A/N: Thanks again for the many wonderful reviews, favorites, and follows!

Disclaimer: Everything belongs to the great Joann Rowling and I unfortunately own none of it, just playing with her wonderful creations.

Hermione woke at the crack of dawn, no longer being able to lay in bed after an unsuccessful night of sleep tossing and turning, waking up every few hours. It seemed her mind didn't even know what to think itself of the happenings of the previous night. Perhaps it had all been a dream. Yes, nothing had happened, everything was still alright and it was not awkward between her and her professor. Her mind was just stressed is all, too many things to worry about. After all, this has happened to her plenty of times now- the dream being so real she actually believed it were true, until she woke up into reality and her unconscious reminded her it was all just a delusion. But no, it couldn't have been. It was too realistic, she remembered too many details; the Great Hall, her and Ron's little disagreement, following Snape to his room, the nice soft kiss she instigated, then her running away until she ran into him and he, surprisingly, walked her to her rooms. She never remembered that much from her dreams. She sighed. So it was all real. It really happened. Oh how stupid she was! How could she even face him today? Or for the rest of the school year for that matter! She briefly considered staying in bed all day feigning sickness, but then she remembered her month detentions he had given her, with him, and she cringed. Not to mention it would appear to the professor that she was being a complete coward and he would be the only one to know her real reason for skipping classes. And she was no coward.

After sighing a second time, she reluctantly swung her legs over the side of her bed, pushing her unruly hair out of her face quite unsuccessfully, before hauling herself up. She moseyed her way into her bathroom, taking her time showering, and brushing her teeth and hair. She was up quite early this morning; no need to rush. After a couple hours of lazy movement, she threw on her uniform and robes, before taming her hair yet again and grabbing her wand.

Stepping out into the halls, she hesitantly looked around, making sure no one would possibly be up as early as her this morning. Seeing the coast was clear, she made her way from her Head Girl rooms to the Great Hall, pausing just before the giant oak doors. She desperately hoped he was not an early riser, or the only one there at the moment. Drawing in a breath, she pushed open the large doors, instantly seeing it was quite empty, save for a few stragglers who looked as if they had a rough night's sleep as well, and a couple sleepy professors she wasn't particularly close to.

She made a sigh of relief, and sat down at their usual spots, carefully placing the breakfast that were already displayed on the long tables onto her plate. After abruptly leaving her place and not being able to even coming close to finishing her meal last night, she was fairly starved. Remembering Ron's outbursts, she paused. She had to face him this morning as well. Dropping her head into her hand, she pushed her food around with her fork. She still felt somewhat angry with him, and at his stubbornness and unwillingness to let anything go. But that was Ron, she was always mad at him, and that's how it always was. He had, albeit indirectly, apologized to her, and she knew he was just expecting her to accept it and move on jokingly with him. She realized she couldn't force him to like someone, no matter how blatantly heroic and brave they were; she knew Ron wouldn't instantly erase all the hurtful things and plain nastiness of his character from his mind even though now Snape's behaviors were explained. She wondered whatever happened to the saying 'actions speak louder than words'.

Her fellow classmates shuffling in and murmuring to each other brought her out of her daydream, and looking up she noticed Harry and Ron, along with Ginny, Neville, Luna and others tailing behind, groggily following everyone in front of them to the tables.

She mentally prepared herself before huffing, then smiling and giving a small wave as they came closer. Harry sloppily smiled back while Ron had the decency to look sheepish as he sat down across from her, followed closely by the others. She noticed Ginny sat next to Harry, as usual, sharing a brief kiss before being absorbed into their own world once more. She looked down at her plate once again, waiting for Ron to speak first, which she knew he would.

She looked up as he began, "Look, Hermione, I'm sorry for the way I acted, and for having Gin apologize for me. I guess I just got a little carried away."

She snorted, but still paid attention while he shot her a mildly annoyed look before he reached an arm around to rub his neck and continued.

"But, well, I thought about everything and, I'm really sorry. I shouldn't have said those things I did. I really mean it; I mean I'm sure there are some things I don't know. I really do respect the man."

She raised her brows. Well, if she was expecting anything it wasn't that. She wasn't expecting an apology or a somewhat mature opinion. Before she could say anything, he added, "But I still don't like the git very much," he said with a smirk.

She breathed a laugh and said, "That's all I asked for, Ron, is at least some respect. You don't know what he went through. I'm not going to push you to like him, though, because I know you most likely never will," she gave him a sad smile before turning back to her food to try to get at least one bite in.

"Well, I probably would, if he weren't so bloody infuriating," he grumbled, making her smile.

Turning back to her plate once more, she finally got a few forkfuls of eggs into her mouth before noticing Ron, Harry and a few others staring as someone was walking in, striding in through the aisle right behind her. She immediately knew who it was, and didn't dare turn around. She felt his eyes on her, and continued glaring down at her spoon as he finally walked past. She still didn't look up.

"Speak of the devil. Hey, by the way Hermione, where did you go last night?" Ron asked with his typical mouthful of food even after she once again belittled him on talking with his mouth full and asking him if he ever stopped eating, to which he replied he was hungry, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

She started, looking up again, wide-eyed.

"Oh, um…I just took a stroll around the castle, making my rounds early is all." She figured she should give the same excuse as she gave Ginny, who didn't even look up, just in case. She couldn't really come up with another good excuse in a couple of seconds anyway.

Ron stared at her for a second, before asking, "Well what about Snape? He stalked right out of the Hall right after you left; we thought he gave you a right good lecture!"

She mentally panicked, before quickly making a face of indifference and mild confusion before saying, "I didn't even know he did, I didn't see him."

Ron gave her a strange look before saying, "Oh, er, well, okay," and continuing stuffing his face, forgetting all about it.

She looked around, seeing everyone carrying on with their own conversations, paying her no mind. She felt eyes boring a hole into her back coming from the front of the Great Hall. After a few minutes, it was bothering her. Bravely deciding to attempt to put an end to it, she glanced at the Head Table, briefly seeing his eyes looking in her general direction before they swiftly looked away. Severus mentally cursed and glared down at his barely touched breakfast. Hermione felt a little victorious, and gave a secretive small smile before it fell, preparing herself for a sure-filled day of discomfort and dread.

The walk to the dungeons was a long one, and she was terrified for what was to come. Aware of her friends around her talking and laughing, she was secretly envious of their ability to do so, and not have a reason to be more terrified of the potions master as usual, as she was. They didn't seem to notice her reluctance, or her silence for that matter. They all gathered around the door, all giving each other a strange look as he was usually never late and always punctual (except for dinner in the Hall), waiting for their surly teacher to arrive and let them in with his typical sneer in place.

All gathered in their own individual groups chatting and laughing, Hermione stood listening to Ron and Harry's animated conversation of quidditch yet again. She figured they didn't feel it was unusual because she usually didn't ever input that much on the topic anyway.

Suddenly they heard the familiar footfalls of their professor, and she froze, not looking in his direction. Everyone became deathly quiet, and immediately moved out of the grumpy man's way before they were in for a nasty reprimand. Strangely silent with no comment to any one of them, he unlocked the door and held it open, staring at them individually as they walked in. Hermione, being the last one to shuffle in, stared right back at him defiantly until it was necessary to turn to go into the classroom. He shut the door right after her foot landed in the room, so he was purposely standing right behind her to make her anxious and have her hurry to her seat. Sneering, he strode his way to the front of the room, quickly charming their directions on the board without saying a word as he sat down and began to grade papers. Everyone being accustomed to his usual hate of chattering, none spoke a word and continued staring at him waiting for him to say something that was usual of him.

Suddenly he looked up with a furious expression and snarled, "Well, I didn't put the instructions on the board for the fun of it…get to work!"

Unfazed by his normal remarks, her classmates immediately moved to the supply closet to get their materials and did as was told. The two hours went by silently, Hermione's potion coming out perfect, of course, as everyone else's came out mediocre at best. Snape made no movement to stalk around, make snide remarks, and inspect everyone individually as normal, instead choosing to stay put at his desk and grade, never looking up.

Hermione finished early, and took out her other homework to start on prematurely to complete. Growing bored and her hand cramping from writing, she looked up, not intentionally meaning to glance at her professor, but that's where her eyes had landed. He still had not looked up, continuing to slash red on all of the pieces of parchment, his brows furrowed and his typical smirk in place. She guessed they had all earned a less than average grade, whatever year they were.

Continuing to stare and observe his profile once more, she was mesmerized by his hands once again, as well as his other features. She thought it strange she never noticed these things about him before, but figured it was all part of growing up and being mature. She didn't care about petty things such as athletic abilities and looks as much as the other girls in her year did; she figured they didn't matter as much down the road compared to intelligence and loyalty and other worthy traits. She made an audible sigh, which was apparently too loud in the quiet classroom as a few peers turned to fleetingly stare at her, as well as Snape, who gave her an irritated and unamused expression. Becoming flustered, she swiftly turned her head back to her work, shaking her hair in front of her face once more to effectively hide her arising blush. He didn't break his gaze, however, choosing instead to stare at the attractive witch, wondering what had gotten into her as of late. Soon becoming aware others beginning to take notice of his trance, he then shot them a murderous look, immediately causing them to look away nervously. He forced himself to resume grading, wishing the blasted hour would just finish.

Neither looking up again, the bell finally signaled the end of class, and the students placed their less-than-sufficient potions on his desk, before grabbing their bags and hurrying out of the room. Hermione, delicately placing her perfect one onto the middle of his desk, she attempted to leave the room as stealthily as possible, before he had the chance to say anything to her whatsoever. But as she was, yet again, the last one to leave after having to put away her homework and books, she didn't see much of a chance of that happening. It was worth a try though.

As soon as she reached the door, she heard a muttered, "Miss Granger".

'Shite.'

Closing her eyes and taking a breath, she slowly turned around to face what she was dreading. Standing still, she waited for him to say more, but he continued to give her a strange look she couldn't quite explain. After a few seconds, he said, "Come here".

Walking slowly and uncomfortably toward his desk, as they made eye contact the entire way, he motioned for her to take a seat as soon as she reached where he was sitting.

This time she obliged, and looked down at her hands, twisting them. He made a remark to look at him, which she slowly did.

Opening his mouth to speak, in his low, slow tone as usual, he stated, "Do not forget your detentions I have given you, Miss Granger. You will be here, tonight, promptly at seven, preferably."

He had his hands clasped in front of him, waiting for her to speak.

She looked up at him boldly, not knowing what was causing her to suddenly be so brave around him, when last night she could barely look at him. She decided to ask, "But sir, did you still want to talk about…erm…" she trailed off, not knowing exactly what to say or even knowing why she said it at all. He had said they would continue that conversation, but now she was wishing she really hadn't brought it up, so that maybe he would just forget all about it.

He gave her a cold look before saying, "No, Miss Granger. I believe it would be best to put something that should not have happened behind us. I imagine that would be the best choice we can both appreciate."

Without turning her head, she looked down, nodding her head in agreement.

"Yes, sir, I-I suppose," she said quietly, not trusting her voice.

"Very well then. You may go." He stated abruptly.

"Right, well, um, see you tonight then, professor."

He had already turned his attention back to the parchment in front of him, merely grunting in response without any further reaction toward her.

Rising, then turning, she grabbed her bag and quickly went out the door to her next class.

As soon as she had left, he looked up at the spot she had just vacated without really looking at anything. Dropping his quill, he leaned back with a heavy, tired sigh and ran a hand through his hair.

'This is going to be harder than I thought.'

A/N: So this story is actually probably going to be a lot longer than I originally thought. I don't really have a basic storyline, I am just writing what comes to mind, so I honestly don't really know where it's going, and I'm not quite sure I'm satisfied with it…so if you have any ideas I would love to hear them! You might just see it later in the story. :) Hope everyone had a safe and happy holiday! Don't forget to tell me what you think!