For the next few days, Severus and Hermione did not speak to each other. They nodded, made eye contact, and still sat beside each other at the High Table at meals, but they did whatever they could to avoid directly speaking to one another. Hermione was still a bit embarrassed by her sudden outbreak of tears, and she also did not want to move things too quickly and frighten Severus away. He, however, was just embarrassed. He had been kissed by women before and been intimate with them, but somehow, this time was different. Severus was not sure how, exactly; he only knew that it was.

That night, there came a sharp rap on the door to his office. Severus had been reading an intriguing book in his chambers, but he had bewitched his doors so that he could hear the sounds in both his classroom and office if he happened to be absent from them. Marking his place in the book with a scrap of paper lying on the table by his chair, Severus stood and went to answer the door.

When he opened it, it was as he expected. "We've got to stop meeting like this," he joked to Hermione Granger.

"I got another letter from Harry," she said, thrusting the letter at his chest. He took it and gestured for her to come in. He sat behind his desk and she sat in front of it, watching him as his eyes darted from one line to the next as he read.

Dear Hermione,

I didn't realize until after I sent the last letter that it might embarrass you a bit, were you to receive it in the Great Hall along with the students, because I knew you would. After all, you are a professor now. Unbelievable. I thought I should keep you informed on Ron, so here is my second letter concerning his health. He is doing a bit better than a few days ago, but not so much improvement to celebrate just yet. That spell hit him hard; it was powerful and had a great impact on him. I told him he wasn't ready to go on a real mission just yet, but he wouldn't listen to me. You know him, as stubborn and reckless as always. No thanks to me, is what I am sure you are thinking. Good to know that some things never change. We both miss you, Hermione, and wish to see you soon, but you know we can't, unfortunately, until we've finished our Auror Training.

Forever your friend,

Harry Potter

P.S. Say hello to Professor Dumbledore for me, will you? And Professor McGonagall too. And Hagrid, of course. We can't forget him, now can we? And by the way, out of pure curiosity, how is old Snape doing these days? Still the greasy bat of the dungeons, I suppose? Miss you. Reply soon.

Severus looked back over the paper at Hermione when he had finished reading. She was blushing, he saw, and wondered why.

"I apologize for Harry's rude comments at the bottom of the page, but you know him. He had no idea that you were going to read this. How could he?"

Severus held up a hand to merely dismiss the matter. "Of course, Hermione. Potter will never change, will he? Still as arrogant as his father, I see. Well, no matter. Is Weasley going to recover?"

"I hope so, but I've only told you how much I know. The only other person in this school that is aware of Ron's illness is Dumbledore."

Severus raised his eyebrows. "I am pleased that you trusted me enough to confide this matter in me."

Hermione smiled. Look how attractive he is now, she thought. I could just reach across the table and… She blushed profusely at her thoughts.

"What is it?" He had noticed her staring.

After a second, Hermione replied, "You're not scowling."

Severus looked away from her, obviously trying to suppress a grin, and concealed his face behind the paper. After he had composed himself, he set the paper down on top of his desk. "I am sure that if you requested it, Dumbledore would undoubtedly allow you to leave school for a short time to visit Weasley in the hospital."

Hermione shook her head. "No, I would never abandon my responsibilities like that. I am a professor, here to teach, not to take sick days off when I do not truly require them."

"Your best friend is in a coma as we speak, possibly dying. You have every right to leave the castle. I could cover your classes, if necessary, or else, I am sure that Minerva might be more than willing to-"

"No, Severus. I will not leave Hogwarts. Not for this. If he gets too much worse, I will consider it. I promise."

He nodded at her and then they both fell silent. Severus slid the parchment in her direction across the smooth surface of his desk, and she picked it up, folded it, and stuffed it into the pocket of her robes.

She rested her hands on his desk and looked up at him. Once more, before he could contemplate what he was doing, he reached out a hand and placed it on top of hers.

He has very nice hands, she thought. I wonder why I never noticed it before.

Then he looked back up at her, into her eyes, and quickly retracted his hand. Her smile waned a bit, but not enough for him to notice.

She stood up and Severus followed her to his door. She turned around to face him and found that her face was mere inches from his. They looked into each other's eyes a while longer, and then Hermione leaned up and kissed him lightly on his cheek. Then she pulled back and smiled up at him.

"You really underestimate yourself, Severus. You're not all that bad-looking," she told him, stroking his arm.

"Oh, thanks. Not bad-looking." He rolled his eyes and grinned.

"In fact, I'd say you're really quite attractive."

He looked down at her, a mystified expression painted on his face. Hermione took his hand and gave it a tight, brief squeeze, and then let go.

Say it, Severus. Just say it. "You're so beautiful." Hell, even a simple "You too" will do!, the voice inside his head screamed at him.

However, he just cleared his throat and muttered, "Thank you."

She still smiled at him understandingly, as though she was not expecting anything more. "I have papers that I must grade," she said honestly. "I should go. Good night, Severus. I'll see you in the morning at breakfast, all right?"

"Good night, Hermione," he replied, placing his hand lightly and affectionately on her shoulder.

Thanks so much to everyone who reviewed! I am so flattered!

olivialynlee- I am always so happy to receive your reviews! Again, I laughed so hard! Thank you for your compliment about the details. I hadn't noticed, but I'm glad that you thought they were good! I think that somewhere in the books, Professor Snape does actually make Hermione cry, but I just tried to ignore it, kind of, I guess you could say… Never mind. Thank you!

I am not sure when exactly Chapter 12 will be up, because knowing me, I will say two days, and it will be up by tomorrow morning. So you never know. However, right now, I would say that Chapter 12 will most likely be up tomorrow or the day after.

Remember: Review, Please! Even if you don't like my story, tell me what you dislike about it and I will try to work on it. Thanks!

Sorry, I keep forgetting to put the Disclaimer in here: I do not own anything in here. It all belongs to J.K. Rowling, sadly for me. All the characters and Hogwarts and everything to do with the wizarding world- all her.