This is a short one that is more of a transition chapter, just a fair warning. I'm already working on chapter seven and hopefully it'll be posted by tomorrow. Keep in mind that this story is rated M…;)

"Are you sure this a good idea?" the nervous boy asked his fellow Gryffindor friend. "I mean, what if things get…awkward?"

"Oh, come on, Daniel! It's perfect! Besides, Professor Snape needs to get laid. Trust me."

The two boys were making their way down the upper corridor, where they saw a door cracked open at the end of the hallway. "Show time!" Ray laughed, hitting his friend on the back. Daniel hesitantly walked up to the door, knocking lightly before he entered.

"Professor Granger?"

Hermione stood at her desk gathering the examinations from the class that had just left. They were all Ravenclaws, so she knew the exams wouldn't take too long to grade. She was just getting ready to leave when a small knock caught her attention.

"Daniel? Come in!"

The boy looked more tense than usual. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing!" he answered quickly. "I was just wondering if I could see the Muggle mp3 I gave you. I'd like to make a few adjustments to it so it plays a wider range of music."

"Oh! Sure," she said disappointedly. After all, she had begun to be quite attached to the little device, as it had helped bring her and Severus closer in the strangest of ways. "When can I have it back?"

"Well…that's another thing," he began. "Professor McGonagall was wondering if we could use it at the Yule Ball tonight when the band takes breaks."

"Daniel, you know about its magical properties. Are you sure it would even work with that many people around?"

"I'll fix it up to where it does," he grinned. Hermione immediately sensed that he was up to something.

"O…okay then," she said. "Is the Headmistress alright with it being in your possession until tonight?"

"Yes," the boy lied.

"Okay. Thanks," Hermione said as they both walked out the door. She handed Daniel the mp3 with a tinge of curiosity.

…

Severus finally made it through the pile of essays that he had promised to hand back last week. With his work finished and the ball tonight, he leaned back in his desk chair and sighed in contentment.

Truth be told, he was extraordinarily nervous about dancing with Hermione. Firstly, he had avoided dances like the plague when he was a student, so he wasn't quite sure how to do more than a simple slow dance. Secondly, this was a date – his first date in years. He wanted it to be perfect.

Shit! I forgot about dinner!

He jumped out of his chair and practically ran to Hermione's room, nearly knocking her over as she rounded the corner with a stack full of papers in hand.

"Hermione," he greeted, trying to sound casual.

"Severus." She smiled, her heart doing backflips.

"I meant to ask you last night about going to dinner tonight before the dance."

She blushed at the thought of them sleeping together last night. It had been completely chaste, but waking up next to a warm body was a feeling that startled Hermione at first. She quickly got up and went to the bathroom, only to find Severus dressed and ready to leave when she came back out.

"Sorry I fell asleep here," he said.

"Don't be sorry. You were there when I needed you most, thank you for that."

She walked up to him and kissed him on the cheek. They both left the room minutes later feeling equally awkward and embarrassed.

Hermione returned to reality and realized that Severus had asked her a question.

"Yes, of course. That would be lovely."

She wondered what he had in mind. "It'll be a surprise," he blurted out as if answering her unspoken question.

"Alright."

There was an awkward silence before two Hufflepuffs ran down the hallway in between them. "No running!" Severus called. Hermione giggled as the late bell rang for class.

"Oh, I have Muggle Studies to get to!" she realized with a start. "I'll see you later!"

"Six?"

"Six!" she called back as she strutted towards her classroom.

…

"Dammit!"

Hermione ran frantically to and fro in her room looking for the perfect dress. Her hair had begun to frizz up and her makeup was running down her face. Eventually, she gave up and sat in the middle of her floor with her head buried in between her hands.

Oh, bother! Why do I have to be such a perfectionist?!

She was wanting her mp3 back now more than ever. Hearing her anxiety in the form of music would be somehow soothing. Hermione sighed. "I'm crazy!"

"That you are, my dear."

Hermione looked up to see Severus standing in her doorway. She promptly stood up and braced herself against her bedframe.

"S…Severus, I'm sorry, I'm such a mess…"

He took a step closer until he was in the room. Was she alright? Did this have anything to do with that imbecile Weasley? Or was she second guessing going out with him? He truly hoped it wasn't the latter.

"What's wrong?" he asked with so much sympathy that Hermione cringed. He probably thinks I'm some childish woman that cries over anything and everything. "Nothing. It's nothing, really."

He made his way toward her until he was right in front of her. "Hermione. Your room is a disaster, your beautiful hair is in knots and you're holding onto your bed poster for dear life. You can tell me if something is wrong, you know."

She immediately relaxed at his words. This man knows me. I'm not sure how, but he knows me very well.

"I…I just can't find anything to wear."

Severus let out a long breath and couldn't help but laugh. "You can't find anything to wear."

"You said I could tell you anything!" she shouted, exasperated.

"No, no, you misunderstand. I just thought it was something more…serious." He took another step forward until they were inches from one another. "Hermione, if this is for me, you must know by now that I could care less about such superficial things."

"I know, I'm ridiculous. I'll be ready soon," she promised. Her wand clock read 5:45.

"No rush. I'll leave you be," he said as he began to back away. In one swift motion, she grabbed the collar of his robes and pulled him close again.

"You're amazing," she whispered. She reached up and kissed him briefly.

"As are you," he replied softly. "I will see you tonight."

As he left her room, Hermione wondered how this man could make her feel so nervous and yet so calm at the same time.

…

They apparated from the Hogwarts grounds at 6:15. Hermione had apologized profusely for making them late, but Severus reassured her again and again that she was perfectly fine.

Is she nervous because of me? He couldn't help but smile at the thought. As wrong as it might be to want her to be uneasy, he reveled in the thought that it was because of him, and him only.

What is this witch doing to me?

Severus thought back to last week when he kissed Hermione for the first time, drunk and soaking wet with melted snow. He shuddered at the thought, thinking they would never be able to erase that embarrassing memory without obliviation. It would be ingrained in his mind for years to come – he was sure of that.

"You okay?" Hermione asked from across the table. They were seated at Nourriture Aimer, a small but pleasant French restaurant just outside of Hogsmeade. Hermione was feeling slightly sick to her stomach because of her nerves, but the fireplace and red brick interior of the place was making her feel more relaxed than she had all day.

"I'm fine. I was just recalling something."

"Care to share with me?"

"It was…the night I kissed you in drunken stupor…"

Hermione laughed and leaned forward. "Well, I'm glad you did. Otherwise we might not be here now, would we?"

"Maybe not. That doesn't mean I don't regret it, though."

"Well, you shouldn't."

There was an awkward silence in which both of them remembered Hermione's promise the next day. Maybe tonight? Severus wondered, then mentally slapped himself. Don't rush her.

Their food was delivered quickly, and they ate in near silence, occasionally glancing up at one another and smiling shyly.

"You used to be very mean to me, you know," Hermione noted out of the blue.

"I'll admit that it was…fun to argue with you."

"That is was," Hermione said with a smile. She recalled a couple of weeks ago when she nearly hated the Potions Professor in front of her. She remembered him trying to intimidate her when she brought Daniel into his office. She remembered him turning her down when she asked to grade papers together.

"Why were you so mean, though? Have you always been attracted to me?" she asked hopefully.

"How could I not?" He took a sip of wine. "Yes, you have always been breathtakingly gorgeous. However, I'll admit that you sometimes almost drove me to the point of madness."

"So you haven't always liked me."

"No," he said slowly.

She smirked. "I used to hate you."

"Did you, now?" he laughed. "I wouldn't say I hated you, quite, but it was close."

They were both laughing at this point. Several witches and wizards paused from their meal and looked over at the hysterical couple.

"How did we even get here?" Hermione wondered aloud, still giggling.

"I'm not sure, but I think it may have had something to do with me telling you that you were attractive at dinner."

"And I reciprocated."

"Precisely."

He leaned over the table and kissed her.

Merlin, what have I gotten myself into? His subconscious wondered vaguely. As he gazed at the witch seated across from him, he decided that his subconscious could promptly go to hell.

…

Once they apparated back and made their way to the front doors, Hermione could hear booming music coming from within the Great Hall.

"I'm excited," she admitted.

"As am I. Just so you know, I'm a terrible dancer."

They stopped in the archway just outside the hall. Hermione pressed her body up against his.

"I intend to change that," she replied with a seductive smirk.

The two stepped through the double doors and were greeted with shouts and applause.

A/N: No music in this one, unfortunately! Like I said, not much happened in this chapter because the big dance is coming up. Hope you've all liked this story so far! I think it'll be coming to a close in the next few chapters or so. Also, I'm thinking about writing a long SSHG or DMHG story if I have the time. I've written a couple of novels just for fun, so I think it might actually be easier for me to write a 100K story than these short ones. It allows for more detail and creativity. Anyway, I'll let you know! Thanks again!