Disclaimer: It's J.K.'s world, and I just like to play in it because she has the coolest toys, so welcome to the game. And when I'm done, I promise I'll put them all away.

A/N: So I'm sitting here in CIP class at quarter after eight in the morning, being bored out of my mind because the Internet is down. I had planned on posting chapter ten from the classroom this morning, since so many of you are urging me to continue at hyper speed, however that doesn't look like its going to be an option. Oh well. I woke up this morning having not checked my yahoo mail in days only to discover that my muse has returned, and with a spicy new flare. He's ready to fight. If he wants to fight fire with fire, well I've got three words for him: BRING IT ON! *does my cheerleader jump* So yeah, by the way just so you guys don't worry, he's not the muse for this story, just my life's muse. Anyway, enjoy chapter ten! I hope it makes up for this really long author's note.

The week came and went, and rather slowly at that. Every night, just before dinner, Hermione would go to her room, and via the floo network, she would journey to Severus' chambers. Each night she bought something else to his chambers in accordance to making them her own. He was pleased to have her in his bed, despite the fact they had agreed upon no early morning wake-up calls, not at least until the weekend. She seemed all too reluctant to leave his arms in the morning before class, but had no choice.

It was Friday morning and the sun was just peaking up above the horizon, kissing his cheeks as he slept. She had woken early, and crept from his bed to shower. His shower was enchanted and she wouldn't have had it any other way. The walls transparent, jutted her out on the side of the cliff over the landscape, facing the rising sun, as if she were showering in midair outside. Beads of water dripped down her face as she toweled off and used a simple drying charm on her hair.

Upon returning to the bedroom, the window on the wall shone bright rays of sunlight across the room. He lay sleeping in the bed, sheets wrapped around his slender figure. How she yearned to go and wake him, but she could not. Or could she? It was Friday and after all, Friday was technically considered the weekend. Deciding against it, Hermione walked over to him and knelt on the floor at his side. "Severus…" she whispered.

"Hmm?" he grunted, eyes still closed.

"It's time to wake up…you've got classes to teach in an hour." Her voice was sweet to his ears yet he did not stir from the bed. "Come on…" she shook his arm gently trying to rouse him from his slumber. Again he groaned, still keeping his eyes shut. "Severus…you have to get up…" she kissed his lips and his eyes fluttered slowly open.

"Why did you wake me?" he demanded rather grumpily.

"Because you have classes in an hour."

"You destroyed a beautiful dream…" he sounded sad as he slowly sat up from his bed.

"I'm sorry, why don't you tell me about it?" Hermione pulled herself up from the floor and bounced onto the bed beside him.

"Where in the bloody hell do you get so much energy?"

"You're not a morning person are you?" she asked playfully leaning her head on his shoulder. His arms wrapped around her immediately, and she fell into his embrace. "Mmm Severus…morning person or not, you certainly know how to make a girl want to go back to bed…if I could just lay here in your arms all day…"

"I don't see why not, nobody ever pays attention on Friday anyway…all too worried about the up and coming trip to Hogsmeade." She rolled her head over and nuzzled her nose against his neck, as he cradled her up into his lap. "Bloody hell, cancel classes! I don't feel like teaching today."

She laughed and kissed his cheek. "And I don't feel like attending them, not when I know the alternative is to lie here in your arms all day. But I have to go and you have to teach. The day won't be that long. Just think, classes are over early today, two o'clock instead of four." Her arms wrapped around his neck as she looked up into his eyes. "Besides we have tonight to look forward to, even if you won't tell me where we're going."

"Ah…" his smile was as bright as the sunrays that filtered through the window. "Indeed." Hermione stood from his lap and walked over to his wardrobe. She rummaged around pulling out a long black cloak and a pair of black trousers.

"I think I'll dress like you today," she snickered as she threw the cloak over her shoulders.

"And I think Professor McGonagall would throw you out on your ear if you came in dressed like me." He added walking over and circling his arms around her hips. "Then again I don't suppose that would be such a bad thing…if you're thrown out of class…attendance is no longer an issue…"

"Don't go getting any ideas Severus." She kissed his nose and handed him the cloak and trousers. "Now, tell me about that dream of yours over breakfast?"

"Of course my dear, though why you even ask is beyond me. You know what, rather who it was about…" He sighed and she smiled, knowing full well that for the last week she had occupied his dreams every night. Some better then others of course, but keeping constant in the fact that they were wonderful until she woke him.

"Well I'm sorry to keep waking you from them…" her lips met as and they shared a romantic kiss. The Hogwarts bells tolled seven times throughout the castle, signaling the hour to be seven am. "Oh no!" she cried, breaking the kiss. "I'm going to be late for Transfiguration! Professor McGonagall will kill me!" she dashed to his study, trying to gather her books in a very quick moment.

"Well you had better transfigure those clothes of yours, they look like you've slept in them!" he shouted and winked at her as she threw on her shoes.

"Ha ha!" she cried sarcastically as she rushed back to the table and pecked him lightly goodbye. "Why aren't you rushing? You'll be late!"

"Hermione, I'm a teacher, I get the leisure of showing up when I chose to."

"I see…" she was at the door, her hair a tousled mess and her books slung over one shoulder. "What time tonight?"

"Be in the study by five thirty." She nodded and then ran out. "Have a good day!" he called after her, but she was too far gone to hear him. "I love you Hermione…" he could say it all he wanted to the empty room, but she was more then likely halfway out of the dungeons by now. "Until then my love…" he looked up at the clock and groaned. What a way to start the morning. Double Potions with Slytherin and Gryffindor third years and on top of that, he was running late. Severus sighed and zapped himself a granola bar to munch on before heading out to his classroom, in attempts to make the day go by faster.

~*~

Five thirty had come and she stood before the fireplace in his study. "Severus?" her voice echoed off the stone walls and circulated around the empty room. He was no where to be found as her eyes searched the room. A soft tapping was coming from the door that led into his office via the bookshelf. "Severus?" she called out again.

Approaching the bookshelf doorway with caution, Hermione pushed it open only to be greeted by Severus' black raven, Romeo. "Oh Romeo! You scared me…" the black bird, majestic as it was with bright green sparkling eyes, flew in and perched over on the mantle of the fireplace. "Romeo what is it?"

The bird sat gazing at her, a yellowed note clutched in its beak. She walked over to it and took the note. "What's this? Huh boy?" Romeo cocked his head before flying off into the fireplace and disappearing in the flames. "How very odd." Hermione allowed the note to fall open in her hands before reading it.

It read:

Dear Hermione,

If you are reading this, it is five thirty on Friday afternoon. I await your presence. All you must do is take a fist full of floo powder, step into the fire and say "Grand Central Plaza." I shall await you there, by the fountain.

Love,

Severus S. Snape

P.S. The phial on the center of the mantle may interest you. Pour it into your hand if you like.

Hermione smiled at the note and folded it several times before tucking it away into her pocket. "Oh Severus…" she could not wait to accompany him, wherever he was at the moment. But before she went, remember the postscript in his note, she glanced up to the mantle. Sure enough, there was a tiny glass phial sitting directly in the center with an iridescent blue liquid inside. "I wonder what that could be…" she thought aloud.

Taking the phial in her hand, she uncorked it and immediately a sweet scent rose and filled the air. She dumped the contents into her hand, and it felt as if thick liquid silk were slipping through her fingers. Only it didn't splatter to the floor like perfume, rather caught in her fingers and she gasped. A long silvery blue piece of material now dangled from her hands. It was a dress with an open back and cross neck strap, as well as a low dip in the bust line.

Giddy as a spring morning, Hermione zapped herself into the dress and spun around feeling how it clung to her body like cool running water. She stepped into the fireplace, with a fistful of floo powder clutched in her hands. "Grand Central Plaza!" she shouted and green flames gobbled her up.