AN: Hello everyone, loving the feedback; it's cheering me up considerably although university keeps getting more stressful. Stressful me= more writing in order to relax. I will respond back to last chapter's reviews later. Hope you guys keep following me and my story despite of my inconsistency.

What the hell am I supposed to do with my thoughts or emotions?! Emotions. They are absolutely useless. Why did Minerva have to ask me that question?

The young wizard stalked down the platform with his heavy luggage dragging behind him. Severus never worried about Minerva's concern because he didn't have the chance to think about the ridiculous thing called emotions- especially the emotion called love. With his guilty background, he never imagined or have the desire to fall in love with another person besides Lily Evans.

Yes, there could be some form of attraction since he was a man- but he never had the slightest interest in pursuing after the witches who would turn his head from time to time. He didn't deserve such comforts nor did he want to deal with messy business; affairs. He had a more important task to focus on... the protection of Lily Potter's son, Harry bloody Potter.

That has to be my only focus.

Yet the Head of Gryffindor planted the seed of an idea- an idea that it was possible for him to fall in love with Gr- no, it can't happen. Not now, not ever.

The irritated Slytherin ground his teeth as his headache grew worse. Why the bloody hell did Minerva need to ask me such a question?

Severus understood the severity of the problem which he now faced, therefore he desperately searched for the answer throughout the whole train ride to Hogwarts. And horrifyingly enough, he knew that it was possible... why? Because she made my defences crumble.. He sighed as he faced the truth.

It was easy and be much more easy to deny that it was possible for him to fall in love with Granger. The fact that he was aware of the possibility was more terrifying than most hexes and curses he has experienced.

So that makes her my greatest threat. How ridiculous. I'm scared of a bubbly, naïve, eleven year old girl who loves sugary sweets and books. This is absolutely pathetic of me- the terrifying Professor Snape terrified of a little girl with a bushy hair. Thank Merlin that I am good at occlumency or I'll have more troublesome woman badger me.

His eyes widened in horror as he recalled how Minerva, Sybil, and Rolanda giggling and gossiping like teenage girls in front of the Slytherin boy's dormitory when he first arrived to this set of time. If anyone knew of the conclusion he had come to after thinking for several hours on Hogwarts Express, his world would become more chaotic than ever. The way he saw it, there were two possibilities to what would happen if the female staff at Hogwarts knew of his little secret:

1) Minerva McGonagall would hound me until the day I die and perhaps combust into a bright ball of spitting flames if the possibility were to become a reality.

2) The female staff would gossip all day long without fatigue (a miracle in his aspect) and most likely tease and chase him around into insanity... and then I migh do something terribly regrettable...and land myself in Azkaban.

His face twitched as both ideas irked him to great lengths already and it definitely did not help when the furry ball of trouble was chasing after him, crying, "Sev! Sev! Wait for me, will you?"

Instead of listening to her request, Severus picked up his pace so that he wouldn't have to deal with the witch who was the cause of his issue. Damn, I wish I could apparate. That would give me a chance to bury my fears. Okay, I admit it, Hermione Granger scares me more than Minerva McGonagall herself.

He knew it was wrong for him to leave her behind, but she wouldn't get lost and evaporate if he did leave her behind... and he did in fact notice the tabby cat perched in the corner of the platform station. While he passed the feline, he sneered as it was still evident that the woman did not fully trust him, but a small part of him was glad that she was there because he needed the distance.

The distance to think and resolve the problematic issue... because he personally didn't know exactly what to do with the answer he arrived to... because the conclusion he came to was that he liked Hermione Granger... at least as a person... a friend. He liked her.

Reply to Reviews:

1) corvusdraconis: Yeah, my schedule is simply insane. My male, middle-aged professor was quite boring because he just uses his power point and last point for my lectures for 3 hours. Then the man pulled his back, now I have a French professor who is teaching the course and she's pretty hilarious because she often swears in French and I am the only one who understands it and laughs. Good luck to your summer course as well.

2) Guest: Yeah... it's not fun and it will never be really fun. You'll understand once you go to university with a boring professor teaching you a subject you have zero interest in. And your welcome :) I may not write often these days, but you guys are always in the back of my mind, nagging me to post something. A magical phenomenon, truly ;)

3) Angels-heart1: Aw, thank you. I'm glad you love it because I love your review too :D

4) marzipan4: Yeah, it's not easy being honest with your feelings when you really don't want to admit it. And your wish has been granted for I will always stay. "Always."- Severus Snape.

5) creelluka: Thank you. I will try to behave in my labs and lectures. What kind of a student am I? Well you can guess by looking at my personal Severus Snape. ;P

6) Karli1252: Thank you, I hope you had fun reading this new chapter.

7) Rhodabush: Thank you :)

8) anotherOUATwriter: I swear, it feels like ages since I won one of your reviews :P Honestly, if you think about it logically, it wouldn't be appropriate for Severus to fall in love with her. But hey, I say it screw it, I am keeping things my way for their relationship ;)

9) plutoplex: That's good since this Severus is like my moody me. Well next chapter I think it will be Hermione's POV.

Another favour to my beloved readers, can you try reading my new story called: The Predisposed World of Severus Snape ? The main character will be Severus Snape (as the title implies) but it will also be a focus on the previous generation of Harry Potter. Cheers :)

-Itachi Black