AN: Just reading a couple of amazing stories on this site, which wants me to stop writing, because my stories seem dull and boring. Anyway here is the new chapter.

I don't own Harry Potter and don't make any profit.

Saturday came and Hermione met with Severus after breakfast, to go through her curriculum for the next four years.

" … so you would teach all Potions classes by Christmas, the next school year and I would be back with all my defence classes. Have you got any questions?" Severus asked, after explaining everything to her.

"No, not yet at least," she replied.

"Okay let's go through your average week. So on Monday you have time off in the morning and four hours of Defence in the afternoon. Tuesday is two double lessons of First Year Potion's," he grinned.

"You are off in the afternoon. Wednesday is gonna be a tough day, it's going to be eight hours of teaching. Thursday is easy though, it's only third year's double Defence and it starts midmorning. And Friday is going to be six hours of teaching finishing mid-afternoon. So I personally would suggest on Thursday afternoon you'll be in the lab, brewing potions, because that's when I have actually two double lessons of Potions myself, so I would be there, but you wouldn't be as distracted as last time. Sorry about that, it was a bit stupid of me really," he said.

"Don't worry, it was actually quite interesting."

"So then I would like if we could spend the Thursday evenings together, eat in my quarters and discuss the books and articles I want you to read. I normally have rounds on Wednesday, but since I want you to accompany me so we have some feedback time and stuff like that and you have a really busy day on Wednesday, I thought I could swap to Tuesday. And on Saturday morning I would like you to be in the lab, to have a start on the more advanced Potions, I would be there to supervise you. How does that sound to you?"

"Perfect. By the way I corrected the Potions First Years essays. So you can have a look through them, like you wanted," she said, handing him a stack of parchment.

"Thanks," he said.

"Did you want me to start with a Potion right away? It is after all Saturday morning."

"No, that won't be necessary today. Take time to prepare your lessons or correct homework. We'll start next Saturday."

"Well I'm off to do some work. I'll see you later."

The hours flew by and the evening came quickly, leaving Hermione with one hour to spare until her date with Luke. She quickly brought another stack of corrected homework to Severus for him to check and then started getting ready. Five to seven she made her way down to the main gate, where she was meeting with Luke.

He was already waiting for her when she arrived, "You look awesome Hermione."

Smiling at her, he offered her his arm, which she gladly took and they made their way down to Hogsmeade casually talking about their day.

Meanwhile Severus made his way to Hermione's quarters, bringing her back the homework and wanting her to ask if she wanted to come to have a drink back at his quarters.

Neville who was just walking by said, "She is not in Sir. She left a couple of minutes ago for Hogsmeade together with Luke."

"Oh! So what are you doing around here," Severus bellowed.

"Sir I am not a student any more. I was just on my way to the Hogshead for a couple of drinks. You're welcome to join me."

"I don't know!"

"Come on, Sir. It's a Saturday evening, you should go out for a drink."

"I have a daughter."

"Oh sorry, I forgot."

"But maybe I could get Minerva to watch her. I would really like to have an evening off. I'll be back in ten minutes. But if we're really doing this, I am Severus," and he held his hand out to Neville, who took it and said, "It's Neville, Sir, I mean Severus."

When Hermione and Luke arrived at Hogsmeade, he said, "I reserved a table at the Three Broomsticks. I hope that's fine with you. I don't really know anything else yet."

"I don't think there is anything else decent, except for maybe Madam Pudifoot's Tea Shop. But I think that's closed in the evening," she replied.

After they had ordered, Hermione looked at him expectantly, "So tell me how it is being a wizard in America."

That topic kept them occupied all through their meals.

"So Professor Snape seems to be a strict master."

"I don't know, I only know he is a great teacher and I'm lucky he has taken me as his apprentice."

That started Luke off with telling her all about his old teachers at Salem. Hermione had an enjoyable evening and Luke being the perfect gentleman, made her feel very special. He accompanied her back to the Castle and in front of her quarters, he kissed her hand and said, "I had a lovely evening, we should do that again soon."

And with a wink at her he was gone. A couple of minutes later she fell into bed with a grin on her face, not being able to get his bright blue and his perfect smile out of her head.

At the same time Neville and Severus were already quite wasted when Aberforth closed his pub and the two of them made their way back up to the castle.

"Th …Thank you for t… taking me with… with you," Severus was babbling.

Neville only grinned foolishly.

"Wha… What's with … with your words?" Severus asked.

"G…g…gone. All g…gine… I mean gone." Neville stammered, suddenly bursting into loud laughter, hearing himself speak.

Severus joined in and that's how they arrived at the castle.

"We sh…should ...p…p…probably t…try to be be be quiet," Severus giggled.

Severus' girlish giggling made Neville laugh even louder. Severus snorted and couldn't help but was bursting into laughter again, tears streaming down his face.

"Well! Well! Well! Look who Mummy found," Minerva said tapping her foot, when they turned around a corner.

"Uh!Oh! G…Good evening Mini…nerva" Severus said giggling, while Neville was hiding behind his back.

"Shame on you! What kind of example do you think you're giving? Ten points from each of your houses."

"Hey c…can she even d…do that?" Neville protested. Severus who found the whole situation hilarious, burst into laughter again.

"Go back to your quarters you two and you take a sobering-up potion. Merlin knows what you do to Elena otherwise," she scolded, turned around and with a grin on her face walked away.

"I'll bring you Elena in five minutes," she said over her shoulder.

Next morning came and they two drunkards were sitting at breakfast both rivalling the paleness of the ghosts.

"Has the Great Hall always been spinning?" Neville asked with a stupid grin.

Severus who had a pounding headache didn't answer, merely holding Elena with one hand and his head with the other.

Hermione came into the Great Hall nearly skipping towards the teacher's table a huge smile plastered to her face.

When she saw Severus and Neville she asked worriedly, "Are you two alright?"

"They are perfectly fine," Minerva growled.

"Why did you not take a sobering-up potion, like I advised you to?"

"I did, but it must have been past its expiry date, so now I'm sober but with a pounding headache," Severus grumbled.

"Serves you right," Minerva huffed.

"I don't have a sobering-up potion," Neville said.

Hermione squealed excitedly, making both men wince slightly, "Can I brew one Severus, please?"

She bounced up and down on her chair.

"Yes as long as you take your ear splitting squeal with you," Severus mumbled.

Hermione quickly gulped down some tea, buttered three pieces of toast and left the table chewing. In front of the Great Hall she nearly collided with Luke, who winked at her and said, "Good morning, gorgeous."

Her smile grew wide and she blushed.

The next weeks went past in a blur for Hermione, who was busy with teaching, revising homework, brewing potions and studying all the books Severus gave her. During mealtimes she was always at Luke's side, admiring the handsome blond American and listening to his stories. Severus started avoiding meeting her and Luke at meals, either coming very early or very late. So they only saw each other while working together, and Severus kept it strictly to business and avoided any other topics.

It was about one and half weeks before Christmas. Hermione was teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts to the third years, when there was a knock on the door and Severus came into the classroom.

"I'm here to oversee your teaching, like we talked about. Please don't let yourself feel disturbed, Professor Granger."

"Very well Professor Snape, but I must warn you today's lesson is about Boggarts," she grinned, suddenly having the mental image of Severus in Neville's grandmother's clothes in his head.

Severus winced but just said, "Please continue!"

Finding Remus' lesson quite inspiring she had just copied it. There was a chest of drawers in the front of the classroom and every student had a go at the boggart. It turned out to be quite similar fears, than in her own third year.

At the end of the lesson one of the students asked, "What did your boggart turn into, Professor Granger?"

Severus grinned and when she didn't answer right away, Severus strode over to the front desk with a mischievous grin on his face and began telling them the story about the test that Remus set at the end of her third year and how she made a fool of herself, because her boggart turned into Professor McGonagall telling her she failed every subject. The class started giggling, making Severus chuckle.

"Well let me tell you what was Professor Longbottom's biggest fear was," she said looking at Severus.

"You wouldn't dare," he growled.

"Wouldn't I? You just told them my boggart story," she laughed. When she finished the story the third years roared with laughter.

"I can't believe you really told them the story," he said, but couldn't supress a chuckle, looking at her happy face.

"So I want an essay on boggarts. Half a foot long and read the chapter on Boggarts," Hermione said lightly.

"Make that one foot," Severus said smiling sweetly at the class, making them swear under their breath, while they left the classroom.

"That was a good lesson, Hermione," he simply said and was about to leave the classroom, when Hermione caught his wrist.

"I had fun too. It's a shame we haven't spent much time together lately," she said smiling up at him.

"Yes it is," he said with a pained expression on his face and left the classroom, robes billowing behind him.

It was the Saturday before Christmas and Hermione and Luke were on their third date, while Severus and Neville were at the Hogshead for a drink again.

"You have to let Hermione know how you feel about her. She deserves someone better than this poser" Neville said a bit nervously about the reaction he would get from Severus.

"How… what …. How did you find out? Is it that obvious?" Severus stammered.

"No it's not. I just have a bit of a gift there. I don't know where I got it from,…"

"Your mum," commented Severus dryly.

Neville's eyes grew wide, "What?"

"Your mum had the same thing. She always knew, the feelings of other people, even if they tried to hide them, or they weren't even sure about their feelings themselves. She always, always knew. I don't know how she did it. Alice always knew when people were in love, even before they announced it," Severus smiled.

"You knew my parents. I didn't think of that. Can you maybe tell me more about them? My grandmother hardly ever talks about them. I think it hurts her too much," Neville mumbled, trying to avoid looking at him.

"Your parents were very nice people. You look more like your mother, but you have your dad's personality. Frank was very quiet, sometimes shy, but very loyal to his friends and when he needed to be, he could be one of the bravest men I knew. Just like you. Your mum was smiling all the time, she was always happy, even in the darkest of times. Alice was always full of life, that's how I remember her. They were good people, I really liked them. How are they doing?"

Neville sniffled a bit and then said," Since Bellatrix died, they have improved a bit. I guess it has something to do, that her death took the edge off the curse a bit. They now remember that I'm their son, but they are like little children," Neville said quietly.

"I'm sorry, Neville," Severus said.

After a couple of minutes of silence, in which both of them were lost in their thoughts Severus said," They loved you dearly. I got to know them after you were born and I only met them two or three times, since they went into hiding. Alice was all the time talking about you, which annoyed me a great deal back then. Having a own daughter now, I totally understand her."

Severus chuckled.

They spent the rest of the evening talking about Neville's parents, Severus trying to scrap together every little detail he could muster to remember. After that topic was exhausted they moved on to talking about plants and their uses in potions.

When they said their good-byes Severus asked, "Do you may be want to join me and Elena for Christmas?"

"I'm not sure, I have to meet my parents. This year my grandmother won't be there, she is going to be on a cruise with her beau," he shuddered at that thought.

"Well you could come have breakfast with us and then go celebrate with your parents."

"I would love that."

"Well then it's settled. Good night Neville!"

"Good night! And don't forget what I said about Hermione, don't wait too long Severus." Severus merely nodded and walked away.

It was about then minutes later, when Hermione and Luke passed Hogwarts' main gates, holding hands. He walked her to her door and said," I had a lovely evening." Luke bent down to kiss her and she happily responded to his kiss. The kiss deepened quickly and Hermione could suddenly feel his hands roaming under her top, sending a wave of heat through her body.

She savoured the feel of his hands against her bare skin and melted into his kiss even more, but when his hands found the clasp of her bra, about to unfastened it, she pulled away and whispered, "That's a bit too quick for me. Do you mind?"

He abruptly pulled his hands away and shook his head and for a split second annoyance and disappointment flitted across his face.

"I'm sorry," she apologised and he just bent down to kiss her again. They snogged for a couple of more minutes before saying goodnight.