I have just sent you away from me for your holiday break. That half hopeful half heart-broken look on your face as you left my office nearly sent me chasing after you, propriety be damned. I have come to the conclusion that I am going to need your cooperation if I want to make it to the end of the school year without thoroughly having my way with you.
If we are to spend the term ruthlessly denying our adult attraction to each other, and forcing ourselves back into the roles we have chosen to play, I want to tell you now that your obvious infatuation with me has never been, and will never be, one sided. My desire, and deep affection for you, has been steadily increasing in step with your own. If I have been better at hiding it, it is only due to my age and experience, and the fact that I have so much to lose.
I also wish to take the time, here, to try and impress upon you how deeply unethical it is on my part to return your feelings. I am in a position of authority over you, you look up to me and trust me, and as such I am in a remarkably easy position to manipulate your emotions. Many perverted Professors have taken advantage of young students this way, and the thought that I may be doing that to you, even inadvertently, keeps me up at night even more than your nightmares ever did.
Please, Hermione, I implore you: while you spend this time without contact with me or influence by me, consider this possibility most seriously. If you are confused about your affections for me in any way, listen to your own heart and take all the time you need to mull this over. YOU OWE ME NOTHING. I will always be here for you, as your friend, as your mentor, as your confidant, regardless of whether we enter into a romantic relationship or not.
If we are to continue down our current trajectory there are other matters I need you to consider most seriously. Any romantic entanglement between the two of us is not going to be received well by the British Wizarding community. And- although I have no doubt your friends are loyal, that loyalty may not be so strenuously tested if we put some distance between ourselves, Hogwarts, Britain, and the lot. I have known for some time now that my relationship with you would cost me my position one way or another, and you must believe me when I say I do not regret it for a moment. There are a few epicenters of Wizarding Academics outside Great Britain, take the time to inform yourself on them. We can discuss this in more detail when we are together again face to face.
Unless there is an emergency, or you need to inform me you no longer want me to deliver your NEWT results in person, please refrain from contacting me during this time. I will be thinking of you every moment, Hermione Jean Granger.
Yours, Severus Tobias Snape