BIG AND BURNING

Disclaimer: This is a non-profit tribute to the works of JK Rowling who created and, together with her publishers and licensees, owns the characters and settings elaborated herein.

A/N: Thanks to all my reviewers and especially to my previewers, Bellegeste and Lady Memory. Apologies for the long wait. Two family weddings and all the assorted folderol consumed me completely.

The story till now: After Professor Snape reveals his true feelings to a newly graduated Hermione, an unexpected friendship slowly develops. As the mourners of Hogwarts drift off to their Hogmanay celebrations, Snape and Hermione talk. It would be a shame to waste the moonlight...

"I hope she didn't make you uncomfortable," he said. Minerva had no business winking. Interfering old biddy.

"Relieved, actually. I've been wondering how to bring it up."

For one wild moment, he thought she meant hairballs. But Minerva was the cat, not Hermione, not since her second year. Even though they were both lions. He swallowed. Was she about to let him down gently? He knew it would be gentle. She was no Lily.

She looked around at the bare ground and the disappearing backs of mourners turned revellers. "Not here, I think," she said, and tugged him away, as far as the clearing near the lake. She stopped, still holding on. It is to be here, then, he thought. Again. He readied his heart for breaking.

"I wanted you as a friend," she said. "But it won't do." She paused and he watched her glance at fifty different things before fixing on his chin. "It isn't enough. For months now, all I've thought when I looked at you was how much I want to kiss you better all over." Her face flamed. His did too.

"Hermione." His hands were too big and his chest was burning and his lips were drier than an unwashed cauldron.

"You didn't know, then?" she said when he did nothing but stare. "I thought, maybe. You seemed to pick thoughts out of the air when we were in school. But you're too honourable to pry for your own life, aren't you? You're the honestest person I know."

"Honestest?"

"Dearest, bravest, truest." Both her hands were holding both of his now, and she squeezed and he squeezed too.

"I don't know what to do," she continued.

I could show you.All the things his hands could do, if they weren't holding the hot potato; he'd never imagined a time would ever come.

"I'm not a casual person," she said. "You're not either. But this wasn't in my plans and I don't - I don't - I'm not even twenty! I wasn't going to fall in love for years and years."

"Love?" he asked, despising himself for a dunderhead. "You think – love? Are you sure? It's not just – just respect and – and – I don't want to offend you, but students so easily imagine –"

She growled. She actually growled. "Severus Snape! You trusted in my friendship. Why should you feel differently about my love?"

"Because it is different," he said. "If I'd dreamed there was even a chance of you returning my feelings I wouldn't have told you them, not so soon after I stopped teaching you. It wouldn't have been right."

She huffed out a gasp or a laugh, he wasn't sure which, and he realised she'd been waiting for him to say he still wanted her. Of course he did. He'd never stop. And she was so near right now. One step closer and he could engulf her forever and live from her sweetness.

"You'll always do what's right, won't you? So tell me, is it right now?"