Hey everyone! Here is another long chapter! This is where the relationship dynamics really begin to change. Still no lemons yet, though. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

The next day was awkward, to say the least. Hermione hadn't shown up to breakfast yet, much to the concern of the professors. "Perhaps I should go check on her," Professor McGonagall muttered in a worried tone.

"She's alrigh'! Probably just sleepin' in, is all," Hagrid chimed.

None of the teachers were more worried than Severus, who had almost knocked on her door this morning to apologize. Of course, he could not tell any of the others what was really going on. That would require explaining Hermione's daydream, and he respected her privacy enough to keep that between the two of them.

Like a shared secret, he mused.

"Severus?" Professor Sprout said in earnest concern. Snape had been staring off into space for a few moments too long with a goofy smile on his face. He snapped out of it immediately. You blithering idiot. She is still angry with you.

At that moment, Hermione strutted into the Great Hall looking more dazzling than ever. Her hair cascaded down her back in ringlets and her lips were a fierce red. To top it all off, she was wearing an emerald green dress.

"There you are! Feeling particularly Slytherin today, Hermione?" Professor Sprout joked. Hermione's face turned deep red, almost as vibrant as her lips, when she sat down. She carefully avoided eye contact with Snape.

The Potions Professor snapped his mouth shut, realizing too late that he had been gaping at her like an idiot. He would need to talk to her after breakfast. There was no way he could allow her to remain mad at him and refrain from talking with her all day when she was dressed like this.

Good Merlin, she was beautiful.

Hermione felt Snape's eyes on her. She filed this information away in her brain. Last night after he went back to his room – or rather, after she had slammed the door in his face – she came to the conclusion that perhaps he had meant well after all. In her fury and embarrassment she hadn't been thinking properly. After a little while, though, Hermione had laid back in bed and begun to analyze the situation.

Firstly, it was highly uncharacteristic of Snape to knock on her door at ten o'clock at night. This meant one of two things: either he was so annoyed by the sounds of her crying that he felt he needed to take action, or he was worried about her.

The more she thought about it, the less likely it was that he was annoyed with her. For one thing, he could have used "muffilato" if she was being too loud. Also, in the past when she had drove him crazy, he simply ignored her. That was what Severus Snape did. He was not known to be particularly vocal about his frustrations.

Secondly, the look on his face when she first answered the door was…different. She couldn't quite place it, but there was something there; concern, perhaps? Longing?

And finally, he was dressed in Muggle clothes, which meant that he hadn't thought out his actions too far ahead. When people didn't think about the repercussions of their actions, they were usually driven by emotions.

So, Hermione concluded that Snape was trying to comfort her in his own twisted way. She knew he probably wasn't very good at expressing himself in this way, so she decided to forgive him even though he had yet to ask for her forgiveness.

If Snape really was concerned for her last night, then perhaps he harbored deeper feelings for her than that of teacher and pupil.

This morning, Hermione had awoken feeling mischievous. She wanted to test this theory of hers. The thought of wearing lipstick and dressing Slytherin for Snape made her go all red, but she decided that it was too good an opportunity to waste. Besides, if he wasn't interested, he probably wouldn't give her new attire a second thought anyway. Here goes nothing, she had thought as she walked toward the Great Hall.

…

Snape tried mercilessly to tear his eyes away from the angel sitting next to him. When he finally succeeded, focusing profusely on his eggs and toast, she still remained vividly present in his mind. That dress, Merlin, that green dress...

To his horror, every single one of the professors noticed his momentary mindlessness. He was met with giggling and questions like, "What are you so happy about?" and "Feeling a bit dreamy, Severus?"

Although he knew they meant no harm, Severus could not take the jeering from others. He departed from the table and headed towards the dungeons without turning back to look at their confused faces. I'll just have to speak with Hermione later.

Hermione jumped up from the table moments after he departed. With a smug smile, she turned to the professors and said, "Please excuse me for a moment." The professors gave each other confused looks as the young witch strode back out of the dining hall.

Hermione rushed down the hall to catch up with the Potions Professor. She knew that she had to have been the reason behind the dreamy look on his face. What was going on in that gorgeous brain of his? This is so exhilarating, she thought happily.

She raced down the corridor, expecting him to return to his bedroom. As she rounded the corner, however, she slammed into something hard, or rather, someone. The two flew backwards and landed on the floor, averting their eyes when they realized who they had run into.

Severus was the first to speak. Standing up, he said, "Hermione. Please listen to me for a moment." To his relief, she complied, staring up at him expectantly.

"I…I am sorry for last night. I did not come to your room with the intention of chastising you for crying too loudly. Rather, I was trying to…"

He fought the urge to say "I was trying to comfort you, dear one." Instead, he said, "To see if you were alright." There, that was slightly better.

"Oh. Well, thanks then, I suppose." was the reply, accompanied by a wide smile. She grabbed his hand and lifted herself off the ground.

"Yes. Well. I realized too late what your memory, or rather, daydream, implied. And you should know that it makes me think no less of you at all." He mentally slapped himself. What spellbinding words, Severus. Are you trying to seduce a woman or coddle a child?

Hermione met his eyes. "Really? It was highly embarrassing. I'm glad to know that you didn't take offence to it."

"Of course not. It isn't as if you aren't entitled to your own thoughts and…fantasies. Now, I implore you to go finish eating before you begin your lessons today. All the other professors were worried about your wellbeing this morning."

Her eyes widened considerably.

"They don't know that you were upset," he clarified.

She breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Severus."

He jumped. Hermione slapped her hand across her mouth.

"I…I…"

He held up a hand to stop her babbling. "You may call me Severus."

She remained silent.

"Hermione."

She wanted to beg him to say her name again.

"Alright. Um, I'll see you during potions," she stuttered, releasing his hand and turning away from him to hide the huge smile that threatened to consume her. He is definitely interested, she thought as she made her way back to her half-eaten breakfast.

Hermione ran into Hagrid later that day on her way to Herbology.

"What's got you so happy all a' sudden?"

"Nothing. It's nothing, Hagrid, really."

"Sure. Well, if you need to tell me somethin', I'm all ears."

"Thanks, Hagrid. I've got to get to Herbology now."

Hermione left the run-down hut with the odd feeling that Hagrid knew exactly what was making her so happy. She shuddered at the thought.

…

Severus was looking forward to his lesson with Hermione that night so much that he could barely occupy his mind with much else. He sat at his bedroom desk for nearly an hour trying to read Potions Magazine without taking in anything he was reading. He began scanning through a paragraph for the third time when he finally threw down the magazine and allowed his thoughts to entertain him.

Just one month ago, he was writhing in despair and solitude, almost to the point where he had wished that whatever force kept him alive that night had not done so. He still had the lingering belief that Hermione saved him, but the more logical side of him wouldn't allow this thought to develop much further. Even if she did have fantasies involving him, it didn't mean that she loved him.

Snape thought again of her daydream. He allowed himself to see it in his own mind's eye, carrying it further out until she was straddling his lap and they were passionately kissing. He was already in too deep.

…

Hermione made her way to her final two classes of the day, Potions and Defense Against the Dark Arts. Snape was waiting at the front of the classroom for her as usual. This time, as she entered, he gave her a small smile. She beamed up at him.

"Hello, Severus." Oh, she enjoyed this far too much.

"Hermione." His own smile widened. "Let's begin, shall we? I have decided that today we should focus on patronuses. I'll give you a little break from Occlumency."

Hermione's smiled wavered slightly. She had actually been looking forward to Occlumency lessons tonight. She had been reading about strategies to enter the most forbidden parts of the mind, and as invading as that would be, the temptation to try it with Snape was alluring. She desperately wanted to see if she appeared in any of his naughtiest fantasies.

"Hermione?"

The way he said her name made her melt.

"Oh, yes? Are we not going to have a lesson on Potions?"

"Not today. I have decided that your Potions proficiency is adequate enough for the moment. We will use the extra time for Defense."

"Alright. Do you want me to cast my patronus now?"

"Yes, please."

Hermione drew her wand and an analytical look came across her face. "Expecto Patronum," she said in the most precise of voices.

The silver-blue form that emerged from her wand was not what she had expected. A dove appeared in her otter's place, causing her to strain her eyes in confusion.

"Good. I have obtained a boggart for you to practice on, as well…"

He stopped short at the look on her face. The analytical expression had turned to one of surprise.

"Is something wrong, Hermione?"

The dove disappeared. "Yes. My patronus is usually an otter."

Severus tried to think of the implications of this. "Often times when one has experienced a traumatic life event, the patronus changes form accordingly. Although it is rare, I assure you that it is nothing to worry about."

Hermione straightened up and tried to go back to normal, but to no avail.

Severus, turning his back and therefore not realizing that Hermione was still in a shocked state, spoke again.

"I am about to open this cupboard where the boggart resides. Remember, you will have to concentrate hard about it becoming a dementor or else it will take the form of your biggest fear instead. Are you ready?"

He heard the voice behind him mutter, "Yes," although she truly was not. For a reason unbeknownst to her, Hermione was deeply disturbed that her patronus had changed forms. Did this mean she had suffered such mental damage during the war that her brain had been altered? And why a dove? The implications were too much for her to handle.

Before she could dwell on this too much, though, a boggart was released from the cabinet in front of her and began to swirl about, taking various forms before she remembered to focus on the imagery of a dementor. Suddenly, a dark, eerie form was flying towards her. The wand dropped out of her right hand immediately.

Severus was baffled as to why the young witch was acting so terrified. Had she not faced worse terrors than a boggart? Her scared expression truly concerned him, however, so he stepped in between her and the boggart and muttered, "Expecto Patronum."

He could not believe the image that unfolded before him. The patronus that he conjured was none other than a dove. After forcing the boggart back into the cabinet, he whipped his entire body back toward Hermione.

If he thought she was in shock before, he was in for a rude awakening. Her face had turned so pale that for a moment, she looked as ghostly as the Bloody Baron. Forgetting his usual demeanor and professionalism, Severus ran toward her and took her hand.

"Hermione, are you alright? What is it?"

The genuine concern and softness of Professor Snape was enough to drag Hermione out of her stupor. "Y…yes, I don't know what came over me. I'm sorry." She blinked a few times as if a light had been turned on in the room. Are we…are we in love? No, it can't be. I lust after him, and perhaps he is attracted to me as well, but love?!

"Did you conjure a patronus?" he asked, although he already knew the answer.

"No."

"Very well. It appears as if my patronus has also changed form." He tried to keep his voice from shaking unsuccessfully. What does this mean?

Hermione mustered all of her courage and blurted out, "Are you in love with me?"

Severus reared back as if he had been slapped. Sure, he found the younger witch attractive, and he had grown to enjoy her company quite a lot, but love? There was simply no way.

"No," he answered slowly. "You do not love me, do you, Hermione? Be honest."

She hesitated. "No, I don't think so." she finally answered.

"Then it appears that some other form of magic has taken place here. I suggest we figure out what it is," he replied, not overlooking the "I don't think so" in her response.

"I agree, sir."

…

Hermione and Severus spent the next few days researching patronuses. They had yet to come across a single case in which a male and female that had matching patronuses were not married or, at the very least, in love. Hermione was in the midst of reading a page from The Ancient Magic of Love when her temples began to throb.

"I nearly give up," Hermione stated as she leaned back in her chair. The two had been in the library for three hours.

Severus slammed his book shut and pressed his hands together. He wanted to bring something up, but he knew it might be a touchy subject. Remembering that Hermione had blatantly asked him earlier that week if he loved her gave him enough courage to begin this conversation.

"Hermione. I have reason to believe that, despite what you may say, you feel some sort of connection with me, romantic or otherwise. You were one of three people that were in the room with me as I was dying, and I find it difficult to believe that Weasely or Potter could have saved my life with Amoremin Fidem.

There is also the issue of your…ahem…daydream. I will not linger on this, but it does give me further reason to believe that perhaps you feel a bit strongly towards me.

Lastly, the matter of our patronuses. All of the information that I am finding suggests that matching patronuses indicate only one thing – love.

Now, I am not suggesting that you lied about being in love with me. After all, how could a young, beautiful witch like you want anything to do with a dungeon bat like myself? I am merely suggesting that you may have accidently saved my life with strong emotions, and that has somehow connected us in the most intimate of ways."

He watched as Hermione's face turned from astounded, to embarrassed, and back to astounded. Severus hoped that he had not been too blunt about his assumptions. He shivered slightly upon realizing that he had called her beautiful. Hopefully in the midst of his otherwise loaded speech, she had overlooked it.

"You…you think I'm beautiful?"

Severus wanted to bang his head against the table. Of course that would be the one detail that she lingered on.

"Yes," he replied slowly.

He just called me beautiful. Alright now, don't panic.

Hermione tried with all her might to focus on the facts Severus just presented her with. Suddenly, something dawned on her that she was slightly embarrassed to admit, but would admit it nonetheless.

"I think it's possible that I might have saved your life, actually. With the war and everything happening at once, it all seemed to swell up inside me and make me feel things for you that I otherwise would not have felt." She took a deep breath and continued. "As you were dying, I recounted all of the daydreams that I had had of you and only wished in that moment that I could live them with you. I wanted you to know that I truly cared for you and respected you, although none of the others would have sided with me. After all, we thought you were evil. Well, I didn't, but still."

"So, you propelled those strong emotions toward me."

"Yes, I suppose so."

"I'm not sure if that is even possible," he muttered. No, there had to be another explanation. But until he could find it, he would accept this answer for now.

Besides, her confession had made his head spin. She really did feel something for him; or rather, did. Thinking back to her previous response of "I don't think so," he allowed himself to hope that those feelings remained within her.

In one swift motion, Severus pulled her against him in an embrace. Professionalism didn't matter at this point. No one had ever sacrificed for him before; usually it was the other way around. To have someone like Hermione, who was smart, understanding and beautiful to save his life was too much for him.

Hermione leaned into the embrace wholeheartedly. This is perfect. Hermione had always sensed that there was more to the man than his hard exterior, but never had she imagined he could be so…soft. She reveled in the feeling of his arms around her.

And then, abruptly, it was over. She nearly whimpered in complaint from the sudden lack of contact. He sensed her disappointment and smiled inwardly.

"It is getting late. Perhaps it is time to retire our efforts since we now have come to a somewhat viable conclusion."

"I agree." Hermione stood up and walked toward the door as slowly as her legs could carry her. She could feel a certain tension in the air, and it made her almost positive that Severus would say something more before she departed.

"Hermione?"

She closed her eyes and smiled. Turning around, she answered, "Yes?"

"Thank you," he said breathlessly.

A/N: Will they ever find out for certain if Hermione saved Severus' life? The answer is yes! You'll find out exactly how he was able to live past that night in subsequent chapters, so don't draw too many conclusions just yet!