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Hermione woke up in a blur, rubbing her eyes as she tried to figure out what time it was. The sky was a little too bright, signalling that breakfast had long been over. She sighed, rolling around the bed while feeling agitated for oversleeping. She let an arm drop out of the bed, followed by a leg, another arm and the final limb sent her tumbling onto the carpet.

She groaned as she got up. Her head was still pounding from the after-effects of the night before despite taking the vial of hangover potion before she slept. She staggered to the bathroom, freshened herself in a daze before throwing on an oversized t-shirt and baggy pants, and heading out of her quarters. She didn't bother checking her reflection in the mirror because she knew she would look like a mess anyway. It didn't help that she had a crick in her neck from having jumped into bed at an awkward angle.

Her feet led her to a concealed door just around the corner from her quarters that opened to reveal a draughty stairwell which no one ever used, simply because no one knew about it and it was not printed on the official map of Hogwarts. It had probably not even been detailed on the Marauder's Map. She climbed down the stairs for many rounds before pushing the concealed doorway open without checking the tiny peep-hole. It seemed that her feet knew where to take her even though she couldn't quite keep track of how many floors she had just went down.

There was not a soul in sight. Then again, no one would loiter around this particular part of the dungeons near Snape's office. She tapped her wand on the handle of his office door, rattled the handle until she heard an audible 'click' before pushing the door open. Then she ambled towards the first vacant seat in her line of sight and slumped over the table in front of her. Where was Snape? She desperately needed another vial of the hangover potion before she passed out on his desk.

A sharp sound jerked her back to the present. She blinked rapidly. Had she fallen asleep at his desk? Her blurry eyes could make out another figure seated opposite her. Someone was watching her. She shook her head and blinked again. Right. Snape swam into view, immaculately dressed in a long-sleeved crisp white shirt peeking out from underneath his unbuttoned frock coat.

"Slept well?" He crossed his arms and glared at her.

She noticed how that movement made his chest bulge out against the shirt. The buttons seemed to be straining slightly. She briefly wondered if they would pop and she could be treated to a free show. That would be quite yummy, wouldn't it? She was getting hungry anyway. No, wait. Snape certainly could not be the yum that would satisfy her now hollow belly. But, if she was thinking of a different type of hunger that seemed to come from deep within her …

"Are you done ogling, Granger?"

Hermione couldn't believe she had let her thoughts run wild. And about Snape, of all men! It had to be the after-effects of yesterday's drinks. She gave him a sheepish look. "Perfect."

The corner of his lips twitched. "What is?"

Her eyes widened at her slip-up. "I mean, my sleep was perfect. You know?"

"No, I don't." He jerked his chin towards a vial that had been placed in front of her. "Just how much liquor did you consume last night that you need another dose?"

"I'm not a lightweight, if that's what you mean." Hermione tipped the vial and shuddered as the bitter liquid slid down her throat. "You could make it taste nicer."

"Not a chance. That would only encourage the lot of you to induce yourselves into drunken stupors."

She pulled a face and handed the vial back to him. "Thanks again."

He scowled. "I'd be thankful if you could clean up your drool on my table."

She blushed as she dabbed the corner of her mouth with her t-shirt and lifted the hem to wipe the table where she had rested her head. She saw him cringe and turn away.

"Are you a witch or not? I don't need a strip show here."

She released her grip at once as if burned by the t-shirt. "Oops."

Hermione's stomach rumbled just at that moment. She flushed at the sound and stood up abruptly, sending the chair screeching backwards. "It seems I've overstayed my welcome. I shall take my leave now."

She turned to hurry but found herself pulled backwards and back into the chair. Snape had his wand trained on her. "Eat before you leave. You weren't at breakfast."

A tray of finger sandwiches and a jug of pumpkin juice materialised in front of her. Hermione eagerly took one and bit off a large chunk, chewing quickly and washing it down with pumpkin juice.

"Mmm, sooo good," she sighed, as her stomach gladly received the first morsel of food for the day. Then she realised Snape was still there and his eyes were fixed on her. "Are you planning to watch me eat?"

Something shifted behind his eyes and he looked away. "See yourself out when you are done."

With that, he swiftly strode away towards the direction of the door leading to the classroom. Hermione frowned as she bit into the sandwich again. Something was not quite normal. She could have sworn there had been a faint pink hue colouring his cheeks, so faint that had she been seated a bit further away she wouldn't have been able to notice it.

-.-.-.-

The afternoon found Hermione, together with Flitwick and Pomona, working on putting their ideas for the decoration of the anniversary event into place. Her headache was long gone and the crick in her neck had almost disappeared so she was in a fairly good mood.

To no one's surprise, Hermione had found some interesting spells in long-forgotten books that had been arranged on a rarely sought out shelf in the library. They had temporarily blocked access to the Great Hall while they worked on implementing their ideas.

"Do you think Minerva would agree to let the guests tour the castle?" asked Hermione.

Pomona shrugged. "That depends on who comes for the event."

"Former students and current students," mused Flitwick as he expanded the hall by double its size. "Professors and former professors."

"Almost everyone in Wizarding Britain would have passed through this castle," agreed Pomona.

"All the more reason there should be a tour." Hermione grinned as she looked up from her work on a miniature replica of the Hogwarts grounds. "Surely they would have some pleasant memories of their time at Hogwarts?"

"Even I did, dear," said Pomona, winking. "I can't say the same for Flitwick, however."

"It's quite alright. It's been far too long now." Flitwick smiled as he started raising the ceilings higher. "Some of my best memories of Hogwarts are during my teaching years."

"What about you, Hermione?" asked Pomona. "It hasn't been too long since you were a student here."

"I loved my days as a student," said Hermione wistfully. "But all of you are so lovely to me now that I am a part of the staff so I can't really choose."

They laughed at her admission.

"Who would have thought decorations could be so humorous."

The three of them started at the sight of Snape appearing out of nowhere and observing them.

"I don't recall you being part of this team, Severus," said Pomona, smiling good-naturedly.

"No, indeed. I thought to come and see if any part of your plans might have a security weakness." Snape glided past Flitwick and stopped behind Pomona who was trying to charm a suit of armour into appearing as Helga Hufflepuff. "Make sure it doesn't lose its efficacy as a real suit of armour."

"We do know what we are doing," said Pomona as she continued twirling her hand and muttering under her breath.

There was no response from Snape as he approached Hermione. "And what do we have here?"

Hermione didn't look up from her work. "What unsolicited feedback would you like to give regarding my part?"

Had she looked up, she would have seen a look of surprise flit across his face. Snape walked around her before bending closer to the model. "As the one in charge of security, I have every reason to be involved in all aspects of the planning including your part, no matter how … miniature it may be. Surely you're not making a toy?"

At this, Hermione's head shot up. "I'll refrain from jabbing your eyeball with my wand only because you have been nice to me these two days."

Snape raised an eyebrow as if daring her to try.

"This is a mini replica of Hogwarts, charmed to let the user experience what it would be like to walk through various parts of the castle. Not all parts, of course. Just some common areas. There are some descriptions of the places taken from Hogwarts: A History, of course."

"How would this appeal to anyone?" Snape's lip curled up in distaste. "Haven't you considered there might be some people who would not be interested in remembering their life at Hogwarts?"

Hermione shrugged. "If that's the case, they don't have to interact with this model."

"How is this considered a decoration anyway?"

"It would be a decorative piece for visitors to appreciate. We were just discussing about having guided tours for the visitors who might want to take a walk through the castle."

"Absolutely insane! That is a high security risk!"

"That's why it would be guided. So we would know where each person is going. Besides, one can't apparate within the grounds."

"But one can hex another within the grounds."

Hermione huffed. "We're inviting civilised people. Not barbarians."

"You'd be surprised at how many barbarians there are hidden under fine robes."

"You're not referring to yourself, are you?" Hermione's voice came out a little uncertainly and she felt guilty at once.

Snape bent lower towards her. "I was once part of a gang of barbarians, Granger."

"Enough, you two." Pomona cut in. "What's all this nonsense over some simple decoration?"

"Exactly my thoughts, dear," Flitwick chimed in. "Come now, Severus. If you are so free, why don't you help me out over here? I could use an extra pair of eyes from a different altitude to tell me if what I have done looks proportional."

Snape muttered something under his breath but went off to help Flitwick. Pomona bustled over to Hermione and peered at the miniature model of Hogwarts. "I think it looks wonderful, dear. Ignore him. He's probably just a bit cranky."

Hermione gave the witch a grateful smile and continued with her charms and refinements. She wasn't aware how much time had gone by until a shadow passed over her. Snape had returned and leaned against the wall nearest to her. He didn't say anything except to observe her at work. She found it a little unsettling and sought to break the silence.

"Why would you think it was a toy anyway?" asked Hermione.

"Muggle toys for children. Building a house or some other model of that sort. The only difference is that you are doing all the building and others just have to admire."

"I'm surprised you know of them."

"I've seen my share although I owned none."

Hermione nodded. "Anyway, why would you think that I'd make a toy? What would we do with toys anyway? It just seems –"

She gasped. Her eyes widened. Then she turned to face Snape directly as a big grin found its way onto her face. Before the others could register what was happening, Hermione had wrapped her arms tight around Snape's middle and squealed into his chest.

"You brilliant, brilliant man!" she exclaimed. Then she released him almost immediately. "I have to discuss this with Minerva. It would be fantastic!"

Snape was still standing rooted to the spot with his arms akimbo. But Hermione was babbling incessantly as she shrank her miniature model into her bag and took off for the Headmistress' office at top speed. Pomona and Flitwick exchanged a look before coming round to peep at their stern-faced colleague whose usually pale complexion was decidedly not so pale after all.