A/N: Thank you to my wonderful fans who reviewed. Ok now here's the next chapter where they…uh…talk. Sure, yeah that's right they talk. Or at least they try to talk. ;) Carry on!

Chapter 5: We Need to Talk

Severus hurried off to his corridors and sat down on his couch. What had he done? He knew he had crossed a line. And then he just ran away like a coward. If I had stayed she probably would've hexed me to eternity. I'll just have to control myself more. I can't have any more accidents like that or I'll probably never see her again.

Hermione walked back up to the castle slowly since she was in no hurry, and it would give her more time to think about what she was going to say. What was she going to say? She sighed as she made her way down to the dungeons. Once she got to his door she paused and took a deep breath. She leaned against the wall and thought about what she would do. She finally came up with a plan and knocked on the door.

Severus was sitting on the couch holding a piece of paper. It was old and the letters were somewhat smudged. He took this out only when he found her consuming his thoughts. He read it to convince himself that she didn't love him anymore and that he should move on. That's what she had wanted wasn't it? He reread some of the lines out loud.

"I don't want you to worry about me. I will be fine. Eventually I shall get over you. Unfortunately some things must come to an end."

That proved it; she was over him. He had just closed his eyes trying to relax when he heard a knock on the door. He sighed and stood up to answer it. He had not expected to find Hermione when he opened it, but he did.

"Hermione. Um come in." He held the door open for her and she walked in. It was exactly the same as she remembered. He just stood behind her as she looked around.

"It's the same," Hermione said trying not to burst into tears right then. She turned around and Severus looked around the room.

"Oh yeah, I never really felt like changing it, even though it's not the same room." This was awkward. She needed to get to the point, for both their sakes.

"Severus, we need to talk," she said bluntly.

"Ok what about?" He knew what it was about.

"About what just happened…outside. And about the past." He opened his mouth to talk but she stopped him. "Look I have a lot to say and I need to say it. Maybe more for myself than for you but just please let me finish." He nodded and she took a deep breath.

"Ok now whatever happened today, I know that you didn't want it to happen but I think I did. I have not been able to stop thinking about you for the past four years." Severus's heart almost stopped. A glimmer of hope shot through his body.

"No matter what I said in the past I…love you. I always will." Tears were streaming down her face and she was reminded of her last day as a student here.

"Now I know that you probably think I'm just an immature little girl who needs to get on with her life. But I need to know how you feel. I mean if you never want to speak to me again, I completely under…"

But she was cut off. He had walked over to her and pulled her into a passionate kiss. Hermione felt her body go numb. She didn't know what was happening. It felt like a dream. He pulled her closer and she wrapped her arms around his neck but then she broke the kiss.

"I thought I asked you to let me finish," Hermione said smirking.

"Well I didn't like where you were going." She leaned up and kissed him again. He picked her up and she wrapped her legs around his waist. He carried her to his bedroom and laid her down on the bed. She broke the kiss and started to fumble with the buttons on his robe. She slipped them off and ran her hands over his chest pulling at his shirt. She slipped it over his head and her hands roamed his bare skin.

Severus removed her robes and shirt also. His hands caressed her breasts which were hidden beneath her bra. He reached behind her and unclasped it as she unbuttoned his pants. He slid them off and removed her skirt. Now both left only in their underwear, their hands seemed to have minds of their own. They felt the familiar curves which for so long had been untouched. She remembered every part of his skin. It was as though the last four years had just faded away.

The next morning the sun shone in on Hermione and she opened her eyes. She smiled remembering the previous night's event or events, was more like it. She turned over expecting to find Severus sleeping next to her but the bed was empty. Hermione sat up and pulled the blankets close to her to cover herself up. She looked around the room but he wasn't there.

"Looking for me?" came a voice from the side of the room and Hermione looked and saw him come in through the door. Hermione feeling embarrassed tried to sound casual.

"What? Oh no I was just enjoying the scenery. You know I didn't have much of a chance yesterday what with all our…" she trailed off as he sat next to her and ran his finger across her shoulder.

"I can't believe I wasted the last four years thinking that you had forgotten about me."

"I could never forget you Hermione. Besides I spent the last four years thinking the same thing." Hermione smiled and looked up into his eyes.

"I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"For what I said that day. You were only trying to do the right thing and I acted like a stupid little girl."

"It's ok Hermione. I didn't only hurt you that day, I hurt myself."

"Well all that matters now is that we're back together." Severus kissed her and pulled a piece of paper out from behind his back.

"What's that?"

"It's your letter."

"My what? Oh…that. You kept it?"

"Well it was the only thing I had of yours." Hermione smiled.

"Although I hate to say it, we must get ready for classes. We have to hurry if you want to make it to breakfast," Severus said and Hermione groaned. She stood up and stretched. She looked around the room and grabbed her clothes. She muttered a cleansing spell and looked as though she hadn't just woken up. Severus did the same.

By the time they got to the Great Hall everyone was already there. Hermione started to walk in but Severus pulled her back out of view from everyone. He grabbed her waist and pulled her into a kiss. She ran her fingers through his hair and pulled him closer to her. Finally he broke the kiss.

"How did an old man like me end up with a beautiful young woman like you?"

"Well I got drunk and seduced you when I was seventeen, that's how." Severus laughed. "And you're not old."

"Hermione I was twenty when you were born. I'm old enough to be your father. I think that qualifies me as old."

"I don't care about that. Age is only a number." She leaned up and kissed him on the cheek. Then she turned and walked into breakfast. Severus waited several seconds before following, so as not to look suspicious. Dumbledore however, was not fooled.

"Good morning Severus."

"Good morning Albus," Severus said actually meaning it this time.

"My you seem cheerful today."

"I suppose I am." He tried to hide his smile. "For the first time in four years I'm in a good mood."

"Four years? That seems like an awfully specific time period."

"Oh, no it's just…the first number that popped into my head."

"All right." Dumbledore turned from Severus and leaned over and whispered something to McGonagall.

"It happened Minerva." McGonagall sat strait up and looked from Hermione to Severus and smiled.

"So soon? They do look much happier."

"Yes they do." Dumbledore smiled and returned to his meal.

Hermione was so happy she didn't know if she could eat. She forced herself to eat a little knowing that if she didn't she would regret it later. While she was taking a sip of her coffee an owl flew in and perched itself on the table in front of her. Hermione took the letter and gave the bird a small piece of toast. It hooted happily and flew off. Hermione immediately opened the letter knowing it was from Ginny. She had so much to tell Ginny after last night.

Hermione,

I'm sorry that things are so confusing for you. I am sure that whatever is happening between you and Professor Snape means something.

Hermione smiled. If only she knew, she thought.

Whatever it is I am sure that you will figure it out. After all you are the smartest witch I know and probably even smarter than those I don't know. There's not much I can tell you. I can only wish for the best. You're the one who needs to make it happen. I'm sorry if this letter wasn't very helpful but I think you already know what to do. Hope this helps.

All my love,

Ginny

Hermione grinned. She couldn't wait to tell Ginny everything. She looked around to make sure that no one had been reading her letter and put it in her pocket. She got up and left the Great Hall. When she glanced back she saw Severus getting up to leave also and she smiled. She didn't even notice that Dumbledore was watching them, smiling. She stepped outside and waited for a few moments. Severus emerged and Hermione took his hand and pulled him over to her.

"I don't want to go teach," Hermione said acting frustrated.

"I don't either but it's our job so we must. Don't worry, the minute I have a break I'll come visit you."

"But what would my students say if all of a sudden their Defense professor came into they're class and kissed they're Potions professor?" Hermione said in a very airy voice.

"I don't know. Shall we find out?" he asked grinning. He lowered his mouth to her neck and pretended to bite.

"I better go before they all come out here and find us."

"Let them. All the boys would be jealous of me anyways."

"What do you mean?"

"Well just look at you. You're gorgeous. They probably fantasize about shagging you every night."

"They do not."

"I bet they do. I've seen the way some of them look at you. Don't tell me haven't noticed." She just looked at him blankly. "Then you ought to start paying more attention to them. They could wind up like you and get drunk and seduce their Potions professor."

"Very funny. Well unlike you I wouldn't go along with it so easily." Hermione smirked.

"Damn they're all leaving now. I guess you had better go." He leaned down and kissed her quickly. "And no alcohol for those boys understand. You could be a bad influence on them." He smirked and walked away. Hermione hurriedly walked to her classroom to prepare for her lesson. On her way there she did try to look at some of the older boys as she was walking. They did look at her like he had said. Hermione sped up her pace and forced herself to not look at any of them.

A/N: Well what did you think? Was it too soon or not soon enough or what? Let me know what you think because it really does matter.