Chapter 5: Discussions and Coming Clean

Hermione got a letter the next morning at breakfast. There wasn't a name on the note but she didn't need one to know who had written it, she recognized the writing easily. Her only question was why Snape wrote to her rather than waiting to speak to her before or after class. She slowly opened the parchment and read the letter.

Dear Miss Granger,

I would like to speak to you after lunch today before your afternoon classes; I see it as we have a bit to discuss some about what transpired yesterday. Please meet me in my office directly after you finish eating or you may come to my office and dine with me there to save time and trouble.

Thank you.

Hermione quickly re-read the note before placing it in her Transfiguration book. "What was that 'Mione?" Harry asked turning to her.

"Oh it's nothing Harry just a professor wanting to speak to me about classes and such. We might want to go however it's Friday and I really would rather not be late to my classes before break though I was forced to yesterday." Hermione replied picking up her bags and heading for Professor McGonagall's classroom.

After Transfiguration the group had Charms and a free period before lunch. Hermione told the boys that she was going to go speak with the professor who sent her the letter that morning and she'd see them on the way to Herbology after lunch. They nodded and headed into the Great Hall. When Hermione was sure they were out of sight she headed down to the dungeons and to Professor Snape's office. She knocked lightly at the door and heard a rather ruffled, "Enter." Before opening the door and stepping into the "bat's" lair.

"You wanted to speak to me Professor?" Hermione asked standing before the man's desk, looking slightly uncomfortable.

"Ah yes Miss Granger, I see that you got my note this morning, please take a seat." He waved his hand at the chair just in front of his desk and it pulled out slightly for the young woman to sit in before inching closer to the desk again. Another wave of his hand and a house elf appeared with food enough for the both of them.

"Sir, how did you know that I was going to opt to have lunch here with you rather than the Hall?" Hermione asked taking a small bit of chicken and popping it into her mouth.

Severus looked at her over the rim of his tea cup as though surveying her before answering. "Intuition Miss Granger you would have found it more convenient to dine here rather than in the hall as to save time so that you not again are vexed with the possibility of being late to another class as you were yesterday. Speaking of yesterday Miss Granger and I do assure you I mean not to be too forward, but I'm sorry if I at vexed or otherwise offended you with the way I sent you off after our little…predicament with the mistletoe." he took a short sip of his beverage as he waited for her to respond.

"I do assure you as well Professor Snape that it didn't bother me at all, and I don't mean to be forward or speak out of place, especially since you are indeed my Professor and not another student, but I rather enjoyed it, which is probably just another reason that we must speak about what happened yesterday." Hermione replied trying as ever to be the diplomat and not give in to the feelings that she was having.

"Indeed it is, I may be your professor, but seeing as how you are of age, in both realms, both muggle and magical, it matter not really in the end. What I need to know from you is if it will or will not happen again. We need to make clear what we can and cannot do in certain areas of this castle if I were to continue to rendezvous with you in such an intimate setting." Severus replied to her unspoken question coming around the desk as it was cleared of the food that had been on it just a moment before.

Hermione pondered for a moment, she'd had feelings for her professor for some time now, though she didn't know if she was willing to admit it, to him she was sure she could, but to others that would be a completely different story. She knew also that he was waiting for an answer and that she'd have to tell him eventually how she felt. If she confessed now then they could easily set boundaries and arrange a way to "see" each other as it were.

"I must confess to you Professor I have feelings for you and I have for some time now. Unlike most I never really believed the hype that you were against us. I always had faith in you, no matter how you used to bring me down." Hermione sighed looking at the black carpet beneath her feet. "You're one of the best teachers I've ever had in my life and that's probably a part of the reason that I like you as much as I do. I would like for what happened yesterday to transpire again but the decision is not fully up to me is up to you as well." She glanced up at him as she finished.

Severus sighed, "I figured you may say that. To be completely truthful, I feel much the same as you do, I have feelings for you, and they confuse me. I've only ever felt this way once before, those feelings however were never returned to me by the person I felt them for, I really don't know what to do in this situation now that they are." Severus looked the beautiful brunette in the eyes as he spoke to her, "I would also like for what happened to happen again, but we cannot let this get in the way of our student/teacher relationship. You have to understand that I have to treat you the same as all of the other students when we are inside these halls during class hours, however when we are not it does not have to be that way."

"How we feel also cannot disrupt our daily lives, in this case your studies and my teaching. After this year is out and you graduate however is a different story." He sighed again, "while outside of class unless in the halls you may call me Severus, but when in class or other common areas you must continue to call me Sir or Professor, this must not falter Hermione."

Hermione nodded. "I understand Sir…I mean Severus." She stood before him hands clasped in front of her looking down. She raised her head to meet his eyes, "If I may be so bold as to ask, would you like to join me in Hogsmead this weekend or next?"

Snape contemplated this for a short time before looking back at her, "I would Hermione, and I'll meet you in the Three Broomsticks at noon on tomorrow, now you have a class to go to."

Hermione nodded and stood to leave, "Thank you Sir. I'll see you then."

The young woman left leaving a still slightly confused Severus alone in his office contemplating what had just transpired there and the confessions made…

A/N: Reviews are loved I'm holding out for at least 10 before I update to the next chapter. Thank you and Happy Easter!