Hello there! Thanks to those of you who have decided to follow this story.

I am new to FFNet and mostly post on AO3 /users/SallySlytherin/profile)

Here's hoping you like my little story.

Surely she would back off now.

If he was honest with himself, Severus was disappointed at how quickly the witch had cracked. He was certain she would huff and puff, narrow her eyes accusingly at him and invade his personal space, perhaps even jab a finger into his chest to defend herself. Instead, she had fled almost immediately. The tension before she left had reached boiling point and was almost unbearable. His own discomfort seemed to be contagious, she had spoken very little to him throughout that afternoon brewing session. Was that a conscious effort on her part?

His lip curled in disgust as he recalled seeing the witch with her arms thrown around the wolf's neck later that evening outside her office door. Severus wasn't sure which was more abhorrent to him; Granger involved with Longbottom or Lupin. Not that it mattered to him who she chose to warm her bed. He just didn't want to be witness to longing glances, lingering touches or romantic embraces. If Minerva would have asked his opinion on her employment he would have relayed his concerns over her potential distraction for staff and students.

A couple of days had passed in blissful solitude since the incident in the Hospital Ward lab and since the Headmistress had not admonished him over his behaviour, he assumed the girl had failed to report it to her.

Making his way through the castle after a particularly long brewing session, seeking out his chambers, Severus was accosted by Lupin near the entrance to the Dungeons.

"Severus," the wolf said in a failed attempt at a friendly tone. "I'd like to have a little chat, perhaps we could walk together?"

Not waiting for Lupin, Severus continued on his path. His hopes that his colleague would leave him be were immediately dashed. He rolled his eyes, without a word and kept his features schooled to indifference as Lupin followed.

"Can I ask what you said to upset Hermione so much?"

He would not engage.

"She wouldn't tell me everything, just that she was helping you brew for the Hospital Wing," Lupin continued. Almost jogging to keep up with Snape's long strides. "I ran into her in the hallway when she left you and she was quite upset."

It came as no surprise that Granger had been sobbing, the girl had no control over her emotions. It came as less of a surprise that she would seek out a comforting shoulder. What did surprise him was that she didn't immediately inform Lupin of the details. It hadn't even been too bad, practically tame for him.

"She's a kind soul, Hermione. I'm sure whatever she might have said or did was not meant in disrespect."

The two wizards were approaching his office now. Severus' longing for seclusion overcame his unwillingness to talk to the other man.

"Miss Granger has been a constant annoyance since her arrival," Severus turned to face Lupin. "Perhaps you or Longbottom are simply not giving her the constant attention she requires. Either way, I will not tolerate her clingy behaviour as you do."

Lupin furrowed his brow in confusion and then a small smile broke his features.

"Do you mean to tell me that Hermione was just being friendly?" he asked, chuckling .

Severus took immediate offence to the Marauder's apparent enjoyment of his irritation. His peaceful existence was being torn apart by the Gryffindors in his life. Again.

"If Miss Granger expects friendship and camaraderie, she should know better than to seek it out with me," he kept his tone dismissive.

Snape opened the door to his office and closed it immediately once beyond the threshold. Engaging the wards he ignored Lupin's attempt at further discussion. Slumping into his desk chair Severus rubbed his temples. His headache-free streak coming to a swift end after just two days.

"Do you mean to tell me that Hermione was just being friendly?"

The wolf's words echoed through his mind. Was that what she was playing at? Why? Didn't the girl have enough blasted friends already?

Hermione looked around her living room. Neville's gift sat on a bookshelf next to her selection of books on Herbology, she smiled fondly. She had spent the day before purchasing supplies to make the room more homely. Really, she knew she had just been avoiding the castle. She would allow Snape a couple of days to cool-down before engaging with him again.

She was shocked at the reaction he had gotten from her in the Hospital Wing. Hermione was well aware of Snape's temper and should have been prepared for a blunt dismissal, she thought she had been. Why had his words hurt so much? He had said much nastier things to her in the past. She should be used to it by now.

Honestly, she had been enjoying brewing alongside him. Two colleagues on level standing, well, more level then they ever had been before. She enjoyed watching him work. His hands seemed almost graceful in their task. Should she just accept that Snape would never view her as more than a buck-toothed, frizzy haired know-it-all? More importantly, why did she care so much? Hermione did not need his validation to know she was a competent witch who had outgrown her awkward teenage years. It was still in her nature to seek approval and praise from others, but she had long since accepted she would never receive his. Shaking thoughts of her former professor from her mind she slipped into her bathroom.

Perched on the edge of her claw foot tub, Hermione started up the warm tap and engaged the charm to add a calming lavender scent. Closing her eyes and tipping her head back she allowed the aroma to wash over her. Catching the hem of her T-shirt she tugged the material over her head. Standing, she removed her jeans and toed off her trainers. Once in her underwear she assessed her appearance in the mirror above the sink.

"You could use a good meal dear," the enchanted mirror said.

With a scowl Hermione pointed her wand at the mirror to silence it. Tugging on the bun she released her curls with a sigh of relief. Taking another minute to silently assess herself, the witch accepted that she would likely never feel happy with her appearance. Turning away she slipped out of her underwear and approached the now full tub. Submerging herself in the steaming water the witch summoned a book from her living room and settled in for a long relaxing soak.

With her book set to float in front of her, Hermione allowed herself to relax fully and let the lavender soothe her frazzled mind. Her treacherous thoughts soon returned to the Potions Master and his scathing attitude toward her. She supposed the idea that a colleague still viewed her as a child would be mildly annoying to anyone. Would he disrespect her in front of their students? No, she didn't think even he would stoop to that level.

Could she approach the subject of brewing with him again? Hermione loved to brew and having the opportunity to learn from Snape even now was too tempting not to take advantage of. Her book was long forgotten before her eyes fluttered closed as she recalled their synchronised brewing session. For a man so discontented and abrasive, his patience when handling ingredients was astonishing. Each cut, stroke, slice and stir was meticulous and hypnotic. His hands were without a doubt the most attractive thing about him.

Sitting up so quickly that scented water sloshed over the side of the tub Hermione looked around the room as if searching for who had planted this stray thought into her brain. Since when did she consider any part of Snape attractive, even if it was only his hands. Crinkling her nose she pictured her former professor in her mind. His long, lank hair, pale skin and impossibly dark eyes. Nope, nothing there but suppressed anger and dwindling admiration. Next she pictured his hands, artfully assembling components for his chosen brew. Firmly grasping a stirring rod with masterful command. Slowly running up her thigh. Her eyes snapped open again.

"What the hell?

She said out loud to the empty room.

Books and baths abandoned Hermione wrapped herself in a large fluffy towel and an oversized dressing gown then crossed the bathroom to the door and entered her living room. She had thankfully thought to light the fire before settling in the tub. It might be summer but Hermione liked her comfort.

Without the bewitching, soothing bath water clogging her mind Hermione had no more sudden unwanted, inappropriate visions of her colleague. She did not acknowledge that she was actively not picturing his hands now.

For the foreseeable she would resume friendship mining mode and try to be a little more thick-skinned to his personal attacks. Even if he would agree to call her "professor" or basically anything that didn't remind her of him being her teacher would be an improvement. This would have to wait a while before being broached again.

Hermione's fire flared green and a familiar voice filled the room.

"Hermione?" Ginny's head called out from the grate.

Planting herself on the soft, navy rug she had bought that day Hermione smiled into her fireplace at the sight of her friend. Ginny was heavily pregnant so they had not seen each other as much as Hermione would have liked. Their relationship had become increasingly closer as they had grown up.

"Hey Gin! It's great to see you, how are you?"

"About ready to reach up and tear this child out of myself," she sounded tired. Hermione tilted her head in sympathy. "Since that is frowned upon, I was hoping that I could enjoy a nice girly lunch date with you in Hogsmeade tomorrow?"

Cheerful at the thought of an afternoon with Ginny, a broad smile spread across her face.

"Absolutely, I would love that," Hermione replied, "what time will I meet you?"

"Let's say around noon in The Three Broomsticks?"

"It's a date."

"I can't wait, see you tomorrow," Ginny said as she extracted her head from the fire which immediately restored to its regular state.

Rising from her spot on the floor Hermione made her way over to the shelves on which she had placed some beverages and poured herself a large glass of red wine. Grabbing a book she made her way to her bedroom and settled comfortably on her bed for the night.