"Hermione" a soft voice called in her ear "Hermione you have to get up or you'll miss breakfast" Hermione moaned softly and opened her eyes. Severus was leaning over her bed smiling.
"Morning" she said sitting up in bed and looking around. "What's the time?"
"It's 8:00" said Severus "You better get dressed. I'll see you in the Great Hall. You remember how to get out of here don't you?"
"How did I get to my bed?" she asked "I don't remember much of what happened last night"
"Well you fell asleep in my library and I carried you back downstairs to your bed" he smiled "Now get dressed"
Hermione got out of bed as Severus walked out of her room.
"Hey Hermione!" called Ron as she entered the Great Hall "How did it go last night?"
"Hi Ron, hi Harry" she said smiling "Everything was fine. My room is o.k, it's quite nice having time on my own in the quiet without lots of people around. Not that I'm becoming a recluse or anything" she added quickly.
"We'll have to come and visit sometime, you can't spend all your time there on your own"
"Yeah" agreed Harry "Where is your room anyway?"
"Er… It's on the fifth floor, near Professor McGonagall's room"
"Oh" said Ron "She won't be pleased if we turned up in Hermione's room"
"Yeah so maybe it's not a good idea to visit at the moment" said Hermione, inwardly sighing with relief.
"You having breakfast?" said Hermione quickly changing the subject
"We've only got 10 minutes before class" said Harry "Where is all your stuff?"
"Damn!" she shouted "I've left it in my room, I suppose I'll have to go and…"
"Miss Granger" a smooth, cold voice from behind them. Severus walked towards them in his usual menacing way.
"What possible reason is there for you to be shouting I wonder?"
"Professor" she said holding back a smile "I'm sorry I just forgot some of my things from my room" and she looked meaningfully into his eyes. But the look she got back was blank and cold.
"Ten points from Gryffindor" he barked. Sweeping his robes he turned around without a backward glance. Hermione's heart stopped for a minute. Surely after the previous day he wouldn't continue to humiliate her in public?
"I've got to go and do something" she said to Ron and Harry, who were looking dumbstruck at Snape. Hermione moved away from them hurriedly, fighting back tears. She ran in the direction that Severus had walked away. She caught up with him on the stairs leading down to the dungeons.
"Severus" she called but he ignored her. She followed him down to the dungeon classroom where he stood in the middle of the room. As she got to the bottom of the stairs he turned around.
"Hermione" he cried running over to her and wrapping his arms tightly around her "That was so hard, I'm so sorry"
"I thought you'd changed your mind"
"I had to act like that, people would get suspicious otherwise, I'm so sorry" he kissed her forehead, then her nose, then her lips. Soon it was as if the world had dissolved around them all Hermione could think of was staying close to him. Severus held Hermione tightly as they kissed. A sudden abrupt noise came from the dungeon entrance.
"Professor?" Dumbledore was standing in the entrance looking amused "Can I have a word please?"
"Yes Headmaster" said Severus trying to compose himself quickly.
"Nice as it is to see you two getting on so well" he said his eyes twinkling "I don't think it's appropriate to behave this way when outside your private rooms, I don't think that the students will quite understand"
"Headmaster I wanted to ask you about Minerva"
"Indeed Severus I have explained the situation to her and she understands, though as you can imagine she is not entirely pleased"
"That bloody woman can't see past our house flags. How long will it take her to get rid of her awful prejudices?"
"Now, now Severus" said Dumbledore glancing at Hermione quickly "Minerva will come to understand"
"The amount of times I've tried to be friendly to that woman!" he shouted
Hermione burst into a fit of giggles at the thought of Severus taking a cup of tea to McGonagall and her refusing. Dumbledore too looked as though he was trying not to laugh, but Severus looked affronted.
"What's so funny?" he asked with a frown on his face which caused Hermione's fit of giggles to turn into an uncontrollable howl of laughter and tears spilled down her face.
"Never mind Severus" said Dumbledore "It appears that your class is arriving. Miss Granger this evening at 7:00 Professor McGonagall would like a word in her office. Good day" Students filed into the classroom quietly.
"Miss Granger sit down" Severus said sharply, but this time he gave her a small wink before she turned around and made her way to her desk.
"Are you alright?" said Ron as Hermione took a seat next to him "You look like you've been crying" Hermione grinned again as she thought of what Severus had said.
"No I'm fine, I just wanted to ask Professor Snape something" she said.
"As long as you're o.k." he said placing a hand on her shoulder and smiling at her. Severus looked at her at the same moment and a blanket of jealousy covered him. Hermione looked up and saw Severus' crest fallen face. She smiled at him as reassuringly as she could and he nodded in understanding.
At 7:00 that evening Hermione was standing outside Professor McGonagall's office waiting nervously. Knowing that Professor McGonagall knew about her and Severus worried her slightly. She had always seemed so stern and disapproving of everything, and she hardly hid her feelings of contempt towards Severus.
"Miss Granger come in please" came McGonagall's voice from behind the door. When she walked in McGonagall was smiling at her, a rare occurrence for her. "Miss Granger I would like to talk to you about your recent er… change in circumstances" Hermione blushed
"Yes Professor"
"Well I understand that you are an adult now so your private business is…well…private so I don't mean to pry"
"What did you want to ask me Professor" said Hermione, the heat in her face growing
"Well Miss Granger you and Severus are both adults and if there are any problems I want you to know that I am here. I have had experience with matters such as this"
"Professor I don't quite understand what you mean"
"If you and Severus are living so close there is every possibility that you might…"
"Oh" said Hermione positively scarlet now "I don't think..."
"Miss Granger you are a very attractive young woman and Severus is a grown man. I am not stupid. Instincts" she coughed "Are not always resistible"
Hermione's face felt as though it was on fire. Professor McGonagall was giving her a lecture on sex education.
"Thank you Professor, if I have any problems I will tell you"
"Miss Granger I think you should have these" McGonagall passed her a small package and as Hermione read the label a look of horror crossed her face. Condoms? Professor McGonagall stern, strict, rule loving head of Gryffindor house was giving her condoms!!!!
"Professor" Hermione said "I really don't need..."
"Miss Granger you ought to be careful"
"PROFESSOR" Hermione surprised herself by shouting "I'm sorry Professor but I don't think you understand" Hermione's eyes filled with tears
"Miss Granger what on earth's wrong?"
"He doesn't want to, he isn't attracted to me that way" she sobbed
"Miss Granger I'm sure this isn't true"
"It is. I asked him last night but he pushed me away"
Professor McGonagall looked shocked. She stood up and moved around to Hermione.
"Miss Granger I am going to speak to you plainly so I hope you will forgive my bluntness" said Professor McGonagall looking slightly flustered. "Men are not complicated creatures. No man, and I mean this sincerely, could resist an attractive young woman like yourself. Hasn't your experience in life taught you that?"
Hermione looked embarrassed to hear McGonagall talking in this way but she stopped crying.
"But Professor he didn't want me, he pushed away from me"
"Miss Granger please listen carefully. Severus is a gentleman, as much as I hate to admit it. And I should imagine that from what you say he would have to exercise enormous self control not to… well… Remember he is a man Hermione but he is a gentleman too. He probably didn't want to scare you"
"Do you think so?"
"Yes I do"
"Thank you Professor"
"And Hermione"
"Yes"
"You might want these" she said passing her the packet
"Thank you Professor"