She wasn't at dinner.

Severus had kept himself busy about the house all day with various little jobs (and a post-lunch nap… cautiously optimistic that maybe he wouldn't be sleeping much that evening). He'd joined the others in the kitchen at seven on the dot, their usual meal time. The table was full as always with a ragtag group of order members joining the residents. Unfortunately a quick scan confirmed the initial impression he'd had on walking through the door - no curly haired Gryffindor know-it-all.

Dinner was served and they all ate. Severus mechanically ate the chicken and vegetables and listened to the conversations around him, all the while hoping someone would comment on where Miss Granger was. He couldn't ask himself - that would be far too blunt and people would make all sorts of (somewhat correct) assumptions if he was seen to single her out in any way. She was always at dinner.

"How is the school today?" He asked Minerva, who was sitting next to him.

"Oh, Severus, you should come and visit," She replied, her voice warm. "It's looking almost like the old place again now. Although, dare I say it," she dropped to a whisper, "In some ways it is better now. We've been able to use the chance to redesign some of the more problematic areas. I managed to convince the board of governors that we needed to reopen the third floor corridor so they've provided the funds to completely renovate it. Plus, you know the damage didn't affect the dungeons?"

"Yes, I heard that the Slytherin rooms were untouched."

"Well we've had to pretty much rip out the rest of the dormitories and start again as there was so much gone. So rather than leave Slytherin out, we've redone their rooms too."

"What exactly has been done?" He frowned into his plate. His snakes were very protective of their rooms - they liked them as they were.

"Nothing you'd notice just by looking. Don't worry Severus, I love the character of the old place as much as you do. But the underlying charms were threadbare in places, not to mention the mortar was literally crumbling from between the stones in the walls. Redoing it all means no more draughty rooms which stay cold no matter how many heating charms are applied. And the plumbing too. I know it is all small stuff, but if your students are anything like my Gryffindors these are the kinds of things you've been hearing complaints about for years."

Severus had to agree - the castle was indeed old and in need of a bit of TLC. 'Such a shame it took an epic battle for the money to become available,' he thought cynically.

"How many teams did you have working there today?" He enquired with studied indifference.

"Oh, no idea," she replied breezily. "I was shut away with the Board of Governors all day reviewing the build budget. I barely had time to walk to the apparition point to get back here for dinner."

One last try. "So you were the last to leave?"

"I haven't got a clue Severus. Now what's all this about really? I might be an unsubtle Gryffindor in your eyes but I've known you for nearly thirty years and sat next to you at dinner for at least ten of those. You never engage in conversation without there being at least three ulterior motives in place."

Severus didn't even blink. Spying on the Dark Lord was excellent practice for dealing with nosy colleagues. "Why Minerva, surely you know better than anyone. That castle has been my home for, as you say, nearly thirty years. I am merely curious as to how the repairs are progressing and whether the building firms you have employed are doing a decent day's work."

He'd failed to get any information on where Miss Granger was which was a shame, but Minerva's comments left him much to ponder upon. He'd not been back to the school since the final battle. To begin with he'd been too ill to make the trip. He was well enough now but truth be told he was a little worried about the reception he would receive. He might be classed as a hero to the general population but there would be many who bore the scars - both mental and physical - from his stint as headmaster.

The plates were cleared and cheese and biscuits brought out along with the coffee pot.

Still no sign of Granger.

He accepted coffee, lingering as long as he could reasonably do without anyone paying attention and without actively engaging in any of the conversations around the table. Finally he gave up in frustration and stalked to the library, grabbed a book at random off the shelf and stomped up the stairs to his room. He refrained from slamming the door shut but allowed himself a petulant groan once he was alone.

"I should have known it was too good to be true. No doubt Miss Granger is out having fun with some young thing and has forgotten all about our deal." He muttered to himself as he took his frock coat off and hung it up. Sitting on the edge of the bed and bending down to remove his boots he continued to rant, "My own foolish fault for trusting her. I'm losing my touch - a true Slytherin would have got payment first. She must have thought I was a complete fool."

He threw himself into his chair by the window and slumped petulantly. If it was anyone else it would have been called a sulk, but Severus emphatically did not sulk.

He allowed himself a whole minute of disappointment before brushing it off and trying to make good his evening. He knew in his heart that he was being unfair and that Miss Granger wasn't the type to cancel without sending notice, but he really couldn't think what else could have happened other than that she got cold feet.

'She would have been a pain to bed anyway. No doubt she would have chatted incessantly, not to mention the inevitable five hundred questions,' he tried telling himself as he took a speculative look at the cover of the book he'd picked up in the library. To his relief it was actually something he'd been intending to read - an account of a Herbologist's travels across Central America searching for an elusive type of Guatemala passion vine in the mid nineteenth century.

Sitting himself up properly he opened the book and began to read. Before long he was totally involved - the author managed to be both knowledgeable and interesting, making him wonder idly if it would be possible to explore the region himself one day.

He only realised how late it had got when there was a knock on his door and he realised he was squinting to see the text in the dusk. Being mid summer, the days were long, so he figured it must be around 9pm. With a huff he got up out of his chair and went to the door. Throwing it open with some force he barked "Yes?" before realising a somewhat bedraggled and visibly upset Miss Granger stood in front of him.

oOo

"I'm so sorry Sir!" She exclaimed at speed the moment he opened the door. "It wasn't intentional, I got stuck - literally - in the library and couldn't reach my wand to raise an alarm. It was only when the Fat Friar happened to come through that I was able to get him to call someone to help me. I know I'm horribly late but I came straight here. Of course I would understand if you-"

"Stop!" Severus managed to silence her with a raised hand, "Miss Granger, you are babbling and I cannot make head nor tail of what you are trying to say. Now, do you wish to come in and explain?"

"Yes please, Professor, if you don't mind."

"By all means," he waved her towards the bed, somewhat ironically given their plans for the evening, and seated himself back in his chair. "Be my guest."

She perched on the edge. "Um. Do you have a glass I could borrow? Only I've not had anything since this morning as I worked right through lunch. As you know I missed dinner and I'm really quite thirsty."

He declined to comment, merely passed her a glass from his shelf which he filled with an aguamenti charm. She took it gratefully and drank deeply before refilling the glass herself, this time taking a couple of sips.

"Thanks," she flashed him a quick smile.

It was only now that he actually looked at her and realised she had indeed been in some kind of trouble. Her skin, hair and clothing all had a grey tinge to them - he assumed from dust in the library - and her boots were covered in what looked like a hardened tarry substance. In fact, he could see it actually went above her boots and almost up to her jeans encased knees. Not only that but she looked exhausted and nervous, not an emotion he usually attributed to the forthright Gryffindor.

"So… you were assisting in the library today and something happened which left you trapped?" He summarised.

"Yes Sir - I think it was one of the defence spells leftover from the final battle. Might have been Seamus' work… there was a certain familiarity to the construction of it. Anyway, I was alone in the library cataloguing the damaged books. We've been working from the front backwards, and finally reached the restricted section. I told the others I'd finish the row I was on in there and then I was going to come straight back here, so they all left for the debrief meeting in the Great Hall without me. No-one would have known I was missing."

"And your wand?"

"Out of reach on the table behind me. I'd stepped forward to put the last of the books back on the shelf when I must have triggered the equivalent of a trip wire. Before I knew it I was knee deep in some odd black gloopy pond with no way of getting out, and no one close enough to hear my shouts for help!" She peeked up at him through her lowered lashes, "I tried everything I could to get my damned wand back to me so I could send you a message. I didn't want you to think I'd stood you up."

Severus decided to be magnanimous. After all, she was there now and clearly repentant. "I assumed, Miss Granger, that you had been detained by something important and that you would return when you were able to."

"That's a relief," Her face relaxed considerably at his acceptance of her excuses, "I really am sorry though - I didn't mean to let you down. In fact, I can be ready for our original plan if you give me just a few minutes to get ready."

He frowned at her. "Did you say you haven't eaten since this morning?"

"Um… no Sir?"

"Why on earth are you in here then and not in the kitchen getting some food? Merlin's beard woman! I thought you had more sense." He chastised her, annoyed she had put him above her health. "Why don't we postpone our plans until tomorrow? You are clearly tired and in need of a bath, not to mention a hot meal, and it is already late."

She pouted. "But Sir, I've been looking forward to this all day!"

He rolled his eyes but he was secretly pleased. "I thought this was supposed to be my part of the bargain?" He quipped, "Surely I have the right to decide where and when? Especially as, given the state you are in right now, you are more likely to fall asleep than anything else."

Sensing a weakening on her part he stood up and reached for her hand. Pulling her up to standing her ushered her out of the room and back down the stairs to the kitchen. Admonishing her to sit he went to make her some dinner. He opened the larder and pulled leftover chicken, rice and vegetables from under the chilled stasis charm. Summoning a plate from the cupboard with a swish of his wand, he swiftly made her up a meal. A further flick of his warm and it was piping hot. He put the plate down in front of her and told her sternly that she was to eat every last mouthful and that he would see her in the morning.

Miss Granger inhaled the steam coming off the plate with an appreciative "mmm" and dug in straight away. "Thank you, Professor," she managed between mouthfuls as she practically inhaled the food, "And I'm sorry again for letting you down."

He waved her apologies away and left her in the kitchen to finish, heading back to his room. The evening hadn't gone as he had expected but he was philosophical now he knew the truth. In fact he felt positively saintly at having put Miss Granger's wellbeing above his own pleasure. There would be time enough for that in the next few days, he was sure.

oOo

The Professor had just reached a really gripping bit in his book when he was interrupted by a gentle knock on the door.

He debated ignoring it, certain he had no desire to talk to any of the house's residents at this time of night. But curiosity got the better of him and he opened the door, to find the same curly haired witch as before in his doorway.

Severus watched with amusement as various emotions flitted across her face before she settled on a slightly naughty smile.

"Miss Granger, I thought I made it clear that I didn't expect to see you again until tomorrow?"

"Professor, I was thinking… I know that I messed up your plans for this evening, and I know you will want another night as your part of the deal, but as you can see, I need a bath, and I thought maybe we could combine goals. Care to join me?" She raised an eyebrow questioningly, "I'm sure I could make the rest of your evening pleasant even if not exactly in the way we originally intended. You could call it a part payment if you like?"

For one glorious moment he was speechless. He'd got past the idea of messing around with her in bed, but a shared bath spoke of unexpected levels of intimacy - more than merely a transaction. Before he'd even really had a chance to get his brain in gear he could hear a distinctly baser part of himself telling her, "Very well, but no flowery bath oils or similar, and absolutely no bubbles."

oOo

The bathroom on the first floor was the biggest so they went there. Hermione had already set out towels and applied warming and fluffing charms on them in expectation, figuring he would never know if he had declined. She also had a bath oil to hand that she promised was neither floral nor overtly feminine. She held it up for him to give his olfactory approval. The oil had hints of citrus with thyme and basil - she was sure he would like it.

He took a sniff and pronounced it 'adequate'. Hermione, well versed in Snape-speak after six years in his classroom, took that to mean he thought it rather pleasant so poured a liberal amount under the running water.

Once the bath was drawn to her satisfaction she cast a scourgify on herself to get rid of the worst of the dust and muck, wondering as she did so why on earth she hadn't done that several hours ago. She'd been so focused on getting back that she hadn't even thought about it.

"That's better," she commented to her bathing partner, "At least that's got the worst off." She pulled off her jeans unselfconsciously, balling her socks up as they came off too. She could tell he was watching her but that was fine. After all they were going to share a bed. Nudity was a given. Besides she wasn't vain. She liked her body well enough most of the time - it was strong and did what she wanted it to do. Looks were secondary. Apart from one thing...

She stood in front of him in her long sleeved top and knickers, her fingers plucking at the hem of her top.

"Um, I should warn you, I have some scars..."

He raised an eyebrow, "And you presume I don't?"

"Well, no, but I didn't want you to be shocked." She was uneasy - she hadn't shown this to anyone. No one except the inhabitants of Shell Cottage during her recovery had seen Bellatrix's handiwork. Hermione was always very careful to wear long sleeves and a mild distraction glamour. Plus of course there was the long scar across her front from the Department of Mysteries, and countless marks from the final battle. Healing herself quickly hadn't been a priority so they had inevitably scarred.

Taking a deep breath for resolve she pulled her top off, leaving her stood before him in her plain white bra and knickers.

From the way his eyes roamed hungrily over her, the last thing on his mind were her imperfections.

"Lovely," he declared.

She rewarded him with a shy smile. "I know I'm still a bit skinny, but it's improving slowly. At least I feel fit and healthy now, unlike a few weeks ago."

"And again, I point to my own physique," he said wryly as he began to unbutton his shirt, "Thin and scarred sums me up pretty well I'm afraid."

Hermione looked with interest as he divested himself of his shirt. Sure enough, there was little spare flesh covering his bones, and his pale skin was covered in the faint criss-cross of silvery lines from past hurts. However, his chest and arms were well shaped from carting cauldrons around and he didn't have a belly. She thought he looked rather splendid actually, and eyed the trail of dark hairs that led to his groin with interest of her own.

"You are thin, but I like it. It suits you." She grinned up at him, "I can't quite imagine you as a tanned, muscle-strapped quidditch player, Professor."

He gave a rather undignified snort in response, which made her grin even wider.

She turned her back on him and removed her bra and knickers before pinning her hair up and climbing into the steaming water. "Ooh that's nice,". She lay back against the edge with her eyes shut, enjoying the heat. "I can't believe how much dust there is floating around the castle from the rebuild. Every single room seems to be full of it. We need a giant vacuum cleaner or something to suck it all up."

Hermione was aware he hadn't yet moved. Opening her eyes she sat up and looked at him - still in his trousers seemingly lost in thought watching her in the water. "This isn't a spectator sport Professor. Are you coming in?"

He snapped out of it and finally managed to raise his gaze far enough up to meet her eyes. She was amused to see a light blush stain his cheeks. She knew full well that he had been watching her breasts, which were tantalisingly dipping in and out of the water as she moved about. 'I never thought I'd think this without being on the receiving end of a hex, but it is rather amusing to tease him,' Hermione thought smugly, feeling rather buoyed up by her body's effect on him.

Taking pity on the poor man she closed her eyes again and lay back - this time sliding a little further down into the bath so her nipples were under the water. Finally there was the sound of buttons being undone and the swoosh of wool trousers being removed and folded. Fighting her curiosity she managed to keep her eyes closed until she felt him ease himself into the bath on the opposite side of the tub facing her.

There were a few moments of humour as their legs got tangled when he tried to straighten his and it became clear the bath just wasn't big enough for them to share it that way.

"If I just…" Hermione said, trying to manoeuvre herself around his long legs without prodding anything delicate under the water, slipping and sliding around thanks to the bath oil.

"Merlin's beard witch! Are you trying to emasculate me with that foot?" He grabbed the offending appendage making her squeal as she slid further down into the bath and began to struggle against him, splashing water everywhere.

"Let go!"

"No," he growled, "Not until you promise to stay absolutely still until we work this out. Honestly, this was your idea," he grumbled, feeling put out that this wasn't yet the erotic treat he had been promised (although the oiled breasts bobbing in front of him did go some way to appeasing him).

She stilled completely. He was right, this wasn't working. "How about if you lean against the bath, Sir, and I lean on you? That way there should be space for your legs." 'And it means I can enjoy the feel of your chest against my back, among other even more delicious things.'

"Hmmm. Stand up." He ordered brusquely.

She wiggled her foot gently, reminding him that he still had hold of it. When he finally released it she grabbed hold of the edges of the bath and slowly stood up, well aware she was giving him an excellent view of her whole body as she did so. She stood facing him and blushed as he narrowed his eyes in a deliberate leer.

"Well, Miss Granger, clearly there is something to be said for shared baths after all."

She turned around, giving him a good look at her bum and then sank back into the hot water. He immediately pulled her back onto his chest and rested one arm around her waist and one on the rim of the bath, anchoring them both.

At first it was a little strange to be sharing the water and the silence was a touch awkward. They had touched frequently when dancing but it had always been very proper. This was anything but. However she quickly relaxed, enjoying the gentle rise and fall of his chest as she lay there, half asleep as she unwound from the stresses of the day. She wanted this after all, there was no need for excessive nerves.

"The girls in the dorm used to talk about sharing the prefect's bath with a boy," she commented idly, her eyes closed, "I didn't realise it would be as lovely as this."

"You've never done this before?" He was surprised. "Then why did you suggest it?"

"I just thought it would be nice… I don't know really."

He hmmed and the deep reverberations travelled through his chest to her. She sighed and leant into him even further. It really was relaxing. When she had first laid against him she had felt the evidence of his arousal in the small of her back but neither of them had commented on it and it had softened again. She deliberately refrained from speculating about it - there would be time enough for that when they made it to the bedroom.

"What did you do today, Sir?" She played with his arm as she spoke, idly drawing patterns and runes with her fingers.

"What?" He too was half asleep, lulled into a pleasant state.

"Today. What did you do? I realised when I was stuck in the library that I wasn't really sure what you did these days as you aren't teaching. I set up the lab in the basement here and it's not been used so I know you aren't brewing."

"This and that," he was slightly evasive, trying to think of anything productive he'd done that day. Instead he distracted her by telling her about the book he was reading, which led to a delightful conversation on the practicalities of international portkeys to Guatemala and if the school summer holidays were long enough to make a decent visit of it.

Before she knew it the water had cooled and they were both more than a little water-pruned. Hermione sighed and sat up. "I suppose we should get out, it's getting cold."

"We could," he replied silkily, "But you haven't achieved the primary goal of bathing yet."

"Oh?" She was intrigued and a little confused.

"Usually people take a bath to get clean," the Professor prompted.

"Oh!" This time Hermione smiled, even though he couldn't see it. "Well, that would be an oversight wouldn't it." Reaching out she picked up the bar of soap from the side and started to lather her hands. To her surprise he stopped her then took the bar himself.

"Lean forward while you do your legs," he told her, waiting until she did so to move himself. Then he took the bar and gently soaped her back, using his hands to ensure every spot of her was cleansed from the nape of her neck to the base of her spine. Next he pulled her back against his chest to do her arms. He hissed when he saw the scarring on her forearm - something he'd not noticed previously, being too focused on nearly-naked woman in front of him. "Who did this?" he asked harshly, running his fingers over the letters.

"Bellatrix LeStrange." Hermione's voice was grim, "When we got taken to Malfoy Manor she tortured me to find out where we got the sword from."

He frowned and stroked the area again. "She always was a vindictive bitch. Used to dip her knives in poison before using them so they were hard to heal and guaranteed to scar."

"That sounds familiar. Nothing we did magically could speed up the process - dittany didn't work at all." She looked down at it herself, somewhat dispassionately. She had resigned herself to bearing a permanent reminder of the war, but had secretly hoped there was a way of diminishing it. If anyone knew of one it would be a Potions Master. 'Looks like I'm stuck with it.' She thought sadly.

"What else did she do to you?" His voice was sharp with thinly controlled anger. He hadn't known the full details of the final days of war and his recovery post-war had left him somewhat out of the loop.

"Oh, a lot of nasty threats relating to being given to Greyback as his plaything and a few bouts of cruciatus. I survived though, that's the important thing. And," she added smugly, "she didn't find out what she wanted to know either - she never did discover how we got the sword."

"I can give you something for the tremors," he promised, "Remind me later."

She twisted in the bath and knelt to face him. "Thank you, that would be really appreciated. I've been managing them ok but I'm a bit worried about how they will be over the winter if they haven't lessened by then."

"It will get easier with time," he told her, absently soaping his hands as he did then running them over her arms and down to her fingers, splaying each hand to get in between each digit. "It takes a while for the nerves to regenerate but once they do the sensations will be diminished."

Hermione was delighted with this. She hadn't liked to raise it with anyone as there always seemed to be someone in more urgent need of care whenever she was in front of a mediwitch or wizard but it had preyed on her mind. This was really good news.

The Professor still had the soap in his hands. "Do you want to finish off?" he asked politely, offering her the soap.

She looked down and then up at him. Her eyes sparkled as she told him he might as well continue as he'd done such a good job of her back.

He laughed, rich and true, then pulled her closer. "Very well, witch, I'll make sure you are clean enough for your bed tonight."

Taking the soap between his dexterous fingers he carefully ran it over her collar bone from one shoulder to the other. Then, trailing carefully in the dip between her breasts he spread his fingers out he covered her stomach in suds, using both hands to slide up to her armpits, and then smooth down to her hips.

"I think you missed a bit," she told him cheekily.

"Patience, you. Or I'll stop now."

She obediently sat back and put her hands deliberately by her side, giving him full access. He continued to soap her stomach for a few more seconds, mainly to tease her. Her stomach tightened in delicious anticipation as she held herself still and tried not to squirm. Then he slid his hands up over her breasts, cupping them and running his thumbs over her rosy pink nipples. She couldn't help but give as gasp at his touch in such a sensitive place.

"You have gorgeous tits," he told her, gently squeezing them, "they are the perfect size to fit in my hands."

Her cheeks were as pink as her nipples as he continued to play, ensuring they were quite throughly clean. Finally he sighed and scooped some water up and rinsed away the suds from her torso.

"There, all done pet."

"Thank you." She took the soap back. "Did you want me to do you?"

"Ahhh, perhaps another time Miss Granger. I confess I'm rather too tired now to enjoy it properly. It's been a long day and its late."

She took a couple of moments to rinse herself off and then pulled the plug as she got up and out of the bath and wrapped herself in a big fluffy towel. Holding one out for him too she quickly dried, studiously avoiding looking at him as she felt inexplicably shy all of a sudden.

There was silence between them again but this time it felt good, companionable. The bath had been a good idea - it had given her a chance to explore some intimacy with him before she took the next step. Speaking of which…

"Sir, I think I should tell you something."

He raised an eyebrow as he buttoned his shirt. "Go on," he prompted.

"Sharing a bath isn't the only new thing I'll be doing with you. I'm a virgin."

Severus Snape stilled then sat down on the edge of the bath. "Right. So you are untouched, and yet you thought it a good idea to agree to bed me?"

"Well it's not like I've been saving myself for my wedding night or anything," she retorted angrily. "But forgive me if I spent the last couple of years trying very hard not to get killed as well as saving Harry and the rest of wizarding kind. I didn't exactly get time to experiment."

He ran a hand tiredly through his hair. This wasn't what he had expected at all. Sure, she was innocent, but he didn't realise she was that innocent. "At school?" he enquired.

"Did you see my course load?" she countered. "Plus, there wasn't anyone who I wanted to kiss let alone sleep with. Seriously, it's not a big deal, I just didn't want to do something completely stupid tomorrow without you being forewarned that I don't know what I'm doing. I mean, I've read some books… but I get the feeling sex requires hands on learning." She ended with a wink, trying hard to bring back the good mood they had both been in.

He gave her a minuscule smirk and she knew she was in part forgiven for springing this on him. "Yes, Miss Granger, you will find that the realities differ somewhat from the text." He sighed, "I won't hold it against you if you choose to change your mind about our agreement. I don't want you to regret this."

"I won't," she told him firmly. "Now, what time shall I come to your room tomorrow? I'm due to be at a tea in the afternoon with Hestia and Andromeda Tonks so I won't be in danger of making it two days in a row that I get stuck at the castle."

They were both dressed now and the bath was drained. Picking up the various accoutrements she waited for him to open the door.

"An hour after dinner, as before, I think." He told her. Reaching down he kissed her gently on the lips then softly wished her a goodnight before they parted in the hallway to return to their respective bedrooms. It had been a surprisingly sweet way to spend the evening, and both were glad she had invited him.

oOo

At 8pm on the dot the following night a familiar knocking sound interrupted Severus' reading. He opened the door with a wave of his wand to find his curly haired witch standing there with a sweet smile.

"Shall we try again Professor?"

He gestured for her to come into the room then flicked his wand, locking the door and silencing the room. "Oh yes Miss Granger, I think we shall."

A/N - Thanks for all the follows and reviews - I've been totally amazed at how many of you are reading my story, and I hope you continue to enjoy it!