Snape woke with a start the next morning. He had been dreaming of the kiss. Everything came back to him and he had the mind to do something about it. Getting up he quickly took a shower and got dressed. Leaving for the Great Hall he smiled to himself. Upon entering he saw Hermione sitting alone. It was five in the morning so he didn't expect anyone to be up. Walking over he noticed she was reading a big book.

"Well, Miss. Granger. I wasn't expecting you to be up so early." She turned around not realizing how close he was.

"I thought I would get started early. Besides I couldn't sleep." Snape thought to himself for a moment.

"I wish to speak to you about a few things. Will you please join me in my office once you are through?" Hermione nodded and closed her book, she stood up.

"Just lead the way Professor." Snape nodded and walked over to the table getting himself a cup of hot steaming coffee. Hermione only blinked and was about to ask if she could kiss him again. But she decide against it. Once in Snape's office Hermione sat down and waited. Snape sat as well after taking a drink of his coffee.

"Yes, as I was saying. I need to talk to you. About last night. You were quite right in confronting me about me giving all the credit to Mr. Longbottom. But I will not take any credit for it. I only looked in books and made potions. Several of which I gave to Madam Pomfrey to try on you. None worked. That is all I did. Nothing more."

Hermione didn't believe him. She knew he had done more by what her friends had told her about him and how sleep deprived and stressed he had looked during the time she was asleep.

"You are lying Professor. My friends informed me about what all you did. And reading books and making potions wasn't all. They told me you worked hours into the night trying to find a way to wake me up. They said you even went off to the huge wizard library in London and spent a few weekends there. Even Dumbledore would have said you work endlessly and I want to know why you cared so much? No one was asked to help wake me up."

Snape couldn't look at her. He was ashamed of lying but worse he was ashamed of not telling her that the teachers were asked to help. But he worked the hardest because it was a potion that made her fall asleep. But also because he loved her. Only now did he realize he was in love with her. Snape sighed.

"Even if I worked endlessly. My reasons are because it was a potion that made you sleep and my blind eye that didn't see who tampered with Mr. Longbottom's potion." Hermione stared at Snape's face, at least what she could see of it.

"I don't think those are your only reasons." Snape growled knowing she was trying to get more information out of him.

"Any other reasons are not your business. As for that kiss you gave me last night. May I ask why you gave it to me?" Snape looked at her this time his eyes showing his curiosity about it. Hermione just laughed silently.

"Because..your coffee tasted so good and I had to make sure it was you who kissed me." She wouldn't admit how she felt about him now. At least not yet. Snape just stared at her and then leaned over his desk.

"You're hiding something. I can feel it." Hermione blushed crimson and looked away. She didn't look at him again when he got up. Snape walked over to her and leaned down whispering in her ear. "Mind telling me what it is?" She looked up at him and in that moment he kissed her. She couldn't pull away or move because she was against the chair. She tried to get away embarrassed but he wouldn't let her go. He pulled back for a brief moment and then looked down at her.

"Does that make you sure who kissed you?" She looked up at him blushing and then licked her lips. Snape was about to go insane. Just the sight of her perfect mouth and tongue made him want to kiss her again and again. Hermione saw this and got up. But in doing so she tripped Snape and fell with him to the ground her feet tangled with his. He looked down at her and then kissed her, but this time it was more then just a kiss.