DISCLAIMER:

Everybody knows that the HP-characters belong to JK Rowling, and not to me.
I'm not making any money writing this story.

I want to thank everybody for reading and reviewing my story.
I hope you'll enjoy the next chapter!

CHAPTER THIRTEEN: part one

The next morning Hermione couldn't stop thinking about the kiss. Did I kiss him or did he kiss me? Do I have to apologize to him? Will he get me expelled? She was almost certain that she was going to be expelled when a little voice inside her head said, didn't he kiss you back? She had forgotten all about that, he had kissed her back. Now she remained with the question of why he had kissed her back.

Hermione dreaded the coming of the afternoon, which made the morning pass by extremely fast. After lunch they had Potions. Professor Snape was in his usual foul mood. After the students had handed in their essays about the uses of flubberworms in potions, he began his lecture.

"Today you will be making Dorillamen, a sleeping potion that is quite easy to make." Snape stood behind Neville. "At least for most students," he continued.

Soon the students were setting up their workstations and gathering the ingredients that were required to make the sleeping potion. Hermione was setting up her cauldron next to Neville when Snape stood behind her and instructed her to follow him. He guided her towards the other end of the classroom, away from Neville, Harry and Ron.

"Let's see if Mister Longbottom succeeds to brew his potion without the help of Miss Granger," Snape said.

Hermione had almost finished her Dorillamen potion; it had a white color. She looked at Neville. His potion still looked yellow instead of white, which meant that he was horribly behind the rest of the class. Horribly behind, but he hadn't messed it up, yet. Neville looked at her and mouthed 'help me' to her. Hermione quickly looked to make sure that Snape wasn't watching them. Then, when the coast was clear, she gestured to him which ingredients had to be added next.

Neville was about to add three lice hairs in his potion, instead of the two that were required. Hermione saw this and started to cough in order to get his attention. Quickly Neville looked up, and Hermione held up two fingers.

"Miss Granger," a voice behind her said, "I have told you repeatedly not to help Mr. Longbottom. Yet, after seven years, you are still helping him."

The whole class was watching now, wondering how many points he would deduct from Gryffindor. Harry and Ron wondered if she would get another detention for this, and for how long. Instead of speaking, Professor Snape strode to his desk and wrote something down. Dean Thomas, who was standing in the front of the classroom tried to look at the parchment but Snape had already put it in one of his desk drawers. He noticed that the Gryffindors were still watching him and ordered them to go back to work.

At the end of the class he handed Hermione the piece of parchment. It was her essay. Written on it was her grade. She had gotten a D, which stood for Dreadful. For the first time in her seven years at Hogwarts Hermione had gotten a D. Snape didn't even read her essay, after all the extra research she had done.

"I have given you enough warnings Miss Granger," Professor Snape said sleekly. "Every time you help Mr. Longbottom, you shall receive a D, starting today." He smirked when Hermione's eyes widened in shock.

Finally, after Potions ended, the Gryffindors had Defense Against the Dark Arts. Professor Harper looked paler then ever; her eyes were bloodshot. Instead of finding a seat in the front, Hermione sat down at the back of the class. Somehow she felt safer when there was a larger distance between her and her teacher.

It was hard for Hermione to focus on the lesson. Professor Harper was telling them about the Polrecho, a creature that looked somewhat like a deformed chicken.

"Why does she always show us magical creatures?" Parvati asked Lavender while Professor Harper was showing Ron how to hold his wand properly.

"You're right," Lavender answered. "She loves those things so much, she should marry Hagrid."

The two girls started to giggle causing Hermione to regret that she had decided to sit in the back. After two hours of hearing Lavender and Parvati giggle about boys, classes and the latest gossip, Hermione was pleased that she could leave the classroom. She was just about to walk out of the classroom when Neville approached her.

"Hermione, can I ask you something?" he asked her quietly.

"Of course you can," Hermione said.

Neville asked Hermione if she would help him with his Potions homework. She agreed and helped him with his essay until dinner started, all the while hoping that Professor Snape wouldn't find out. The last thing Hermione needed was another D in potions.

"I'm sorry Hermione," Neville suddenly said when they were discussing the uses of goat milk in painkilling potions.

"Sorry? For what?" Hermione asked confused.

"It's my fault that you got a D in potions today," he said.

"It's not your fault Neville," Hermione said softly. "You know how Snape is."

Neville nodded. "Maybe you shouldn't help me anymore in class," he decided.

Hermione didn't answer but just stared at his essay.

"So, who's taking you to the Christmas Ball?" he asked, in order to change the subject.

"Nobody," Hermione answered. "Are you taking Lavender?" she asked him automatically.

"Why are you asking me that?" Neville asked her sharply.

The Head Girl confessed that Professor Harper had told her that she had once caught Neville and Lavender in the Astronomy Tower. But, it turned out that Lavender and Neville were not going together. Parvati had set up a double date for her and Lavender, without asking her best friend first. They were going with two Hufflepuffs. Hermione could tell that Neville was a bit jealous, especially since he didn't know which Hufflepuffs they were. After talking about the ball a while, Neville and Hermione decided to go together. That way they both had a date. Hermione was relieved that she didn't have to go alone after the fight with Damien, and Neville was relieved that he didn't have to go without a date.

The evening came soon, and it was time for Hermione's detention. She walked to the dungeons at a slower speed then usual. Despite her lingering pace, it didn't take her long to arrive. Standing in front of Snape's classroom, Hermione found it hard to breath. She raised her hand and knocked on the door. Following Snape's barked command to enter, Hermione opened the door and went inside the classroom. Professor Snape behaved like he always did. He told her what to do and warned her not to use magic. For her detention, she had to scrub cauldrons as usual.

At the end of her detention Snape still hadn't mentioned their kiss and Hermione was grateful for that, but it also concerned her. Did he expect her to make an apology?

"Miss Granger, you can go now," Snape told her as she finished the last cauldron.

Long before curfew Hermione was back in her dormitory. She did her homework and, for the first time in months, she went to bed early. The following days, she was sent back to her dormitory early when she didn't have to patrol the halls. Hermione was getting used to that routine and almost forgot about the recent events.

This changed when Damien walked into the classroom one evening during one of her detentions. He handed Professor Snape an essay, which appeared to be his punishment for talking in class. Hermione was wondering why she couldn't have a punishment like that when she felt like she was being watched. She glanced around and saw Damien looking suspiciously at Snape and her. Does he know what happened between Snape and me? she wondered. Of course not, it's not like he was there!

She wasn't the only one who noticed Damien's strange looks; Snape had noticed them too. He sent Damien back to his dorm and told Hermione to abandon her scrubbing and sit down. Nervously Hermione sat down across from the Potions Master, fidgeting with her hands. Snape was also looking nervous. He cleared his throat.

"Miss Granger, we need to talk about what happened a while ago."

Hermione nodded, her eyes scanning the room, avoiding Snape. Well, this is it. I might as well just get it over with, she thought taking a deep breath. Crossing her arms, she faced him.

"I apologize for kissing you," they said simultaneously.

It took a minute before Hermione realized what had happened. He apologized to me? He thinks he kissed me first she thought. An uncomfortable silence filled the room.

"Yes well, just get back to work then," Professor Snape said.

The Head Girl started to clean the cauldrons again. While she was scrubbing, Hermione started to think about what had just occurred. Professor Snape thinks he kissed me. Does this mean that he actually wanted to kiss me? The sponge she was holding slipped out of her hand, into the cauldron, but Hermione didn't notice. Did he want to kiss her?

"Is there a problem, Miss Granger?"

Hermione turned around to find the Potions Master standing behind her, keeping a relatively large distance between them.

With all the courage she possessed Hermione took a step forward, closed her eyes, and kissed her teacher again. Well, at least this time we both know who started it, she thought. It took a few seconds before he returned the kiss. This time it wasn't a demanding kiss, but a gentle one, and, for a moment, they forgot the world around them.

"Severus, I would like to have a word with you," a familiar voice behind them said.

Hermione and Snape let go of each other and looked towards the door. Before them stood a smiling Albus Dumbledore his eyes twinkling.


The second part of this chapter will be uploaded next week!


Evenwarrior1
LOL, I'm sorry. I would have written more if I had the time.
But now my exams are over, I have more time to write my fic.

Auditoriumnazi
Oh come on….as if you didn't know it was going to happen ;-)

Nikita
Thanks……sorry for the cliffy.
I guess I have a lot of cliffy's because I watch too many soaps LOL.

Joey Eff
So, is that a sign that you like it or not????

MetalPanic
I know what you mean with those stories.
They kiss, confess their everlasting love to each other, get married and Hermione gets pregnant all in one chapter.
Thanks for your comment about the thoughts and emotions, I'll try to remember it when I'm writing.

Luthein
LOL, I know the Football is war is a term that a lot of people use.
That's why it was so right to have a wizard say it about Quidditch.

Tabii
Thanks, I hope you like this one as well.

Amanda
Thank you so much.