"To what do I owe the honor of this surprise visit," Dumbledore said, smiling benignly at Professor Snape's scowl.

"Someone has cast a temporary sticking charm on Miss Granger," Snape growled through clenched teeth. "It seems that I was what she was standing the closest to." As if to demonstrate, he released Hermione's arm and stepped backwards, away from her. Immediately, Hermione felt her body being pulled toward Snape, and she found herself against his chest. She flushed in embarrassment while Harry and Ron looked on with sympathetic expressions. Snape put a hand on her shoulder and moved away again. "There was no sign of the person who cast the spell," Snape told the headmaster.

"My, what a predicament," Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling in amusement. Snape sneered at him. "Unfortunately," Dumbledore continued, "I can't do anything for you right now. You will need to wait for the spell to wear off."

Snape was looking furious while Hermione's face paled. Harry and Ron looked positively horrified which only served to infuriate the potions master more. The headmaster smiled kindly at Hermione. "Don't worry my dear," he said. "It should wear off by tomorrow morning."

Hermione sighed miserably. It was one thing to take care of Professor Snape while he was ill. Being stuck to him was another matter entirely. She opened her mouth to say something, but the headmaster's door swung open and Professor McGonagall walked in.

"Headmaster, I've just had a word with Mr. Longbottom," McGonagall said before she stopped and stared at everyone in the office. "Miss Granger, you're here," she said looking confused.

"What did Neville have to say, Minerva?" Dumbledore asked her.

McGonagall quickly looked back at Dumbledore. "Mr. Longbottom was in the Gryffindor common room looking out the window," she said. "He said that he could see these three by the tree," she said gesturing at Hermione, Harry and Ron. "He also saw Severus approach to speak with Miss Granger, I assume. Then he saw another three students approaching the tree from behind. One of them cast a disillusionment charm on himself while the other two hid. The student then went to the tree and pulled Harry's wand out of his pocket and used it to hit Miss Granger with a spell just as Severus was turning to leave." She paused, looking at Hermione in confusion. "Mr. Longbottom immediately ran to come get me. He recognized Draco Malfoy as the student who cast the spell."

"That would explain why I couldn't find my wand!" Harry said in understanding.

"You're wand is missing?" McGonagall asked sharply.

"No," Harry said quickly. "We found it in the grass on the other side of the tree. I guess that's where Malfoy dropped it."

"Why is Miss Granger here?" McGonagall said, changing the subject.

"They came up here because it was a temporary sticking charm that hit Miss Granger," Dumbledore said with a sigh. It wasn't nearly so amusing now that he had to punish Draco Malfoy and find his accomplices. "Miss Granger is now stuck to Professor Snape, for the time being."

"Is there nothing we can do?" Professor McGonagall asked him. She looked over at Hermione who was glancing nervously up at the potions master.

"I'm afraid we'll have to wait," Dumbledore said with a small smile. "Everything will be fine. Miss Granger and Professor Snape got along so well while he was ill." At this, Snape glared down at Hermione, as if forbidding her to get along with him on this occasion. Hermione swallowed hard and looked back at the headmaster.

"Severus," Dumbledore said, looking at the angry Professor. "Take Miss Granger. Use the floo to go back to your rooms. It would be better if the other students weren't aware of the situation." He turned to Harry and Ron, who had been observing the scene silently. "The two of you may go into Miss Granger's room and collect what she will need for tomorrow. She shouldn't have to rush back to her own room before she goes to class. Professor McGonagall will collect her belongings and take them to Professor Snape's rooms."

Harry and Ron nodded. "Minerva," Dumbledore said to Professor McGonagall. "Before getting Miss Granger's things, please go and fetch Mr. Malfoy for me. I would like to settle this little matter with him as quickly as possible."

Everyone, having been given instructions moved to leave the office. Harry and Ron left the office to go to Hermione's room. Professor Snape and Hermione stepped into the fire place. Snape threw some floo powder into the ashes and said "Snape's rooms" very clearly. They vanished in a swirl of green flames. McGonagall looked and the headmaster for a moment before she said "Albus, you couldn't have helped them more than that?"

Dumbledore chuckled good naturedly. "This time, I really don't know of a counter curse off hand…" he said gently. He looked thoughtful for a moment. "I suppose I could have done a bit of research and found something that would have separated them more quickly, but this won't be so bad." He smiled slyly. "Perhaps Severus and his apprentice will be a good pair for things other than potion making."

"Albus!" Minerva cried. "What are you suggesting?"

The headmaster flushed slightly. "Minerva I would never suggest that Severus should take advantage of a situation such as this one," he said gently. "I was merely thinking that perhaps the two of them would be good for each other, as friends," he added hastily at her disapproving look. "Severus has kept to himself far too long. Miss Granger, I dare say, could use conversations about things other than Quidditch. And talking to spoons," he said with a chuckle, thinking about the incidents in the Great Hall.

Professor McGonagall sighed but smiled slightly. "I'll go and get Mr. Malfoy," she said leaving Dumbledore to his thoughts. Dumbledore wondered for a moment about the possibilities between Hermione and Professor Snape. He smiled at his own ideas.

In Professor Snape's rooms, Hermione and her potions master were standing next to the couch, unsure of what to do. Hermione looked up at the professor nervously, to see him watching her thoughtfully.

"I normally read in the evenings before patrolling the halls," Snape said slowly. He frowned. "Obviously I won't be patrolling tonight, but you may read with me if you like." He looked at her expectantly, although looking thoroughly irritated with the situation.

"Yes, sir," she said softly. She allowed him to guide her over to a large ornate bookshelf. He pulled a book down and waited while she selected a book for herself. They walked over to the couch and sat down together. Their arms were touching lightly as they read silently. It was very calming and they each relaxed in the silence of the sitting room.

A thud on the floor startled Professor Snape from his reading. He looked down to see the book that Hermione had been reading sitting on the floor. He scowled, angry that she would treat his books so roughly. He turned his head to glare at her, only to find that she had drifted to sleep. Her head was resting against the back of the couch and her breathing was slow and rhythmic.

Snape just stared at her for a moment. He carefully set his book on the ground and gently pulled her body away from the back of the couch. He turned to sit sideways on the couch and let one leg stretch out against the back of the couch while he had carefully wedged Hermione between his legs. He turned Hermione so that her back was to him. He pulled her closer to him so that she was against his chest.

Snape settled back on the couch, making himself comfortable. Hermione stirred slightly in her sleep but didn't wake up. The potions master was surprised when she sighed contentedly and turned her head, resting her cheek on his shoulder. He looked down at her face uncertainly. She looked so peaceful and lovely. Eventually, he let himself relax and he joined her in slumber.

The flames in Professor Snape's fireplace turned green two hours later. Dumbledore and McGonagall stepped into the room quickly. Dumbledore was about to speak when his eyes fell on the couch. Professor Snape was sitting sideways on the couch with Hermione resting between his legs and against his chest. Professor McGonagall looked upon the scene with amusement. As if to make things more entertaining, Snape moved one of his arms in his sleep and left his hand resting against Hermione's stomach. Dumbledore and McGonagall smirked to each other before leaving Hermione's belongings next to the couch and disappearing into the fireplace once more.

The next morning, Hermione's eyes fluttered open and she found herself resting against someone. She stretched and sat up, causing the man next to her to stir. She turned quickly to see Professor Snape waking up. She gasped and jumped up quickly. He looked at her in confusion and then remembered why she had been sleeping against him.

"I'm sorry Professor," Hermione mumbled, backing away from him. After taking two steps backward, Hermione was pulled forward once again and ended up in the professor's lap. He had automatically opened up his arms to catch her. He was holding onto her and looking startled.

Suddenly, the flames in the fireplace turned green again and the headmaster stepped into the room. "Ah," he said cheerfully as if he didn't notice their position. "You're awake. I suppose you've tested whether or not the spell has worn off?"

"It seems that it has faded," Snape replied releasing Hermione so she could stand up. "We don't have to be touching but, she has to remain within a few inches of me." He scowled at the headmaster's grin.

"Well, I think I can fix that," Dumbledore said with a smile. He motioned for Snape to get up and stand next to Hermione. He moved his wand down between them, as if he was drawing a line to separate them. "There we are. Miss Granger please move away from Professor Snape."

Hermione took a tentative step away from the potions master and sighed in relief. "Oh, thank goodness," she said softly.

"Mr. Malfoy has been given a month of detentions with Mr. Filch," Dumbledore told them. "He hadn't meant to cause the two of you to be stuck. He thought Mr. Weasley or Mr. Potter would be stuck to you," he told Hermione with a small smile. "He had used Mr. Potter's wand so that the spell couldn't be traced back to himself. He hadn't counted on an eye witness."

Snape smiled slightly when he saw Hermione smirk. "Well, we must be heading down to the Great Hall," Snape said smoothly. "We wouldn't want Miss Granger to miss classes today." He looked at Hermione and said "You may go into my bathroom to shower and change clothes. Close the door when you leave. I'll be in the Great Hall." He nodded politely to her and left the room with Dumbledore.

Hermione quickly went into the bathroom to shower. She blushed at the memory of sleeping against Snape's chest. How on earth had she gotten into a position between his legs in the first place? She shook her head, puzzled.

"That wasn't so bad, was it Severus?" Dumbledore said when they got into the hallway. Snape glared at the smiling older wizard but didn't say anything. He was slightly distracted by the memory of what it had felt like to have Hermione sleeping against his chest. He smiled slightly. He slept better than he had in a long time. Feeling her body against his was so comforting as if she had belonged there. He scowled at his own thoughts. Dumbledore noticed and grinned to himself. Apparently, Snape hadn't thought it was so bad, but it'd be quite a task to get the stubborn potions master to admit it.