A/N: So my kids got caught up in the Christmas movies on TV tonight so I had had time to write another Chapter I gave some nicknames has friends would usually give over time but Draco's could be mispronounced so in advance the nickname is Dra pronounced Dreh! So here it is and I hope you enjoy! _

The Forbidden Crush

Chapter 8

After Hermione left Potions she realized she had about 5 minutes til her next class which was Transfiguration. The present Professor was out due to a Muggle cold so Headmistress McGonagall was going to stand in for the week. Hermione felt a sort of calm wave over her cause it made her feel kind of like she was going back in time before the war when she was the teacher. Though not fully so many were killed and many students from her year were missing. She reached the classroom and entered and went to sit with Draco. Harry and Ron decided they would prefer Advanced DADA which was also during Transfiguration so they took this class earlier in the morning while Hermione and Draco took it later in the morning.

"Hello Dra, How are you?" she said using the nickname the boys, Ginny, and her started using over time for him. He thankfully didn't mind it, honestly he didn't care as long as it wasn't some crazy cutsie name like Draky or Coco like some 1st year tried calling him earning a smack upside the back of the head from Draco. Now they only call him that when he is getting on their nerves to shut him up.

"Hey Mione, Doing okay I guess, Ron walked into a door and fell backwards into Madam Pomfrey, The sight was hilarious I'll have to show you the memory later. By the way, What did Snape want?"

"Oh he was just giving me some information I needed is all" she said nonchalantly hoping he'd believe her.

"Oh okay. He has been a bit nicer since the war. But then again I am his godson so I'm not sure if it's because of that or if he's like that with everyone now." Draco said thinking about it a little then shrugging it off.

"I think he might have changed a bit. He does seem nicer than he was last year." She said then noticed Minerva walk in so she turned foward and got ready for the lesson.

Minerva walked into the room and scanned the students and she spotted Hermione and she seemed her usual self and didn't look like she was upset or angry which was a good think. She was thankful Severus wasn't hard on the girl at all. She breathed a sigh of relief. She would ask him at Lunch how things went.

Severus entered the Great Hall for Lunch. It had been a tedious morning. He wondered if he was speaking English anymore as most of the students did nothing right during the assignments. He was exhausted already and he still had 3 more classes this afternoon. He took a seat next to Minerva as she would want to know what transpired without a doubt.

As expected once he settled into his seat she began to ask questions and he as calmly as he could after being barraged with questions answered each one individually. At the end she sat queitly for a while probably thinking from what he could guess about everything he told her.

Minerva face exposed a look of shock. She turned to him and said. "You like Hermione don't you? Why else would you have mentioned her graduating and responding with I don't know. You like her and are thinking about trying to get with her when she's done and graduated aren't you?"

He froze still. He began to think deeply. Do I like her? Do I want to try to be with her after she leaves here? She isn't with Ron anymore as they broke up in a big arguement about him not being able to talk about anything other than quidditch and she wanted someone with more intellligence. But do I really want to be with someone? Am I ready? I would surely hope so it's been years. It would be nice to be happy and maybe even have a family. He made up his mind.

"I think I might actually like her. I never actually thought about it. But now she is very inteilligent and witty, has good sarcasm, and she is very beautiful." Severus said feeling guilty for those feelings.

Minerva looked at him sweetly and gave him a gentle smile. "You deserve to be happy Severus. You did so much so we could live as we now do. You are both brilliant minds and she likes you. I know she'll probably still like you after school. I would love to see you both together." She patted the back of his hand and he froze up again slightly then relaxed. She knew he as still getting used to being friendly with people.

He had his head down while she spoke though once she was done he brought his head back up and looked at her searching her eyes and he scanned her mind lightly and found she was being honest. Then looked out to see Hermione laughing with Ron and Pansy. "She is a student though. And she is insufferable and a know-it-all. We'll see what the future holds."

"Severus the same could be said about you ya know." She said laughing "Yes, I suppose your right though. We shall see what the future holds." She said as she looked out over the students.

Severus served himself some food and begin to eat in silence.

After all her morning classes were over she walked to the Great Hall with Draco and Ginny.

The 6th years were given the standard test and those who were able to pass went up to 7th year and those who didn't were allowed to redo their 6th year without anything on their permanent record. The Ministry decided to do it this way so that there would be less crowding for the 6th years. They also did the same with the 7th years, those who passed their N.E.W.T.S. graduated right away and those who didn't stayed with no reprecussions or marks on their permanent record. The 5th years down student body was fairly small so there was no need to worry about over crowding with them.

Draco, Ginny, and Hermione sat down at their spots at the Gryffindor table. Draco would sit there for a little while before the feast would start then return to the Slytherin table. Pansy began sitting with them also after a while and after that a romance blossomed between Ron and Pansy. They were engaged to be wed after graduation. Draco was to escort Pansy down the isle as he was her best friend and her father recently passed away. Pansy surprised Hermione when she asked her to be the maid of honor. She of course accepted and was thrilled. Many of the Slytherin girls were angry at the fact she asked a Gryffindor to be in the wedding but they had become very close and were spending lots of time together.

Pansy looked up to see Hermione and perked up "Hey Hermione did you want to go with me during Lunch tomorrow to Hogsmead to do some wedding planning? I could really use your help. You know how I want things and the other girls from my house are trying to convince me into doing all these extravagent things I honestly don't want."

"Sounds like fun Pansy. I feel simplicity is best. If the decor is too extravagent it'll take the attention away from the star of the event, you Pansy." Just then Ron cleared his throat and looked at Hermione and she smiled softly. "And of course you too Ron but we all know that the Bride is always the center of attention at a wedding."

"I know I just feel a little left out here it's my wedding too after all." Ron sad a looking a little down.

"Well you can't go dress shopping with me now can you Ronald." Pansy said matter of factly.

Ron blushed bright red and quickly said. "No no no, Mum would kill me if she knew I seen you before the wedding. Not to mention your mum."

Hermione couldn't help but laugh out loud at Ron's look of horror. "I think it's settled then, you sit this one out Ron?"

"DEFINITELY!" Ron exclaimed.

"Well I think it's time for me and Pansy to get back to our table. We'll see you all later." Draco said before heading down the isle to go to his table with Pansy in tow.

Everyone bid them goodbye for now and settled in to eat there food. Something made her look up at the head table and she noticed Severus looking at her and his eyes full of Only thing she could think of was Thoughtfulness and Hope. Then just as quickly as she seen it it was gone and he glared at her and set back to eating. She then shoook her head and went back to eating. Maybe there is hope of an 'Us' with him after all in the future. She thought to herself. When she was finally finished with her meal she set off to the library to finish her scroll for her last class hiding the smile on her lips with a book all the way.

A/N: Okay so I started this yesterday then got tired and just finished this now so I hope you all enjoy this!