Every night for the past week Hermione had picked up the stone by the side of her bed and been disappointed as it had always been cold to her touch. She had no idea why she felt so upset, as she knew on the two previous occasions the stone had glowed. She had not really expected anything to happen but she was desperate to see her former potions master again.
Snape was constantly just beneath the surface of her thoughts and if she found her concentration lapsing, even a little, he would be there. Hermione had lost count how many times she had messed up the simplest of tasks because she could not focus, her mind wandering to him. She found herself in that same situation again tonight, sat in her favourite chair, her legs wrapped in her dressing gown, book in hand. Her thoughts had turned to how her feelings had changed so much toward Snape. When had she begun to feel so strongly about him?
She had been imagining what it would be like to be folded in his arms, to feel his lips on hers, to know what it would be like to explore his mouth with her tongue. To be able to bury her hands in his hair, feel herself being crushed to his chest and lose herself in him.
Hermione was brought back to reality by Crookshanks jumping on her lap and nudging her face. "I suppose you want feeding, don't you?" she said, as she scratched him behind the ears. Picking the cat up, she placed him on the floor and walked to the kitchen, Crookshanks trailing behind her. Quickly feeding the cat and then helping herself to a glass of milk, she decided it was time for bed.
As Hermione pushed open the door to her bedroom she saw the unmistakable green glow from the stone illuminating the room, it seemed stronger than before. Not bothering to turn on the light she crossed the room and picked up the stone, once again feeling the gentle heat on her palm. A smile flickered across her lips, taking off her dressing gown she got into bed.
Hermione was stood in the doorway of a library, a very sumptuous one at that. The dark mahogany shelves complimenting the books that lined three walls of the room. There were large leather sofas set in a U shape, pointing towards two large windows, adorned with deep green drapes hanging down either side, pooling in a excess of fabric on the floor. In between the widows stood a old desk and a battered old leather chair, that had seen better days, but for some reason fitted the room perfectly.
Standing, staring out over the fields stood Snape, once again in the familiar clothes, that she now had become accustomed to. Hermione realised that he had not noticed her arrival and took the chance to look at him, without his dark eyes questioning her. The black shirt hung from his broad shoulders, tucked into his trousers giving her the chance to admire his rather nice bottom. Who would have thought that those long billowing robes could be covering such a cute behind, Hermione thought to herself. She stifled a giggle. Alerting Snape to her presence in the room.
Turning to face her, a smile lighting across his face, he walked across the room and took her hands in his. This should feel weird she thought but it didn't it felt like the most natural thing in the world for them to be holding hands.
"It has not been too long for your return, these visits are getting more frequent." Snape said "I hope that is a sign you do not find them unpleasant, especially after the last one."
"Oh no, I have been longing to come back." Hermione replied, returning his smile. How easy it would be to reach up and place her lips on his but she knew she did not have the nerve or any idea if her advances would be welcomed.
"Do you approve, Miss Grainger?" letting go of her hands he gestured at the room, and returning to the window, he continued "I always loved the view from this window. When I remodelled I knew this room had to be my library."
Hermione started to walk around the room, her fingers trailing along the spines of the books lining the shelves. She noticed that the books here were more numerous and more varied than the ones she had received.
"These are different to the books you sent to me!" she said.
"Yes, this is my personal library, the ones I gave to you came from my quarters at Hogwarts. It may surprise you that I do have other interests apart from potions."
"So what happened to these?" she asked, curiosity getting the better of her.
"They are still here, well that is to say they are at Spinners End. I left a provision to keep the house maintained, as it stood, for seventy years." Snape explained.
"Oh, that is so sad. All these wonderful books and no one to read them." she sighed.
As she neared the desk, she was surprised to see the familiar green leather book laying there, the red eyes of the serpent staring up at her. She picked it up, looking more closely at it she could tell this was actually a book and not the container that sat in her bedroom.
Snape watched her closely as she sprung the catch and opened the book. Hermione turned to the first page which contained only two words, beautifully handwritten, 'For Lily'. Hermione glanced at Snape,
"It is a collection of poems I wrote for her, she never saw it of course." he ventured "No one has ever seen it but if you wish to read it, I do not mind."
"No, I could not do that, it is private." Although the thought of finding more out about the nature of the man stood in front of her was appealing. The arrogant, snarky man she had known at school was obviously the persona that he wanted everyone to perceive but as she was finding out the reality was a very different thing.
"What if, I choose one and read it to you, would that be more acceptable?" He held out his hand and Hermione passed the book to him.
"I would like that very much, Professor." She replied.
Snapes eyes darkened as she spoke."I am not your Professor, nor do I wish to be. I think it is time you used my name, as you are an adult and no longer my student, it would be more appropriate." He said.
"Very well, Severus," she said "but you must return the favour, no more Miss Granger."
Snape crossed to the sofa, settling himself he indicated for her to sit next to him. As she sat, as he leafed through the pages finally settling on a poem, he placed his arm along the back of the sofa, she could feel his heat through the material of his shirt, across her bare shoulders.
As he began to read, she relaxed into the sofa, his voice was like liquid silk. She listened intently to every inflection and nuance, the emotion pouring from Snape surprised her. It was quite obvious to Hermione the depth of the love he had for Lily, she wondered what kind of person he would have turned out to be if Lily had loved him back.
As he read, his fingers absentmindedly began playing with a curl in Hermione's hair, she turned towards him slightly looking at his face. Snape must have felt her movement and abruptly stopped reading, taking his hand from her hair, he returned her gaze.
"I am so sorry, Hermione, I did not realise what I was doing!" He said.
"Please don't apologise, Severus, I really did not mind." She took the book from his hand, placing it beside her on the sofa "In fact I was actually enjoying it." Hermione noticed that he face coloured slightly at her comment.
"You loved Lily very much, didn't you?" she asked.
"Yes, with all my heart. Even after she chose Potter of all people, I think I would have been able to handle it better had it not been him. I would have accepted her decision and maybe even tolerated whom ever she chose, just not Potter" his voice barely a whisper, "After she was killed, I believed for a long time that I was incapable of ever feeling love again. I now know that my capacity to love has not completely abandoned me. In fact it has returned very much stronger now."
Hermione was holding her breath as he spoke, she wanted so much for him to be talking about her. For now, without any shadow of a doubt, she realised that her heart belonged completely to him. He eyes desperately searching his for any clue that he may return her feelings.
He drew closer to her, she could see the myriad of colours in his eyes that had always appeared dark from a distance. She thought he was going to kiss her until he placed a gentle kiss on her forehead.
"I was wondering if you would do me the honour and consider me as a suitor for your affections, Hermione?"
As she went to reply she found herself being pulled from the dream, Snapes face dissolving in front of her.
She found herself in the familiar surroundings of her bedroom,
"Oh, yes." she said to the empty room.