Hermione remained flat on the bed but stared in shock at the hero in the doorway. It was mere seconds before he had crossed the room and wrapped his arms around her pulling her onto his lap as he sat on the bed.

She sobbed into his shoulder as he spoke soothing words in her ear.

"Do not worry," he said gently quietly in her ear. Although attempting to remain calm it was clear he had anger pulsing through his veins and Hermione could sense it bubbling up in his words. "The monster will be stunned for a while."

Still in shock from the barman's actions, Hermione remained crying into him until she was calm enough to speak.

"Severus," she choked out after a few minutes. "I don't know what to say, Than..."

The rest of her sentence was cut off as he pressed his lips to hers passionately.

If Hermione's feelings weren't already so confused then the moment would have been perfect, however, it wasn't.

Pushing him away she got off his lap. "I'm grateful you saved me," she explained whilst attempting to not burst into more tears. "But we can't do this, it would be wrong since the feelings I feel for you won't be echoed back to me."

Snape stared into her face and couldn't help but think of how beautiful she looked. Although tears stained her face her eyes still shone an unusual sparkly brown colour and her hair hung perfectly, framing her face.

Standing up he walked to her. "I want you to know that what I said the other day was not what you think it meant," he said taking one of her hands in both of his. Rubbing her fingers he refused to break eye contact. "It was my way of getting over her. I needed to get her out of my system. I'd never fallen in love with anyone after Lily so to start off with I was confused of my feelings."

Hermione's mouth dropped open, "y-you love me?"

Snape smiled at her shock and nodded eagerly, "with all my heart." Shaking his head he sighed. "Actually to say that would be lying," the hope Hermione was feeling began to fade as he said the last sentence. However what Snape added next made her immediately want every part of him. He was hers. "I love you with more than just my heart; I love you with every inch of my being, every thought and feeling centres on you. I do not want you Hermione, I need you."

His words were spoken so passionately Hermione was certain in a second that he loved her. How he could have ever doubted him surprised her completely.

"I love you," she whispered in response. "I need you to. I'm sorry I ran away, I just didn't understand."

Snape nodded in understanding. "I know. I could not help but come after you. I know you are here for your parents but I needed to come tell you."

Hermione fell into his open arms and he held her close. "There is no point me being here. I can't help the search."

She tilted her head up and looked into his eyes. The usual coldness in them had disappeared and instead was replaced with new warmth.

"Severus?" she said patiently looking at him.

After bending down and placing a gentle kiss on her forehead he replied. "Mhmm?"

She breathed into his robes and took in the scent of him. She wanted to remember this moment forever. Being with her hero. "Severus, take me home."

Stealing a glance at the stunned barman on the floor by the bed Snape barely resisted the urge to go over and kick him – hard. However he had more important things on his mind and a beautiful girl on his arm.

"Let us go," he stated. "I left the portkey outside the room. Taking one of her hands he led her out of the room and towards the kettle that would soon take them back to Hogwarts.

They each grabbed a hold and before long the strange feeling of being transported moved through them. Their surroundings whirred around them and before too long they had appeared in the headmistress's office.

Snape dropped the portkey to the floor and grabbed Hermione round the waist pulling her back into him. He kissed her on the forehead, then on her cheek, then nose before working his way down her neck onto an exposed area of collarbone.

She laughed happily at his contact, wrapping her arms around his neck she closed her eyes and basked in the moment.

"Ahem!" came a loud throat clearing noise from behind the pair. Immediately they separated, shocked at being caught out.

"Good to have you back Miss Granger," McGonagall stated with a strained voice. It was evident she was trying not to break into a smile but Snape forced out his worst warning glare causing her to control herself. "Now I am sure you are both very tired from your recent excursions, am I correct?"

Hermione now as red as a tomato nodded, glaring at the stone floor. Snape nodded once keeping eye contact with the mischievous headmistress.

"Well feel free to take the remainder of the day off. I am sure you both wish to rest and.." McGonagall said with a small smile, "recover."

"Minerva may we be excused from this embarrassment?" Snape asked coldly. As much as he admired the professor he couldn't help but wish she would stop her tormenting so Hermione and he could be alone.

"Of course Severus," she answered immediately. "Please, feel free to leave."

Grabbing Hermione's hand he walked quickly to the door. "Thank you professor," Hermione called before being pulled through the door.

"Silly old bat," Snape hissed under his breath.

Hermione couldn't help but laugh at his actions. He was so wound up but it was purely over the fact he wanted her there and then.

Thankfully it was before dinner so pupils were still in the classes leaving the corridors free from prying eyes. The two lovers almost sprinted hand in hand down to the dungeons toward Snape's private chambers.

Before opening his door Snape turned to look at Hermione. Her expression was hard to read. He could see happiness glowing from her. However, at the same time he could see the slight look of nervous panic on her face.

"Hermione, we do not have to do anything you know," he said soothingly. "We can just spend the remainder of the day with each other, maybe read together, or even take a walk around the lake?"

"Please Severus." Hermione replied. "I want this. I know I may seem worried but I'm just excited more than anything. I want to be with you. I am yours, my heart and body."

Glad that she didn't reject him he grabbed her hand. As those last words were uttered Snape led her into his chambers. She barely had time to glance around the living room area before being led into his room.

Her heart fluttered as she realised she, Hermione Jane Granger, was in Severus Snape's own bedroom. Her stomach and heart were both doing alternative somersaults.

It was a fairly large room and not how she had imagined it on many occasions. It wasn't dark but instead warm and roomy feeling. The walls were painted red and a desk and many bookshelves, filled with books and many quirky ornaments and objects, lined the walls. In the middle of the room sat a large four poster bed. Material lining around it matched the deep red walls and the bedspread was a dark maroon colour. The room was warm and inviting.

Snape let Hermione's eyes wonder around the room. Standing behind her he wrapped an arm around her waist nibbling on her neck playfully.

"This room is amazing," she breathed. "It must be great to spend time in this room, reading and writing."

"Thank you," he replied still kissing her neck. "And yes it is, however, right now I can think of much better things to be doing in it."

Turning to face him she playfully slapped his chest. "Really professor?" she said smiling innocently up at him. "What do you have in mind?" winking up at him she kissed him hotly on the lips.

"Hmm let me think..." he trailed off kissing her again on the mouth. This time before he could pull away she began sucking on his bottom lip. He moaned into her. Merlin, how he wanted this.

Tracing her lip with his tongue she soon opened her mouth to him. His tongue explored her mouth calmly at first but feeling his own excitement he began kissing more hurriedly.

What should have surprised Hermione actually made her feel more relaxed. It was good to know he was as desperate as her to be together. She reached up to unbutton his shirt when he stopped kissing.

Thinking she had done something wrong, Hermione went to take a step back, however his strong hands on her hips kept her still.

Taking out his wand she raised her eyebrows at him curiously but as he muttered the unfamiliar spell she began to blush. Within seconds her own, along with his, clothes were off and folded on the floor beside them.

"I'm sorry," he muttered before reapplying his lips to hers. "I know you love your muggle background – but doing it the magic way just saves time when needed."

She laughed confidently before pressing her exposed body to his. Groaning he kissed her hard whilst reaching his hands up and caressing her breasts.

She could feel his hardness poking at her against her stomach and she gently rubbed against it causing a moan to exit his mouth.

"Uhh if you keep that up I doubt I will last much longer," he moaned.

"Then don't," she answered plainly. "i need you right now. Please."

She barely had to utter the words before he took her over to the bed and carefully pushed her back onto the duvet. She wriggled up onto the pillows and he was soon quick to follow.

Grabbing and pulling her down so she was lying down facing up at him he began kissing every inch of her body.

If he had all night before he exploded he would have worshipped all of her. However, his own tension was growing by the second and being able to see her slim, amazing body laid out in front of him, waiting, he had nowhere near enough control to make it last.

He worked her way up her legs and gently placed a kiss on her core. She was already wet and shivered underneath the slight pressure to her centre.

"Please Severus," She groaned.

In no time at all he was above her. Hermione's legs had parted allowing him to rest gently between her legs.

Pressing a kiss on her lips he bent his head to her ear, "I love you," before thrusting into her in one swift fluid movement.

She closed her eyes and scrunched up her face in pain as her innocence was taken from her. However all she wanted was him and that feeling alone made her feel more grown up than any other physical act.

He waited staring down at her face until she gave him a sign to continue. She looked so beautiful and now she was his. He had taken her from a girl to a woman and now he couldn't help but love her more, surprised he even could.

Feeling her writhe around underneath him he began to move.

His thrusts soon began meeting hers and they moved rhythmically together.

Hermione, although at the start was in pain, now felt a mixture of immense pleasure and love. The man above her had not only been her respected professor but had also saved her life on many occasions. He was a god to her.

"Uhh Severus!" she moaned. Suddenly with the urge to be even closer to him she reached up and placed her hands on his head.

Closing her eyes she concentrated and it wasn't long before she felt his emotions rushing through her. She gasped at the full experience she was having. It was so much more intimate being able to feel his love and devotion to her inside her own mind.

So much emotion radiated from him that it wasn't long before she was brought to the brink. Losing her control she screamed out his name one last time before her orgasm washed through her.

Her already tight walls clasped around his member and he soon followed her by releasing himself with one final thrust.

Gasping and panting he collapsed onto the space beside her. Hermione managed to get her breath back and soon curled up beside him with her head leaning on his chest.

"That was..." she started.

"Amazing," they both stated in unison.

Smiling he kissed the top of her head and wrapped an arm around her pulling her closer.

"If I didn't say it before, I love you," Snape said with a chuckle.

"You did," she replied equally laughing. "And I love you to."

He laughed in response but couldn't help feeling annoyed at himself. No matter how much time they spent together, he would never have enough time with her. Enough time to tell her how he felt. He loved her so much that there weren't enough descriptive words in the world to explain the true extent of it. And he was pretty certain she loved him just as much.

For the time being their physical time spent together would have to be enough. Snuggling into each other the pair drifted off to sleep both looking forward to the next day together, and the next, and the next...

McGonagall sat at her desk with her face in her hands. The last few days/hours had been some of the most stressful she had ever experienced. Although worried about the safety of her student she couldn't help but feel excited a the blossoming relationship between the school know-it-all and the dungeon bat.

Taking out a piece of parchment and a quill she wrote a quick note to the potions professor as congratulations. It was about time he found happiness again.

Finishing it she soon waved her wand and sent it flying thought the open door to Snape.

Leaning back in her large armchair she smiled to herself at the note she just sent.

Dear Severus,

I am awfully happy to find you and Miss Granger happily back from Australia. And I hope nothing too troubling occurred down under. Any word of her parents where about?

Oh and next time you feel the need to 'celebrate', please remember the silencing charm!

Yours faithfully

Minerva

The mischievous older witch laughed loudly to the empty room. Oh she was definitely going to pay the price for that once he was awake.

Authors Notes: aaahh it's over! Thank you to everyone who read, followed and reviewed. I enjoyed writing this one but towards the end I began drifting towards another story idea. Hopefully this didn't suffer too badly due to it.

Carry on what you guys do best. Review! review! review! Many thanks