Yes, yes…I know…time for a kiss…well read on then…and THANK YOU for the wonderful reviews. It puts a smile on my face every single time I read one!

"Severus," she sighed as she pushed herself onto him, forcing his member to easily slide inside of her, moaning with the union of flesh. "Take me, Severus…show me ecstasy…fill me in every way…oh god…yes…"

He bit his bottom lip, eyes closed, raising his hips and hers in the dance of intercourse, slowly and methodically, taking his time and feeling every sensation, every inch of flesh he could, as she hovered above him, brown locks tickling his face as her hardened nipples grazed his bare chest. His hands squeezed above her thigh, controlling both their movements, fighting to maintain a rhythm that was their own.

"Harder," she whispered, her warm breath caressing his ear. "I want all of you…all you can give me…all that you are…" She pushed her hips against him, grinding and pressing, telling him physically she needed more, knowing he had more to give.

"Hermione," he breathed, wrapping his arms around her body and pressing her to him, hand on her lower back as a brace as to push inside her further, moans escaping her lips as they kissed, her hair cascading over his face and shoulders. "You have all of me."

Severus awoke with a body twitch that nearly sat him straight up in bed. He shook his head as he realized where he was, glancing at the clock on the nightstand that read "4:13". Dammit, he thought, lying back down again. This was the fourth night in a row where dreams of Hermione had not only flooded his mind but also caused him to abruptly wake up, chest heaving, lower region throbbing. What is the matter with me, he thought. He'd never had such vivid, powerful dreams about anyone, and in each one the past four nights, there had been more than just sex; there had been this connection, this emotion from both of them. Emotion? No, I do not have that kind of emotion towards her. Yes I'm attracted to her and yes there is concern but the heart is not involved in this. I don't think I've ever felt that towards another. Go to sleep, Severus.

The first three days of the week had already been torturous for him, trying not to stare as she walked into his classroom, trying not to picture her body in front of him, her hands gripping the windowsill, trying to ignore the whimpers still playing in his mind, over and over, finding it rather odd he had to try to be scornful, had to actually make an attempt at being hateful as he wanted to smile at her and ignore everyone else in the room, knowing how unacceptable such behavior would have been. This had not been a problem in the past so what was the difficulty now? She was just another seventh year student; a 'brainy know-it-all' as he'd called her so often. Why was she having such an effect?

He pulled the sheets over him again and forced his mind to clear. Enough,he told himself. You are starting to act like the hormonal students around you, and that would be most inappropriate.

Ginny had waited a few days to see if Hermione would say anything about Saturday, and when she never did, she decided to bring it up Thursday during lunch.

"So, how was Saturday?" she asked with a grin, eyes twinkling with hidden meaning. "Seems like we haven't had any chance to talk."

Eyes wide, fighting not to react like she wanted to, Hermione answered, "It was fine. I got most of my schoolwork done which was a relief. I had a couple big projects to get out of the way."

Nodding, finishing the bite of her sandwich, Ginny asked, "Was that all you did? You could have completed those Sunday, couldn't you? We really missed you at Hogsmeade."

They were in the Hall, huddled close at the Gryffindor table, and Hermione realized what she was asking. Oh boy, she thought. She's fishing. "Well," she began with a feigned naughty smile. "I did see someone again. I just didn't want to say anything."

Ginny forced a smile, unable to believe what she was hearing. She'd never known Hermione to lie to her like she was now. "Had a good time did we?" she asked, wondering what her friend was hiding and why she couldn't tell her.

"Of course," Hermione answered. "I don't think you could have a bad time with him."

So who were you really with, Ginny thought to herself. I saw Draco at Hogsmeade. "I see," she finally said. "I'm just glad you had a good time. But I hope you go with us next time."

"I will," Hermione said, hoping their conversation was over. "I promise."

Ginny kept her thoughts to herself, knowing something odd was going on, and began trying to think of ways to figure it out.

"Miss Granger," Severus growled after Friday's class had finished. "A moment please."

Harry and Ron offered sympathetic looks as she feigned worry, taking her time as she approached his desk, listening as everyone scurried from class behind her.

"Yes Professor Snape," she said quietly, turning to watch the last two students leave, the wooden door closing behind them. Good.

His expression completely changed when he saw they were alone. "I'd like you to meet me here after dinner," he said quietly. "Only if you've no other plans, of course."

Hermione smiled. "I have no other plans," she told him. "I'll be here."

"Very good," he said with a nod, knowing he needed to keep the conversation brief. "Till then."

Almost wanting to skip and chastising herself for it, Hermione walked back to her table to gather her books and with more glance back to his desk, left the classroom, desperately trying to hide the smirk from displaying across her face.

"You've got another detention?" Harry asked as they sat at the table in the Great Hall. "Hermione, you'd better be careful."

"Why?" she asked curiously.

"I don't know exactly," Harry said. "It just seems Snape's been picking on you lately; more than usual for him. I don't like what I see in his eyes."

I sure do, she thought to herself. "I'm not worried about it," she said, mentally making a note not to use the detention excuse again. "I have been being a bit difficult. I'm sure I'll be fine."

"That git better watch himself," Ron said, feeling fiercely protective of Hermione. "I'm not the same boy that started here seven years ago. I'll do whatever I need to do for you."

She smiled warmly at Ron. "You're a wonderful friend," she said, touching his cheek. "But everything will be fine. Really. Please don't worry." She noticed him looking past her, anger flashing in his eyes, and turned around to see Draco approaching. Bad timing, Draco, she thought.

Flowing white hair, broad shoulders and a billowing black robe, Draco seemed to float to Hermione's side, leaning down close to her and whispering, "Where have you been?"

"I…I've been busy with classes," she lied. "I've had a lot of projects."

Ice blue eyes twinkling with lust, he leaned closer to her ear and whispered, "I think the third time will be a charm, don't you?"

No matter how much she had tried, Draco simply had no effect on her, not like Severus did. He was able to melt her with simple words while Draco had yet to melt her with words or touches. "Now, Draco," she said playfully. "I'm sure you have enough friends to keep you comfortable."

"Yes but I also have favorite friends," he purred. "Which you are one of."

"Mr. Malfoy," she said. "You are disrupting my dinner. We will need to continue this conversation later."

He smiled then, shaking his head. "Soon," he said and walked away.

"Want me to curse him?" Ron offered, cheeks red with rage, and if he admitted it, a little jealousy.

"No," she said, gently touching his arm. "Let it go, okay?"

Severus sat in the front of the hall and saw everything, wondering what words were being exchanged to match the physical actions. He watched her fingers touch Weasley's cheek and just now his arm. He'd stared, knowing he shouldn't, as Malfoy had approached her, leaning close and saw her eyes flash in playfulness up at him. What was she saying? Was she going to bed with him again? Had she been with Weasley too?

He shook his head, trying to clear the visions from his mind. What was he doing? Why did he care if she touched Weasley or if she did bed with Malfoy again? For that matter, why would he care if she slept with half the school? Was he angry? His stomach churned and knew his eyes would give him away if he didn't get out of that hall as soon as possible, pushing back from the table and quickly excusing himself, almost rushing out, long and steady steps carrying him back to his classroom. What was this feeling?

You're jealous, that voice inside told him happily. You are undoubtedly the lowest I've ever seen you. Not only can you not fully be with her but now you're actually jealous. I'm disappointed in you. You've done worse than go soft. You've fallen for her. For the brainy Gryffindor child prodigy!

I have not done any such of a thing, he countered back, arguing with himself once again. I do not fall for anyone, especially students. And I am not jealous. I don't get jealous. I'm…concerned. I don't want to see her get in trouble again. Dealing with it once was quite enough. And I don't trust Malfoy.

You're so blind, the other voice continued. You are so jealous you can't even recognize it. You need to stop this now before it gets worse and you slip up. How would it be if the truth got out? Brilliant Potions master hooking up with a student, a Gryffindor nonetheless. Think about what you're doing!

Letting out a frustrated and rather loud growl, Severus raked a stack of books off a shelf, enjoying watching and listening to them crash to the floor, his heart pounding, eyes wild and strands of hair stuck to his face. "Stop it!" he exclaimed, leaning his elbows on the nearest shelf, cradling his head in his heads, sliding his fingers through his hair, absentmindedly massaging his scalp, subconsciously hoping it would make the inner argument stop.

Hermione quietly made her way through the dark halls and staircases down to the dungeon, her heart softly pounding, hoping tonight would be the night. She didn't understand what they were waiting for but realized his way was simply different than hers. Severus was a thirty-seven year old man with years of experience behind him, not a seventeen-year-old boy experimenting. Of course being with him would be completely unlike being with Draco. Thank goodness.

Approaching the door, she knocked softly, inhaling deeply to calm her nerves before hearing, "Enter."

She stepped inside, closing the door behind her, seeing Severus in the hallway between the classroom and his chamber, leaning against the frame, arms crossed, locking onto his eyes as she walked over to him, his black pools never straying from hers except for one brief glance up and down her body. "I'm not disturbing you, am I?" she asked with a small smile.

Terribly, he heard inside his head. "Of course not," he answered. "I'm the one who asked you here." He swung his arm wide, motioning for her to enter his chamber. "After you."

He followed her inside, closing the door to the classroom, a hundred different thoughts rambling through his brain simultaneously. Maybe I should stop this, was one. Maybe I just need to carry her to my bed. Maybe we should talk about this more. Maybe…

"Severus?" Hermione said quietly, noticing an odd expression clouding his face. "If this is a bad time…"

"Forgive me," he said, not wanting to let on anything was going through his mind. "I was just about to partake in a couple shots of firewhiskey. Have you had any?" He walked past where she stood at the fireplace over to the small table by the window to pour two small glasses of the amber colored liquor for them. Well maybe more for him.

"Not yet," she answered, starting to say she wasn't old enough to purchase it in Hogsmeade but deciding not to, walking over to where he was standing. "I'd love some though."

He turned, handing her a crystal glass with an inch of liquid in it. "Cheers," he said with a smirk, lightly clinking his glass to hers, finishing his firewhiskey in one swallow, eyes squeezing shut as he felt the burn down his throat and into his stomach.

Trying to ignore the strong spicy scent, she swallowed a little bit, immediately coughing, not prepared for the burning sensation down her throat.

"Are you all right?" he asked, pouring another for himself.

"Yes," she said, clearing her throat. "I just wasn't ready for that." She tried again, taking another small sip, not coughing this time, realizing it tasted rather good, intrigued with the tingling sensation in her legs. "This is much better than butterbeer."

Severus smirked, pouring her a little more, grabbing the bottle and heading over to the couch. "Let's sit," he said, seeing no point to standing at the small table.

The warmth from the fireplace felt good as Hermione joined him on the couch but then realized she was feeling warmth inside of her body too. This is good stuff, she thought, finishing what was in her glass and holding it to him for more to which he quickly obliged. The tingling sensation had moved up from her legs to engulf her entire body and her head felt a little funny, like it was floating above her.

Severus enjoyed seeing her drink the firewhiskey, knowing it would help them both to relax, quite certain they needed it. "I don't drink often," he told her. "Just occasionally." His inner turmoil from earlier was silenced and was thankful, hating the arguments that bounced back and forth inside his head. "We must not drink too much. This is strong liquor."

Finding a nerve had surfaced, Hermione flashed her smile and asked, "What? Can't you handle your liquor, Sir? Afraid you'll lose control of yourself?"

Her comments surprised him at first as he swallowed more firewhiskey, grateful for its calming effect. "Oh I can handle my liquor," he said. "But I'm afraid you can not and I don't think anyone would understand me carrying you back to your dormitory."

"Think that might be a little obvious huh?" she asked with a small laugh, happy when she saw him laugh a little at her comment.

"Yes just a little," he said, enjoying this moment. "Nor would we be able to explain you spending the night in my chamber."

She sat closer to him and said, "Yes that would be difficult, wouldn't it?" After another sip, she added, "But terribly fun I'm sure."

"Terribly fun?" he repeated, looking down at her sitting beside him, instinctively putting an arm around her as she leaned her head back against his shoulder. "I've never heard it termed that before."

"Heard what termed that before?" she asked quickly, holding her glass out for him to pour more yet again, enjoying the fact it was her asking the question this time and not him.

He didn't miss it either and almost laughed. "Sex, Hermione," he answered unabashedly, feeling slightly intoxicated, his entire body feeling light as a feather.

Looking up, head spinning a bit, she met his dark eyes and said, "Yes please."

"You're incorrigible," he told her. "Really, Miss Granger, you must get a hold of yourself."

"Me?" she said, feigning shock. "You're the one who has been getting a hold of me!"

"I do not know what you are referring to," Severus said, teasing her. "Perhaps you've had enough already."

"Oh I don't think so," she played back, feeling quite comfortable with him. "You know exactly what I'm referring to, whether you can admit it or not."

"I can admit whatever is true," he told her, as he filled their glasses again, just a shot at a time.

Hermione took a long swallow, setting her glass down on the glass table in front of them, poking him in the side, surprised when she saw him jump. An evil smile formed on her lips as she turned slightly to face him, poling his side again, watching him jump again, removing his arm from around her to protect his body. "Oh my god, you're ticklish," she said with a giddy laugh. "The serious potions professor is ticklish."

Damn her, he thought, forcing himself to keep a straight face, trying to push her away, setting his own glass on the table. "Nonsense," he told her, trying to grab her hands. "You are mistaken."

"I think I'm right," she said, dancing around his hands, aiming for his stomach, seeing a small smile on his lips as he tried to fight her. "I think I'm very right. And since it's true you have to admit it."

"I will do no such of a thing," he told her, losing the battle against her quick hands, realizing how wonderful it felt to be playing like this, allowing his guard to disappear for awhile.

"Don't laugh now," she said, laughing herself, daring around his hands. "Don't break…don't laugh…you know I'm right…admit it."

Not able to do it any longer, he started laughing, reveling in the emotion he experienced, making one more attempt to grab her hands in desperation, succeeding in gripping her wrists and keeping them from his body, pushing her body back to the couch, hands above her head, finding his body on top of hers, chests heaving in unison, eyes dancing in numerous questions.

Feeling the weight of his body on hers and the soft material against the back of her hands, Hermione waited breathlessly for him to do something as she looked up into his dark eyes, filled with an emotion she'd never seen in them before. They were happy, genuinely happy and it was almost an odd look for him. Strands of his black hair tickled her face as she lay underneath him. Please, she thought.

Her brown locks were splayed across the dark green of the couch, her brown eyes piercing into him as if trying to read his mind, her lips barely parted, breathing heavily and wanting him. She wanted him, not Weasley or Malfoy. And he wanted her. The firewhiskey had taken most of his inhibitions away, what few he had anyway, as he saw his hair touching her cheek, purposely moving his head slowly as to caress her with it, smiling when she closed her eyes. She was beautiful laying under him, subject to his desire, willing to accept whatever he would do or say and unafraid of him, as so many had been.

Closing her eyes made her head spin a bit more but she didn't care. She loved every sensation consuming her body, the most recent being the ends of his hair touching her cheek, brushing softly against it, fighting to keep quiet the moans inside of her. She opened her eyes in time to see his mouth press to hers, gently at first, his tongue slowly dipping inside her mouth, slowly pulsing into her wetness, swirling in lazy circles, as she responded with her entire body. The combination of their tastes with the firewhiskey only escalated her passion, groaning quietly into the lingering kiss.

He lifted momentarily to glance into her eyes, seeing satisfaction and yet a building hunger, before seizing her lips with more force, their kiss deeper as he instinctively pressed his lower half into hers, feeling her grind back up against him, moaning softly in his repressed desire. Now, he told himself. Take her now. Everything is perfect. Just do it. He lifted his head again, gazing at her once more. But we're drinking and slightly intoxicated, he thought. I don't want this to be affected by a foreign substance. I haven't even brewed my normal potion for such times. – There you go again, the other voice disrupted. It's not her first time so why are you so worried about how everything is for her? And since when do you care anyway? It's sex, Severus, and that's it. – Because Malfoy didn't treat her properly either time, he argued back. I don't want to treat her as he did. I want to show her how it can be in the right dynamics, with the right apprehension, with the right feelings.

Feelings?

He lifted himself from Hermione as quickly as if she'd slapped him, reaching for his glass and swallowing the remaining contents. Feelings? Oh no, he thought. That is exactly what I'm doing. I'm trying to make everything special for her because I…I care. This is not good. It can't be like this. The firewhiskey. It has to be the firewhiskey. Bad idea.

Hermione sat up, extremely confused. "Severus?" she asked, not understanding his retreat from her, not sure if she should be concerned or not.

"I'm sorry," he said, pouring more liquid into his glass, downing it quickly.

She shook her head. "Did you just apologize?" she asked in disbelief.

"Yes I did," he answered, hoping more firewhiskey would take away what it created. "It's getting very late and I have many papers to grade before morning." He stood up, hoping she'd follow, heading to the door to the classroom.

Hermione sat dumbfounded, slowly standing up and following him into the classroom. "I don't understand," she said, watching as he sat down at his desk, noticing he wouldn't look at her.

"Forgive me," he said, heat rushing to his cheeks, ashamed of his actions and thoughts, realizing he needed to get a hold of himself before this turned into something it wasn't, both relieved and sad when he saw her turn and slowly walk out of the room, leaving him alone. He folded his arms across his desk and let his head rest on them. He felt like such a fool. What had come over him? He did need to just do it and get it over with and forget trying to make it into something. Why did he care? He didn't care. He just didn't. That's what he would do. The next time they were alone, regardless of where it was, he'd just do it. He could be his usual charming and sensual self as he had been numerous times without falling prey to what others did. It would not happen.

I told you you've gone soft¸ that voice reminded him. But you wouldn't believe me. How pathetic.

This time, he couldn't argue and felt the familiarity of his walls closing in around him once more.

Hermione dreaded the weekend as she slowly climbed from bed Saturday morning. It had taken her forever to fall asleep after her return from Severus' chamber, filled with confusion at what had transpired between them. When he'd finally kissed her, she thought maybe they would finish what they had started. But then he'd abruptly left her and started grading papers. It made no sense to her. She hadn't said or done anything to warrant that kind of response and wondered what was going through his mind to cause him to react like that. The short time period she'd been in his chamber, he'd acted quite odd, for him anyway, but she'd liked it. Tears fell from her eyes as she quickly brushed them away, fighting the emotion inside her when Ginny entered the room.

"What's the matter?" the younger girl asked immediately, noticing Hermione's sad expression. "Are you okay?"

Forcing a smile, Hermione answered, "Yes I'm okay. I just got a bad mark on one of my projects is all. You know how I am." She hoped Ginny would buy this excuse.

"Girl I'm worried about you," Ginny said softly. "You really haven't been yourself ever since we started this year. You know you can talk to me right? I swear I wouldn't say anything to anyone. You know you can trust me."

Hermione considered telling her everything that had happened but then heard Severus' warning in the back of her mind. "I know and I appreciate it," she said. "I'm just tired and stressed and shouldn't have taken all these blasted classes my last year."

"Okay," Ginny said unconvinced. "My offer still stands though." She watched as Hermione gathered clothes and headed for the shower, hardly able to wait for the next time she vanished with an odd excuse. She'd talked Harry into letting her borrow the Marauder's Map and knew it would tell her everything she needed to know. Part of her felt bad for spying like this but it was out of genuine concern for her friend.

Ginny just didn't believe Hermione's classes were her problem.