Here's some more. I'm running a bit low on reviews, so all those that do now get a free sportscar…

Severus could have stayed on the bed holding Hermione until the end of time, but unfortunately he had to go to work. He looked at the pretty young girl who was still sleeping in his arms and could hardly believe she was there with him. He held her like a fragile possession. It felt typical to him that she belonged to someone else.

He had never had such a connection with another person before. Hermione really felt for him when he told her about his past and this touched him. He was even more bewildered when she said how happy he had made her and it felt bazaar to him to be wanted.

He gently slid out of her grasp, careful not to wake her and got ready for work. He scribbled down a note for Hermione and left it on the bed in front of her.

"Goodbye, precious girl," he whispered, before leaning over and kissing her on the forehead.

Severus threw on his jacket and quietly left the room, leaving Hermione to sleep. He went downstairs to the lobby and saw Yoko was waiting for him as usual.

"Good morning, Professor," Yoko said, in her usual chirpy way.

"Morning Yoko. I was thinking, tomorrow is Friday, isn't it?" Snape asked.

"Yes professor."

"Perhaps I will change my plans and do that talk at the university. There's no harm in staying a bit longer, is there?"

O

Hermione woke with a smile on her face. She sat up and looked around the room, noticing the Professor had gone. It was then that she saw the note:

Dearest Hermione,

I had to go to work and I couldn't bear to wake you. Thank you so much for our sleep-over last night. I find you magnificent company. Hopefully fate will intertwine us again this evening – in other words, call me.

Have a wonderful day and take care of yourself,

Severus x

Hermione's cheeks went red and she felt the urge to frame the note. Suddenly everything seemed as though it was going well. She felt happy and was in need of adventure; to achieve something that day.

She got out of bed and looked at herself in the mirror. She almost kicked herself when she remembered what she was wearing – a pair of red-checked pyjama bottoms and an old t-shirt she got on holiday years ago with 'Majorca' on it. She was happy to wear them in the hotel corridors at half one in the morning when she came down to see Severus, yet she felt rather embarrassed to wonder around the hotel wearing them in broad daylight.

Hermione opened the hotel-room door, checked the coast was clear and made a run for it up to her room.

O

Hermione boarded the bullet train in Tokyo's main train station. She gazed at the beautiful Japanese countryside as it slipped past her at a phenomenal speed.

The train took her to Kyoto. It was more beautiful there than Hermione imagined. It was a rural place, far out of Tokyo.

One of the first things Hermione saw that took her breath away from a scenic lake with lily-pads floating on the top. The water was so clear that she could see her reflection in it. The lake was surrounded by pink flowers. For the first time, Hermione wondered why she would want to use magic again, when the world is as beautiful as it is.

Hermione continued to wander around and saw some kind of a ceremony. There was a line of people approaching a building and she realised she was at a shrine again. She stepped out of the way so not to interfere and watched from a short distance.

The line was lead by a couple. The woman was dressed like a Geisha. She had heavy white make-up on and was wearing a white kimono. Her hair was put up with sticks and she had flowers clipped in it. The man was dressed in a black kimono.

Hermione watched them enter the shrine and kneel down in front of a Shinto priest. It was then that Hermione realised they were getting married. As she watched them take what appeared to be their vows, she suddenly felt a huge sense of guilt.

O

Severus had made it back to the hotel at about half seven that night. Feeling quite hungry, he decided to go straight to the hotel restaurant. As he was leaving, his mobile phone rang.

Severus grinned when he saw who it was from. "Evening Hermione!"

Hermione could not share his excitement. "Hello Severus. I'm so sorry, but I can't see you this evening."

A black cloud appeared to have cowered over Severus. "Why not?"

"I took a bullet train out of Tokyo, just to travel around and see Kyoto. But there are delays and I'm stuck out here. I don't think I'm going to be back for some time."

The idea of Hermione being stranded in a strange place at night worried Severus, not that he knew what to do about it. "It's almost eight already! How long are you going to be out there?"

"I have no idea. But please don't worry about me. I'll take care of myself," Hermione said.

This did not assure Severus. "Promise me you will keep in touch."

"I will."

"And…get a cab straight back to the hotel after you've got the train home. You can't hang around the streets of Tokyo in the middle of the night, you wont live to see daylight."

"I will. Sorry Severus. Have a good night."

Hermione hung up and Severus glared at his phone. He sighed with disappointment and proceeded straight to the bar.

O

Severus sat at the bar, once again avidly smoking and drinking whiskey. He hardly noticed the act behind him. It was the same band that was playing the first night he got there, with the woman with bright red hair who was singing smooth jazz.

As the music came to an end, everyone in the bar clapped. The woman with red hair took a seat at the bar next to Severus and ordered champagne. He did not notice she was there until he felt her eyes staring at him.

"Hello. Are you American too?" She asked.

"No," Snape grunted. "I'm from…London."

"Ah London! I've performed there a few times. I know it well." She took a sip of her champagne.

Snape nodded, feebly trying to look interested.

"My name's Karina," she offered her hand out to him. Severus looked at it bewildered for a moment, not one for human contact so early on. When he finally took her hand, she grasped hold of it tightly.

"Nice to meet you," she said, with a bright smile.

O

Severus awoke the next morning, feeling extremely rough. It was obvious to him that he had a lot to drink last night.

He looked over to his table and saw an empty bottle of champagne with two empty glasses beside it. His face screwed up with confusion.

He was then surprised by a female voice. "Good morning!"

Severus almost jumped out of his skin when he saw Karina at the doorway of his bathroom, wearing a bathrobe.

He looked horrified. "Karina! You're here…in my room…we didn't…tell me we didn't…"

Karina laughed. "No! I slept on the couch. I was just way too drunk to find my way back to my room."

Severus shook his head. "How did you get here in the first place?"

"The bar was closing and we were still thirsty, so we came up here to raid your mini-bar. Don't you remember?"

Snape almost laughed at the absurdity of it. "No!"

"Wow. You really did have a have a lot to drink last night." Karina went back into the bathroom and started to wash her face.

Severus lay back down on his bed, feeling disbelief.

There was a knock at the door and Severus suddenly panicked. Hermione! He leapt out of bed and opened the door shouting to Karina, "I'll get it! You stay there."

Snape opened the door and saw Hermione grinning at him.

"What is it?" He asked. He looked down and noticed he was wearing nothing but a pair of boxers.

Hermione laughed. "Severus, I know we spent the other night together, so to speak, but I think you're going a bit…" Hermione's face suddenly fell. "Oh…"

Karina had joined Severus in the doorway. Hermione took a few steps back, suddenly feeling mortified. "I didn't mean to disturb you. I didn't realise you were…busy."

Severus wanted the ground to swallow him up. "No, this isn't…"

Hermione cut him off. "It's okay. I'll call you later."

Hermione hurried off. Severus shut the door and banged his head against it, feeling very guilty for her humiliation.

Karina laughed. "That was awkward! Who was she? Your daughter?"

Severus turned around and gave Karina an intense glare.