I promise that this will only be a Snamione fic, Draco is simply an obstacle. I would have warned you if there was wandering! I love my followers/favouriters/reviewers/readers, I hope you continue to enjoy the content!

Chapter 21. Violet Roses

I panicked. Yes, that was all. I just panicked. It doesn't mean it isn't true. It doesn't mean I don't love her. "Then maybe don't lie to her, you arse," Severus grumbled as he paced the length of his chambers. He let out a primal grunt as he considered if it was actually how he felt about her. She was bright, level-headed, and genuinely cared about him, which put her heads and tails above any other witch who had ever tried to squirm their way into his life. Now, this was not enough reason to love someone, but there was something about the way that the young witch made his days so much brighter without even trying. How just the thought of getting to see her smile made any meetings with Voldemort and Dumbledore just that much more worth it.

Not a moment of his day passed where he wasn't thinking of the girl. Whether it was how to keep her from the clutches of Voldemort, or how infectious her smile was, she was always sitting there waiting to be brought forward in his mind. He yearned to be teaching sixth year Defence yet dreaded it at the same time. Severus knew Draco and Hermione had other classes together and the blonde was probably equally enraptured with the witch in those classes too. It pained him to think about Draco stealing glances at her, being able to be seen with her outside class hours without too much suspicion.

Memories flashed through his mind of her otter dancing around her and the genuine beaming grin on her face as she twirled with it. He remembered watching her over his teacup and seeing her eyes light up as she looked over the words of the novel he had leant her. He thought back to the lingering dread he felt when she was in the infirmary, how nothing could have kept him from her side during that time. Her hair was a mess, but it was flattening over time and even if it hadn't she would still be the most captivatingly beautiful witch in all of Europe. It was unlike him, however, to focus on outer beauty, given his lack thereof, but the fact that he was blessed with the attention of someone so stunning made it even harder for him to wrap his mind around. The brightest witch of her age with the kindest heart, unmatched bravery, and loyalty to those she loved that resonated with every action she took. She was cunning, and creative, and found the answers when no one else could.

Hermione Jean Granger deserved the world and he would do everything in his power to provide that to her. Yes, he decided, I love Hermione Granger. With that thought, he immediately spun on his heel and made for the door. He was determined to catch her before she went to sleep worrying about him. I will not let this lie continue, I will tell her everything, he resolved as he glided through the halls and up to the Gryffindor tower, his robes billowing behind him.

Just as he rounded the corner to the Fat Lady's portrait, he saw her figure disappearing behind the painting. The wizard called her name, feeling desperate but using his Occlumency to appear calm and unfeeling with the command. He caught a glimpse of her turning at his voice just as the portal closed and he sighed. Still, he waited, hoping she would come back out.

To his delight, she did.

-x-

Sitting in the Great Hall, Severus was eating his breakfast with the inane chatter of the other professors filling the silence. He didn't mind it this time, though, as he was mentally planning what he could possibly do for the young witch on Valentine's Day. It was unlikely she would stay in the castle for the day, seeing as her friends had been vehement about her attendance with them at Hogsmeade, but he could probably get to her for the evening and do something simple. The least I could do is send her a note, he mused, sipping at his coffee. Just then, Hermione entered the hall and he quickly looked away. While she was unable to use Legillimency, he had never planned something for someone as a surprise and he didn't trust his face not to betray him. There was something about the girl that made his Occlumency shields nearly useless and he was beginning to hate it just as much as he loved it.

Regardless, he allowed himself to appear engaged in a conversation with Minerva and avoided her stare until she was sat with her friends. When he determined she wasn't looking, he took the opportunity to sneak into her thoughts and hope that she was thinking about the coming holiday. When he entered her mind, there was a swirl of thoughts about Draco, which pained him briefly, but he silenced them and attempted to focus on her registration of what her friends were speaking of.

"You're sure you can't come to Hogsmeade with us tomorrow? I know you're supposed to keep warm and all, but you can layer up and cast some warming charms or something," the Weasley girl insisted. Hermione sighed in her thoughts which nearly made Severus laugh as the brunette attempted to come up with an excuse to stay in the castle Friday evening.

"I really can't get sick, and if keeping warm inside the castle is the way to ensure I don't miss any more classes, than that is what will have to happen," she shrugged, poking at her breakfast mindlessly. It was obvious to him that she was lying, but he couldn't tell if it was because of her composure or the fact that he was presently reading all of her thoughts.

"But you love Valentine's Day! You always go on about shitty poetry from old men who are very dead and roses that aren't normal colours," Ginny whined on, making Hermione tense up. I'd have more luck enjoying the day if I were in the castle, unless by some miracle Severus decided to chaperone the Hogsmeade visit. She mentally scoffed at the thought, like that would ever happen. "Ever since I've known you, you always buy roses and make them purple because that was your favourite colour and your mum would always buy you flowers on Valentine's Day." Hermione visibly winced at the comment.

"Well, I'll just conjure my own flowers this year, from the library, where it's warm!" The older witch asserted before she was flogged by the male half of their friend group. Severus pulled out at that moment, having gotten the information he needed.

She is going to be in the castle while most everyone is out being romantic and all that nonsense, he pondered. Part of him felt as though he had taken advantage of her by listening in on her thoughts. But isn't it every muggle man's dream to be able to read his lover's thoughts? The justification didn't sit right with him and he shifted in his place uncomfortably. Poetry from old dead men, purple roses, and warmth it is, Severus determined, mentally planning the date's execution.

-x-

During his break from teaching, Severus made his way to the Room of Requirements for some setting up. He conjured violet rose petals and scattered them about the room, levitating candles around and setting out a blanket and a tea tray with perpetually warmed tea. He requested the room stay slightly above average in temperature and it quickly produced a fire place. The wizard had the fore thought to bring the numerous books he'd purchased for the girl with him and stacked them up on one corner of the blanket. He transfigured a purple bow to sit on top of them and sat down at the desk the room had provided. He summoned some parchment and a red envelope. He scrawled her name in elegant script before moving onto the letter.

Pausing, the brooding man thought of exactly what he would want to say to her that wouldn't necessarily give away his identity should someone snag it from her and read it aloud. He opted, eventually, to charm the letter to have two different wordings depending on who it was that read it. Hastily, he wrote out a quick Valentine's greeting from an unknown source.

Hermione,

I need your love to keep me warm
Like the fires burning inside of us
Pushing us over the edge of insanity
Keeping us so close together in heart
And yet so far apart

Your secret admirer

While it wasn't from an old man, it was poetry of sorts. It was awful and frankly he wasn't sure how he managed to pen such an atrocity, but it would definitely work to cover his identity. Severus Snape would never ever have written something so genuinely terrible in a Valentine to win over a girl. He worked a charm to cover it before writing the true letter to Hermione. Folding it up, he placed it in the envelope and tucked it in his pocket then cast a glamour on the room should anyone choose to need it prior to his use. As the exited the room, he was glad he did.

"Mister Malfoy," he sneered at the boy over his nose as he nearly ran into his godson upon his exit. "What are you doing wandering about the halls during school hours?" He asked, eyeing the blond suspiciously.

"I have a free period, what were you doing in the Room of Requirements?" Draco countered, standing in a way that challenged the professor. With a furrow of his brows, Severus stepped back against the wall.

"Had some work to do for the Dark Lord, and you? What brings you up here?"

"Same thing, I have a plan for the old fool's death," he confided simply to which Severus cocked his brow.

"Oh really? Care to let me in on it?" Severus coaxed.

Draco looked around them cautiously then leaned in to whisper to his Godfather. "I will, when the time is right."

"Very well." With that, they parted ways, and Severus only turned back with the sound of the door vanishing. "What on earth could he need in there?" He whispered, turning back and rushing down to his office.

-x-

When he awoke on Friday, there was a strange buzzing in his stomach that he couldn't quite pinpoint the cause of. Severus was nearly certain it had something to do with his plans for the day, but he brushed it off and readied himself for class. Minerva had found him the night before and filled his free period with one of Slughorn's classes because the old goat was feeling a little bit "under the weather" as the older witch had described. He wasn't terribly torn up about it, it would be nice to do some work with seventh-year potioneers in between his defence lectures with first, second, and third years. In that spirit, the wizard dressed in his usual robes and didn't bother to wash his hair given the strong possibility it would just get greasy again with the potion's class. Thankfully, it was his last class so once that was over he could return to his chambers and shower before his plans with Hermione. He sent off his letter to her from the owlery, disillusioned so he could not be accused of being the sender of the letter if anyone was to have seen him on his mission.

He was waiting for her to enter the Great Hall which was loud with happy chatter. Owls had already come, dropping off a few loads of Valentines and yet none had come for Hermione. He knew it was likely he wasn't the only one that had sent her something, but he was nervous as to the quantity he would have to compete with. Compete, he repeated mentally, there is no competition man, she is yours and you are hers. His thoughts were beginning to disgust him with the level of romance he was holding down, but still, he waited for her arrival impatiently.

When she finally made an appearance, he felt as though his heart stopped. Her hair was smoother, light curls sitting on her shoulders, and she looked even more beautiful than he had ever seen her. The professor attempted to ignore her school uniform, and focus on how bright her eyes looked, even from the distance he was from her. He wanted to get up, right then, and gather her in his arms for a right passionate snog, but he obviously refrained as she took her seat next to her friends. What seemed like hours passed, Severus unable to focus on any conversation as he subtly watched the witch eat her meal. She had still yet to receive any mail from her owl, and it was beginning to worry him. Had the owl messed up? Would someone else get the letter? He had ensured a backup for that very case, but he was still panicking over the idea that she would go the entire day thinking she had gotten absolutely no Valentines, even from her friends.

Just as breakfast was coming to an end, an owl flew overhead and dropped a rather hefty stack of letters in front of her to her obvious shock, and to his. Severus couldn't help but smile for a brief second, watching her as she tucked them in her bag and rushed out of the hall. He saw, if only as a flash before she stashed it away, a red envelope like the one he had sent her, and relief flushed over him. Refreshed, he stood and made his way to his first class.

During his lunch break, he made a quick trip to the room of requirements to check on his set up, and thankfully all was as he'd left it. Whatever Draco had been doing didn't disturb his charms and the Room had helped in the hiding process. As he was returning, he sent glares to students holding hands and barked at those hiding in alcoves, snogging. It was a wretched day. The thickness of the shrowd full of teenage hormones hanging in the air could suffocate anyone and he always dreaded the day each year. This one, however, was not so awful and he almost had to force himself to seem angry at the couples. While it was truly uncomfortable to be witness to, with every snog he interrupted, he couldn't help but think of his own witch fondly.

As he rounded a corner to head back to his class room after lunch, he was very much lost in a day dream that he had started over his meal. He thought about her reactions to his set up later that evening and exactly what she would do about it. He wasn't exactly expecting her to fall into his arms and snog him into oblivion or anything ridiculous. In fact, he was mostly hoping they would have a nice quiet evening with tea and books, just like they had before he made a mess of things. He sighed at the memory. While kissing her was possibly the best thing he had done in his adult life, it was also the worst. I do stupid things when I believe everything will be taken away from me, he remarked, pulling open his classroom door and marching up to the front.

The room was empty and he frowned, casting a tempus charm. It wasn't even through lunch yet. Time is just getting away from me, he acknowledged, sitting down in his desk seat and working through some papers he had been procrastinating grading. He found himself being oddly nice with his reviews and went back to harshen his marks when the students began filing in. Begrudgingly, he pushed aside the pile of papers in favour of teaching. I'll just have to go over them this weekend instead, he surmised, poising himself at the front of the class and mentally taking attendance.

-x-

When he had finally banished the last seventh year from the class room, he was nearing exhaustion. For students looking to pursue potions in their career, they are downright awful at it, he grumbled as he rushed back to his chambers to shower. He felt gross, as though a layer of filth had grown on him and was very glad to slide under the heated water. If Slughorn is doing this awful at his job, Hermione might still need more help in potions to make her education worth it at all. The thought of the witch brought forth her image in his mind from breakfast. As he scrubbed his hair, he imagined her in the shower with him, kissing him as the water fell over their naked bodies.

The water fell between their lips and the soap ran down her neck and over her chest. The smoothness of her skin against his drew his arousal as she pressed into him. Her hand snaked up his leg, to grab a hold of his member and begin stroking it slowly, her lips never leaving his. A throaty groan escaped his mouth into hers as he attempted to position his hardened cock against the soft flesh of her hips.

"Fuck," he cursed as shampoo managed to get into his eye. Severus rinsed his hair and his face quickly, realizing his arousal had extended past his day dreams and he debated helping himself off before his meeting with Hermione but thought better of it. The water became cold with a flick of his wrist and he allowed himself a moment to calm down before stepping out of the shower. He hastily towel-dried his hair and body.

Feeling a furry object rub against his leg, he jumped back, nearly falling into the toilet and gasping loudly. The ginger ball of fur that Hermione called her familiar was purring in his bathroom, looking up at him expectantly. "What do you want?" Severus grunted, summoning some clean robes and dressing as the cat watched. He had fully expected the cat to run out the door when he had dressed enough to open it, but the feline remained firmly planted by Severus' fireplace. The wizard sighed and continued dressing, magically drying his hair and flattening it out before checking himself in the mirror. He would never be satisfied with his appearance, but he looked enough like how he normally did that whatever it was about him that Hermione was attracted to would still be present.

When he was ready to go, Severus opened the door and felt the half-Kneazle push passed him. The cat pattered off ahead of him, looking back to make sure he was following. Defeated, Severus walked behind him. "Lead the way, cat." They winded through the halls, and Severus quickly picked up on where they were headed: the library. He pondered whether he ought to disillusion himself, in case he was seen following around Hermione's familiar, and resigned himself to casting the charm. He entered the room and the ginger feline stayed by his side as he looked at the scene before him.

Hermione launched herself into the arms of Draco Malfoy and kissed him.

That terrible poem was brought to you by dating advice's 7 worst love poems. It was chosen because of the Hermione gif they used under the example. I'm really bad at poetry so I didn't dare come up with an original.