I'm not sure how many times I have to say this, so I might as well play it safe: I own none of these characters (regrettably. Sigh…)

This chapter has some sexy scenes, so beware!

Severus leaned back in his desk chair, arms behind his neck. He watched as Hermione closed the door softly behind her, as if afraid of ruining the lingering moment between them.

He kicked off his shoes and began to think. Do I still love Lily? He recalled his conversation with Potter from last week. "I always will. However, I have learned to live with the unfortunate reality that she is never coming back."

Yes, she would remain in his heart indefinitely. But there was something different about Hermione, something new and fresh. Was it merely her age, or was there something within her that others had been lacking? He closed his eyes. He would need to sort out these feelings of his as soon as possible.

Severus could not keep the stupid smile off his face all night. Never had a witch filled him with such desire before. Yes, there was Lily, but aside from her, no one had ever spurred his emotions in the way that Hermione did. It was dangerous to feel so strongly for a girl who was nearly twenty years his junior.

The logical side of him was screaming at him to stop this nonsense. That part was nearly drowning in his emotional side, which was threatening to completely consume him.

He was unashamed to lust after Hermione that night. The heart wants what the heart wants.

…

Hermione couldn't help but twirl around in her room alone with a ridiculous smile plastered on her face. He hugged me, Severus Snape hugged me! And I may have saved his life! What an honor!

What was this that she was feeling? It was similar to what she felt for Ron, but stronger. Not quite love, but close. Perhaps it would become love in time.

The realization that the two of them would be working alongside one another once September first came around made her all the more blissful. Unlike her relationship with Ron, where uncertainty was ever present due to the war, this was certain. This was definite. She reveled in the thought.

Hermione walked to the shower and turned on the tap.

Severus' words rung like a bell in her head.

"After all, how could a young, beautiful witch like you want anything to do with a dungeon bat like myself?"

"Why, oh why didn't I tell him that he wasn't just some old bat?! Why didn't I say that he was incredibly attractive in his own dark way, that his voice was enough to send shivers down my spine?"

She quickly cupped her mouth with her hands. That was too loud.

Severus tilted his head toward the bathroom wall. Surely that angelic voice had just been a figment of his imagination. Hermione Granger could not have just said aloud that she thought he was attractive.

And yet, it seemed as if this was the case. Severus' bathroom was directly attached to Hermione's, and when he showered, sometimes he could hear her singing from her own bathroom. She was a terrible singer, and Severus could not get past the thought that it was beyond creepy for him to listen in, but he enjoyed hearing her voice nonetheless. Tonight, however, she was thinking aloud, which excited him thoroughly.

A loud bang on the wall caused his shampoo bottle to fall to the shower floor. He stared at the wall, amused, waiting for her to give some sort of explanation aloud as to why she was using the wall as her own personal punching bag.

"Oh," she moaned. "Severus."

Severus leaned in immediately, taking in the situation. She was against the wall, moaning his name. Unabashedly, he grabbed his wand from the bathroom counter and muttered a spell that would allow him to hear her more clearly. He would worry about morals later. Right now, he simply had to hear her.

Gasps and whimpers followed. Severus could feel himself growing more aroused by the minute until he could ignore it no longer. He could hear in her voice that she was nearly at the peak of her pleasure, and that was enough to bring him there as well. They both let out a very audible gasp simultaneously.

Oh no… he thought as he came back to his senses. That was loud.

Hermione was overcome with elation. She was absolutely certain that she had just heard Severus gasp in the shower next to her. Mission accomplished, she mused.

She had been very aware of his presence beside her from the moment she cupped her hand across her face. After realizing that he most definitely heard her, she felt oddly relieved. She began to become aroused at knowing he was less than a few feet away from her, naked, with only a bathroom wall separating them. Although she knew it was a bad idea, that surely things would be awkward between the two from then on, the Gryffindor brazenness that resided within her overwhelmed all of her logic.

Hermione threw herself against the wall a little too forcefully. She winced when she heard Severus' toiletries fall to the ground. Oh well, you can't back out now, she thought.

It was almost as though she were performing for an audience. It only made her more turned on to know that he was listening to her please herself. She also swore that she heard an incantation to make her voice louder. She reveled in the thought.

Although she expected to get a reaction out of Severus, she never thought it would be so…audible. It was perfect. She had succeeded in her endeavor. Maybe it would be uncomfortable between the two of them tomorrow, but that didn't matter right now.

She got out of the shower and fell into her bed happily. She was asleep within minutes.

…

Severus awoke feeling ecstatic. That is, until he realized the consequences of his actions last night.

She knows I was listening in. She knows I was pleasing myself as well.

This was not good. But he couldn't skip breakfast, because that would be much too obvious.

Might as well get it over with, he thought with gritted teeth.

Hermione looked up from her omelet to see Severus striding down the dining hall as if it were a funeral home. She had expected to see him happy. This turn of events made her stomach curl. What if he knew that her actions last night were intentional? What if he thought she was disgusting for trying to seduce a man twenty years her senior? Her facial expressions must have given her away yet again, because Professor McGonagall leaned over and whispered, "Did Severus say something to you?"

Hermione was taken aback. "Say something? Like what?"

"Oh, I'm not sure. Perhaps an argument? You look a bit distraught."

"Oh no, we actually haven't argued at all. Everything is fine."

Whatever reaction Hermione was expecting back from Professor McGonagall, it wasn't this. The old witch smiled knowingly and gave her a wink before returning to her conversation with Professor Sprout.

Hermione didn't have much time to ponder this, however, because Severus took his seat beside her just then. When they made eye contact, both could see just how frightened the other was of their reaction. They breathed a synchronized sigh of relief.

While the other professors were still in deep discussion about what form of magic was the most powerful, Hermione leaned over and whispered, "We should talk."

Severus nodded his head and dropped his eyes back down to his plate. This is good. She doesn't think I'm indecent enough to cease communication with.

The two left the dining hall together, which was undoubtedly a terrible idea. Once gone, the questions began flying.

"Is something going on with 'em?"

"My, my. Severus sure is impartial to the young witch, is he not?"

"Do you think they're…you know…"

"Enough!" Professor McGonagall shouted. "Whatever the relationship between Severus and Hermione is, we shall not dwell on it. They are both adults, and while I highly doubt that Severus would ever pursue any kind of relationship with Miss Granger while she is still a student, we need not stick our noses where they ought not to be stuck."

The room went quiet. No one at the table ever brought up Snape and Hermione's relationship dynamics in front of the headmistress again.

…

The two walked in silence for a moment, lost in their own thoughts of one another.

As they approached Severus' favorite corridor, the one that overlooked the night sky, he halted. Hermione followed suit.

"Hermione, I feel inclined to apologize. But first, tell me exactly what is on your mind, since you are the one that suggested this little meeting of ours."

"Severus, I know that you heard me last night." He arched an eyebrow at her seductive smile. Surely, it couldn't be…

"And I heard you."

There it was. The moment he had been dreading; her recognition of his complete and utter foolishness from the night before. He took in a deep breath.

"I am…"

He paused. The look on her face was not one of accusation, but rather, infatuation. The sly smile that crept up her face that nearly caused Severus to forget how to speak properly.

"Hermione? I thought you would be horrified. Disgusted."

"Not in the least bit," she whispered as she moved closer. Severus' breaths quickened as her mouth moved toward his. They were almost kissing, almost…

But Severus stepped back. Gathering all the self-control he could muster, and internally cursing himself for rejecting the beautiful witch in front of him, he stopped her.

She opened her eyes. He had rejected her. The embarrassment and hurt washed over her like a tidal wave.

"Hermione. Listen to me."

As much as she wanted to turn the other way and run, she wanted more than anything to hear his explanation. So she waited.

He took a step toward her. "I want to kiss you very, very badly."

"Then why don't you?" He couldn't ignore the hurt in her voice. It nearly tore him to pieces. But he had made up his mind long ago in case their relationship ever progressed to this point, which had seemed near impossible at the time. Now, it was really happening, and he hadn't realized how upset it would make her.

"You are still my student. Please, I beg you to hear me out. I want you, Hermione. More than I would like to admit. But I do not wish for us to pursue any kind of relationship while I am still your professor. If you could just wait three more weeks and see if this is what you truly want, I will most definitely be open to a relationship."

Hermione wanted to scream. Here she was, actually admitting to herself that she had feelings for her older professor and acting upon them for the first time in her life, and he wanted her, too! But he also wanted her to wait three whole weeks?! It didn't make sense. She thought it was quite hot that they were professor and student. It was something she had always fantasized about; naughty detentions and short school-girl outfits. Apparently Severus did not feel the same way about this dynamic.

"I don't think I can wait," she admitted.

"Well, then I am not sure your feelings are any deeper than that of pure lust," he said in a hurt voice.

"It isn't that," she said impatiently. "But maybe you're right. I have no idea exactly what it is that I'm feeling for you at the moment."

"Good. Let's explore these feelings more in three weeks, shall we?"

"Deal."

The two walked back to their rooms side by side. Severus resisted the overwhelming urge to take her by the hand.

…

Transfiguration, which was usually one of Hermione's favorite lessons, dragged on the next day. Because they were working one-on-one, it was nearly impossible for Hermione to let her mind wander elsewhere in Professor McGonagall's class.

The professor was currently transfiguring a spider into a coffee mug. "Araneae Calicis. Just like that, dear."

Hermione cringed as the professor placed a large, hairy spider on her desk. "Araneae Calicis," she said halfheartedly. The spider was transfigured into a hairy coffee mug with eight legs.

She sighed deeply. "I'm sorry, Professor. My mind seems to be somewhere else today."

"Ah. And where might that be?" she asked, transfiguring the spider back to its rightful state.

"Nowhere in particular," Hermione replied rather quickly.

"This wouldn't have anything to do with Professor Snape, would it?"

Shocked, Hermione turned toward the headmistress to see if she was serious. Indeed, she was. The younger witch considered her for a moment. What would be the harm in telling her the truth? Hermione was almost certain that the professor would keep her secret safe. What was more, she probably wouldn't judge her too harshly for her feelings. Might as well give it a go.

"I have…feelings for Severus."

Professor McGonagall arched her eyebrow at the mention of Snape's first name. Since when had the young witch called him that?

"Does he have feelings for you in return?"

Hermione bit her lip. She would have much rather discussed her own feelings than drag his into the conversation. After all, that was really more of his secret than hers. Feeling slightly guilty, Hermione replied, "I think so."

The professor nearly breathed a sigh of relief. That means that they aren't in a serious relationship just yet. She voiced her relief outwardly by saying, "Oh? So you don't know for sure?"

"Well, last night I sort of tried to…um, tell him how I felt, and he said he wasn't going to pursue a relationship with me until after I graduate."

"That is quite noble of him. Of course, I wouldn't expect anything less," Professor McGonagall replied with a smile.

"So you don't think it's odd at all? The age difference, I mean? Not to mention the fact that he is my professor?"

"No, dear. I have always thought that you would do well with an older man that is on your same level of intellect. Not to dismiss Mr. Weasley, of course."

Hermione had to smile at that. She and Ron hadn't been romantically involved in months. If she was perfectly honest with herself, she had never truly felt much for him other than friendship anyway. Maybe Professor McGonagall was right – she needed someone to match her intelligence and maturity.

"I think you're right. Severus and I do like to argue quite a bit about scholarly subjects. But we get along okay when discussing other things."

"It sounds like you aren't quite sure how you feel about him."

"I'm not entirely. I just know that I find him attractive and smart."

"If I were you, I would take the next couple of weeks to decide what exactly it is you want from Severus, whether that be a lasting relationship or simply a fling."

Hermione couldn't help but giggle at Professor McGonagall saying "fling."

"I think you're right, professor. Thank you for being so understanding."

"Don't mention it, dear. Now, let's get back to Transfiguration, shall we?"

A/N: Let me know what you think of this chapter! I was afraid that it was a bit fast-paced, but I think later chapters will help balance it out. Plus, I was growing a little impatient, so I figured you all were as well. Hermione only has three weeks of school left, what could happen within those few weeks?

Anyway, leave me more reviews. All of them have been positive so far (thankfully!) Thanks again everyone!