Disclaimer: The usual disclaimer applies. Please don't sue me...I'm just having fun here. J

Author Notes: This chapter is dedicated to my awesome beta, Aemos, for her untiring coddling of my fragile ego. I really had some doubts about this chapter, but she made me see the good in it. Thanks Aemos!

I also want to thank everyone who has read and reviewed so far. I really appreciate everything you have to say. Thank you!

Chapter 2

Hermione was running - running as if the very demons of Hell were after her. She looked to her left - Hogwarts castle stood, looming over her like a dark sentinel. To her right was Hagrid's cottage. She took off and sprinted toward the cottage. Just as she was about to run up the steps to the door she slipped on a patch of mud. Her feet came out from under her and she landed flat on her back staring up at the cloudy sky. That's when she heard it - great, booming barks and the sound of a rapidly approaching animal. Moments later she was looking up into the gigantic face of Hagrid's boarhound, Fang. He leaned down and his great, pink tongue came out of his mouth - he was licking her all over her face and neck, completely soaking her.

"Fang stop it! Fang!"

"Miss Granger..."

"Stop it, Fang!"

"Miss Granger!"

Hermione woke with a start and bolted upright. Water was dripping onto her head, cold and wet. She looked up to see where the water was coming from and started back in surprise.

~What the hell!~

"Prof-Professor Snape?!"

He nodded, scowling down at her from his position above. His hair was dripping wet, obviously the cause of why she was so wet, and clung to his neck and shoulders. It was much longer than when she was a student. He was clad in only a pair of deep blue swim trunks and was sporting a bit of a tan on his skin.

~Whoa! When did Snape get a body? He's no underwear model but he certainly looks great for his age! No potbelly or excessive body hair...very nice.~

"What are you doing here?" she asked, scrambling to stand next to him. She winced in pain as she moved. "Oh no..." Every inch of visible skin on the front of her body was an angry pink with sunburn.

"I'm here trying to enjoy my holiday," he answered, reaching out for her arm. She jerked back. "Honestly, Miss Granger, I'm not going to harm you. I need to examine your sunburn."

"What? Why?"

He shook his head and frowned.

"So that I can determine which potion to make for you."

"What?"

"Give me your arm, you silly girl!"

She glared up at him.

"I'm hardly a girl anymore, professor, so kindly do not treat me that way. As for you making me a potion, that will not be necessary. I'm perfectly capable of...ouch!" She had just started slipping her shorts on when the cotton just barely rubbed against her leg. "Oh, God, that hurts like hell!"

He smirked down at her, a look of triumph on his face.

"You were saying?"

She sighed in resignation.

"Fine," she said, frowning up at him and holding out her arm. He gently reached out and grasped her arm just below the elbow and peered closely at the skin, wet locks of hair trailing soothing water over the angry redness. He shook his head and looked back up at her, releasing her arm.

"Didn't you put on any sunscreen or perform a sunblocking spell?"

"Of course I put on sunscreen! At one o'clock when I came out."

"Do you have any idea what time it is now?"

She shook her head.

"It's half past five, Miss Granger. Half past five."

"What!" she screeched, craning her neck back to look up at the sky. Sure enough, the sun was well on its way to setting, hanging low in the Western sky. "God. My first day here and I've already succeeding in fucking things up."

Snape choked. If she didn't know any better, she would have sworn he was going to laugh.

~Right...~

He looked back down at her, a faint sparkle in his eye but the trademark scowl planted firmly on his face.

"Follow me, Miss Granger," he said, turning on his heel and marching toward his cottage. The cottage, Hermione realized, right next to hers.

~Good grief. Fate certainly has a wicked sense of humor.~

She followed him up the stairs and into the cottage, noting briefly that it was an exact duplicate of hers.

"Sit," he ordered, pointing at the couch.

She glared at him, annoyed. Instinct from being his student for seven years overrode her annoyance, however, and she sat down grumpily on the very edge of the couch, careful to let as little skin as possible come in contact with the fabric. She watched him bustle around the kitchen, setting up a cauldron on the stove...

~Never thought I'd see that.~

...filling the cauldron with water, and pulling out a dangerous looking knife and cutting several stems from an aloe plant on the kitchen counter.

"What are you making?" Hermione asked, unable to stop herself from asking.

"It's quite simple," he said, not bothering to turn around. "You take several stems from an aloe plant along with several comfrey leaves, chop them up fine, then add them to a full cauldron of water." He turned and showed her one of the fuzzy green comfrey leaves. "Bring it to a boil, then reduce the heat and wait for it to thicken into a paste. You can add ice to cool it even more, although the aloe provides enough cooling power all on its own."

"That's all?" she asked, standing up and walking over to peer into the cauldron. "You don't apply any cooling or soothing charms to it after the paste is ready?"

"It doesn't need any charms," he replied, slowly stirring the thick mixture. "The aloe provides enough cooling power to make the potion work. However, it is imperative for the person being treated to remain still for at least fifteen minutes after the paste has been applied. This will allow the paste to absorb and work more quickly."

"It just seems that a cooling or soothing charm would make it more effective," she said, chewing thoughtfully on her lip.

He stopped stirring and glared down at her, his cheeks red from the steam issuing out of the cauldron.

~Uh-oh.~

"Do you want me to make this potion for you or not, Miss Granger?" he asked in a low, dangerous voice.

"Uh...of course, sir. I didn't mean any disrespect."

He glared down at her a moment longer then turned back to the cauldron without a word. She shook her head then turned back to the sitting room. Something small and black streaked across the room.

"What the..." She hurried into the room and crouched down beside an armchair, squinting into the darkness beneath. Two huge yellow eyes stared back at her. "Hello there," she cooed, reaching under the chair for the little cat. "Come on out, baby, it's okay."

A small 'meep' followed by the tiny, furry body of a shiny black kitten emerged from beneath the chair. It slinked over to Hermione and rubbed up against her chin, purring loudly. She picked up the little ball of fur and cradled it to her bosom.

"Professor Snape, I didn't know you had a cat."

"That little rat?" he asked, turning away from the cauldron and leaning back against the counter. He folded his arms over his naked chest and regarded her with a closed expression on his face. "She showed up on my porch my first day here and wouldn't leave me alone." He shrugged. "I figured I may as well keep her. I have no familiar, so..." He trailed off, glaring at the kitten. She meeped at him, then jumped out of Hermione's arms and padded across the floor toward Snape. Hermione smiled as he scooped the kitten up and placed her on his shoulder before turning back to the cauldron. The cat immediately nuzzled into his hair, purring loud enough for Hermione to hear it all the way across the room.

~Well, that cat certainly seems comfortable enough.~

"What's her name?" Hermione asked.

"Onyx," he answered, removing the cauldron from the stove. "It's ready."

"Oh, okay," Hermione said, suddenly a little nervous.

"Go lie down on the floor," he instructed, lifting the cat from his shoulder and dropping her on the wooden floor.

"Can't I put it on myself?" Hermione asked. She wasn't sure she wanted her former professor's hands all over her body, never mind the improved appearance.

"No."

"Why not?"

"You are the most difficult person, Miss Granger," he growled, raking his fingers through his hair. He motioned to the floor then knelt down beside the cauldron. She lay back on the carpet and looked up at him, her heart beating wildly in her chest. "Don't you remember what I told you about needing to lie still for the potion to take effect? Obviously you can't do that if you apply it yourself." He scooped up a bit of the potion, frowning. "I assure you that I'm not doing this for my own enjoyment. I'm no pervert, Miss Granger."

"I never thought that, Professor."

"Hmm," was all he said, rubbing his hands together lightly. "Ready?"

She nodded, then closed her eyes, gasping when the curiously cold paste touched her right shoulder. He moved in slow, even circles down her arm, his long, sensitive fingers seeming to know exactly when to lessen the pressure on her injured skin. He moved on to her left arm, again starting at her shoulder and moving slowly downward to her fingers. A sigh of relief escaped her lips as the healing paste began working.

"Better, isn't it?" he asked. She could practically see the knowing smirk on his face as he spoke.

~Bastard.~

"Very much," she answered.

"I'm going to put some on your stomach now," he said, warming the paste between his palms.

She sucked in a sharp breath as his paste-covered hands touched her ribs. Slowly, he moved in small circles, skirting around her belly button, then moving in long, smooth strokes down her sides and across the skin just above her bottoms.

~Good God, that feels wonderful. If I don't look I can almost imagine some hot lifeguard doing this.~

"Legs next," he murmured, giving her no time to prepare as his hands began their work at the top of her right thigh. His fingers brushed ever so lightly around the leg band of her bottoms, then with more pressure along the long muscle of her thigh. It was like a soft, icy massage and Hermione could feel a tightening and heat low in her belly as his fingers trailed over her knee, eliciting a small gasp from her parted lips. She felt him halt and could feel his eyes on her. She didn't have to open her eyes to know he was staring at her, probably in shock from her reaction to his touch.

~Wow...he certainly knows how to use those hands.~

He cleared his throat lightly before continuing down her calves. That got another small gasp from her. She didn't even realize her calves were that sensitive.

She heard him get up and opened her eyes as he stepped nimbly over her and kneeled on her other side.

"Other leg," he said, looking up from the cauldron. Their eyes locked in that second and they both stayed transfixed. Neither of them noticed the large droplet of paste hanging suspended from his fingers...not until it dropped directly onto the curve of her left breast.

~Fuuuuuuuuck...~