Disclaimer:  HP is not mine; I am making no money off this.

Chapter 2

            That night, after dinner and a walk around the lake with Harry, Hermione retired to her chambers.  After a long soak in her bathtub she lie down on her bed with a book.  Suddenly she remembered the mysterious letter she had received that morning.  Walking to her desk where she had dropped all the letters upon entering her chamber, she picked up the letter in question and opened it:

Dearest Hermione,

     I just wanted you to know that I love you and think about you every waking minute.  I have loved you for a long time, but am afraid to tell you face to face.  To be honest, you could do so much better than me, so for now I will keep my identity a secret.  You may want to write back, if you do, please use the eagle owl in the owlery.  She'll know where to find me.

                                                                             With all my love,

                                                                             Your Secret Admirer

            This completely floored Hermione.  Quickly she took a piece of parchment, a quill,  sat down on her desk chair, and wrote out a reply:

Hi, I don't know what to call you.  Somehow opening this letter with "Dearest Secret Admirer" seems foolish.  I've never had a secret admirer before, so I don't really know how this works.  Do I know you well?  What can I call you?

                                                                             Sincerely,

                                                                             Hermione Granger

After she finished her reply, Hermione went to the owlery and sent her reply with the eagle owl.  When she got back to her chambers the book lie forgotten on the bed as she lie there and thought of her own secret love.  She had been in love with Professor Severus Snape since the end of her fifth year.  It was a secret love, one that even Ron and Harry knew nothing about.  She wished he would love her, but figured that that was not going to happen.  ~Maybe I ought to give this secret admirer a chance.  Merlin knows that Severus could never love me.  I'm a Gryffindor though and though.  He's a Slytherin.  Love doesn't happen between people who come from those houses. ~  Nevertheless Hermione fell asleep and dreamt of a future with Severus, which was something she was sure could never happen.

Meanwhile in Severus' Chambers

            Severus was grading papers in his chambers and thinking about his chambers.  He was wondering if she had read the letter and if she was going to respond.  Just than his owl, Orion, flew in the open window and dropped a letter on the stack of graded papers in front of Severus. 

            "Ah, Orion.  What is this?"  Severus asked while picking up the letter. 

            His heart sped up when he realized that the letter was from Hermione.  He picked up a piece of dry toast and offered it to Orion as he read the letter.  He smiled a certain places and than pulled out a piece of parchment to reply. 

            Before he began the letter he told Orion, "You may go back to the owlery old girl.  I do not wish for you to deliver this until the morning."

            With that said he watched as Orion ruffled her feathers and flew out the window.  After a few minutes careful consideration he began a letter to his love:

Dearest Hermione,

          I agree that opening a letter with the words "Dearest Secret Admirer" would be foolish indeed.  In any case, I believe it would be permissible for you to call me Rus.  I have already shared one of my deepest secrets with you.  That being that I am in love with you and have been for years.  What about yourself?  What is your deepest secret?  If you feel uncomfortable about sharing that, than please just tell me about your day.  I, for one, had an all right day today.  I hope you had a good night, and I wish for you the brightest day.  Goodbye for now, My Love.

                                                                                                          Rus

          After setting the letter aside, Severus made a mental note to take a trip to the owlery early the next morning.  For now he would put aside this infernal grading and go to bed.  As he lie in bed his thoughts and dreams were only of Hermione and their future.

A/N:  Hermione's thoughts are enclosed in (~).  I am sorry this took so long to update.  I have had lots to do in regards to my college classes.  That is my only excuse.  This story is coming along nicely.  The lemony chapter (8) is almost done.  I have a question, do you all want me to write the wedding or to just write an epilogue?  Let me know.

Flyeagle~Faye