Thank you all for the alerts and reviews. Is it too cheeky of me to ask for 20 reviews before I post the next chapter?

Hermione was interrupted from the book she had been deeply engrossed in for the past couple hours by the sound of a door shutting. She slammed the book shut and jumped up, wondering if Snape had returned. She walked out of the sitting room, and nearly ran into her ex-potions professor for the second time that day. Groaning inwardly about how clumsy that made her seem, she looked up at the man in front of her.

"Miss Granger, perhaps you should look into getting a pair of glasses," Severus said irritably as he once again beheld the sight of a shamefaced Granger after she had almost bolted directly into him. "You obviously have issues spotting large things in your path."

"It's not that, you just sneak up on people," she huffed as she straighten her shirt. She glared at him and went back to the couch to resume reading. Severus followed her, and took a seat in the armchair that also resided in the room.

"I see you have unerringly managed to find my private library," he stated as he noticed the tome she held in her hands.

"It wasn't very well hidden, if that was your goal," she stated, not looking up from the book.

"I didn't think I had to hide my personal belongings in my own home," he replied, with a somewhat snide tone.

"You did give me permission," she pointed out.

"I gave you permission to explore, not to lay your hands on my valuable possessions."

"You should have specified."

"Again, it is my home. I would prefer to entertain the idea that my possessions do not require being hidden."

Hermione huffed and finally looked up at the dour man. "Would you prefer me to return the book to where I found it?"

"No. I would prefer if you asked permission."

"May I continue to read the book I am currently reading, Professor?" she asked tartly, knowing her response was saucy but she was quite unable to stop it. The ex-professor's attitude was too difficult to not have the urge to respond equally.

"Yes, but it would behoove you greatly to stop with the cheekiness," he returned evenly. She didn't reply, instead looking back at her book and continued to read. Severus watched her with growing fascination. Her eyes were flying across the page at the speed of light. He had to bite back a groan when she drew her bottom lip into her mouth and started to chew on it. Thoughts straying to places he knew wouldn't end well, he chided himself inwardly. Frustrated, he stood up and walked out. He went upstairs and locked himself in his bedroom. He need a nap, and to stop thinking ridiculous thoughts.

Hermione continued to read as she heard Snape get up and leave. She was still utterly confused as to how and why she was here. She had walked out of the house after he had left so suddenly earlier that morning, and had found there was nothing restraining her from leaving. But she found she couldn't leave, not just yet. There was something that kept her here, but she couldn't put her finger on it.

She had no idea what it could be, though. She was in the home of her ex-potions professor who had done nothing but treat her with cold indifference. Even after she had saved his life, he had stoically acted as though she didn't exist. At the time, she had felt a little hurt that the man had returned so easily to being withdrawn from everyone. But in retrospect, she hadn't expected anything different. Nor had she been terribly surprised when he had disappeared.

Even more shocking to Hermione was that Snape had taken her to his home. The question burned in her mind, and she itched to corner him and find out exactly what had happened last night. The only thing she could conclude was that he had followed her and picked her up while she was unable to resist. She somehow knew the man hadn't done anything to her. Somewhere inside she knew he wouldn't have ever thought to take advantage of her. Which still didn't answer the question as to why she was here.

She groaned, finding she was unable to concentrate on her book anymore. She put it down gently, and settled down on the couch, content to peruse her thoughts for the time being. It didn't last long, though, as she soon felt her eyes drooping, and fell prey to the lure of sleep.

Severus walked in the sitting room, having awoken from his brief but much needed nap. He stopped himself when he caught sight of the witch, sound asleep on his couch. He approached her quietly, and checked to make sure she was indeed asleep. Her breathing was slow and heavy, and her eyes fluttered back and forth under her eyelids, caught in the throes of a dream. Hermione looked utterly beautiful, and Severus found he couldn't look away from the sleeping witch.

He heaved a sigh as he continued to look at her, taking in every feature. Especially how her curls flopped across her face, and her lightly rosy cheeks contrasted strongly with her pale skin. Severus nearly hexed himself. It was bad enough that he found himself staring, enraptured, at a woman that was half his age, but the fact that she was once his student is even worse. Suddenly nauseous at how his thoughts were going, he turned rigidly and walked out of the house. He needed to get back to work, anyways.

Hermione awoke a few hours later to the sight of the dark haired man sitting in his armchair, reading a newspaper. She looked closer, and was very surprised to see it was a muggle newspaper. She sat up, and stretched, trying to eradicate the crick in her back. "Good afternoon," she said, a bit unsure of what to say.

Severus merely raised an eyebrow, not taking his eyes off his newspaper. He was trying very hard not to be distracted by the swell of Hermione's breasts as she had stretched. He kept his face devoid of any emotions, it wouldn't do for the witch to know what he was thinking at that moment.

"Sir, may I ask something?"

"You just did."

Hermione threw herself back on the couch, and exasperated sigh escaping her. "Why are you being so bloody difficult?"

"I do not know what you mean, Miss Granger," Severus replied smoothly. He still hadn't worked out a way to tell the titch of a girl that he had, effectively, been her 'Dark Knight' and subsequently saved her from the none too gentle hands of the alleyway drunks.

"You are lot of things, but blatantly ignorant is not one of them," Hermione said angrily. "I would like some answers, and quickly."

"I answered your questions," Severus replied as he rolled his eyes. She honestly wasn't going to give up, was she?

"Not all of them."

Severus sighed, and resigned himself. He would have to answer her question, and he figured it may as well be horrendously blunt. There really was no easy way to say what had to be said, he decided. "Very well, Miss Granger, I will cater to your desires this once. What is it you would like to know?"

"What happened last night, and why did you have to take me to your home?" Hermione was a little surprised he gave in so easily, but she didn't dwell on it too long, eager to find out what had happened. As strange as it was to admit it, she found that she trusted Severus inexplicably, and felt as safe as she ever had in his home. But that didn't erase the yearning to know exactly what had happened to bring her here.

"You were drunk, and you wandered down an alleyway and made two very – well, lets just say they weren't the sort you would bring home to your mother," he said tiredly, still avoiding her gaze. This was a conversation he never wanted to have with her, and Severus had to steel himself for the look on her face when he told her in no uncertain terms.

Hermione frowned, she had come across several rowdier men in bars or other places, it had never bothered her before, as she was more than capable of handling herself. "What do you mean?"

Severus growled. "I didn't think I'd have to spell out out for you, girl," he snapped at her, before quickly looking away. "You were nearly raped."