A/N: I was considering this just being a one shot but we'll see where this goes…I know it's been ages since my last upload but…life.

§§§§§§§

Hermione was shocked to wake up with her head laying on Severus's chest. And her body was trapped between his legs. Hermione knew she should just get up and leave. But he smelled so good…This thought was punctuated by a deep inhale of his scent on her part. The masculine aroma hinted at citrus, vetiver, and clove. And his embrace was warm and comforting. Subconsciously she nuzzled her face in his chest once more. But then his warm body began to shift beneath her. She bit her lip, tensing when Severus moved. Was he waking up?

Yes, he was.

"Good morning Miss Granger," he murmured as if their current situation was the most natural thing in the world. If only. Only his formal tone could sour the moment, not that she could have expected anything else really. She sat up, knowing that a moment longer in his embrace would cause her to do something stupid.

"I thought we decided to dispense with the formalities?" Hermione said, prodding his chest gently. He owed her that much, they were friends after all.

He looked up at her then, an unreadable expression in his dark bottomless gaze, "Yes we did. My apologies, Hermione."

She smiled. "Much better, Severus." Sighing, she pat uselessly at her hair and looked at her partner in crime before wincing. Groaning as she held onto her head, "Oh Merlin, it seems the after effects of cake and champagne have finally come. Do you perhaps have a potion I could…"

"I have something better actually. A trick I invented in my...younger years," Severus replied, and much to Hermione's surprise he reached for her face, his fingers gently caressing either side at the temple. He whispered something softly, a low croone that sounded closer to a song than any spell she ever heard of. It made her insides twist and grow warm. She could only imagine what it would be like if he ever actually tried to seduce. She'd be putty in his hands within seconds. But more importantly, for now at least, her headache had quickly melted away. Such an impressive and effortless display of wandless magic. Leave it to Severus to have something like this in his arsenal. Something so delightfully simple and delicate yet with an elegance and artistry that was all his own. Merlin, he was devastatingly brilliant. How many spells had this man oh so casually created?

Hermione was speechless and not the least bit aroused both physically and intellectually. "Wow," she gasped, searching for more articulate words and not finding them. "That was...amazing. T-Thank you so much."

He smiled shyly, a beautiful humble smile that only endeared him to the brunette further. "My pleasure." He seemed to realize that he was still stroking her cheek and so he lowered his hands, the smile fading into his usual neutral expression. It made her extremely upset that he seemed to always temper his feelings like that. True, he did it less and less in her presence but would he ever give up the act completely? Only time would tell.

"Well, I should probably get going… I have to go to the lab today," The curly haired witch said as she rose rather reluctantly from her seat.

He got up too, stretching and unconsciously showing off his leanly muscled frame. "That's right, you're working on that scar removal potion aren't you?" He asked with a knowing smirk which Hermione interpreted as him wanting an invitation to her lab. Of course he knew what she was working on, they discussed their current projects all the time, often gleaning insights from one another. Sometimes Severus's knowledge about brewing and herbs was almost encyclopedic.

"You're welcome to come to the lab today, Severus," Hermione offered, hoping her grin wasn't too wide. Didn't want to seem overly eager. "I've made some pretty decent strides but admittedly I'm a bit stuck. I could use someone with more experience."

Severus snorted, "Is that your roundabout way of saying I'm old?"

Hermione's eyes widened and she flinched, waving her arms wildly, "No! Absolutely not, I-I would never—!"

"It's alright dear, I was only teasing you," he reassured, his soft smile accelerating the melting of her heart. That, and the term of endearment that slipped past his lips. Maybe….just maybe…. "And thanks, I'd love to take a look at what you've accomplished so far. It's only right for me to check up on a former apprentice."

She smiled, but part of her was devastated. So it was just a professional curiosity. Soulmate or not he obviously didn't think of her in any other ways than that. And how could he? She's been his student, apprentice, and now peer but never just a woman to him. Did he even find her attractive? Not all soulmates were romantic partnerships even if that's what was expected. There were a few cases of platonic bonds. But the love that burned fiercely in her heart for him felt like something beyond friendship. If only Snape would see that too. "Right. So I guess I can expect you in about an hour or so? That'll give us both time to clean up."

He nodded, "Sounds good."

Without much more preamble Hermione grabbed her purse and shoes and apparated away from his place. It was a similarly quick jump to her own flat and thus began the mad rush to get bathed and somewhat presentable before Severus's arrival. She wanted to look nice, but not too dressed up for a simple day of work.

But it wasn't simple.

Not anymore. Before she would've treated this time with Severus like any other. But now that she knew for a fact that he was her soulmate- simple was out the window. Things were fucking complicated now. She's had a crush on him for a while, but after hearing those fateful words…. The burn she felt in her chest, and how her heart leapt for joy- it was too much. Could he possibly ever love her? That remained to be seen.