Disclaimer: I don't own the characters and I am not making any money out
of this.
Thank you so much to the people who reviewed, you are gods among the fan fiction readers. I bow to thee.
Chapter two:
It was graduation day and the hall was filled with students, diplomas in hand. Snape detested graduation. There was a hundred other things he would rather be doing, then listening to his students, parents as they gushed over what their child was going to do next. For some reason they always thought he would care. It had been weeks since his mission into the future and everything upon his return had gone smoothly. The blade of Agnort was now a distant memory. The only problem had been controlling his unexpected reaction to Miss Granger.
In moments where he knew he could study her undetected, he watched her. She was right handed; she twirled her hair when she was concentrating. She was friendly with everyone, but her only real friends were Potter and Weasley. They were the only people she would really relax with, stop fidgeting with. He had yet to get close enough to really study the colour of her eyes. He felt unsettled even thinking that he wanted to know the colour of her eyes. However he knew that they would end up married and that knowledge was freeing. It took away some of the insecurity. He could learn about her without the fear that if he did come to care for her, she would reject him.
After all in five years they would meet at the alter. He had absolutely no idea how that would happen, how did that relationship begin? She had never given him any indication that she had some sort of crush on him. She was always attentive in his classes, but she was attentive in everyone's classes. She respected him as a teacher, he was sure. But he could not see her feeling anything other then respect for him.
Detaching himself from another students gushing relatives, Snape made his way towards the refreshment table. Pouring himself some punch he regarded the crowded hall. Some professors like Hagrid and Minerva where surrounded by their students. Wishing them well, saying good by. Occastionaly a student would even hug their favouit teacher. Only Slytherin students would find him to say goodbye, more because it was expected then they actually wanted too. He always grudgingly wished them well. For the moment, he enjoyed the peace of few minuets solitude within the crowd.
"Professor" turning, his most unwelcoming snear called into place. He was faced with the woman, that most of his waking thoughts and lately even his dreams seemed to centre on.
"Miss Granger" He looked down into her uncertain eyes. They where Hazel, green surrounding a warm amber brown. Beautiful. Snape blinked and forced himself away from studying her eyes. She was uncomfortable, fidgeting, her hands unable to remain still. Wondering why she had singled him out, he glared at her. Recent revelations aside, years of constant sneering where hard to put a stop to.
"I wanted to thank you, for the reference you wrote me for Stone Henge University. They were very impressed with your recommendation. Dean Wilkins still remembered you, from when you where studying there. I think it really helped." Snape had been asked by Dumbledore, before the whole time fiasco, to write a letter to his old Proffesor for her. He doubted it had been instrumental in getting Hermione accepted, no Universtity in their right mind would refuse her.
"Miss Granger, I simple stated the truth. Despite being partnered with Longbottom for most of your educational career here, you have been one of my most accomplished students. Wilkins would enjoy instructing you in your thesis, you would be a credit to his institution." For a second he thought he had gone to far. If Hermione could turn any redder she would probably self-combust. She refused to meet his gaze, looking anywhere but him, but she did not make a move to leave. He felt extremely self-conciose, looking down at his embarrassed future wife. He was also a bit disturbed that part of him seemed to be noticing that she was very pretty when she blushed.
Suddenly she looked up, her eyes filled with gratitude. Launching herself toward him, she quickly hugged him. Forcing the air out of his lungs.
"Potions was always one of my favourite classes." She let him go and stepped away, quickly running her hand over her misty eyes.
"I thought you hated me." Her smile was wobbly, but lovely all the same. Getting a grip on herself she sniffed.
"Thank you" Smiling she steeped away, heading for her friends. Leaving a confused Snape staring after her. A few simple words of praise was enough to make her cry? He knew he had never been even slightly pleasant to her in his class. Before the war he couldn't. She was a Gryffindor.
He had with only a few words, made Hermione Granger happy. He felt it, no one could fake the emotions revealed in her eyes. Her unforced smile, aimed just at him, had made his heart perform some sort of complicated acrobatics routine within his chest. Fighting a smile that wanted to spread across his face, he had a feeling that for him, the relationship had just started.
Thank you so much to the people who reviewed, you are gods among the fan fiction readers. I bow to thee.
Chapter two:
It was graduation day and the hall was filled with students, diplomas in hand. Snape detested graduation. There was a hundred other things he would rather be doing, then listening to his students, parents as they gushed over what their child was going to do next. For some reason they always thought he would care. It had been weeks since his mission into the future and everything upon his return had gone smoothly. The blade of Agnort was now a distant memory. The only problem had been controlling his unexpected reaction to Miss Granger.
In moments where he knew he could study her undetected, he watched her. She was right handed; she twirled her hair when she was concentrating. She was friendly with everyone, but her only real friends were Potter and Weasley. They were the only people she would really relax with, stop fidgeting with. He had yet to get close enough to really study the colour of her eyes. He felt unsettled even thinking that he wanted to know the colour of her eyes. However he knew that they would end up married and that knowledge was freeing. It took away some of the insecurity. He could learn about her without the fear that if he did come to care for her, she would reject him.
After all in five years they would meet at the alter. He had absolutely no idea how that would happen, how did that relationship begin? She had never given him any indication that she had some sort of crush on him. She was always attentive in his classes, but she was attentive in everyone's classes. She respected him as a teacher, he was sure. But he could not see her feeling anything other then respect for him.
Detaching himself from another students gushing relatives, Snape made his way towards the refreshment table. Pouring himself some punch he regarded the crowded hall. Some professors like Hagrid and Minerva where surrounded by their students. Wishing them well, saying good by. Occastionaly a student would even hug their favouit teacher. Only Slytherin students would find him to say goodbye, more because it was expected then they actually wanted too. He always grudgingly wished them well. For the moment, he enjoyed the peace of few minuets solitude within the crowd.
"Professor" turning, his most unwelcoming snear called into place. He was faced with the woman, that most of his waking thoughts and lately even his dreams seemed to centre on.
"Miss Granger" He looked down into her uncertain eyes. They where Hazel, green surrounding a warm amber brown. Beautiful. Snape blinked and forced himself away from studying her eyes. She was uncomfortable, fidgeting, her hands unable to remain still. Wondering why she had singled him out, he glared at her. Recent revelations aside, years of constant sneering where hard to put a stop to.
"I wanted to thank you, for the reference you wrote me for Stone Henge University. They were very impressed with your recommendation. Dean Wilkins still remembered you, from when you where studying there. I think it really helped." Snape had been asked by Dumbledore, before the whole time fiasco, to write a letter to his old Proffesor for her. He doubted it had been instrumental in getting Hermione accepted, no Universtity in their right mind would refuse her.
"Miss Granger, I simple stated the truth. Despite being partnered with Longbottom for most of your educational career here, you have been one of my most accomplished students. Wilkins would enjoy instructing you in your thesis, you would be a credit to his institution." For a second he thought he had gone to far. If Hermione could turn any redder she would probably self-combust. She refused to meet his gaze, looking anywhere but him, but she did not make a move to leave. He felt extremely self-conciose, looking down at his embarrassed future wife. He was also a bit disturbed that part of him seemed to be noticing that she was very pretty when she blushed.
Suddenly she looked up, her eyes filled with gratitude. Launching herself toward him, she quickly hugged him. Forcing the air out of his lungs.
"Potions was always one of my favourite classes." She let him go and stepped away, quickly running her hand over her misty eyes.
"I thought you hated me." Her smile was wobbly, but lovely all the same. Getting a grip on herself she sniffed.
"Thank you" Smiling she steeped away, heading for her friends. Leaving a confused Snape staring after her. A few simple words of praise was enough to make her cry? He knew he had never been even slightly pleasant to her in his class. Before the war he couldn't. She was a Gryffindor.
He had with only a few words, made Hermione Granger happy. He felt it, no one could fake the emotions revealed in her eyes. Her unforced smile, aimed just at him, had made his heart perform some sort of complicated acrobatics routine within his chest. Fighting a smile that wanted to spread across his face, he had a feeling that for him, the relationship had just started.