A/N Thanks to all that have reviewed so far.
Hermione hesitated at the top of the steps. She was facing her 'meeting' with him with some trepidation. She wasn't quite sure how she was going to explain that her feelings of doubt were because of some stupid, childish idiot.
Snape was busy storming around his sitting room and trying not to throw something in frustration when he heard her timid knock at his portrait. "Enter" he responded trying to get himself under control.
She entered his sitting room and knew by the look on his face that this was not going to be easy. How was she going to explain to him that in two years she hadn't been able to have a relationship because some idiot had cheated on her in University and totally broken her heart? Moreover, that she was afraid it would happen again.
He said "Tea, Miss Granger?" a little too forcefully.
"Severus, stop!" She snapped at him.
He turned, shocked at her tone.
"Look, I know, I've been hot and cold with you. It's not your fault that I'm being a complete moron." Hermione sat down on the chair. "You just don't understand and I haven't told you everything, because I didn't think things would go quite so fast."
Severus sat in the chair across from her. "I'm listening, Hermione." He said softly.
She sighed. "Look, there was this guy that I thought I was totally in love with several years ago. I thought we were going to get married. Well, I walked into my dorm room one day and imagine my surprise to see him snogging my roommate. Ever since then, I've had trouble with commitment."
"Surely, Hermione, you are not letting experiences with some hormonal college student cloud your judgment when it comes to adult relationships." Severus said a little too sharply.
"Oh see, I knew you wouldn't understand. Well, Severus, I hope we can still work together." She said as she started to stand up.
"Oh do sit down Hermione." Severus said to her. "I have never been cheated on, but I have had rough endings to relationships as well." He went on to tell her about Jane Abbott.
"Oh, well, I am so sorry that she left you for her career." Hermione took his hand in hers.
He thought about pulling away then realized that this was what she had been looking for when she had told him her story. "Well, it looks like we'll have to come to some understanding then if we are going to attempt any sort of romance between us, hadn't we, Miss Granger?"
She giggled, "Well, if you are going to put it that way. I promise not to ditch you for my career if you promise not to snog another woman."
He gave her a rare smile. "Done."
They both sighed inwardly relieved. "Well, would you like to spend some time together or do you have papers to grade Hermione?" Snape asked her.
She gave him a look of regret, "Unfortunately with the end of term coming up, I have things that I need to work on today. Maybe you can escort me to dinner?" She said hopefully.
"I wouldn't miss it for the world." He replied.
After she left his quarters, he rolled his eyes. Why are kids such jerks when it comes to love? He shouldn't have to deal with the stupidity of a prior relationship when he was ready to take up with a woman. For that matter, why can't women get past the stupid ones. He was certainly none the worse for wear after being ditched for a 'better opportunity.'
Hermione felt better walking back to her sitting room. She was glad to have gotten her 'fear' off her chest. Okay, so he wasn't the most understanding man in the world, but she had always known that.
Minerva caught her daydreaming on the way back to her rooms. "Well, how'd it go?" She asked Hermione.
"Well, I think we've come to an understanding." Hermione replied, slightly dazed.
"Well, my dear, just make sure you don't hurt him or you will have to answer to Albus and myself." Minerva gently reminded her.
"Oh, I will most certainly try not to Minerva." Hermione smiled at her.
The next few days passed by rather quickly. They didn't really get a chance to catch up with each other until the next Friday night. He caught her at dinner and said, "Would you like to play tonight Hermione?"
She said, "I would love to."
They sat in companionable silence as the chess pieces did their thing. As the game looked to be wrapping up, he knew he didn't want the evening to end just yet. "Would you care to take a stroll down to the lake with me?" He inquired.
She looked at him, knowing that this was the step. "Yes, I think that I would." She said quietly.
They got up and without looking at any of the other staff, left the room.
They walked out the doors and across the grounds. As they walked around the lake, the moon came out from behind a cloud and shone down on them. Severus stopped and turned and took her hands in his. She looked up at him expectantly, knowing what was coming.
He leaned down into her and gently took her lips with his. She responded with a slight moan, feeling that all was right with the world as his tongue entered her mouth. She kissed him back passionately. They forgot where they were until they heard a slight cough and a muttered "I ought not to have done that."
They pulled apart and saw Hagrid's retreating back. Snape looked at her and said rather smoothly, "I'm glad that he did, or I may have been tempted to go farther than just a kiss."
Hermione smiled weakly. "I don't think I'm quite ready to go that far yet Professor Snape. A kiss is enough for now."
He took her hand in his and they continued their trek back around the lake and back towards the castle. "What are your plans for tomorrow?" He asked.
She said, "I'm going home to my parents. Tomorrow is my mother's birthday and we always have a big party for her. Would you like to come?" She knew it was unlikely that he would have plans over the weekend.
He hesitated, wondering if he was really ready to meet her muggle parents and celebrate an obviously family occasion. "Well, I suppose it could be...fun?" He stumbled.
She laughed. "I cannot see you having fun at my parents house, I just can't. She continued to laugh.
"Yes, well, then why did you ask me." He looked at her a little perplexed.
"Oh that's not what I meant at all. I just was commenting on your choice of words Severus." She continued to giggle.
"Well, I don't find it funny!" He tried to give her a dark look, which sent her off again into gales of laughter.
"Okay, Okay!" She took a couple of gasping breaths. "I meant I can't see you having fun among a bunch of muggles, whom you can't hex into oblivion if they would try your patience, which doesn't take very much you know." She finished rather quickly.
"For your sake, I will try Hermione." He said quietly.
She smiled. She leaned up and kissed his lips gently. "Thank you."
They finished their walk around the lake. He escorted her to the portrait before her room and gently leaned down and left her a lingering, yet full of promise, kiss. "Good night Hermione."
"Good night Severus. I'll see you in the morning" and with that she slipped into her room.
He watched her go and gave a rare smile as he walked away.
Hermione hesitated at the top of the steps. She was facing her 'meeting' with him with some trepidation. She wasn't quite sure how she was going to explain that her feelings of doubt were because of some stupid, childish idiot.
Snape was busy storming around his sitting room and trying not to throw something in frustration when he heard her timid knock at his portrait. "Enter" he responded trying to get himself under control.
She entered his sitting room and knew by the look on his face that this was not going to be easy. How was she going to explain to him that in two years she hadn't been able to have a relationship because some idiot had cheated on her in University and totally broken her heart? Moreover, that she was afraid it would happen again.
He said "Tea, Miss Granger?" a little too forcefully.
"Severus, stop!" She snapped at him.
He turned, shocked at her tone.
"Look, I know, I've been hot and cold with you. It's not your fault that I'm being a complete moron." Hermione sat down on the chair. "You just don't understand and I haven't told you everything, because I didn't think things would go quite so fast."
Severus sat in the chair across from her. "I'm listening, Hermione." He said softly.
She sighed. "Look, there was this guy that I thought I was totally in love with several years ago. I thought we were going to get married. Well, I walked into my dorm room one day and imagine my surprise to see him snogging my roommate. Ever since then, I've had trouble with commitment."
"Surely, Hermione, you are not letting experiences with some hormonal college student cloud your judgment when it comes to adult relationships." Severus said a little too sharply.
"Oh see, I knew you wouldn't understand. Well, Severus, I hope we can still work together." She said as she started to stand up.
"Oh do sit down Hermione." Severus said to her. "I have never been cheated on, but I have had rough endings to relationships as well." He went on to tell her about Jane Abbott.
"Oh, well, I am so sorry that she left you for her career." Hermione took his hand in hers.
He thought about pulling away then realized that this was what she had been looking for when she had told him her story. "Well, it looks like we'll have to come to some understanding then if we are going to attempt any sort of romance between us, hadn't we, Miss Granger?"
She giggled, "Well, if you are going to put it that way. I promise not to ditch you for my career if you promise not to snog another woman."
He gave her a rare smile. "Done."
They both sighed inwardly relieved. "Well, would you like to spend some time together or do you have papers to grade Hermione?" Snape asked her.
She gave him a look of regret, "Unfortunately with the end of term coming up, I have things that I need to work on today. Maybe you can escort me to dinner?" She said hopefully.
"I wouldn't miss it for the world." He replied.
After she left his quarters, he rolled his eyes. Why are kids such jerks when it comes to love? He shouldn't have to deal with the stupidity of a prior relationship when he was ready to take up with a woman. For that matter, why can't women get past the stupid ones. He was certainly none the worse for wear after being ditched for a 'better opportunity.'
Hermione felt better walking back to her sitting room. She was glad to have gotten her 'fear' off her chest. Okay, so he wasn't the most understanding man in the world, but she had always known that.
Minerva caught her daydreaming on the way back to her rooms. "Well, how'd it go?" She asked Hermione.
"Well, I think we've come to an understanding." Hermione replied, slightly dazed.
"Well, my dear, just make sure you don't hurt him or you will have to answer to Albus and myself." Minerva gently reminded her.
"Oh, I will most certainly try not to Minerva." Hermione smiled at her.
The next few days passed by rather quickly. They didn't really get a chance to catch up with each other until the next Friday night. He caught her at dinner and said, "Would you like to play tonight Hermione?"
She said, "I would love to."
They sat in companionable silence as the chess pieces did their thing. As the game looked to be wrapping up, he knew he didn't want the evening to end just yet. "Would you care to take a stroll down to the lake with me?" He inquired.
She looked at him, knowing that this was the step. "Yes, I think that I would." She said quietly.
They got up and without looking at any of the other staff, left the room.
They walked out the doors and across the grounds. As they walked around the lake, the moon came out from behind a cloud and shone down on them. Severus stopped and turned and took her hands in his. She looked up at him expectantly, knowing what was coming.
He leaned down into her and gently took her lips with his. She responded with a slight moan, feeling that all was right with the world as his tongue entered her mouth. She kissed him back passionately. They forgot where they were until they heard a slight cough and a muttered "I ought not to have done that."
They pulled apart and saw Hagrid's retreating back. Snape looked at her and said rather smoothly, "I'm glad that he did, or I may have been tempted to go farther than just a kiss."
Hermione smiled weakly. "I don't think I'm quite ready to go that far yet Professor Snape. A kiss is enough for now."
He took her hand in his and they continued their trek back around the lake and back towards the castle. "What are your plans for tomorrow?" He asked.
She said, "I'm going home to my parents. Tomorrow is my mother's birthday and we always have a big party for her. Would you like to come?" She knew it was unlikely that he would have plans over the weekend.
He hesitated, wondering if he was really ready to meet her muggle parents and celebrate an obviously family occasion. "Well, I suppose it could be...fun?" He stumbled.
She laughed. "I cannot see you having fun at my parents house, I just can't. She continued to laugh.
"Yes, well, then why did you ask me." He looked at her a little perplexed.
"Oh that's not what I meant at all. I just was commenting on your choice of words Severus." She continued to giggle.
"Well, I don't find it funny!" He tried to give her a dark look, which sent her off again into gales of laughter.
"Okay, Okay!" She took a couple of gasping breaths. "I meant I can't see you having fun among a bunch of muggles, whom you can't hex into oblivion if they would try your patience, which doesn't take very much you know." She finished rather quickly.
"For your sake, I will try Hermione." He said quietly.
She smiled. She leaned up and kissed his lips gently. "Thank you."
They finished their walk around the lake. He escorted her to the portrait before her room and gently leaned down and left her a lingering, yet full of promise, kiss. "Good night Hermione."
"Good night Severus. I'll see you in the morning" and with that she slipped into her room.
He watched her go and gave a rare smile as he walked away.