A/N- There are no words to convey how sorry I am for disappearing for over 3 weeks. So I'll give you lots of other words in the form of chapters 6 and 7 today! The second one will be up later as I am still editing it.

The Harry Potter Studio Tour was Epic- It felt like home being in the Great Hall. If I start talking about it I won't be able to stop. PM me if you want to ask about it!

My betas are wonderfully awesome and I don't know what I would do without them.

You guys are amazing, thank you so much for your reviews and messages.

I don't own nada.

X~X

When Hermione finally made it to her room that night she was exhausted. She changed into her comfiest pyjamas before slipping under her covers and sighing. Several events of the day flashed before her mind;

*Dean confronting her a second time beginning ominously with, "Hermione you have to talk to me about this…I can't pretend nothing is going on. Please talk to me."

*Opening the letter from Ron to find it began;

Dear Hermione,

Crazy birds just aren't worth the hassle, you know? I am sorrier than you'll ever know but I have no choice…

*Professor Snape greeting her with;

"Thank you for your punctuality Miss Granger. Before we consider going any further with these sessions there are a few things we need to discuss concerning appropriate behaviour and our personal opinions of one another…"

As Hermione lay in her bed attempting to process the day's events she felt the moment when it shifted. When it just became too much, her eyes filled with tears, her chest was heaving with gasping breaths and before she could help it, she lost control.

X~X

As tears ran down Hermione's face, her snorts of laughter echoed around the room. What a bloody day, she thought before laughing hysterically. Dean, Ron, Professor Snape; men are all unpredictable bastards. She wiped the tears from under her eyes and attempted to compose herself, but every time a memory of the day's events flashed through her mind she couldn't help but laugh.

She had opened the letter from Ron shortly after dinner. It had been burning a hole in her pocket all day. After dealing with the other two men in her life currently causing her grief, she had gone for a walk around grounds, bracing herself to face whatever was in the letter.

Just open it Hermione; if he's dumping you you're free to move on without damaging the friendship. What if he doesn't want to be friends? What if he is so mad at me for storming out of the Great Hall on Friday that he hates me? What about Harry? What about Christmas at The Burrow? Oh gods why did I ever think it would be a good idea to date one of my best friends? As she ruminated on all of this, she paced frantically back and forth biting her lip and twisting the letter in her hands. She did not notice her Potions Professor watching her from the window, nor did she noticethe reluctantly fond smile gracing his face as he watched her freaking out. She stopped suddenly, squared her shoulders, took a deep breath and then ripped the letter open. Her eyes instantly filled with tears when she saw more of Ron's handwriting.

Dear Hermione,

Crazy birds just aren't worth the hassle, you know? I am sorrier than you'll ever know but I have no choice. After the way we left things on Friday I had to send you this letter but Loki was the only owl kicking about. Believe me, I would not use him to send you a letter if I had any other choice. He's George's new owl and he's totally nutters! I mean what owl hoots like a mad man laughing? Did you see his eyes? Trust George to go for the wackiest owl he could find. His full name is Loki-Cokey apparently but me and Harry refuse to call him that. That owl is so not 'what it's all about!' Dunno where the Loki came from some Nose God or something; is that a Muggle thing? Like how your parents are teeth people, was he like head of the nose people?

Hermione rolled her eyes at Ron's Nose God comment; Norse God, doesn't he ever listen? Loki is the Norse God of Mischief, known as the Trickster God (not the leading surgeon in Rhinoplasty). Perfect for an owl belonging to one of the best trickster's Hogwarts has ever seen, Hermione thought with a sad smile. There was a little pain in Hermione's chest every time she thought of the Weasley twins. She was glad to see George improving with time, but she knew he would never be the same again; none of them would, not without Fred.

Hermione still did not notice Professor Snape observing her from the window on the first floor. His fond smile morphed into a good-natured smirk when he witnessed her eye roll, enjoying her evident exasperation with whom he hoped was the ginger dunderhead. When he noticed the sadness suddenly come over her features, he instinctively moved closer to the window, alarmed once again at the concern he felt for the Gryffindor girl. He watched as she looked around the grounds of Hogwarts wistfully, tears beginning to fall down her cheeks that were stained red from the cold December wind. Her unruly curls were blowing around her face, and Professor Snape could not help but notice there was a certain sad beauty about her. He clenched his fist and willed himself not to go to her, but he found himself striding determinedly towards the staircase.

Hermione returned to Ron's letter once more, knowing that dwelling on Fred's death was the last thing she needed to put herself through today.

I'm really sorry if I upset you on Friday Mione; it was just banter, I didn't think about how it would make you feel. Dean and Harry put me in my place though. Speaking of Dean, Harry thinks he might be into you! I'm pretty sure Harry thinks Dean is always out to steal the girl but he was moaning about it for hours, telling me to watch my back. You're so not Dean's type so I wouldn't worry about it.

I hope you can forgive me; let me make it up to you. Will you meet me in Hogsmeade next weekend? Ginny told me you would all be going and I've had a really romantic idea! You'll love it; please say you'll come?

Love you Mione.

Ron x

P.S- Sorry for being a twat!

Hermione finished the letter with mixed emotions. She almost felt disappointed that he was still trying to fix their relationship. Before she had time to analyse how she was feeling, she looked up and saw Professor Snape walking towards her. He looked different; he didn't have his usual cold mask of indifference in place. Perhaps our little chat earlier has had more of an impact than I had originally thought? She tucked her hair behind her ears and smiled at him, raising one hand to her face to shield her eyes from the setting sun.

"Is everything alright Miss Granger?" He was standing before her now, and she couldn't help but notice how tall he was as he looked down at her.

"Yes Sir, everything is fine. I had a letter to read and fancied a walk; it's a beautiful night."

He stared at her, his eyes never leaving her face as he murmured "Yes… beautiful."

She felt ridiculously warm all over and couldn't help but smile at him. Surprisingly, he quirked his own lips back at her before clearing his throat.

"Do you have patrol duties this evening?" His usually smooth voice sounded raspy.

"No, I am patrolling on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday this week. I think I might walk for another ten minutes and then I'll head up to the library. What about you?" She looked up at him as if she was challenging him to keep up the polite conversation.

"Hagrid has managed to procure some rare ingredients for me, probably illegally might I add; I am on my way to pick them up," he lied effortlessly, not wanting to admit that he had only left the castle this evening to see if she was all right.

"Oh, can I join you? I haven't visited Hagrid this week," she asked politely, looking up at him with a smile.

"Yes." Severus Snape had never spoke without thinking before in his life, but he could not have answered her question any quicker if he tried. "I mean, that would be tolerable," he added looking nonchalantly over her shoulder.

Hermione tried to fight the smile she felt creeping over her features. He is trying to be polite, he really is trying. He's actually quite sweet when he isn't being mean, she thought as she watched him look anywhere but at her. He seems nervous; surely being nice to me isn't so scary? "Thanks Professor."

"You are welcome, Miss Granger." With that they began to walk together in companionable silence. Hermione glanced at her Professor occasionally; he seemed uncomfortable, and so she began to ask him questions about the last potions article she had read. Once she had him talking about something he seemed to relax a little, and by the time they had reached Hagrid's, he was behaving rather sociably.

"Hello Professor Snape, Hermione. What you two doin' down ere?" Hagrid asked pleasantly.

"I came to pick up those ingredients you mentioned earlier, if now is an appropriate time?" Snape asked politely.

"I tagged along; I thought I would come and say hello!" Hermione said with a warm smile. "Shall I make some tea?"

"Yeh're a guest Hermione, I'll be the one gettin' the tea." Hagrid said gruffly.

"No Hagrid, you get Professor Snape his ingredients, and I'll get the tea, I insist." She stated firmly, catching Professor Snape's eye and grinning at his smirk of understanding.

"Alrigh' then, back in a mo!" Hagrid exclaimed happily before wandering off round the side of his hut.

Hermione who had entered the hut poked her head back out the doorway." Have you ever tasted any of Hagrid's tea?" Severus shook his head. "Lucky you, you've managed to escape it yet again," she had whispered guiltily before ducking back into Hagrid's home.

Hagrid walked back around the corner to see Professor Snape smiling and shaking his head. "Yeh're in good spirits the day Snape; you stayin' fer tea? Our Hermione makes the bes' brew."

"Yes, I think I shall join you for some tea tonight Hagrid," Snape said politely before striding into the hut. Hermione passed him on his way in and awkwardly squeezed past him with a smile. She walked outside, and threw the tea bags onto the compost heap and suddenly noticed Hagrid standing perfectly still.

"Hagrid?"

"Wha's got inter yer Professor Snape? I've never got 'im ter stay fer a cuppa before? Wha've you done Hermione?" Hagrid asked knowingly.

"And what, may I ask, makes you think I have anything to do with it?" She answered defensively, folding her arms across her chest. Hagrid merely tilted his head to the side and raised a bushy eyebrow.

She cracked under Hagrid's scrutinizing gaze and threw her hands up in the air exasperatedly. "Fine! I may have…I may have mentioned his lack of social skills." Hermione pretended not to see Hagrid's slack-jawed expression and continued talking. "We're working together, and we need to get along so we had a…discussion."

"Blimey Hermione, watch wha yer doin' there. He's not a bleedin' house elf!" Hagrid let out a bark of laughter. Hermione blushed furiously before stomping back into the hut, Hagrid's laughter following her all the way to the kettle.

The bizarre combination of Hagrid, Professor Snape and Hermione had passed a pleasant hour together. Hermione was unaware of her Professor's eyes on her almost the whole time. After their discussion earlier in the day he saw her in a different light. Professor Snape and Hermione bid Hagrid goodbye and began the uphill walk to the school. Hermione huffed and puffed, trying to keep up with her Professor's long strides.

"Eurgh…I'm so unfit these days. With no Horcruxes to run around after, I'm getting seriously out of shape!" She spoke before letting out a self-deprecating laugh. Professor Snape stopped and turned to look at her, she was doubled over and breathing heavily.

"So it seems." He smirked and raised an eyebrow at her. "Try not to be too upset, not many people can keep up with me."

Hermione was torn between being offended and wanting to race him up the hill or appreciating his pointing out that he was a difficult competitor.

"Teaching Potions isn't exactly the most athletic of vocations; what keeps you in shape?"

Something I do every day, throughout the day," he finished with a teasing smirk.

"I must confess Professor, I am at a loss."

"How did you put it the other day Miss Granger? 'Billowing' I believe?" He smirked wickedly as he opened the castle doors, deciding not to mention she was out after curfew.

"Billowing," she repeated as she stood stock still in the doorway.

"Yes it takes excellent muscle tone to billow as effectively as I do. It's harder than it looks actually." He let out another one of those rare low chuckles that made Hermione's heart clench before pointing to the staircase. "Off you go, Miss Granger; I'll give you a head start before I chase after you to deduct house points. It is after curfew you know?"

She stared at him incredulously before noticing the wicked glint in his eye. He's actually going to try and catch me, even though he's been with me this whole time and hasn't mentioned curfew once, Hermione thought before squealing and running up the stairs.

"Goodnight Professor!" She had shouted over her shoulder as she put as much distance between them as possible. Oh gods, what have I done? He's just as scary when he's being friendly.

X~X

Hermione snuggled into her blanket with a contented sigh. Ron didn't dump me. Maybe we can make this work? She giggled as she remembered the silly note he had sent her, and the fact that he had something romantic planned for the following weekend. She desperately ignored the uneasiness that settled over her as she imagined her future as Ron's wife and instead focused on the giddy excitement she felt that he was planning something special for her. I could have sworn I was about to be dumped, she thought with relief. Relief that she didn't need to deal with such a life changing event rather than relief that Ron still loved her. And, thank heavens, Dean isn't in love with me, she thought with another unladylike snort as she remembered their conversation earlier in the day.

X~X

Hermione was wandering back from the dungeons with a smile on her face. She passed several Slytherins on the way who looked at her warily, wondering what on earth the Gryffindor Princess could be so happy about down in the depths of the dungeons. As she pondered the enlightening encounter she had just had with her potions professor, she spotted Dean up ahead. She faltered momentarily before deciding to charge ahead with Gryffindor bravery and deal with the uncomfortable situation.

"Hi, Dean!" She greeted him with false cheer that came out a little louder than she had intended. She tried not to laugh as she saw him jump before placing a hand over his heart.

"Gods Hermione, you scared the shit out of me!" He chuckled nervously as she stepped into line beside him.

"Sorry," she offered genuinely. They walked in silence, which was an unusual occurrence for the two friends, before Dean suddenly spun round and grabbed Hermione by the shoulders.

"Hermione, you have to talk to me about this…I can't pretend nothing is going on. Please talk to me," Dean implored as he looked at her.

"Of course…I'm always here for you Dean," Hermione spluttered. "I think you misunderstood me earlier. I didn't say I wasn't willing to talk to you about it, only that I didn't know what to say."

"Oh…eh right. Great." Hermione watched as he stammered nervously.

"Well, go on then. Talk to me." She offered him an encouraging smile.

Dean began to pace the hallway, nervously wringing his hands together whilst sneaking the occasional glance at Hermione. As she watched him, she couldn't help but feel flattered; he was extremely handsome. He kept opening his mouth as if to speak and then sighing dramatically.

"Dean, what do you want?"

"What do I…want?" He stopped and stared at Hermione and she had to resist the urge to roll her eyes.

"Yes Dean, what do you want? Are you hoping to break the couple up? Do you want to be with the girl, or are you just happy to see her out of the relationship?" Hermione drew her shoulders back and stuck her chin out proudly. "You have to tread carefully Dean. As this girl's friend, you have a great deal of power to influence her decisions. To abuse the friendship in order to benefit yourself would be…unforgivable." She finished seriously as she wondered how on earth she was going to get down from her high horse she had found herself upon.

"You're right, Hermione." He looked down at his feet. "I think the best thing to do would be to avoid communication with her until I can get over this or she is available."

Hermione found herself feeling rather tearful at the thought of Dean avoiding her but knew it was for the best. "That's probably wise, Dean."

"Shouldn't be too difficult. I mean, I only see her during the holidays. If I stop writing to her so much-"

"She's not at Hogwarts?" Hermione interrupted in surprise.

"Nope. Don't you think I'd have come to you sooner if you knew her?" He smiled and shook his head. "Blimey Hermione, I'd have involved you months ago if I saw her every day."

"Oh…I just thought. I mean I got the impression that…" Hermione trailed off, never quite managing to finish a sentence.

"You thought what?" Dean asked as he studied her intently.

"Nothing. It's not important." She smiled at Dean feeling somewhat relieved if not a little offended that he wasn't madly in love with her. Where the hell did my ego come from?

"So, you think I should avoid her then?"

"Well, it would be unkind to start ignoring her, but perhaps writing less frequently and trying not to comment too much on her relationship would be wise," Hermione pondered as they resumed their walk back to the common room.

"Seems like a decent plan," Dean nodded before smiling at her. "Cheers Hermione."

"Don't mention it." She was almost in a daze which she quickly snapped herself out of. "Oh I need to go to the library to check something," she exclaimed as she slapped her hand across her forehead. "I'll see you later though!" She began to walk briskly away from Dean, grateful that he couldn't read her alarmingly arrogant thoughts.

"Yeah, no worries." As Dean watched Hermione walk away, his face changed from a carefree smile to a worried grimace. Had Hermione noticed she might have been curious as to what exactly he was hiding behind his fake smile.

X~X

Hermione had sobered as she recalled her encounters with Dean. She was sure she was missing something; it just didn't quite add up. It was completely uncharacteristic for her to think a guy was interested in her, but she had been so sure of it. Gods what on earth is wrong with me, she thought as her cheeks flushed. She threw her duvet over her head and began laughing again when she considered how ridiculous the idea of a guy like Dean having feelings for her was. She couldn't quite shake a feeling of unease when she considered how confident she had been that she was the girl he was talking about. Poor Dean, I clearly misjudged the situation. What next, I wonder? Will I think Professor Snape is about to ask for my hand in marriage because he admitted I am a tolerable human being? The giddy feeling of warmth and happiness returned to Hermione when she considered her professor. Professor Snape thinks I am tolerable, she thought as she desperately fought the urge to squeal. He was actually excellent company today, especially this evening at Hagrid's. She smiled as she remembered her Professor's awkward attempts at being civil. As she lay in her bed, she contemplated how surprisingly well he had taken her earlier comments.

X~X

Hermione knocked on the door of the Potions classroom at precisely 10.00am. Upon hearing Professor Snape's curt invitation to enter, she shuffled into the room quite nervously wondering which side of her Professor she would have to deal with today. She noticed he had yet to raise his head and was scribbling furiously on a piece of parchment.

"Thank you for your punctuality, Miss Granger. Before we consider going any further with these sessions there are a few things we need to discuss concerning appropriate behaviour and our personal opinions of one another." He enunciated every syllable perfectly without halting in his actions or lifting his head.

"Sir?" Hermione questioned politely, unsure where he was going with this.

He resolutely ignored her for several moments before placing his quill down on the desk, raising his gaze to meet hers. "I feel that two individuals such as ourselves," he began placing a great deal of emphasis on the word 'individuals', "can only work together harmoniously by setting a few guidelines," He finished before his lip curled upwards in a smirk. "Do you understand Miss Granger?"

"I think so, Sir." She spoke hesitantly, tucking an errant curl behind the shell of her ear. When he merely raised an eyebrow in response, she decided to elaborate. "We will end up arguing until we hex one another, or I end up expelled if we do not discuss correct protocol for these lessons," she quirked her own eyebrow at him questioningly, a tiny smile daringly gracing her lips.

"Precisely. Take a seat Miss Granger, we have a lot to discuss," he waved a hand nonchalantly gesturing she should take a seat at the work bench directly in front of his desk.

She scurried over to the workbench and took a seat before getting out some parchment and a quill. She began organising her work materials in the usual fashion before she was startled by a bark of laughter. She looked up at her Professor and stared at him incredulously. He was leaning back in his chair and grinning at her unapologetically.

"Put your blasted quill away, Miss Granger. This is not a test, it is an informal discussion," he finished with a snort of undisguised mirth.

Hermione felt her cheeks flush with anger and embarrassment as she tucked her study materials back in her robe pocket. She sat back in her chair, mirroring his relaxed pose before folding her arms across her body defensively.

"Now, now Granger. No need to go in a huff. Since you seem to be less than thrilled with me at this moment, why don't you begin? Your personal opinion of me; go on." He mirrored her actions mockingly, folding his arms across his chest and furrowing his brow.

Hermione tried to hold back, really she did. She always respected teachers, always grudgingly respected Professor Snape but the man was just infuriating. At this moment she was wholly unconcerned with the fate of her education, her reputation, even her life.

"You are unforgivably rude, Sir," she chastised confidently. He merely smirked and gestured for her to continue. "I'm not entirely sure why you offered to help me since you clearly do not like me. You detest my friends and have no issues making unnecessary snide remarks about them. You make it fairly evident you think I am a silly little know-it-all with hardly any redeeming qualities, and you never, ever offer praise." She gasped for breath at the end of her little speech; partly due to not pausing for breath throughout her dialogue, partly due to fear upon realising what she had just said.

"Is that all?" He stared at her disinterestedly.

"Actually, no. No, that is not all. Since I made the obviously catastrophic mistake of showing you some kindness by making sure you were well fed, you have been infuriatingly difficult to read. One moment we are wandering the halls, cracking jokes and teasing each other. You have offered me kindness and compassion," she held her hand up to stop him from interrupting. "Whether you like it or not sometimes you are nice."

"I'm nice?"

"Yes, but you need to learn how nice people behave. You can't be nice one minute and mean the next. I have no clue which version of you I am going to encounter from one day to the next. Subsequently I have no idea how to behave around you because I am never sure if you are going to tease me about my socks or your coffee addiction or whether you're about to rip my friends and my academic ambition to pieces. I mean really-"

"You're covering old ground, Miss Granger. I suggest you wrap this up."

Hermione took a moment to compose herself before straightening her posture and eyeing him defiantly. "Sir, you are inspiring in your field. You are quite possibly the scariest teacher in the history of the world, however, your methods are actually the best I have seen at Hogwarts, bullying and nit-picking aside. Your academic record speaks for itself. You are the only person in the building other than myself who actually seems to read for pleasure. As cruel as you can be, your sense of humour is occasionally the best I have ever known. If you could just work on your severely lacking social skills, you would be truly wonderful company." Hermione willed her cheeks to cool but she had the sneaking suspicion she was as red as a howler at that moment. She wondered whether or not she should be making a break for it as the awkward silence stretched on. Professor Snape was no longer smirking at her, however, he wasn't quite glaring murderously yet.

"Thank you for your evaluation Miss Granger, it may comfort you to know that you are only partially incorrect. Now I believe it is my turn to return the favour?" Professor Snape smirked wickedly at her before getting up to pace the floor. Hermione watched him, observing that he seemed entirely unruffled by her impassioned speech; little did she know he was trying desperately not to let her kind words knock down his carefully built defences.

"You are overly familiar with people, stubborn and uptight," he began harshly. Hermione couldn't help but agree with his evaluation and was feeling disappointed that he had no positive things to say as she had when he began to speak once more. "You never know when to shut up, you rely far too heavily on research and books rather than experience, and you are insufferably insubordinate."

Hermione was trying to decide how best to react to this less than flattering analysis when he began to speak in a softer voice. "You are tolerable I suppose. You are unfailingly kind, extremely intelligent and unwaveringly dedicated to any task you undertake." Hermione could tell how uncomfortable this conversation was making him as his usual cold arrogance had vanished, only to be replaced with an anxiousness that caused him to study his footwear and speak quietly. "At times you can be…amusing and as much as I am loathed to admit it, your conversational skills make you one of the only people in the whole building that I can stand."

Hermione's breath caught in her throat as she considered what her Professor had just said…what he had finally said after years of treating her as nothing more than a nuisance. He respected her; he admired her kindness, dedication, intelligence and sense of humour. Not only had he offered her long overdue praise, but he had offered her glowing, long overdue praise. She was tempted to make light of the situation, to say something like "Thanks, I have often aspired to become tolerable," but something stopped her. She was genuinely touched and pleased with Professor Snape's good opinion of her. She was equally impressed with his actually coming out and saying it; for a man like him to be so positive about anyone or anything must have caused him physical pain. Hermione watched as a man she had previously thought to be unfeeling and incapable of fear glanced up at her anxiously.

"Thank you, Sir. You have no idea how much I value your opinion," she offered him a genuine smile before suddenly feeling ashamed of her earlier rant. "I apologise for what I said before. Clearly you do know how nice people behave." She let out a small laugh to try and diffuse the tension. Professor Snape was staring at her as if attempting to work out a complicated riddle. "Sir, I appreciate the opportunity you have given me to work on my potions skills, but I also feel you should know how much you have helped me." He continued to stare, but not unkindly. "I felt lost, like I had no purpose or no one to talk to. These sessions have given me a purpose, and I would like it if I could also take this opportunity to have someone intelligent to talk to?" She looked at him anxiously, hoping he wouldn't throw her offer of companionship back in her face.

"I would not be opposed to the occasional conversation as we work," he offered warily. "Who else would I talk to? Anyone else intelligent enough to be remotely interesting is intelligent enough to avoid me." He spoke gruffly and Hermione felt a little pang in her heart when she thought of how lonely this man must be.

"Well, that is clearly their loss, Sir." She spoke sincerely before giving him a smirk and adding "as long as you work on your severely lacking social skills," she offered in quotation marks and a mocking tone. "I believe I am the one who is unforgivably rude, I apologise for my remarks Sir."

"Rude? Yes. Wrong? Unfortunately not. You are lucky I am so bored, Miss Granger, otherwise you would have an extremely irate Professor out for your blood." He offered her his trademark sneer.

"So what are the guidelines for our working relationship? I will allow you to mock my socks if I can tease you concerning your addiction issues, although there are worse vices than coffee I suppose," she spoke good-naturedly as she stuck her foot out from behind the desk showing him a glimpse of her novelty socks.

"Is that Beaker from The Muppets?" He spoke with a deadpan expression.

"Yes."

"Why on earth is he on your socks?"

"Why not? He's my favourite."

"Rather ironic that your favourite Muppet knows only how to keep his mouth shut whereas you seem to suffer from the exact opposite problem?"

"Oh good, so banter is allowed?"

"I suppose, although there is a line Miss Granger." He got up and walked over to her, he placed his palms on her desk and grinned wickedly at her.

Gods these little exchanges make me feel alive, Hermione thought as she decided how best to proceed. "Where do you draw the line, Sir?" She spoke breathlessly, not quite sure why she felt so excited by all this.

"I guess you'll find out when you cross it," he spoke menacingly but his lip curled in what could be deemed an actual smile.

"Looking forward to it, Sir." She locked eyes with him and smiled. She noticed something flicker across his face and she watched as his eyes seemed to trace her features. After a rather uncomfortable minute spent staring at one another, he cleared his throat and spoke suddenly. "Why don't you leave your notes from yesterday with me to look over, and we'll start the work next Sunday?" His normally silky smooth voice sounded rough and raspy and he suddenly turned away from her and walked back towards his desk.

"Oh…okay Sir. If you're sure?" Hermione noticed she sounded disappointed.

"I think we've got along rather well today; let's not spoil it by dragging it out and arguing with one another again," he smirked at her as she handed him her notes. She smiled at him warmly before nodding.

"Have a nice day, Sir."

"Thank you. You too, Miss Granger." He began shuffling through her notes, and she took this as a sign of her dismissal.

Had Hermione looked back she may have noticed her Professor's demeanour change abruptly as he grimaced before holding his head in his hands. Had she been listening she may have heard him groan before mumbling, "Not again. Well done Severus, very appropriate."

X~X

As Hermione drifted off to sleep that night, it was her encounters with Professor Snape that dominated her thoughts; the kindness he had shown her, the respect he had finally given her and the way he was transforming into a different person the more time she spent with him. But what plagued her thoughts in the final moments before sleep took hold of her was just how in the hell he knew who Beaker from The Muppets was?

A/N- Chapter 7 will be up soon- 5 days, 5 encounters and a little bit of lovely development.

Can't wait to hear your thoughts! x