Authors note: Hope you are enjoying this. If anyone likes this, I have a Oneshot called Shipwrecked. It's also SS/HG I love writing them. Also if anyone has any suggestions for a new story let me know. This one is done. I am just editing and posting at this point.

"Hermione your new room is set up it is on the far east side of the castle it is between Severus' rooms and my own, so Severus can show you along the way." Minerva smiled.

Severus showed her down the long hallway, she was excited to see her new rooms and was hoping they were half the sizes of Severus' room. When she got to her door she noticed a frame but there was no painting or anything and she was confused.

"Severus, where is my painting it's usually portrait or an animal?" Hermione asked worried.

"Haven't you lugged Hogwarts a History around with you long enough to know that it picks you, it on chapter 45 paragraph 6. Severus said in all seriousness."

Hermione looked at him funny she has read that book every year and there is only 43 chapters. She quickly slapped his arm! "Funny, Severus, just tell me what to do!"

Severus knew joke time was over and told her the instructions. She lightly touched her hand to the middle of where the painting would be, and she had to think of the worst moment of her life the happiest moment of her life the person she loved the most and the person she hated the most she also had name her favorite color, season and her one true best friend.

Hermione closed her eyes and thought of the worst moment of her life the moment her parents no longer remembered her, the best moment of her life was the day after she returned there memories and they still loved her. The person she loved the most, that was a difficult question because she couldn't chose her mother over her father, and in the greatest love she knew was that of Harry Potter, his love of the wizarding world, and his friends. She then said "blue, Ginny Weasley."

She knew she and Ginny didn't go out with each other as much as her and Ron but they were brothers to her not best friends. Ginny was her friend who knew everything, including the things she wouldn't dare tell Ron and Harry. As soon as her word finished she had a beautiful sea side painting with a mermaid swimming in its waters.

"You are true and wise not only to yourself but to others, you are a free spirit who stands up for what you believe and you don't take no for an answer, and though you may not be as graceful as you wish to be. I am Narcilla and I will be with you until you depart from this place." The beautiful mermaid began.

Hermione blushed at this intimate moment she was having with Narcilla as Severus watched in the background. "Thank you Narcilla, this world you're in is so beautiful thank you for sharing yourself with me." Hermione replied.

Severus watched from a far letting her connect with her painting, Mermaid paintings are rare, not only because they are rare, but most don't show up in Hogwarts. Severus shook his head as she walked through to her rooms.

He couldn't believe how her room was setup it was eerily close to his with a slightly larger sitting room enough for five or six. The room was beautiful shades of red and gold to show her true loyalty to Gryffindor. She had a beautiful fireplace with an ornate mantel that was gold, and the fire roared lively red. The couch was red and very fluffy the walls were adorned with bookshelves. There was a large table with chairs with the most assortment of teas he had ever seen in his life things he had never seen before. He saw two other doors one had to be a bathroom and the other the bed room. He saw Hermione look over all the teas and smile. She looked back and him and smiled. She grabbed his hand as she opened the room to her bedroom. The room was wonderfully colored with blues of the ocean, and the windows had a view of a large pillar with mountains and far to the left a bit of the lake.

"It's amazing! I love this castle. Hermione gasped. Severus smiled at her and admired her for just a few seconds. She was truly an amazing women. He knew she was a lot younger than himself and boy did that show, but in a good way. She smiled and enjoyed the simplest things in life.

"Thank you Severus this is amazing, I know you didn't do this but thank you for experiencing this with me." Severus did say anything he grinned slightly. Severus went to walk out the door and Hermione said "I'll see you at dinner."

Severus shut the door and for the first time Hermione Granger was on her own by herself in days. The moment after the door closed she could hear the silence. She got cold chills but quickly went back to taking everything in. Looking at the beautiful teas and scanning the bookshelf to see if any of her books were missing. Eyeing Crookshanks who had a large bed he had been sleeping in. He was surprised to see her and immediately went to see his owner.

Dinner time came soon and Hermione found herself sitting in her usual spot next to Severus. She wasn't sure how he would react or any of the other professors Hagrid just smiled at her and gave her an almost bone-crushing hug. "Congratulations 'Mione I knew you and Snape there could do it." Hermione smiled up at him and received many comments of what a great job she and Severus had done, getting her parents memory back.

Hermione ate in relative silence once the food came not knowing what to say to Severus they had only just departed and went separate ways a few hours ago and Minerva was going on about their trip. Finally after 45 minutes she excused herself. She was tired and all she wanted was sleep. There had been so much excitement and she was ready for a break.

Hermione laid in her new bed but she had to admit she had grown used to Severus there with her. She had problems sleeping that night and when she woke in the morning she felt terrible. She decided to forgo breakfast all together. She knew that she had to go help Severus even though she felt bad so she put herself together but on a pair of jeans and a tight fitting top and went to the lab.

Hermione entered the room and saw Severus cleaning off the desks he looked like his normal self he still wasn't wearing a robe which made her smirk. She liked him much better without it. He seemed more open and free he wasn't hiding behind all the darkness. Severus turned around to look at Hermione.

"You weren't at breakfast are you hungry?" Severus said concerned.

Hermione was surprised by his question, of course, they became closer after the trip, but she was shocked he even asked.

"No I'm fine thank you I didn't sleep well and I'm not really hungry. Where do you need me today?" Hermione ask.

"Follow me." And into the store rooms both of them went. She looked at the room of course she had been in here 100 times before but it looked different dirty, unkempt and dangerously low on supplies.

"I see." Hermione said.

"I know it's no excuse, but I really haven't done anything to the supply in over a year, to be honest, I didn't think I would be here at this time, and this would be none of my concern."

When Severus said those word her heart skipped a beat. She really could not imagine Severus not being here. He had done so much for everyone and especially her. She said nothing as she took a deep breath and let Severus continue.

"If you could help log what we have and make sure it's still suitable for use that would be a start. I'll work on this shelf if you work on that one. Severus said and turned to the shelf and started with the highest shelf. Hermione did the same on her tip toes she reached for potions careful not to drop anything. As she moved to the second shelf it was much easier and she continued until she found an unmarked odd blue liquid.

"Severus, what is this?" Hermione asked.

Severus turned quickly to look at what she was holding.

"I really don't know some type degraded plant I suppose. Whatever you do don't drop it and we'll dispose of it properly." Hermione shook her head adding more containers to the pile with the odd blue one, they were far less mysterious old dried up leaves that should have been fresh or dried out eye of rat. Once finished the stock room was in desperate need of new things.

Severus said a spell that made anything in the containers inert then tossed the in the trash bin. Severus wrote a list of everything he needed.

"Hermione would you like to accompany me into town today, I will get several things in the forbidden forest the next few days, but there are several things I just can't get on my own." Hermione quickly agreed to go with him and no sooner did she yes Severus was headed to the door an on his way to the gates of Hogwarts.

When the couple got into Hogesmead Hermione felt odd, she had never really been here with a professor before and her mind started to race of course they spent time in Australia but this was home would he treat her different and how was she supposed to act. She quickly noticed Severus was half way down the block as she ran to catch up with him.

The first place they entered was place she had never been on the opposite side of town it didn't have any potions it just had row after row of ingredients to make them. It smelled slightly of mint and dried blood. It was a truly wonderful place and Hermione wandered around looking and soaking everything in it was beautiful.

Severus watched as Hermione was truly amazed by the whole thing and smiled. She was really something special. Severus thought as she browsed through the good and bad things the shop had to offer. He was in such a daze from watching her he didn't realize that they had been there for over an hour. So he quickly grabbed what they needed, grabbed Hermione and headed back to the more familiar part of town.

It was way past lunch and almost dinner time as they walked by the Three Broomsticks. Hermione smelled the food that was cooking and looked at the crowds. Severus noticed he too was quite hungry so he asked Hermione, "Will this be an okay place to eat." Hermione nodded excitedly and they went into the pub. Hermione loved this place, ever since she first went in it. They got a menu and both ordered the fish and chips. Hermione and Severus talked about the things he bought in the previous shop and lightly gossiped about the other staff. Hermione swore Severus smiled when she told him about the time when Ginny and Harry were messing around with Flitch. She loved the way he was when he was around her and just wished this is how he could be with everyone.

They made one last stop to the book store. Hermione knew she should watch the time or she would be in there until the next morning if the shop owner would let her. So she went through the books she always picked 2 to take home. Hermione reached for a new charms book one she hadn't seen before something new, not how to create new charms but how to use less wand waving which she laughed at it, may be a gift for Severus. She looked through the books again and noticed a dark purple book having to do with magical creatures. It was very pretty book but looked rather old the pictures were beautiful but the price was over 3 times her usual spending a month for the month! So she quickly pushed back into its place.

Severus saw what she did and walked over to her; he looked at the title. "You have good tastes in books Hermione, that's one of my favorites, and I have it if you want to borrow it."
Hermione's face lit up! "Really you'd let me borrow it, are you sure?"

Severus rolled his eyes and walked away. Hermione continued to look and found a new book called "Guide to the Muggle World: How to Travel without being known." She laughed and thought she would read it for the comedy. She grabbed it as well and found a waiting Severus Snape at the counter.

They bought their books and slowly walked towards Hogwarts. Hermione was content and Severus looked at ease when they walked together. When they got back to the castle the sun was setting and both were exhausted they said there good nights at Hermione's door and went to sleep.

Once again Hermione went on tossing and turning missing the presence Severus Snape. When she awoke in the morning she felt horrible. Her hair was a disaster with all the tossing and turning and her eyes were so dark it looked as if she had worn heavy eyeliner to bed. She looked out her windows the Sun was midway in the sky and she sighed. She got up took a shower and dressed. She went to her sitting room and found the most caffeinated tea she could find. Finally she went through her bag and found a vile of pepper up potion.

She went to the kitchen's got a bagel and walked slowly to Severus's lab with the heavily caffeinated tea in her hand. When she walked in the room Severus had a long parchment of supply's listed flowing down his desk.

"What do you need to find in the forbidden forest, the whole thing?" She asked.

"Honestly just about, and no eating or drinking in the lab." He said.

Hermione took a step out the door and finished her tea. With a flick of her want the cup was gone and she walked back in the room with Severus glaring at her.

Hermione and Severus went through the forbidden forest grabbing almost anything that they could see. It took all day and half the night, something's could only be collected by the moon light. It was late almost 2am when they got back, Hermione wasn't sure if she was more hungry or tired. They went into the lab and set everything down. Severus looked over at Hermione he could tell she was extremely tired.

"This can wait until morning, do you want something to eat?" Severus ask.

Hermione wasn't sure, but she did not even though they had spent all day together she enjoyed his company very much so she shook her head and they went to his private rooms.

Hermione sat at the very small table on the far edge of Severus's sitting room. He called for an elf who took the order of food. Hermione was excited to have hash browns, she had a sudden craving and was now extremely hungry. As they waited for food Severus started to talk.

"I'm sorry I thought we would make the plant collecting a 2-day thing but I got so involved, you know you could have said something!" Severus said.

"I know but I enjoyed it too, and to be honest, it's not like I'm sleeping at this time anyway," Hermione said.

Severus looked at her strangely. "I can't sleep I've been having trouble, for a while now." 'Ever since I stopped sleeping with you.' She thought.

"Why not take some potion for dreamless sleep?" Severus ask.

"It's not the dreams that keep me awake; I just can't sleep," Hermione said.

"Well, why not take a sleeping draught." He asked.

Hermione bit her lip and face tuned a slight pink. "I um, well I am immune to most any of them now, during 4th year I became addicted really, and I had to quit taking them. Then while we were out during the war I took it just to sleep for an hour, none of them work on me anymore, and I really don't feel like being addicted again." Hermione said.

"I see, well no mind; I too cannot use them," Severus said.

Food came to them and they slowly ate in silence. It was time for Hermione to go back to her room, maybe she could some sleep tonight. Hermione got up from her chair, but Severus had other plans.

"Hermione it's late you can sleep here, you can have the bed. Severus said.

"Please, I'm right down the hall, and it's your bed. I'm not kicking you out of it." Hermione claimed.

"Fine, we will both sleep in the bed, just come to bed Hermione." Severus sighed.

Hermione felt like her dream had come true she has missed this since she got back but she didn't want to act so needy, so she went to the bathroom changed her clothes into sleep pants and at shirt and walked into the room. Severus still had the lights on so Hermione could easily see. His bed was a large king size bed with blue comforter similar to hers. The room was shades of orange and blue and it looked like a sunset. His room was beautiful. Hermione smiled at Severus allowing her intrude on his space. She easily climbed in to his bed, that seemed eerily like the hotel bed, maybe had put a charm on it she thought. Severus turned the lights off and got into bed as well. Hermione automatically got closer to him. She ended up huddled beside him. He didn't move her and allowed her to fall asleep at his side as he fell asleep as well. It was the first time in a long time either have had such a peaceful sleep.

Hermione surprisingly woke up first and was quickly embarrassed Hermione had her leg overtop of his and her hand was around his stomach. She didn't want to wake him but she didn't just want to lay here like this even though it felt so comfortable. She moved her hand first but Severus woke up to her movement and both let a nervous sigh. Severus was trying to move away quickly due the hardness in his pants but Hermione's leg was still wrapped around him and instead of hiding it his hardness ran up her leg and she felt it for the first time.

Hermione's heart was pounding. She was surprisingly excited by this, and when Severus got up out of bed.

"Hermione I am so sorry!" Severus said.

Hermione put on her Gryffindor brave face. She quickly got out of the bed as he walked out of the room ashamed. "What, are you sorry for, I like it." She whispered. Then Hermione Granger reached up and kissed him on the mouth Severus stepped back wards dizzy with emotion. Severus stopped the kiss. "Hermione" he lightly whined. "We really shouldn't be doing this." He said. "But we are." She replied. They continued to kiss.

Severus allowed her to gently kiss him he kissed right back. It was the most erotic thing he has done in years and he loved the feel of his body covering hers. He knew this was wrong but at the moment he didn't care he needed this, and by the way she was acting Hermione did too.

Hermione wanted nothing more to try to get him back in bed, but she didn't want to move that fast, she didn't want him to think she was just doing this for shag. She really did want to be with him and maybe she should have talked to him first but it was too late now she was already in his mouth.

After a few minutes she broke away from him, he was visibly relaxed for only a second then went to stressed out mode. "Hermione Granger, what on earth were you thinking, you just…"

"Severus, I'm sorry really I am, if this isn't something you want, I just, I really like being with you and to be honest that's the first time I slept since I got here."

"Hermione you're half my age, it's (he checked the time) 10 am," he screamed realizing how late it is.

"Severus I know how old you are, and I know old I am, but I did not realize it was 10 am."

"Hermione I was supposed to meet with Minerva 15 minutes ago any minute now she'll be pounding on my door!"

Hermione's lungs deflated, of course she knew they were doing nothing wrong, but she did not want to deal with Minerva, this shouldn't be the way she finds out anything. She took a deep breath in trying to inflate her lungs it took a few times but she succeeded.

"Well, it's not like you did anything wrong you slept in," Hermione said.

"I haven't slept in since I've been in Hogwarts."

"No wonder you're so cruel in morning potions." She said half-heartedly.

Severus said nothing but looked through his closet finding something to wear.

"Please, Hermione just go before she finds us we'll talk later."

Hermione just nodded, she opened the door to find no other than Minerva getting ready to knock.

Minerva gave her the strangest look, Hermione never even looked in the mirror to see what she looked like. Then she remembered she was most certainly still in pajamas.

"MISS GRANGER, WHAT ON EARTH ARE YOU DOING HERE?" Minerva screamed.

It was loud enough for Severus to here. "Fuck" he said out aloud. He quickly got dressed.

Hermione's mind raced for excuses but could not find one to explain why she was in Severus's private rooms in pajama's and Severus had yet to make his presence known. She tried to stay calm. Nothing she was doing was wrong she reminded herself, nothing was wrong.

"Severus and I got back in very late from picking things from the forbidden forest. He told me I could stay here, I just now woke up." She said.

Minerva looked at her oddly.

"He asked you to stay?" she questioned.

"Yes, he is such a considerate friend," Hermione said.

McGonagall couldn't believe the words she was saying.

"Are you sure you are talking about Severus Snape, the one I've known since he was 11?"

"The very same, he's been so good to me Minerva, we're getting along so much so I would like to work with him in the potions lab if he ever needed me too."

Minerva didn't say anything, and suddenly Severus came through the door looking board like he flipped a switch, it sort of scared Hermione but she said nothing.

"Minerva please forgive me it seems that for the first time I've slept in," Severus said.

"Well we all need a break now in again, I was checking to see if you were okay, the only reason why was meeting with you was to make sure you were ready for next week, but it looks like with you keeping Hermione up all night you have gotten a lot done."

Hermione said nothing and just watched as they talked.

"Yes she has been very helpful, we will be bottling the ingredients today."

"Very well." Minerva turned to look at Hermione, she appeared fine, so Minerva continued, Miss Granger I would like to see you tomorrow morning so we can discuss you schedule.

"Of course Minerva, I'll be there whenever you need me too."

"Well let's make it 9am do try not to be late." Minerva smiled

The door closed and Severus visibly relaxed. Severus sat down in the couch and Hermione sat down beside him. She nervously took his hand in hers. He didn't flinch away like Hermione expected and took it as a good sign. She slowly started leaning on him, which he also allowed.

"Are you sure you want to do this," Severus ask.

"Severus, I always think before I act, I'm sure," Hermione said.

"What will people think, I guess another tick to my long list of wrong doings." Severus sighed.

"Severus come on, it's not like there is anything wrong with it, after all, I'm the one who just perused you, and to be honest I've fancied you for a very long time."

Severus genuinely laughed, "Since when?"

Hermione didn't know the answer to the question. She knew after the war she truly wanted to get to know him better, she always loved his passion for potions even if he wasn't always helpful to the students.

"I really don't know exactly when, but I always admired you for your love of potions. You saved Harry, Ron and I so many times to count. I know you never had to do any of it. Harry was your only goal but you also saved Ron and me. I think though when I realized I wanted to be friends with you is when I was asked to be an assistant. I knew I wanted something more right before we found my parents."

"Hermione, are you sure you're not confusing the feelings you have for me for the excitement of having your parent's back?" Severus asked honestly.

"I really thought that way at first too, but I haven't been sleeping without you and last night when it felt normal to lay beside you, I was comfortable, and I slept, that's when I knew."

Severus looked down at the hand she was rubbing, he could not believe that Hermione Granger liked him. There have been stranger things though. So he looked her in the eyes for several seconds searching for the truth in her eyes, when he found it he reached in and kissed with a passion Hermione had never felt. It felt like she was melting in to him.

Hermione went to her room for the first time since last night to find a very angry Crookshanks meowing for food. Bottling ingredients went as expected. Hermione quickly fed the poor cat and went to shower. She got ready for dinner not wanting to look dressed up, but she also wanted to look nice for Severus. So she added a bit of gloss to her lips and wore a nice shirt instead of the t-shirts she had been wearing the rest of the week.

When she got down to the hall, she sat across from Severus and talked to him about some other preparation that needed to be done, and she spoke to Hagrid about possible time she could help him with his classes.

Minerva only glared at Hermione and Severus for just a minute before enjoying her food. Severus and Hermione talked very little while they ate. Hermione wasn't really sure what to say or do she was more nervous than she ever has been around him. All she knew is as soon as he left she would have to follow suite. As soon as he ate his last bite he was gone and Hermione followed just a minute later. She ran as fast as she could to catch up with. When she got to him she whispered.

"Have some tea with me?"

Severus looked weary, unsure of what to say they walked toward her room. He looked at her one more time and followed her into the door. Crookshanks eyed him wearily, and Hermione laughed.

"I guess you have to pass Crookshanks test," Hermione said.

Severus was a little annoyed by the orange cat eyeing him, when Crookshanks came near him he bent down to him and petted him, Crookshanks allowed the man to pet him, and when he went to sit down, Crookshanks jumped in his lap.

"OH SEVERUS, HE NEVER DOES THAT!" Hermione squealed.

"What a good boy," she said and quickly found a treat for him as she pets him he began to purr.

"He must like you a lot Severus he isn't fond of Ron, but he deals with Harry pretty well," Hermione said.

"Well your cat has good taste." Severus said to her. Crookshanks purred as Severus pet him and waited for the tea to brew.

Hermione and Severus talked and talked about potions and other professors, how she should deal with Hagrid and Minerva. She already had told her she wouldn't help with defense class, it was still too fresh in her mind. Some professor's didn't want her help and she excepted that it sounded like it was going to be a lot of Minerva, Hagrid, Severus, and Poppy had ask for her help. She was also to be a tutor of sorts conducting her own class in the evenings. She wasn't sure of where she would be, when and that was something she had Minerva would decide tomorrow.

Hermione was tired and wanted Severus to stay, she embarrassingly asked him to stay, and he agreed.

Hermione got ready for bed quickly showering and changing into a t-shirt and shorts. Severus admired not only the view of her body but also the view from her room the night sky glowing into the room was beautiful and even though he was just the next room down it was if the moon lines up precisely for her.

Severus was nervous about staying in her room, but as soon as she was in bed, everything was fine.

"Severus, do you think what we're doing is wrong?" Hermione asked as she laid there.

"Honestly, most of the time, yes Hermione I do, but since when has thought stopped Me," he said flatly.

"Oh Severus, please don't take it the wrong way, I do enjoy this more than anything, just being with you, but it feels like a big secret, that I don't like having." Hermione said

Severus said nothing, there was nothing to consul her worry so he just pulled her closer to him. Hermione relaxed and drifted to sleep.

The next morning Hermione was in Minerva's office talking about classes. Hermione took in her schedule, it was a long time to be with Minerva or Hagrid not that she didn't enjoy their company, but she wasn't so sure how she would work with them, and even though she has slowly gained affection for Severus she has no idea how he would react to her help.