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Chapter Two: Valentines Day

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(In The Cafe)

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Hermione smiled to herself, before sipping in the coffee she had ordered. Sitting in the cafe, She knew that she was early for her meeting with Snape but still that didn't bother her at all. She wanted to meet him, she wanted to hug him, she wanted to feel his arms around her again. Hermione had to stay with the Weasleys after Obliviating her parents memories of her existence during the Trios hunt for the hocruxes and Snape still had his place in Hogwarts as a teacher. Though this decision did brought a barrier amongst the both of them, they didn't mind as long as they still see each other in any ways possible. Hermione smiled to herself, remembering the first time they had actually.. "Found Out" each other of their feelings. She leaned back and closed her eyes.

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(Five Months Ago)

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It was Valentines Day at The Burrow as of the rest of the world too. The whole house was decorated in bright, romantic colors by Molly. Only Snape disagreed about the whole idea being a big deal, the rest were just happy to celebrate the festive day. After all, its not everyday that you get to celebrate Valentines Day with Voldermort running around in his outrageous black robes, killing everyone that dares to disobey him, saying the Avada Kedavra as if it was Happy Birthday to everyone. Ginny had her hands on Harrys' shoulder as he sat down with Ron, playing Wizards chess by the corner.

Everytime Harry loses a piece, Ginny will tap his shoulder and kiss him on the cheek. Ron saw that Harry was deliberately doing so just to annoy the hell out of him, so Ron just paid very serious attention to his pieces. The members of the Order were in the kitchen, clinking their butterbeers and chatting with each other, having a merry time of their lives as if it was their last day on earth. Remus was on the single sofa with Tonks on his lap, nuzzling each others cheeks, which was blushed by having a little too much firewhiskey.

Sirius was singing to songs that always ends up with him having the hiccups, while the others merely joined in by laughing and singing along. It was just one person, not that Hermione had wanted to noticed, wasn't in the crowd celebrating. Hermione knew that he would be in his room, where nobody has ever entered before. She knew that apart the others in the Order, except Dumbledore of course, she is the only one who could take whatever words that Snape had sent hurling, back to him with less force.

She went up the stairs with a bottle of Firewhiskey and stood in front of his door, banging on it. She manage to pause for a while before banging it again. Just as soon as her fist left the wooden door, it flew open and there stood Severus Snape in his black robe, face livid with anger and sulking. His hair was tied up in a short ponytail and a few strands managed to escape and hung down in front of his face. Hermione just smirked at him. She knew that she wasn't affected by that look he gave that would have sent Neville spilling most of the herbs and spices he was carrying into a cauldron brewing with poisonous liquid.

"What do you want, Ms Granger?" Snape asked without moving away from the door.

"Its Valentines Day, Professor!" She exclaimed, smilling broadly.

Snape gave a disgusted look.

"And am I suppose to be dancing around with a bottle of firewhiskey in my right hand and a box of chocolate in my left, singing love songs before you leave me alone?"

Hermione widen her eyes at his remarked and laughed out loud. She felt a cramp in her right and leaned forward to grab it, still laughing. When she looked up to see whether Snape was actually not looking too happy with her reaction, she was right. Snape had his arms crossed over his broad chest and his lips were thin, loathing at the sight of Hermione laughing at him.

"What is so funny, Ms Granger." he asked, still furious about the fact that he made a girl laugh. He had never made anybody laugh before, and now theres one standing in front of him. More like leaning. He hated to admit it but - - he actually liked the feeling. Hermione wiped her tears and stood up straight, still having after effects of laughter.

"I'm s-sorry sir.. I just can't.. can't help picturing you...doing so.. Dancing and Singing on Valentines Day..." Hermione started to laugh again. Snape just gave a defeated sigh and tried to close the door when Hermione push it back open again.

Snape sighed out again.

"Yes - - - Ms Granger?" Hermione walked into the room and close the door behind her.

"Though a little firewhiskey works wonders, I'd hold the idea of watching you dancing and singing in front of me. I'd rather not have the memory of my Potions Masters image be tarnished just like that. I do know my limits." Hermione said, setting the bottle of firewhiskey on the table, conjured two goblets out of thin air and sat herself down on the sofa. Snape just watched her do so in question.

"And does your limit tells you to waltz into my room, making yourself comfortable on the sofa without even asking for my permission?" He said, walking towards her and sitting in the opposite sofa.

"I don't waltz! I merely strut.." Hermione said with a smirk and corked the bottle open. As she pour the contents in the goblet, he merely smirked and shook his head.

"Indeed. And may I ask why the sudden blessings of festive joy that I am getting from you?" he said, taking the goblet she was handing out and sipped on it. Hermione acted as if she was pained by his remark.

"Why Professor, i'm just being nice to you and this is what I get in return?" Snape just raised an eyebrow at her before sipping again.

"Oh come on Professor, Its Valentines Day. Who knows that this might be our last. The war is coming and both you and I know it. Besides, you need to let your hair down once in a while." At that moment, Hermione looked at his ponytail and smirked. Snape realised that she was looking at his ponytail and he reached up to pull the band, that was holding it together, off. His hair fell down on his face, smirked and sipped on his drink again.

Hermione noticed that his sillhoutte was clearly illuminated by the rays from the nearby fireplace and she suddenly saw him in a different angle. He was handsome, for a man like him. She was surprised to think of it that way but she couldn't help admit it. With his hair on his face, his personality of being the serious, snarling, scowling and sneering git was overturned and had left Hermione with handsome, soothing, outrageously hot and irritatingly arousing. Hermione knew she had always preferred older man than boys her age after a few encounters with both Viktor Krum and Ron. She was still intact, a virgin, and never wanted to lose it until she found "The One" yet. Hermione laughed to herself, thinking that how outrageous it is to be thinking about sex while sitting in the same room with Severus Snape, the man who was suppose to inflict fear and terror on children. Snape heard her laugh softly and turned a questioning eyebrow at her.

"What is so funny, Ms Granger?" he asked.

"Hermione.."

"I'm sorry?" he asked again.

"We are no longer in Hogwarts Professor Snape. It would be better to call me by my first name, which is - Hermione." she said, smilling up at him. Snape smiled too.

"Then it would have been better for you to call me Severus. We wouldn't want people to think otherwise about us." Snape realised that it was a mistake to say so, seeing Hermiones reaction to his "Us" word, so he tried changing the subject.

"So may I know what was so funny, - Hermione?". Snape took a sip on his drink while Hermione merely smiled and shook her head,

"Nothing much, - Severus. Just thinking about sex.".

Snape choked on his drink while he stared, wide eyed, at Hermione.

"I'm sorry?".

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Once upon a time, there was a young woman, who couldn't keep her mouth shut. She knew a man, who really was a Mystery Man. One day the Man asked her a simple question. The young woman, whose brain had too much oxygen for any other normal woman, decided to let the man know what she was feeling. Unfortunately, she realised... that whatever she was feeling, was a little too much for the Mystery Man.
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Hermione knew that it was a slip of the tongue and she regretted saying it, that too in front of her ex-professor! She started to stammer, thinking up of a excuse.

" I- uh... Its..- Erm.. - Oh Look! Its raining!" she exclaimed and ran to the window, biting her tongue upon reaching the edge.

Stupid, stupid. What was she thinking? What would Snape think about her talking about sex! Oh Professor!! Can I call you Severus? I don't know but I feel soo much better and closer when calling you Severus! Let's talk about sex! I'm a virgin, you know? - Oh Really? Indeed Hermione? I didn't know! Let's celebrate! Duh!! Hermione shook her head and look out the window. It really was raining. Hermione noticed that Snape had gotten up and stood beside her to look out of the window. Hermione turned to look up at him, smiled and then turn back to the window.

"Its beautiful, innit?" Hermione said, hugging herself, while looking at the raindrops smacked on the glass.

"Yes," Snape answered, "It shows just how wonderful and beautiful things are when you see it upclose. From afar, its clearly ignored. Nobody wants to care about it, yet when you decided to let it control you and your emotions, its really beautiful." Snape said, still standing beside Hermione.

She turn to look at Snape, shocked that he could say such romantic things. All the years she had been with him, never did once did she hear the man speak about nature so lovingly, about beauty and wonders. Snape turn to her and smiled. Their eyes met for a while, smiles on their face.

"Let's go out there, shall we?" Hermione said.

"What? In the rain?" Snape asked, frowning.

"Well, I really want to know and feel their beauty and wonders on me, come on!" Hermione said, pulling Snape by the hand out the door and downstairs, where most of the people were asleep at the moment, and out the door of the backyard.

By her touch, Snape felt a warm feeling grow inside of him. He felt the coldness of the room and the outside, slipped away from him, like going through a curtain and emerging on the other side. He was aware of the raindrops falling on him as they stood in the middle of the yard. When Hermione let go of his hand, Snape suddenly snapped out of it, knew it was weird and ridiculous, and covered himself with his robes.

"I don't think this is a good idea, Ms Granger. We will catch a cold if we keep this up and we need to be strong to fight against the Dark Lord, unless you wish to take him down by sneezing in his noseless face, hoping that he catches the cold too." Snape said loudly, as the thunder rumbled up in the sky. If Hermione was listening, she would have doubled over laughing at his comment about Voldermort, but instead Hermione wasn't listening. She raised both her arms up as if waiting for an embrace and smile as the raindrops fall upon her face. She rolled her head clockwise slowly, letting the drops fall down and feeling the pressure of it. She let her hands run through her wet hair and sigh out.

Snape was looking at her, feeling that same feeling he had when they were in the kitchen. He couldn't believe how much she had grown up to be. From the little girl that almost had herself killed in the girls toilet, to the woman that was standing in front of him, in the rain. He saw her hugging herself as she felt the cold on her skin and he noticed what had made her feel that way. She was wearing only a simple cream color dress and nothing else to protect her from the rain or cold. He then noticed that she was transparent. Not her, but the dress, and he felt his arousal going through his body. She had a perfect body and he saw her undergarments as the wet dress stick to her skin, leaving less to picture about. Snape pulled his robes back down his body and walked up to her, slowly. He didn't realise he was doing so until he was directly behind her.

Hermione felt his presence behind her and she turn to look up into his eyes. She saw that it was the usual darkness but there was a glint from it. He wasn't sneering or anything, his face was unreadable. So many emotions at the same time. She felt the warmth emitting from him and she leaned in closer to share that warmth. Snape stood in closer, closing the gap between them. He felt himself leaning down, towards her, waiting for her to back up, but when she didn't, he tried again. This time, Hermione leaned up towards him and finally, their lips gently touched each other. Both Hermiona and Snape closed their eyes, savouring the moment they were in, feeling the raindrops down their bodies and onto their lips. For a few minutes it lasted like for like hours.

Snape then pulled back slowly, looking into Hermiones' eyes, seeing the glazed look she had, reflecting his own. He then pulled his robes off and wrapped them around Hermione instead. Hermione saw the wet white shirt he was wearing, now clinging to his chest. She couldn't help but reach up to it. Snape just close his eyes, feeling her small hands on his chest and sigh out loud. He reached out behind her and pulled her closer to him, embracing her.

"We better get back inside." he finally said. Hermione just nodded and they both walked into the house, holding each other in their arms..