SUMMARY: Hermione looses her two best friends in the war against Voldemort. Because of this, she becomes depressed and flees from the world she loves. To London she goes and chooses to live as a muggle. Six years pass. Hermione slowly begins to forget how to use magic. Will the staff of Hogwarts be able to teach her again before the damage becomes permanent?

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter.

PAIRINGS: Hermione Granger, Severus Snape (eventually); Rated M

A/N: Firstly, allow me to apologize to all my readers for my late update. I hope you aren't too upset. The holiday really put me back a few chapters.

Also, I'm sorry to say that this chapter is very short.

This week my mind has been plagued with an idea for another Hermione/Severus story. It is called Lust Dust. Look for it soon.

Hope you guys had a Happy Thanksgiving!

Thank you to mysticpam, Kathryn Isabella, Septentrion, anya, GigaDragonPuffMaster, Anarane Anwamane, iloveseverussnape, screwtheperfectlife, Lady Saffron of the Daggers, hpobsessor, bRaTsKi, A Lee En, KieraLee, coldqueen, Gerry Phanatic, Katyes, SeverusSnape'sLove, kiwi6498, Murphyangel, AbiSnocom, ConciaJames, and weirdpeopleandthepickle for your reviews.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

A month had finally passed.

Hermione had successfully made the Poly Juice Potion. She assumed she made it correctly. Snape didn't have her redo it. Snape didn't say anything to her actually. Upon the completion of the potion, Snape became very distance from Hermione. She had not been to his classroom since then.

Hermione had a strong feeling that his space between them was because of the kiss they shared at the ball. She remembered it well...

As the melody slowed, they decreased the space between themselves, neither of them aware of their movements. Hermione was completely frozen. She dared not move.

Snape, on the other hand, couldn't stop moving. She looked so gorgeous tonight, so different, her lips a sweet shade of red.He found himself helpless against her spell. His head drew closer and closer, their lips were mere inches apart.

Snape took a chance at her slapping him across the face. He touched her lips with his, ever so lightly. It was a kiss, but just barely. He pulled away slightly. There faces were half covered which only added to the mysteriousness of the act.

Hermione stared at him in surprise, thinking she mightfaint, until finally, Dumbledore's voice announcing the close of the Halloween Masquerade Ball, broke the moment.

Hermione sighed as she placed her book back of the shelf. She walked over to her bed and pulled the covers to her chin.

Hermione thought of that moment many times. Why had he kissed her? Why did she allow him to kiss her? Why did she enjoy it? Did he enjoy it? Hermione dreamed of Snape kissing her, tenderly and soft. So often did she think of it. So often did she dream of it. And she often wondered what would have happened if Dumbledore hadn't have interrupted.

"Why me," she asked herself as she switched off the bedroom light with her wand. Hermione was getting very good at that.

Like Hermione, Snape thought of the small, but powerful moment they shared. He was perplexed with constant thought of her. Day and night, during classes, during meals. There was never a moments peace. He believed himself to be loosing his mind. Never in his days did he ever think of someone like he thought about Hermione.

To be honest, Snape didn't know why he kissed her. But it felt right. And he had a strong suspicion that Hermione wanted it. Though the kiss was short, Snape knew Hermione enjoyed it as much as he did.

Oh, yes, he enjoyed it. He enjoyed it very much.

Currently, Snape sit at his desk, grading papers. Well, not really grading papers...

The next question he thought of was what to do about it. What was he going to do? This wasn't just some woman he met yesterday. This was Hermione Granger, a past student...a past annoying student to be exact. He could not act of his feelings. Well, actually he could. Who would stop him? It wasn't, however, a matter of 'could' he act. But more a question of should he act.

Should he?

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