Now of course it was Hermione's turn to be a little shocked. Had she really thought that Snape would willing go anywhere with her? No definitely not, especially not anywhere 'private'. Even though he was a good 2 decades older than her, which really isn't all that significant, she knew that he was not unaware as to what the word private usually entailed.

'So what now,' she thought. 'Do I just apparate him into my bed? Surely not! While I am not the same girl that I once was I most certainly am NOT the type of girl who just jumps into bed with a man that was once my teacher. I should probably leave that type of activity to Lavender and her friends,Merlin knows that group slept with pretty much every boy and even a few girls while still in school.'

While still silently deciding what she was going to do she took Snape's arm and gave him a sideways smile. "Prepare yourself Professor and hold on tight." Outwardly he didn't seem the least bit worried or even curious as to what Hermione had in mind inwardly he wondered what this saucy little witch had in mind.

The whole time Hermione was preparing to apparate to the wooded area close to her favorite cafe' she was chanting a silent mantra in her head, 'Please don't splinch him. Please don't splinch him.' She had decided that it would be extremely out of even her new character, if she just took him to her flat. She had eventually settled for the intimate setting that Cafe' Recluse provided.

The cafe' was tucked away deep in the woods that surrounded a quiet little park that had seen better days. On the busiest day there were maybe three people there not including the waitress and the manager/cook. Hermione thought that this would be a safe place for them to just be alone but not so 'private' that things could be taken wrong. Then again private time with the potion's master had been a secret little fantasy that she had played out in her head a handful of times while she was still in school, not that she would admit that to anyone willing.

Hermione was unknowingly tugging Snape towards the glowing cottage, finally able to gather his bearings he yanked his arm free and said, "Miss Granger! Do you think that you are capable leading me somewhere without dragging me?" As he was trying to straighten his robes he soon realized that Hermione wasn't stopping to wait for him. Not that he couldn't get to the damn cottage without her help he just wasn't used to someone dismissing him without an apology or an answer as to why they were behaving in such a way.

She didn't stop to answer him or even to acknowledge that she no longer held his arm. Instead she slowed her pace from a brisk walk to an enticing saunter knowing that he would be watching and following whether she stopped her not. She wanted him to watch her, she wanted him to fantasize about her, she wanted him to want her!

'What have I gotten myself into? Merlin look at her.' Severus couldn't help but notice how she swayed her hips with each step making it so that following her up the stairs was just about more than he could stand. Hermione had almost made it to the landing when he had reached the first step which brought him eye level with where her creamy pink dress stopped. Severus swallowed audibly as the floaty material lifted up with the movement of her legs to reveal even more of the beautiful tan thigh. It was a plain fact that she had not worn stockings, not that she needed too and if he wasn't a strong man he'd have reached out and touched those bare thighs. At that moment he was questioning his strength but thankfully Hermione had moved quickly to the door not really giving him time to act on his urges. He shook his head and with a chuckle thought, 'This girl is going to be the death of me.'

The inside of the cafe' was nothing spectacular; the top half of the walls was an antique cream, the bottom half seemed to look as if it was supposed to be a worn cobblestone, there was a tiny make shift bar directly in front of the entrance, a few rustic looking table and chair sets, and a fireplace with a love seat and coffee table sitting close to it. Over all the cafe' itself looked like it was put together with random pieces of mismatched furniture collected over the years, it was reminiscent of the Weasley home.

There on that gaudy flowered love seat sat Hermione. She had slipped the peep toe black stilettos off of her feet and dropped them haphazardly on the floor in front of her. She sat sideways tucking her right foot under her bottom and swinging her left leg back and forth while waiting for Severus to come take his seat.

She smiled almost shyly as Severus sat down and watched as he tried to shift so that he was facing her. He really was an attractive wizard. The epitome of tall, dark, and handsome. His skin still so pale, his fingers long and elegant, he stood a little over six feet tall which made his ability to 'loom' all the more prominent. Hermione enjoyed the depth of his eyes. To her they were comparable to falling into a black bottomless pit and she thoroughly loved the feel of falling. He hadn't went to any extreme to impress with his attire for the Ministry gathering. In fact his was simply dressed as himself, Snarky Potion's Master. If anyone asked her she would say that she preferred him this way. He wasn't tattempting to be someone that he wasn't and he could care less what anyone thought about him. Hermione eyed him as he took a considerable amount of time shifting and wiggling to face her. She was aware of his noticeably uncomfortable movements so she whispered, "Try and relax Severus. I don't plan on taking advantage of you just yet." Much to her surprise he chuckled.

His name sounded amazingly seductive passing through her sweet plump lips, almost as if that one word was a promise of things to come. Severus found that he enjoyed the thought of her saying his name more often and the idea that there might be something more was alluring in its own right. He saw her appraising him as he was attempting to get comfortable and wondered what she was thinking while giving him a once over.

Soon a very pregnant blonde witch came over to take their drink orders and to mention that she had just put a cherry cobbler in the oven and that it she be ready in 20 minutes. She was pleasant and didn't linger as if she wanted to chat, both Severus and Hermione were thankful for that.

Hermione had never been good at small talk but someone had to say something to break the proverbial ice so she started off with, "So Severus how has this past year treated you?"

"It's been lousy with people wanting interviews and insane witch's professing their undying devotion to me."

Hermione laughed, "I bet you never thought you'd have to suffer through that sort of attention."

"No and I can't say that I'm entirely thrilled to be enduring it now," he scoffed.

The waitress sat down two cups of tea on the table in front of them as Hermione said, "I'm sure it's not as bad as you make it out to be. You know how silly women can be when they have a hero complex. I imagine it's like the strange demented muggle women who fall hopelessly in love with convicts that they write to in prison."

"That's just idiotic!" Severus had heard of such women but was less than pleased to be on the receiving end of crazy ramblings from mentally unstable, albeit love sick, witches.

"I won't disagree with you about that but everyone deserves love I suppose."

"I assure you I do not wish to be loved by any of those insane witches," he said defensivly.

Taking a sip of her tea she nodded, "Don't worry Severus I'm sure that once any of those women got to know the real you they would immediately change their minds." Severus' eyebrow arched and his lips twitched into a half smile. The witch had a sense of humor and oddly enough to him he didn't mind being the butt of her joke in the least.

"What of your year Miss Granger?"

"Annoyingly busy and distracting. I'm terribly exhausted with all the attention and want nothing more than to be left alone. It would be nice to just be able to go out for coffee with friends or to shop without being hounding. It's not just journalists either. It seems that everyone wants to speak to me for any stupid reason they can think of." She paused for a long moment before adding, "On a different note do you think it would be out of your character to call me Hermione or are you trying to initiate a torrid student/teacher affair fantasy?"

Severus sat his cup back down then reached for Hermione's foot to place it in his lap, "I've never felt the urge to seduce a student and as for the first part of your question it probably is out of my character but I think that I might be willing to make an exception for you Hermione."

His voice had taken on a seductive tone that sent shivers through her. She suddenly felt like she needed to steer the conversation towards more delicate matters unfortunately there really was no graceful way to do so and she really couldn't care less how crass she may end up sounding. If only for tonight she wanted him and she wasn't going to let the opportunity go to waste.

Sliding her other foot out from under her so she could put it in Severus' lap she ventured, "Is some lucky lady currently satisfying your needs Severus?"

'Cheeky indeed Miss Granger!' His fingers brushed her ankles as he reached up to massage her calves, "Currently Hermione you would be that lucky lady."