A/N- slowly but surely they are figuring things out. Always knew those two would have to catch up eventually. ;) Things will start to get very exciting in the coming chapters...*wink*. Anyways, thank all for the reviews! I love them dearly. Enjoy!

"Gin, really," Hermione began with a roll of her eyes. "We aren't sleeping together, alright?"

Ginny eyed her friend searchingly, and although she could tell Hermione was telling the truth, she sensed there was more to it than that. "But you've kissed him, haven't you?"

Hermione glared at Ginny, annoyed that she could sense things like that so quickly. Ginny had always had a sharp eye, and the ability to spot when something of a scandalous nature had happened. "What gives you that idea?"

The two were sitting in the living room of Ginny and Draco's apartment, enjoying a glass of wine together while they caught up on all that had happened since Christmas. Hermione had seen Ginny a few times before then, but they have not had the time to sit down and talk. Ginny had grown rather tired of missing her friend, and had sent an owl to barrage Hermione with pecks until the witch had grown so exasperated that she had apparated to Ginny's place within half an hour. Ginny was rather pleased that Hermione had come so quickly, and the two had quickly settled down together.

"It couldn't have been the fact that you flushed like a grade schooler talking about their crush," Ginny said. "You have never been good at hiding your emotions, Hermione."

Hermione sighed dramatically. "Yes, well, I try in any case. But you're spot on as usual, although I'm sure I didn't need to tell you that."

Ginny smirked, pleased that her skills hadn't faded. "Was it good?"

"Amazing."

"You kissed your professor, 'Mione, congratulations!"

Hermione grimaced slightly at Ginny's joking words. "Colleague, Gin, colleague."

"He'll always be the dreaded Professor Snape, you can't deny that," Ginny pointed out as she took a sip from her glass.

"Well, in temper, I suppose," Hermione agreed.

"Speaking of which, what's it like living with him? I mean I know you sort of have to, but does he make it as miserable as I'm imagining? Merlin, 'Mione, all I see is him sneering down at you and taking points away at every turn!"

Hermione giggled at her friends dramatic display. "It's actually rather refreshing to be around him all the time. His demeanor hardly ever changes, though. But in all it's rather comfortable. You get used to the snarky temper after a while," Hermione said vaguely. The moments that had changed her entire view on the potions professor seemed too private to explain in detail to her friend.

The redhead nodded thoughtfully. "So you've realized how much older he is than you, right? Shagging your ex-professor, you naughty thing." Ginny waggled her eyebrows suggestively.

Hermione shrugged indifferently. "I've never really thought about it, actually. It doesn't bother me any, and I haven't the foggiest if it bothers him, so for now it isn't something that is an issue, not that it ever would be."

"So you're totally alright with shagging someone who could be your dad."

Hermione rolled her eyes at her friends teasing. "Merlin, Ginny, we aren't shagging. Get your mind out of the damned gutter for once."

"My mind would be homeless if not for that damned gutter," Ginny laughed lightly and took a sip of her wine as she looked at Hermione's slightly blushing countenance. "When you've finally realized what it's like to bed a Slytherin, do tell me. We'll have so much to share."

Hermione reached out and smacked her friend on the arm. "Good grief, Gin, I don't even know where this is going, whatever it is. Stop getting ahead of yourself."

Ginny raised her eyebrows. "You haven't planned the whole thing out? What ever has he done to you?"

Hermione glared at Ginny disparagingly, and remained silent, taking a sip of her wine instead.

Ginny's eyebrows rose even further up her forehead at Hermione's expression. "Merlin's ballsack, you're even looking like him now," Ginny shuddered slightly. "That was bloody uncanny Hermione."

Hermione laughed, and brushed off her friends comment. The two continued to converse lightly, and the afternoon passed quickly. Hermione bade goodbye to her friend when the session was threatening to last into the late evening, begging that she needed sleep for tomorrow's expedition with Snape. Ginny reluctantly agreed, and told Hermione that she need to come back sometime within the next century, as Draco was getting annoyed that his friend was so busy all of the time.

Hermione promised to do her best, and quickly apparated away, eager to be back in peace of home. As soon as that thought entered her mind, Hermione stopped short. Home? She nearly staggered from her use of the word. Spinner's End as her home. Hermione grinned suddenly at the thought, somehow the idea of Severus's home as her own didn't bother her in the slightest.

Still grinning, she walked into the sitting room to see Severus reading a rather old looking tome and taking notes from it. Sitting down beside him, she peered over to see what he was writing, but she couldn't make out his spidery scroll from her angle. "What are you doing?"

"I am beginning to realize that your questions really never end, Miss Granger," Severus replied witheringly as he put his quill down to look at Hermione. "I am taking more notes pertaining to tomorrow."

"I figured as much," Hermione replied easily.

"Yet you still felt the need to ask. How interesting."

"It never hurts to be sure," Hermione protested quickly. "But I'm afraid I'll be leaving you for the rest of the evening, unless you feel like keeping my feet warm tonight," Hermione said archly, referring to his animagus form.

"Going to sleep so early? Did the Weasley girl tire you out that to that magnitude?"

Hermione grinned at Severus's words, there had been many a time when Ginny's overly enthusiastic attitude had rendered her exhausted. "Not this time. I want to meditate, actually."

Severus arched an eyebrow. "You think you have gathered enough to try?"

Hermione shook her head quickly. "No, not yet. But I think that meditating will help me. Gaining mental control is a huge part of becoming an animagus, like you said, and I want to just sort of...sift through my thoughts and feelings tonight and see what I come up with."

Severus nodded approvingly. "A good a plan as any. I may come keep you company later, but for now I must continue to read."

Hermione nodded, and leaned in, pecking Severus lightly on the cheek. He jumped from the contact, but his lip twitched nonetheless. Severus knew he should be used to the small reassurances Hermione occasionally gave him, but he still felt a lingering wariness; it was incredibly difficult to believe someone would actually take the time to care for him.

They had yet to discuss what or where they were going with their burgeoning relationship, but neither felt the need for it. Severus hated to admit it to himself, but he was worried that if they confirmed exactly what they were, Hermione would suddenly come to her senses and leave. Which she rightly should, he mused to himself. He still wasn't quite sure why Hermione hadn't taken off already, but he was thankful for whatever was keeping her to him.

Hermione noticed the little quirk of his lip, and smiled to herself as she walked upstairs. She was growing to care deeply for the man, and seeing him accept her small advances made her grin like a school girl. Settling down on her bed, she started to regulate her breathing. Rolling her shoulders lightly, Hermione exhaled slowly as she felt the tension in her body drain.

Meditating had always been something Hermione enjoyed doing, and getting to the point of peaceful relaxation was enjoyable to her. Breathing deeply, she began to hum quietly, letting the simple action release even more unseen stress away. Focusing inward, Hermione calmed her mind; imagining a wide and deep pool. Interestedly, she watched the ripples slowly fade out as the pond stilled.

Grinning slightly, she imagined herself diving into the pool, delving deeper into her consciousness. Memories began to flood her awareness, and Hermione let them flow through her, catching the occasional glimpse as she swam deeper. Severus's long and elegant fingers as they wielded the delicate silver stirrer; his face as he concentrated.

Hermione smiled at that memory. She loved to watch Severus whilst he brewed. The look on his face hinted towards real, true enjoyment, and she always appreciated the glimpse into the man behind the cold mask. Suddenly, Severus's husky laugh rang out in her mind as she recalled when he helped her with her personality traits. The sound reverberated over her as she swam through her recollections, and Hermione found herself leaning into the sound, eager to hear more. The occasions that Severus had truly laughed in her presence could be counted on a single hand, and Hermione savored each memory carefully.

Swimming deeper, a brief image of her and Ron laughing together washed over her, and Hermione felt a pang of regret. Harry and Ron had been her best friends throughout school, and it was together that they fought so well in the war. She hadn't forgiven Ron for the horrible things he had said yet, but she knew that one day she would. It was simply impossible to remain enemies with someone who played such a large and substantial part in her life.

Hermione floated in the pool for a little while, feeling the waves of stress the day had accumulated melt off her. Sifting through her memories was a surprisingly enjoyable experience, and Hermione found herself slightly shocked at how many times Severus cropped up, despite their relatively newer friendship. The crinkle that appeared at the corners of his eyes when he found amusement in something, the all-knowing smirk he constantly had on his face. Small, simple things, but Hermione found herself examining them appreciatively.

Giggling to herself, she grinned at the morning when Severus had neglected to remain in his animagus form the entire night through, and both of their secrets had come out. She had been reasonably surprised that he hadn't chucked her out, as what she did was very Slytherin, indeed. But then again he hadn't been entirely innocent either, and if Hermione didn't think of what he did as touching, she would have been rather upset at the knowledge of Severus being the black cat she had grown so fond of. Knowing it was Severus added a depth to those memories that was previously missing. It was knowing that it was Severus the entire time that had made all the difference, and the idea that he had done it of his own accord meant more to Hermione than anything else.

Yes, Hermione wasn't afraid to admit to herself that she cared for the man greatly. She couldn't deny it to herself any longer, even if she wanted to. Her goal to become an animagus couldn't be completed without admitting to herself who she truly was, and if Severus was a part of that, then Hermione was fine with it.

Admitting it to Severus, however, was an entirely different story. While Hermione was nearly certain the man cared for her too, she had no way of telling how deeply it ran or even if he wanted something more than the occasional casual kiss and whatnot. The only thing Hermione knew for sure was that she didn't want whatever was happening to be a temporary fling. She wanted it to mean something, and she wasn't quite sure how Severus stood on the matter.

The man was many things, but deliberately cruel was not one of them, and Hermione was reasonable sure that if she were ever to become unwanted, Severus would not drag it out over some ridiculous idea of saving her feelings. She also knew the incredible pain that he had endured, and the suffering he had been made to endure for most of his life, and Hermione accepted that.

The door swung open, and Hermione was startled from her reverie by the sharp squeak the door made. The black cat responsible for the intrusion hopped onto the bed and carefully made its way to her side, and rubbed her shoulder with a purr before stretching out on the other side of the bed. A second later, Hermione turned to see Severus laying there instead of the cat.

"Did I interrupt anything important?" Severus drawled as he looked at the near half-asleep witch.

Hermione shook her head. "No, I got lost in the meditation. It was good you came when you did, I'd probably be sifting through useless things inside my head until morn."

"You should sleep. It will most likely end up being an exhausting day tomorrow."

"Still not telling me where exactly we are going?"

"No, and you would do well to practice a little patience," Severus pointed out, amusement clouding his rebuke. That was the fifth time that day she had asked where he was taking her tomorrow, and his answer hadn't changed.

Huffing slightly, Hermione rolled her eyes and hopped out of bed and headed towards the bathroom. Severus had already dressed into his nightclothes, and he settled himself under the duvet. It had become an unspoken routine for the two to sleep together, and although neither had pointed it out, they both knew of their curious lack of night terrors when they spend the entire night together. Sometimes Severus curled up next to Hermione in his animagus form, but usually it was as they were now.

Finally finished, Hermione walked out and jumped on the bed. Severus eyed the flash of leg he had caught a glimpse of, and smirked appreciatively. Hermione wiggled her way under the covers, and snuggled closer to Severus, but didn't touch him. He wasn't quite comfortable with Hermione being so close to him whilst he wasn't in his animagus before he fell asleep, but he never made a negative comment about how she always ended up sprawled over him by morning time. He rather enjoyed it, to be truthful.

"Good night, Severus," Hermione said amicably, her voice drifting off slightly as sleep quickly overcame her.

"Good night, Hermione."

Figuring out a relationship where Snape is concerned seems to fall out of the normal dating category, doesn't it? Hmm..