Chapter 2 - Innuendo

Hermione never slept well in the weeks leading up to exams. She always dreamt of failure or forgetfulness. Instead she chose to continue revision late into the night, until the symptoms of fatigue finally claimed her. The Saturday morning occurring just a week before her final sixth year exams saw her curled up in her extraordinarily comfortable four-poster bed.

The witch did not awake from her slumber until 11:30am and was thankful for it. Although it was the cause for her missing the final trip of the year to Hogsmeade she knew that a lie-in was just what she had needed. Deciding upon a course of action, she hurriedly got dressed in some of her favourite muggle attire and headed to the Great Hall for a piece of toast and a glass of pumpkin juice. She then hastened towards the library, hoping to snatch some peaceful revision time.

There were precisely 3,435,765 books owned by the Hogwarts library and it just so happened that the particular one for which Hermione Granger searched for could not be found. She had asked Madam Pince who had informed her of the fact that students had borrowed all copies but two. She also suggested that Hermione "try a little harder". The nerve of that woman! Hermione doubted that even Madam Pince knew the library as well as she did. So, after one final search, Hermione decided upon revising a different book. She took 'Advanced Transfiguration' off the shelf and headed towards her favourite little area in the library.

The beautiful willow table at which she always chose to study was drenched in glorious sunlight because of the ideal time of day. But there was a rather significant difference to the usual picturesque sight. Severus Snape was in the seat opposite to the one at which she usually sat. Adding to her annoyance, she observed that he was making use of not one, but both copies of the book she had been trying to locate earlier - 'Advanced Potions, Procedures and Ingredients'. He was completely engrossed in one of the books potion-stained pages and was obviously not aware of her presence.

"As clever as I know you believe yourself to be, I'm sure that not even you are able to read two books simultaneously." Snape, obviously trying to hide his surprise, looked up towards the source of the unwelcome sound. "Miss Granger." He said tautly. Hermione smirked at him. Voice dripping with sarcasm, the professor said "And to what do I owe the pleasure of meeting with you this Saturday?" "I'm sorry. But this is the place at which I carry out my revision and given that I have exams in a week from Monday, I was hoping..." She trailed off. Feeling sufficiently awkward she turned to leave her professor alone. "Miss Granger." Hermione turned back around on her heel. "Yes?" Snape paused, as if trying to decide what to say. "You may sit here if you would prefer it to any other area. Exams are of somewhat importance. I will relocate." Hermione quickly spoke. "There will be no need for that professor. I'm sure that I won't bother you."

Snape looked a little annoyed but thanked her none-the-less. Hermione settled into her familiar seat and began to read and take notes from the complex transfiguration book. She already knew everything that she read about, as Transfiguration was her speciality, so she set her work aside and looked in Snape's direction. He was once again engrossed with one of the Potions books but the other lay, seemingly forgotten, on the table in front of him. Hermione looked longingly at the closed volume and then back at Snape's face. "Professor Snape?" She said shyly. Barely glancing up from his work he said, "I thought that you had just told me that you wouldn't bother me." Hermione was beginning to lose her confidence. "I'm sorry." She mumbled and looked away. Snape, hearing the discomfort in her voice, looked towards her face. After seeing her forlorn expression he sighed and asked exasperatedly, "What do you want?" Hermione gave a shy smile and replied. "I was just wondering, seeing as you don't seem to be giving it much use, if you would let me borrow your second copy of 'Advanced Potions, Procedures and Ingredients'?" Snape looked at her incredulously but picked up the book and passed it to her. She took it and thanked her professor sincerely.

After thirty minutes of silence had passed Severus Snape abruptly closed his book. His companion jumped a little. Before standing, he cast his eyes towards Hermione. She returned his gaze. Hardly believing the words that were escaping from his mouth he began to speak, slowly and deliberately. "Miss Granger, I feel as if I should apologise to you. The way I treated you in class the other day was not appropriate. I am sorry if I caused you any… discomfort while in my classroom." It was now Hermione's turn to look incredulously towards her companion. Realising that her mouth was slightly agape, she hastily closed it. "Thankyou Professor. I appreciate your concern." Snape nodded and stood up. He slowly moved around to her side of the table. "I will be needing that book. If you find yourself wanting to use it again, come and retrieve it from my private quarters." As he reached to take hold of the heavy volume his hand brushed against Hermione's bare forearm. He left it there for perhaps half a second longer than necessary before taking the book, turning on his heel and leaving the library.

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Here's chapter two. Enjoy and review (if you would like to)!