Hi again! Thank you for your reviews. Hopefully I will be able to post a new chapter within the next week but I am not certain, as I will not have access to a computer between Wednesday-Sunday.

SilverandSilent: Naturally I don't expect you to review when I don't update, I don't really know how you got that impression. Thanks for telling me about the anonymous reviews, I really didn't know about it. Also, thanks for the compliment.

The Gryffindor Drummer: Thanks! Well, my school finishes on Wednesday, but I'm already done with all the essays! ) finally!

Here goes,

Snape was not in a good mood the next morning. He had barely got any sleep since he had been up until 3 a.m., looking for students. Or rather, hunting them. Around 3 a.m. every single student had finally gone to bed. As it was now Sunday, most students were still asleep, even though it was already 9 a.m. The very moment he entered the Great Hall, for breakfast, he found, to his great disappointment, that all of the teachers were there. As usual he had no luck. He walked up to his usual seat and sat down. It did not take long before he understood what the conversation was about.

"...can't believe how she's changed so much. I thought so much more of her. Perhaps something's happened, perhaps someone should talk to her", Madame Pomfrey suggested.

"I'm afraid it's too late. She is such a disappointment for Gryffindor. Really, I did expect more", Minerva said disapprovingly.

"Minerva, pray tell, who is the scapegoat of Gryffindor?", Snape asked teasingly, even though he already knew the answer.

"Hermione Granger. You will not believe me when I tell you what happened last night!", Minerva said. Contrary to popular belief, she was actually rather fond of gossiping. "I was patrolling the halls after the ball when I decided to look in the hidden rooms in the corridors next to the Entrance Hall", she said and paused to breahte. "In one of the rooms were Miss Hermione Granger with a Slytherin!", she exclaimed as though it was the worst thing that could ever happen. "Let's just say that I caught them...in the act, so to say".

Snape thought that his day could not get any worse. Miss Granger did indeed mean what she said, he thought miserably. He could not help but feel jelous at the thought of the Gryffindor with another man. The moment he thought those thoughts, he cursed himself silently. It is not appropriate, he kept telling himself, even though he knew he was lying to himself.

"Oh, really? Here I was thinking that all adolescents lived in celibacy", Snape replied sarcastically and rolled his eyes.

"Don't make fun of me", Minerva warned. "You know as well as I what Miss Granger was like before this summer. Naturally, I would not be surprised if I found any of your Slytherins engaging in such activities", she retorted sourly.

"What exactly are you implying?", he asked calmly.
"Oh, please Severus. Everyone knows that you are a bit lenient when it comes to those aspects. After all, it is common knowledge that pure-bloods want to ensure their family's future which is why they encourage their children to take part in such activities".

"Minerva, you are pathetic. You may not have noticed, but Miss Granger is not your child".

Snape's voice was sharp as a dagger.

"Calm down, children. I am certain Miss Granger knows what is best for herself", the Headmaster cut in.

You old fool, Snape thought bitterly. For some reason he was not so hungry anymore.

"I am afraid I have to leave, as I have many papers to grade. Good day", Snape apologised and rose. He nodded to all the other teachers while deciding that he would order some breakfast from the houseelves on his way down to the dungeons.

"I'm sure you do, Severus", the Headmaster said and smiled at him.

-----

Hermione awoke quite late for once. In fact, most of her dorm-mates had already woken up. Lavender greeted her by shoving a pillow at her. Hermione sighed.

"Good morning, sleepyhead", Parvati exclaimed.

"Morning", Hermione replied and rubbed her eyes.

"Well, are you going to tell us? What exactly happened between you and Steven Hung? We heard McGonagall caught you. You're not punished are you?", Lavender asked impatiently.

Hermione sat up and yawned loudly. She smiled smugly as though she had just come up with the most brilliant idea.

"Well, we had some fun", she laughed and enjoyed the other's glances. "But really, there are Slytherins who are better in bed".

All the girls in the room looked at her with huge eyes. The oh-so-boring bookworm had obviously turned out to be the most interesting girl of them all.

"Hermione! I never thought you liked to have sex! Which ones of the Slytherins have you shagged?", Parvati asked boldly.

"I think it'd be more wise to ask which ones I haven't", she replied and tittered.

"I think Malfoy's the best one, don't you agree? He's quite the stallion", Lavender smiled as though she recalled a pleasant memory.

"Well, yes, but he's really nothing compared to Patrick Cavendish," Hermione smiled back.

"Oh, isn't he the one who we were all crazy about in fourth year?,"

"That's right".

"Whoa! You know, we never believed you to be so fun", Lavender admitted and the other girls in the room nodded sheepishly.

Hermione just smiled back. She was well aware of how long it would take until the entire school knew about her made up sexlife. In fact, the only boys at Hogwarts she had shagged were Patrick and Steven. However, she knew that the other boys would not dare to say that they hadn't shagged her, out of fear for being seen as a geek. She certainly looked forward to when everyone would find out the truth. All of a sudden a note appeared in her lap. She quickly unfolded it.

I believe you forgot something in my office.

Hermione instantly knew that the note was from Snape. She thought for a few moments before she remembered her cardigan. Ten minutes later she had taken a shower and dressed in a gray, pleated wool skirt, a white t-shirt and a red cardigan. She bid her friends goodbye and headed towards the dungeons.

-----

The Potions Professor had not expected his student to arrive within the next hour, hence he was still eating his breakfast when there was a knock on the door. With a flick of his wand, everything but the cup of tea was gone.

"Enter", he called and watched her step through the entrance.

"Good morning, Sir", Hermione said softly and walked up to his desk.

"Miss Granger", Snape replied politely and nodded to her.

"I came to pick up my cardigan", she said and sit down. It was obvious that she had no intention of leaving when she had fetched her cardigan. "How are you?".

Apparently that was not a question that Snape had expected as he looked terribly surprised.

"I am fine, thank you. How about you, Miss Granger? I heard about your nightly escapade with Mr Hung", Snape said flatly. There was nothing funny in the way he spoke.

"Yes, I believe everyone did. I'm fine thanks", she replied carelessly.

"Your cardigan is over there", he said and gestured at a hanger on the wall.

"Thank you, Sir", Hermione replied but made no move to stand and get it.

They were silent for a few minutes before Hermione composed herself and spoke.

"Professor, I am not going to apologise for kissing you yesterday. I liked it. I'm sure you did too. Nor am I going to apologise for having sex with someone else. However, I can tell you that I only did it to avenge you, since you turned me down. Don't say anything", she said as she saw him opening his mouth to speak. "The thing is, I like you. You may believe I am just looking for a bit of fun, but I really am not. You see, Sir, I don't fall in love that often. You are the third person that I really fancy. I may like to have fun and play around with people, but that's only when I'm not in a relationship", she paused to breahte. "Sir, you know as well as I do that there is no rule at Hogwarts that forbids a student and a teacher from having a relationship, as far as the student is of age. If you tell me that you don't like me, that's fine, then I'll just walk away. Before you ask me what I see in you, let me tell you one thing. I find you physically attractive and I admit that I find your mind appealing. I can tell you have a dark sense of humour and I like it. There you go. Now it's up to you", Hermione finished off her little speech and looked at him expectanly. She crossed her legs.

"Miss Granger, thank you for your honesty. If I am going to be equally honest, I have to say that you don't know me", he said and watched her smile back at him. "However, what you do know is that I am not going to stand up and sweep you off your feet and kiss you. I am never going to be like that and I think you are aware of that". He paused and watched her nod, before continuing in the same indifferent voice. "My reply is that I am interested in getting to know you better".

"Thank you", she said softly. "Would you mind going somewhere for brunch?".

"I believe I would like that very much indeed".

Hermione knew she had won. She always did.

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