Hermione awakened to find herself in a vast field colorful flowers, bordered by a dark line of tall trees on the horizon. She did not recognize this place, but it had the feeling of a dream, a fact which eased her mind. Knowing she was here for a reason, the bushy haired girl began wading through the lush meadow, her feelings guiding her toward something in the distance.

Her thoughts of despair and anguish over the situation with Severus, no, PROFESSOR SNAPE were very far away, and were presently faint echoes of pain in her mind. Once she returned to the land of consciousness it would be different, but for now she was content to allow the tranquil quiet wash over her. The sky was crystal clear and blue as the deepest ocean. Tendrils of red and gold crept up over the horizon, curling upward to stain the indigo darkness with the fires of heaven. It was the most perfect sunset Hermione had ever seen, and she found herself basking in the glory of its beauty.

Severus Snape watched from a nearby copse, concealed in the shadows from Hermione's view. His breath caught as the young woman slowed, turning her face upward toward the multihued display. The blazing light of the setting sun set her chestnut hair aflame with, ironically enough, the vibrant colors of her House, crimson and gold. Her skin glowed in the sunlight, as if she were lit from within by the wonder in her features. It was like looking on the countenance of Aphrodite, he thought, knowing he should turn away but finding himself unable. She was more beautiful than he ever imagined.

This was what those foolish boys at the school were missing, he thought disdainfully, smirking at the thought of Weasley's idiocy. Were she his… Severus mentally shook himself. That way lay madness. Hermione Granger was not for the likes of him, and the sooner he got it through that thick skull of his, the better it would be for both of them. If only his dreams would cooperate.

He sighed. This was a prime example. The last thing he remembered was drinking himself into a stupor, hoping to forget the feeling of her lips on his, the tickling of her breath as she brushed against him and the fire that followed when they kissed. Even now, he could close his eyes and feel her, agony lancing through him at the thought of never experiencing it again. What the bloody hell was wrong with me, he wondered.

The Family Snape was a wealthy one that could trace its roots back to Salazar Slytherin himself. As the only living member of the direct line, Severus Snape was the heir to a vast and powerful heritage almost as impressive as the Malfoy's. He knew it would take very little effort for him to find himself a beautiful woman who would marry the "greasy git of Hogwarts" and provide him with the heir he needed to secure his line. Until recently, he did not have the freedom to choose his future. Joining the Death Eaters had guaranteed that his life would be dedicated to his Lord, and that any woman being brought into such a world would be condemned to darkness and would probably die. At his own hands if Voldemort was feeling malicious.

As a result, Severus made sure he was unable to father children until after the Dark Lord was gone. He had yet to reverse the curse, but was intending to do so as soon as he found a suitable witch. As soon as he found someone who would accept him. Who could have guessed that he would come to wish it were the annoying know-it-all, Hermione Granger? A small, unconscious smile appeared on his face at the thought of the lovely Gryffindor. Brave as she was, he could only imagine her reaction if he told her how he felt. Would she run from him like a gazelle, or would she face him like the lioness she appeared to be?

Perhaps it might be interesting to find out.

Severus knew that years of spying had honed his observational skills to the point where he could read a person with a mere glance. He never tried to read Hermione's reaction to him, mainly because he had no desire for another dream to meet its end at the cruel hands of reality. But this was his dream. Would it be worth it for him to speak with her? See if she might at least tolerate his interest? He did not wish to lose what small regard she had for him now, but living in such doubt nearly destroyed him ever time he was near her. Perhaps the longings would disappear if he knew for sure that she would reject him.

Before Severus completed his deliberations, his feet had developed intellect of their own and were moving him toward the bushy-haired form of his lady-love. She whirled to gaze at him in surprise, her soft brown eyes surprisingly vulnerable as she realized it was him. The smile that lit her face blinded him with its glory.

"Severus!"

Oh, but to hear his name from her lips in reality would be heaven! "Hermione."

The two of them shared an uncertain gaze as each contemplated what they were to say. It was Hermione, of course, who broke the uncomfortable impasse, her quiet voice washing over him like a gentle tide. "What are you doing here?"

Severus killed the irrational fear that lanced through him at her words. There was no hostility in her tone, merely a hesitant curiosity laced with… hope?

"I…" he cleared his throat. "I am not sure how I came to be in this place, but I suspect this is merely a dream produced by my drunken mind to aid me in dealing with the situation.

Her face fell. "Oh. I… uh… I'm sorry for bothering you then." She turned to move away.

This was not how a dream would react, he thought. Normally she would coyly offer to aid him, which would lead to those disturbing dreams he enjoyed all too much. "Wait." His hand unconsciously shot out to stop her. "You are not a bother, Hermione. Far from it."

Turning back, he had to hold back a grin at the smirk on her face. "That's not what you've been telling me for the past seven years, Severus."

Now she was being coy. "Perhaps it would be more accurate to say that you are no longer a bother to me, then," he corrected.

"Accuracy is of the utmost importance."

He smirked. "Indeed. Especially when brewing… volatile potions," he said silkily. The smirk grew broader at her shudder. Maybe this was a dream after all. Curiosity compelled him to ask. "So what are you doing here, my dear?"

Hermione's eyes widened at the endearment. "I… er… I'm not sure. The last thing I remembered was laying down on the bench in this beautiful garden." Her eyes sparkled in excitement. "You should have seen it, Severus. It had a clear pool in the center, surrounded by trees and bushes and the most amazing flowers I've ever seen." She sighed wistfully. "I wish I could show it to you."

A suspicion danced at the edge of his mind, but Severus thrust it aside to enjoy the apparent reality in his dream. "Perhaps you can sometime. I would certainly enjoy sharing such a thing with you."

The shock on her face was almost worth the risk he took by his words. "I… er… I would never have imagined you as the type to enjoy the beauty of a garden."

"I enjoy beauty in many things… Hermione." This time he noticed her shudder at his velvety tones. Interesting.

A rosy blush rose in her cheeks, but her Gryffindor courage kept her head high and eyes focused on Severus Snape. "I… Then I'll have to bring you here sometime."

Throwing caution to the wind, he stepped toward her. He gently pushed back a strand of her chestnut hair. "That is not necessary," he murmured. "I have all the beauty I need standing before me, Hermione."

The slight flicker of hope in her eyes flared to life. "I… Severus…" she whispered.

"Hermione." The tall wizard pulled her to him, lowering his face to gently touch her lips with the softest of kisses. Shock filled him as she pulled his head down and passionately pressed her lips to his. He unconsciously pulled her closer, placing his arms around her and responding as passionately as she. Moments later, he was surprised when he felt her tongue brush his lips. He opened for her, and the kiss deepened, sending the two into a passionate world of fiery sensation.

"Hermione…" he pulled away slightly, breathless from her unrestrained response to him.

"Yes, Severus?" She was as breathless as he.

"What are we doing?"

"I believe they call it kissing, Severus."

"Yes, but…"

She huffed impatiently and drew him back to her, fastening her lips to his once more.

This time he pushed her away. "Hermione! We need to talk about this."

It pained him to see the look of hurt in her eyes, which was quickly shuttered by a control he never knew she possessed. "What do we need to discuss, Severus?"

He winced at the cool words. "I… We need to discuss what this is, Hermione. What is happening between us." He continued softly. "What happened between us earlier today."

"I would think that would be obvious, Severus," she responded, her voice controlled and revealing nothing of her emotions.

"And that would be?"

"I kissed you earlier today. You kissed me just now. We've been kissing each other for several minutes. What more is there?"

Anger filled him at the reminder of their earlier kiss. "You were under the influence of a love potion, Miss Granger! I highly doubt you were in possession of your faculties. As a matter of fact…" His eyes widened in horror as he remembered the effects of several of the more powerful love potions. "You still aren't! You…" He grabbed her shoulders. "How did you get into my dreams," he demanded.

Hermione wrenched herself out of his grip, pushing him away violently. "I didn't come here purposefully! Do you honestly think I would have the audacity to intrude on your thoughts? Or even the ability?" She gazed at him incredulously. "I can't believe you would think that of me!"

"The love potion…"

"The Admo Dolus didn't affect me, you git!" she yelled. "That's why I found the glade. I needed to get away from Ginny and those bastards. They ruined everything." Her shoulders slumped as the anger left her. She turned from him, defeated. "I don't know how I got here."

She walked away, her final words drifting back to him on the wind. "And now you despise me more than ever…"

As Hermione walked away, Severus stared after her in stunned amazement. Who knew such a controlled young woman had such passion within her? What did she mean by the potion not affecting her? Who ruined… Suddenly it struck him. The Admo Dolus can be resisted if the imbiber is in love with someone already returning their affections. She chose to kiss him! She, who felt a love so intense it nullified one of the strongest love potions known to wizardkind had chosen to kiss him, Severus Snape, of all people!

The answer struck him like a bolt of lightning. It was him! She was in love with him! A love he returned with every fiber of his being. He was moving before the thought was completed. He had to tell her. He had to let her know that he did not despise her.

Unfortunately, Severus was unable to locate Hermione in the direction she went after their argument. He looked all over for her, but his instincts told him she was gone. The spell between them broken by her pain. He fell to his knees at the realization. Once again his temper had destroyed something precious to him, and there was nothing he could do to atone this time. He had lost her.