Huge thanks for your reviews! Am glad you like the pace of the story and that you don't think it's too happy. Someone suggested that I should start addressing Snape as Severus and I understand their reasoning but think it would be a bit strange to change the way I write him in the middle of a story. And I've always found stories that begin with Snape being called Severus slightly odd, as he's usually not on familiar terms with anyone in the beginning of a story. But I do agree that it's a bit weird that he's still Snape but I think it would be weirder if I began addressing him as Severus, what do the rest of you think? Unfortunately won't be able to update for the next week or two as exams are coming up.

Andrea xx

"So, we should just tell her that we've become friends and that we're going travelling together, as friends?" Hermione asked dubiously.

Snape and Hermione were in Snape's office, discussing the best way to approach the Headmistress about the two of them going abroad together. They had already notified her that they wanted to have a meeting with her and were due in her office ten minutes later.

"Yes, that is the general idea. However, it might be best if you explain the part about us becoming friendly as I doubt Minerva would be believe me. If anything, she would think that I have hexed you or some similar nonsense," Snape replied with a snort.

Hermione laughed and gave him a peck on the cheek.

"If she does accuse you of doing anything untoward, she's an idiot," Hermione declared and looked at her watch. "I think it's time."

Snape nodded his agreement and opened the door.

The Headmistress bid them welcome when her wards alerted her to their presence. They entered her office and found her seated behind her desk.

"Severus, Hermione, please have a seat," she greeted them and gestured towards the two chairs facing her desk. "Tea? Coffee?"

"No, thank you, Headmistress," Hermione replied and sat down next to Snape.

Snape just shook his head slightly in response to the offer.

"I must admit, you have succeeded in making me curious," the Headmistress said and smiled slightly. "What is it that you wish to talk to me about?"

Hermione was the first one to speak up, making an effort to ensure that her voice remained neutral.

"A couple of weeks ago, I made plans to travel this summer. I intend to leave on the same day as the other students take the train back to London," Hermione explained. "I then asked Professor Snape to accompany me, as a friend," she continued, finding the use of his title sounding strangely foreign on her lips since she hadn't used it outside of his classroom for months. "After all, travelling is more fun when you share it with someone."

"I accepted her invitation and as Miss Granger said, we will depart on the same day as the rest of the school. Obviously, this concerns no one else but we decided that you had a right to know," Snape said in his deep voice, sounding rather bored.

The headmistress looked surprised for a moment before she schooled her features.

"I see. I must say, you have taken me by surprise," she replied and frowned. "I most certainly appreciate you telling me," she added before her facial expression turned pensieve. "Please forgive me for having to ask the next question, but I feel I must. The nature of your relationship, I do hope it is not more than friendly?" she asked in a stern voice, giving Snape a hard stare.

"Headmistress, I assure you that Professor Snape and I are friends, no less and no more," Hermione quickly cut in before Snape had a chance to reply.

The Headmistress turned to look at Hermione in surprise. She studied her student closely for a moment or two.

"Very well. May I inquire as to where you will be travelling?"

"We have not made a clear plan yet, but we intend to begin our journey in Hamburg," Snape replied.

"Well, I hope the two of you have a lovely summer," the Headmistress said, her tone making it obvious that they were dismissed.

"You too, Headmistress," Hermione said and rose.

"Minerva," Snape said and gave her a curt nod before he followed Hermione out of the room.

They stood in silence as the staircase rotated them down to the corridor. When they stepped out into it, they looked around to make sure that there was no one else around.

"My quarters?" Hermione asked.

Snape nodded and together they headed off in the direction of Hermione's rooms. Luckily, when they got there, the corridor was empty and they could enter unseen.

Hermione waited until the portrait had closed before she spoke.

"Well, it went okay, didn't it?" she said and sat down on the sofa, kicking off her shoes.

"Yes, I thought so. I think she is still a bit suspicious but there is nothing she can do," Snape replied and unbuttoned his top button as well as taking off his shoes.

"Hold me," Hermione asked softly and gestured towards one of the corners of the sofa.

Snape sat down where he had been asked to and pulled her towards him, her head resting on his chest. He wrapped his arms around her waist, letting his hands caress her gently. Hermione made a sound of content and closed her eyes.

"I can't believe we'll be gone from here in less than two weeks," Hermione said thoughtfully.

"It will be strange, to say the least. But I think we are both in need of it."

"Yes," the Gryffindor mused and was silent for a few moments. "Severus, there is something that you've yet to tell me. I haven't asked you because I think it's something that you don't want to talk about but I, well, I want to know," she said and opened her eyes.

"Then ask."

"How did you survive Nagini? I was there, I thought I watched you die," Hermione whispered, her voice almost breaking at the mention of his nearly dying.

"Hermione, you could have asked me that a long time ago," Snape said evenly, sounding neither angry nor sad.

"Well, you don't exactly love talking about yourself," Hermione half-muttered, but gave him a small smile to show that she wasn't angry.

"Ever since I first came into contact with Nagini, many years ago, I have been injecting her poison on a regular basis. However, the night Voldemort ordered her to kill me, the dose injected into my body was so large that I almost died. It took my body a long time to deal with it, hence the coma," Snape explained, watching her surprised facial expression with amusement in his eyes. "Are you really that surprised to find that a potions master, who was in regular contact with a very poisonous snake, tried to develop immunity to said snake's venom?"

"God, you make it sound so normal. All I can say is that I am glad."

"I should hope so," Snape replied and tightened his hold on her.

Hermione looked up at him and bit her bottom lip as she considered her next question. She did not want to upset him but then she wanted to know the answer to her next question. And if he reacted badly, then that was his problem, she tried to tell herself.

"Do speak up. I should hope that we have reached the state in our relationship where you have stopped worrying about my reaction. And should I react in an unsatisfactory way, I seem to recall you being quite capable of physical violence," Snape said dryly, but his eyes shone with amusement.

"Careful, or I might think that you're encouraging that side of me," Hermione smiled back before her face turned serious. "Severus, I don't know what it is that we have and I don't know how this summer will turn out. But presuming everything goes well; I don't want to have to keep hiding our relationship. I don't want to go public as in letting the whole wizarding world know, but I would like you to join me for dinner at the Weasleys' once in a while, and for us to be able to have dinner at a restaurant like a normal couple. I'm not ashamed of us as a couple and…" she continued but was cut off.

"Hermione, if I ever gave you the impression that I am ashamed of you, I must apologize. The only reason why I don't think we can tell anyone now is because I am still a teacher at a school where you are a student," Snape said, tilting her head slightly so that he could look into her eyes. "You have no idea of how much I am looking forward to us being able to act like normal people in public."

Hermione smiled happily at hearing his answer.

"It's not that I thought you were ashamed of me, it's just that you are a very private man, and I'm quite a private person myself, that's why I was worried that you might not want to be a couple in public."

"You are right that I am a private person, but just because I don't want to sit at the most central table in a restaurant doesn't mean I won't go to the restaurant at all. If anything, I am more concerned about you having to worry about people questioning your grades because you were in a relationship with a professor."

"Well, everyone who knows me will know that I would never stoop so low to achieve the grades I want and that will have to be enough."

"You are a remarkable witch, Hermione. If I had been half as mature as you when I was your age, my life might have turned out in a completely different way," Snape replied quietly.

"Well, if it's any consolation, whilst I'm not happy about what you have had to go through, it has made you a great man," Hermione said determinedly and placed a kiss on one of his hands.

Snape did not agree with her words but who was he to speak up when that was what Hermione thought about him and even kissed his hand? It was the first time that he had ever experienced such affection from another human being. And that was when Snape realised that his feelings for Hermione were stronger than he had ever thought possible. He hugged her tighter and caressed her gently. At one point he very nearly touched her breast and immediately lowered his hands when he noticed it. To his surprise Hermione placed a hand over his and slowly moved his hand upwards so it came to rest on her right breast. A voice in the back of his head muttered that he should not be doing this at Hogwarts but he silenced it immediately. Tentatively, as if afraid that he would hurt her, he touched her breast and marvelled at how soft it was. He could feel the thin fabric of her bra through the white shirt she was wearing. Cupping her breast, he gently massaged it, still in awe of her letting him.

"That feels so good," Hermione said quietly, her eyes closed.

Snape felt brave and moved his hand to her other breast, giving it the same treatment. They remained in that position, with Snape slowly caressing Hermione's upper body, until curfew, when Snape went back down to his own quarters.

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