When Severus knocked on her door, and she opened it, looking the way she did, she was devastated.

He is never supposed to see her looking anything but her BEST.

And there she stood, hair stuck to her forehead with sweat, overly large shirt, buttoned with one button at the front, sleeves tucked up to her elbows, dragon skin gloves, and three quarter length pants, folded up three times to sit above her knees.

She probably had panda eyes from her makeup running, and she probably didn't smell very good.

She felt her stomach drop as she wiped her forehead with her forearm, holding pieces of gillyweed and rosepetals. She blinked at Severus, and opened her mouth to speak.

But she could only whimper in dismay.

Severus, himself, was holding back a whimper. She was utterly stunning. The sweat glistened on her chest, shining with the light, emphasising the contours of the quite large amount of breast that was being shown in that white shirt. The white shirt, that, although covering next to nothing, was ALSO see through from her sweat. He could see her stomach, a navel piercing, her pants too large for her, sitting low on her hips.

Her lips puffy from chewing on them as she thought.

As his eyes hit her mouth, she sucked the lip back into her mouth, and her brow creased. He saw the panic in her eyes, and took advantage.

Stepping into the room, he walked over to her cauldron. He heard her bare feet pat on the floor behind him as she followed.

"I'm trying to create a love potion for mermaids.." She explained as he picked up her research book and flipped through it.

"I understand that love potions can cause mermaids to become unable to breathe underwater?" Severus questioned, not looking up, not trusting himself to look up without pushing her against the table, knocking over the potion and eating her face.

"Yes.. Uh. Yes. Referred to as "The Little Mermaid" effect. Yes." She nodded enthusiastically.

"A good idea, Hermione.." He looked up. "Beautiful." He whispered.

"Pardon?" She asked, taking off the gloves and putting them to the side.

"Beautiful.. Idea." He replied, sighing. He could never tell such a goddess that he adored her so much.

He didn't even think he had the words in him. He was too harsh, too old, too bitter to give such a beauty all the love she deserved.

Deep in thought, he never even noticed as Hermione stepped closer, stood on her tiptoes and softly kissed his bottom lip.

As their lips connected, he felt his arms go weak, the blood rushing away from his head. He leant back slightly and looked at her with a confused look.

"Please, Severus. Just a little bit. Just for now if you'd like. I can't bare to look at you without just a taste.. Just a taste of belonging to you.." She whispered against his lips as she kissed him again.

Still stunned, he tried to speak.

"No. I understand." She said, falling back to her feet and stepping back. "I'll never be what you want. Not even if I can try for one night."

She went to turn, and Severus managed one word.

"No."

He reached for her face with his left hand and slid it onto the right side of her face and leant down. He kissed her. Softly at first, then at her whimper, he let go and pushed harder.

He lifted her and pressed her against the wall.

Pressing himself as hard against her as he could, he kissed her, stopping to whisper into her mouth his adoration for her, how long he's needed her, how he couldn't live without her, and one night would never be enough, and how she's belonged to him all along.

She was his. Forever. One night would never be enough.