Author's notes:

well now, I must have the intellectuals reading this story.

To Risi: Ina is a Latin name meaning Mother. Adrian is also a Latin name meaning Dark. You guessed right at the stems being Evil, Temperate, Perfect and Faithful. I viewed Hufflepuffs as being level headed, common sense kind of folk that practice temperance and Ravenclaws are the kind of people that are so intelligent they just tend to be perfectionists which is how I came up with my names for Durmstrang's houses. You get a gold star for the day.

To fizzysoda: You also get a gold star for continuous reading. :)

disclaimer: The characters used and mentioned in this story are the product of JK Rowling, except Ina, Adora, and Adrian.



Chapter 7



Severus Snape sat in his study after another long day teaching. His classes were filled with the boring progeny of his students from years gone by, except with the exception of Drefan Weasley, Percy's son, who obviously took more from his uncles than his father, but what could you expect from a child whose name literally means "trouble"?

Even Drefan could hardly spark up the fire-and-brimstone that used to be Severus's calling card. So much time had gone by and there were so many memories inside the castle of Hermione and days passed that made him want to lock himself in his room and waste away.



There is no overly dramatic story, or Romeo and Juliet scenario to Hermione and Severus's love. It actually started in Hermione's 6th year, with Draco Malfoy. The holidays were just as full of pomp and circumstance as ever and Hagrid had brought in twice the number of trees as usual. The hall was filled with a spicy pine and gingerbread scent and decorated in full splendor for the coming holidays. Hermione and Draco both had plans to stay for the winter holiday and spend their days out on the grounds, eating dinner in Hogsmede and going for evening shopping before coming back to the castle, for the special midnight holiday deserts that were a special treat for any students who stayed.

During one such day of shopping in Hogsmede for gifts for the teachers, Hermione decided to buy a new cauldron for Severus, since Neville had accidentally spilled some rare jackalope horn into the old one and blew it up.

"But he needs a new cauldron Draco!"

"He can buy a new one himself. If you don't like him, why buy him gifts? It's a waste of money since you can't return it and he won't accept it."

"I'll have it owled to him, he won't know, he'll assume Dumbledore sent it to him." Hermione looked up into Draco's sparkling eyes and he looked back down at her.

"Whatever makes you happy." He sighed.

"Buying Snape a new cauldron makes me happy." She nodded to him and purchased the cauldron.

As they started back to the castle, Hermione grew quiet and weary looking. She slowed her pace as the snow began falling again, and became completely engulfed in her own thoughts.

"'Mione?" Draco turned around, and searched calmly for her through the whirling snowflakes.

"hmmm?"

"What are you thinking of now?" He sighed as Hermione, knitted brow and all, came back into clear view.

"Your family." she answered after they had entered the castle, and were on their way towards the prefects common room.

"Ah! Hello Miss Granger and Mr. Malfoy! Happy Christmas to you both!" the fat friar nodded his head and continued on his way.

"Sugar Quills. Why are you thinking about my family?" He asked, taking off her cape and Gryffindor colored muffin cap.

"I just... I don't know. We spent last year with my family, and I thought, well, I'd like to meet your mother. I don't think your father has a great liking for me."

"Hermione I thought we'd talked about this."

"We did, but still..." Hermione began to whine.

"Look! You can't come back with me." Draco shook his head and told her in a condescending tone.

"Can't you at least try?"

" Fine! I'll go! But neither of us are going to get the results that we want from this!"

"Draco, I'm sorry."

"No you're not." He shook his head. "You're stubborn, and pigheaded, but sorry is something you're not" He clasped the silver closures on his cloak and stormed back out into the hall to use the 'common floo', a fireplace used by the staff, head boys and girls and prefects for emergency and change-of-mind trips home.

That night, Christmas eve, Hermione was in a mood that would make a bulldog quiver. She walked by the head table and gave each professor (except Trelawney, for obvious reasons) their gifts. However Snape sat at the end of the table, moping in his usual corner, away from the holiday cheer of the other teachers. He didn't expect any gifts, and had a far off look in his eye. As Hermione approached him, he seemed to be looking straight through her, but at the same time, inside of her. She hoisted up the heavy cauldron and it hit with a loud hollow sound, which brought him back to earth.

"Can i help you Miss Granger?" his voice has a certain smooth quality to it she didn't notice before.

"Look. Longbottom blew up your other cauldron, so I bought you a new one for Christmas. If you're going to be squeemish about a student actually showing you some sort of kindness, like caring enough to think of you at Christmas, then think of it as Draco and I helping you out on saving your miserly teaching salary." She huffed and walked off back to her rooms in Gryffindor tower.

Severus gave the cauldron a long stern look as if it were a misbehaving child. He got up and quickly walked out into the corridor to catch up with Hermione.

"What bug got into his shorts?" asked a slightly inebriated Prof. Flitwick.

When Severus caught up with Hermione she had a red face and tear stained cheeks. Her hair seemed to become more frazzled with each upset step that she took, and it was beginning to resemble a Brillo pad.

"Miss Granger," He called in an even tone after her. Hermione sped up her pace and turned the corner. "Miss Granger!" He began to shout and reached out to grab her arm.

"Would you let go of me?" She turned around and gave him an icy look that rivaled his own.

"No. what's wrong with you?"

"Nothing is." she straightened out her skirt and pulled on her hair nervously. Severus let her wrist go and she grabbed it with the opposite hand and began rubbing it in a slightly nervous and partly concerned way. Severus gave her a long glance and she started crying again.

"Draco left... mad... Tickets to... and now... I really want... but I'm here... no one." she managed to get out to her potions professor before sitting down on one of the steps. Severus knitted his brow and tried to take in as much of what he heard as he could. He wasn't some guidance councilor and should have left her there, but he didn't. He sat down next to her. Mistake number one in his own mind.

"Anything that I can do?"

"Why bother?" She grumbled and wiped her face with her robe sleeve.

"These tickets. What are they to?" he persisted.

"The Nutcracker."

"The ballet? I can't imagine Draco at a ballet." He snorted. Hermione looked at him and laughed.

'She laughed at you Severus. Wait, with you, she laughed with you.' He thought to himself.

"Well, he didn't want to go, I was making him go."

"That sounds more accurate. I doubt you'll accept the offer, but I haven't been to the ballet in several years, and I'd be happy to take his place tonight, if that's alright with you." 'what are you doing! That isn't supposed to roll off your tongue to easy! She'll see right through you to what you really are, you perverted cradle robber.'

Hermione gave him an odd look and stood up.

"I don't mind. I'll go get changed." She replied in a distant manner, watching his actions as she walked up the stairs.

'Hermione what have you got yourself into?' She thought as she walked up the stairs. 'Maybe he isn't such a git, but he is my professor. And he is more handsome than Draco would be at that age. How did I manage to go stupid for my teacher?' She sighed as she closed her bedroom door and began to get ready for the ballet.





Severus stood at the foot of the staircase where he had invited himself to be Hermione's date for the evening. He knit his brow, like he always did, and ran his fingers along his eyebrows. Hermione had always made comments on how they were like the same person in the smallest ways. He sat down on the step and began making small foot movements with his shiny black shoes and humming to himself.

"I think he's off his rocker Albus." whispered Sirius Black the new animagi tutor at Hogwarts for those 7th years that were ready to take on the rest of the daunting task, started by Prof. McGonnagall.

"Oh Sirius, he's just been forced to remember. I'm sure you'd feel the same way."

"Maybe, but at least I'd know when my wife didn't love me anymore. And that would help."

"Don't say such things." Dumbledore warned sharply and Sirius shrugged and walked off because he knew what he'd said was right. Dumbledore watched Sirius until he rounded the corner and then turned his attention back to Severus who was still sitting on the step, remembering.