A/N: At the rate I'm going I may have this part of my trilogy finished by next week. Ah well, the sooner I get done with this one, the sooner I'll move on to my next project. Thank you to all those who added me to your alerts or reviewed, it's nice to know someone actually reads this besides me.J That being said, I own the plot and nothing more. On we go!

Something More

Chapter 4: No Going Back

Hermione knew the exact moment Severus noticed her choice of dress. Realization dawned on his face like a blind man seeing the sun for the first time. Hermione managed to feel some sense of satisfaction that her message had been received, but that was quickly overshadowed by the realization that she had no idea how it had been received.

Severus gathered his wits quickly, just as she'd expected he would. She darted a nervous glance at Draco, but he too was watching his godfather. When the latter took the seat on Draco's other side, Hermione fought to tear her gaze from him. However, in the last moment before she shifted her attentions, his eyes met hers, and she found herself absorbed in his unfathomable expression.

She forced her eyes to refocus, and she turned a relieved expression on Minerva, who had inquired about her 'rather unusual robe choice'.

As Hermione scrambled for an answer to Minerva's question, Severus Snape was scrambling as well. What on earth had possessed Granger to pull a stunt like that? He knew enough of the expression on Minerva's face to know that her conversation with Granger was not to commend her.

Was his acceptance really worth so much to her? He found the idea almost laughable. Hermione Granger, war hero, best friend of the boy-who-refused-to-just-die-already, wanted his approval. It confused him somewhat. If she were still a student, he would have been quick to attribute her actions to her need for academic success, but as he no longer had any impact on the success of her future, that argument seemed outlandish at best.

A voice in the back of his mind whispered that it was at least possible that she simply wanted to befriend him. However, life had taught him that real friendship was a thing of myths, and anyone who thought otherwise was either naïve or selling something. Yet the voice persisted, and by the end of dinner Severus had resolved to speak to Granger, although about what he wasn't quite certain.

Hermione sighed as she stood to leave the Great Hall; Minerva had been none-too-pleased with her, but for something in the elder witch's expression led her to believe she somehow understood. She wanted to avoid Severus if she possibly could, no need to subject herself to his mockery on top of everything else.

Unfortunately, today was apparently not Hermione Granger's lucky day. Could she avoid Snape? Sure, as long as she didn't mind bowling him over in the process. For as she had loitered behind in hopes of reaching her apartments in relative privacy, everyone had indeed went their separate ways, save for one.

Hermione sighed, he was standing in the hallway, and there was no pretense this time, they both knew he was waiting for her. She couldn't quite read his mood, but whatever he was feeling might as well have been rolling off of him in waves, so strong was the emotion.

Hermione rose to her full height and braced herself, preparing for the worst he could throw her way. She strode toward him, coming to a stop several inches away. "Hello Severus", she said softly.

Severus was struck by her expression. She looked as though she expected him to rake her over the coals, and he felt a brief pang of something akin to guilt that she expected so little of him. However, he could not be expected to simply give in to that feeling, he was Severus Snape after all.

"Interesting choice of robe Hermione", he drawled. In truth, he couldn't help but notice that her chosen shade was a flattering one. She looked surprised, and he smirked inwardly. "

"Y-yes I suppose it is", she responded. She still looked guarded, as though she expected him to throw some dark curse at her at any moment. He sighed, "Am I to assume there was a point to such a choice?"

She appeared offended, and Severus braced himself to endure one of her famous tirades. But, even as she opened her mouth to deliver it to him, she closed it again. The fight went out of her and she smiled sardonically up at him.

"Yes, there was", she answered, and then went on to answer his unasked question. "I don't want this to go on, this animosity we keep nourishing." Severus almost smirked, so there would be no skirting the issue this time.

"And what exactly do you propose?" he intoned silkily. She seemed to falter here, having obviously not expected to get this far. She did however regain her footing quickly. "We are both adults, Severus. I don't think it would be too difficult to treat one another with the respect of a colleague."

Now that surprised him, he had expected an offer of friendship and some tangent about the importance of forming them. What she offered him instead was very simple, an end to the bickering, peace. He analyzed the situation quickly, searching for some con. When he found none, he nodded. "Very well, I do not see why that cannot be arranged."

Breaking her emotionless façade, Hermione beamed at him, but only for a moment before her expression was blank again. "Very well then", she said softly. For all her calm, Severus took note of the triumphant expression in her eyes, and for a brief moment he wondered if he wasn't making some terrible mistake.

Before he turned away from her, Severus was unable to resist a parting shot, "that shade of green becomes you, a pity you were not sorted into Slytherin…Hermione." After all, the game must continue, if Severus were going to have any fun at all, albeit more subtly than before. However, subtlety was a thing Severus Snape did very well.

Unaware of the other's thoughts, Hermione did her best to maintain her calm, unhindered image. A compliment from Snape? Surely the end of the world must be coming after all. None the less, she had succeeded; something in their relationship had shifted. Though she was not sure what exactly this meant for either of them, she was equally aware that it was done, and there was no going back.

A/N: So there's my second chapter of the day, things haven't quite picked up yet, but I assure you, this is only the beginning. All thoughts welcome! Have a great night all! - MWMS