Ok, phew! I finally got the next chapter finished. Ok, I know I left you on a particularly mean cliffhanger, but I hope that this chapter will be worth it!

Thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter - I am sorry if I didn't get a personal reply sent to you, but I shall do so soon.

And I don't think I've ever put a disclaimer on this story - so here it is: I don't own Harry Potter, JKR does!

Chapter 12

~x~

I remember everything that happened between us…

Numbness spread through Hermione's body as Severus' words echoed in her mind. The cup in her hand slipped unnoticed from her grasp and smashed on the floor. He knew. A hundred questions assailed her mind, all demanding an answer. Closing her eyes, she balled her fists, both furious and mortified by Phineas' lie. The slick Slytherin had known the truth; he had made a fool out of her.

But what if he hadn't have lied to you? You would have left Hogwarts, then what?

Hermione did not want to even think on what Phineas Black's motives had been. She sighed heavily and opened her eyes again. For a brief moment she thought she was alone, but could sense Severus' dark gaze boring into her. The seconds seemed to stretch into hours until finally she found the strength to form her words.

"How long have you known?" she asked, staring down at her trembling hands on her lap.

"Some weeks," came the reply.

"So…So Phineas was being truthful when he said Dumbledore obliviated you?"

"Yes."

A lump formed in her throat and hot tears pricked her eyes. "W-Why didn't you tell me?"

When she was met with a wall of silence it caused her chest to tighten. Did he regret what had happened between them? Had he sensed her growing attachment to him, and now wanted to put an end to it.

Severus raked a hand through his hair. "Until this morning I had no idea you knew who I was."

It felt like an eternity before Hermione lifted her gaze to meet his. Her chocolate eyes were ringed with redness, though it was the uncertainty in them that gave rise to his fears. He drew in a ragged breath; he couldn't do this. He couldn't bare his soul to her. Tearing his gaze away from her, Severus turned on his heels and walked back towards the fireplace.

"Severus…Wait!"

Hermione's use of his first name forced him to stop. Slowly he turned round as she slipped off the stool, though she did not walk towards him. Severus, too, remained rooted to the spot, afraid that the slightest movement might send her scampering like a wounded animal.

"Don't do this to me," she said, the words catching in her throat. "Don't tell me you remember everything and then walk away."

"What would you have me say?"

Hermione swallowed hard, fighting to keep her emotions under control. "Just tell me once and for all if…if I still mean something to you."

"I'm not him, Hermione," Severus finally said. "I'm not the same man I was twenty years ago."

"You're wrong," Hermione cried. "I tried to tell myself the same thing, but you're as rude, stubborn, and snarky as he was." She took a step towards him. "But you're also brilliant like him, and…and I think I'm falling in love with you."

Severus' heart was thumping so hard against his chest he was sure Hermione could hear it. His whole body was charged with emotion, but he remained where he was. He wasn't ready to close the distance between them; at least, not yet.

"Look at me, Hermione," he said hoarsely, and swept a hand down along his body. "Do you really want to be involved with…with this?"

Fresh tears gathered in Hermione's eyes. "Do you care for me at all, Severus?"

"Hermione…"

"Just answer the question," she said, her voice strained.

Severus closed his eyes, sighed, then said, "Yes."

"Then why are you trying to push me away?" Hermione wiped away the trail of tears on her cheek. "Do you think I'm going to wake up some morning and realise I've made a horrible mistake?"

Hermione saw a muscle jerk in his jaw.

She took a step towards him, her whole body trembling. "You do, don't you? You think I won't be able to love you as much as I loved him. Well, you're wrong Severus Snape."

Severus silently watched as she closed the space between them until, at last, there were only mere inches separating them. All around him her earthy yet floral scent permeated the air, overwhelming his senses. She stared up at him, and he swallowed thickly as he dared to meet her gaze. Her chocolate eyes were burning with desire…for him. As Hermione's hand slipped into his, entwining her fingers with his, Severus' pulse hammered in his throat.

Slowly he reached out to touch her cheek, gently caressing her smooth skin. A contended sigh escaped Hermione's lips as she leaned further into his caress, inviting Severus to close the last remaining space between them. He slipped an arm around her waist, drawing her tight against him. And when she relaxed in his embrace he felt as if a great weight had been lifted from his heart.

"I've missed you, Severus," she whispered, resting her head against his chest.

Hermione wrapped her arms around him, enjoying the more solid feel of his adult body. After a moment, she drew back from him and reached up, combing her fingers through his dark, shoulder length hair. His normally impassive features relaxed at her touch, but it was the intensity in his eyes that reassured her of the depth of his feelings.

With one arm still firmly around her waist, he tenderly caught her chin with his other hand. He brushed the pad of his thumb lightly across her lips, sending a delicious shiver down her spine. As he lowered his mouth to hers, Hermione closed her eyes. He was hesitant at first, but when she slipped her arms around his neck his kiss deepened. She parted her lips, moaning softly as he explored her mouth, caressing her.

When he finally drew back from her she was left breathless. He then took her face in both of his hands, never having seen this Severus so unguarded, so vulnerable.

"I need to ask for your forgiveness, Hermione," he said, his voice low, disarming. "For everything."

"You know I do, but it's in the past, Severus," she replied, placing her hands over his. "There's no need for you to dwell on it anymore."

Suddenly, the laboratory door swung open and Draco sauntered in.

"Hey Hermione, there's a…"

Draco's next words died on his lips at the sight of Hermione in Severus' embrace. In an instant, however, the two had disentangled, though Hermione's cheeks were flushed to scarlet. Severus stood rigid, his features once more cold and emotionless.

"Oh my gods, I've died and gone to hell!" Draco groaned.

Severus crossed his arms over his chest. "Did you have a reason for bursting in here, Draco?"

"I…uh…there's a letter for Hermione."

"Oh, right, thanks, Draco," she said, "I'll be along in a minute."

Draco shoved his hands in his pocket, clearly embarrassed and shocked by what he'd seen. "All right, then. See you in a bit," he said.

As soon as the door clicked shut Hermione started to laugh. "Merlin, Severus, did you see Draco's face?"

Severus gave a noncommittal grunt. "Clearly he was never taught to knock before entering a room."

"Did you ever see Lucius knock a door before he entered?" she said. "No? Then I rest my case."

She turned to walk back to the simmering cauldron when Severus caught her wrist. "We need to talk, Hermione."

Hermione looked at him curiously. "About what?"

"We need to be careful. If the Ministry was to hear that we were involved they wouldn't hesitate to terminate your position with them."

A flash of panic flickered across her eyes. "They wouldn't do that."

"I'm supposed to be your supervisor, Hermione," Severus said.

Hermione smirked. "So I can't blow you kisses in the Great Hall, then?"

Severus narrowed his eyes.

"I'm joking, Severus," she said. "Now, if you don't mind, could you help me finish this potion?"

While Hermione stirred the potion clockwise, Severus gradually added in the ginger roots. From the corner of his eye he saw her raise her head every few minutes, a small yet contended smile on her face. At last, the potion turned a pale pink, and with a flick of her wand, Hermione extinguished the flame beneath the cauldron.

"It'll take a few days before we can test it," she said.

Severus arched an eyebrow. "Test it? Exactly how do you intend to test it?"

Twisting her wand in her hands, she said, "I don't think you'll approve."

"Tell me, Hermione," he said firmly.

She chewed on her bottom lip nervously. "I will need to obliviate myself - just an inconsequential memory, though."

Severus let out a deep sigh. "I'm not going to be able to talk you out of this, am I?"

Hermione shook her head.

"All right, we'll test it in my quarters on Saturday – no one will disturb us there."

"Only if you're sure."

Severus cleared away the remains of the ginger roots with his wand. "I said I would help you, didn't I?"

"Thank you, Severus, it really means a lot to me."

A clock on the wall chimed four. Severus replaced his wand back into a pocket in his robes, then held a phial for Hermione while she poured in a measure of the potion. Once she had the stopper in it, he pulled her close against him.

"I have a staff meeting now, but floo to my quarters after dinner later. We've a lot to discuss."

Hermione laughed softly. "Do we now?"

"Yes, we do" he replied, and kissed her briefly.

After a few more moments Severus released her and walked towards the fireplace. He lifted a handful of floo powder, and after stating he wanted to floo to the staffroom, he disappeared in a green flash.

Hermione cleared the rest of her experiment away and then washed her hands. She lifted the phial and charmed it so that no one would be able to remove the stopper. Once she had tucked it safely into her pocket, she doused the candles with her wand. Leaving the laboratory, she laughed to herself, wondering how in Merlin's name she was going to explain her and Severus to Draco.