A/N – Yes, I'm sure the first chapter has got you very confused, but that was the idea lol. This chapter has Sev in it, and even more weird things happen. Enjoy!

Disclaimer – I don't own Harry Potter, the characters, etc etc.

Italics used to show dreams, flashbacks, thoughts, etc.

Embarrassing Moments

Hermione had decided to skip breakfast. She didn't feel like speaking to anyone, or hungry at all for that matter. She had taken an extra long shower and was now digging in the cabinet for some of Parvati's make-up. Yes, Hermione Granger was going to use make-up for the first time in her life (and probably the last).

She gave a discontented sigh as she examined the ugly dark circles under her eyes. Hermione wasn't one to sleep in during summer vacation, but it was obvious she hadn't slept nearly enough. She couldn't remember the last time she had gotten a decent night's sleep. It must've been sometime near the end of 6th year. The nightmares had started the first week of vacation. At first they only occurred twice a week, and then every other night, and now once a night.

Hermione wasn't sure how she would cover the offending circles up, but she decided on some simple powder she had found. After applying some on her fingers, she spread it under her eyes. She groaned after discovering she had only succeeded in making herself look even more like a raccoon. This was definitely the last time she was using make-up. She wetted a washcloth and cleaned her face off. She poked her head out the door to look at the clock by her bed: 8:50. Great, class started in ten minutes. And not just any class: Potions class.

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"Hey Parvati! What's up with Hermione? She hasn't shown up yet and breakfast is nearly over." Harry looked at Parvati, waiting for his answer.

"Dunno, think she had trouble sleeping last night. Maybe she just decided to sleep in a bit?" Lavender suggested.

"Lavender!" Parvati hissed as she kicked Lavender's shin under the table. God, the girl could be so stupid.

"Oh, yeah…" Lavender whispered back.

"Um, is something wrong with you two?"

"No, 'course not!" Parvati plastered a fake grin on her face.

"So, about Hermione, is she okay? Did she have a nightmare or something?"

"Yeah! How did you know that, Harry?" Lavender blurted in complete surprise. Parvati sighed and rolled her eyes.

"Er, lucky guess I suppose."

"Wutsahternotmerdzeeav?" Ron finally spoke with a mouthful of scrambled eggs.

"Huh?"

Ron swallowed. "I said: what sort of nightmare did she have?"

Parvati once again kicked Lavender before she spilled the whole story about Draco and Snape.

"Oh um…you know…just your average nightmare, it's not like we know what it was about or anything." Parvati gave a nervous laugh.

"Okay. Well, we've only got ten minutes before class. We better go get Hermione. You guys wanna come with us? We can't go in your dorm anyway," Harry said.

"K," both Lavender and Parvati said as the four stood up to leave.

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Hermione had just slipped her blouse over her head when there was a knock on the bathroom door.

"Yo 'Mione, it's us!"

"Obviously," she muttered while pulling on her stockings.

"You DO realise there's five minutes left till class, right?"

Her eyes grew wide. Oooh shit! I haven't even brushed my hair.

"Alright, just gimme a second."

She grabbed her giant comb off the counter and ran it hurriedly through her hair, yelping every time she hit a tangle (of which there were many). She grabbed a shoe off the floor and shoved it on her foot, glancing wildly around for the other one.

Lavender and Parvati gasped as they watched Hermione burst from the bathroom, looking like she had just gotten off a mach-speed roller coaster. Parvati rushed forward and threw Hermione's robe over her shoulders.

"WHERE IS MY SHOE?"

The three of them dug around the room, finally finding the lost shoe under Lavender's bed. Hermione snatched it from her and all but broke her foot putting it on.

"Okay, let's go!" Hermione commanded as she forcefully pushed the other two out the door and down the stairs. Harry and Ron were at the bottom waiting. Their mouths dropped open when they saw Hermione.

"Hermione, is that some animal on your head? You look like you've been hit by a bus." Ron gaped at her.

"Nice to see you too, Ron," she replied with a glare.

"Sorry to end the fun, but we've really gotta head to class now," Harry reminded them.

And with that, they darted out the portrait and sprinted towards the dungeons.

"Please…do remind me…why it's so necessary…for me…to take…Potions!" Ron managed through much panting.

"Because, Ronald, you want to be an Auror, which requires much training in Potions and Defence Against the Dark Arts," Hermione huffed all in one breath.

"Whatever…"

"Just shut up Ron, you'll run faster."

The five of them flew through the door and landed in their seats just as the enchanted bell sounded throughout the castle. Professor Snape walked briskly into the room and proceeded to give them instructions for the potion they were making that day. Just like that.

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He sat at his desk at the front of the room, watching her with quiet interest. He had always been watching her, ever since the day she stepped into his classroom at the age of 11. She used to be so skinny, but now her full figure curved in all the right places. Her hair, which had been a very frizzy bush, now harboured sleek chocolate-coloured curls. But not today…she looks like she was just run through a carwash and then promptly electrocuted. He chuckled to himself. No matter, she was now a beautiful woman, and an impossibly brilliant one at that. She would no doubt get top scores on her NEWTS, matching those that he himself had gotten. She was so carefree and happy with her friends…I wonder how she'd feel if she knew how drastically her life will change after she graduates.

He watched in surprise as Hermione walked away from her lab table to sit down at her usual spot. Potter and Weasley both seemed to be asking her if she felt alright. He saw her nodding and shooing them back to their potion. He simply smirked as he noticed the two dunderheads fumbling with the ingredients. They were hopeless without Hermione.

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God, I'm so tired and I can't even concentrate. Maybe I'll just sit down for a bit…Snape'll be pissed…oh well!

Hermione wandered over to her seat and plopped down. She rested her chin in her hands and stared straight ahead. She gave an exasperated sigh as she saw Harry and Ron coming over. After telling them she felt fine, she went back to her daydreaming.

Okay, I just need to think about this. These dreams are going to ruin me if they keep up. I guess I could talk to someone about them, like maybe Professor McGonagall? OH MY GOD! I just caught Snape staring at me again! And I looked him right in the eye just then, how embarrassing. Why is he always staring at me? I thought he hated me anyway. And why hasn't he given me detention yet?

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Ah shit, she just caught me staring at her. Now she looks plain confused…probably wondering why she hasn't gotten detention yet.

Snape had quickly averted his eyes from Hermione's, and they had now fallen upon Draco Malfoy. He was standing with his back against the wall, arms crossed and looking positively pissed about something. Crabbe and Goyle were doing their best to make the potion, which wasn't saying much. It had begun spewing all over and was burning holes in the floor.

Hmmm, funny, the two people neglecting their lab had to be those two…this should make an interesting pair.

"Granger! Malfoy!" he barked.

Every head in the room turned to look at him, but upon seeing his nasty glare, they all went back to their work. Except for Hermione and Draco of course.

"Since the two of you are finding it so incredibly difficult to complete the lab with your current partners, why don't you finish it together?"

Hermione and Draco had similar reactions: they both stared at Snape with their mouths open and then shot each other dirty looks across the room.

"Well, what are you two waiting for? Get to work!" he bellowed.

At this last outburst, Hermione jumped up from her seat and looked expectantly at Draco. Realizing he wouldn't be the gentleman and come to her, she picked up her things and stormed across the room to stand directly in front of him. They stood in silence for awhile, Hermione still glaring and Draco with his signature smirk. He was the first to break the silence.

"Don't take this the wrong way Mudblood, but I'd rather have an all-out snog session with little Weaselette than be your lab partner."

"Never fear, Mr. Pureblood Asshole of the Year! I was thinking along the same lines, although not with Ginny Weasley of course. You could substitute Crabbe…or Goyle for that matter, as both are equally repulsive."

Hermione paused and waited for his likely response, but it never came. He merely studied her for a moment and then started laughing. She's got a sense of humour after all!

"Ah, well it seems as though we've come to an understanding," Hermione said as she offered her hand for a shake.

"Don't touch me!" he spat.

"Fine then. Let's just get this damn lab over with!"

"My sentiments exactly."

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Snape had watched this whole scene from the safety of his desk. He couldn't believe they were able to actually agree on something for once. And they haven't killed each other yet, don't forget that. Good thing, they would need to be able to work as a team in the future, although by then they probably wouldn't hate each other nearly as much.

They had been working for a whole half hour when things took a turn for the worse. Snape heard their voices rising, and in seconds he could hear everything being said. All students in the class were focused in on the shouting Draco and Hermione.

"LOOK MALFOY, I KNOW YOU HATE ME, BUT JUST BECAUSE YOUR MOTHER DIED THIS SUMMER DOESN'T MEAN YOU HAVE TO TAKE IT OUT ON ME AND RUIN OUR POTION!"

Draco couldn't believe this. She had stepped too far over the line. How could she have the nerve to bring up his dead mother when she didn't even know the half of it? How his own father had used the killing curse on her just because she loved another? Even though it wasn't her fault she was forced into a marriage?

"You mind your own damn business, Granger," he hissed, barely above a whisper. He could feel the anger of three months boiling within him, all ready to come out at once. His hand was raised in the air; Hermione cringed. An eerie wind rushed through the dungeon room. The candles flickered and then burned out. The temperature seemed to drop twenty degrees. He began to lower his hand; he couldn't do it. As much as he had wanted to hit the girl, something was holding him back. He didn't know what, but he couldn't explain it even to himself. Before another thought entered his mind, he again raised his hand and rammed it into their cauldron. It crashed onto the floor, spilling all of its contents. With one last hard look at Hermione, he turned and stormed from the room, leaving everyone in shocked silence.

Hermione didn't seem to know her left from her right. She stared at the cauldron on the ground before whispering, "Professor?" It came out as a pathetic whimper.

"Hold on Miss Granger, I'll get that for you," he replied as he came swooping down the aisle. Why isn't he even mad?

From there, it all seemed to move in slow motion. Hermione turned around to face Professor Snape. As she did, she slipped on the spilled potion, flying backwards. Her right foot latched around his left leg, bringing him toppling down on top of her. Not the best position for a professor to be in. He had put his arms on either side of her head to break his fall, thankful he hadn't crushed the girl. They were now staring into the depths of each other's eyes. Her eyes were wide and full of fear.

Hermione felt the temperature suddenly go up again. His eyes…were so dark and mysterious. His scent was unidentifiable, yet suited him perfectly. His muscles felt hard and toned as they pressed against her body. He leaned down farther before standing up, placing his mouth right next to her ear.

"Terribly sorry, Miss Granger," he whispered.

His warm breath on her sent shivers up her spine. She felt a blush spread to her cheeks.

She's blushing! She looks so beautiful when she blushes. Oh lord! NOW isn't a good time for this.

Hermione opened her mouth in surprise as she felt something poking her in the thigh. In the next second, Professor Snape had propelled himself off the ground, and instead of helping her up, had run straight to his private chambers with his robes pulled tightly around him. The rest of the students burst out laughing.

"Good going, Hermione! Looks like we get out early today," Ron said, offering her his hand.

"Gee thanks, Ron. Aren't I the special one?" She carefully straightened her robe.

"Are you okay, Hermione?" Harry inquired, looking sincerely sorry for her.

"Fine, Harry, no worries."

He gave her a quick hug.

"Well, we're going up to the common room until it's time for lunch. Coming?"

"Yeah, I will in a few minutes, I just want to leave a note for Professor Snape, apologise for all this mess. You two go on without me."

"Oh please, Hermione, I think you've done enough for one day," Ron snorted.

"Well maybe…but I can at least thank him for not giving me detention for the rest of my life."

Harry and Ron both laughed at that and waved bye to Hermione as they walked out the door.

And now for my note.