I have been updating so fast, I feel like all I can think about is Severus and Hermione! Anyway, here you go. There's a little more smut in this chapter.

Hermione's stress level was through the roof during the next few days. It seems as if all four professors decided to give her midterm exams during the same week. In fact, she knew this was the case, as she had walked into dinner the other night and noticed how they all wore evil grins directed at her. All except for Hagrid, of course. This was certainly going to be the week from hell; she was sure of it.

Hermione spent many long hours studying in the library past dark. Charms was easy enough – it was just memorization of a few spells that Flitwick gave her a list of. He was by far the easiest professor that she had had all summer. Professor Sprout was a close second, but because Hermione was not the least bit interested in Herbology, it made it all the more difficult to study.

And then, of course, there was McGonagall's Transfiguration class. Hermione was decent at the subject when she was focused, but she found in increasingly difficult to focus her attention on schoolwork when her mind was completely occupied with Severus.

Potions and Defense would probably be the subjects she aced, since she hung on every word Severus uttered. His voice was as precious as a diamond to her, and she paid close attention to anything and everything he said. Merlin, that voice…

Okay, Hermione. Focus. It was so hard to concentrate with the ever-present tingling sensation between her legs when she thought of Severus. Hermione glanced around the deserted library and decided to test her luck. It had always been a secret wish of hers to have sex in the library. After all, she was Hermione Granger. She supposed that, as sex wasn't exactly an option now, pleasuring herself would have to do.

She resisted the urge to mutter protective incantations. Part of the thrill resided in getting caught, although she absolutely did not want one of her professors to walk in on her. Still, it was worth the risk. She conjured up a vibrating spell and lost herself in ecstasy.

…

Severus was finally able to focus his attention on brewing the perfect batch of Felix Felicis. As he poured the liquid luck into five separate vials, he mentally pat himself on the back for finally being able to get something done that week.

Satisfied with his work, Severus made his way to the Hogwarts library to retrieve a fiction novel for a bedtime read. It was his guilty pleasure, and he would never tell anyone of his non-scholarly pastime of reading cheesy love stories or mystery novels. Well, other than Hermione, maybe.

Upon opening the door, he heard a very feminine gasp and shuffling noise. There sat Hermione Granger, flustered and red. She had obviously been doing something that she didn't want to be seen doing.

As he approached her, he noticed her flushed face and dazed eyes. It was perhaps the most alluring sight that he had ever laid eyes on. He felt a stirring in his own pants and nearly moaned at the mere thought of Hermione Granger pleasuring herself in the library. It was just so…fitting.

Little tease. Doesn't she know how badly I want to plunge into her? He walked right past her and lingered in the fiction section. He grabbed a book and stalked off, ignoring the confused, bewildered look she gave him.

"Well, carry on," he said begrudgingly as he closed the library door behind him.

Hermione wasn't sure what to do, so she laughed. And laughed. This was probably the strangest outcome that she could have never foreseen. She would have felt highly humiliated had she not seen the obvious bulge in Severus' pants before he belted out of the room. This was enough to get her going again; this time, without any interruptions.

…

Severus barely made it back to his room before he began stroking himself. Seeing Hermione in the library, probably fantasizing about him, nearly set him on edge. Why did she have to be so damn perfect?

As he lay back in bed later that night, his thoughts returned to the young witch and his ridiculously foolish feelings for her. He was amazed that she had felt the same way, but even more so that she didn't find the prospect of dating the older, leering Potions Professor odd.

It was at that moment that he decided to let go, for better or for worse. He was tired of trying to compartmentalize his feelings for Hermione, or worse, pretending they didn't exist altogether. He was falling for her and he wouldn't deny himself the pleasure of reveling in it. I'm a goner.

…

The next day, Hermione strode to her Herbology class with a perk in her step. Somehow, the interruption from Snape was not only arousing, but also gave her the courage to admit to herself that she really, really had feelings for him, and not just the physical kind. The way he refused to become physical with her at this point was highly respectable, as much as she hated to admit it. He was chivalrous, he had self-control, he was intelligent…

All throughout Herbology, as Professor Sprout called out the names of various plants in the greenhouse and the functions of each one in medicine, Hermione's mind was on the Potions Professor. When she finally got to see him that evening, she was so excited that she forgot her wand in her room and had to run back to retrieve it. She was five minutes late.

"Evening, professor," she said as she entered the room.

"Good evening, Hermione. You're late."

"I'm sorry, Severus. I was a bit…flustered."

"I can see that," he replied seductively as he walked closer. "Perhaps you should be punished."

Hermione's eyes flew open. Yes, yes, yes! "P-Please, sir, punish me!" It came out almost as a plead.

Snape tensed at these words. His intention had been to get her back for teasing him so badly last night, but he hadn't expected her to beg.

Dear Merlin, she wants me so bad.

Hermione saw the lustful fire in his eyes. She wanted to take advantage of it desperately, but she knew it would be just plain cruel after he had been so chivalrous to wait for her to finish school. I can control myself. I can control myself.

"I just did," he said, gathering the last bit of self-control he had left in him.

Hermione reeled back. "So unfair," Severus heard her mutter.

"Yes, well, last night was unfair to me, don't you think?"

"What? I wasn't doing that specifically for you!" she cried out, horrified. "I just…I was just…"

"In the mood?" he asked slowly.

"Yes. In the mood."

"And what, may I ask, put you in such a mood?"

"You, sir. Always you."

Hermione gasped as Severus' lips crashed down on hers. His tongue brushed up against her bottom lip, and she moaned in pure ecstasy. His hand gripped her hair tightly, and she wanted nothing more than for him to pull it, throw her on the desk, and run his tongue over every surface of her body.

Severus fought back with all his might. He gasped when Hermione's body leaned into him and her breasts pressed against his chest. More, more, his body kept telling him.

It was when Hermione's hand slipped low enough to feel his hardness that he finally pulled back. "We can't, Hermione. We can't."

She pulled her hand away. "Please, I need you, Severus. I need you so badly."

"No," he said firmly. I really hate this.

"And why not?!" she yelled, not caring if she lost her temper at this point. "I'm an adult, Severus, and I know exactly what I want! You!"

"As I have said in the past, if this is all I mean to you, then perhaps you don't want me after all," he said through gritted teeth.

"What?" Her voice softened. Was this really all she wanted from him?

"Because, Hermione, I want more from you than sex," he continued. "I want your mind as well as your body. I want to get to know you as an equal rather than a student. I want to read Potions Magazine with you as we sit by the fire, and hear your deepest thoughts and fantasies. Don't you understand?"

Hermione sighed. Of course she wanted the same thing he did, but it was so difficult to ignore the sexual feelings built up inside of her. "Yes, I understand. I want the same thing; really, I do. You are a brilliant, caring, chivalrous man, and I apologize for tempting you like that."

He took her head in his hands. "There is no need to apologize, dear one. This was completely my fault. But I need you to promise me that from now on, we will wait. Can you do that?"

"Yes."

After they had calmed down a bit, the two sat on the couch in the Potions classroom reading separate books. A little break from classes might be helpful for her, Severus thought.

"Just curious, what book were you checking out in the library last night?"

He hadn't expected for her to bring this up, but Severus decided to confide in her anyway.

"Sir Gallaway. I read various fiction novels for my own entertainment. It's a bit of a secret that I usually don't divulge to anyone."

Hermione was truly surprised. For some reason, she thought that he had merely stumbled upon her in the library and pretended to be looking for a book so he could get a closer look at her. She was mildly disappointed.

"I love fiction novels. Have you read The Goblin in the Attic?"

"Yes, although I found that one to be quite lacking in character development."

"Me too, but the story was great, don't you think?"

"Yes. Oh, and I was going to ask you about this article I read in Potions Magazine the other day…"

And just like that, the two began an intellectual debate on various anti-venoms and their effects as if the sexual tension in the air had vanished completely.

Thirty minutes later, Severus ended the conversation by saying, "You have a point, Hermione. Perhaps you should submit your concerns to the editor of Potions so that researchers can delve further into the topic." This was usually how he got her to stop arguing; by basically saying that she was right. It worked every time.

"Thank you, professor. It is always nice to see that you value my opinions so highly." She said this with an ounce of sarcasm, as she knew well enough that Severus was only trying to end the conversation. Severus, however, actually did value her intellect and opinions quite highly, despite wanting to begin class.

"I think you are a very intelligent witch. Truly."

"Thank you," she said in awe. While complimenting her was not a new phenomenon, Hermione still loved hearing his praise. It was usually enough to keep her in a pleasant mood all day.

"You are brilliant as well, but of course you already know this," she replied. The two simply looked at each other for another moment before beginning the Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson.

"I was hoping that we could get through some more Occlumency classes before the end of your time at Hogwarts as a student. You seem to excel in every other Defense subject, so I believe it will be beneficial for you to perfect this one, as well. Are you ready?"

"Ready as ever," Hermione replied, slightly nervous.

"Legilimens!"

At once, Severus was gliding through memories that came so fast at him that he began to feel dizzy. Hermione was on a cliff, staring out into the woods during what must have been the Golden Trio's hunt for the horcruxes; she was talking with Hagrid about Buckbeak in his hut, again with Weasely and Potter; she was standing in a Muggle living room, obliviating herself from her parents' memory as they sat on the living room couch, completely unaware. It was then that Hermione threw him rather forcefully out of her mind.

"Sorry," she muttered, offering him a hand after he flew backwards and nearly knocked himself out on the desk.

"It is quite alright. I had no idea that you obliviated your parents," he said in a soft, quiet voice. "Is that why you're here this summer?"

"Yes."

She began to cry against her own will. The tears came faster and more desperately than she anticipated; after all, she hadn't had a good cry in nearly two months. Now, it all seemed to sink in. She wondered briefly what her Muggle parents would think of her falling for the older professor. This thought brought about even more tears.

Severus stepped toward her and asked with his arms if she wanted him to embrace her. She stumbled into him, crying on his long, black robe and not caring whether he thought she was just an overemotional little girl. If that was the case, anyhow, she didn't want any sort of relationship with him at all.

Instead of berating her, however, Severus pulled her closer and allowed her to get it all out. His own chest ached when he thought of a younger Hermione, laughing and playing with her parents, the parents she would never see again after the age of eighteen. And all at her own free will.

"We have a lot in common, my darling," he murmured.

"What?" She asked, tearing her face away from his chest and looking him in the eyes.

"We have both sacrificed so much for the greater good. You more than I, I daresay."

"That isn't true. You have sacrificed far more than I have."

"Perhaps, but begrudgingly. You did it out of the goodness in your heart. I have told you before that you have a pure heart, and I meant it. You are such a wonderful person."

"Severus…thank you." Tears flooded her eyes once more, only this time, they were born more out of happiness than anything. She lifted her head to his and their lips met. He did not resist her this time, but rather, let her passionately explore his mouth for nearly two whole minutes. He enjoyed every moment of it, but found himself craving more; needing more.

As she pulled away, both were left breathless and full of desire. Hermione knew that she wasn't in the emotional state to go any further. Severus recognized this as well, and merely held her close for the rest of Defense class. When it was time to leave, Hermione reluctantly pulled away and thanked him again for being so understanding.

…

Thursday was when Snape had scheduled Hermione's midterm exams for both Potions and Defense Against the Dark Arts. The other professors and he arranged for all exams to take place this week, mostly to get them out of the way, but also to challenge Hermione a bit. She was, after all, in desperate need of a real challenge.

Severus now deeply regretted this.

After Hermione's break down on Monday night, he had been thinking of her nonstop. Was she okay? How could he help? Visions of her curled beneath his arms haunted his sleep. Two more weeks, he thought.

She had already begun to break through his tough exterior. No one else on Earth knew that Severus Snape had a soft side, but she was quickly uncovering his most preciously guarded secret. It had been years since he had been with anyone physically, and even then, he did not show his lover this side of him. It was now for Hermione, and Hermione only.

He was falling quickly. Soon, he would be head over heels in love with the woman. The woman that was barely a woman yet; the woman that was ten times more witty and beautiful than he deserved. The woman that wanted him.

The need to talk to someone about his feelings surged through his veins. "Ridiculous," he muttered to himself. Severus Snape did not rely on people like this. Hermione was changing something within his very core that he had absolutely no control over.

He allowed it to consume him.

Maybe I should talk to someone. It is not a weakness, Severus, to ask for help when in need of it.

He threw on his robes and headed out the door. It was nearly ten o'clock at night.

A/N: Who do you think Snape's going to see?! Haha. I think I'm enjoying this way too much for my own good.