Two days later it was a Saturday night and Hermione was sitting with Ron, Harry and Ginny in the common room. Harry and Ron were playing chess and Hermione and Ginny were finishing off their homework, at least Ginny was.

Hermione had been brooding ever since the potions class incident, not least because it had spread around the school, but also because of how horrible Snape had been to her afterwards. No one had found out about the exact nature of his punishment, that would have been far too humiliating, but they knew something had happened. This had led to speculation and suggestive remarks were often been made about her and Professor Snape. Even though she had told everyone clearly and simply that he had merely lectured her about being more careful with her potions in future and then allowed her to clean up the mess with her wand. She daren't let Harry and Ron know the truth, for fear of them doing something that would get them into serious trouble. No, she had to sort this one out for herself, she was going to confront him, properly, tell him that she wouldn't put up with this sort of treatment. She was 18 for God's sake! Not 12!

Making up her mind, she decided she needed an excuse to get away for a while. Then it came to her, she'd make out that she was going down to the library for another book, that she'd say she'd forgotten to get earlier.

"Oh Damn!" she exclaimed making everyone look at her curiously, "I'm just going down to the library, I need another book, to help me finish this" she said hurriedly, hoping that Ginny would not offer to go with her. Luckily she didn't, she merely nodded, smiled and carried on with her homework. She was also relieved that Harry and Ron were too absorbed in their game to stop her and ask awkward questions.

Then she remembered something, she still had Professor Snape's robe hidden in her room; she could use it as an excuse to be there, at least to start with. Going upstairs she quickly retrieved it from under her bed and then sneaked down the stairs again, lingering at the bottom to see if her friends were watching. Seeing that they hadn't noticed, she crept out of the portrait hole and made her way down to the Slytherin dungeons.

She'd always hated coming down here at night, even if it did look the same as in the day, as there were no windows, but Hermione had worked herself up into such a temper as she walked along, that her fear had practically gone. Feeling that she was going to give him one of her best ear-bashing's; that often left Harry and Ron stumped for words, she smiled resolutely and went to knock on the door. She hesitated, as she the thought struck her, "no, I won't do him the courtesy of knocking, I'll just burst in, like he does!"

Getting out her wand she readied herself to blast open the door. She'd always been good at opening almost any door and now she was older and more experienced she had got even better. Building up the rage and righteous indignation inside, she took a deep breath and shouted out "Alomorah!"

The locked door burst open and Hermione strode inside, getting ready for her tirade. But what she saw when she got in there took the 'wind out of her sails' somewhat. Professor Snape was looking up in surprise from his desk, which was empty of it's usual clutter except for a book; which he had been reading and a glass of something bluish coloured. He had taken off his robe and jacket, under which he wore a high collared white shirt, the neck of which was now open and the sleeves had been rolled up.

"What do you think you are doing! Bursting into my office like this!" He snarled, getting up, walking round his desk, glaring at her

"I..I..I came to return this and.." she tried to speak and tell him what she thought of him, but the words wouldn't come, she was too stunned at how he looked. It was so strange to see him out of his usual black cloak. He cut a striking figure in the flickering candlelight, his black hair falling all over his face. Just then something else caught her attention; music. She looked around quickly to see where it was coming from, then found out. There was a doorway now, where before there had only been a cabinet full of bottles and vials. Beyond the doorway she could see the curtain hangings of a four poster bed.

"Well, you've brought it back. Now you can go!" he snapped

This ungrateful attitude made Hermione recover herself suddenly. Squaring-up and with a resolute look on her face she at last began her verbal assault.

"NO! I came here to tell you what I think of you and I'm going to do it!" she said, to which his only reaction was to raise his eyebrows slightly. Seeing the door still open she slammed it shut; she didn't want anyone else overhearing what she was about to say.

"What you did to me after potions on Thursday was despicable and degrading. There was absolutely no need for it! It was bad enough that I made such a complete fool out of myself, then you ordering me down to your office to take my clothes off! You wouldn't believe the suggestive remarks I've been getting! Then on top of all that you chose to play a trick on me to 'teach me a lesson'! More like you got some kind of thrill seeing me down on my knees scrubbing! You've got no right to punish me like a naughty child! I am an adult now and I expect to be treated like one!" she paused for breath and was annoyed to see his reaction, which instead of one of maybe at least an apologetic look was one of only mild interest, his arms folded up against his chest.

Then a twisted smile spread across his face when she had finished, then promptly disappeared, as he began to speak, "So, you think my treatment of you was unfair do you! I once witnessed for myself the damage that can be done by carelessness with potions and I can tell you the effects were quite horrendous! You must always be vigilant!ALWAYS! Lose concentration for a second and look at what can happen! You were lucky that it was fairly harmless potion, if it had been volatile and I hadn't been there.. who knows what could of happened! I don't care how old you are, you are never too old to be put in your place! You've got far too big for your boots Miss Granger, preaching to everyone and thinking you know everything, I thought a lesson in humility might do you good. To remind you, that you are just a mud-blood and need to be put in your proper place." As he finished this statement, the smile returned

Hermione was too stunned to speak for a moment and just stood there open mouthed; she was so surprised to hear such a personal attack, even from Snape.

"Me being a 'mudblood' didn't seem to stop you kissing me the other night, though did it!" Hermione snapped back at him, expecting a denial of all knowledge of the incident.

His smile faded for a while, but as he narrowed his eyes, the smile came back, making him look smug

"I think you'll find it was you who kissed me! Twice no less! You try to make out you are such a little Miss Perfect, who'd never do anything wrong, don't you, but I wonder how Weasley and Potter would feel if they found out what you'd done! They wouldn't be happy at all would they!" the smile turned into an evil grin.

Hermione was incensed, she strode over to him and throwing the robe down on the floor (which she had still been holding all this time) she launched another tirade at him

"You..you, absolute hypocrite! You stomp round this school like you own the place, metering out judgements on people like there's no tomorrow! As for calling me a mud-blood, as if it's somehow lowly and subordinate, well, I'm more powerful than a lot of your so called 'pure-bred' wizards and witches!" pausing for breath her eyes flicked down and she was momentarily distracted by the chest hair, that she could see sticking out of his open neckline. "As for the other night, I give you, that I did kiss you at first, but only so I could distract you and get away! I started it but you carried on kissing me and you forced me down on that desk so I couldn't get away!"

"There wasn't much forcing involved, you wanted it and you know it! I think you would have gone even further if those two hadn't come back when they did!" he replied, looking her up and down lasciviously.

"You arrogant pig! You think a lot of yourself don't you! I could just report you, you know and you would be out of here like that!" Hermione felt sure this would wipe the smile off his face, but it didn't.

Instead he moved closer to her and held her chin with one hand, his eyes flicking from side to side looking into hers. Hermione trembled at this touch and her belly started to clench with nerves, she knew she should move away but, she found herself not wanting to. There was something about him, his sheer physical presence, that made first years weak with fright. The way he got the better of her verbally; not many people could do that! Maybe that was what impressed her so much! His mind and his ability with language.

The tension in the air had increased, her breathing getting heavier, with her increasing body heat. As it was now quiet she could hear the music properly, it was soft classical music, the lilting melody filling the room. She listened to it for a while, surprised at him liking something that sounded so beautiful. All the time his unwavering gaze seeming to be searching her thoughts.Then he broke the silence

"So little Miss perfect' you'd love to know how it feels to be a 'bad girl' for a change would you? No one would be able to believe what the little bookworm they all thought they knew, really thinks about! That she's got shocking secret!" As he said this he got even closer, his nose almost touching hers.

"What shocking secret?" Hermione asked curiously in a nervous voice

"That you've got a crush on your Potions Professor!Don't try to deny it, look at you, trembling like a leaf at my touch! You can't believe all the feelings you're having can you! Well get used to it, because you're a woman, not a little girl anymore and believe me I've noticed. You're quite the beauty now aren't you? With a body to match!" As he said this his hands had slipped around the back of her head and tilting it up he whispered:

"We are like forbidden fruit to each other aren't we? And as you know, nothing ever tastes quite as sweet.." He kissed her at last. Hermione melted into it, feeling more excited than she had ever thought possible, but also great fear. Fear of what she was doing, fear of how she was feeling and most of all fear of what everyone would think of her if they found out. this made her want to pull away and to tell him no. But as she his tongue to entered her mouth, the rest of the world seemed to slip away and she didn't want the kiss to end. She didn't even struggle when he suddenly picked her up in his arms and carried her into his bedroom.