Chapter Seven:

Visiting

That morning was pleasant for both of them; they were able to return to their comfortable conversation as if nothing had happened. They spoke of nothing in particular, commenting a few times on the students' progress in their subjects. Snape, as always, believed that the children should work harder to remove themselves from the status of blithering dunderheads and become something more like a human being. Hermione, on the other hand, felt that the students were getting on very well in her class, with the help of visual aids.

Breakfast passed quickly, leaving them with only a handful of minutes to get to their prospective classrooms. The day passed fairly swiftly for the both of them, only pausing briefly when classes weren't in session. They joined up later that night over a cup of tea in the lounge on the sixth floor, debating civilly over the turn that the ministry had taken over the past couple of months.

It wasn't long after Hermione had started her second cup of tea that a popping noise announced the arrival of one of the castle's many house elves. They both turned to look at the creature before them and it timidly bowed and looked up at the couple, "Misters Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley are awaiting Miss Granger in her study."

Hermione looked up from the elf to the professor, "I'm sorry sir, but I should go talk to them, I haven't seen them in awhile." She stood and gave him apologetic smile, "I'll talk to you again later."

It didn't take her long to reach her study; she had practically flown down the hallways. She composed herself before opening the door and gripping each of the boys in a tight hug, "How are you? Both of you tell me how everything is!"

"We're fine Hermione," Harry said sitting back down in the chair he was sitting in before, "nothing much has happened since we last wrote to you, just a lot of training." He ran a hand through his unruly hair and smiled at her, "We want to hear the latest Hogwarts gossip, what's going on here?"

"Severus is teaching Potions again," Hermione said sitting down in one of the comfy chairs, "it was kind of shocking to begin with, but it's almost like he's a different person." She forced down a blush at the thought of the professor, her dreams were still vivid in her mind, even if she hadn't had them the night before.

"The old bat is acting human?" Ron piped up from his spot across from Hermione, "Is he sick?"

"Be nice, Ronald," Hermione scolded, "He has been through a lot, I'm happy to have befriended him." She wasn't sure if they really were friends per say but their odd relationship was close enough to friendship to label it that.

"Snape was a good guy," Harry said with a shrug, "even though he didn't show it very well in his attitude he didn't want anybody to get hurt. I'm glad you're seeing the side of him that none of us got to see in school, Hermione."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Ron said shaking his head, "I still think the guy needs to go get a good shagging, he wouldn't be so uptight after a night between silken sheets."

Hermione's previous blush, that hadn't reached her cheeks, crept up her neck and turned her cheeks a bright crimson color, "Ron Weasley, none of us wanted to hear about that, thank you very much!"

"Of course you do, Hermione," Ron teased, laughing at the bright pink girl across from him. He waited a few moments of silence before changing the subject to Quidditch.

The rest of the afternoon passed in companionable conversation. The boys leaving before the evening meal was over so Hermione would be able to eat before her rounds that evening.

She entered the great hall, shocked to see that she wasn't the only teacher that would be sitting at the staff table. Next to her seat, sitting there in all his brooding glory was Professor Severus Snape himself. "Hello Hermione how was your visit with the missing pieces of the 'Golden Trio'?" He asked her when she sat down next to him.

"It was fine," she replied looking up from serving herself some food, "they were happy to hear that you were doing alright Severus. And you know Ron and Harry; the only thing they're interested in is Quidditch, so we spent a good portion of the time talking about team scores."

"You honestly need someone that can stimulate your brain," Snape stated, "those dimwits are a waste of you impressive brainpower." He had finished eating, and was now studying her, as if he was looking at her for the first time, "That is why I enjoy talking with you, you're a wonderfully intelligent being and not as annoying as you use to be with your foolish arm waving."

She didn't know how to reply, Severus Snape had just given her the best complement she had ever received, and she didn't know what to say back to him. All she could do was turn and wrap her arms around him in an awkward semblance of a hug. Good thing there were no students currently in the Great Hall.

AN: Hey all! I just got done with fall quarter and am now at home for a month, so I decided that it has been way too long. Please accept my apologies and I hope you enjoyed this little bit of physical contact.