Once again, I found myself staring eyeball to eyeball with her. She coughed softly into her hand, disguising a yawn. Still tired?, I asked, careful to keep the tone of my voice in check. She nodded, and screwed her eyes tight as she yawned again. Then perhaps you should find solace in Remus Lupin's waiting arms, I snapped. She closed her mouth, and said nothing.

Oh. I forget. He has a tendency to bite in the throes of passion, I drawled sarcastically. Is that from past experience, Professor?, she asked calmly, fingering a small curl that had sprung from behind her ear. I reddened, not expecting her comment to sting.

Why are we here for, anyway?, I asked crossly, swiftly moving towards the other end of the room, my fingers reaching for the door handle. We're here because Albus believes that our relationship has much to be desired. It is not secret, Professor, our ill disguised detestation of one another. Working peaceably together would perhaps alleviate harbored animosity. If not, I'll resign, and you'll continue, just as you always have, making others around you miserable, she said quietly, oh, and you won't be able to open that door. Dumbledore locked it before he left.

I gave her a skeptical glance, How do you know?. Because I saw him, she answered matter of factly. You're quite a remarkable witch, I responded, before I even knew what I was saying. She looked quite shocked. I do believe, Professor, that that is the closest you have ever come to paying me a compliment. I shrugged, but inside I was positively boiling. What stupid instinct had forced that out of my mouth, against my will? I closed my eyes, and breathed deeply, trying to control some extremely odd emotions that were invading me.

Are you all right?, she asked, alarmed, stepping forward. I nodded, my eyes still closed, and found myself backed up against the wall. Granger, who was always one for ignoring commands, continued to march on, coming far too close for comfort. She reached her hand out and wiped my forehead. You're burning, she whispered, the tinge of fear audible. I swiped her hand away impatiently, It's just the bloody fire in this room. I never knew why he kept it so hot.

Her fingers felt marvelously cool, and when I pressed the back of my hand to my head, I found I was indeed quite warm. Should I call Madam Pomfrey?, she whispered, treating me as if I were staggering around, spewing blood. As you so kindly pointed out, Granger, the door is locked. I have no idea when he will be returning, I snapped. She looked injured for one second, but her composure quickly returned, Well, at least I'm not so self absorbed that I can glance at other people with drawing self comparisons. I rolled my eyes.

Would you really resign if we didn't resolve this problem?, I asked, curious. The hell I knew would freeze over if Hermione Granger ever stepped down from an argument. Not unless you resigned first, she said, and I gave her a curious look. It would mean one of my life goals was accomplished, she said simply. I snorted, Besides from being perfect at everything and landing Harry Potter as a sidekick?. She didn't answer for a few seconds, No, because it would mean that I have finally rid Hogwarts of the plague that is Severus Snape.

I laughed wheezily, I would have never thought it in you, Granger. I'm surprised and disheartened to know you've gained pluck. Perhaps next time we meet, it will evolve into common sense.

I'm glad to see you feel better, she said sarcastically, obviously feeling duped. No, girl, I wasn't trying to trick you just for the purpose of humiliating you, and if I did, it would be in a far more public place. What good is there to humiliation if no one is to see it?, I retorted. You'd be surprised, she said quietly, chewing intensely on one of her fingers. I admit I did my fair share of torment and taunting in the classroom, I said ponderously. She looked up, her cinnamon eyes impossible to read in the firelight.

What that an apology?, she asked, incredulous. I shrugged, Perhaps. If you've earned it in the near future. If only Harry and Ron were here..., she began, but I cut her off, And well it is that they aren't Granger, for an admission would have never been possible with them quibbling, first over quidditch and then over that ridiculously stupid ice queen Fleur. And Cho Chang, she added quietly, staring at something to the left of my head. Cho Chang? Weasley had enough sense to fall in love with a perfectly suited prospect such as Cho Chang?, I asked, surprised. I had always thought Fleur Delacour was his fancy. Oh well. Maybe his brothers knocked some sense into him after all.

No. It wasn't Ron. It was Harry who was smitten with Cho, she said, even more quietly, avoiding my eyes. It suddenly hit me, You were in love with Harry?. I was absolutely shocked, I had always imagined Potter as a bit below Granger's radar. , she admitted, gathering courage to stare into my eyes, for seven years I always thought maybe he could come to his senses or that a stupid bludger would knock some damn sense into him. I always thought it was because we were friends, and that he didn't want to ruin us. The terrible trio. The perfect equation. But why would he go for something that looked like me, when he had nearly all the girls in school practically licking his footsteps?. She punched a sofa cushion bitterly, her eyes suddenly watering.

Potter is hardly worth a broken heart, I sniffed, feeling the pain of her rejection almost as exquisitely as she, after all, falling in love with such a cretin is like wasting Nyaid scales on Neville Longbottom. She laughed, but I could still sense that she smarted.

She rose and came closer to me. You know, you're really not half bad, Snape, she said cheerfully. Do shuttup Granger, you're being an ass, I said quietly, praying with a fervent desperation that she would come closer. She did, and I kept shrinking away.
Greasy git, she said.

Stupid girl, I replied.

.

Tag along.

.

.


And suddenly, her face was in inch away from mine, and her lips brushed my own, soft as a sphinx's mane.














A/N: It is certainly not going to be a full blown out sex scene! But, both have finally ended up kissing. Are you guys happy? *rolls eyes*. Just kidding. I was really looking forward to writing a love scene as well.