Romancer 4-ever : What I meant by second installment was merely a second part. Not a sequel, but...hmm..like an annex to a building. An add on. I just hate it when one story has too many chapter =/ And for your other question...I suppose you'll see what happens =P

Toodles, and thanks for the reviews, everyone!

-Heart- Casey

Chapter Nine

We both sat meekly as Dumbledore surveyed us like we were nothing more than juvinile deliquents. I kept my head bowed so I didn't have to meet Dumbledore's eyes, well, that was until Hermione said what she did.

My head shot up in suprise, and I softly slid my hand atop hers. Expecting her to hang her head in shame, I waited, but I suppose she figured, 'I'm on a mean streak in a hopeless situation, why stop now?'

"You should let us stay in love." She said, nervously. "Please, Professor..."

Dumbledore gave nothing but a heavy, breathy sigh. There was a slight twinkle in his eye as he spoke. "And to think, I only popped over to see how the apprenticeship was going..."

"Albus..." I began. "Hermione and I both went into this knowing the reprocussions..."

"Yes, I've realized that..." He sighed again. "I'm not one to intervene in relationships.."

Hermione and I stole glances at eachother. Maybe it wasn't over.

"But, Severus, take into consideration you are a Hogwarts Professor.." Began Dumbledore. "And that if this was found out, I will not cover for you, nor Hermione."

"We've kept it secret this long.." Hermione said.

"That you have.." Dumbledore replied. "I will..Ah, what am I saying..This..never happened." He told us, regret for saying it evident in his tone.

"What never happened?" I asked, aware of what he was inferring.

He gave us one last all knowing glance and disapparated there on the spot.

I sunk into the back of the sofa, overwhelemed with relief. I looked at Hermione and made a space, about an inch of space between my middle and index fingers. "We were this close to losing it all."

She moved my fingers to make the space smaller. "And you were that close to getting my shirt off."

I paused for a moment, then we both shot up from the sofa and I chased her up the stairs, leaving Jake to fend for himself.

"Maybe..." I began, taking a bite of a carrotstick later on in the evening in a dimly lit kitchen, leaning on the island beside Hermione, who was doing the same. "In a day or two, you could tell your parents we have to go away to an undisclosed area for training for a week on your apprenticeship...Strictly Hogwarts busines...or something."

"Where would this undisclosed area be?" She asked, curiously.

"Ah." I said, smiling lightly. "Thats extremley confidential information..."

"You know that I'm very impatient.." She whined.

"Well its a secret." I replied, kissing her cheek. "You'll just have to wait and see."

She pouted and made a noise, huffily, and snatched another carrot stick. "I hate it when you're secretive."

"I hate it when you whine."

"I hate it that you hate it when I whine."

"Well, its actually rather adorable.." I grinned, and nudged her with my shoulder. "Just don't wear out the privaledge of being adorable."

"I'll try, Professor.." She teased. "Its so hard though."

I smiled, looking over to her. "I love you."

She took a rather loud bite of her carrot and gave a breathy, dramatic sigh. "I suppose I love you too..."

I snatched the bowl of carrot sticks away and shoved them into the fridge. "Well if its such a chore, then don't eat my food."

"You know I love you, shut up." She replied, huffily. Then let a smile come that she'd been restraining for a few minutes. I smiled as well, for the way she smiled was very infectious.

"I better drive you home." I offered, grabbing my keys from off the top of the kitchen table. "Its 11:30."

"Is it really already eleven?" She asked, suddenly sounding unhappy. "I don't want to leave."

"I don't want you to leave, but if you came home late, you most likley would not be able to come over and work on your apprenticeship any time soon." I explained.

"Ah, I guess you're right.." She sighed.

The part where I had to drive her wasn't so bad, the problem began when we had to leave one another.

I parked a few houses down from hers and sighed, looking at her with a brave smile even though it was a very sad buisness, saying goodbye.

"You're sure you want me to go?" She asked.

I paused, then nodded. "You have to."

"Yeah..yeah..You're right.." She chewed on her bottom lip. "Do I get a goodnight kiss?"

"Don't you always?" I replied.

She laughed quietly as we leaned into eachother and exchanged a kiss. "Goodnight.." She murmered afterward.

"Sweet dreams." I responded, caressing her cheek lightly. "Away with you." I said drawing my hand back. "Before I begin to miss you too terribly."

She smiled, and pushed the door open. "I'll try to come by tommorow." She said, swinging one leg out.

"Why don't you just give me a ring and I could come by and pick you up?" I offered. "We could go have lunch at the park down from my flat."

"Sounds lovely...Except..Well, I don't have your number."

I laughed at my mistake and took a pen and scrribled it onto the palm of her hand. "...4976...There." I said, capping the pen. "Just call whenever you feel the need to."

"I surely will.." She smiled. "And I'll talk to my parents about being able to go to the undisclosed area apprenticeship...thing."

"Goodnight, Hermione."

"Goodnight, Severus." And with that, she looked at me once more, and gave a sad smile, and began the down the walk to her parents flat.

I watched her until she was safely in her house, and then letting a sigh go, I began back towards home.

I parked in the drive and turned off the car, hands still tight on the steering wheel. I tapped my head against the wheel softly a few times, chuckling to myself.

She just had something about her...

I walked up my porch and into the house to be greeted by Jake, practically in shambles from the goodnight kiss mixed with the days events.

I set my keys back on the kitchen table as I always did upon walking in. I walked into my living room and slumped onto the sofa, running my hands down my face. It had certainly been a day.

And there I fell asleep only to anticipate the next day when I'd go out early and buy the tickets.

Yes, the tickets for Hermione and my's vacation in France.