Hermione's eyes locked with Snape's; she had felt for the first time as though she could pierce those deep dark eyes. It was as though she could now see clearly into the man's unguarded soul.
Hermione felt her heart flutter as she found herself nodding her approval.
"Are you sure?" Snape's eyes narrowed as though Hermione was a puzzle he had to figure out.
The witch opened her mouth, yet she suddenly felt as though a lump had formed in her throat.
Snape leaned in closer, as though testing the waters before running his fingers under her chin.
Hermione put up no resistance as she placed her hand over Snape's as though wanting to hold it in this position forever.
Snape drew the witch's chin upward before pressing his lips to her cheek. He lingered ever so slightly.
"Thank you." Snape whispered, pulling back as the firelight flickered over Hermione's eyes.
The witch traced her fingers over her cheek, as though doing so would validate what had just happened.
Had Snape really just kissed her?
"It's time I took you back." Snape sighed, glancing at an ancient looking grandfather clock on the wall. Yet his words retained a trace of reluctance.
By the same token Hermione didn't feel quite ready to leave. She enjoyed being surrounded by an entourage of unfamiliar books, not to mention having someone to discuss them with.
She gazed up at the man expectantly, yet what she was expecting she didn't know.
"Unless you wish to stay a bit longer?" Snape offered the witch an encouraging smile.
"I was wondering if you had any books about," Hermione began, but what topic she wanted she didn't know, any topic would do at this point.
"I have books about everything." Snape smiled before rising to his feet and striding to the nearest wall.
"How about a game then, I pick out a book that I don't think you would have read. If you haven't read it then I win, but if you have then you win."
"How will you know if I'm lying about it or not?" Hermione suggested, her eyebrow raised.
"I don't play games with just anybody Ms Granger." A glint sparked across Snape's eyes as he reached down before withdrawing a brown leather-bound book, which appeared to be about a hundred years old.
A smile adorned his lips and he passed it to her.
She glanced at the cover that read 'Curious Creatures of Latvia'.
"You win." Hermione stated instantly, chuckling slightly as she opened the cover to reveal what appeared to be an encyclopaedia of every strange magical creature in Latvia.
"This book is beautiful." Hermione's jaw dropped as her eyes danced over intricate, aged Victorian pages.
"Yes, it is one of my favourites."
"I thought you would favour one that related to potions." Hermione tilted her head slightly as she watched the man step away from the bookshelf before striding back towards her.
"There is more to me than simply potions." Snape smirked as he collected his teacup before drawing it to his lips.
"Take it with you." Snape suggested, it was an offer Hermione had no intention of refusing as she clutched the book close to her chest.
"We best be heading back if we want to make it in time for dinner." Snape suggested, his voice tinged with sadness as he reached out for the girl's hand.
*~.~*
"Where the hell have you been?" Ron screwed up his face as Hermione joined them at the Gryffindor table for dinner.
"I was uh," Hermione began as Snape strode past behind her, sending her heart racing as a shudder ran through her spine. She had spent hours away from school in a town in the middle of England, yet despite all this time away she hadn't thought of a decent excuse for her absence.
"I was in the library." She lied flatly.
"No you weren't." Ron stated rather indelicately.
"And what's that ancient looking book?" Ron stated inquisitively as his eyes fell upon the book encased within Hermione's arms.
Only Hermione didn't get the chance to answer.
"Ms Granger. I have been trying to find you all day." An unwelcome piercing shrill greeted the group of Gryffindor's.
"Dolores." Hermione spoke without thinking.
"That's Professor Umbridge to you." The toad of a woman spat as a flare of anger shot through her eyes.
"I can think of another name." Ron sniggered, the words leaving his lips a little too loudly for Harry's comfort.
"What was that boy?!"
"Nothing." Ron muttered under his breath, though he seemed far from regretting his words.
"I have reason to believe that you were in fact not ill the other day when you didn't bother to turn up to my class." Umbridge rounded on the young witch.
"Is there a problem Undersecretary?" Snape's cold drawl suddenly joined the conversation as Umbridge turned to face him. Hermione hadn't even seen the man approach but was sure feeling glad that he did.
"Not at all Severus." The witch contorted her face into a forced smile.
"I can assure Granger was indeed ill yesterday." Snape stated flatly, his eyes piercing as though he were instructing one of his classes.
"Oh, is that right? And how is it that you know this?" She spat before hardly giving the man time to answer.
"Come to think of it, where were you today?" Umbridge ran her eyes up and down the man's slender form.
"I required veritaserum but you weren't anywhere to be found, slippery as a snake you are. You weren't anywhere in the castle and I know for a fact that you didn't go to Hogsmeade." She eyed the professor suspiciously.
"I don't believe that's your concern." Snape stated calmly.
"Not my concern? It very much is my concern." She spat drawing herself up to her fullest height.
"If you must know, I was in Cokeworth." Snape sighed as if bored.
"Cokeworth? Whatever for?"
"To collect potions supplies."
"What's wrong with Diagon Alley?"
"Diagon Alley doesn't have all the ingredients I require."
"Cokeworth, why does that sound familiar? Oh yes, isn't that where you grew up Severus?" She raised her eyebrow, an air of suspicion lingered in her voice.
"Don't tell me you just wanted to go home."
"I already told you why I went there."
"Does Dumbledore know you left the school? Or did you go without his permission?" Umbridge sneered as though delighting in tripping Snape up.
Snape felt the eyes of the entire school upon him.
"Severus had my permission Undersecretary." Dumbledore's calm voice now joined the fray.
Umbridge seemed to have run out of things to say as she turned on her heel.
Snape offered Dumbledore one of his rare smiles in gratitude.
"Are you okay?" Snape gazed down at Hermione, a concerned expression swelling within his eyes.
She nodded, clutching the book the man had given him closer than ever as she watched him stride behind Dumbledore to the front of the Great Hall.
"Are you okay?" Ron screwed up his face like a paper bag.
"Since when did that greasy git start to care about whether you are okay or not?" Ron shook his head in disbelief.
Hermione remained silent as she scooped up mashed potatoes with her spoon.