Disclaimer: As you all know, I am not JK Rowling. I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters. I am only borrowing them for a while, and I will return them safely and soundly when I am through.

A/N: Well, here it is, the chapter you've all been waiting for. I think I will finally begin the romance in this chapter, though it might take a few more for it to earn its R-rating. If you are a new reader to the story, and are not fond of student-teacher romances, then this is not the story for you. You should have left by now, but if you haven't, please calmly and quietly exit by pushing the X button on the upper right-hand corner of your screen. Thank you.

I'd like to thank all my reviewers, I always get excited when I get emails saying I've got new reviews, so please leave many. I intend to provide deeper interaction between Hermione and Severus in this chapter, and I hope to make it considerably longer than the past few, as I realize that they were fairly short.

Anyways, on with Chapter 6!

Hermione walked to her private chambers that evening, emotion that she hadn't felt in years washing over her. True, her conversation with Severus hadn't gotten all that intimate, but for the first time, he let her deeper into his soul than she had ever been allowed before. Up close, she noticed that he wasn't the ugly, greasy git that she had thought him to be, he was better looking than she had known, with deep brown eyes, and hair that looked like sleek strands of silk against his pale face. 'Stop it!' she thought to herself, in consternation. 'He's twice your age and to him you are just his young work partner. His former student and that is all. If he even thinks of you as somewhat of a friend, he will never consider be more. Ever.' Weeks past, and Hermione had to remind herself many times of that fact, as the pair grew ever closer, and their interactions somewhat more personal.

December 12th brought the first snow to Hogwarts that year. It had come in the night, and by morning the grounds were covered in a thick blanket of white, the sun's rays reflecting off it, casting light throughout the castle. That afternoon, Severus and Hermione decided to go to Hogsmeade with the students, needing a few potions ingredients. The outing had been Hermione's idea, Severus claiming he would rather be subjected to the Cruciatus curse than mingle among students in the town. However, after Hermione pointed out that waiting an extra day would delay their potion's development, Severus finally agreed to accompany her, knowing that her logic was undeniable. After all, the potion Snelper could only be started on the night of the new moon, and since that was to occur that evening, they would be forced to wait another month to start the potion if they did not seize their chance then. Walking up and down the streets of Hogsmeade with her, Severus could not argue that the day was pleasant enough. The sun was shining, and although it was a bit cold, that was to be expected from the winter season. Hermione's wit and intelligence kept him amused, and he was amazed to admit that he was having a great time. Upon stopping in the potions shop (which of course was deserted of students, none of whom feeling studious that afternoon), the two bought their potion supplies and continued down the somewhat crowded streets of Hogsmeade. They decided to return to the castle before the students did to avoid the rush, and removed their dripping coats and winter garments in his chambers, hanging them in front of the fire to dry while Severus and Hermione began preparations for their potion. While waiting for darkness to fall, Severus conjured some hot cocoa for them both to drink, and they sat in front of the fire, warming their bodies from the cold outdoors.

"Well, Hermione, I feel it my duty to say that I truly had an enjoyable time this afternoon. Although Hogsmeade was still a bit too crowded for my taste, your company made it more pleasant than the previous times I have been there," Severus said softly, looking into her eyes somewhat deeply.

Hermione raised her eyes slightly, hardly daring to believe what she had just heard come out of her Professor's mouth. "Thank you.Severus," she answered, a smile forming on her face and a small laugh escaping her throat.

"Are you laughing at me, Miss Granger?" Snape asked, somewhat bewildered by the smile forming on his own lips.

Nodding, she answered, "Yes, I am. In all the years I have known you, I have never heard you offer a compliment to anybody.I was just surprised that it was me you decided to bestow one upon. I'm not only laughing at you though, I was also laughing at myself. For all this time, I had this grudge built up against you, feeling that you were cruel and angry. Now I see that I didn't know you at all."

"Perhaps that is best. I have always tried to keep people away, so they would not be hurt or disappointed in me, and it has worked up until now. You, however, seem to have broken down my defenses. I do not know how you do it.or why you want to know me better."

"You are a mystery to everyone, an uninviting stranger who will not let people in. Is that not reason enough for me to be curious? I think, Severus, that you are too worried about others may think. People can surprise you sometimes. Would it truly kill you to talk to someone, tell them your past and your thoughts?" Hermione asked gently, trying not to anger him with her words.

"You flatter me, child, in saying that there is a person out there who cares enough to desire my trust."

"But there is! Severus, you know that I would not tell another soul if you wished me to keep some information a secret. We've been working together for months, and yet you are still so guarded around me, why will you not let me in?"

"Because I do not wish to hurt you! Hermione, I am not an innocent man. I've done terrible things in my lifetime, terrible things before you were even born! I did not want you to be my partner at first; I have always been used to solitude and find it comfortable. But you came in here, confident and so god-damn intelligent, and you broke down my defenses. You were not afraid of me anymore, and it scared me to think of the power you possessed. Although you may know everything about potions and every subject a book was ever written on, you know nothing of my past. Why do you want me to relive it for you, so that you can be repulsed by my sins and never want to see me again? Is that what you want? Because that isn't my wish. Your company has done me wonders, and I do not want to lose the friendship that I have finally received after thirty-eight years of life! But even more than my selfish wishes.I do not want to hurt you."

Shocked by his sudden passionate outburst, Hermione remained still for several minutes straight. After nearly a quarter of an hour of awkward silence, Hermione stood up. "It is nightfall now, and time we began the potion. Where are the instructions?"

Severus walked over to the table sitting across the room, and handed her a book. "They're in here. Those spider legs need to be chopped, and the ginsallis needs to be brought to a boil. I will prepare the frog spleen."

The partners worked somewhat silently for several hours that night, their only communication in regards to the potion. Finally, Severus looked up after adding the last of the dragon's eye and said softly "That is the last ingredient we will need to add for several days. The potion needs to cool overnight, and tomorrow morning I will start it simmering again."

"Alright," said Hermione, somewhat shyly. "I guess I'll be leaving then."

Severus watched as she turned to leave, his heart panging him with every step she took. Finally he gave in. "Hermione!" he said softly, looking at her with a somewhat pained expression.

She turned to face him, bewildered by his tone and expression. "Yes, Severus?" she asked her voice matching his in volume.

"I was wondering.did you mean it when you said that you wanted me to let you in?" he asked cautiously, worrying that perhaps she had changed her mind.

"Yes, of course I did! I still do, but you spoke so strongly earlier that I thought you mind was set not to tell me. Severus, I know you were a Death Eater, many years ago. I know that you did terrible things in your past, but I also see that you are now ashamed of them. You regret what you did, and although that can never change the past, it shows me that you truly are a good person. Knowing your past would never change my opinion of the man you have become now, a man whom I have more respect for than he could ever know."

It took a moment for her words to sink in, and when they did, Severus inhaled deeply and walked towards her. In just a few strides, he was less than a foot away from her, and he outstretched his hand towards her face. For a brief moment, Hermione was afraid he was going to slap her, but relief soon set in as he placed his hand on her cheek, caressing it gently before entwining his fingers in her hair. His dark eyes pierced hers, and he began his story.

"I was a lonely child. All while I was growing up, and even when I came here to school, I never had any friends. Preferring school work to Quidditch, girls, and all other activities, people thought me strange, and I was constantly made fun of. There was only one person who made any effort to get to know me better.a young woman named Lily Evans. Yes, Harry's mother," he said softly, seeing the surprised look upon her face. "She stood up for me when I was on the receiving end of cruel tricks and pranks, talked to me in the halls, even asked me to go to Hogsmeade with her once. I loved her...God, I loved her so much. Well, while this was all going on, Lord Voldemort was quickly rising, and his supporters were multiplying faster than you could imagine. Since every one of the known Death Eaters was in Slytherin, it was considered the 'evil house', and every one of its students was seen as Death Eaters in training. Well, one of the other students in my house, named Basir Hellich, told Lily that I was a Death Eater, and since she was muggle-born, it was all part of an elaborate part to kill her. That vicious piece of gossip bestowed fear upon her, and the next day she broke up with me. James Potter had always admired her, and offered her protection and comfort in his arms. Six months later, they were a steady idem. Angry and hurt, I joined Lord Voldemort later that year. He offered me power, and his followers gave me a kind of companionship I had never known. But those years were the worse of my life.ones that I will regret until the day I die. Hermione.I am not an innocent man. I've seen and done terrible things. I've murdered people of all ages, women, and children. I've raped girls younger than you.watched them struggle in agony and laughed as they suffered. Afterwards, I killed them. Do you really want to be friends with somebody who has done all those things?" he asked, looking into her eyes, a pained expression on his face.

"Severus, you changed. I know what Death Eaters did, I have been friends with Harry my entire life, and he's filled me in on some of the horrors he'd seen. You've got a past, yes, but you're not like that anymore. Something inside you long ago made you turn back on our side, and you were a key factor in helping us defeat Voldemort. You pledged your life to helping people like me, a muggle-born, survive. That is the man that I am befriending, not the Death Eater," answered Hermione. "The only thing I don't understand is why it's taken you twenty years to say this to someone."

"At first I didn't let people in for safety reasons - mine and theirs. During my period as a spy for the Order of the Phoenix, within the Death Eaters, it was necessary to be anti social. Getting too close to people allowed me a weakness, something that I could not have. What if the Death Eaters had killed that person? My pain and remorse would be easily read by them, and I would have been exposed. No, emotional attachment, to anybody, was a danger to myself and others. Afterwards, I didn't think that I deserved people to care about me, the good deeds I've done in my lifetime do not outweigh the bad."

"Voldemort is dead, Severus. He has been for two years, and all of the Death Eaters are dead or imprisoned. You no longer need to live in fear of the life of yourself or anybody else. So please, I beg of you. If I am willing to overlook your past and see the man that you are inside, will you learn to live in the present, and come to terms with your past?"

"I suppose I can try. But you must be patient with me. Hermione.I just don't want to hurt another person, especially not you."

"Just trust in what your heart says, don't think so much. My heart says that I want to be closer to you," answered Hermione, feeling swept up in the passion of the room.

"Yes. However, it is now very late, and I am sure you need your rest. I will see you tomorrow, then?" he asked, nervously avoiding the romantic reference in her words.

"Of course. Goodnight, Severus," answered Hermione, somewhat disappointed.

"Goodnight, Hermione," he replied gently, watching quietly as she left the room.