The first thing Hermione had thought when she had seen the owl was that Harry must have given him her address. The second was wondering what had compelled him to send an owl to early in the morning. She shook her head and read what Ronald Weasley had to say.

Hello Hermione,

Would you care to explain why RITA SKEETER has pictures of you, your daughter, and Severus Snape? Why the h*ll were you even talking to him? Of all people? Hermione, half the wizarding world thought you were dead, and now Rita is saying it was you hiding your and Snape's love child!

Hermione's mouth dropped open. That little lying scheming witch. And what right did Ron have to bother her about it? It's Rita Skeeter-the only people that cared what she wrote were witches with nothing else to do. However...she did remember that Mrs. Weasley believed it in fourth year. And it had taken Harry especially to tell her that their "little romance" was not the case.

Hermione freaked as she caught sight of the time. Pushing thoughts of Rita and the Daily Prophet out of her mind, she ran to drag her sleepy daughter out of bed.

Hermione sighed as she cleaned the kitchen that day. She was so distracted with so many different things that she was doing everything the muggle way. Well, almost. Her least favoutrite chore, one the cook always assigned her to do, was being attended to. She just had to hope no-one noticed the muffin cups filling themselves. Shoving a table's drinks onto a tray, she carried it out to the dining area where breakfast was underway. Hermione was so distracted she didn't even notice a pair of black eyes staring at her, not until it was time to go to that table.

"Hi, I'm Liz and I'll be your server today. Can I start you off with anything to-" she faltered as she looked up, meeting the eyes of Severus Snape.

"Hello Hermione." It wasn't a question. Hermione sighed.

"Look, give me ten minutes and I can talk for a little."

Snape nodded. Hermione almost ran back to the kitchen. Growling slightly, she whipped out her wand, becoming Super Waitress. She loaded three trays, four table's worth of food, made them feather light, and carried them out to the area. Serving fast and pouring refills, she decided that her tables were all sufficiently taken care of. She sat down at Snape's booth, sliding him a coke. He raised his eyebrows, and she shrugged. He took a sip, and put it down.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Severus winced as that slipped out. He sounded like a wounded school boy. But it had been on his mind.

"Because you were from my other life. You could have told."

"I wouldn't-"

"There was no way to make sure."

Snape decided he had to accept this answer. Feeling worried of making a fool of himself, he took the Witch Weekly he had brought and tossed it on the table between them. He observed her reaction as she opened it and gingerly flipped to the article about them. He watched her fury build as she read, but was distracted by thoughts of how even disguised she looks cute when she's mad. He was incredibly surprised when she simply pointed to a picture of all of them at the restaurant and said "That's a cute shot of Alison."

Hermione looked up and Severus noticed that instead of angry, she looked mostly tired. She must have noticed his surprise because she said "What? There's nothing I can do about it. We know the truth. It doesn't directly affect Alison. It might when she gets to Hogwarts, but..." Severus raised an eyebrow. "What? If you're wondering, yes, I still want to hex that frikin beetle into oblivion. But Severus, this is the kind of thing I left the wizarding world because. I couldn't handle it. And after I had my baby girl I couldn't expose her to that."

"So you're not coming back?"

"Not unless..."

"Unless?" Darn her mind shields.

"Nothing. Listen, Severus, I have to get back to work. Please promise you won't tell anyone."

Severus looked at her eyes. They were pleading, sweet. He couldn't deny them. "Alright."

"If you still want to talk more I'm done at 4." and with that Hermione hurried back to the kitchen.

"And that was...?" Mel asked, eyebrow raised.

"Old friend. Sorry Mel."

"It's fine. You need a break."

"I just took one!"

"You need another one. You look tired." Before Hermione could answer that, Mel simply turned back to the other waitress she was talking to.

At 4, Hermione stepped out of the back door kitchen, exhausted. It had been a long day.

"Hello again."

She sighed. "Hello Severus."

"You look tired."

"Why is everyone saying that?" Severus raised his eyebrow but said nothing. "Why are you out here anyway?"

"I was hoping to talk more."

"Would you mind if we did it at my apartment? I have to go pick up Alison."

"If you don't mind."

"Not at all." Hermione said, offering her arm. Snape gingerly took hold of it and they were off.

"Mr. Severus?" Alison asked in confusion as she spotted said potions master over her mother's shoulder.

"Hello again Alison."

"Mommy?"

"Severus and Mommy need some grown-up time, okay sweetie? So when we get home I need you to play quietly by yourself for a little."

"Okay mommy." Alison said, still looking in confusion between her mother and Severus.

Shortly after the day-care pickup, Severus found himself holding Alison as her mother unlocked the door to the apartment. As soon as he set Alison down she scampered off, probably to play with her dolls.

"Tea?" Hermione called over her shoulder.

"Yes, please." Snape called. He stood awkwardly, wondering if he should follow her into the kitchen. His question was answered when she called "Come on in-I'm not going to bite."

Smirking slightly, Snape followed the sound of her moving about to find a quaint little kitchen, with a fridge almost shorter than Alison. He sat down at the little tiny table, and Hermione gave him his cup of tea before sitting down herself.

"So."

"Why did you leave?"

"Lots of reasons."

Snape waited, before raising an eyebrow. "Care to elaborate?"

She smirked, an expression that even in her new face was reminescent of himself. "I went to get my parents. I liked it there, so I stayed. Met a guy. Long story short, he was Alison's father, he didn't want her, my parents didn't want me to keep her, and I don't need the media attention."

"Why wouldn't he want her?"

"I guess he didn't want to be that committed. He ended up cheating, I believe."

"That's stupid." Snape said aloud before he could stop himself.

"Pardon?"

"I mean," Darn it, she could make him flustered. "That it's stupid that a guy would give up a little treasure like Alison."

He observed her quietly for a second as she appeared to ponder what to say, staring into her mug.

"And a little beauty like you."

She looked up so sharply Severus thought she'd get whiplash.

"Did you just call me a beauty?" Hermione asked, a small smile playing on her lips.

"Possibly."

"Even when I look like this?" Hermione said, gesturing to her different appearance.

"Slightly altered, of course."

"Hmm. How about when I do this?" Hermione asked, smirking. She stood up and waved her wand, removing all the appearance charms. Snape gaped.

"Definetly a beauty." He managed to choke out.

"Yeah right." Hermione said appruptly, dropping down into her chair. She grabbed her mug and took a sip.

Why did I just do that. He probably didn't mean it.

Yes he did.

Hermione gasped as she heard a new voice inside her head. She had been too distracted to put up her shields. She looked up only to see Severus' eyes inches away.

"I did mean it Hermione. You are a beauty."

And before she could think up a response, his lips were on hers.

She hesitated for a split second, before realizing that he was a really good kisser. She melted into the kiss, giving it her all. She was vaguely aware of him doing the same. She felt his tongue begging for entry and gladly let it in, feeling it explore her whole mouth.

Their kiss was cut short when both 'participants' found themselves short of breath. Hermione looked across the table at her old professor, and saw a smirk forming. Uh oh.

But instead of saying something cruel, Severus simply said. "Well well well Ms. Granger. I must say I didn't know you had it in you."

Hermione almost laughed. Smirking back at him, she slowly got up. She took the half step that was the tiny table, and looked down at the still seated potions master. "Well then. I don't suppose you think I have this in me either." Severus hardly knew what hit him when he found himself mouth-to-mouth with her once again. He pushed back from the table and wrapped his arms around her, giving into the irresistible kiss. He felt her hands in his hair, and pulled her down to his level. She ended up on his lap, something that didn't interrupt the little make-out session in the slightest. His hands were traveling up and down her back, feeling through the light fabric of her shirt and also the bulge that was her bra. When oxygen made its need present again, Snape trailed kisses down her neck, finding out that Hermione Granger was a little ticklish at a certain spot. Snape became aware of her hands on his chest, pushing off his cloak until it fell to the floor. Their lips met again, but this time were interrupted by a crash coming from Alison's room. Breaking off and looking alarmed, Hermione hopped off of Severus' lap and went in search of her daughter.

A.N: This is the longest chapter I've ever written. :) Yay! We finally have some real Hermione/Snape! Tell me what you think!