Beth Ann & JoeBob1379 - Here is the next chapter O impatient ones! grin No, I wouldn't like to face Hagrid in a snowball fight either.

Gul Occett, Strega Brava - I'm glad you like the idea of Snape in a snowball fight, I do too, heh.

Rastilin - Sevvy may be a bit darker but I'm trying to keep him in character.

Saavik - Yes, you're right, as this chapter will show!

Tegan - Thanks for your kind comments!

Part 5

[PG-13 warning for this chapter]

If someone had told Hermione that she would be in a three-way snow fight with Hagrid and Professor Snape, she would have backed away from them cautiously!

At first, Hermione and Hagrid had been reluctant to include Severus in their mock snowball fight, but after he had raised his eyebrows at them and mocked them for being 'Gryffindor cowards', well, after that they were both ready to kick ass and take names. After all, Gryffindor honour was at stake, wasn't it?

And so the strangest Gryffindor-Slytherin snowball fight ever (Hermione and Hagrid versus Professor Snape) was on.

It was a big effort for Hermione to maintain her shields at times, for the number of snowballs that Professor Snape flung her way with deadly accuracy often threatened to erode them. Hagrid didn't have shields up but that didn't bother him when snowballs splattered against him (though to be fair, Professor Snape did not throw snowballs at his head or chest). On the other hand, Hermione found no such fairness from the Head of Slytherin, with snowballs flung at all part of her body, a weakness in her shields being constantly sought.

On her part Hermione found it quite therapeutic to throw snowballs at the professor! It helped to make up for all the times during the years when she had borne the brunt of his acid comments, with Hermione unable to reply in kind for fear of reprisal. Of course, none of her snowballs penetrated his shields, with her missiles vaporising on impact in small showers of green and silver sparks.

Professor Snape seemed to be having a good time, Hermione noted to her surprise, for there was a look of grim enjoyment on his face, which actually had some colour in it for once (true, this wasn't a way that she had hoped to cheer him up but she wasn't complaining). His silky black hair was a windblown tangle, with his black robes rippling around his tall frame. A glint in his dark eyes told her that he knew she was enjoying herself perhaps *too* much when she threw snowballs at him, and that retribution would be following later.

Hermione cheerfully smirked at him, throwing another snowball. Her brown hair had long since freed itself of its braid, with her lovely face flushed with merriment. She had no idea of how desirable she looked to Severus (who was fighting the strong urge to grab and kiss her until she was breathless, then carrying her off to his quarters - a slow seduction be damned!). He had to admit to himself he was enjoying himself. Who knew that one could with this kind of childish activity?

Suddenly there was the sound of a tiny tinkling bell from Hagrid's direction and the half-giant paused, just as he was about make another snowball.

Hermione and Professor Snape looked at him in surprise.

Hagrid smiled sheepishly, pulling a little golden bell from a side pocket. "It's time to feed me babies - I'll have to go. Piranhas eat a lot when they're little, bless 'em. It was a good match!" Nodding politely to them both he lumbered off in the direction of his hut, whistling tunelessly.

"Piranhas?!" Hermione said aloud as she dropped a snowball to the ground, not sure whether to laugh or scream. She had no wish to carry on without Hagrid, it would be too.personal with just herself and Professor Snape.

"Do not ask, Hermione, just don't," Professor Snape said in long-suffering patience to her as he in turn relinquished his snow to the ground. Then he heaved a sigh. "I do not know about you, but I need a rest." He took a step forward, then with a sudden look of consternation on his face, slipped on a patch of slushy snow and fell heavily face down on the snow. He didn't move.

"Professor!" Hermione called in alarm and made her way to the sprawled, black-clad man as fast as she could over the snow. Had he hit his head on a hidden rock she wondered, her face pale.

On reaching him she bent down and gently clasping his shoulder managed to turn him over. His face was still under its dusting of snow, his eyes closed. She had never realised how long and black his eyelashes were, a part of her mind noted. Lavender would kill for such eyelashes.

Suddenly he coughed, spitting out snow and exasperated black eyes snapped open. Hermione was relieved to see he was focussing on her face with no obvious harm.

"That was foolish of me, but I'll live" he said dryly, wiping snow off his face and accepting her hand to help him to his feet. However, by some accident or design Professor Snape pulled her hand too hard as she was helping him. She lost her balance and tumbled against him, which led to the professor lying back on the ground (face up this time) with Hermione sprawled over him.

Embarrassed, Hermione froze, trying not to look at his face or to notice how strong and reassuring his body felt under hers, feeling his heart beat strongly. Who knew that his black robes would be so soft to her touch?

His breath was warm against her neck as well.

"This is an improvement I suppose," Professor Snape murmured in dark amusement. As Hermione blinked in surprise, wondering with slight hysteria if she was in one of her daydreams, Severus moved his arm and twining his pale, strong fingers in her hair he brought her face closer to his and kissed her.

He was actually kissing her! Hermione thought in shock and tensed, expecting his mouth to be rough.

He had intended to kiss her with the fierce passion she was stirring in him, but at the feel of her trembling, shyly hesitant body against hers he found himself kissing her softly, coaxingly. He brought his other arm around and caressed her back gently, running his fingers in curious exploration along her spine. It was obviously the right thing to do he noted with pleasure for she relaxed, returning his kisses with an awkward tenderness that he was surprised to find endearing. There was no revulsion, he was also pleased to note.

She innocently shifted her body slightly over his and his body responded, making him groan against her mouth with frustration. Despite his plan to make her his, he was surprised at how much he wanted her, and not just her body. He wanted to know her heart, to see within her soul; which frightened him.

As if his cry had shattered some spell, Hermione pulled away and hastily got to her feet, her face red.

"I, ah, I have to go. I'm sorry!" then she turned and fled back to Hogwarts, leaving him to raise himself on an elbow, staring after her with amazement. He touched his mouth carefully, feeling shaken. There was no need to be worried, he told himself. It was nerves on her part, that was all. Which was to be expected. What wasn't expected was his strong impulse to go and comfort her, to tell her she was safe with him.

No, that wasn't expected at all.

Hermione ran, and didn't stop until she was safely back in the empty Gryffindor common room. She was glad she was alone, for she would've been at a loss to explain her flushed cheeks and swollen lips. She, who was usually so pragmatic and practical in thinking, didn't know what to think.

She had liked the feeling of his arms around her, and the way he kissed her. But that was the trouble - she had been surprised at the strong surge of feeling in her and unsure of how to cope, she had run away. She flushed again. Professor Snape was probably laughing at how green and inexperienced she was - running away after she had been kissed!



A/N: So, was that chapter good, bad or otherwise? You know what to do.