Chapter Nine:

Snape sighed Hermione noticed he looked very worn and tired, but there was something else in his expression.

"Don't be embarrassed."

"Easy for you to say" he muttered bitterly.

Hermione stepped closer. She was right in front of him now. Considering how much taller he was, this meant that when he looked down he looked directly into her face. Hermione felt a flash of something strange to her.

"What are you thinking?" she looked up at him.

"What?"

"I can feel what you're feeling, remember? But I don't understand it…" she said.

"I was thinking--"

"You want to hold me." Hermione blurted.

"What?"

"That's what you were feeling…" Hermione blushed.

"Er…" Snape was looking (and feeling) very uncomfortable.

Hermione stepped even closer to him. She was now only an inch away. He couldn't resist anymore. Before he knew what he was doing, he'd wrapped his arms around d her waist and kissed her softly. To his (and her) surprise, Hermione pulled him in closer and deepened the kiss. They broke apart when air became necessary, and looked at each other.

"I do--"

"Shh." Hermione whispered, and pulled him to her.

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Hermione woke the next morning and was startled for a second when she didn't recognize her surroundings. Then she felt the strong arm around her waist and relaxed. She rolled over and saw that Snape was awake too. She smiled at him.

"Morning."

"Morning, beautiful."

Hermione opened her mouth to protest the sexist nickname that insinuated that women were only good for their beauty (at least that's how she felt), but found that she didn't mind him calling her that. She snuggled up closer to him.

"Want some breakfast?" Snape asked.

"Only if we can eat it like this." she mumbled into his chest.

"We, you might have to turn around…but yes we can…" ha laughed.

Hermione looked up at him. He looked so different! So…happy. She nodded and sat up in bed, the sheets wrapped around her. Snape pointed his wand and a small table appeared, covered with food. They ate silently and when the food was gone, Snape vanished the table and he and Hermione lay in bed for a few more minutes. It was awhile before he noticed Albus Dumbledore's head in the fire.

"Albus?" he shot up in bed, and Hermione looked like Christmas had been canceled.

"Hello, Hermione" Dumbledore smiled.

"Hello" she said quietly, not looking at him.

"Just wanted to see how things are going…Sorry, this is obviously a bad time." Dumbledore said.

"Er…yes…well…"

"Don't worry, Severus. I'm leaving." and his head disappeared from the fire.

"Oh. My. God." Hermione whispered.

"Someone was bound to find out." Snape muttered.

"Yes, but I wish I'd at least had some clothes on!"