Chapter 11-Explosions

I felt relaxed when my eyes opened the next morning. I grinned and pulled the covers over my head, feeling like a fool. Since when did I get excited about Potions?

Since Snape became Severus. My soulmate. My grin widened. I felt so foolish for pulling away and fending him off for these past months. When I kissed him, it seemed like everything fell into place. Nothing could ever be wrong about kissing that man. Ever.

I crawled out of bed, wiping the sleep out of my eyes. I let my mind wander to Harry while I dressed. It was probably more than I wanted to know about my best friend, I felt a strange twinge calling him that, but it was a funny story and they would have to wait to tell their kids when they were of age. I can imagine how embarrassed they would both be. Maybe Malfoy would still be smug. He seemed the type. I paused, how I even know they would have children?

I shook away the thoughts, none of my business, I told myself firmly.

I grabbed my bag and settled into student mode. It seemed like a lifetime since I was in class. There was only three week of classes left and it hadn't really set in yet that I was about to be done with school.

Harry was sitting beside Malfoy at the Gryffindor table, so I made my way over to them, trying to hide smiles. Harry smiled in greeting, along with a redish blush tainting his face, but that was to be expected.

"Ignore him, he's such a prude. If you knew half the things-"

"I think for Harry's sanity, its best that I don't." I cut Malfoy off with a smile. He shrugged and laced his fingers through Harry's. He turned beat red and I sighed.

"Harry, you don't need to be so embarrassed, it's not as if you were putting on a show for the school. I don't mind at all, and I'm happy you're happy."

Harry's mouth fell open and he worked to close it.

"You sounded so much like the old Hermione, just then."

I was startled, but then felt foolish. Of course everyone would have noticed the change, even If they had no idea why.

"I know, and I'm sorry I've been so distant. I'm going to be better, I really am."

Harry seemed to relax and we all settled into eat our breakfast.

Harry and Malfoy headed to Charms, locked at the hips, and I made my way to Double Potions. Four hours with Snape. Maybe I should call him by his given name, if only in my head?

Severus. I shuddered, it just seemed so strange! I pushed my way into the potions room, feeling my body relax instantly once I saw him standing there. He looked a little haggard, like he hadn't gotten much sleep. I frowned, could that be my fault?

I took my usual seat in the front of the class, but five minutes later, Snape held up a piece of parchment.

"New assigned seats." He said darkly, glaring at everyone. In any other class, there would have been groans and pleas, but not with Snape.

He put all the Slytherin's in the front and second rows, with the Gryffindor's in the last two. I was in the darkest corner of the last row, and couldn't even make out the black board! I was frustrated, but just took my seat without a word.

"You'll be brewing Amortentia. I suggest you start immediately." He snapped and took a seat at his desk. I gaped at him. Amortentia in four hours? Seriously? It took three hours to be stable and then another five to complete.

I marched over to the potions cabinet and started grabbing the ingredients that I need, along with a set of knives. This was horrible! Not very many people could even brew this potion successfully, did he really expect a class full of seventeen year olds to brew it. I smiled. Of course he didn't, and that would be exactly why he assigned it.

"Miss Granger!" I looked over at him, startled, almost dropping my ingredients. I set them carefully at my desk and made my way to his desk.

"Yes, Sir?" I asked politely, but didn't smile. I was still a little upset out my seating choice. You'd think he would be nicer since I kissed him not meaner. That was Snape, though. Severus, I mean.

"Would you kindly stay after class and finish brewing your potion." It wasn't a question. I sighed mentally and looked at him sharply.

"Why should I?" I asked before I could stop myself. I winced when his quill stopped moving rapidly across his parchment.

"Excuse me?" he asked in a furious voice.

"Nothing, sir." I whispered, looking back at my table, watching in frustration as time ticked away.

"You should stay behind to make up for the four classes you have missed, Granger." He snapped sharply.

I couldn't tell if that was lucky timing on his part or if I really did need to stay behind to do some make up work.

"I recall Professor Dumbledore saying that I was excused from all the work I missed. I had extenuating circumstances, you see. Family matters." I said softly, so only he could hear. I heard a few titters go around the room. Apparently I hadn't spoken soft enough.

He turned a little red with anger and I smiled inside triumphantly. It was petty of my to anger him this way, just because I could. I shouldn't enjoy it so much either.

Suddenly he smiled a real smile. I looked around, but he was only looking at me.

"Detention, Miss Granger, for your horrid attitude and complete disregard for your academic success."

What a load of bullshit! "Complete disregard! Are you fucking kidding me?" I hissed, taken over by my sudden anger. No one had ever dared to say such a thing to me. Hermione Granger, brightest witch of the age. That was me!

A gasp echoed around the room, but I didn't cower in fear. I glared him with uncontrolled anger. This was war. I turned and walked back to my desk and started to put together my potion.

He could go screw himself for all I cared right now. I sighed; of course I didn't mean that. I obviously cared about the man, for some unknown reason. I I knew what I felt. A little spark of pleasure whenever I saw him and a smile whenever I thought about him; that was real. I wasn't faking any of this. It was like I could feel it running in my blood. The need to please him and to be happy with him. Only him. I think it had been there from the beginning but I couldn't feel it until now. Being hurt the way I had been, it was hard to accept. Hard for even me to believe sometimes. All I had to do was take off my glamours and see the scars and I knew though. It would be with me forever, but maybe Severus could as well.

I knew what I wanted now. It was only a matter of getting it.

My anger had just about disappeared when the bell rang and everyone handed in their incomplete potions. I just kept working, without looking up at him. What could I say that I hadn't already?

It was up to him to believe I was being truthful. I felt him standing over me, watching me work. It made me feel safe and maybe a little nervous. But I wasn't afraid of him. How could I be? Now that I acknowledged the bond, it was like a pleasant tingle in the back of my head that I knew was him.

"You crossed a line earlier." He said finally.

"I must not now have seen it, I'm sorry." I snapped, though I wasn't really angry. He didn't need to know that though.

He huffed exasperatedly and took the tools from my hand and set them down on the desk. I turned to face him.

"Yes, Professor?" I asked avoiding his eyes.

"I believe that since we are alone, that you can cease this unconvincing act." He said calmly.

I smiled and went back to working.

"Hermione!" he snapped turning me to face him again.

"I asked what you wanted! Well?"

"You kissed me last night."

I couldn't help but smile and tried not to laugh as well.

"I'm not suffering from memory loss. I know what I did. I'm pretty sure you we're kissing as well."

I pretended not to see a very slight coloring on his face as he struggled for something to say.

"Why?"

My whole body tensed. The sound of his voice, filled with such longing and…pain; it made me feel like I'd just stabbed him in the back. Literally.

"Because I was sick before, when the potion named us. I couldn't feel what I'm feeling now. Horrible things happened to me, but I'm ready to move on now. I just know in my heart that you're a part of that now."

His face had never been so torn. He looked ready to cry and scream for joy at the same time. I put my arms around his neck and rested my head on his warm, sandalwood, smelling chest. His arms wrapped around me tightly, and he breathed in deeply. I smiled.

"Do you believe me?" I asked softly.

"Yes."

"Good, because I was about to get angry."

He chuckled and pulled me away to look at me. I couldn't wipe the grin off my face.

"I can barely remember you smiling so much and never because of me."

I nodded, "That was so long ago, but I think things will be better now. I've grown up."

The potion made a weird hissing sound and before I could react we were both thrown into the wall behind us as the potion exploded. It splattered on our robes and burned our skin. I moaned softly as it seared away. Snape was cursing and pulled out his wand to vanish the mess. He turned toward me and healed the burns.

"It'll scar." He said, taking my forearm and tracing the new pink lines all around it.

"They'll go with the collection." I whispered softly, blinking the tears out of my eyes.

He frowned and his eyes went down to my legs, where he knew his name was gouged into.

I placed a hand on his cheek, wary of his reaction. This was so new and sudden for us. We'd both been alone for a long time, him even longer than me.

I pressed my lips against his, relishing in their warmth. He pulled me against him roughly, devouring my mouth. He was taller than me so I was reaching on my tip toes, until suddenly I wasn't. My legs wrapped around his waist of their own accord and I was powerless against them. Or that was how I saw it, at least.

He made the most delicious sound and kicked open the door to his private rooms. I felt a rush of air as he fell down onto a sofa, still kissing with a scary intensity.

I was straddling him and running my fingers through his, surprisingly, not greasy hair. Then it was over. The good, rushy gooey feelings were gone, because he'd stopped kissing me.

I pouted and watched emotions fly across his face.

"I was enjoying myself, you know." I said sarcastically, to hide how nervous I was. It wasn't every day you sat on a guy's lap. That wasn't Santa clause, anyway.

"Really now?" he said, looking distracted. I leaned in closer. "Yes." I breathed watching his eyes glaze over a little.

"Hermione…" he started, shifting uncomfortably. His hands were no longer on my waist and I felt sad all the sudden. He was going to make this easy. Why should he after I denied him for months?

"Is this pay back then?" I asked softly, crawling off his lap to sit next to him. I crossed my arms nervously.

"Pay back for what?" he asked, confused.

"For not wanting you before now?" I said, in an even softer voice.

His hand touched my cheek and I looked up at him. I was at complete loss for words. What could I say?

"No, I'm just not sure you know what you're getting yourself into, Hermione. I want you to think about this, before you decide to jump me again."

I colored at his words," I did not jump you!" I said indignantly.

"Yes, you did." He said calmly, raising an elegant eyebrow.

I laughed at that and smiled at him brightly. I could take all the time he wanted. I was still sure he was what I would want.

A/N: Wow, fanfiction has been having a ton of problems lately. I hope everyone enjoys this chapter and reviews! Lots of reviews, because my traffic count isn't working...again. All smiles, guys.