A/N: I'm sooo sorry this is late. I kinda came to a brick wall with it and had to tunnel my way through. I have now planned the whole fic and am well on my way to finishing it. The next chapter will be finished shortly and posted in a week.

This chapter, as is the whole fic, is dedicated to brookielove44 ! Hope you enjoy it!

And I hope everyone who is still reading along will enjoy it!


Chapter Three: Detention weekend Two

Hermione arrived the next Saturday at the same time. She knocked before entering his classroom.

"We'll be working in my office today, Miss Granger."

"Yes, Sir."

When they entered Snape took his seat behind his desk and indicated that Hermione should take the seat in front of him. Hermione did as she was told and sat across from him at his desk.

"Today, you shall be helping me mark essays. I have split the pile and you have both first and second years. Please don't be too lenient on them."

"I'll try." Her voice was full of sarcasm and Severus smirked as he picked up on it.

Both Hermione and Snape talked to each other as they marked. Many of the comments that they made to each other involved the essay that they were marking at the time that the comment was made. Much to Severus' surprise, Hermione marked very much like he did, but perhaps she was slightly less prejudice to the individual houses than he was.

When both had finished marking, they went and sat on the small sofa he had hidden in the far corner of his office. Hermione sat on one side while Severus sat on the other.

"So, Miss Granger, how are your lessons going so far this year?"

"Quite well Professor, though I find that in everything put potions I am learning nothing new."

"Ah, and why is that?"

"I feel that is some lessons I could teach the Professor something in the subject and the lessons themselves are not interesting to me any more. I have advanced one-to-one lessons with Minerva - I mean Professor McGonagall and that and potions are the only two lessons where I really learn anything."

"And have I taught you much this year?"

"Take no offence of this Professor, but not as much as other years. Last year I did a lot of potions making, many of which are not even taught here at Hogwarts within the lessons."

"I'll have a think and see what I can come up with Miss Granger."

Hermione nodded. "Thank you Sir. I look forward to what you come up with."

"Indeed. Now, I do think it's about time you went back to your rooms."

"Yes Professor." Hermione paused thinking of what to say and do next. Pulling all of her courage together, she leaned over and embraced Severus. "Good night Sir," she whispered in his ear.

"Good night Miss Granger," he whispered back to her.

Standing Hermione smiled at him and headed off to her rooms, knowing and happy that he hadn't completely rejected her but had, in fact, hugged her back and wished her a good night too! She was so deliriously happy.

~0~0~

The next morning at nine am sharp, Hermione arrived at the Professor's classroom as she had done the previous day.

"Ah, Miss Granger, I believe you have had breakfast."

"Yes Sir."

"Good. Come through with me." Severus led Hermione to his private lab and Hermione was in amazement. It was nothing like the gloomy potions classroom, in fact, it reminded her of the labs of the muggle world, shiny, clean and extremely spacious. It was heaven! "This is my private lab. I'm working in here today and as you are serving detention with me then you have to sit in here too."

"Okay Sir. What am I doing today?"

"I thought it would be nice for you to sit and do school work as I know that doing detention with me over the weekend isn't helping your busy schedule much."

"Thank you, Professor."

"Not at all." Severus walked over to his cauldron and continued to work.

Hermione went and spread herself out on the table opposite Severus so that he could keep an eye on her while he worked. Every now and then Severus looked up from what he was working on and looked at the young woman in front of him as her hand flew across the parchment she was writing on. She paused at one point and frowned. Her point groan of frustration caught Severus' attention as it was a noise not heard from the girl very often.

"What is wrong Miss Granger?"

"Nothing Sir, I think I just need to put it down for a while and work on something else."

Severus nodded and let her carry on with what she was doing. A little while later and Severus heard Hermione's head hit the table she was working on.

"Miss Granger?"

"Oh would you please stop calling me that?" Hermione sighed. "I'm sorry Professor."

"Don't worry ... Hermione, I imagine it become quite tedious to hear."

Hermione nodded. "It reminds me of my parents Sir, and at the moment, I don't wish for memories of them and the way they died to come to the front of my mind."

"Of course, my apologises."

"No need, you weren't to know."

"Nevertheless, one should not have to lose their parents at such an early age."

Hermione nodded her head in thanks and Severus set a status charm on his potion.

"Would you like something to eat?"

Hermione shook her head. "I don't feel like eating, Sir."

"Come, at least have something light so you don't faint."

Hermione nodded, not having the energy in her to fight with him today. They both sat in Severus' living room. Hermione was sat on the floor in front of the fire with a cup of tea held tightly in her hands. Severus was in the kitchen making salads for the both of them to eat, as Hermione had earlier stated she didn't feel like eating anything.

"Here you go Hermione." Severus passed her plate of food to her, completely oblivious to his slip of the tongue, but Hermione wasn't. Hermione starred at him as if he had just done something stupid as he had avoided saying her name after he said it as an acknowledgment. "Have I got something on my face?"

"No Sir."

"Then what is it?"

"You called me Hermione."

"I though you wanted me to call you that."

"I do Sir, but you've only said it once and that was during my rant."

"I am sorry. I shall try and get used to it."

Hermione nodded and turned her attention back to the flames. She placed her palte on her legs and picked at it, eating it in small parts. Severus watched her from his place on the sofa. He decided now would be a good time to inform her of his thoughts on the discussion of lessons they had had the previous day.

"Hermione, I have thought about the conversation we had yesterday and have decided that as long as you are agreeable to it, you can have advanced one-to-one sessions with myself."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Have you cleared it with the Headmaster?"

"I have and he thinks it's a great idea and that if you wish to have advanced lessons in just a few subjects, then you are to go and speak to him or don't if you wish to just have advanced lessons in potions and transfiguration."

"Thank you Sir, I shall very much enjoy advanced lessons with you."

Severus nodded. "Will you be going to speak to the Headmaster?"

"I'm not sure. I'll have to think about it and decided which other lesson or lessons that I wish to have advanced lessons in along side transfiguration and potions."

"Okay. Let me know what you decide?"

"Of course." Hermione smiled up at him and tuned her attention back to her food and the flames.

The rest of the 'detention' went well. When Hermione went back to her potions essay she was still having a little trouble so Severus helped her out a little and winked at her once she signed it. She smiled at him and pecked his cheek in thanks. That night before she left, she hugged him as she had the night before and Severus and Hermione whispered their good byes to each other before Hermione all but ran back to her rooms where she slipped into a peaceful sleep.

To Be Continued ...