Disclaimers etc, in Part One

What was a witch to do when she needed a straight answer and the library wasn't the slightest help?

To say nothing of Madam Pince telling Hermoine to go and ask her own head of house about the strange visitor to Hogwarts.

Nodding to Nearly Headless Nick, Hermoine paused outside the tapestry that guarded the entrance to Professor McGonagall's rooms. She must have forgotten a silencing spell as the continued complex notes of Bach's Toccata filled the hallway - for the second day in a row. Surely, Professor McGonagall knew Bach had composed other things besides the Toccata and Fugue, thought Hermoine.

Heading towards Professor Dumbledore's quarters, two of the staircases changed without warning, leaving Hermoine standing on a staircase leading straight to the dungeons.

"Well, at least I'll get my straight answer," Hermoine muttered, almost dreading the thought of trying to explain the impossible to the habitually hard to read teacher. Well by Godric Gryffindor's sword or on it, Hermoine thought as she opened the classroom door, here goes nothing. .

"Professor Snape, I need some advice."

"Why aren't you asking your own head of house?" Professor Snape stared at Hermoine as a draft of wind shut the dungeon door with a thud, startling the young witch.

"She's distracted by something. Professor McGonagall has been playing Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D Minor for the last two days straight and gave me an A minus on my last transfiguration parchment. I think this strange wizard has gotten to her somehow – she is clearly not herself. I want a straight answer and I want it now."

"While I admire your honesty Miss Granger, as Head Girl please speak about your professors with more respect. The strange wizard is known as Gandalf the Grey from Middle Earth. As far as Professor Dumbledore and I can work out, it seems our visitor was attacked by a magical creature, called a Balrog and through some shift in the fabric of time has ended up at Hogwarts.

"Why? How? What's a Balrog?"

"I'd hoped your insatiable curiosity had matured and evolved during seven years at this school Miss Granger but I see that there are some things we can not teach you.

"Professor Dumbledore has his own theories relating to the alignment of the stars earlier today and at the same time in Middle Earth and the powers of the creature that attacked Gandalf the Grey. I believe he came to this school via some sort of portkey between dimensions.

"Okay, so that covers the how did he get here part of my question, but what's a Balrog?

"To hear our guest describe it, a Balrog seems to be a magical creature made entirely of fire. As for why it didn't kill him, Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall seem to put it down to sheer dumb luck.

"Why did Professor McGonagall try to stop Harry from killing him?

"Perhaps she feels some kind of affection for him. Typical Gryffindor sentimental clap trap really. Taking the injured bird under your wings to help it heal before it flies away and leaves you. Unless you want a detention or for me to call Professor McGonagall down here to discuss this further, I would recommend you leave now."

Hermoine was halfway out the potions professor's door when she paused to look at the man who had been her nemesis for seven years. He was returning her gaze as if he was not quite sure who he was seeing or perhaps gaining a new perspective on someone who had been around for a while.

"Miss Granger, have you forgotten something?"

"I don't think so professor."

"Oh I think you have." Professor Snape's after midnight voice held a little too much promise for 8pm. He strode over to Hermoine, took her in his arms and kissed her senseless.

"Why did you do that?"

"Very few people know this Miss Granger but I have an impulse control problem at times. Back to your common room before I take points from Gryffindor and I don't care if you're the Head Girl or not."

Hermoine went back to the common room on automatic pilot. All she could think of was how good Snape's lips felt on hers. That was wrong, but it felt so right. She wondered when Severus has started considering her as Miss Hermoine Granger, knowledgeable and attractive woman rather than Miss Granger, pain in the arse Gryffindor know-it-all.

Who cares when he made that little decision, Hermoine thought. She could live with it.

Curling up in one of the leather arms chairs, Hermoine reached for Crookshanks and began stroking a spot between his ears. Rather than wait for Harry and Ron's questions, she got in first.

"According to Sever, I mean Professor Snape, it seems the strange wizard is from a place called Middle Earth. I haven been through every atlas of the wizarding world covering ancient and modern times and haven't been able to find it yet

"Unusual for you not to find something on your research marathons Hermoine," Harry remarked.

"Why should we trust him Hermione? Ron asked

"Because Professor Snape believes he accidentally fell through a portkey in his own world while being attacked by a magical creature called a Balrog. How would you feel if you were away from the only time and place you called home?

"And that's good enough for you? Because Stone Cold Snape says so?" Ron's fascination with Muggle studies and the popularity of wrestling was one of the biggest running jokes in the common room.

Hermoine thought back to Severus' kiss. It had been hot and true enough to blister paint.

"Yes."