I would love to see a chapter about how Hermione and Severus realized that they were soulmates

and

Hermione and Severus finding out they are soulmates and they handle the news

A soulmate? He barely believed that such a thing could exist and it bloody happened to him.

A bushy haired, buck toothed, 12 year old Gryffindor. Gods, he was 31! Why would the fates pair them, of all people, to each other? What did he do to deserve something like this?

Probably a lot, to be honest, he thought to himself.

"She won't always be 12," Minerva liked to remind him.

She knew. Of course she knew, she saw it happen. She felt the pulse of magic go through the room with the two epicenters being Hermione and Severus. Thank Gods they were the only two in the room who would have enough sense to understand what was happening. The children most likely attributed the pulse of magic to excitement.

At least he hoped they did.

The last thing he needed was a bunch of dunderheaded children starting rumors about what had happened.

He wasn't attracted to her. Not in that way, at least.

He shuddered at the thought.

He had to admit, though, that she was brilliant.

"There is very little known about soulmates. It is believed that every living person has a soul mate, although it is incredibly rare for them to ever meet. There are three known types of soul pairs: magical, non-magical, and hybrid. Because non-magical soul pairs are unaware of magic, they are often also unaware that they are paired. They may just feel a strong attraction and compatibility with one another. Hybrid soul pairs involve one magical and one non-magical being. A magical soul pair is the most powerful of the three.

"The first encounter of a magical soul pair is known as the Oculi Tactus, quite literally meaning "eye touch". It is when the pair first make eye contact. This encounter is often overlooked as it is usually followed by a single pulse of magic that often could have another explanation. The pair may begin to notice an attraction, but it is not always sexual. The bond is not yet fully solidified so there is not yet a need to be near one another, merely a want.

"The second encounter is the first physical touch, or Cutus Tactus, and is harder to ignore. The pair are the only ones that feel this pulse and they feel it in their entire being."

"What are you reading, 'Mione?" Ron asked. "You haven't brought your nose up from that book for almost three hours."

"Nothing, Ronald. Go back to your barbaric chess game."

He threw his arms out wide, shielding the three behind him. In truth, his initial reaction was to only protect Hermione; the other two just happened to be next to her.

That idiot, Potter, took off after the wolf anyways. Hermione lurched after Harry but Severus grabbed her wrist without even thinking about it.

Shit.

How could he be so stupid.

He felt the pulse of magic rush through them as her eyes widened. He saw the realization hit her. Severus brought one long finger to his mouth and shook his head. He locked eyes with her and gently slipped into her mind.

We'll discuss this another time, Miss Granger. Please, speak of it to no one.

All she could do was nod.

"How long have you known?"

Severus sat leaning against the edge of his desk. He had given Hermione "detention" as an excuse for her presence in his classroom after school hours.

"Since your first year," he answered. He narrowed his eyes and crossed his arms. "How long have you suspected?"

She was too brilliant, he knew, to not have noticed at least something before.

Hermione smirked. "Since the first time I visited the Weasley's. Ron had said that his parents were soulmates and I was fascinated. I asked them how they knew at first and they called it the first pulse; a magical burst of energy they felt when they first saw each other. I remember feeling that when I saw you my first day here, but at the time, I had passed it off as excitement."

"What made you finally think it was something more than just excitement?"

"I found you incredibly alluring. And it's not just your voice, as so many others my age have based their crushes on, although it is quite something."

Severus cleared his throat. Learning that children had "crushes" on him was a bit uncomfortable, if not unbelievable.

Hermione gave him a small laugh and continued. "It was like there was as strange pull. I wanted to be near you. I cared far more about how I did in Potions than in any other class."

"This affinity is supposed to be incredibly rare. I haven't found much on the subject."

"Neither have I."

"But what I have found is that soul mates tend to be extremely co-dependent on each other. They need to be near each other or risk suffering anima languorem which often ends in death.

"The pull is quite strong. Adractus, I believe is what he called it. I think it's gotten worse since the second contagio."

"Contagio," she considered, "Infection and touch. How appropriate."

"Indeed," he agreed.

"Who else knows?" she asked.

"Minerva and Albus. They saw it happen and were the only two bright enough to figure it out one their own. How about you? Any of your imbeciles that are privy to this?"

Hermione shook her head and smirked. "My imbeciles are too oblivious to ever figure any of this out, thankfully."

"I think the Order will eventually have to know. It will have to be Secret Kept, of course, but I think they can better protect you with this knowledge."

"And what about you?"

"I've already dug my grave and I am a hair's breadth away from falling into it. If we were ever found out, I'm as good as dead anyways, but I will do all that I can to ensure that you do not follow me."

"You don't think you'll make it through the war?" she almost whispered.

"Who says there's going to be another war?" Severus asked.

Hermione narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms. Almost in the same fashion as him, he noticed.

He sighed. "It is highly unlikely that I live through the next war. And even if I do, Azkaban will have a cell with my name on it."

Hermione shivered.

This one was pretty easy to crank out. Reviews and/or prompts are welcome :)