Chapter 1 Arriving

Hermione cursed Severus Snape in every language she knew as she trudged through the mud towards Hogwarts' welcoming front doors. First he floos her and demands that she come to Hogwarts for a week to meet with him to discuss something 'of a serious nature' , then he makes her wait while he checks his calendar, now this! It was pouring down rain and cold as hell, yet he couldn't even send a carriage to meet her train. For heaven's sake she was coming all the way in from Paris!

Now 1 flight, 2 trains, and a rather rainy hike later she was here. Damned if she wouldn't get sick and damned if he wouldn't pay dearly for it. As soon as she saw him she was going to walk right up, smile in his face, and then ring his neck!

She was a proffessor at Beauxbatons. What the hell could require her at Hogwarts! If it was something grave Harry or Dumbledore would have informed her. Not Snape.

Hermione let the anger course through her as she stomped her way down to the dungeons, clutching her bag like a weapon. She gave two sharp knocks before letting herself into Snape's office.

"You knock and then wait for an answer." Snape all but hissed without even glancing up from his desk.

"Don't you take that tone with me! And, if I may ask, what in the bloody hell is so important!" Hermione half shouted, half snarled her reply to his less than warm welcome.

That got his attention. He finally looked up and was torn between whether to laugh at her appearance or grimace at her tone. His eyes scanned her from head to toe, taking in her bedraggled appearance. She was wearing a hat that was dripping into her eyes and had completely lost it's shape. A few stray hairs were peeking out from under the hat and had plastered themselves to her face. Her plain black cloak was drooping and kept trying to slip off of her right shoulder as a small version of Lake Erie was pooling at her feet. Lastly her face was twisted into a scowl that any Slytherin would be proud of. It was official. This was the same Hermione Granger that had left Hogwarts seven years ago. At twenty-five she still looked exactly the same.

After his brief assessment his eyes met hers again and he smirked. "Decided to swim in the lake fully clothed, Miss Granger?" He asked scathingly.

"In case you haven't noticed, Proffessor," She spat, dropping her bag to the floor with a 'plop' "It's pouring down out there and someone didn't have the decency to send a carriage to meet my train." She walked over to the only window and threw back the heavy black curtains to show the driving rain beyond. She gestured with her hand to the window to make her point. "Now what, praytell, was so important that it warranted for me to come all the way to England on my winter holiday?" she asked too sweetly.

"Miss Granger, I was not expecting you until tomorrow morning or there would have been a carriage to meet you. Now, I have to finish grading these essays. You have a room set up just through there." Snape pointed to a door on his left.

Hermione looked to the right and then turned back to him. "Those are your private quarters, are they not, Proffessor?"

Snape heaved an impatient sigh before looking up at her again. "No, Miss Granger, they are my guest quarters. My private chambers are on the oppostie side of this office. Now, good night, Miss Granger." He looked back down and, once again, continued grading essays.

"Good evening, Mr. Snape." Hermione picked up her bag and headed to the door he had indicated. "Excuse me again, Proffessor, but when would you like to meet for our discussion?"

"I will not be free until lunch, Miss Granger. I have some things that I need to do. We can take lunch in your common room or mine. Whichever is more comfortable for you. Does that suit?" He asked through clenched teeth.

"My common room would be nice. Say... noon?" She lifted a brow as she asked.

"Noon." At his nod of agreement Hermione turned and entered her quarters for the next week.

Once she was gone Snape turned back to his essays, thinking of what the following days proposition would bring.

Hermione headed straight for the bathroom. A long, hot shower and a nice cup of tea and she'd be ready to unpack and take a look around.

She set the water to as hot as she could stand before slipping in to let it beat down on her. She sighed in pleasure as the pounding water loosened the knots in her neck and shoulders. The heat went straight to her bones to chase away the cold. She poured the shampoo directly onto her hair and began to lather it up. Hermione relaxed even more as the mix of soft lavender and sweet vanilla filled the steamy room.

After she had finished washing up she toweled off and began to spread the lavender and vanilla scented cream over her entire body. She sighed again and began to drag the comb through her hair as she took her bag into the adjoining bedroom. She put her clothes away quickly and slipped into her nightgown, letting the towel pool at her feet.

Hermione stood in front of the mirror for a moment and looked at her reflection. Her hair had grown since she had last been at Hogwarts. It now hung half way down her back in loose curls. The silk of the nightdress slid over her skin like water and the pearl color was lovely with her complexion. She smiled and went to examine the sitting room.

When she arrived she was surprised to find that Proffessor Snape's tastes were so close to her own. The walls were a midnight blue and covered by shelves upon shelves of books. The floor was a polished cherry wood covered by a few throw rugs. She was shocked to find that the black leather of the furniture was as soft as butter. She smiled at the simple elegance and decided to choose a book while she waited for the kettle to boil.

She was fascinated to find more than a few muggle authors during her search. Severus Snape seemed to be full of surprises. She plucked Shakespeare's 'As You Like It' off of the shelf just as the kettle screamed.

A few minutes later Hermione was curled up in an armchair by the fire, sipping her tea, and sinking back in time. That was how she fell asleep on her first night back at Hogwarts.

AN: All right guys. That's it for the first chapter. Now this is the first Snape / Hermione romance that I've ever written so I'd like as much feedback as possible. I want to know what you all think about it. I enjoy constructive criticism but don't make it personal. I hate that! Just review and let me know what you think... liked it, didn't like it, whatever. Hope you enjoyed. Bria/ gemini69