Disclaimer: I DON"T OWN THIS..unfortunetly

Chapter 2

Severus Snape couldn't sleep..he usually couldn't. He had tried many things charms and spells but he never liked the was he felt the morning after. He tried warm milk, warm alcohol everything, even muggle sleep medication. The only thing that ever could make him fall asleep was a good long walk...so he went for one...not since his days as a death eater could he sleep..the anxiety that pulsed threw his veins was enough to keep anyone up for the rest of their lives. Snape got out of bed after being in it for 20 minutes..he pulled on his robes and picked up his wand and exited his bedroom..he entered his library, the house elves had came and left in the 20 minutes that he was in bed for they had cleaned up the glass that once held red wine and put fresh wood into his fire. He exited his library and headed down that hall. He sighed.. He was lonely...not in the sense that he needed constant companionship or company he just wished someone could understand him..why he did what he did, why he loved what he loved..his heart had harden over the years...first due to James Potter and his entourage, then from being a death eater..he never could share his live with anyone..not that many people had wanted to share it with theirs. There had been someone once, a Ranveclaw in his seventh year...she the smartest person he had ever meant..next to miss Granger but he would never admit that. Her name was Bridget, she came over from Ireland to study at Hogwarts, she had hair like Miss Granger's, he thought to him self, but it was red like the sun's fire. She had came from a long line of witches and wizards going back to the Druids priest of her native land. She had eyes as green as a forest and sung like a bird. They never spoken to one another until their first day in seventh year.. He had bumped into her causing him to drop his books and spill his ink..most people laughed..yes even James potter was there...but she didn't she apologised and helped him pick up his books and did a cleaning charm for the ink..she smiled at him and apologised again then headed off with her friends. It was the first time in his life that he was left breathless. His head spun for a week after that. One night before curfew he went up to the astronomy town to be alone...but he wasn't she was there. He didn't go up to her, he thought that she was just being nice..

"How could a girl that beautiful ever like me" he reminisced. But she saw him and came over.

"Hi, I'm Bridget I don't know your name, may I ask what it is "

he remembered looking dumbfounded at her unable to speak for a few moments because his mouth went so dry.

"Umm.umm.."

"Umm? What kinda name is that?" she said jokingly

'It's Severus.."

" YOUR SEVERUS SNAPE? OH I've heard so much about you..how your good at potions and how you knew more in your first year then most seventh years!"

Severus could remember how hot his face felt...it was the first time he was ever complemented by a fellow student..he didn't know what to say.

He went up to the austromancy towner every night after that...hoping to see her but was secretly relieved when she wasn't there..it took 2 weeks for her to arrive agin..that night he would never forget...

Unfortunately Snape's train of thought was ended by bumping into someone...it was, as he found out..Miss Granger...

Hermione sat on the sound in the silence that followed her bumping. The other person didn't seem to move either..it sounded like Snape, she was sure of it but why was he not telling her off

"Who's there" said the silky voice..she never noticed how soft it really sounded with out having the burning stare of the eyes that belonged to the same man.

"It's me..Hermione Professor"

"Ah Miss Granger, what are you doing out this late at night?"

She heard him ruffle to get up

"Lumos" he said

he looked down at her for what seemed like forever even though it was just a moment. He reached out her hand to help her...she took it grudgingly..she never trusted him.

" unable to sleep professor"

"Really? And why didn't you cast a sleeping charm or take a sleeping potion..I'm sure you know one." he said with a sneer. Snape had always resented that she was as smart as he was...because she was muggle born..he always wished that he wasn't in charge of Slytherin so that he could guide her to higher leaning but he had to keep his students in fear of him.

" I do know some professor," she said not meeting his eyes..she new never to look him in the eyes " but I don't like to do that...I prefer natural sleep"

'Hmm" was all he could say

"I'm sorry I bummed into you professor," she moved slightly to the right to move past him he caught her eyes..and she looked into them for a moment and carried on..she heard down the corridor him saying the incantation to undo the light spell.