Hermione found herself struggling to decide what to wear. For goodness sakes, she thought, you're going bird hunting. Not having tea with the Minister. She finally settled on a pair of Muggle jeans and a dark green cardigan. That should improve his mood, she chuckled to herself.

She couldn't believe she was going to spend the entire evening alone with Snape. It was almost like a dream come true: bonding time with the man she secretly adored. What more could she want? Well that's another story completely…It was as if the gods were on her side finally, rooting her team, but she still hadn't wrapped her head around the whole bird-catching conundrum yet. How am I supposed to find a bird that I've never seen before, she pondered, ugh Hermione how could you have forgotten to look at the picture in the book?!

She glanced at her watch and decided, if she ran, that she'd have enough time to check the picture in the book that was still resting on the Headmaster's desk. She grabbed her wand, beaded bag, and cloak and headed to his office, hoping he wouldn't be there. The last thing she needed was for him to think her ill prepared and irresponsible.

As she wound her way through the castle she couldn't help but turn her attention to the night she was about to have. Granted this wasn't going to be the time or place to have the "conversation", she almost hoped that it would be acknowledged once or twice throughout the night. She figured that an outdoor atmosphere would render a much more comfortable conversational arena than a stuffy office.

She quickly arrived at the office and took a glance around before announcing the password and making her way up the spiral staircase. The book was still on his desk opened to the chapter on the magical creature they were about to set out in search for. She tentatively walked to the desk, turned the book around, and flipped back a page to the beginning of the chapter.

There it was. The most exquisite bird she had ever seen! It was beautiful- so majestic looking, that it reminded her of an ordinary Muggle peacock- oh my gods, she thought. Staring back at her was a ordinary peacock. The "ordinary peacock" that she had likened herself to earlier that afternoon. There's no way. This must be a coincidence. She started to panic. If everything worked the way it was stated in the book, then she had already bonded to the bird! I was gawking and wishing to be it for ages, there's no way we're not bonded. Unless someone had already seen the bird, then there it was: her fate in the hands- er talons- of a bird.

That seemed like a huge stretch even for her, until she remembered wishing for the ability to decide which assignment to do when she received Snape's letter. Hermione groaned. She and the bird were indeed bonded. Now all she had to do was figure out how to un-bond herself from it without Snape finding out. I have a feeling this is going to be a very long night, she thought to herself before heading out to meet, unbeknownst to her, the purest desire she sought the most.

Severus was nervous, and it had nothing to do with the bird he was about to attempt to catch. It had everything to with the witch he would be spending the evening with. For some reason, his attraction to the girl was growing by the day, to the point where it frightened him. He hadn't felt this strongly about a woman since Lily, and found himself quite put out by that revelation. At least with Lily they had been the same age as well as close friends before things fell to the wayside, but with Hermione it was different. Even though she was his former student, he was still her superior and guardian at Hogwarts which made the situation worse. He started realizing that he was attracted to her more than he had been to Lily, and was scared out of his wits at that.

Severus, you really do need to get a hold of yourself. But then again it's not your fault she's more intelligent than half of the ministry, talented, and beautiful…

Severus could have continued that list for ages, but he was interrupted when he saw the Gryffindor princess running right at him. She finally slowed down and with a very shallow breath panted, 'I'm. So. Sorry. I'm. Late. Headmaster.' Severus dismissed her apology with a wave of his hand and began speaking.

'Miss Granger, let us not dawdle. I do believe we have a long and difficult night ahead of us. It seems you are prepared, so,' he gestured to the door, 'shall we?'

Severus stepped through the doorway and motioned for Hermione to do the same.

It was nearing dark and with the setting sun, the air was already turning brisk. Severus looked back at the girl expecting to see her showing some signs of discomfort, but instead he found her trailing confidently behind him. He looked closely to see a hint of dark green under her cloak. Well, well, well, he smirked to himself, looks like this Gryffindor is more Slytherin than I would have figured. He had to agree with himself that green particularly suited Hermione, but he wondered if the weather had anything to do with her outfit choice.

'Once the sun has set it will be particularly chilly tonight, but I see you have dressed appropriately,' Severus announced.

Hermione blushed, clearly displaying her knowledge at his notice to her sweater, and quickly retorted, 'Actually, I have been able to really perfect a good warming charm. You know, since I was on the run and living in a forest for all of last year…' Her voice cut out at the end of the sentence as if she had said something inappropriate.

Severus looked at the girl compassionately. He really had no clue what she had endured those long months, in fact he only heard most of the stories through other people so their believability tended to wane.

He stopped and turned towards her, 'Miss Granger, to be quite honest I really don't know much of what you and your friends endured. Obviously, stories were shared amongst colleagues, but that was about to the extent I knew what was happening. I am sure that you suffered dearly- especially for one so young, and I am almost positive that you have continued to suffer, am I right?'

He watched her face fall and instantly wanted to touch her, to comfort her. Instead, he turned back around and continued into the forest. He had not moved more than two feet before he heard a faint 'You're right' from behind him. Again he stopped, but faced forward into the darkness.

'I haven't stopped hurting since the moment I chose to run off with Harry and Ron. Every single day I'm faced with the reality of what I sacrificed and what I lost. We may have won the war, but what did we truly gain? Freedom that we should have had to begin with? Happiness? A Life without fear? I'm sorry sir, I don't know about you but I didn't gain any of those. All I was left with was money I didn't need and a broken heart.'

Severus turned around to face Hermione as she continued.

'I'm not saying it wasn't for nothing, but I feel like we got lucky. What if things had been different? What if you hadn't been supporting us all along, or Harry hadn't been as selfless as he was?'

Hermione saw his eyes convey a sense of disbelief at that statement and pointed at him,

'Don't think for one second that Harry isn't selfless. All along he told us that he did it because he had nothing to lose, but I knew deep down that he did it because he had everything to lose. Sure, he had no family per se, but the entire wizarding world was his family and that was everything to him. I just, I don't know. It was hard on him, but neither boy knew how much harder it was on me. He had the defensive skills and the scar, but I was the 'girl who knew everything'. The 'one with the plan'. What if I didn't know everything, or planned for everything?'

She stopped to catch her breath, and then looked awkwardly away. 'I'm sorry sir. I didn't mean to bore you with an internal monologue or point at you. That was rude.'

It was in that moment that Severus decided that Hermione Granger was the missing piece in his life. The bravery, the intellect, the humility- he wanted it all. He didn't care that he was almost twenty years her senior, she practically aged ten years during last few months anyway. Afraid he'd cross too many boundaries too soon, he walked slowly to where she stood and place a hand amicably on her shoulder.

'Miss Granger, do not think for a second that your position in the war should be undermined to that of Harry Potter's merely because he was the weapon that ended it. You were a bridge, the glue if I may add, that kept your friends together and goals clear and sensible. You are correct, without your incredible intellect and quick thinking, I do wonder where we would be right now. While I may not know the personal conflicts you struggled with internally, I am not ignorant to the external ones you suffered. You survived lengthy bouts with the Cruciatus Curse, magical knife wounds, and pain from Horcruxes that housed the most evil soul we had ever known. You, Hermione Granger, are what kept the vision alive.'

Hermione had glanced down briefly and Severus noticed the soft tears she began to shed. Cautiously, he moved his hand to her chin and lifted it so her eyes met his.

'You are the brightest witch I have ever known. Why do you think I asked you to help me with this project tonight? I very well could have forced a faculty member or contacted a professional, but that seemed silly when I had a brain such as yours within my grasp.'

He gently moved his hand upwards and allowed his thumb to gently brush away the tears that had started to fall. No sooner than the second brush, Hermione lunged forward and flung her arms around the shocked Severus' waist. What are you doing, silly girl? He was surprised when Hermione answered his seemingly silent question with a timid response.

'I'm hugging you, sir. No one has ever said anything like that to me with such authenticity, so I'm hugging you.'

For a moment Severus had no idea how to react. He couldn't even remember the last time someone had willingly given him a hug, much less a woman. Very slowly, he lifted his arms and returned the gesture.

She couldn't believe it. Hermione was in dark forest, under the moonlight, hugging Snape. Was this a dream come true or what!

The words he had spoken to her had been pure bliss. Never in her life had she expected him to compliment her so completely and openly. She had wanted to hug him the moment he opened his mouth, but refrained for fear that she would cross some student/teacher boundary, however all thoughts of rules were forgotten as soon as his hand touched her face.

I wish this never had to end, she thought to herself, how I wish that he could be my life.

She was just about to close her eyes as he held her, when a loud shriek pierced the nighttime silence. In an instant Snape was standing tall with his wand at the ready.

'Stay close,' he commanded.

Again, they heard a loud cry, more shrill this time, which gave Snape the direction they needed to follow.

'Remember your promise Miss Granger.' Snape was at a brisk jog, with his peripherals going wild.

They had been jogging for nearly ten minutes, when a tree branch snapped to Hermione's right.

'Sir, I think something might be over there,' she pointed to the direction of the noise, causing Snape to jump madly in front of her.

'Do. Not. Move,' he warned, 'I need to make sure the bird isn't there.'

He walked cautiously, yet confidently, in the direction she had pointed while Hermione remained behind.

I do hope he finds this thing and we can be done with it, she pleaded, but should I mention my bond with it yet? I don't even know if it is legitimate.

She was at a loss of what to do. If she told Snape, then they could work through the magic and possibly reverse the bond, but if she didn't then she could have her purest desire fulfilled. The thing she apparently wanted more than anything.

She was brought back to the present with the silky voice she craved.

'Miss Granger, it seems that something else got to the bird before we did, and while it is barely alive I require you to return to the castle at once.'

She heard a swish of his wand and instantly, a ball of light hovered in front of her.

'Follow the light back to the castle and do not under any circumstances turn around. Do I make myself -,'

Suddenly, Snape's words were replaced with a loud growl and a panicked scream. His panicked scream.

Hermione ran to him, clutching her wand tightly.

'Headmaster? Headmaster?!'

She heard a gargled groan and looked down. Oh gods, please, no.