-So this story has definitely taken on another dimension. I really didn't intend for it to be that involved, but I suppose as anyone who writes knows, these things tend to take matters into their own hands. Thank you for your encouragement!

It was three wonderful days later when Potter was due to arrive and it was the first moment since his parents had left that Severus was dreading. His only consolation was that Hermione was happier. At that thought, he almost hit his head against the wall. There was every chance in the world that she would kill him. Twenty years of a war and the same amount of time teaching incompetent students one of the more dangerous studies, and it was going to be Hermione Granger that did him in.

"Severus?"

Her hair was still wet from taking a shower and he audibly groaned, only serving to make the minx grin.

"You really should have joined me," she said, sitting down next to him.

"Merlin," he moaned, leaning over to kiss her. "Why do you torture me?"

"I'll be good," she said. "Harry will be over soon."

"A different form of torture then."

"He's actually really excited, Severus."

"I'm sure he is. However, he always manages to make me feel miserable."

"Harry likes you!" She exclaimed. "And you know that! Besides, I still need to figure out what's going on at the Burrow. He hasn't said anything since that owl."

"You never did tell me what was going on."

"Just stuff with Ron. He has absolutely no sense when it comes to his family. It does give me a great feeling to know that his life isn't together, though."

"That is the Slytherin in you, my dear. Are you all ready for his arrival?"

"It's just Harry," she said, disappearing as she said it.

He sighed. While he had no real desire to see Potter, mostly because he viewed the boy as a puffed up Quidditch player who had no real personality, the Boy-Who-Lived had some strange hold over the woman Severus was in love with. It was disconcerting for their future, but he was also determined to pretend enough that if Potter caused a scene, Hermione would not blame him and might eventually return to his bed.

A sudden thought struck Severus and he realized that for the first time since he could remember, he had what some would probably call a girlfriend. The urge to hyperventilate quickly washed over him. Surely Hermione would not want to call him her boyfriend. They could get by without labels. They had to get by without labels. There was no way he could be called someone's boyfriend. He would never regain control of his classrooms.

Shit. How would they ever behave for him and Hermione if they found out? They would be constantly watched, judged, and made fun of. He didn't think Hermione could handle that. As the greasy bat of the dungeons, he was used to it, but he couldn't do that to Hermione.

"You look like you've swallowed a lemon," Hermione said, coming back into the room. "What's wrong?"

"Can we talk about it after Potter leaves? There's nothing wrong, per se. I've just unfortunately let my mind run away with me."

"Anything pleasant?" She asked, lightly touching her chest. Severus was saved having to answer and deprived of anything more by the doorbell. Fuck Potter.

Their voices were loud in the other room, but Severus didn't intrude. Another couple of seconds of not having to pretend to like Hermione's friend. It was obviously going to be alright. It was not as though the two had never spent time together. Usually everything was fine. Once in awhile, however, things got out of control. He hated the extra pressure that he felt to make things work. As long as he wanted Hermione he would have to put up with Potter and if he got his way, he planned on that being an extended amount of time.

"Severus?" Hermione questioned, looking concerned as they entered the kitchen.

"Just giving you two a chance to say hello," Severus responded. "Potter."

"Snape. Kids treating you alright?"

"The same as always."

"How are things, Harry?" Hermione said, going to the refrigerator and pulling out the salad she had mixed earlier.

"Bloody awful," he said, collapsing into a seat at the table. "Everything is a mess at the Burrow. I was ecstatic for a reason to leave, actually. They all know I have nothing going on until the end of January and I'm hardly a good liar. I haven't been able to escape. Ginny's pestering me to get back together and Ron has a new friend. I say friend, but I think prostitute would be closer."

Severus had always wondered what had happened between Potter and the only Weasley daughter. Having watched them too often at Hogwarts sucking each other's faces off, it came as a shock that they had severed their relationship. He made a note to ask Hermione. She meanwhile was fussing with salad and tea and making a disapproving noise.

"You need to talk to Ginny, Harry. I'm sure if you actually had a conversation about why you split up, she would be more understanding and less pestering. Never mind the fact that she would probably stop bothering you at all."

"I'm just not ready, Hermione. The whole Weasley clan is very traditional and I just don't think they'll be okay with it."

Severus looked at the man as he spoke and everything rushed into the picture. A quick glance at Hermione had her shaking her head at him and Severus was suddenly struck with a wave of sympathy towards Harry Potter. Something he never thought he'd be able to say. Homosexuality, while more common after the war, was something that a select few made a point to attack. The more Severus thought about it, the more it actually made complete sense that Potter would favor the wand.

"Severus," Hermione said, looking between him and Harry. Potter seemed to remember suddenly that he was in the room.

Severus just shook his head. "You're decision, Potter. I have no intention of getting involved."

The look on Hermione's face was such that he wished he could be more approving of Potter's lifestyle. The utter happiness that radiated from her made him think that he had probably just given himself a ticket out of the next hundred messes he made. He felt like smirking to himself but figured that would make them both rather suspicious.

"Besides," Harry said. "I also know how they feel about Draco."

Severus dropped his teacup, feeling his mouth drop open. He was almost certain it was the only time his mouth had ever opened and closed itself of its own volition. A quick glance at Hermione let him know that she was already aware of Potter's relationship with the King of Slytherin and she gave him a small smile. Lucius Malfoy would be rolling over in his grave.

"No one knows about Draco, either," Hermione said softly.

"Can't even spend Christmas with him," Harry groaned.

"Tell them you're over here," Severus said and once against received the look from Hermione. It seemed that today was his lucky day.

Potter was also looking at him as though he didn't quite understand. Severus didn't get a chance to ponder that very long before Hermione leaned over and kissed him. That was the moment Severus realized there was no going back. Potter had seen them kiss and he had a great sense of satisfaction that Hermione was willing to kiss him in front of her best friend.

"Severus and I are seeing each other, by the way," Hermione said.

"Yeah," Potter squeaked. "Got that."

"Why don't we all spend New Year's Eve together?" Hermione questioned, shooting a hesitant glance at Severus and he found himself nodding.

"Really?" Harry asked and Severus understood. The hesitance in the boy's voice let him know that besides Hermione and now him, the two had not let their relationship out. "I would…Hermione."

"I haven't seen Draco in quite some time," Severus said.

"Let me go write to him," Harry said. "Do you have an owl?"

"She should be in the front room."

As soon as he was gone, Hermione sat down next to Severus. "He's been really worried and I really don't think he needs to be. Draco's the same. It's been really hard on them both and as far as I know, we're the only ones who they've told. As well as Blaise."

"Zabini?"

Hermione nodded. "He's Draco's best friend. I'm trying to be supportive, but not to the point where he thinks I'm pitying him. I don't. I'm so happy for him and Draco. They're so good together. It's actually nauseating how sweet they are to each other."

"I had no idea about Draco," Severus said. "All the times I caught him with different girls. I think he slept with every female of age in Slytherin and Ravenclaw."

"He got through quite a few Gryffindors, as well," Hermione said with a smirk.

"You?"

Hermione laughed. "Not really my type and we never got along."

"Neither did he and Potter. How long?"

"Almost a year," she answered and smiled at his shock. "It's been tough and I really thought that Harry would have talked to the Weasleys already."

Severus nodded and they quieted as Potter came back into the room. His mood had lifted dramatically, his Gryffindor personality allowing everyone to see exactly what he was thinking. Hermione was no better but, since her mood was directed at him, he could not complain.

"Nice job with the tree, by the way," Harry said. Severus came to the conclusion that both of them were crazy. Who really cared about the bloody tree with decorations from the '50's scattered all over it?

"Are you alright, Hermione?" Harry asked. "I know Christmas is hard for you."

It was amazing with how ten seconds of talking from Potter could make Hermione go from cheerful to looking almost suicidal. He was prevented from yelling at Potter for his obvious error because Hermione seemed to almost sigh in relief. A look was shared between the two of them and then they met for a hug. That was all it took and then she was smiling again. He had never seen anything like it and he found himself strangely jealous at having never had anyone he was that close with.

"What's on the agenda for today?"

They had spent a surprising amount of time talking and Severus, even with the time he had spent with Potter over the years, had never actually just talked with the boy. Hermione had even left them alone for awhile and Severus had not even noticed. However, by the time he had left, Severus was more than ready to spend some time alone with Hermione. She looked about ready to collapse.

"I think I'm in love with you, Severus Snape," she said, falling onto the sofa. She reached her arms up to him and he had no choice but to sit next to her. Instead of going into her arms, he rested her upper body in his lap and ran his hand through her hair.

"Join the club."

"Did you enjoy yourself today?" She asked, a smile on her face.

"Potter was…tolerable," he answered. "Do you believe that he and Draco will actually join us?"

"I think so," she said. "They don't often go anywhere together. However, I can think of somewhere I would like us to go together."

Severus looked at her smirk and raised an eyebrow. "And where would that be?"

"Well, if you can't think of anywhere, I'll just retract my statement."

"Hermione," he growled. "The next time we go to my bedroom together, you will be naked as soon as you cross the threshold."

Her breath faltered and he smirked as she tried to regain it. "Severus!"

"You are lucky you are still fully clothed, my dear."

She squirmed and he took great pleasure in thinking about her reaction to him. Words, she could fake if she so desired, but the simple response was not so easily made up. With the threat to disrobe her immediately, he hoped she would take him up on the offer but was not confident. If he were honest with himself, so much in their relationship had changed so fast that he wasn't sure if she should join him. He wondered when he had grown a conscience.

"If you accompanied me to the guest room would you just sleep next to me?"

He had a sudden flashback to his gasping breaths from the other night and the bruise that was still evident from when she had kicked him. The idea of waking with her trapped in his arms won over and he found himself nodding.

"My bed is bigger, however, so I may be persuaded to let you stayed clothed."

Severus was sure that Hermione's subconscious was out to get him. If they stayed together and didn't have separate bedrooms, something would have to be done. Immobilizing her every night would probably be the first step. With that thought he realized a fantasy that he would he would have to talk to Hermione about. He supposed that if he immobilized her every night he would never be surprised if she was suddenly in a fun mood.

The fact that he had woken up choking on her hair and then kicked in places that he hoped would recover and would be needed if Hermione ever wanted to use them, made him wonder what would be best. He was unsure if he could train her to be less violent while sleeping. It called for some serious research. Nothing could ever be simple. He tried pinning her arms to her side and going back to sleep, only to be hit awake as she struggled to free herself. He had no idea how she could move so much and not wake herself up.

She looked at him the next morning as though she could not understand how he hadn't gotten enough sleep. Hermione did not take kindly to him letting her know that they would only be sharing a bed for conjugal visits and stormed away before he could tell her he was not serious. Severus was also not sure if having a fight a week into an actual relationship was a good thing or not but, by the look on her face, the fact that he had been nice to Potter did not free him from his mistakes.

-I'm predicting two more chapter, both with steamy scenes, so beware. Reviews keep me motivated and are very much appreciated!