A/N- Hello, I'm still here! Sorry for the delay, I had fourteen exams in about nine days and suffered a lot as a result. On the plus side, here's the chapter!
Thanks again to all my reviewers, it really does make my day.

Hermione smiled as she reread the letter Severus had sent her, the one inviting her to the seminar. She'd been thrilled at the idea that he wanted to spend more time with her, and that he'd put so much thought into an activity that he knew she'd love. His reply to her acceptance had been short but sweet, expressing that he was looking forward to their evening together. Plus, this seminar meant she could explore how her spell could apply to a field she was particularly interested in, and she knew that he planned it with that in mind. It took a lot of convincing to keep telling herself that this wasn't a date, just an educative experience.

Circe, but she wanted him to educate her. Thoroughly.

She shook her head in exasperation. Oh, no. Absolutely not. This train of thought only led to trouble. Anyway, Ginny was taking her shopping in half an hour for the seminar, so she couldn't do anything now.

She was truly glad to have a friend like Ginny. Even though she had split with Harry after the war, owing to their childhood crush fizzling out, the two had remained great friends. The witch now played professional Quidditch for the Holyhead Harpies, but still managed to make time for Hermione. This did involve dragging her out of her flat on certain occasions. The redhead really was an asset in moments like this, because despite leaving school years before, Hermione was still a complete novice when it came to dressing for certain occasions and often needed Ginny's help.

Hence the trip to Diagon Alley.

Almost on cue, her ward chimed, announcing Ginny's arrival. Smiling to herself, Hermione quickly went to answer the door.

"Hi, Hermione!" Ginny beamed as she was ushered inside. "Are you alright?"

Hermione nodded, deciding to get straight to the heart of the matter. "I'm fine thanks, Gin. As I said, I really need your help with this seminar tomorrow."

The redhead's eyes widened. "You never said it was tomorrow! If we don't find something, you'll have to wear something of mine and your date will be very disappointed."

Sighing, Hermione replied "As you well know, it is not a date!"

"If it wasn't, you would have told me who you're going with." Ginny pointed out, a light teasing note in her voice.

"I haven't told you because he is a very private man and it would be presumptuous of me." Hermione quickly denied.

"Oh come on Hermione, I know you better than that. Do I know him?"

"Yes, although I find it had to believe that you'll be pleased." Hermione bit her lip.

"Go on! You've held out on me for days, you know how it pains me to be kept in the dark." Ginny pleaded, utilising her brother's famous puppy-dog stare.

"It's Professor Snape." She confessed in a very small voice.

"No! Come on, you're not dating the greasy bat of the dungeons?"

"Ginny!" Hermione bellowed. "First off, I'm not dating him! He's taking me to this seminar purely because I have created a spell that has applications in the same field."

"Bollocks. There's no way Hermione Granger would be getting this concerned if she didn't fancy the man."

"Secondly," Hermione shouted over her, "The whole 'greasy bat of the dungeons' image was just a front! In reality, he's a very intelligent man, who has not only cultivated his art so well that he can live on it, but whose bravery saved the whole wizarding world. Not once did he complain, even when he was being tortured within an inch of his life, and he is still treated with suspicion by the Ministry, sanctimonious bastards that they are."

Ginny just stared at her in shock. "You really do care about him, don't you."

Hermione sighed and sat down heavily. "I don't know, Gin. He's a brilliant man, but I don't know if I can let myself fall for him-what if he's still in love with Harry's mother? I won't set myself up for heartbreak again."

The redhead nodded in understanding. "Look, all you can do is wait and see how it pans out. After all, he's obviously put a lot of thought into planning something you'd love, even if it isn't intended as a date."

Nodding slowly, Hermione saw the logic behind Ginny's statement. "Okay. I'll see what happens at the seminar and go from there…"

Ginny grinned at her, grabbing her wrist and tugging her out of the flat. "Come along 'Mione, you've got to impress him."

Hermione laughed helplessly as her friend apparated them to Diagon Alley to begin their trip. Merlin, she'd forgotten how much she missed Ginny's upbeat attitude to almost everything.

"Right."

Hermione paled slightly at the size of the clothing pile Ginny had selected for her to try on.

"You must be joking."

"Off you go!" Ginny smirked, thrusting an armful of silken fabric at the resigned witch.

Still grumbling, Hermione tried on about fifteen different outfits in quick succession. They were all too something; too short, too long, too glittery, too slutty, and far too many of them were a rather lurid shade of pink. Finally, she unearthed something that looked promising. The blouse was silver, so it didn't make her look ill like some of the others. It was coupled with a pretty black pencil skirt and low heels, and although the shirt wasn't something she would have normally picked she was pleased with it.

They finished their trip quickly, in order to head back to Hermione's flat for ice cream and old movies. Sometimes, acting like teenagers was far too tempting.

The date of the seminar arrived swiftly, and Severus was more than a little worried about it. Yes, Hermione was a brilliant witch and easily capable of holding her own, but she was a Ministry worker and had specialised in Charms, both of which wouldn't quite endear her to the stuffed shirts of the current Potions elite. Plus, she had a habit of making her beliefs and theories very clear to anyone who opposed them, often giving an irrefutable argument to points he made in his almost constant letters to the witch.

Oh well, it should provide some entertainment at least, particularly if she got into a discussion with a certain Master Marson.

Severus almost pitied the man.

He arrived at the door to her flat promptly at noon, as agreed by the pair. They had about half an hour to get to the hotel before the seminar started. The witch threw open the door looking vaguely harassed, but utterly engaging in her pretty outfit. He particularly appreciated the way her blouse clung tastefully to her curves, a fact that didn't escape the woman before him.

Holding out his arm, he gestured for her to take it in order to get to the hotel. At her questioning look, he argued "Well, we wouldn't want you to splinch, Hermione. I'd end up spending half the day looking for the pieces."

She sighed, but acquiesced, surprised at how warm his body was next to hers. Severus deliberately held her close to him, wrapping his strong arm around her as they apparated and inhaling the sweet vanilla scent of her hair.

They arrived outside a tall, sandstone building, the Taurite Hotel. Among the Wizarding population it had quite a reputation for being fairly exclusive, and was barely damaged in the Second Wizarding War. Not wanting to look clingy, Hermione stepped away from Severus the moment they landed, although she had greatly enjoyed the feeling of his arms around her. Oddly, seeing as he had been her least favourite professor (excluding seventh year of course), she felt safe in his arms. More safe than she had felt since the war began.

She didn't want to linger on the implications of that.

Her thoughts were interrupted by Severus. "Are you awake, Hermione? Only, I believe that the lecture is actually inside the building." He raised an eyebrow sardonically at her.

Shaking her head, she followed him inside. The hotel itself was very ornate inside, and had a relaxed atmosphere that contrasted with the style of the outside. Perhaps it had been designed by different people. Hermione had no time to admire the art inside the lobby as Severus led her quickly through the room to the area where the seminar would be held, a floor above.

Upon reaching the lift, Hermione was suddenly hyper aware of Severus' lithe form in close proximity to her. There was no-one else in the lift, but he seemed to be deliberately taking the opportunity to be close to her, the sleeve of his robe brushing gently against her hand as his distinctive sandalwood scent assaulted her senses.

Little did she know, but Severus was also affected by the space he'd left between them. He was almost torturing himself, being that close to her but at the same time too far to touch. Her reaction did provide some amusement, as although she had been breathing faster in the lift, when the doors opened she ran out like she'd been stung.

He just rolled his eyes, and registered the pair of them with the man standing at the entrance to the conference room. There would be plenty of time for them to get better acquainted after all.

As he'd expected, Hermione was utterly enthralled with the lecture, and he could almost hear the gears whirring in her head as she considered the applications of her spell. One potion in particular, a treatment for spinal injuries, could be greatly helped through the application of muggle medicine.

While he was engaged in a rather animated discussion with the pretty witch about the potion, Master Marson approached the pair. Although the man had a healthy respect for the Potions Master, he only knew Hermione as a lawyer, and was curious as to why she had felt the need to attend.

During a lull in conversation, he struck. "Miss Granger, what a pleasant surprise to see you here. My name is David Marson, we met at a Ministry gala last year? I must say, I'm confused as to why you chose to attend today, isn't your speciality charms?"

Internally, Marson was smirking at the slight look of discomfort on Hermione's face.

"Yes, I remember. I was invited by Professor Snape, because some of my research could have a significant impact on the subjects discussed in the lecture." Hermione had been a bit unnerved by the way Marson had looked at her that night, and he seemed to be doing it again now. It was almost predatory.

Hoping to avoid further conversation with the man, she turned to Severus, a pleading look in her amber eyes.

Taking the hint, Severus asked silkily, "Miss Granger, it's getting late and I find myself becoming rather peckish. Would you care to join me for dinner?"

Hermione nodded, greatly relieved.

"If you'll excuse us, Master Marson…" Severus drawled, taking Hermione's arm and leading her from the room in a swirl of black robes.

David Marson was left standing alone in the middle of the room, extremely pissed off at how Snape had stolen the lovely witch away before he had much of a chance with her.

Bastard.

"Thank you, Severus." Hermione said in a small voice as they left the hotel together. "I don't know what it is about him but something is really unsettling."

"No need to thank me, I intend to have you honour our agreement. You will join me for dinner." He purred.

"What, now?"

"I don't see why not, witch. Unless you would prefer to dine elsewhere?"

"Oh no, anything you choose is fine." She quickly assured him, wanting to spend as much time with him as possible.

He nodded, and apparated them both back to his home for a meal and yet more elf-made wine. It seemed Hermione had a true taste for the stuff.

Again, Hermione ended up slightly inebriated and napping on his sofa in the early hours of the morning, the two of them having just finished a particularly rowdy debate over an article in Potions Today. How she had still managed to be perfectly coherent escaped him.

Not wanting to face the awkward situation in the morning, he took a sleeping armful of witch back to her flat and put her to bed, fully clothed. As tempting as it was, he knew she was drunk and didn't want to make himself more despicable than he already felt he was. He did leave her a note though, just in case she woke up disorientated.

Pressing a light kiss to her forehead, he quickly departed before he pushed himself beyond his limits.

Merlin, but the woman teased his self-control to the point of snapping entirely.

At some point, the dam would burst.

A/N-Love it? Hate it? Tell me in the reviews! Plus, the next chapter has dancing. Sorry, I put it back because I thought it would fit better in the next one, but hopefully you won't be disappointed!