A/N: Lemon. Again, that's the M part for the sensitive type.

Hermione reluctantly agreed to Alexander's tutoring with Narcissa Malfoy. They agreed it was best but Hermione made two requests – that she never have to see Narcissa and someone sat in with them during their lessons. As their training began, in conjunction with the occlumency lessons, Alexander grew more confident and less confused. It gave his potions lessons and other schoolwork more focus and he began to thrive once again.

Once the term resumed in earnest, it took time to establish a routine for Hermione and Severus. Each evening, Severus would join Hermione for a nightcap and to visit with Emiline. He made a point to leave when Emiline was put to bed and returned via the floo in Hermione's bedroom shortly after. He made love to her, read with her and slept beside her in the evenings but each morning, before Emiline awoke, he escaped back through the floo to his rooms to change for the day.

Weeks later, the teary conversation in the kitchen a mere memory, Hermione found a note on Severus' pillow.

Dinner date? Tonight. 7pm.

-S

She smiled at the note and quickly jotted her reply. Hermione couldn't remember the last time she was out on a date and the prospect made her a little giddy. She spent most of her day trying to determine what to wear. She felt like Lavender Brown in their sixth year. The clock ticked by slowly and Hermione waited anxiously in her new dress for Severus to pick her up. Standing in her coat in the foyer, a breeze was making her quite chilled. She regretted the choice in ensemble and felt foolish. Just as she was turning to return to change, he swept into view.

"Change your mind, Professor?" he asked in his best Professor Snape voice.

"Only in my choice of garments," she told him.

"Well, I'm sure later, that won't matter at all," he smirked.

She blushed and smiled, taking his arm as they walked towards the apparition point.

Once apparated, Hermione was confused. She assumed they were going to Hogsmeade but didn't recognize any of the shops.

"Where are we?"

"Hay-on-Wye," he told her.

"All the way to Wales for dinner? Must be a special occasion indeed," she smiled.

"Any occasion with you, is a special one, my love," he took her hand and placed it in the crook of his elbow.

When they reached the restaurant, Severus took her coat, revealing a stunning, backless green dress.

"Magnificent," he complimented.

She blushed slightly. "Then the chill was certainly worth it," she beamed.

Their dinner completed and a cold, winter walk behind them, they apparated back to the castle and he walked her back to her rooms.

"Will I see you later?" she asked him.

"Will you still be wearing that dress?" he replied.

"I could be," she teased.

"I'll be there before you will. Emiline is asleep?" he queried.

"Yes, Binky says she fell asleep an hour ago."

"I'm on my way," he called before taking off towards the dungeons.

She walked into her rooms, tossing her coat and bag on the table. It was such a glorious feeling to be coming home from a date, there was something so tantalizingly refreshing about it. She checked on her sleeping daughter and headed to her room. When she arrived, Severus was seated on the side of the bed waiting for her. He stood up and walked towards her. She reached up to put her arms around him and he drew her into a kiss.

"You know," he said, turning her around, "this weekend is Valentine's Day."

"Mmhmm," she murmured. His hands traced up her back and he leaned to kiss the nape of her neck.

"I think you should come away with me for the weekend," he said between kisses, slowly trailing them down her shoulderblades.

"Emiline. And I have grading. And the article for the journal," she stammered out.

"Emiline has an invitation to the Potters," he explained.

He unbuttoned the clasp at the top of her dress and slowly unzipped the low zipper, letting the dress pool around her feet. He reached around, cupping her breasts in his hands.

"You know, I thought about this all through dinner when I saw that dress," he told her, kissing the tops of her shoulders.

"I thought you might," she admitted, rolling her head back to open her neck to him. He kissed her neck below her ear, warm lips touching her cool skin.

He turned her to him. She undid the buttons on his shirt and unfastened his trousers. When he too was in a similar state of undress, she started kissing his chest. He reached up to the clasp in her hair, letting her hair fall down around her shoulders before running his fingers through it. He led her over to the bed but sat on the side, drawing her to him. She responded as if it were pre-arranged. She straddled him and eased down on top of him, feeling the sensation of fullness and warmth engulfing her. He leaned back to keep them balanced, propped on his elbows, he watched her as she closed her eyes and rode him.

"You are glorious," he whispered, all the while watching her quicken her pace, finding the rhythm that would bring her to a satisfied end. The vision was stunning before him. He watched where they were joined, her rising and falling on top of him, feeling her start to tremble and quake before her orgasm overtook her and she cried out his name. She placed her hands on his chest, him still inside her as she tried to catch her breath. She looked up at him with a drunken euphoria on her face. He lifted her up, and moved them both toward the wall.

With a whisper, she felt herself become suddenly weightless, her back pressed against the cold stone of the room. She draped her arms around his neck and leaned in to kiss him. He used his hands to brace her hips against the wall and as he began his rhythm, she gasped at the sensation. He stopped his motion and looked at her.

"Are you ok? Am I hurting you?" he asked.

"No, it's just, different is all," she told him.

"If you're not comfortable with this-"

"It's just different. I'm not uncomfortable or in any pain. Please," she implored him, returning to place kisses on his neck.

He began rocking his hips into hers again and the weightlessness provided Hermione with a sensation she found familiar. Severus continued pulsing in and out of her and she began to feel the swell growing inside herself as well. As the swell grew, his own release was imminent and they came together, him rocking into her a few final times before concentrating on his own breathing again. He carried her back to the bed and laid her down, lying beside her, stroking her hair.

"About this weekend?" he teased.

"Yes," she answered.

"But what about your grading?" he poked.

"Sod the grading," she laughed.

"I'm glad you see things my way," he smiled.

"Severus Snape, do you mean to tell me you're trying to influence me with your sexual prowess?"

"Did it work?"

"Yes it did."

"Then yes, I am," he told her.

She laughed. "I love you."

"I love you, too." He kissed her again and pulled her close to him. "Now to sleep, my angel, Friday is only two days away and you're going to need your rest."

She nestled in beside him and they both fell quickly asleep. They were content and peaceful, welcome feelings for both of them.

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

"You know, Severus Snape never really struck me as the romantic type," Ginny said. After their weekend away, Ginny refused to speak to Hermione further until they met for lunch.

"He's full of surprises," Hermione said with a shrug.

"I bet he is. Poor Harry still hasn't recovered you know," she told her friend.

"From what?" Hermione asked.

"Severus asked if Emiline could stay with us for the weekend and Harry asked why. Severus told him it was Valentine's Day and he wanted to take you somewhere special. So, Harry, being Harry and slightly oblivious, asked him for what," Ginny explained.

"Oh dear," Hermione responded.

"Yes, it seems Severus told him something along the lines of 'an opportunity hear her scream with passion'" Ginny giggled

Hermione blushed.

"Well, did he?" she asked.

"Did he what?"

"Hear your screams of passion?"

"Ginny!"

"Well?"

"If you absolutely must know, yes, yes he did. Many, many screams," she giggled. "You're horrible, you know that right? What would your mother think if she heard us talking like this?"

"Where do you think I learned to talk like this?"

"Oh my god, I can't even think about that," Hermione said shaking her head.

"Besides," Ginny told her, "Soon I'll be living vicariously through you."

Hermione looked at her and and Ginny placed a hand over her stomach.

"You're pregnant?! Does Harry know?"

"No, Hermione, I just thought I'd wait and see if he noticed if there was another kid at the house in six months or so. Of course, he knows," she teased.

Hermione laughed. "You sounded like Severus there for a minute."

"Severus is pregnant?" Ginny joked.

They both laughed. "This is wonderful, Ginny, it really is and I'm sure Harry is over the moon about it."

"He's always so funny about it. But he's already starting reading that stupid book to my stomach. It doesn't deter him that the baby doesn't even have eardrums yet," she told her friend.

"Aw, be easy with him. He's excited. You're lucky you know," she said solemnly.

"I know, I really do. I'm really sorry that when you were pregnant with Em and Alex that I wasn't there for you more. I didn't know-"

Hermione reached across the table to take Ginny's hand. "It's ok. Really, it's ok. Now stop crying."

"Damn hormones," Ginny said dabbing at her cheeks. "I'm glad you're happy. We all are. Mum really wants to see you. You can't avoid her forever. She knows and she's fine with it. And if he mistreats you, she'll hex his bollocks off."

"Of that, Ginerva Potter, I am absolutely certain," she smiled.