A/N: Thanks again for everyone who is Reading and Reviewing. I'm still amazed at the actual amount of people still adding me to their alerts and faves. Thanks you for those doing that too.

Everyone is asking about the Revenge coming up. It is coming soon, I promise. So on with the story. Take Care all and have a great one today.

Chapter 16

Hermione got up the next morning early. She tiptoed over to Ginny's bed and gently woke the redhead up.

"Ginny." Hermione whispered. "Wake up. I need to talk to you."

Ginny mumbled softly. "It's too early. Go away." Her hand shot out limply to push Hermione away.

Hermione frowned. "You woke me up at three in the morning and I got up. It's after six in the morning and you are going to get up too." She whispered harshly.

Ginny grumbled but slowly got up. Rubbing her eyes as she slipped her feet into her slippers and followed Hermione down to the commons room.

"This better be important." Ginny grumbled.

Hermione sighed. "It is. Do you know how to block people's thoughts?"

Ginny stopped trying to stretch her tired muscles from the long practices she had been putting in. "As in Occlumency?"

Hermione nodded, making Ginny frown before she spoke. "I guess I do a little bit. Not enough to really block major digs into the mind, but enough to block casual scans. Harry taught me." Ginny said while pulling her hair back away from her face.

Hermione stood there a moment thinking, then she smiled. "Good I need you to show me."

Ginny frowned. "Okay."

The girls spent the next hour talking about the different techniques you could use to block. Hermione tried it, but since neither one knew Legilimency they didn't know if she was doing it right. Ginny finally went back to bed for a little more sleep as Hermione practiced it while trying to focus on other things as well.

She still didn't know if she was doing it right, but at least she was working with what she could. She decided that it would have to do and went to take a shower. Drying off and dressing she went to go have breakfast. It was still early but she was hungry.

She walked into the Great Hall, trying the techniques Ginny had shown her. Finding herself alone in the room, she sat down with her back to the door like usual and ordered coffee. She kept up the mental picture of a brick wall as her coffee appeared.

Taking a sip, she smiled at the heat and jolt of caffeine. It instantly cleared the cobwebs from her brain. She was about to take a second sip, when she felt a hand on her shoulder. Startled she yelped, almost dropping her cup, instead only sloshing a bit over the rim onto her hand, burning her.

Cursing, she turned and saw Justin McLeoud smiling at her. "Hi there Ms. Granger. A bit jumpy today?"

Hermione smiled tightly at him. "I didn't hear you come in. Did you want something?"

His smile dimmed just a bit at her tone, but he went on. "I did actually. I was wondering if I could take you to dinner Friday night."

Hermione stared at him. Did he really just ask me out? Crap. "Oh, um... I have a lot going on with getting ready for my exams...I...I can't right now."

The transfiguration professor's smile faded a bit more. "Oh. Well, I'd really love to take you out sometime. How about another night?"

Didn't she just explain she couldn't? She bit back a curse and a sigh. "That's sweet of you to offer, but I really can't. I'm well, I'm not really...up for...dating right now. I need to focus on getting past these exams and I need to figure out what I'm going to do after I leave here."

Seeing his smile fade completely she felt bad. "I'm sorry, I just really need to focus right now."

Justin smiled softly at her. "I understand. You have to take care of your studies. If you change your mind, let me know. The invitation is open."

She nodded and watched him leave the Great Hall. Was he not staying for breakfast? She sighed and picked up her cup again. Taking a sip she sighed. She really did feel bad for Justin, she just wasn't interested. She had tried to be nice about it.

She was about to take another sip when she felt a hand on her shoulder again, startling her for the second time. "Dammit." She said burning her hand again with her coffee.

She spun around ready to blast whoever made her burn herself again, but found herself looking into black eyes that were confused at her outburst. She sighed and gave him a weak smile. "Sorry, I just...sorry, you startled me and I burned my hand again." She noticed he was squatting down next to her.

He looked down at her hand, seeing the angry red mark. "Again?" He asked, his silky voice softer than normal.

She sighed. "Someone startled me earlier and I burned my hand with my coffee. I guess I should sit where I can see the door." She tried to smile again, trying put her wall up to test it.

He brought her hand up to his lips and kissed it softly. "I was hoping to catch you before everyone else came in. What happened to you last night? I thought you were going to stop by my class." His eyes meeting hers again.

She did her best not to squirm. She wasn't ready to tell him that she figured out that she was in love with him. She was still a bit upset at him anyway. "I just...got tied up with things." It was lame and she knew it but she was terrible at lying sometimes. She only truly managed it while breaking rules with Harry years ago. But it had been for a good cause then.

He raised an eyebrow at her. Taking a quick peek, he found a wall up in front of him. It surprised him. He knew she had done it before, but it had been different. He had seen emotions blocking her thoughts, this was just a plain wall with nothing else. Just a brick wall. He never saw a brick wall in her mind before. It made him frown. "Are you okay?" He asked not understanding her wall.

She nodded, knowing her wall had worked. She saw his surprise before he frowned. She almost thought she felt him try to probe, but it was so faint she wasn't sure. "I'm fine. Why?"

His frown grew. "You just seem...a bit off is all. So will I see you later?" He asked, still uncertain.

She smiled softly at him. "I'll see what I can do." Which was true, she would see what she could do.

He was still frowning at her slightly, but he nodded. He seemed to hesitate then he leaned in and kissed her. She cupped his face as his lips moved tenderly over hers. When he pulled back, his frown was gone.

She gave him another soft smile, keeping her wall up, though she found it harder to do now that he had kissed her. She watched as he stood up, still staring at her. He looked like he was going to say something more, but the sound of voices heading towards them made him stop.

He sighed then walked up to the staff table. Taking his seat and ordering his breakfast. She watched him, forcing her wall back in place. She did wonder again how often he read her thoughts. She ordered as well since the large trays hadn't arrived yet with the early hour and when it arrived she dug in.

She finished her meal and her eyes met his briefly before she left the hall. She went to her first class thinking about what she wanted to do to him for her revenge. Maybe he was right, maybe she should have been a Slytherin.

During lunch she kept her wall in place. She ate her meal, but her wall slipped as the transfiguration teacher walked by. Justin. His name entered her head before she could stop it. She felt guilty for not having a better way to let him down.

She should have just said no. Said she was seeing someone, but then he would have asked who. She could have told him the truth, she was sure the headmistress wouldn't be upset by another teacher knowing. Would Severus be upset? Her wall slipping a bit again before she put it back up. Would he mind if she told anyone that they were a couple?

Snape was sitting at the staff table again, scanning her thoughts every so often. He didn't understand this wall he kept seeing. He was frowning he caught a glimpse of something. Justin? Why was she thinking of him? He felt her guilt and didn't understand that either.

He kept eating when he caught something else. Would he be upset? Over what? He glanced her way and saw she was only picking at her food. What was going on? He never got a chance to ask, since she disappeared before he could catch her.

Hermione spent the day trying to figure out what she was going to do. She had thoughts of teaching him a lesson by letting certain thoughts float in her mind. They weren't true but it would teach him to not just scan her thoughts whenever he pleased. Thoughts of her being late on getting her period would be a good one, but that would just be cruel. She didn't want to hurt him. She didn't know how he would react to that kind of news and it just seemed mean to her to do that to him.

In the end her conversation with the headmistress is what she decided on. The room of requirement could be of some use. She smiled. It might be fun too. She could just make him squirm a bit, then as Minerva put it, have her wicked way with him.

The question was how to get him in there. Did she just let him read her thoughts? No, there was no guarantee he would show up. She should just ask him to meet her there later after dinner.

After her last class, she headed down to the dungeons. She heard him ranting at a student, so she waited. Thinking she didn't want the gossip started about her constant visits, she put a disillusionment spell on herself as she leaned against the outer wall.

She couldn't make out what was being said too much, but occasionally she heard the words idiotic, explosion, and expulsion. It made her wonder what the poor student had done to deserve to be expelled.

Several minutes later, the door burst open. She saw Severus standing just inside the door, glaring at the student who was trying to rush out as quickly as possible. The student ran by her, making her smirk.

She saw Severus about to close the door when he paused. He looked all around, then looking in the opposite direction of her he stepped outside his class. His arm snaked out so fast at her she yelped.

He caught her arm in his hand, his grip firm but not punishing. The pitch of the yelp letting him know the person was female. "Why is someone hiding and lurking near my class. Reveal yourself."

She whispered the counter spell, letting him see her. His grip eased instantly a he looked at her with surprise and confusion. She smiled softly at him. "I didn't think you wanted your students to see I was waiting for you again."

He nodded and led her into his class, closing his door behind them. He turned and waited for her to speak, seeing the walls still up and annoyed that they were there. Knowing he couldn't ask about them without revealing him scanning her thoughts. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?" He asked, his silky voice a bit harsh.

She paused. Was he angry at her? What did he have to be angry at her about? Not understanding she faltered just a bit when she spoke. "Um...I...I'm sorry if you are upset about the spell, I just wasn't sure if you wanted the students to know how often I come to see you." She frowned, still not understanding.

His eyes twitched just a bit, a slight narrowing before he spoke. "I don't care about the spell. I don't even care if the students do see you." His voice still harsh and a bit cold.

Her frown deepened. "Then why do you seem angry with me?"

He stood there staring at her. He couldn't very well tell her that he was upset at her wall, upset at the few thoughts that came thru it making him question what she was up to. Why had she been thinking of the damn transfiguration professor? What did she worry about him being upset about? Why did he feel her guilt earlier?

He sighed. "I'm...I'm not angry. I guess I'm having a bit of an off day." Which was only partially true. He was angry, but he couldn't tell her why, and he was having an off day because of her walls not letting him in.

She raised an eyebrow at him, searching his face. Not finding anything, which she wasn't surprised at since the man had been an accomplished liar due to his spy days. She walked over to him and slipped her arms around him, hugging him. Should she wait on what she was planning? The thought slipping thru once again.

He held her, relaxing with her in his arms like he always did. He didn't have a reason not to trust her. She hadn't done anything to make him think she wasn't trustworthy. His sighed, he was just being paranoid like he normally was.

That was when he saw her thought and frowned. What was she planning? But the wall was still up so he couldn't see anymore. He pulled back and looked into her face. "So you didn't tell me why you were here."

She looked away for a moment, making him nervous. She never avoided his gaze anymore. Her eyes met his but he couldn't read what was in them.

"I was wondering if you had any plans for this evening? I thought you could meet me somewhere." She said, trying her best not to let her wall slip. She didn't want him to see what she was planning.

He arched an eyebrow at her. "I don't have any plans, I guess. Where do you want me to meet you?" He asked still watching her, still unable to read her.

She took a deep breath. "The room of requirement, around eight thirty tonight."

He smirked. "Is there something you require then?"

He saw a flicker in her eyes, a bit of heat which made made him smile, but it was the flicker of anger too that made him pause. She was angry? Why?

Hermione smiled softly, her eyes back to hiding what she felt. "There is something I require. You, in the room at eight thirty. Now I have to go. Will you meet me?"

He stared down at her for a moment, trying to scan but finding his way blocked again. He almost wanted to dig deeper, to force his way in to see what was in her mind, but knowing he couldn't. She wouldn't notice a light scan normally, but she would notice if he pushed deep into her mind. She would feel it, and she would see whatever he saw inside. Not only that, but he didn't feel he could invade her quite that bad without her permission. He doubted she would talk to him again if he did that to her.

He nodded, not speaking. She leaned up and gave him a quick peck on the lips. Not her normal kiss, but she was acting a bit strange anyway. He watched her walk away and wondered what he was in for tonight.

She skipped dinner, too nervous to sit at the big table and not reveal something. So she called for an elf, asking if she could have a light tray brought to her. The elf happily nodded and disappeared only to return moments later with what she wanted.

Hermione smiled and thanked the elf, who was only to happy to help. Hermione watched as the elf popped out of the room. She picked at her food, not really hungry but needing to do something to keep her sanity.

She was nervous. She didn't know if she could got thru with her plan. Sure he would like the end what she had planned, but would he be angry at what she did first? Would he be angry at her methods? Maybe she should just talk to him. Tell him what she knew and that she was upset about it.

But would he really understand? Would he understand that it left her feeling helpless, invaded even? That she felt like she hadn't had a choice with his spell dragging her into his dreams. She was forced into his dreams. She might have wanted to join him had he asked, but he didn't.

Pushing the tray away she stood, deciding a quick shower would help relax her. Afterward, she smoothed on some scented lotion, vanilla with a hint of sweet lavender. It was part of the gift set she had been given for Christmas this year. Ginny had seen her using the special shampoo and conditioner and found the whole bath and body set that matched it.

She slipped into her special outfit she had asked an elf to get for her from Snape's rooms during dinner, pulling her school robes on over it. Then with a deep breath, she left the common room.

She walked quickly to the room of requirement, thinking about what she wanted inside. But her thoughts were still chaotic and what she ended up with made her laugh. Inside she had a large bed covered in silk and satins covers in a far corner away from the door, and there was a chair in the center of the room like she wanted. The chair was padded enough to be comfortable to sit on, but the sides where open and it had a high back and was very sturdy and solid.

But since she was a bit angry still, the room was covered in all sorts of torture devices. Different types of whips, chains, ropes, and knives all hanging neatly on walls. There were other things, but she couldn't identify most of them. This had to show that she still didn't know what she wanted to do to him. Most these things had at one point flashed into her mind while she thought of her revenge. But she knew she didn't want to hurt him so she had dismissed the ideas.

Obviously not enough to keep the room from providing them. But there were candles all around the room to, all waiting to be lit to add a bit of romance to the air. There were scented oils next to the bed too. Not that she wanted the oils, in fact she didn't even know where they came from.

She shrugged and checked the time. It was after eight and she knew he would be arriving at any moment. She quickly set her wards, she didn't want anyone but Severus to walk inside. She set a few silencing spells as well, just in case things got a bit loud.

She stood where she would have the perfect view of him when he opened the door. Then killed the lights, not the least bit afraid to stand in the dark. She didn't want him to see anything until she was ready. Her breathing a bit erratic in her nervousness, she waited. She didn't have long to wait either.

The door opened and he came inside, seeing the darkness but having faith in her he let the door close behind him. He raised his wand. "Lumos." It gave a soft light. He saw her outline in the shadows and frowned just a bit.

Hermione raised her wand. "Expelliarmus." A jet of scarlett light shot from her wand and the spell had enough force to make Snape's wand fly from his hand, but not enough to hurt him or make him fly back from the force.

She accio'd his wand, setting it inside her robes. She lit a few candles with a flick of her wand for just enough light for him to see her and the chair, but nothing else.

He frowned at her, not liking this one bit. Wondering if he should have blocked her spell. He could have, he was quick enough, but had waited out of curiosity. Plus, with his reflexes being what they were, he hadn't wanted to hurt her either by sending out a harsh spell on accident. His days as a Death Eater had made harsh spells and curses automatic. "Any reason you took my wand?"

She smiled. "Have a seat Severus. I think we should talk."