A/N-I'd like to dedicate this chapter to vampirela69, LuresaSWTOR, LoveInTheBattleField and MissJaneEyre, for continuing to keep me smiling with their reviews. Thank you!

Severus had slept easily for the first time in longer than he cared to remember. Slowly gaining consciousness, he realised that something was definitely different. First off, he was still on the sofa. Secondly, he could distinctly feel a woman's soft form pressed against his side, the sweet scent of her filling the air around them both. Thirdly, he was holding her close to him, his arms wrapped around her body and absorbing her warmth. He had cuddled Hermione Granger in his sleep. Worse yet, he had awoken with his morning erection pressed into her side.

Shit.

He gently disengaged himself from her, making sure that she wasn't jolted from sleep by his movements. Severus laid her down on the sofa almost tenderly, doing his best to make the witch comfortable as he covered her with a blanket. Casting one last look at her peaceful form, he quickly retired to the bathroom to take care of himself, having located a Deflating Draught.

Seeing her utterly vulnerable in his home had brought on a sudden attack of the conscience. This woman had been his student, annoying as she was, and he had known her since she was eleven. A mere child. Merlin, she was still only twenty, barely older than a child now! He was a whole nineteen years older than the witch he was most definitely having inappropriate thoughts about, but he couldn't seem to tear himself away.

Something about her captivated his attention.

Perhaps it was the way she talked, her voice pleasant enough but the conversation itself utterly engaging. Her bright manner was the perfect accompaniment to his dark, sarcastic demeanour, slowly drawing him out of the shadows of his previous life. But was he willing to go, to corrupt her? He had lived a life steeped in some of the worst evil mankind had ever suffered, committing absolutely monstrous crimes under the name of the Dark Lord, even that of the Order. There was no way he could snuff out her light with his past. It would be too cruel to allow her potential to go to waste on a man like him. A man far beyond redemption.

After all, she was a very desirable witch; surely there was some young man about to sweep her off her feet. Not only was she bright, but she was beautiful and compassionate, and would make a man a truly wonderful wife. As much as it pained him to think of her with someone else, he honestly believed that this was the best thing for her. He couldn't promise that he wouldn't be jealous of the man who won her heart, the gods knew how much he wanted her, even after just one night in her company. But he knew that he couldn't entertain these childish fantasies of having her for himself.

"Severus?" He heard her call from the other room. Even the way she said his name was perfect, her sweet voice softly caressing each syllable. Quickly splashing water on his face and dressing in a shirt and trousers, he went to answer her call.

She was sat on the sofa, clearly hungover and rather confused by how she came to end up asleep on his sofa. Her hair looked rather like she'd been dragged through a hedge and she was bleary eyed, much unlike her normal neat persona. Smirking, he gestured to a small vial of hangover potion he had left on the coffee table, knowing that she was completely unused to drinking. He watched her consume it, thanking him profusely which he waved off.

"You are a guest in my home, Hermione. As such, you will be provided for." He replied silkily, noting her light blush. Perhaps she would be receptive to his advances after all.

"I'm really sorry for falling asleep, I never meant to be an inconvenience." She apologised, nibbling on her lower lip.

Severus refused to acknowledge what the sight of her biting her lip did to him. "Luckily it's Sunday, so it's not as much of an inconvenience as you think. I believe that last night's work was worth a little delay this morning, it really is an excellent spell."

He could see her blush from his praise as she began to gather her things. "Well, in that case, I shall leave you to it so you can get back to brewing." She decided as she did her bag up. "Again, I am sorry for taking up your time this morning, it won't happen again."

He nodded sharply, not quite wanting to reply, afraid he'd ask her to stay with him.

Giving him one last radiant smile, she again thanked him for his timed and Floo'd back to her apartment.

Strange really, he almost felt bereft at her loss.

Hermione landed awkwardly in her small flat, startling Crookshanks from his spot on the rug.

"Sorry!" She called after the orange blur as he hurtled onto his favourite spot on top of the bookcase, the one he used when she tried to groom him as it was just out of the witch's reach.

Cursing to herself, she began to sort her research back into its place in her desk. Honestly, how could she have been so stupid as to fall asleep at Severus' home? He must think she's stupid, or at least incompetent! It really was hideously unprofessional of her. Blast. Add that to the incident at dinner, and his opinion of her was definitely poor.

And to think she'd been trying to show him that she was no longer a child.

Crookshanks had apparently forgiven her for scaring him and was twined around her feet, his loud meows pulling her out of her reverie. Sighing, she went to feed him, the cat gulping down his meal appreciatively.

"At least you like me, Crooks." She murmured, reaching down to stroke his head. "Even if it is just because I feed you."

He blinked slowly up at her in response, drawing a confession from the witch.

"I'm never going to be able to stop thinking about him now. He was oddly charming at dinner, even if he didn't talk that much. Hell, he can cook better than I can! And his arse is spectacular. Dear gods, I even smell like the bloody man!" She cursed, gesturing down to the jumper she had worn to Severus' home. Hermione didn't stop to wonder why she smelt like him, all herbs and sandalwood, seeing as she had just slept on the sofa rather than anywhere near the man. No, she was too busy running to the shower in an effort to remove herself from all traces of him.

Even as she stood under the hot spray, thoroughly shampooing her hair, she knew it would all be futile. The infuriating wizard would continue to haunt her dreams, and her heart, for a very long time to come.

The witch let out a piercing shriek of frustration, scaring Crookshanks straight back up the bookcase again.

A few days later, Severus sat at his magnificent desk with a half-written letter in front of him, as Mordant perched on a stack of books ready to deliver it. He fought the urge to growl at the parchment in irritation, feeling that such an action was completely infantile and the behaviour of randy sixth-years. All he was trying to do was invite her to a seminar, not an orgy! Damn it all, but he had forgotten how hard it was to woo a witch.

He penned another couple of sentences in his usual, spiky hand, before thrusting it at Mordant and trusting the raven to deliver it properly. Merlin knows that the bird loved to make everyone's lives as difficult as possible, and as entertaining as it was, it could become rather tiresome. Not quite as tiresome as having to deal with the mess and owl leaves behind though.

In the end, he had settled on a concise missive that contained just the essentials of what he was asking the witch.

Hermione,

There is a seminar on new healing potions for the nervous system and brain repair on the 10th of September, which is almost two weeks away, at the Taurite Hotel. I would like you to accompany me to it, as you are both intelligent enough to understand without peppering me with questions and creative enough to offer solutions to some of the problems highlighted. Plus, I believe it would offer a refreshing change from your position at the Ministry. Please send a reply with Mordant if you are amenable, and I will send further details with him.

Yours,

Severus

The wizard truly wanted her to spend the evening with him again, and this seemed like the perfect excuse for him to do it. He was still a Slytherin after all, and Slytherins always got what they wanted.

A/N-Love it, hate it? Tell me in the reviews! I also really need an answer on the poll now, because I can't finish the next chapter without it. Thanks again!