Disclaimer: All of the characters belong to J. K. Rowling.

Special thanksto The Ultimate Undesirable for being the beta reader for this chapter. It helped me a lot.

Chapter 21:

It was on October 31, during the Halloween feast, that Harry noted for the first time how much attention his friend paid to the high table. He came to notice how she had left all of her usual books in her satchel to purely focus on some unclear spot around the staff.

"Hermione" The boy decided to try to call her name, worrying for her reasons to be so attentive.

"Yes, Harry?" She turned to direct him the attention he deserved.

"Are you sure everything is okay with Snape?"

"Yes, 'Mione, you sure he said he was not reporting me to McGonagall?" Ron was clearly the most exalted, completely aware of the wrath of the Potions Master towards him.

"I convinced him to stay quiet about you being involved, Ron. So… I think that he has tried to the best of his abilities to protect… us, all of us, and it seems it worked; Professor McGonagall doesn't look particularly enraged right now." The brunette was actually expecting for the woman to look at least upset, but she held a calm and relieved expression instead.

"Hermione, I wouldn't like to make a scene, please understand this comment is out of concern, but… Don't you think maybe his reasonable and his oh-so-compassionate compromise has something to do with your clothes? Because seriously, 'Mione, you went to the dungeons with that skirt, and Snape is not blind, he might as well-" her eyes began to travel down her cloak, trying to cover herself as much as physically possible. Though her inner clothes had long been changed she could feel the embarrassment heating her cheeks.

"What's your problem, Ron? Are you implying Hermione went intentionally dressed like that to the dungeons to seduce Professor Snape so he would spare your life? Do you really think Hermione would expose herself like that after what you did to her? Do you, Ronald Weasley?" Though Ginny's tone was full of resentment for his own brother, Hermione caught her grinning for enough time to get her implication. "And most importantly, do you really think that man, over there-" the brunette's heart almost escaped her mouth when Ginny pointed at the Potions Master not caring at all about getting undesired attention "-fell for it? Severus Snape, head of the Slytherin House, decided to forgive you in exchange of this sort of favor?" It was clearly not only a shock for the young witch, but for Ron as well, who desperately tried to lower Ginny's arm while half hiding with Harry's figure.

"I understand, I understand! C'mon, Ginny! Stop it already! I am sorry, Hermione, I didn't mean to, GINNY! Stop it!" Finally, the redhead smiled and lowered her arm, looking pretty content with her actions, "Jeez, Ginny! Now he is looking this way, if I wake up dead tomorrow morning it will be your fault!"

"Oh, don't worry; I am sure Hermione can persuade him again to ignore it…" Ron and Ginny were too busy glaring at each other to notice how Hermione was softly smiling at the baffled man, trying to express a complete conversation and excuse with her eyes. They didn't notice, but Harry did.

It was on November 4 that Hermione impressed Professor Snape by handing him, together with Neville, a bottle of veritaserum. He accepted it while inspecting it with expert but suspicious eyes.

"Is something the matter, Professor?" Hermione asked, being aware of the man's reasons to look confused. He had seen her drink her own project a couple days before. While she was standing completely still, Neville appeared to be close to fainting.

"… No, nothing at all. I actually believe this to be well brewed; I will have to look at it closer, thought. You may leave." Neville hurried to fetch his book, while Hermione stepped forward, speaking in almost a whisper.

"I always make sure to prepare two samples, in case something happens to the first one. We cannot have people believing you to have preferences with some students, can we?" With that said she turned on her heels and followed Neville outside.

Snape smirked, she was clever indeed.

It was on November 5 that Hermione visited by previous agreement Professor Snape, holding a book, her satchel and dressing her school uniform completely in rule.

"Come in." The authorization came before long and she opened her way to the office.

"Evening, sir." She stayed in the middle of the room, waiting for any further instruction, with the man sitting in his desk and scanning her body. Anyone could've thought it was a longer than necessary look but she knew he was actually looking for any reason to dismiss her. Not finding any, he finally signaled her to take a seat in front of him.

"Tell me, Miss Granger, what have you decided for today?"

"Well… I have spent a long time thinking what could allow us to know if we are actually compatible without taking all the remaining term." The man seemed affected by the word 'compatible', raising a brow, silently inquiring what exactly her intentions with the visits were. "You know, to see if I actually like you, if this could work."

"This? Miss Granger, would you mind telling me exactly what you expect to work?"

"I'd love to, but I am afraid that if I tell you right now, you will freak out and retreat back to your solitude, so I'd rather not."

"… Very well, continue."

"I wanted to ask you for a deal, but please listen until the end; every time I come I can help you with whatever you need. I am conscious of how busy you are, and I don't want you to get stressed because of me stealing your precious time. That just won't do. Once everything is in order and you assure me you have no other responsibilities that are being postponed, I will share something about me with you. Or I may as well share it while we work, if you think you can handle both." Snape sneered, half insulted, half amused by her implication of him unable to handle more than one task at a time "In exchange… you will answer me one question." The man remained silent, considering her offer, it seemed reasonable and generous: assistance and company in exchange for one small piece of information. But that was the thing, just how small?

"Beg tell, what kind of question would that be?"

"Something about you obviously; small things that I don't know, like your birthday, your favorite book, your favorite… color." Before he could say anything the girl added "and I do not consider black to be a color." He closed his mouth and snorted, 'funny'.

"Alright… it seems fair, I will accept this deal of you on one condition."

"Which is…?"

"I get to ask you a question as well, I wouldn't like you telling me nonsensical facts about you while you have me confessing my darkest secrets." Hermione smiled confident on herself and offered the man her hand; he took it and it became an oath.

"Dark secrets, eh?"

"Don't push your luck, Granger, I still can say I am uncomfortable and kick you out my office."

"Yes, sir." There was an awkward silence, product of her aggravation. Till the man decided she had suffered enough.

"What is that book you are holding?"

"Oh, this? Well… it is one of my favorite books; I brought it thinking in sharing it with you, though I really think you wouldn't like it."

"Why don't you read it to me while I finish checking your classmates' pitiful efforts at veritaserum? Then I will tell you if I like it or not." The girl's eyes glittered and she reached her satchel to place some biscuits on the table.

"We can finally enjoy the food from the Great Hall without worrying."

"Oh, Miss Granger, please don't tell me you ever thought of me as a cook. You never stopped having the same food as everybody else in the castle. The only thing I did was ask a house elf to directly select you some food from the kitchen. I never cooked anything." He worried for the girl to have wrongly considered him to be way more chivalrous than he actually was.

"Of course I knew, sir. Don't you remember I used the same trick to send you that letter? I literally waited awake for the house elf to apparate so I could ask her the favor. That is actually one of the reasons I like you. She was so lovely and gave me all of her attention while I explained her how her master was in distress and she offered to do anything to help. I think it says a lot about you." He made a mental note to reward that house elf later. "So… are you ready for my reading?"

"As ready as can be."

They spent the following hour working and reading, taking small breaks to make comments on the book or discuss the appropriate mark to be placed on the paper, next to the potion sample. Till one question that Snape tried to pass as insignificant, but didn't go unnoticed by the girl.

"Say, Miss Granger, just how old are you?" She stopped her reading to look at him, his quill still moving over a parchment.

"Would you worry if I say I am still seventeen?" He froze and slowly left the quill to the side to focus on her.

"You cannot be."

"I am not; I am asking you if you would worry."

"I would, if you were. But you cannot be, so… how old are you again?"

"I turned nineteen in September."

"See? Was that so hard to say from the beginning?"

"How about you, sir?" The girl sat straight, as still as she could, fearing for the man to kick her out any minute. "How old are you?" He remained silent for enough time for the girl to worry about having disrespected her ever-so-proud teacher. "If you don't want to-"

"… Thirty." There was a small pause, in which Hermione didn't move an inch "… eigth." He leaned back, waiting for the girl's reaction towards it, maybe with that number she would finally realize how messed up all this game was. He waited for a disappointed 'oh', for some sign of regret, but there was none.

"Thank you for your honesty, I feared you may have tried to lie to me."

"How can you be so sure I am not lying?"

"Oh, well… hope you don't mind, but it was simple mathematics. If you and Harry's mom studied together, then it was logical both of you-" She continued talking, but what she said went unheard as Snape was too busy thinking about what she said. Just how much did the girl know about him? About his personal life? About Lily? For a moment he came back to reality when he realized the girl was still talking. Thought it was now about an even more unpleasant topic, "Remus also talked about you a few times, so I am only to assume you were all from the same generation, I've always considered it to be a-"

"Beg your pardon," Snape interrupted. "What did Lupin say about me?" From all the marauders, he always had considered Remus to be the most reasonable one. At least until now, when he feared for the man to have stepped over his already damaged reputation, in the eyes of the witch he currently cared the most.

"Nothing important, just some stories." She immediately realized her mistake and tried to turn the conversation in a different direction "Maybe you could tell me about your favorite book now." But a slam on the table startled her causing her to blink quickly.

"Don't make me use legeremens in you, Granger. I've been this close too many times, one more reason and I will bend your mind to a pit of-" He hissed through his teeth, stopping by the sight of the girl shrinking in her seat, growing in fear to his respond. The marauders always got the worst of him, even in death. The man beheld as the girl seemed to get smaller and smaller, with her eyes suddenly fluttering to the desk, hiding from him.

"Do you want me to leave now?" His heart pinched, the girl sounded next to tears. He did it; he managed to end everything in only one day. Both his hands covered his face and ran through his hair, letting a heavy sigh.

"Miss Granger…"

"I think I should- " She was leaving, she was definitely leaving.

"Please, don't." Hermione raised her head and sobbed quietly. The man was still holding his head, eyes nailed to the desk.

"I upset you, I didn't mean to, but I did, and you were clear about it, no buts-" Tripping with her own words, she attempted to explain what she was sure was to happen.

"Please, don't go." Unlike him, he swallowed his pride and asked her to stay.

"You aren't upset?"

"I am, but not with you. I assume you didn't go around Lupin begging him to tell you stories about me. He shouldn't have." She was much calmer now; realizing she didn't mess everything up in the first night. It was not sadness what afflicted her; it was the feel of working so hard to fail at the first attempt.

"I still can tell you what he said about you… it was nothing really important, though. I just didn't want to say it because I know it is not your favorite topic of conversation… but if I tell you, you have to promise me to never use legeremens on me, not without my consent. I am not fond of a relationship based on distrust, I have nothing to hide." The main answer in his head was 'we are not in a relationship', but he was still too curious about the rumors about him running along the Order.

"As long as you promise not to hide important information from me, I swear to never use legilimency on you without your consent…" Hermione found herself smiling trusting his word.

"He used to tell Harry stories about the marauders and in a few of them he mentioned you to be this hum… weird frenemy? Some sort of stupid relationship between males that I will never understand. Like with Harry and Draco. They hate each other, but they still cannot ignore each other. He always looked a bit sad while talking about your past; he had you in great esteem."

"I hardly think so."

"He knew you would say that."

After it, and in a desperate attempt to keep the conversation flowing, avoiding the girl to remember how unnerved he acted, he asked her to continue with her reading. In spite of pleasing him, Snape spent the rest of the time more focused on the rather monotonous tone of her voice than the words or his own work. About another hour later, the girl closed her book, though she hadn't even reached one quarter of it and commented on how late it was. Snape acknowledged the time and escorted her to the door, considering the possibility for this to be a permanent good bye. He opened the door for her, and she stayed in the entrance, looking up to him for enough time to make him feel awkward.

"Sir."

"Yes?" It was coming; she was finally recognizing how erratic his temper was.

"When do you think I could come again?" He suppressed a gasp, the girl never stopped to surprise him.

"… How about every Friday?"

"I would love to, any day, actually. I really enjoyed today's evening." He was confused; didn't they just somehow have a fight? Like she was a legilimen she quickly added "I know it was not perfect, but I trust both of us can continue to work in our –hum- situation... I should've known better than to talk that much."

"Nonsense. It was I who failed to control my temper." The girl shook her head and grazed up his arm softly deciding to try her luck. When she was sure the man was not pushing her away or smacking her hand as previous times, she ventured to grab him by his robe around his upper arm.

"I just continued to touch sensitive topics for you in the first day. I will be more careful next time." She had managed to slowly get closer to him while his thoughts were still processing her firm hold of his arm. Before his eyes could go back to her face, the girl rose on her tip toes and kissed him gently on the cheek. She breathed heavily, staring up at him, waiting for the scolding to come; but it didn't. There was just silence as the man went wordless. "Was that… was that okay?"

"Yes, I believe it was acceptable." He gestured the last word in an overdramatic way that caused the brunette to grin. The Potions Master was left alone at the entrance of his own office, hastily caressing his left arm as she walked away.

It was on November 6th that Hermione learned about Professor Snape's favorite food and it was on November 13th that Professor Snape allowed Hermione to visit him twice a week. It was November 20th when Hermione found out when Snape's birthday was, and it was on November 27th that Hermione ventured to ask the man about his plans for Christmas.

"I do have plans…" he started and the disappointment was impossible to hide on Hemione's face "… they consist mainly of having dinner at the Great Hall forced by Minerva, so I can go back to my room and sleep early. I am really looking forward that week." She let go a chuckle out of relief. "May I ask you the same? Family meeting or dinner with the Weasleys, perhaps?"

"Well… hum, yes and no. I was actually invited to have dinner with Ron's family, but, I-hum…" the girl avoided as much as possible his gaze "I was wondering if you would be interested in spending the Holidays with me."

Years as an occlumen allowed him to keep his face as inexpressive as usual, though he was suddenly overwhelmed by multiple feelings: happiness, excitement, fear, concern. Was she expecting him to somehow appear as her company in the middle of all the Weasleys? Would he have the guts? Or even worse, was she formally inviting him to meet her parents?

"I was thinking I could stay here in the castle, and we could spend some time together… there will not be many students and perhaps we could do something outside your office. It is not like I do not like it here, but, well, hum- Of course, all of this is just in case you want me to stay." He wasn't sure if to feel relieved or guilty, the young witch was sacrificing her own social life for him.

"Wouldn't the Weasleys miss you? And by miss you I mean to wonder why you would stay in the castle alone." She finally looked back at him, after piercing a random wall out of nerves for about five minutes.

"Oh yes, they may wonder why I stayed… but I could always make something up, like working in a project or studying for my N. E. W. T. s. To be honest, I am sure Harry would just assume I am avoiding Ron in these important and sensitive holidays, and Ron may feel bad, but it would be for the best. Things would be really awkward… his parents still call me daughter." Snape tried to hide his disgust for it, but he was the one who asked, after all.

"How about your parents? Aren't you paying them a visit?"

"… I hardly think they would even notice." Her voice softened, and he recognized the sadness hiding in it.

"Their precious –real- daughter is staying at school instead of visiting them. I am sure they would at very least notice."

"If only they recognized me as their daughter."

"What do you mean?"

"Oh, well… you see, I erased every memory of me from their minds last year. It was not just a small event, I couldn't just bottle seventeen years up, and so there is no chance for them to ever remember me." The girl felt the knot in her throat tightening, and hoped for the man to not show any interest in the matter, so her distress could go unnoticed. Meanwhile the man struggled to find any words capable of comfort her. "You don't need to worry, they are safe and sound. I've visited them several times and we keep in touch." Though she was talking with a smile in her face, a single tear rolled down her cheek.

"But how…?"

"They think I am a poor girl from the countryside who won a scholarship to study in a near college. We 'met' in the supermarket. I happen to be a terrific actress, I guess." She giggled and wiped her cheek.

"I am sorry, I didn't mean to."

"It is ok, you didn't know it. Besides, they are really nice to me; they sometimes send me letters inviting me over and asking me how my studies are going." She sobbed, always smiling. "They actually sent me a Christmas letter, asking me if I had where to spend the holidays, I think they may be thinking in inviting me for dinner, but that would be-"

"Stay." She immediately stopped talking and sobbing. Did she hear correctly? "I fail to see why you would enjoy Christmas with me, I do not hold any special activity, and I consider going outside together to be a terrible idea, as Minerva is surely to hex my bollocks off for her eyes I am nothing but a predator. In spite of all of this; stay with me." Her mouth opened slightly in surprise, and her eyes traveled to his lips. "I know nothing about Christmas spirit, so we might as well do whatever you suggest." She could've kissed him. He was adorable.

"Someone should tell Professor McGonagall how wrong she is." The man furrowed his eyes in confusion. "I believe it is quite clear who is the real predator between us two." Snape had no record of the girl looking cockier, and that was to say something. He left her have it, anything to avoid seeing her sad.

It was on December 11 that Professor Snape fell asleep on his desk, victim of a tiresome week and Hermione's soft voice telling stories about dragons and evil witches, muggle versions of their world. She covered him with a blanket as he did for her many times and finished all his paperwork before waking him up to send him to bed. The Potions Master apologized for his lack of propriety and thanked her for not dragging him to the bed herself.

It was on December 14 that Professor Snape requested the weirdest thing from the girl.

"A picture?" her eyes open in astonishment "A picture of what?" Completely immobile he hissed through his teeth, as calm as he could.

"Of you." He answered simply. The girl scrutinized his expression. Was he for real? Then realizing he actually meant it, she let go a giggle.

"A picture of me? Why?" Hermione asked.

"I cannot tell."

"You cannot tell me or you don't want to?" She questioned for clarification.

"I cannot." He stated.

"What you would possibly need a picture of me for?" She was trying to think in a reasonable explanation for this request. If it were not Snape, but any other man or boy, the answer would be much simpler.

"I cannot tell you, now are you giving it to me, or not?" Snape huffed to the image of the almost hysterical smile on her face that was three tones redder than usual. He was clearly being misunderstood.

"What if I give it to you as a Christmas present?"

"That won't do. I need it as soon as possible."

"But why?" She was just getting more and more curious, half her body already hurled on the desk, looking for any hints in his face and getting closer with every question.

"I. Can. Not. Say. You are really making this way harder than I thought, you know."

"What? You thought you were going to ask me for it and I would just take it from my pocket without question? I do not have many pictures of me… none, actually. If you need it so badly, I am sure Professor McGonagall must have a few in the registers."

"Let's suppose for a minute that I actually go bunkers and decide to ask Minerva for a picture of you, the student she still thinks I am madly in love with, and let's pretend for another minute that she agrees to give it to me. It wouldn't do either."

"Why not?" She secretly enjoyed the idea of the Headmistress having the roles reversed, even as a rumor. He often found herself wondering what would Professor Snape do if he was the one madly in love.

"Body." He winced at his own answer, confusing the girl.

"Body?"

"Hogwarts registers only contain facial pictures of the students. I need the body." Now her face became five times redder than before, followed by another giggle.

"You want a picture of my body?" He took a deep breath, bitterly regretting even attempting this mission. He should've just taken the picture hidden in a bush as a proper stalker even that would be less humiliating.

"Miss Granger, I assure you I have no defiled or depraved intentions for it."

"If you had them, would you tell me?" She asked cheekily, lifting her weight from the desk and defying him to speak the truth.

"…if you don't agree to the idea of me having a picture of you, say it. It would be perfectly understandable."

"I don't have any." The man was to finally retreat, but she continued leading her head sporting a mischievous smile. "But if you find a camera, I will let you take it."

"… Fine."

"On one condition." He lifted his arm and closed his eyes, controlling the urge to smack the desk out of frustration.

"Which would be…?"

"I want a picture of you too." Then he hit the table, not with annoyance but shock.

"Beg your pardon?"

"You can take as many pictures of me as you want, for whatever purpose, if and only if you allow me to have one of you."

"And what would you like a picture of me for?"

"Cannot tell." The girl smiled triumphant while the man held his breath out of anger.

"Fine" he finally spat "I happen to have a camera, we'll do it tomorrow evening."

"Why not now?" The mystery was just increasing.

"It is part of the lab inventory, and it is too late to go looking for it. I have to patrol in about an hour." It was a small hint that he was already too tired and uncomfortable to continue discussing the topic. He wanted her to leave. As the girl didn't move an inch, the potions master rose from his chair and surrounded the desk, finally understanding the girl followed him, but before leaving she grabbed his arm to stop him from opening the door yet.

"What should I wear?"

Silence, he wasn't expecting that question. He did have a vague idea of an answer, but was sure that even with the girl being infatuated; it would be crossing a line that could easily gain him a slap in the face; at least for his most honest answer.

"And then, sir? What should I wear? Would my uniform be suitable? Or maybe something different… you already know about my clothes. I don't have anything too showy, just my –hum- dress code violation."

"Yes." She flushed for the third time in that evening.

"You want me to-"

"Yes, your uniform will be suitable enough."

"Dress or pants?" Oh, now she was just teasing him, completely aware of how tense he had gone.

"Granger…" Oh, that was how he called her when he was unpleased. Considering it enough for a night, she rose on her toes and kissed him goodbye in the cheek, quickly opening the door and moving away from his possible grasp.

"Skirt it is! See you tomorrow, sir!" The girl left running, sporting what Snape had previously considered to be a silly but lovely smile.

In December 15 Hermione presented herself in her cloak, scarf, hat and even gloves in the middle of her potions professor's office.

"Here I am, with my uniform." She beamed as it was clearly not what he was expecting and the girl knew it. He wasn't giving her the satisfaction of requesting her to take anything off. He already had had enough of her attitude the day before. Instead of saying anything he silently casted a warming spell and waited for it to take effect, as it heated the room slowly.

"Miss Granger, please take a seat." The girl did as she was told and gave him a smile waiting further instructions or comments concerning her outfit.

"Did you bring the camera?"

"Indeed." The Potions Master gazed at the artifact located on one corner of the big desk.

"Do you really know how to use it? Mind if I ask you what kind of pictures do you take?"

"It is not necessary to periodically use something to know how it works… Take your common sense as an example." Her mouth opened in indignation, he was still Snape, nicer, yes, but still Snape. She attributed the increase of heat to her exasperation and proceeded to take off her gloves and scarf. He smirked; it was just a matter of time.

"Are we taking the pictures or we are waiting for something?" She fanned herself with her hand, regretting her decision to bother the man with her excessive clothing.

"Ever so impatient, Miss Granger." She shifted in her seat, fighting her urges to rip her own cloak off. How could the man remain so fresh?

"Is it just me or it is hotter?" The man just frowned and acted innocent. He has worn an excess of clothes for most of his life, this was nothing. The girl couldn't take it any longer and stood to take her cloak off; frustrated by it she threw it hotly to the floor, together with her hat, making a mess of her hair, then she raised her head to see the man with the camera in his hands.

"Lovely."

"Did you-" she panted "Did you take that?!"

"I was just waiting for you to stand up and you did."

"Oh no" she breathed deeply, stopping her panting but still feeling hot. "I wasn't ready. Take another one."

"That won't be necessary, this one is fine."

"But that-" Hot, so hot. She worried for her health, but she guessed it was her fault for daring wear so many clothing inside the already warm office. The girl couldn't take it any longer and took off her cardigan; there was nothing else to be taken without offending the man. Then, he smirked, that was the moment she realized something was off.

"That will do, Miss Granger." He had left the camera on the desk and retreated back to his chair.

"But it is so hot, don't you feel it? I am melting." It was still hot, the spell stills working and her hair becoming sticky. She undid her tie and sent it on top of her cloak and cardigan in the floor. The man reclined in his chair, not intimidated yet.

"We are done; you may leave now." He had just undone the spell the moment he sat down, why was the girl still undressing? It was taking longer than expected for her body to recover its normal temperature.

"I can…" she panted and sat on the edge of the coffee table, undoing a couple buttons from her shirt, the temperature was dropping by she had serious suspicions on the man to have casted a spell, and after one month the girl had learned for sure some tricks to break the man. "I cannot, you still owe me a picture of you" one less button "and I demand to have a better one of myself" two less buttons "or at least see the one you already took." Three less buttons, and she stopped to measure the man's mood. His jaw had fallen open and she caught her staring at her cleavage before looking up to her face.

"I think you should leave." He said suddenly.

"You promised to give me a picture of you." She teased him, lifting her hands back to the next button. "I am not going anywhere without it." He didn't answer, instead gave her a death glare, challenging to continue, and she did; one more and her underwear would be visible.

"Here." He used his wand to send her the picture previously taken. Hermione took it from the air and appreciated herself; clumsily and desperately removing her cloak and throwing it to the floor, had she ever looked as gracelessly as in that piece of paper? The small motion started over again.

"I look awful! Take another one."

"With you dressing like that? Of course not."

"You are not taking another picture of me, you are not giving me one of you; thus, I am going nowhere." She stomped her foot; stating how serious she was. "I came here with my uniform in outstanding conditions, and you didn't take it. You waited for me to look awful!" Hermione had gone with her best disposition, but now she was getting nothing in return, and was being played with. She buffed and ripped the picture multiple times. "Now you will have to take another one."

"… You should not have done that." Snape let go a grunt and slammed the desk in the process of standing up, picking up the camera in a sharp movement and taking a second photo. He observed the girl trying to compose herself for it, as fast as she could, but it didn't save her from looking shocked and in fear for the first second. He heard her demanding to see the second picture over and over, but his attention was in his own hands; that take wouldn't do, he needed another one. Snape threw both the camera and the photo on his desk and turned to look at the girl who had moved from the middle of the room to right behind him, and was currently throwing a tantrum., something with no precedent.

"Let me see it, you have been playing with me all night, I don't care how I look in that one, you can have it, just let me see… it." Her words became softer and thinner as the man reached for her shirt, grabbing her firm and causing her to jump in her tiptoes. "What are you doing…?" He grabbed both extremes of the fabric around the undone buttons, in permanent touch with her breasts and lowered his head to be next to her ear.

"I am not a patient man, Miss Granger." The hot air of his breath sent shivers to her spine as the place had gotten really cold without her noticing. While talking he pulled the fabric around the lowest undone button and he buttoned it up with masterful ability. "And if you continue to test me, it is just a matter of… time." He fastened the second button, "Before you pay the consequences." With every intentionally rough movement the girl could felt him pressing against her breasts, clouding her thoughts and making the threatening voice much worse. "It is time for you to realize…" Only one button needed fastened and her eyes were tightly closed "who is the real predator in the room." Surprisingly, he didn't even touch the last button, but instead he moved back taking his time to enjoy the effect of his voice and touch in the shorter girl that left her shivering and trembling.

"Please…"

"Make yourself clear, Granger" His hands still clutched around her shirt. Instead of a verbal answer the girl just opened her eyes and stared up at him, she wrapped her grip around his arms to make sure he was going nowhere and slowly rose in her toes, waiting for the man to move back any minute, mad and infuriated. But he didn't, his eyes locked in hers, till her sight went down to his lips, one second later it was him who held her against him, his hands traveled from her shirt to her neck and waist and his mouth pressed against hers.

In spite of having previous experience with kissing, the girl found herself unsure of what to do, or where to touch; She always knew what Ron wanted and she didn't have to worry about what to do during the previous encounters with the Potions Masters, but now… now he had looked quite dangerous just a few minutes before. Was she even allowed to touch him back? His tongue opened its way in, and her thoughts became blurred and the room started to get hotter than it previously was.

The young witch could've sworn she felt the man's body reacting to their kiss against her belly, and decided to take her chances and embrace him by the neck. However, the moment her fingers went in touch with his shoulders the Potions Master pushed her away, eyes clouded and his breathing heavy. He was still in better condition than her, as she stood panting and gasping before him.

"Leave." Snape demanded.

"But I thought-"

"Leave now."

"What about the photo?"

"I will not ask a third time."

She opened her mouth, but it was just full of air, still fearing for the man's reactions, he was right, she was nothing but a small rabbit in the den of a wolf. The man swallowed hard and stepped forward, grabbing the girl by the arm and pulling her to the door, she left her there and filled her arms with her cloak and other belongings previously discarded on the floor.

"I will manage it." With a final push she was out the office and the door was slammed closed. The Gryffindor prefect stayed there, in the middle of the dungeons with her uniform being a mess and a few minutes past curfew. Being completely bewildered not only for what just happened, but how the heck she permanently found herself breaking rules, her; at least she was not Head Girl, that would've been a disgrace.