A/N; Thank you to everyone who reviewed. Love you guys :D

He didn't know why, or what possessed him to. He just leaned for ward and kissed her. Hard, passionately, hungrily, forcefully. He held her against him possessively; her body limp in his arms. He was quite certain if he should let go she would fall to the floor. But that wasn't an option. He kept kissing her, he had to. He was being driven by some primal urge.

And then she quite literally shoved him away.

They stared at each other for a moment, both breathing heavily

"What the hell was that?" she asked looking at him like he was a madman.

He was not ready for the calculating glace he began to receive from her, she didn't seem outraged or upset. She looked confused. He could have dealt with her being annoyed or revolted. But just to look at him confused, asking him why with those damn big eyes, the downright nerve of her.

He looked at her and scowled.

"Well?" she huffed impatiently putting her hands on her hips.

All fear she may have had two minutes ago had now been thrown out the window. She didn't care that he was her professor, hell he had just crossed that line himself.

He stood there for a moment surveying the young woman in front of him.

Hermione gave an exasperated sigh and rolled her eyes. She gave the potions master one last confused glance before brushing past him and down the corridor. He turned to watch her leave. As he did so she shouted back down the hall to him.

"Crazy flaming idiot" she said and she was gone.

IIIII

Severus paced the corridors at record speed, he was infuriated. Why on earth had he done that? Part of him knew why, but he was no where near even entertaining those thoughts right now.

He rounded a corner and found himself outside his classroom, making his way inside he took a seat behind his big oak desk.

After a moments pause he put his head in his hands.

'Infuriating little witch' he thought to himself. Why did she have to be so damn…so damn? So damn stupid that's what she was. Bravery didn't even come into it. It was stupidity, stupid to think that she could find a solution to every unanswered question, stupid to think she could offer her help and assistance, stupid to suggest herself as a sacrifice and stupid not to look terrified when he had kissed her.

Troublesome, meddlesome, irritating, captivating, absorbing little witch.

IIIII

She had run all the way to the Gryffindor tower. How her legs had remained steady as she walked past him she didn't know, inside she was sure her bones had turned to mush.

Why on earth had he kissed her?

Was it meant to scare her, threaten her? Did he usually do that to his students when he was really annoyed with them and they had overstepped the mark? Why her, he hated her right?

At least she had told him of her plan, and whether Dumbledore liked it or not it was up to him now. That was one weight off her mind, all she needed to now was forgive Ron (or rather apologise) and prepare herself for the ball later tonight.

Just as she stood making her way over to her bedroom door, there came a knock.

"Hermione it's me" came Ginny's voice through the wood.

"Come in" she said.

"What's going on? The boys are worried about you" the littlest Weasley said looking concerned.

"Ginny Weasley" Hermione smiled, "do you know how much like your mother you are?"

"Oh gee, thanks Hermione" Ginny said sarcastically

"Nothings wrong with me" Hermione sighed, "Just nervous about the graduation party tonight I suppose"

"I thought you said it wasn't a party" Harry smiled from the door.

Hermione beamed at her best friend, "oh Harry, I'm so sorry about the way I behaved I didn't mean to, I was just stressing, you know, because of the ball and all".

Harry smiled at her, he could never be truly mad at her, not really. "I know" he said simply, "Ron's still a bit hurt though".

At the mention of his name Hermione's face fell, "should I go talk with him?"

"Not just yet, he coming to terms with the fact that you don't really want a 'more than friends' friendship with him".

"Oh" she sighed guiltily.

"So got a date for tonight?" Ginny asked happily changing the subject.

Hermione noticed Harry smile wickedly at Ginny, obviously they were going together.

"No" she sighed, "but as the event organiser I suppose I don't have to have one".

"You should go with Ron" Ginny said.

"What?!" both Harry and Hermione asked in union.

"Not like that" the redhead said as if it were obvious, "he doesn't have a date either, and it could help you both work on that 'just friends thing'".

"She has a point" Harry shrugged after giving it some thought.

Rolling her eyes Hermione made her way down to the common room, "fine I'll ask him" she said slamming the door behind her.

IIIII

Pacing his study he looked over the words he would read. He still didn't know why he agreed to talk at the blasted event. Albus seemed to think it was a good idea.

"A nice gesture" he had said smiling at the scowling man in front of him, "I'm sure Miss Granger will appreciate it"

Severus had given up, not bothering to even respond to the headmaster and that damned twinkle in his damn eyes. Why did he get the feeling Albus always knew more than he was letting on? It infuriated him to no end.

So here he stood now, giving the tiny speech one last look before tucking it away into a deep pocket in his dark robes. He was going to end up shooting himself in the foot for sure.

IIIII

(Authors Note; Hermione's dress can be seen on the site, Prom-Dresses dot com, it's called 'Earth Angel'.)

"Oh my Lord Hermione," Ginny gasped, "you look absolutely stunning".

Hermione looked down at herself and flattened out the front of her dress, "you think?" she asked nervously.

"ya hah" Ginny grinned, "poor Ron, he's only just come to terms with being your best bud and now he has to go and see you looking like that".

Hermione rolled her eyes.

"You're cruel" Ginny playfully swatted her on the arm.

Hermione looked in the tall mirror opposite her door. Her reflection gave her an encouraging wink.

"Even better than the Yule Ball" Ginny said looking at her reflection from Hermione's side.

Looking at herself she had to admit she looked ok. She had her mother's pearl earrings and necklace on. Her dress was, on first glance a dusty shade of pink. The top half of the gown consisted of a corset like style; this was cream with the same dusty pink faint rose patterns on it. Around her neck the dress' straps were shaped like a shawl of flowers. It fell across her figure like it was made for her.

"All set then?" Ginny cheerily asked.

Taking a deep breath she agreed and made her way out of the common room.

Outside the great hall most of the seventh years were gathering. Ginny spotted Harry and Ron talking to Neville and Luna but the refreshments and waved them over.

"You've done a great job with the decorations" Neville smiled at her.

"Thanks" she beamed back.

Harry and Ron were just looking at her, mouths open as if to catch fly's.

"Don't gape Harry, it doesn't suit you" Ginny said slapping him on the arm slightly.

Both Harry and Ron blushed before Ron took Hermione's hand and led her into the hall.

"You look really nice" he said shyly as they approached the doors.

"Thank you Ron" she said looking at him, "I means a lot that you came with me, I am sorry about Hogsmeade".

"Don't worry about it; I should have listened to how you felt the first time"

"Thanks" she said again linking his arm with hers. "You ready for this?"

Ron gave a slight nod and escorted her into the Great hall.

A/N; Hope you liked that, Please Review, it makes me Happy, and a Happy Author is a faster writing Author :D