A/N: Are we there yet?! – Sorry, kids, not yet. But next stop, I promise.

Lovergyrl100 – Upside: I published this chapter earlier than planned because you asked so nicely ;) Downside: No smut yet. But soon...

As for your speculation about Minerva: As much as she and Severus secretly enjoy each other's company and friendship, he would not have told her about Hermione, especially as he still sometimes has his doubts that everything will work out the way they planned. Plus, they were very sneaky about it, so there would have been little clues for McGonagall to catch. Therefore – Minerva's still clueless. But not for long now ;)

Also: Showdown with Harry and Ron!


Graduation: Confessions

Hermione stood at the far end of the platform, hugging first Ron, then Harry.

"I can't believe you're not coming with us!" Ron complained. "I was looking forward to us three spending that last summer together."

She shot him a rueful smile. "I'm sorry, Ron. But I'm sure the two of you are going to have a great time, anyways. I hear Lavender is coming by for a visit?"

Ron shuffled his feet, looking slightly disconcerted. "Um, yeah."

"I'm glad the two of you are making up. I think the two of you are a rather good fit." Unlike us went unspoken, but the small smile he shot her told her he knew what she had been thinking, and that he agreed.

Harry sighed. "Still, could you not come with us for a week and then come back?"

She smiled apologetically, and drew in a breath, gathering her courage. "Actually, there is another reason I want to stay here. It's not just about choosing the right apprenticeship."

Harry studied her, and after a moment, understanding dawned on his face. "Are you seeing someone?" he asked, flabbergasted. Then understanding hit. "Of course – you didn't do the relationship with Davies just out of the goodness of your heart. You had someone on the side, too!" he said in a half awed, half accusing tone.

Ron drew in a harsh breath, a most peculiar expression on his face.

"It's not like that," she said, trying to make them understand. "Nothing has happened so far." She cleared her throat. "Well, nothing but a kiss. Kisses. Not many." She sighed, feeling her cheeks burn. "We needed to wait until I graduated."

"But why?" Ron asked, confused.

She just looked at them, waiting for the penny to drop. Harry was the first to get it. "It's a teacher!" he shouted, "But who…" his gaze drifted over to the group of professors standing at the other end of the platform. A short perusal left only one viable option. "No," he whispered, "Snape?!"

"Professor Snape, Harry," she chided him with a smirk, "and Severus to me."

"No!" Ron echoed.

"Oh yes," Hermione replied with a smug smile.

Ron did a favorable impression of a fish caught on land. "How? Why?"

Hermione turned to look at Severus, letting her eyes travel over the sharp planes of his face, his lean frame tightly buttoned up in his black robes, his raven hair fluttering in the wind as he scowled darkly into the distance. She could not suppress a deep sigh. "Oh boys, that is something I can't put into words. He's just…" she could not find any words, but the sound that escaped her, half-whimper, half-purr, seemed to suit the purpose just fine.

When she turned back to Ron and Harry, both had sickly expressions on their faces. "Oh, stop it, the two of you!" she chided them. "You will have to get used to the idea. He is going to stick around, if I have any say in it."

Ron snorted. "And then what? Are you going to marry that old bastard?"

Hermione glared at him. "Not that it's any of your business, but yes, I plan to. He's my old bastard. And I'm the only one who may call him that, are we clear on this?" Her stare told him that he was on very thin ice.

"Sorry, 'Mione," Ron mumbled. "I'll try to keep my tongue in check."

Harry stepped up and pulled her into a hug. "I'm very happy for you, Hermione," he said, patting her on the back. "It was time for you to find someone special, too."

"Oh yes, that I have," she replied, smiling joyfully. She hugged the boys a last time and then watched them climb onto the train. The last of the students followed them inside, the teachers and staff spread out on the platform to wave goodbye.

She walked towards the group of professors, noting that Severus stood a bit to the side, a dark look on his face. He seemed caught up in his thoughts and did not notice her approach until she was right next to him. She lifted her hand and slowly slid it into his, linking their fingers.

He looked at her in surprise, and she saw a flash of undefinable emotion cross his features before he gave her a small smile and squeezed her hand. She rested her forehead on his arm for a minute before turning around to face the train that was just starting to move. She saw Harry and Ron waving from a window, and she had to smirk at Ron's expression when he spotted their linked hands. He saw that she had seen it, too, and shot her an apologetic grin and then gave her a thumbs up. She chuckled and gave him a short nod of approval.

The train gained speed and soon, it disappeared around a corner. Everyone turned to walk back to the castle.

Hermione heard a gasp and looked up to see Minerva staring at their interlinked hands. A look of shock crossed her features, and her hand rose up to cover her mouth. Hermione felt Severus tense up next to her.

"Professor McGonagall," Hermione said in a friendly but reserved tone, giving her a nod and a smile as a way of greeting, before she turned to walk back to the castle, keeping a firm hold on Severus' hand all the while.

There was a second of silence before she heard Minerva speak up. "Miss Granger," she said, hurring to fall in step next to her. "- Hermione, if I may," she added, giving her a smile that almost reached her eyes, "I would very much for you to join me for tea to talk about your possible apprenticeship in Transfiguration."

Hermione smiled in response, nodding, eager to hear more about what she could expect if she took the position under McGonagall.

"How about now?" Minerva gave her a meaningful look, completely ignoring Severus' next to her.

Hermione sighed. She just wanted to be with Severus, to finally do everything she had dreamed of all those months. Yet, she could see the stern disapproval in the lines of McGonagall's mouth, and she knew how much it affected Severus. She would have to put a stop to this now, and then everything would be so much better for it later on.

She stroked her thumb over the back of Severus' hand, hoping to convey that everything was fine between them, before she responded. "Yes, actually, now would be a good time." She turned towards Severus. "I'll go find you afterwards?" she said, smiling warmly at him in reassurance, giving his hand a last squeeze.

"As you wish," he said, his mouth a thin line as he dropped her hand and walked through the main doors of the castle. She watched as he walked away, his black robes billowing behind him, and she felt her heart squeeze in her chest. A soft hand squeezed her arm and turned her around. Minerva's worried eyes stared into her own. "Hermione, dear, what have you gotten yourself into?"

Hermione's temper flared. "Nothing that I did not absolutely want," she said curtly.

Minerva sighed. "I'm sure you feel this way now, my dear, but give this a couple of months and you might see a lot of things differently. You're still so young." And he is not went unsaid, but it was as clear as if she had spoken it out loud.

Hermione glowered at her. "To your information, I have already considered this for many months. Didn't you realize that the fake relationship with Gordon was for my benefit as well? Indeed, I was the one that approached him with the idea."

"What?!" Minerva gasped. "You have had a secret relationship with a teacher during your last year?!"

"What? No!" Hermione shook her head angrily. "Nothing happened between us so far. It was very important to him to wait until I had graduated." Overwhelmed by her annoyance, she added: "I would not have had the same self-restraint, would it have been up to me. But he is worth all of the waiting and the trouble." She drew in a deep breath, meeting Minerva's eyes with a confident stare. "Speaking of which, I get the impression that the staff might stir up some trouble regarding the relationship between Severus and me. I do realize it is a strange situation for everyone involved, seeing that I am a former student, but I am not going to change my mind about this. The question is, is the attitude of Severus' colleagues going to change my mind about staying at Hogwarts for my apprenticeship? You see, I have received several other offers for apprenticeships outside the school, and there are some that have really sparked my interest. I would like to stay here, of course, but only if I can feel confident that my life choices are not questioned or judged upon by the staff and my colleagues."

She could see that the color had drained from Minerva's face during her speech, and she folded her arms across her chest, waiting for her former Professor to speak.

Minerva cleared her throat. "It seems I have been mistaken in some of my assumptions. I am sorry, Hermione. Please believe me, I only want what is best for you. If being with Severus is what makes you happy, then I don't want to stand in your way." She took Hermione's hands into her own. "And I am sure that none of the other teachers will want to see you leave Hogwarts, so how about I walk up to the staff room and prepare the others? And warn them that it will be hell to pay if they bother the two of you? You know, as Headmistress I do have some leeway there." Her eyes hat softened during her speech and now looked warmly down on her former student.

Hermione shot her a relieved smile. "That would be wonderful, Professor McGonagall!"

"Call me Minerva, please. We will have our talk about the apprenticeship another time, yes?"

"Absolutely!" Hermione beamed, giving her a quick hug before she raced off to find Severus.


A/N: Ok, so next stop is what we've all been waiting for - the two of them finally getting each other. Any special wishes, ideas or expectations? So far, the page for the next chapter is still completely blank.
Please pour your ideas into the reviews, if I like them, I'll take them as inspiration. :)