Welcome back dear readers! I'm so so sorry that this story was on hiatus for so many years - I started it in my first year at university and now, having graduated, I'm finally going to complete it. And this time, I promise you won't have to wait long! As an extra apology, I've given you two new chapters, and chapter 11 will be following soon :) Also, I'd recommend going back to start from the beginning, because I've added some bits in and have edited it after taking some constructive criticism from reviews on board. The editing was extra necessary because my writing style has changed so much since I first started writing this story!

Anyway, sorry again and please enjoy :) Reviews are super appreciated!

When she awoke the next day, Hermione felt like she was floating on a cloud. I want all of you too, he had said. She couldn't suppress the smile that spread over her face as she remembered his words.

They had spent the rest of the night talking. It had been strange at first, talking on an equal basis with the man who had so long been her professor. But she had been surprised at how natural it had felt so quickly. After their mutual confessions of want and their passionate kisses, Severus had made them tea, giving Hermione space to calm her emotions somewhat. Once he had brought their steaming mugs into the sitting room, they had easily settled into a discussion about academics and research projects, both reluctant to discuss the problem of what to do next. Instead they had simply enjoyed their newfound mutual understanding. The more they had talked, the more they had each seemed to glow - how wonderful they both felt it was to finally talk to someone on a similar intellectual brainwave! No matter the difference in age and experience, their enthusiasm and capacity to understand and debate were matched by the other.

But the problem of what to do next wouldn't go away, and eventually the subject had to be broached.

"We can't be together" Severus had eventually stated, his eyebrows drawing together again in a frown which had been absent the rest of the evening. "At least not yet. Relationships between teachers and students are forbidden. And for good reason - I am in a position of responsibility over you, and while I am your teacher, our relationship cannot be questioned. I will not have my reputation, or your grades, be placed under suspicion."

Hermione's face had fallen immediately in response. Severus continued, "we have to wait. As difficult as it will be, and believe me, I will find it immensely difficult, we must wait until you graduate from Hogwarts."

Hermione had said nothing as she contemplated the painful prospect of waiting such a long time before being able to explore a relationship with this man. July felt like a lifetime away - she had not even been at Hogwarts an entire week, and yet that week in itself had felt like an eternity. How much had changed within that week, how much she had changed! A week ago she would not have been able to fathom the depth of the emotion she already felt for Severus.

Severus had misinterpreted her silence and stiffened in response. "Of course, if you doubt you will still feel the same at the end of the year, I can release you from any sense of obligation immediately." A poor imitation of his usually effortless sneer had crossed his lips.

Hermione had swiftly looked up and, recognising Severus' insecurity for what it was, crossed over to him quickly. She had knelt on the floor before him and taken one of his hands in both of hers. After she had pressed her lips into his palm, she held his gaze. "I will wait for you. I told you I want you, that I want a relationship with you. And as crazy as it seems after less than a week of this new... awareness... between us, I know that I would wait twice as long if I knew that you were waiting for me at the end of it."

Hermione had found herself hauled up into his arms being kissed profusely. Before she knew it, five minutes had passed and she was straddling him, pressing her core into his hardness, while he had rucked up her jumper and was cupping her breast through her bra.

They had pulled apart breathing heavily, Hermione blushing deeply while Severus seemed slightly embarrassed at his lack of control. "This is going to be hard", Hermione sighed. Severus had only been able to give her a half-anguished glance in agreement.

"Indeed." he had said, "I don't know how I will bear it, seeing you every day and not touching you. Not even being able to speak to you properly."

"Why can't we speak?" Hermione had cried, an expression of horror on her face. "Surely we can meet for a conversation occasionally?"

"Do you really think I will be able to keep my hands off you if we're alone together?" Severus had said, his voice deep, its silky, dark smoothness making Hermione shiver in his lap. Severus groaned. He hadn't been able to help but lower his head to her exposed neck to suckle on the flesh that had been so torturing him the past week.

Hermione moaned before pushing him from her, determined to finish the conversation. "Then we will write", she said firmly. "I could not survive not having any contact with you at all."

They had parted not long after. It was getting very late and the longer they stayed together, the harder it was to remember their agreement to wait. As it was, Hermione had left with an unprecedented number of love bites covering her neck.

Eventually, Hermione got up and dressed for the day. She couldn't decide whether to feel exhilarating joy that her feelings for Severus were returned, or deep anguish that she wouldn't be able to kiss him again any time soon. Instead, she sat down at her desk and wrote him a letter.