Hermione couldn't even remember herself leaving her rooms, but here she was almost running through the halls of Hogwarts heading straight for the dungeons.

If that man thought he could just snog her then leave and take it all back he had another thing coming. She might not have much experience when it came to relationships, but she was about to take what little she had and prove to him that she was no longer a silly student at this school. With a flick of her wrist she quickly cast a charm on her hair making it fix itself in a loose, gently curled bun with tendrils floating around her face and neck.

No, after this Severus Tobias Snape would never see her as a student again. She had to fight down a blush. Hermione was never one to be this forward but he had crossed a line and she wasn't going to sit back and allow him to believe it would all just revert back to normal after what he did. She cast another quick charm effectively shortening her robes and lowering the neckline.

She swept past portraits ignoring their stares and whispers about what she was up to and finally made it to the front of his office door. She quickly cast yet another charm to add a light sweep of blush to her cheeks and some mascara on her eyelashes before blasting the door open. She was sure she would get a snide comment about impulsive Gryffindors for it, but right now she didn't care.

She stepped quickly into his office expecting him to be bent over papers only to find his desk empty. A quick scan of the room showed her that the whole room was empty in fact. Well, that wasn't what she expected. A part of her felt a twinge of disappointment and being denied the chance to make an entrance and confront him, but that was quickly replaced by anger. How dare he hide from her?

He was a spy for Dumbledore having to lie to Voldemort and he was hiding from her? She was vaguely shocked at his actions, but quickly shook it off and stormed out of the room as she jerked her wand up, managing to knock the stack of papers that needed to be graded off his desk.

It took all she could do not to blast the portraits as she walked back by them the whole time wondering where in the world the insufferable man could be. She had managed to make her way back to the first floor and was passing the Defense Against Dark Arts classroom when she caught sight of him.

Fortunately for them both the hallway was seemingly empty because before Hermione could even think about what she was doing she walked behind him and, catching him off guard, yanked him around and shoved him into the wall.

Hermione didn't know what to think about being eye level with the end of Severus' ebony wand, she probably deserved it to be fair, but she realized catching him by surprise probably wasn't her best decision. Too late now though, she thought as she glared into his obsidian eyes that could entrance her way too easily for comfort.

She snapped herself out of it. "Put your wand down, you silly man!" Hermione yanked his arm down and noticed his face go from a defensive state to one of shock at what she was doing.

She glared up at him, her forearm pressing against his chest, keeping him against the wall. "Do you think you can just kiss me like that and then just run out of my room like some bloody coward?"

He opened his mouth up to respond but quickly closed it as she jerked her own wand up towards his face.

"Don't answer that. You can't take it back. I know you enough Severus Snape to know you don't allow lust to take over quite that easily to allow you to loose rational thinking. It would have taken something much more than lust to cause you to do that."

She saw him put on a face of disgust and look down his long nose at her, almost breathing out what he said next. "Are you insinuating, Miss Granger, that I have feelings for you? You are sadly mistaken then and a bit naïve. You must know every man, even one as disciplined as myself gives into urges every now and then."

Hermione bit her lip, contemplating what he said, hesitating for a split second wondering if he was actually telling the truth. He was right, all men had urges, but he couldn't have made it through the war if he was so easily distracted by such urges as to go and kiss someone that under most opinions would be completely out of bounds. She decided not to think anymore and sheepishly looked up at him before giving up all sense of rationality.

She quickly lifted herself up on her toes and wrapped her hand around his neck, pulling him down all in one swift motion to meet her lips to his in a kiss that rivaled the one he had given her earlier. She felt him tense up at first, but within a couple of seconds it seemed he gave up all pretenses and wrapped his arms around her pulling her closer to him.

The feel of his tongue raking across her lips caused Hermione to let out a small squeak from shock. The fact that when she had done the same to him earlier it had caused him to snap out of whatever state of mind he had been in and now he was the one initiating it shocked her but she definitely wasn't complaining. She never would have thought that her stern, hard-hearted potion's professor would be this good at kissing, but good was an understatement.

His tongue slid across hers and she thought she would melt on the spot. Fortunately, he had a tight grip on her back or she was sure she would have been unable to stand up. Her hands found their way into his raven hair and she smirked into his kiss. His hair wasn't as greasy as it looked and she wondered if he created a charm to make it appear like that to keep up the image he had portrayed for so long.

Both of their breathing was extremely heavy when they finally broke the kiss and warm golden brown eyes met hard obsidian ones. Severus took a deep breath, still not letting go from the hold on her, and broke the silence. "You must know this is unacceptable. Nobody will approve."

A smirk played on Hermione's lips as she fiddled with his collar. "Since when have you ever cared what people approved of?"

He was starting to reply when he suddenly stopped and Hermione felt his arms go straight to his side and his body tense back up to its normal rigidly straight form. She looked at him questioningly before noticing he was looking not at her but at something behind her.

"Miss Granger get your filthy hands off of me, I assure you I do not care how they portray cravats being worn in your silly muggle movies." With that he sidestepped her hands and swiftly turned on his heel, causing his signature robes to billow behind him as he quickly walked away.

Hermione only followed him for a second with her eyes before turning around to discover what had caused him to abruptly walk off the way he did. Her eyes widened as she saw Ginny standing there looking like her jaw was going to fall off.

There was a moment where Ginny just continued to stare at Hermione as If she had lost her mind before finally closing her mouth just to open it again. "What the bloody hell was that? Were you just snogging Snape?"

Apparently, admitting she had feelings for her former professor and actually being caught with him were two completely different things. Hermione clenched her jaw before marching over to the younger girl.

"Would you keep quiet before someone hears you?" She yanked the girl in the direction of her rooms and almost fell out when she heard Ginny's reply.

"You weren't too worried about someone seeing you with his tongue down your throat."

Hermione glared back at her to see her smiling smugly and felt all her anger disappear as she felt a blush, that had nothing to do with her makeup, creep up her neck. Really, she should learn to pick friends that weren't so blunt. The thought only lasted a second though as she recalled the kiss dreamily before feeling something hit her in the back.

She turned around to a scowling Ginny. "If you are going to tow me to your rooms at least get there before you come to an abrupt stop and cause me to run into you because of your fantasizing." Ginny scowled a second longer before smiling and jokingly pushing Hermione forward.

"You really are too easy to pick at, Hermione. Come on, I want details!" That was all it took for Hermione to grab the girl's hand and drag her, running, to her rooms.

When they got there Hermione quickly shut the door and slid down in with an uncharacteristically girlish giggle escaping her. She never thought she would have had the chance to kiss Severus, much less twice in one day and with him kissing him back. Oh, the kiss, she blushed again, thinking about it.

The way he kissed her was truly the most amazing sensation she had ever experienced, which either showed how incredibly inexperienced she was or how absolutely, pleasantly surprising, wonderful of a kisser he was. She let out a content sigh before snapping her eyes over at Ginny who had perched herself on the edge of Hermione's bed again.

"He is amazing." A grin spread across her features like she had never worn before.

Ginny beamed from where she was sitting and rested her chin on her hands. "So, fess up, what happened when I left? Something had to have happened for you to have him pinned against the wall in the middle of a hallway where anybody could have seen you two." Ginny paused before skimming over Hermione. "And did you fix your hair and makeup?" She let out a gasp. "Hermione Granger is that cleavage and thigh I see? I don't think I've ever seen this side of you before," she smirked impishly.

They both started laughing, knowing Ginny was right. Hermione never put much thought into how she looked and the fact she had was a dead giveaway that she had done it for a specific reason. Since she had Severus pushed up against a wall, that reason was pretty obvious.

Hermione got into a more comfortable position against the door before diving in and telling Ginny what all had happened after she had been told to leave by Severus.

"He ran away?" Ginny looked in about as much shock as Hermione had been after the whole ordeal.

Hermione had just finished telling her what all happened after she left and she was thankful that Ginny had remained quiet until she finished telling about what all occurred in her room earlier. She was sure she wouldn't have been able to describe the kiss if she had been interrupted.

"Yes! I didn't know what to think! All I could manage was to realize his bloody lips really weren't all that thin." She scowled, not liking to look back at probably one of the only moments in her life she hadn't been able to put logical thoughts together.

"His lips aren't…oh!" Ginny's head snatched up. "So what are his lips like?" A mischievous grin spread across her face.

Hermione blushed crimson, rivaling the Weasley blush itself, at that comment. Ginny laughed at her. Hermione wasn't a kiss and tell kind of girl and was shocked she had actually managed to tell Ginny all she had so far. There was no way she would be able to describe what merely kissing him did to her.

She quickly avoided the question by going on into what happened after he left and how she got mad and went down to his dungeons to find him only to find them empty.

"What was the point in making a mess of all the papers he had to grade?"

"I, I don't know…so he would know I came by?"

Ginny looked at her pointedly. "He knew you came by when you shoved him up against a wall."

"Well, obviously, I didn't know I was going to find him and shove him up against a wall." Hermione's trademark tone came through and Ginny laughed again at her, obviously enjoying what her friend was going through.

"So how was that? Shoving him against a wall I mean? I'm honestly pretty shocked he didn't hex you into nonexistence"

"Well he did snatch his wand out reflexively but it didn't take much to get him to put it away," Hermione said innocently not realizing what she had implied.

"Obviously," Ginny mimicked Hermione's early tone playfully. "Why would he keep it out when he was preoccupied with other things," she winked at her suggestively, dodging a book Hermione had decided to throw at her laughing.

There was a pause where both girls were caught up in their own respective thoughts before Hermione continued with the conversation.

"So what all did you see?"

"Oh not much, honestly, just him holding you, which I might add was a shock in itself, I just assumed the rest and you didn't deny it." Ginny suddenly ducked her head and looked a mixture between being sick and amazed. "I never thought I'd see Professor Snape that relaxed or with someone in his arms."

Hermione laughed at her friend's reaction. To be honest with herself, she couldn't really blame her. If she had of been the one witnessing Severus holding someone in his arms she would have had the same reaction. He definitely didn't come off as someone who would ever have any form of romantic feelings, certainly not enough to lose his stiff demeanor.

She started smiling again, not that she had every really stopped, realizing she was the reason he was starting to lose it little by little, at least around her if no one else. It was a thought that caused her to have flutters bounce around in her stomach. She couldn't believe how lucky she was.

Most people would probably disagree with that statement. How many people would think they were lucky to have the admiration of Severus Snape, the man really did come off as completely rude and cold-hearted to everyone. It was a front she was more than glad to be finally breaking through.

Ginny must have realized Hermione had gotten lost in her thoughts because next thing Hermione knew the book she threw was being thrown back at her. She flicked her wand, freezing it in mid-air directly in front of her face before letting it fall in her lap. Hermione was about to glare at her when she noticed Ginny's expression and stopped.

There was a genuinely happy smile on the girl's face and she got off the bed and gave Hermione a huge hug. When she let go she looked at her for a moment before she spoke.

"I'm so happy for you, both of you. You both really need this. You haven't been exactly yourself since the war, and I doubt Snape has ever had a chance for true happiness. Maybe with the help of each other you can both find it."

Hermione was shocked. She expected Ginny to be happy for her, but for Severus too. She really underestimated her too much and was constantly glad she was proven wrong. She shot a warm smile back at Ginny before enveloping her in a hug in return.

"Just one problem though, how will everyone else react?" Hermione looked around worriedly.

Ginny looked at her sympathetically. "We will figure that out when and if you two officially get together, no need in worrying about it right now."

They jerked back from each other when a loud knock was heard on the door again. They looked at each other strangely before Hermione walked over to open it. She really had no idea who could be visiting her rooms, although apparently they had turned into the social gathering spot of the evening.

She certainly wasn't expecting the man that she saw when she opened them up and was shocked he had actually come looking for her. She figured after being caught by Ginny she would have to fight again to get him to open back up to her like he had started to. They stared at each for a moment before he glanced over noticing Ginny still standing behind Hermione.

"Miss-" Severus was cut off by Ginny interrupting him, something that if not for the present circumstances would surely have gotten twenty points taken from Gryffindor and a week's worth of detention.

"I'm just leaving." Ginny grinned at both of them before, once again, hurrying out of the room, closing the door behind her.

Severus looked Hermione up and down, seemingly noticing her hair and change of apparel for the first time, not that she'd given him much of a chance earlier. Hermione blushed and fidgeted with the ends of her sleeves, looking nervously around.

"Miss Gran- Hermione," he corrected himself.

Her head shot up at him using her given name. She was not used to hearing him be so familiar with anyone and she felt those dratted butterflies flutter in her stomach again.

He opened his mouth as if to say something then clearing his throat seemed to think better of it and crossed his arms slowly.

"Miss Weasley has been in your rooms an awful lot lately. Doesn't she have schoolwork she should be working on instead of sneaking around the halls and gossiping?"

Normally, Hermione would cringe at his tone but she knew it was his way of asking what all Ginny had seen and if they had to worry about it being all over the school the next day. She couldn't blame him for being worried, they were walking a very thin line and people would either grudgingly accept the situation or create hell because of it.

"She won't spread gossip and she didn't see anything that would mar your reputation too bad."

"So she won't run and tell her dunderhead of a brother?"

"No. Just because her brother is dense doesn't mean she is."

"I'm very well aware of Miss Weasley's intellect, her personal prerogatives, however, are to be considered carefully." He darted his eyes towards her face before taking a small step towards her.

It was all the signal she needed and she quickly stepped into his arms and wrapped her own around his waist, inhaling his scent. His body tensed up slightly, and then hesitantly, he wrapped his arms around her as well. Hermione dismissed it, understanding it would take time for him to get used to physical contact after keeping people at bay for so long.

"Why me?" he whispered, resting his chin in her hair while at the same time trying to keep from inhaling her scent too much but failing miserably.

"What?" Hermione was shocked at his question, not so much what he said but the fact that he said it. She never expected him to be so open this quickly, not that she minded, but she didn't know quite how to answer his question.

"Why me? You could have anyone your age, yet you choose someone twice your age that has put up walls against the world. Why go after someone broken when you could have anyone else?"

She lifted her head sadly, forcing him to look into her eyes. "We are all broken to a point after the war. Besides, the things that are worth the most in life are those that one has to fight for."

Time seemed to stand still as they both soaked in what she had just said. It said more than any lengthy explanation could have and they were both shocked at the profoundness of it. Severus interrupted the silence by clearing his throat and shifting to bring a hand under her chin tilting it up.

"I haven't done…this," he said slowly referring to a relationship, "ever. I have hardened myself and I'm not sure I can give you what you are looking for, or if I even want to yet."

"I don't care."

"This doesn't make any sense. I was your professor." His eyebrows scrunched together in frustration at losing his sensibility around her.

This time Hermione grabbed his chin and pulled his face down to look at her. "It makes perfect sense. It makes perfect sense, because it makes no sense at all."

Severus smirked at her contradicting remark before glancing down at her lips that seemed to keep drawing him to them repeatedly today. Hermione caught where his eyes were fixated and slowly bit her lip nervously. They slowly looked into each other's eyes and stayed like that for a good bit, searching for something that neither of them knew what was, before slowly leaning into each other and sharing a slow, tender kiss.

They broke away only momentarily to look at each other again before joining their lips again. The kiss they were sharing now was unlike the other two they had shared that had both been heated and full of passion. This was tender and slow, as if they were just now truly discovering each other and were almost afraid of what they would find, yet trusting it would be to both of their benefits.

Severus slowly lifted his hand and buried it in Hermione's hair, slowly undoing what she had magically done up for him. Hermione moaned and leaned into him, running her tongue over his lips, needing to feel and taste his mouth with hers. He quickly complied with her wants and just like that they were completely lost in each other.

The sun was now setting outside so the room was getting quite dark as they slowly and tentatively started exploring whatever it was they were creating. A fire crackled to life in Hermione's fireplace and she vaguely noticed it and was awed at how wonderful Severus was at unspoken wandless magic. He truly was a powerful wizard and she shivered at the thought that he could be hers.

He pulled away to look at her for just a moment before chastely kissing her on the lips before letting his mouth fall to her jaw line going around to gently nip at her ear with his teeth causing all sorts of sensations to run through Hermione. She moaned and gripped his hair in one hand as her other hand rested on his neck, her nails slightly digging into his skin.

There was a slight pause in his ministrations where he seemed to be contemplating what he was doing before he moaned and slid his hand from her back to the side of her waist, toying with the edge of her shirt while kissing her neck landing at her collarbone.

Hermione gasped out loud when she felt his teeth massage and nip at her skin. There was a rush of heat that flooded through her and she suddenly had the thought that a fire probably wouldn't have been needed except for lighting purposes at that moment. She arched her back, pressing her chest into him.

"Severus." His name came out in a moan and in response she got a low growl from him before he bunched up her shirt in his fist and rested his head on her shoulder.

She worried she had done something wrong until she heard him talking to her.

"If we keep going, I won't be able to stop and if I'm correct in my assumptions you have never experienced much past what we are doing."

The grip on his hair tightened as her pulse quickened at the thought of going farther with him tonight. Did she want that just yet or did she want to wait and see where this led first? He was right in assuming she had never gone much farther than this. Ron had managed to feel her up once over her shirt, but that was it. They never had much time for more, nor had she ever really wanted to.

Not like right now with Severus, her whole body ached to be with him and the thought was sending sparks throughout her whole body.

She took a deep breath. "Do you care about me?"

He lifted his head off of her shoulder, looking into her eyes. "Very much so."

His reply shocked Hermione and by the look on his face it shocked him as well. She wasn't expecting that much so soon, but she wasn't upset by it and in fact found a smile spreading across her face.

"Then I want this."

He looked at her for a moment before seeming to force himself back to reality. "Then you will see why I can't."

He quickly hurried on when he saw the look of hurt taking over her face. "It's not that I don't want to, but you have basically admitted you haven't been any farther than this and I won't take advantage of you the first day anything happens between us. Please understand my reservations."

The problem was she did understand. He wanted to make sure it was going to work, that they weren't just caught up in the moment and then he would have to live with the fact he took her virginity and then left. It made her almost regret the fact her and Ron hadn't done anything. She was sure if they had of he wouldn't be so hesitant.

"I understand," she whispered looking at the ground before looking back up at him.

A log in the fire popped, startling them both. "I must get back to my quarters before someone notices I'm missing and comes looking for me."

"Ok. This isn't it though is it? We won't turn our backs on…what we have discovered." She was hesitant to their feelings for fear the word would scare him off.

The fire reflected in his eyes as he looked down at her and Hermione couldn't help but think how incredible he looked at that moment. He slowly brushed a hand across her face.

"I don't develop feelings for someone very easily; I wouldn't give up on it, no matter how strange it may seem, quite that easily."

With a nod of her head, Severus caught her chin and kissed her again, allowing it to go on longer than he originally intended. When they finally broke apart he embraced her tightly before letting go.

"Good evening, Hermione."

"Good evening, Severus."

And with that he left, leaving her feeling significantly lonelier than she ever had in her rooms before.

A/N: Ok so there is a really long chapter to make up for me not having time to update lately! I hope you all enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it and weren't too disappointed that things didn't go any further. I really wanted it to but the more I thought about it, the less realistic it seemed that they'd just jump into bed with one another after only one day of interaction. Both of them are too sensible and responsible for that. On another note I probably won't update again until Wednesday where I can focus on studying since I have 4 tests coming up Tuesday as I might have said before. I apologize and hopefully after that I will be able to update on a every other day basis again. Thanks for all the reviews and please continue to tell me what you think and what you'd like to see!