Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
A/N: Still some OOC, but since I am re-editing, I am trying to go more canon (a little bit anyway). If you like please read and review. Many thanks go to the people who added me as a favorite author/story as well. You guys make me want to keep up the good work. I meant to have this already completed, but since it is April 2013 now, I can only say that I am sorry, real life got into the way of my fic life. Sadly.
Chapter 6-I Kissed You
When Hermione had walked around the whole train, conspicuously avoiding Snape's compartment, and she had talked to every professor, again except for Severus, she made the rounds back to her compartment. Since there was still a good bit of the way left until they made it to Hogwarts, she thought that she would take a nap and rejuvenate her self and senses.
She undid her sandals and pulled off her jacket, and she transfigured the shoes into a pillow and the jacket into a blanket. When she lay down, she said, "Nox" and the lights went out. Why did I choose Potions? I am just looking for trouble. Snape hates me and I have no idea why I think I will be able to deal with him for a whole year. Education be damned. Why me? She thought.
/SS/SS/SS/SS/SS/SS/SS/SS/
Draco and Severus talked for hours, and when Draco left, Severus seemed to be stuck in his relaxing position. He decided it was time to stretch his legs, so he went for a walk. As he walked he looked into the different compartments and said hi to some of the people that he passed. He was not being as ridiculous as Hermione and avoiding her compartment, but he did not know what would happen when he came upon her again. I'm sure that the know-it-all cannot wait to be able to try to insult me again, he thought. That was not to be though. For when he came to Hermione's compartment, she was still sleeping. She looked so relaxed and, dare he think it again, beautiful. He just stood there, staring, for a few minutes. Not a single detectable emotion to come across his stern proud face.
"Why does she have to be so beautiful, and yet so…so…out of my reach?" he whispered to no one in particular. "Get a hold of yourself, man. You're acting like a hormonal teenage boy again, and that just will not do. Get over whatever it is that compels you to think you could even be worthy of any woman's attention." He mentally slapped himself and started to walk the length of the train, before turning around and heading back to his compartment.
Little did he know as he walked away, that Draco, Minerva, and Albus were standing just around the corner eavesdropping on him and grinning at one another.
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He finally made it back to his compartment and realized he was becoming weary. He knew he need not bother with trying to relax and nod off, but he had nothing better in mind. He laid down on one of the seats and began to make himself comfortable. Snape pulled his hair from the ponytail so that he would be able to sleep without having something poke him in the head. He stared at the ceiling for a few moments then drifted off.
Hermione awoke and had to go to the loo down the train's corridor. She went for another walk after she had relieved herself to clear her head. This time she went around the whole train, including Severus's compartment.
When she saw his compartment, she stopped and looked in to find him sleeping. He looked so peaceful. She decided that she had to go in and see if that was truly how he looked and not the glass playing tricks on her. She looked around her to make sure that there was not anybody watching, and went in. She walked up to where he was sleeping and sat down on the floor next to his face. What am I playing at? I have no idea why I am even here, and why do I have this weird feeling in my chest. She looked at him and he did not look so evil or sarcastic in his sleep.
I wonder if his hair is really as greasy as everyone says it is, she thought. Knowing she probably should not do what she was thinking, she did it anyway. Hermione tentatively reached out her hand to touch his hair and run her fingers through it. She let out a small gasp. It was like silk, black silk. Oh my goodness, I could run my fingers through his hair all day, and not get tired of the feeling of it sliding through my hands.
"I'm sorry for calling you greasy and everything else I said. I'm not normally so mean spirited, I just got carried away with my anger," she whispered as if he could hear her. While saying this, she had let her hand fall away from his hair to his face. She held his cheek in her palm and could feel his five o' clock shadow coming already.
"I'm so very sorry. If only we could be around each other without biting the others head off. I feel certain that we could have a very intellectual conversation," she said.
With her hand still on his face, she looked down, starting to cry silently. The next thing she knew his hands had come up; one to cover her hand on his face, the other to gently pull her head up to look into his eyes. Hermione was shocked to say in the least, not expecting what was happening. She noticed there was some sort of emotion in his eyes, but she could not tell what it was, because in a flash it was gone, replaced by his normal scowl.
"You know, for the supposedly smartest witch in Hogwarts," Severus said, a slight tug at the corners of his mouth, "You're not very bright, Ms. Granger."
"How is that, Professor?" Hermione asked, feeling confused as to why he had not yet let go of her hand or her chin.
"If I didn't feel the gentleness in your hand or hear the remorsefulness in your voice, I would have blown you to bits when I woke up and felt you touching me. Have you no sense of how a former Death eater can kill instantly without thinking? And all because you decided to touch me when you thought my guard was down." He said all of this with his usual acerbic tone, but none of the harshness was imbued in his statements.
"Well, I admit, I did not actually think about that," Hermione said, a rosy blush coming onto her cheeks, "I couldn't help myself, Sir. I had to find out if your hair was greasy or not, so I would know if I was justified in calling you that." She looked down as she said the last part. She did not notice Snape's eyebrows lift, or the slight upturned corner of his mouth. She was completely unsuspecting of his next statement.
"And because you think I'm so handsome," he said, smirking. At that Hermione gave a very unladylike snort. "Awe, come on, you know you think I'm handsome."
"You are so full of yourself, Professor. Do you know that? I cannot believe you would even say such a thing." She answered in reply, not really meeting his eyes, because she knew that she did very well think he was handsome, and as Snape knew Legilimency she did not have the courage to look him in the eyes and lie.
"Well, I can," he said, not really comprehending what he was about to do.
He grabbed her head with his other hand, pulled her face to his, and kissed her fiercely. Hermione was shocked for a split second. She could not believe that he was actually kissing her…and then she kissed him back. His kiss was like fire to her soul. It was absolutely delectable and she knew she would want more. She loved it, at once though it hit her that she was still a student, and she was kissing her professor. She pulled away from him.
"What did you just do? Why would you do that? I am a student still and silly comments aside, I am not sure I know what is going on right now." Hermione said. Her eyes were wide and searching his, she was blushing furiously now.
"I kissed you, Ms. Granger. What did it feel like? Please, do not say it was like kissing your grandfather," he said, feeling a little uncomfortable that she could possibly say that. Why did you kiss her, stupid man. Are you trying to lose all the respect you have built up over the years from being a mean and harsh teacher, but a teacher none the less?
"No, it was not like kissing my grandfather. Mainly because I have never kissed my grandfather like that ever. But will you not get fired, Sir?" Hermione asked, hoping sincerely the answer would be no, even though she still could not believe that Severus Snape had actually kissed her to begin with.
"No, I will not get fired for kissing you, Ms. Granger. Because technically you are of legal age, and besides," he whispered the last part all the while moving closer to her. When he was so close their noses were almost touching, he put his hands on her cheeks again and finished, "You kissed me back." Then he closed the distance between them while watching Hermione's face and her curious expression.
Their lips touched for the second time, but this time it was slow and gentle. Severus closed his eyes and was enjoying the kiss this time even more. He loved the feel of her smooth cheeks in his hand, but he wanted to feel that luxurious mane of hair. He moved one hand to her head and twined his fingers through a couple strands. Their lips moved as one, and Hermione decided she wanted to taste more of him. She ran her tongue along his bottom lip, asking for entrance to his hot mouth, and he let her, needing the same thing she wanted. The kiss deepened, when all of a sudden there was a noise outside of the compartment, and she broke the kiss and cast a disillusionment charm on herself. She definitely did not want to get caught snogging a professor before they had even reached the school grounds. He looked to the spot she was last visible, and raised an eyebrow.
"Why did you do that? It was probably nothing," said Severus, not quite sure why she could not get it through her skull that neither she nor he would be in any way, shape or form in trouble for kissing, or if she permitted more. He could not see her, but she was smiling at him, still not believing that he was attracted to her, as she was to him.
"Because I will see you soon enough, Severus, but we have to keep acting like we still hate each other for many reasons that I do not want to list right now. Could you open the door for me to leave?" she asked. He had locked the door right before their second kiss, not wanting any unexpected guests to come barging in.
"Yes," he said, waving his hand to unlock the door as he thought for a moment and he did not think he would ever ask any woman the question that was coming. As he looked at the spot where he thought he had last seen Hermione he quickly asked, "Hermione, can we go on a date?" There was a hopeful look in his eyes, but he quickly hid it. Getting his hopes up was not something that he wanted to do.
"Sure," Hermione said from the doorway, mouth open in a surprised position. "When are you thinking, Severus?"
"How about after the first Quidditch game of the season, because that same day is a Hogsmeade day," he answered, always a quick thinker on his feet, surprised himself that she had even answered in the affirmative.
"I'd like that. You will need to put a glamour on because of the students, and we can change your name," she said, being a know-it-all made her a quick thinker as well. She knew no one would accept them while she was still in school. Maybe not even after, if this thing, whatever it was, even went that far. She did not really care if people did not like them dating at all, but she did not want the truth to come out if it even lasted past the first date.
"To what?" asked Severus, familiar smirk once again on his face, slightly curious now.
"To Sebastian," said Hermione smiling at her little secret even though Snape could not see her.
"How did you know that was my middle name?" Snape asked, not fooled in the least. The chit knew his name beforehand, he was sure of it. Surprisingly, though, he was not as upset as he thought he would be.
"Because," she started walking back to him, still under the dissalusionment charm, "You look like a Sebastian, and I got Albus to tell me."
"That meddling old fool... He always did like to give away secrets that were not his to give. But alas, what is done is done. Now, I must tell you something. Hermione, I'm sorry for calling you pathetic earlier. You are really quite smart. I just don't like to let you know. And it hurts my bad boy reputation I have to uphold," said Snape, smirking with an adorably sexy look on his face.
Even though he couldn't see her, he felt her lips on his cheek as she stepped past him. He held the door open again for her to walk out.
"See you later," she whispered to him for fear of spying ears.
"Yeah," he said when she was gone. "See you later."
/SS/SS/SS/SS/SS/SS/SS/SS/
When they got to the school darkness was quickly taking over the grounds. Everyone got into the carriages pulled by the thestrals to make the last leg of the trip to the castle. Hermione went to get in a carriage, but a little yellow ball of light came out of the one behind her. She smirked in a very un-Hermione like way and turned to go to the other carriage. She got on the step to climb in and a very nice looking male hand reached out to her. She grabbed it and was instantly pulled inside. He was there gazing at her with a much warmer look in his eyes.
"Hi, Severus," she said. Her hair had been swept into her face when she was pulled in so she was trying to get it straight again. Well, as straight as this mop will ever go anyway, she thought.
"Hi, Hermione," he said. He made a very un-Snape like decision and hugged her when she was through with her hair, and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.
"Did the snarky professor actually just hug me?" asked Hermione with a joking look on her face.
"No," replied Snape, "I just was checking that rats nest for any stray lighting bugs." He started laughing and Hermione thought it was the sexiest sound she had ever heard come out of his deep baritone throat. The whole rest of the drive, she had her head laid on his shoulder just enjoying the serenity of the moment. She started thinking about the conversation they had at Platform 9 and ¾ .
"Sev, do I still have to find the quarters on my own?" she asked, giving him the puppy-dog face.
He raised an eyebrow and a corner of his mouth tugged upwards. "Awe, look how cute you are. No, you don't have to find them on your own. I will gladly show you the way after dinner. Wait one second, why in the world did you just call me," at this his face bunched up as if he was in pain, "Sev?"
"Because I think you make a cute Sev, or Sevy. I may not always want to call you Severus, you know. You choose which you like better," said Hermione, glad that he was not upset with her for not using his full given name.
"Sev. Definitely, Sev," he said, thinking he would never want to be called Sevy. What a very unmanly name. Blegh!
"Okay, Sev it is then," she said with a smile and a wink.
"I will show you to the quarters until you are sure you can remember them," he paused and there was an evil twinkle in his eyes, "If you still do not remember when term starts, go into the hall and check if there are any students roaming around. If there are then you go outside and wait for me to come get you, because I'm sure Albus isn't letting the other students know about the apprentices living in the professor's quarters. Until then you eat, then sit patiently until I'm ready to go down to the dungeons." He loved that he had the ability to make her wait until she knew her way to his chambers, which would not take her too long. Nothing ever did.
"Yes, Sir," she said and mock saluted him while laughing.
/SS/SS/SS/SS/SS/SS/SS/SS/
Meanwhile, in Draco, Albus, and Minerva's carriage, they were discussing among other things, Hermione and Severus.
"I don't know about you two," said Minerva, "But I saw Hermione go to get into one carriage, but then this light came from another and she went to get in it, instead. She had got on a step when a hand reached out to her and pulled her in." Oh how they loved gossip.
"Well, Minerva, I'm sorry to say it," Albus started with his blue eyes crinkled in the corners behind his glasses, "but that was Severus. I, unlike you, have much juicier information. I do hope you both will forgive me, but I went to Hermione's compartment after I checked on Severus, and lo and behold, she was not there. So, I thought that she had gone to the bathroom, then I went back to check on Severus again. He was supposed to be sleeping. Do you know what I saw when I walked over to his door? Hmmm…" they both shook their heads at him so he continued, "Him and Hermione were kissing, and very passionately at that. I and my clumsy self had to hit something, and Hermione bolted up and cast a disillusionment charm on herself. A couple minutes later she left and whispered, 'See you later.' And I was so confused by that and what had happened, but I believe I will win our bet this time. When she was out of earshot, Severus whispered, 'Yeah, see you later'." Dumbledore looked as if he had just brought the best Christmas gift out for everyone to see.
"Wow," said Minerva, surprised by this development, "I think they are starting to like each other quicker than we anticipated."
"Apparently more than that from what Draco says," said Albus, looking to the blond boy. Draco just shook his head and was trying to get his godfather and Hermione kissing out of his head.
/SS/SS/SS/SS/SS/SS/SS/SS/SS/SS/
When they made it to the castle, Hermione got out first and walked to the castle doors and pushed them open. This place was her true home and she never tired of walking in for the first time after summer. She went straight to the Great hall and waited for the rest of the staff to come in.
Severus walked into the Great Hall, and the first thing that he saw, and the best, was Hermione. The second, she was sitting by his chair and Draco by Minerva. This is probably because she is my apprentice, he thought.
He almost smiled at her, but he had to remind himself that they were supposed to hate each other. Instead, he put on a frown and slumped over to his seat. Hermione didn't even look up when he sat down next to her. She had gotten her Gryffindor spunk back, however.
"Hello, Monsieur Pig," she said smirking.
"Good day to you too, Ms. I-know-everything-that-goes-on-ever-at-any-point-i n-time Granger," he retorted, helping himself to the food that had appeared in front of them.
"Well, excuse me, Sir, but I do believe that means that I am smarter than you," she said, with a smug look on her face. He scowled at her and imperceptively nodded at her.
"All right," Severus whispered loud enough for her ears only, "That is enough for now. Let's just eat." After he said that, he reached under the table and grabbed her hand.
"Okay, but I was having fun," she whispered back, squeezing his hand.
They started to eat, and did not talk to each other at all for the rest of the meal.
"Do you think you are now capable of following me to the quarters we are to share this term?" he sneered at her. "Foolish Gryffindors will lose their way in the dungeons without proper assistance," he said to the other proffesors with his evil scowl in place.
"Yes, I guess I am. I think I'm ready for the torture of Mr. Severus Snape. That is if he can dish it out," said Hermione cheekily.
"Of course I can. Otherwise all my students would be disruptive monkeys and babbling buffoons without any direction or thoughts in their head if I did not show them how to behave" he said. "Only your instructions will be for your good, and mine" he whispered so only she could hear. He was pleased when she slightly blushed and shook her head.
"Well," she said, "Come on then, Sir. I want to go to sleep."
When she had said, "Come on," he had started walking. She had to jog to catch up with him. Draco, Minerva, and Albus were laughing silently to themselves during the whole exchange.
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When Hermione had walked out into the entrance hall she did not see him. Severus sneaked up behind her and picked her up bridal style.
She squealed, threw her arms around him and said, "Sev, you scared the shite out of me."
"Well, I guess that means you won't be evil anymore then, does it not. I just wanted to show you to our humble abode for the year," Severus said smiling. Oh that smile of his is so wonderfully sexy.
"You can do that, but I do not like being carried or flying," she said, wincing just thinking about it. "But if you are the one picking me up I think I could get used to it."
"Fine, Hermione. I will put you down, although very reluctantly," he said, with a sad look on his face to prove his point. "When we get to the chambers though, you have to tell me why you don't like flying," he said as he put her down.
"Okay, but it is not pretty and you will probably get mad," she said, just thinking about what she would have to tell him.
"Oh well, if I have you by my side that will make it better, even if you are the offender who upsets me. Now, shut up so you can be amazed by how far we have to go to get to our quarters," he said, proceeding to walk.
He led her down a hallway with suits of armor on either side, some even whistled, and down two flights of stairs. They went behind a red tapestry that led to the portrait to the entrance of the kitchens and stayed straight down a long, narrow corridor, with no lights at all. The next corner they came to, they faced the gigantic stone door, of Severus's chambers. He turned around to face her after the 10 minutes of silence.
"If you want to know a shorter way—" he began, but Hermione cut him off.
"There is a shorter way! Why didn't we go that way instead?" she asked incredulously.
"Because," he said slightly annoyed, yet pleased, "If you were not by my office you could find your way from anywhere if you knew where to go. Mind you, you had better not know how to go there by now," again the evil twinkle came back to his eyes. "Now as I was saying, if you want to know a short cut, go into my office. That is the door on right side of the potions classroom. Go through my storage closet, and at the end is a door. It has a password and is voice activated. I will have to set it so you will be able to get into the chambers. The password is, 'Fluffy pink kittens with little bows and pink frocks'."
When Hermione heard that, she burst out laughing and could not stop. He just stared at her with a deep scowl and he looked to be getting cross.
"Where…in the name…of all that is good… did that password come from?" she asked trying to breathe whilst clutching her sides.
"From one of the professors who came before me," he answered, trying to stay firm and not smile.
"Well, how did it not change when she moved out and you moved in?" asked Hermione, thinking that he should have been able to change it.
"Because the imbecilic woman died before I could change it," he said with a disgusted look on his face. "Now, welcome to your home for the year."
She walked in and looked around. The kitchen and den were huge. The kitchen was mostly bare space and the den was likewise. That is fairly odd, but she figured out why a minute later.
"Now, if you are wanting anything from the kitchen or den, you just say what you want. For example; I want a big screen TV with a DVD player and the movie, 'Lord of the Rings, Return of the King', and a comfortable couch to sit on, and from the kitchen a large tub of popcorn."
Instantly a big screen TV along with everything else he requested appeared. He flipped on the TV, put the popcorn on a cushion and hopped over the back of the couch, proceeding to get comfortable. Normally this would not be possible in the wizarding world and at Hogwarts but Snape was not a very intelligent wizard if he could not figure out a way around all the wards of Hogwarts and the many rules about muggle appliances not working.
"Don't I get a tub of popcorn, too?" asked Hermione, shocked at the nerve of the man who had just sat down on the couch that had just appeared.
Severus was going to be a bastard and said, "No, you have to go see your room. It is two doors down on the left."
"Well, fine," she said with a huff. "I will just leave you to your own devices then."
She went two doors down the hall like Severus said and found herself in the most gorgeous room ever.
A/N: Ha ha. Cliffie. Next chapter describes her room and Hermione tells why she doesn't like flying. Makes for very interesting reading. I love LOTR Return of the King. It is my favorite out of the trilogy, hence it found its spot in my plot. Please read/review.