It wasn't like the man felt nothing, even if he had been trained to. The guilt of placing one of his students in such promiscuous circumstances often pricked at him from the inside. That's why he avoided any awkward interaction and attempted to establish himself as Professor whenever he could. Although he knew that she knew as a good student. She would never tell a soul, even if he were wicked. And that fact made his stomach turn even more. He tried to remind himself that the girl's Gryffindor actions were the catalyst to this whole situation. His mind didn't have much time to wander on that subject due to the unbreakable vow that he had made which was now approaching completion. Dumbledore knew of it. The old wizard even supported the effort, stating that his death must not fail. Snape often thought that if he had been afforded the same easy escape he would have accepted as quickly and confidently as Dumbledore had. The only escape Severus had now came with the Granger girl.

It was a grey afternoon in February. As Snape stepped down the hallway, many first years squealed and others fled towards the large glass windows for safety. Even if he did hate the ingrates, one good thing about his job and reputation was that no one would bother him. Except for her. Come to mention it, there were a lot of red boxes out and people stuffing their faces with sweets. The whole air of the castle was making him sick. It must have been Valentine's Day.

Snape was seeking something to block out the visions of students snogging in the corner, there were spells to make them invisible didn't they know? As he searched his mind, the imagery that Hermione's occlumency displayed itself. It was quite the pretty picture. Is that what she did in her spare time? Nuzzle up in the Gryffindor tower on her four-poster bed, pull back the curtains, cast a mufflatio and dream up notions about the two of them? He swallowed as thoughts came to his mind. What would she wear, pajamas or her day clothes? Would she close her eyes or keep them open? Would she touch herself? Did she know how, could she bring herself to the brink of pleasure? Did he have to teach her-

An arm collided into his with a sudden shock. Suddenly, books and parchment were sprawled out on the corridor floor. As he looked into Hermione's wide auburn eyes Snape knew that something was off; she wasn't apologizing or bending to pick up her secondary spell literature, she was just staring at him, searching him with disbelief.

"Miss Granger, you should only carry the amount of books that won't impede your vision." He tried to be scathing.

The sides of her mouth were upturning, and the gears in her mind were turning. What was this?

"I saw." She whispered.

"Saw what, Miss Granger? Speak up." A crowd was gathering, although be it far off due to fear of Snape's aura.

"Occlumency, Professor." She stately in an even and calm tone, "I was just working on the defense against occlumency paper you had assigned. It should be on your desk by this evening."

No, that couldn't-

This had to be sorted out.

"By no later than 21:00, or your house will have you to blame for points deducted."

"Yes, sir."

Snape turned on his heel, walking away from the glaring eyes. He hoped that the insufferable flock hadn't seen the warmth now spreading through his upper body.

He later saw her again that day in D.A.D.A. Out of the corner of his eye he could see the Weasley boy mumbling something and handing over a box wrapped in newspaper. What could he possibly have to give her? And he wasn't only thinking presents. The boy often irritated her and Snape could see it. Now, she had a silly grin and a blush spreading on her cheeks. Weasley had a really stupid look on his face. Potter also leaned over to join the fun and handed her one of his many chocolates, from secret admirers he was sure. There was something growing in the pit of his stomach that he thought he had strangled many years ago.

A knock came at his chamber door ten minutes before his prescribed time. It was a good thing that he had potions to cure anxiety, because without them this moment would be a lot harder.

"Come." He stated.

He was expecting her to have done something stupid like dress up or put on muggle makeup to impress him for their meeting. But no, it was simply Hermione Granger. He didn't know if it was for the better or for the worse the way she naturally shone from behind those tangled locks.

Snape cast a spell to lock the door behind her and keep their conversation from prying ears. He wanted to get straight to the heart of the matter. "What did you see?"

Hermione had prepared herself for this. "You were teaching me."

"Is that all?" He tried not to give into the relief edging at him.

"In my bedroom." All he could see were her cherry lips when she spoke those words. The image looped in his mind as he struggled to come up with a Snape-like retort.

"Are you certain?" Was all that he could manage.

"Absolutely. It's vivid in my mind." She was resisting a smile. At least she was trying to maintain her role.

"It appears that now my occlumency can jump to you as well." Snape divulged. There was no use outwitting teenagers in this matter.

"There's something else that I've noticed, Professor." She stated.

"And what is that?" This was remotely peculiar.

"The occlumency jump results from thoughts of passion."