A/n: Here it comes! The chapter that….oh, I can't tell you! George said you'll just have to read it!

PrincessDarkness: Who is that? Lol! Frank just popped into my head…

Primax: Frank's comments are things I would say in that situation…

Tifsuz: Excellent idea! Hmmm….I'll think about that for a while, k?

Thank you for your reviews!

Chapter Nine:

Hermione studied fir the rest of the day and well into the night. She never went to dinner, and by two o'clock in the morning, Snape decided to find her. When he knocked on her door and received no answer, he slowly pushed it open.

Hermione was sleeping on the couch, a book upside down on her stomach and parchments everywhere. The corners of Snape's mouth twitched. She looked unorganized and restless, but she still had that effect on him. He picked up the book and placed it aside, then carefully gathered her up in his arms and carried her to the bed.

"Thank You." Hermione whispered after he laid her down, her eyes barely open.

"You're quite welcome, get some sleep." Snape muttered, she was out before he finished his sentence.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Miss Granger?" Snape called, knocking on her door the next morning.

"Mmmph?"

"You're exam starts in an hour." Snape said in almost a whisper.

Hermione shot up in bed. Snape laughed to himself outside the door, he pushed it open and walked inside. Hermione stared at him, panicking.

"I thought that would wake you." he smirked.

"That was not funny!" Hermione hissed.

Snape just stare down at her. Her hair was everywhere, and her clothes rumpled from the night before. Her unsettled appearance only made her more…. Adorable. She glared up at him from her bed.

"You're test won't start for a few hours yet, but Miss Weasley will be here in an hour."

"That's worse." Hermione looked as if Christmas had been cancelled.

"I thought you were friends?"

"Oh, we are!" Hermione said hurriedly, "But, her and her makeup…"

Snape laughed. Hermione just stared, she'd always thought of him as depressed and miserable. But laughing? She shook her head and smiled.

"Well, I suggest you prepare yourself then?" Snape asked, before leaving the room.

Hermione, love?

Yes, Frank?

Want to know what I think?

What do you think, Frank?

I think you might want to let Ginny give you a makeover, Love. Let her go all out.

I was afraid you'd say that…

Hermione got out of bed and pulled some clothes from her closet. She ran to the bathroom and showered and dressed in just under an hour. Ginny was exiting the fire just as she re-entered the room.

"Ginny?" Hermione mumbled, "Canugimmeamamakover?"

"Sorry?"

"Can you give me a makeover?" Hermione sighed.

"Eeeek! Finally! Alright, yes of course…any reason why?" Ginny wriggled her eyebrows.

"You know why."

"Good, sit and I'll get started."

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two hours later, Ginny gave Hermione a quick goodbye hug and winked before disappearing into the neon green flames. Hermione took a deep breath, and headed for the Dining Hall. She pushed open the huge doors, and walked to the table.

Snape glanced up from his paper and his jaw dropped. He took in Hermione's deep red dress, short and showing plenty of leg. His eyes graced her up-do with its soft tendrils framing her face, and her dark eyes. His breath caught in his throat and he gave her a small nod of acknowledgement.

Is that good, that he's staring like that?

I'd say it's very good.

It's making me nervous!

Just smile and sit down.

Hermione flashed him a quick smile, and sat in the chair he'd pulled out for her, muttering her thanks. He handed her an exam paper, and quill. Hermione started the test. Minutes passed and Hermione worked, but she was unnerved by his stare.

He's watching me. I can feel it. I can't concentrate.

Glance up.

No!

Fine then hurry and finish!

Hermione finished a few minutes later, and handed her paper to Snape. A house elf rushed in and forced a plate of food in front of her. Hermione suddenly realized how hungry she was from not having eaten all day. She ate quickly and glanced at Snape. He finished grading her paper and looked up at the same time, smiling.

"Perfect." he said.

"Really?" Hermione squeaked.

"Really, Miss Granger."

"Eeeeeekkk!" Hermione squealed, she jumped up and threw her arms around Snape's neck without thinking.

Hermione felt him stiffen in her tight embrace. Realizing what she had done, she was about to pull away when his strong arms snaked their way around her waist. He pulled her in a little closer, breathing in her ear: "Congratulations, Hermione."

He called me Hermione!

Girl, he hugged you! Not to mention, he's still hugging you! Forget calling you by your name, he has his arms around you!

Snape pulled back, his arms still around her waist. "I take it Miss Weasley enjoyed herself then?" he asked as he looked her up and down. Hermione blushed.

"Yes, it's horrible right?" She muttered.

"No! It's not! It's just not…it's different."

"It's not 'me'?"

"No." he agreed.

"I didn't think so either. She insisted it would 'knock you off your feet', though." Hermione laughed.

"Well, it---wait. 'Knock me off my feet'?" Snape asked.

Uh-Oh.

"Why would you want to do that, Hermione?" Snape whispered in her ear.

"I--well, um…" Hermione stuttered.

Snape brushed his lips softly against hers. Hermione's heart stopped. He pulled her in and deepened the kiss. He picked her up with ease and set her on the table, his arms resting on either side of her. Snape expertly pushed her backwards with the force of his kiss, until she was lying down on the table. Air became necessary, and he pulled back slightly, looking into her cinnamon brown eyes.

"Is that the effect you were going for?" He whispered.

Hermione nodded, and pulled him closer, capturing his lips in another, more urgent kiss. Brunch lay forgotten on the table, and her exam scattered on the floor.