As I love HG/SS pairings, I hope you can all see where this story is headed :P

Thanks to my beta for his help, and ideas, and demonstrations...

Chapter 2:

Stalking up the hall, muttering dark curses under his breath, docking huge amounts of house points for the slightest misdemeanour – everyone could tell Severus Snape was pissed, and everyone was doing their best to stay right out of his way.

But what intrigued the staff the most was what had started this bad mood in him, namely, Albus' announcement that Hermione Granger would be taking on the teaching position of the new subject, along with a small research position on the side.

Of course, unbeknown to Ms Granger, Professor Snape was currently the main researcher based at Hogwarts – and she would have to work with him.

Minerva smiled as she remembered with glee that particular staff meeting that had stirred Severus up so much. When her love had told the staff that Hermione would be coming back to Hogwarts to teach and to conduct research, Severus had tried again and again to give a feasible reason as to why he would not work with the "bushy-haired know-it-all." Albus had smiled, simply said she was no longer such a thing, and that Severus would be making himself, his knowledge and experience, the research lab, his resources and his supplies available to Professor Granger at her request, effectively making sure that he would have to help Hermione, no matter what. When Severus continued to rant, the threat of a Wizard's Oath soon shut him up.

"I'd soon suffer the presence of the witch than be FORCED to help her." Severus had muttered under his breath.

The memory brought tears to her eyes, and she laughed all the way down to Poppy's rooms to continue the conversation about Albus' plans for the two they had started earlier, before interrupted by the presence of said unhappy man at breakfast.

Severus stormed into his classroom, making a loud entrance that made his 2nd years jump, and he smirked inwardly, glad of their reaction. Without a word, he flicked his wand at the board, turned the hourglass over and raised his eyebrow. A sudden outbreak of activity brought another evil smile to his lips as he sat down at his desk to grade more terrible papers.

The boring repetitiveness of the work allowed his mind to wander, to the thoughts that were making him such a volatile man to be around. Hermione Granger. The name had been nothing but a pain in the arse since the moment it walked through the doors of the great hall. It had sat in his classes, concentrating on his every word, direction, move... and it annoyed the shit out of him. And now after a brief period of reprieve, he would be forced to WORK with it. Nothing made him angrier than having to be in close confines (meaning the entire castle) with an irritating, bushy-haired know-it-all.

He worked alone, always had, and had every intention of doing so in the future. The master Slytherin just needed a plan to get her to leave him be, so he could continue doing what he did best – being the snarky Potion's Master.

Looking at the hourglass, watching the sand trickle through it, he wondered briefly if working with such a brilliant mind might be more productive, with someone else to bounce ideas off of. But that idea was quickly killed when he remembered what that brilliant mind came with – a woman's emotions.

Above all he detested associating with women. They clucked together like a flock of old hens in farmyard, gossiping to each other about all the other animals in their barn. And emotions, what aggravating things! They change in the blink of an eye, and you are always on the receiving end, and the feeling is delivered with such force you end up falling on your ass, and then they stand over you and smile when they know they've won. Severus refused to fall victim to their charms and manipulations, and being in proximity to one greatly heightened the chance of a woman working her ways on him – which he didn't want to happen. He was quite happy being alone, as he had to often repeat to Albus' insistence he find himself a woman. Severus' favourite snarky comment in reply was that the Headmaster should take his own advice and go spend time with the Transfiguration Mistress instead of wasting time trying to converse with him.

Yet another thing he hated about women – the snare between their legs. Severus had taken his fair amount of pussy over the years, but it was few and far in between, and often paid for. Witches were easy to come by when he wanted one, he didn't need to spend time winning one's heart and mind before he could possess her body when one would come to him without a heart or mind, making her that much easier to deal with. 'Let a wizard have his witch', Snape thought, 'after I've broken her pussy in'. Another evil snarl crossed his face, and he looked again at the timer, seeing it almost empty.

He counted down in his head, watching the grains of sand fall through glass. "Time goes ever marching on" he grumbled under his breath, and stood from behind the mahogany desk smoothly. Students quickly scrambled to take samples of their potions, most looking moderately acceptable, a few looking passable, and some more looking useless. None looked perfect.

And with a grimace, he realised not a single student he'd taught since Hermione Granger had handed in a perfect potion.

His anger rising again, he banged the hourglass on the desk, feeling it smash under his hand. Students lined up, handed in their flasks of Vanishing potion, and quickly began scurrying from the room. Yet another thing that Ms Granger had never done; her potion was always last to be handed in, she was always the last to leave, and never had Severus seen her scurry anywhere.

Without a word, he sent the potions to his study, and swept out of the room, intent on venting on an unsuspecting 1st year.

In another part of England, Hermione was busy handing in her resignation. Her boss (sorry ex-boss) was offering her pay rises, promotions, larger labs, increased resources and more to try to keep her. But it wasn't working.

Hermione had been treated like crap in this job, and she was going to make sure that the guy paid for it. She didn't need the job, and now she had a better offer, she was taking it. She interrupted him mid sentence.

"Was there anything else you wanted to wave under my nose to entice me like a fish? I'm no fish, I'm not your pet, you don't own me and I'm leaving. Have fun screwing the secretary over the desk tomorrow morning wont you?" As his wife was across the hall, her last comment was particularly well placed, and she walked out with a sway in her hips and a spring in her step.

After all, Hogwarts was waiting.