27th of June

Hermione was nervously pacing her room. Another month had passed, and all along these interminable days she could not stop thinking about Severus and their kisses.

She had been shocked when after a lesson she had met Draco Malfoy outside her classroom with a nice bouquet of flowers. He had invited her out for a meal, and she found that she could not refuse.

Since then, they had been going out. He took her to the nicest restaurants and showered her with gifts and flowers. Hermione had tried to refuse, but it was wasted time. He was smitten with her, and until she didn't agree to be his girlfriend he would not stop bothering her.

Ginny had told her to forget Snape and to stick with Malfoy. He was young, handsome, rich and obviously in love with her. On the contrary, Severus Snape did not remember her after every Ball and was not a nice person.

Hermione sighed; nobody knew that he could be nice when he chose to do so. He was nasty sometimes, but up to a certain point she had accepted this side of him. He was sarcastic and his remarks bit her many times, but overall she was feeling deeply attracted by Severus Snape.

If she was sincere with herself, she loved the greasy git very much. "Love is blind" used to say her grandmother. Now, she knew what that meant.

She was ready to face the challenge to reach Severus' heart. Draco could try to win her heart, but nothing could convince her to give up on her Potions Professor until he just flatly refused her.

Hermione took her trunk and Apparated to the usual place where she proceeded with the others to the castle.

Severus had had a rough month as well, the 30th of May he had woken up with the idea that he had forgotten something important, and when Albus showed him the content of his Pensieve, Severus had remained speechless.

He watched all that had happened twice more and then left the room asking Albus to show it to him again on the 27th of the following month.

Severus thought about Hermione Granger. She had seemed so sincere in her plea to not be forgotten. His heart softened at the idea that she fancied him.

The next days, though, made him really angry. The Daily Prophet was reporting the "blooming romance" between muggle-born Hermione Granger and pureblood Draco Malfoy.

What game was she playing at? First she kissed him and then she went out with someone else? As if what happened between them meant nothing to her! What was he, the fun for two days a month?

His anger grew with the coming of the end of the month, and when the students arrived for the charade they had to play, he was ready to hex Hermione and Avada Draco.

He asked Albus not to tell anyone about the whole thing. He wanted to see how far she would go with the game.

Severus Snape was not going to be treated like a fool.

Hermione entered the classroom and felt the gaze of the Professor chill her to the bones. Why did he look so cold and angry?

The lesson was awful, he took points from Gryffindors every time she put up her hand to answer a question, and by the end of the two hours she was reduced almost to tears.

When she managed to get out of the room she was startled by an arm around her shoulders. "Hermione, are you ok? Snape seemed particularly nasty with you," said Draco.

Hermione felt the last remains of her control crumble and snuggling her face into Draco's robes she cried. "I don't know what had gotten into him. He seemed another person."

A voice behind them said, "Twenty points from Gryffindor for public display of affection. I suggest that you take this somewhere else." And Severus Snape walked away leaving a bewildered Draco and a heartbroken Hermione.

Hermione had recovered enough by the afternoon, and took that free time to go into the library and read a few books.

She saw Albus walking towards her and smiled sadly at him. "Albus, I don't think that it's working with Snape. Today he went back to be the usual greasy bat of the dungeons."

Albus smiled at her. "Hermione do not worry. I am sure that love will find a way to his heart."

Hermione shook her head. "Really Albus, I don't know how you can be so blind. He does not love me, actually, he does not like me either."

Albus saw the sadness into Hermione's eyes, but he could not tell her the truth. That, was for Severus to reveal, if he wanted.

"Miss Granger may I ask if the relationship with Mister Malfoy is serious?" Albus tentatively said.

Hermione surprised expression startled Albus. "How do you know that I am going out with him?"

Albus said, "Don't you know? It's all over the press. Pictures of you and him everywhere. Draco declaring his undying love for you."

Hermione was shocked. She didn't have the time to read anything, and she didn't know that her private life was so public. "Could it be that Severus read that too?"

Albus' eyes twinkled. "I wish you a good evening Hermione." And he left the young witch to her thoughts.

Hermione was thinking about everything that happened in the morning, and after a while a shocking idea came into her mind. Could it be that the curse had been broken and that he remembered everything? Was he jealous of Draco Malfoy?

Severus in his quarters was feeling as miserable as Hermione, and he jumped when he heard a knock to his door.

Draco Malfoy was standing there. "Well, are you going to let me in, Professor?"

Severus let the Slytherin former Head Boy in. "What do you want Draco?"

Draco passed a hand into his hair. "I am here to talk about Hermione Granger. I didn't like the way you treated her today."

Severus sneered. "I don't care if you liked it or not."

Draco's started to get angry. "She likes you, are you blind?" he sighed and sat on a chair. "I tried everything with her, but she apparently has her heart set on someone else."

Severus looked at the young man and sarcastically said, "And she refuses you by going out with you so many times!"

Draco surprised watched his Head of House and then smirked. "So you regained your memory and you let us take your class anyway."

Severus shrugged his shoulders. "I just wanted to see what you were doing once a month. I did not recover my memory totally, but I found a way to remember. Imagine my surprise when I saw pictures of you and her everywhere on the press."

Draco smiled sadly. "As I said, I tried everything and I believe that I finally have to surrender. You got under her skin, but you hurt her very much today."

Severus knew that Draco's word were true and let the Slytherin go with the promise that he would put thing straight with Hermione.