AN: Thank you for all the support! It is very deeply appreciated!

Minerva knew her plan would work. Sure, there were a few bumps in the road. Admittedly, she hadn't always made the wisest choice of women, not that anyone could endure Severus' foul mood for longer than ten minutes. Yes, it had been difficult to settle upon someone who could capture his attention in a positive manner. Still, Severus had mentioned not having a terrible time with Judith. That alone was progress.

Now, she needed to keep up the momentum. Left to his own devices, Severus would not contact her again. He'd become too engaged in a potions project, or would become so distracted by Hermione's flying lessons that he would let the opportunity to date Judith pass him by. His date with her would become nothing more than a pleasant evening, not the beginning of a beautiful romance.

No, Minerva needed to act fast, and to act now.

She picked up her quill and scribbled down a note. With Judith's busy schedule, the next phase of her plan may be difficult to implement. Still, if this plan worked, Severus would have a very pleasant Hogsmeade weekend.

"You're getting much better at stopping on your own," Severus hovered over Hermione's desk, careful not to touch the stack of parchments. During his fourth year of teaching, he'd had the misfortune of reading a parchment with shoe marks. It was harder than usual to make out the words, and parts were torn beyond magic's repair. The student was less than pleased with the resulting grade. It was an experience he did not wish for Hermione to endure.

"Thank you," she flew towards him, only to stop inches from him

He gave her a small grin, wondering why he missed her colliding into him. He wanted nothing more than for her to succeed, but he did enjoy the feeling of her body against his. Something about them coming together stirred emotions in him than he thought he'd suppressed, emotions he'd decided long ago never to entertain or endure...

"I think I'm flying higher too," she floated a few more centimeters upward until she was eye level with him. "Or at least I'm better at controlling my altitude."

"Indeed you are," he flew to his right, towards the doorway. "Now, come to me."

She turned her head, but her body did not obey. Once again she turned her head, but her body went nowhere. No matter how much she squeezed her muscles and contorted her body, she remained where she was. Soon, she began to lose altitude as her posture slumped.

"Hermione." He grabbed her before her magic gave out and she collapsed onto the ground.

"I'm sorry," she exhaled. "I'm shite at turning."

"No, you are just struggling," he held her closer to his chest. "It's a normal setback we can endure."

"Did you take this long to learn how to turn?"

"Admittedly no."

Her postured further slumped.

"But that doesn't mean Voldemort didn't struggle with the turn."

"Did he ever tell you that?"

"Admittedly, I don't know. He wouldn't admit to himself that he could be weak, much less to anyone else."

She sighed.

"Still, with some effort you will adjust to turning," he continued with as much optimism as he could muster.

"How? I don't know why I can't turn," she went limp. "I try to envision turning around, but my body doesn't obey."

"Are you envisioning turning as you typically would?"

She blinked before her eyes widened. "When I turned around, I envision using an assisted device."

"You do?"

She nodded. "It's been at least seven years since I've walked without an assitive device. Well, a few doctors may have asked me to walk me without them, but those ended with me collapsed on the ground, screaming in pain."

"I don't count obeying the whims of sadistic dunderheads to be a genuine attempt at walking."

"Neither do I." She winced as the shaking in her leg intensified.

"Then it's time to rethink our strategy," He placed her on a chair. Then, he landed and began to tap her walker.

"I never thought not being able to walk unassisted would hamper me," she shook her head. "Then again, when I was young, I never thought I wouldn't know what it was like to do something as simple as turn around. It's amazing what assistive devices can do to one's mind. Anymore, they're just as much a part of my body as my leg is."

"That's right," he stood and grabbed one of her quills. "They are a part of you that allow you to go from one place to another."

"I apologize for not catching on as quickly as you could. I didn't think not turning when I walk would affect my ability to fly so much."

"No, I apologize for not seeing the issue sooner."

"What issue?"

"I've been treating you the way Voldemort treated me, which isn't the correct approach. You are not me, a fact I have not been taking into account." He held up a quill. "May I borrow this?"

"Yes, you may," she cocked her head. "But do you mean to tell me Voldemort was patient with you? From the way you talked earlier it sounded as if any patience was only to earn your cooperation."

"He was much less patient with me than I've been with you, but I wasn't someone who struggled to envision turning, which is why I was able to do it within a few sessions."

"I apologize," her throat tightened. "I'm trying."

"I know, but what if I told you I could make your demonstration more powerful and more impressive now than it was before?"

"How could we do that?"

"Simple," he transfigured the quill into a cane which matched her dimensions. "You said you could make assistive devices into weapons and shields, correct?"

"Yes."

"It isn't the most practical notion to have a walker or a wheelchair in the air, but a cane is feasible." He handed it to her.

"True, but I'm not following what you're saying at all."

"When you take to the air again, use the cane to help you turn."

She glanced at it, and then at him.

"You can carry the cane as you fly. You may not need it to move forward, but if you pivot your body on it when you need to turn the way you do when you walk…"

"I may be able to make the turn." Her eyes lit up.

"Indeed," he purred.

She took a deep breath. "Okay, I want to try it now."

"Then take to the air." He levitated.

She closed her eyes and relaxed. Her body shot up, eliciting a squeak. Still, she clutched the cane until she poked one eye open.

"One day, you will need to keep your eyes open when you launch," he noted. "It will be difficult to direct a class with your eyes closed."

"I know, but I still don't like knowing how high I am when I'm shooting into the air."

"Is there still some residual fear of flight?"

She gripped the cane and nodded.

"Only exposure and pleasant flight experiences will cure that," he noted before shifting to his left. "Now, I want you to use that cane to pivot towards me."

She examined it before looking at it. "As interesting as your theory is, I don't think the cane will help. It cannot be planted on the ground."

"Our bodies are not planted on the ground either, yet we are moving."

She hummed and kept her eyes on the cane.

"This is an issue in which your mind must take control," Severus continued. "You cannot imagine turning without an assisted device, so let it help your mind envision what it needs to do."

She glanced at him, then at the cane. After a few moments, she smiled and placed it as she would as if she were walking, Then, she swung on it, jerking to her left, pivoting towards him.

"There you go," he grinned as once again she collided into him. Although he didn't move a centimeter, he couldn't help but be pleased she was in his arms again.

"I did it!" She held up the cane and cheered. "I did it!"

"Yes, and we may have just opened more possibilities for you."

"Oh?"

"We will not test it today because your magic is still getting used to levitation, but once your body is more comfortable with flight, I will show you how to perform spells while in the air, including your new defensive spells."

"That's brilliant," she ran her cane over her hands.

"Now, at some point you will need to learn to turn without the cane, not because I think a cane is an inherently poor idea," he continued. "Rather, I don't want you to be unable to fly if it was away from you, or if you dropped it. Granted with your spells it may be unlikely that it would ever be taken from you, but I don't want you to be unable to fly without it."

"Flying without a cane may have to wait though."

"Yes, but for now, you have far more opportunities to utilize flight than even Voldemort could've imagined." He wrapped his arms around her.

"What do you think he'd say if he knew you were teaching a muggleborn Gryffindor how to fly?"

"He would stop at nothing to kill me," his lips curled upwards. "Which is one of the many why I revel in teaching you how to fly. It is my latest act of revenge against him."

"It's a bit of sweet revenge for me too," her smile matched his. "After he spent years terrorizing me, it is nice to know I'm using one of the spells he kept from others, save you."

"Indeed," Severus eyed her mouth, wondering what it would be like to brush his lips against hers. No two people had ever kissed while flying. It would be a first he'd love to accomplish with her. All he needed to do was whisper how proud of her he was into her ear, move in slowly, and allow her to make the next move.

"Severus?"

"Yes," he whispered.

"Thank you. I know you don't have to help me, so I'm grateful you are." Her eyes were pleading for him to come closer, for him to touch her with his lips.

"Think nothing of it," he gave her a small grin. "I am very proud of you. You are the brightest woman I have ever met."

Her eyes glistened as she leaned closer to him. His heart raced as he moved in closer.

"Hermione?"

She startled and began to falter. Severus grabbed her and snarled. "What do you want, Longbottom?"

"Hermione," he stepped in and noticed her and Severus in their midair embrace. His eyes bulged as he turned to her. "Did you fly up there?"

"I did," she grinned.

"She was doing quite well until you distracted her," he snapped.

"Severus," she hissed. "There's no need to treat Neville as if he is a first year about to explode your favorite cauldron."

"No, I think I understand," Neville gulped. "I should've checked with you to see when a good time to meet would be."

"Now's as good a time as any." She turned to Severus, "Assuming I can get down."

"Indeed," he lowered them.

"I won't be long," Neville replied. "I just wanted to know if you wanted me to pick up anything in Hogsmeade when everyone goes this weekend."

"Is this weekend Hogsmeade weekend?" Hermione asked as Severus placed her in a chair.

"It is," Neville folded his hands. "I didn't know if you were invited to supervise a Hogsmeade weekend."

"I'm never invited to supervise a Hogsmeade weekend," she shook her head.

"You're invited now," Severus interjected.

"What?" She raised an eyebrow.

"Do you honestly think Neville and I can keep the dunderheads in line all on our own?" Severus asked. "All I want to do is find a quiet place away from the students, and Neville will allow the students to walk all over him."

"I'll have you know I'm a very good disciplinarian," Neville argued. "Today, I gave out two detention slips."

"I gave out twelve," Severus argued.

"Yes, but that's because you're too harsh. You really should consider," Neville stared at Severus before taking a look at Hermione. Then, his lips curled upwards. "No, you're right, I am too permissive. I need help discipling students, lots of help."

"Neville, you're an amazing professor who has great discipline in his classroom," Hermione gave Severus a pointed look. "Don't let anyone tell you differently."

"I never said he was not a good professor, just that he was too lenient," Severus argued.

"And in that assessment he is correct," Neville frowned. "I am too permissive. I will definitely need help keeping everyone in line."

"I don't know how useful I'll be," she shook her head. "Surely you want someone who can keep up with the students and can navigate the streets with ease."

"You can do those things just fine," Neville replied. "Especially since now you can fly."

"I'm not confident enough to fly without Severus yet, nor can I be in the air for long."

"Which is why I'll be there too, to help you with those who are falling out of line behind Severus' back."

She hummed.

"You could use a weekend outside the castle," Neville continued. "And there is no way Severus and I will be able to control the students without you."

She turned to Severus.

"I need you there, or Neville and I will spend the entire trip arguing over how many detentions to hand out," Severus replied.

"Fine," She grinned. "I'll go with you two."

"Excellent," Severus purred, bringing on another blush.

"Now that that's all settled, I should go," Neville started to walk out the door, only to pause. "I deeply apologize for interrupting. What you were doing was important. I should have had more consideration for your time."

"Neville, you were fine," she replied.

"Indeed, it was an accident that you intruded," Severus answered in a softer voice. "There is no need to apologize."

"No, there is a need to apologize. My timing could not have been worse," Neville answered.

"No, it's fine," she replied. "It was fine that we took a break. We were at a stopping spot."

He groaned, put a hand on his forehead, and left.

"What do you think upset him so much?" Hermione asked.

"I do not know," Severus admitted, wondering if it was such a terrible thing that Neville had appeared. Had he stayed in the air much longer, his lips may have brushed against Hermione's. He may have held her closer and whispered things into her ears he had never spoken to a woman, and never intended to speak to anyone but her. If all went well, they would remain in the air, their kisses the only magic they'd need to stay afloat.

"Severus?"

He looked at her. She was beautiful, much too beautiful to be tainted by a dungeon bat. Someday, a man would see her for the amazing woman she was. It was best not to interfere in the inevitable by leading her to waste his time with a git like him. Besides, he was incapable of love. That had been made clear to him on several occasions. She deserved someone to love her, not someone whose soul was as dry as the books to which he so desperately cleaved.

"Severus, are you well?" Hermione asked.

"Yes," he cleared his throat. "I'm just wondering how many detention slips I should bring tomorrow."

"Hopefully none, although you always seem to find someone up to mischief."

"It is one of my many special talents."

"What would you other ones be?"

"Flying, snarking, and being an overall git."

"You do fly and excel at snarking. Still, you are not a git."

"Not around you anyway," he answered in a soft voice. "Nor do I ever intend to behave like one towards you."

She took his hand. "Nor do I intend to be an insufferable know-it-all around you."

In a comfortable silence they sat, both wondering how far their flying lesson would've progressed if Neville did not have the worst timing in all of Hogwarts.