Disclaimer: Again, I'm just playing in J.K.'s world.

Chapter 6: The Question

            The bell rang for the class to start cleaning up. Hermiones' stomach turned. 'I have to talk to him all by myself.' Hermione got more and more nervous as each minute ticked by. 'Alright I can do this.' She was starting to feel better. 'After all I love him so I have to be used to talking to him alone.' The bell rang. Everyone started to pile out of the class.

"We will wait right out side." Ron reassured Hermione.

"It's ok Ron. Go on and head back up to the common room. I'll meet you there."

"Are you sure Hermione?" Harry asked in a brotherly way.

"Yes, I'll be fine."

"Ms. Granger!" Snape growled. 'Why are those stupid boys always around her.' Severus knew that Hermione could be a much better person if she didn't hang around Potter, and Weasley.

          Hermione approached his desk, and stood silently, not wanting to make things worse. She wasn't quite sure what she was going to say. Part of her wanted to ask if she could spend the whole night with him, and the other part wanted to scream at him for giving her a detention, when she was only trying to help.

"Professor Snape, I don't think I deserved a detention, just for helping."

          For a moment, Snape sat still in his chair, his hands folded and his eyes closed, the famous scowl on his face. He looked like he was deep in thought. 'What in the world do I say to her?' He came to a conclusion. Immediately he sat forward, his eyes opening with a force that shocked her tremendously. She didn't want to show weakness, so she stood her ground and squared her shoulders.

"I will see you here tonight at 7. Do not be late." Snape growled.

"Yes Professor Snape." Hermione said with a happiness she couldn't hide. She would be totally alone with Severus. She felt a flutter of butterflies hit her stomach.

          Severus was shocked to hear the happiness in Hermiones' voice. He saw it in her eyes too. Could that possibly mean? 'No Severus, don't be silly.' He continued grading potions work.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Hermione walked back to the common room. On the way back she just couldn't believe her luck. If you could call it luck. She didn't care though. She was going to spend time alone with him.

"Hermione, are you ok? Did Snape yell at you? What do you have to do?" Ron sounded concerned.

"I'm fine Ron. No, not any yelling at all. I have to go back to the dungeons at 7."

"What?" Harry shouted. "Why don't you have to clean bedpans, or the trophy room?"

"I don't know Harry. I guess Snape" (Hermione shuddered at calling him Snape) " just needs help in his stores or something." Hermione said matter-of-factly.

"I still can't believe that you have to work with Snape," Ron sounded like he was totally disgusted.

"It could be much worse." Harry laughed at the thought of Hermione cleaning bedpans without magic.

"That it could, and I'm glad it's not. I'm going to get my homework done." At that Hermione turned and headed up to the dorm.

          When she got to her bed she saw that her diary was under her pillow. She hadn't put it there last night. 'Oh my gosh! I hope nobody read it. I just won't bring it up. Oh gosh.' She took a few minutes to collect her thoughts on the subject. Then grabbed her homework and got it done before dinner.

          Dinner went by in a blur. It was one of the fastest dinners Hermione remembered. It seemed like two minutes and she was on her way to the dungeons. The butterflies were back again. Hermione couldn't believe she was actually nervous. She reached the classroom door. It was closed. She knocked then opened the door. She couldn't believe her eyes. There were two workstations set up. Each contained a stack of papers, a scroll, and a quill.

"Ah, Ms. Granger. You decided to come."

"Why would I not? This is my punishment."

"True. Anyway, I have an experiment I have to work on. It needs two minds almost equal in knowledge. To bad there is not a soul in Slytherin that has your intelligence. I am doing a rare thing and asking you for your help. If you could assist me until I have come up with what I am looking for?" Severus tried to hide the hope in his voice, but he didn't know if it would work.

Author's Note: I'm so so so sorry that I cut it short right here. I couldn't help it. I have a slight bit of writers block, and I'm worried about keeping Severus in Character, and changing his character too fast. If you have any ideas on how to keep him in character, or anything you want to see happen please feel free to e-mail me StarGirl1311@aol.com or Staru13@hotmail.com. I should be getting the next chapter up with in the next 6 hours. Thank you to everyone who reviewed. I'll thank you at the beginning of the next chapter. J thank you so much!!!