goblet.

"I have been thinking some on this since this morning and I think that he is probably a pureblood by the state of the gift and if I had to guess, I would pen him for a Slytherin." McGonagall said.

"You know Minerva; I think that you are quite right. But I don't think that he is a current student." Remus said as he rubbed his graying mustache.

"How would he be getting past the post reroute?" Snape asked.

"I don't know. I honestly don't know." Remus said still musing.

"Well, if you will excuse me, I am going to finish bottling the last of your potions for the infirmary. I will bring them to you in about an hour Poppy." He said to Madame Pomfry before he turned and left out of the teachers exit after glancing at the Gryffindor table. He stayed in the adjoining room for a few seconds seeing if they were going to say anything else before he made his way to the dungeons to set into motion the next part of his birthday plans.

Hermione finally made her way back to her rooms after her rounds to find the second half of her present from him. She was excited to see all of the candles floating around the room and then on the middle of the bed, there was a large selection of glass bottles with labels and a note in the front of bottles.

Today, you gave me an incredible gift. The look on your face when you put on that necklace, made my heart sing. Tonight I wish to gift you with these many bottles you see before you. Look through them and you will understand. I wished to give you these to pamper you.

Tonight is all about you. The elf that set this all up for you has helped me by setting up all of the candles and these many pampering gifts but he did some other things as well. Go seek out your bathroom. There is a stasis charm on it all. Use it when you are ready. I wish that I was there to pamper you properly but all in good time.

Yours, a friend from afar

Hermione opened the door to her bathroom where a true sight awaited her. Her tub had been filled and rose petals were littered all over every surface in the bathroom including the bathwater. In the tub were scented bath oils and on the side were scented soap a shampoo and conditioner just for her. She gathered all of the different bottles from her bed and placed them on her vanity then got chose something to sleep in. She made her way back to the bath and soaked in it till she was all shriveled up. She used all of the hair products to see what they would do for her hair and when she had finished, she realized that she had spent nearly an hour in the tub.

When she was dry and dressed in her pajamas, she took out some of the parchment from her desk and sat to pen a letter to her admirer. As she finished pinning it there was a knock at her door.

"Enter."

"Hermione, am I disturbing you?"

"No. Come on in. Let me just send this and then we can talk."

"Sure." Ginny said.

Hermione opened a window and called out for Baila. Then she sat down on the bed by Ginny and waited for Baila to come to deliver the message. Ginny stayed quiet while she waited for Hermione to finish and the raven to leave the room.

"So, what's up Ginny?"

"Well, I kind of wanted to talk to you about this mystery man that you have been writing to and no one knows who he really is." She said, sounding a little nervous.

"What would you like to know?" Hermione asked.

"What do you really know about him other than he has money and that he is here in the castle?" She asked.

"For starters, I know that what house he is in and that does not matter to me anymore. I know that he obviously wants to have some sort of relationship with me and that he wishes to protect me. He wants to take any kind of relationship that we form very slowly so that I can get to know him. I do not know his name nor do I know how old he really is. I only know that there is more to this man than what most would give him credit for. How many people do you know who can keep up with me on an intellectual level and still be able to send me roses and jewelry without asking for anything but conversation in return?" she asked.

"I don't know. But are you sure that he does not something else in return?"

"He's a Slytherin. Of course he wants something in return. I am sure of it. He made it very clear what he wants in return. He also said that he would let me choose if that is something that I am willing to give him and at this point, I might be willing to give him what he wants."

"And what does he want in return for all of this?" Ginny asked.

"Ultimate companionship." Hermione said with no hint of remorse.

"If you give him the companionship he seeks what else will he give you in return?" She asked.

"Besides everything that the companionship he seeks, the career that I want that he will support, the family that I want and to never have to want or need anything as long as I live not that I have ever needed anything mind you. But there are some things that he is offering that I would really like to have." She returned.

"Why will he not tell you who he is?" Ginny asked.

"He has been hurt before and he does not want to be hurt again if he can help it. He is looking out for my interests incase something happens and he is scared that once I find out who he actually is that I will not accept him. He said that he wanted me to get to know the other side of him before he reveals the side that I am supposed to already know."

"And what will you do if he is someone you truly do not think you could be with?" She asked.

"At this point there are very few Slytherin that I would not date and they belong to the Slytherin quiditch team every last one of them. Honestly. That whole group could just forget anything about what they think that I would do with them." She said as she shuddered in response to some mental image.

"What if this Slytherin is not a class mate? What if he is the Head of Slytherin himself? Would you be willing to be with him like you say?" she asked seriously.

"Honestly, I have thought about it and I don't think that I would change what I have said. I mean, it would make sense after some of the things that he has said and done. I really think that it is a possibility. If it is him and he really has this side of him as well then I think that I would be okay with it all."

"I hope you really know what you are doing on this because I really think that he might be your mystery man. I just want to make sure that this is really what you want. If it is, then I will support you on it. I can see how happy the letters make you and I just hope that everyone else will be okay with this as well." She said.

"I hope that some take it better than others." Hermione said hinting at the boys.

"Let's hope so." Ginny said.

Meanwhile, Severus Snape was sitting by the fire in his study watching the flames and sipping on the fire whisky in hand reading one of his many tomes when Baila delivered Hermione's latest note.

"Let's see what your mistress says today shall we." He said taking the letter from her beak.

I hope that you have enjoyed your day as much as I have. The gifts have been amazing but really must say that you really did not have to go to such great lengths on just me. I wore the necklace just as you asked me to and I will continue to wear it. I must say that I was pleasantly surprised to see the state of my room when I finished rounds tonight.

I must ask if you created all of these different products that are now on my vanity or did you have some help in their creation. Whether you did or did not does not matter to me but I enjoyed the pampering even if I had them all to myself. I spent an hour in tub just enjoying the scents and the different products. You must promise me that you will let me return the favor one day.

My friends took me to the room of requirement to have a party with just the few of us and I enjoyed it but it would have been better if you were there. I am pretty sure that you were not.

Anyway, you asked if I would be mad if you were a Slytherin and the answer is that I would not. I really do not have a house preference. Your house has some good qualities and I can't fault you for them.

Good bye for now,

Your Hermione