A/N

sorry this is a little late... caught up in the back-to-full-time-education rush, know how it is?! again, there is very little that is funny in this chapter but I had to do it to move the story along (yes, there is a plot!!). thanks anyone who is still bothering to read this, and especially those of you who reviewed!

Chapter Seven: Decisions and Inner Musings

Severus Snape sat in his dark living room, silently. It had been a week since the Head Girls' first detention and still his eye wasn't back to normal. Oh, if there was one thing he couldn't stand it was being humiliated! And yet, he couldn't find it in his heart to hate the girl as he should. Gods, quite the opposite...

He gripped his firewhiskey tighter and took a long gulp, though he was at least half way to being completely intoxicated already. If she wasn't a student he would gladly have taken her after the first time she kissed him – but no, it wasn't to be. He would have to wait. Funny, how all his self-control went out the window around her.

The last glowing embers in the hearth had completely died now, so he got up slowly and felt his way to the bedroom. He needed to get a grip on himself – Hermione had noticed more than once his reaction to her teasings. Oh, one day he would show her what it meant to mess with the Potions Master...

Hermione lay very still on her bed, stroking Crookshanks' fur absently and waiting for sleep to come. She knew she had been neglecting her revision for the last month or two, but, frankly, she didn't give a damn. For the first time in her life, she felt in control, pretty and popular. She had learned to love herself (and Snape) and it was wonderful.

She would not embarrass the man further, though, she vowed, amusing as it was. She would tell Ron to change the statements. She would still stand up to her professor, yes, but she didn't need to be unnecessarily rude. That was only being like him, and no one in their right mind would want that.

After all, she wanted him to be interested in her at Graduation, didn't she? No guy likes a girl who goes out of her way to humiliate him, she mused. And he was pissed enough at her as it was. Oh Severus, she thought, Graduation really can't come soon enough in some ways. Little did she know, a certain sallow-skinned professor at that exact second was thinking the same thing – even more than he usually did at this time of year.

Hermione, Harry, Ron and Ginny made their way down to breakfast the next morning, disheartened. The dares were starting to get very boring. And now, Ron thought, he wasn't even allowed to ridicule Snape! But Gryffindor did need some points at the end of the year, they supposed, despite the pact.

"You might think your dare's bad, Harry," Ginny mused, "But I reckon Hermione's is ten times worse. Just be thankful Malfoy didn't think it'd be funny to make you snog Snape." Harry shuddered at the thought, and Hermione blushed. She would gladly do a lot more than just kiss the git.

"I know, I know..." the messy-haired boy replied, kissing her. They had been an item since just before Christmas, and were really enjoying themselves.

"Oh you two, get a room," Ron chided, looking disgusted. Hermione rolled her eyes – the boy could be so overprotective sometimes. They headed through the doors to the Great Hall.

"Hey, Mione, you alright?" asked Ginny a moment later. "You look funny. Your eyes are all glazed over, and you've never blushed so much before."

"Oh Gins," the Head Girl said, "I swear I'll tell you soon enough, just not now. Privately." The redhead turned away, apparently satisfied.

That Wednesday, Dumbledore sat in his office, thinking. This animal thing was getting rather out of hand. Alright, a couple of students could take NEWTs over the summer, but not half a dozen! It would mean so much extra work for him, apart form anything else. And he doubted parents would be happy. He definitely needed to make sure people obeyed the rules of this game from now on.

"Minerva McGonagall's chambers," he said, sticking his head into the fireplace.

Soon, an annoyed McGonagall and a downright angry Snape were sitting in the office with him.

"You know my thoughts on the matter, Albus, so why you insist on asking my opinion again I'm sure I don't know."

Dumbledore sighed, wishing his Potions teacher could provide slightly more amiable company once in a while.

"I must admit, I agree with Severus on this one," put in McGonagall. "You've brought this upon yourself, Albus. You should have questioned those twins a lot more on the matter."

The headmaster did what he always did in uncomfortable situations: twinkled.

"I will notify the students that the failure to perform their dares will result in serious punishment from me. It will at least prevent any more from turning – I hope. As for the ones already in animal form, you know very well there's nothing I can do. The magic is simply unbreakable – that's all there is to it." His colleagues sighed, annoyed beyond belief.

"So you mean to say I have to put up with that insufferable girl having her thumb stuck in her mouth all lesson, every lesson? And Longbottom telling me he's invented Veritaserum – actually, scratch that, that's fairly humorous..."

"Pardon me, Severus," said McGonagall, "But I have to accept essays covered in lovehearts every week." the Potions Master snorted and wondered what the Head of Gryffindor would think if he mentioned what Hermione did to him before every class. Severus was well aware the Head Girl was Minerva's favourite student. And if the woman ever found out what his reaction to those times were, she would have his guts for garters, as the saying went.

Silence reigned for a few minutes, before there was a rather loud tap on the window (a pane of which promptly smashed) and a large, brightly coloured parrot flopped unceremoniously onto the desk. A note reading:

I am Ernie Macmillan was attached to it's leg.

Snape's twitch returned twofold and he screamed (rather girlishly, it has to be admitted) in anguish before fleeing the room to return to the safety of the dungeons.

Minerva and Albus shared a knowing look.

"I think the man's finally lost it..." both were still muttering some minutes after.

Hermione turned to the redhead beside her.

"Well," she began slowly.

"Spit it out," said Ginny.

"Ok... I, umm... I fancy Professor Snape..." she said it very fast, as if hoping her friend wouldn't hear her.

"What?!" Ginny looked stunned. Fairly obviously, she had heard.

A/N

sorry again for the seemingly pointless-ness of that. but I needed to cement Snape's feeling for Hermione so it didn't seem strange when I throw them in a relationship together. (ok, so im putting off writing the romance for as long as possible – ill need a lot of encouragement, hint, hint so id be pleased if you could drop in a review... thanks guys.

love, ss13 xxx