"I said I would be." She said, "Your personal...something or other." She shrugged, looking around nervously at the classroom "I don't know. But I'm here."
"Oh."
There was a long, awkward silence until, finally he gave up on it, "This isn't the most comfortable situation, is it."
"It's not everyday I kiss my professor." She replied, sitting on the edge of a desk, "And now we have this *thing* worked out. And I don't know where to begin." Even if it was my idea, she thought to herself.
"I don't either."
Ginny sighed, "Fine. I'll start by asking you if you still want to do this. You can back out if you want."
"No...But I don't even know what we're doing." Severus said seriously. He avoided eye contact with her, instead looking down at the papers on his desk.
"I'm recuperating you." She stated, "And you're helping me with potions."
"Right." He said, "Wait, recuperating me from what exactly?"
"Whatever it is that's wrong with you." She replied, as if he should have known this already, then smiled. "This is rediculous." She said, "Let's just start with me. You give me something to do, I'll work on it, and then we can deal with you and your infinite broodiness."
Severus raised a dark eyebrow, "Fine. You can find these ingredients for me."
He handed her a sheet of paper and she winked, taking it over to the shelves lining the walls, climbing up on a step ladder to reach high bottles and jars. Severus watched her, her legs outlined by a pair of blue jeans, the curve of her back visible through the blue sweater she wore. He took a deep breath and turned back to his papers.
~*~
Twenty minutes later, Ginny was still on the step ladder, when a voice behind her startled her.
"Are you almost--"
Severus was cut off by the surprised shreik as Ginny started to lose her balance. He caught her easily, one arm wrapping around her waist. He set her on her feet, a pair of wide green eyes looking up at him..
"Don't sneak up on me like that!" She admonished, one hand to her heart. His arm remained around her waist as she looked up at him, his own eyes staring down at her, "What is it?"
"Nothing." He said, shaking himself slightly as he let go of her.
"I think it's your turn, now." She informed him, "I found almost all the ingredients."
"But--"
"No but's!" Ginny cut him off. "OK, first question." She circled him, one finger trailing along his back, "Do you find me...attractive?"
Severus looked at her and blinked, and she dissolved into a fit of laughter. "You are such a child." He reprimanded, but she only laughed harder.
"Oh, but isn't that what you need in your life?" She asked, "A little immaturity?"
She giggled slightly and he was suddenly overwhelmed by how beautiful she was with her face flushed from laughing, her eyes wide and sparkling. Ginny stopped laughing immediately as she noticed the change in his eyes. She pulled his head down and their lips met in a slow kiss. Ginny felt the tip of his tongue brush her lips gently and she let him in. Severus' arms tightened around her, her small frame fitting perfectly to his. She tasted like sweetness and heat, and her hair was soft in his fingers. When they finally broke apart, they were both gasping for air.
"Imaturity...is highly under-rated, wouldn't you say?" She whispered,
before leaning in for another kiss.