Disclaimer: Hello all not mine! Now back to the important stuff. Sorry for the long wait for this chapter. I hurt my shoulder a week ago and so I haven't been able to post. It's been written and everything but you know how things are. Thanks for the reviews, I'm glade you all like the story. Here's the long awaited second part of Calada Tower!

Final Test:

Calada Tower Part 2

"What do you think of me, Severus?"

"Excuse me?"

"What do you think of me?" Hermione repeated, her voice low and demanding. "I want to know how you feel about me.

"I find you a fine student and a hard worker," he replied.

"But I'm no longer your student," she leaned in closer to him and placed her hand on his chest.

"I don't believe you know what your doing, Hermione," he reached up and took hold of her hand. "I cannot allow you to continue whatever it is that you were planning on."

"And what do you think I have in mind?" she asked.

The potions master cleared his throat. "I haven't a clue," He tried to turn away from her but realized that she was too close for him to move without touching her. "I need to check on the potion. I don't want to mess it up."

Hermione back away, instantly feeling his lack of body heat. "Right," She said, disappointed. She returned to her seat.

Nothing was said for a while. Hermione kept her head down, while Severus couldn't bear to look at her. 'Was she coming on to me?' he asked himself. He shook his head. 'She wouldn't," The potion was complete before a word was spoken. Severus bottled three vials of it and handed them to Hermione. "Thank you," she whispered.

"You welcome," he murmured.

"You never answered my question."

"And what question would that be, Hermione."

"I really want to know what you think of me as a person. Not as a student or a professor. But how you think I really am."

"And what will you gain with that knowledge?" he asked.

"I don't know," she sighed. "The knowledge that you don't hate me and think me a know-it-all brat..."

"Why is it my opinion of you so important?" Hermione looked up at him.

"Because I want to know if you could..." she quickly covered her mouth. 'Oh no! I didn't mean to say that!'

"If I could what?"

"Never mind." she said quickly. She turned from him and headed towards the door.

She needed to leave. She had to get out of the room before she said something

she didn't want to.

"No," Severus headed her off before she got to the door. He took hold of her

wrist. "If I could what?"

"I can't tell you. You wouldn't understand." Hermione became very interested in her shoes. Severus cupped his hand under her chin and gently lifted it.

"Try me."

His hard face became soft. Hermione looked into his eyes and started laughing. Severus raised one of his eyes brows. "What's so funny?"

"You!" she choked out. Hermione was laughing so hard that she had to lean on him to help keep her standing.

"Care to tell me what it is about me you find so amusing."

"Your...your face...the look you gave me...it just...just..."

"Just what?" he asked annoyed.

"You have soot on your nose," she laughed.

"I have what?" he turned and looked at a mirror that was hanging on the wall. He did indeed have soot covering his nose. A slight smile formed on his lips. Severus looked back at Hermione who had calmed herself down. "Good to know that you weren't just laughing at me."

"Why would I do that?" she reached up and wiped his nose off with the end of her sleeve. Severus stopped her hand as it left his nose. "Sir?"

"What are we doing, Hermione?"

"Standing here, talking and..." she stopped.

"That's not what I meant." he stated. "What are you doing here with me."

"Because I want to be." she answered. "That and I can't get into my rooms." Severus let go of her hand.

"I don't think that was a coincidence," he murmured. "Come with me. I need to find something out." he took her hand again and led her out of the classroom. For the first time in his life he left his workstation in a complete mess.

He stopped her in front of her chambers. Once again the Maiden wasn't there. He knew she wouldn't be. Hermione kept an eye on him as he led her up the stairwells. He was taking her back to the tower. If a student saw the way they were acting, or worse another professor, they would think they were crazy. It was nearly two in the morning and they were wondering the halls. An amusing thought crossed Hermionie's mind. Good thing she was a teacher now or Severus would have deducted quite a few points from Gryffindor.

They reached the door that led to the tower. Severus directed Hermione to open the door. Once she did they were greeted by the glow of the moon once again. The light engulfed Hermione and shone off her hair like a heavenly glow. Severus looked upon her and noticed the way the moonlight made her eyes almost glow. He stepped out into the light. His skin, which was already pale, looked almost translucant. There was a humming sound coming from somewhere.

"Why did you bring me here?" Hermione asked, briskly rubbing her arms to keep warm.

Severus took off his robes and draped them over her shoulders.

"To test a theory."

"It's cold up here," she complained. Once again, Severus put his arms around her. Hermione leaned in closer to his warmth.

"What are you feeling, right now?" he asked.

"Warm." she answered, pulling Severus closer.

"Anything else?"

"Safe and without pain." she gasped. She didn't mean to say that out loud. Hermione tired to pull away from him but he held on to her as if she would vanish.

"Anything else?"

"At peace." she stopped pulling away. 'What is he getting at?'

"Albus you idiot!" he said aloud. "How could you do this?" If not for the fact that she was extremely comfortable Hermione would have tired to pull away again.

"What did he do this time?" she asked looking up at him.

"Legend has it that this tower holds the power to bind any two people together forever. Until their souls die. So they can find one and other in their next lives."

"Why would...why would it...?"

"Albus showed me this tower years ago. He never brought me to it but told me it wasn't just a legend that it was real." Severus took his eyes from Hermione's and looked out into the night sky. "He warned me that when the time came I would see it myself. I wondered the castle one summer and ended up here. I spent my free time up here, thinking."

"Why, then, did you bring me here?"

"I don't know. My feet brought us here, earlier. Something pulled me here with you. Hermione, I...I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"When I kissed you, I sealed your soul's fate."

"Then I'm at as much blame as you are. I kissed you back." Hermione reach up behind his neck and pulled him down.

"How do you feel about me?" he asked.

"I...I think I love you." she answered.

"I think I love you, too."

For all of you who want to know, Yesterday (9/27/04) was my 22nd birthday! I hope to have a new chapter up soon, but I can't tell you when that will be. This hurts just typing the A/N. Later

Raven Night Wing