Chapter 5

"Finally!" Ron yelled.

"We did it!" People were jostling about in the Gryffindor common room. It was the last night they were to spend at Hogwarts as students. Most of then, many of them, had jobs to report to after a short holiday with family.

The evening was a fine affair with speakers, dinner and dancing. Now, the after party erupted all around Hermione. Her thoughts were happy, but still a bit tense. Tomorrow she would sit down with Prfessor McGonagall and finally lay her plans at her mentor's feet. It was sad really. Professor McGonagall had given so much of her free time to set Hermione on this path. Now, hermione was turning her back on all the plans everyone had made for her. For she had not been idle these past few weeks. She had made plans of her own.

Her last thoughts, as she slept her last night in Hogwarts, would be a feeling of completion and pride. She had completed her studies, top of her class of course, and she had chosen her own path in life. Although no one knew that yet, was not the point.

The one and only thing that called to her from the inner caverns of her mind was Professor Snape. Not her Potions master, but the man Severus Snape. Her crush had been put on hold during the crisis of her future, but once again, once all of the hard work, the midnight owls, and the secret meetings were finished, her overwhelming attraction to him returned.

This is where she found herself, in the midst of her celebrating friends, thinking of Professor Severus Snape.

"Hermione! Where are you going?" Neville called out to her.

"Oh, I have to go to the Lib-"

"No you don't Hermione! You have no reason to go to the library tonight!" Ron came into view and placed his hands on his hips.

"No…I have to return some books that I left in Professor McGonagall's office. Plus I have a meeting with her tomorrow…"

"But Hermione!" Ron pleaded.

"I'll come back as soon as I can Ronald. No Go! Have some fun!" She smiled at him and left the party.

The noise immediately dissipated as the portrait of the Fat Lady closed behind her. Hermione had thought about this all day and came to the only conclusion there was. She had to go and say goodbye to him. That was to be her closure, so that she could walk into the next chapter of her life without her silly, adolescent crush.

Hermone still had her crimson evening gown on that she wore to dinner and the dance. She thought of changing, but decided against it. The dress did make her look years older and she felt a sort of power she had never felt before while she wore it.

For in truth, Hermione Granger had blossomed into a beautiful woman before everyone's eyes. Except, no one noticed it until tonight. Hermione was ready to close all of the doors to her childhood. Goodbye to the bucktoothed girl. Goodbye to the bushy haired nerd. Goodbye to her crush of one Severus Snape.

She knocked loudly.

There was no answer.

She knocked again.

There was no answer.

Discouraged, she looked back down the hall and noticed how dark and cool it was. Hermione decided to leave. It wasn't worth it anyway. What did she expect him to say?

Severus heard the knocking on his door. It was secondary to the rush of that familiar feeling he had missed so much. The warmth was the strongest it had ever been before. He closed his eyes and bathed in it's glow.

There was another knock.

Just as he was reaching the door, he sighed. Whomever it was outside would pay dearly for interrupting his favorite part of the evenings.

Hermione had turned to go, but was shocked to hear the door open and see the outline of Professor Snape standing in the doorway. He had removed his usual black billowing robes and had a simple black shirt and black pants on. One hand rested on the doorknob and the other rested above his head on the door frame. A glass of Firewhiskey was still in it.

"Ms. Granger…"

"Professor…I need to speak with you." Hermione tried to sound self assured, but Severus could tell that she was nervous about something.

That's right….he had heard Minerva and Ms. Granger would have a meeting tomorrow and they would all find out her final plans. It was this that made him step aside and let her in.

Hermione's hand caught the door. And closed it behind herself. Severus stood in the entryway and sipped his drink.

"Sit." He motioned to the chair,

"No thank you." This made Severus' eyes jerk up to her face. A small frown played on her face and she looked…different. No longer coming to him for advice, he realized that she was coming to tell him something different.

"Professor, I have my meeting with Professor McGonagall tomorrow and well, it won't go the way she has hoped." Here Severus snorted. "It took me a while, but I have found a solution to my problem, thanks to you." Here Severus raised an eyebrow. "I came to thank you for what you said to me. I needed to hear it. And you were right. But I will find my own way, without being manipulated now by anyone. I have you to thank for that. No matter what, Professor, despite everything, I think you are a brilliant teacher and a powerful wizard. You are the only one who truly pushed me when I needed it. And the only one who never handed me anything. And finally, you were there for me, more than you know, when I needed someone." Here Severus started to speak but Hermione held her hand to him, telling him to stop. Severus was so stunned, he stopped. "I think you're wonderful Professor Snape. Thank you for helping me. Even if you wish now that you hadn't. I will be leaving tomorrow after my meeting with Professor McGonagall and I will be gone for some time. But I will never forget you."

Here Hermione stepped forward and planted a single kiss on his cheek. She turned and left the room hurriedly.

Severus stood, rooted to the floor. His mouth, no doubt, hanging open in shocked bewilderment.