Getting Too Close

Special thanks to my mom, my sister, Lady_Peeves, Jade_Orchid, and my beta snapesbbwlover for everything you lovely ladies do to encourage me.

Also, this is my FIRST story, so please, be nice and helpful. Enjoy! :)

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Chapter 8: Getting Too Close

Snape sneered as he walked quickly down the hall. He had to go and get Draco Malfoy caught up on that day's potion lesson. God, he hated that little bastard! He deserved every bit of that Booglack flower's spores! Unfortunately, the boy was becoming more and more like his father everyday. It wouldn't be long before he too took the Dark Mark. Stupid boy, if he only knew...

He saw a group of students scatter as he approached. He couldn't help but feel a bit elated at the sight. Ah, sweet domination! Snape felt a bit better. He loved seeing the little children run away from him in fear.

Snape was about to take away points from a scared second year Hufflepuff for loitering in the halls until he suddenly heard that voice, HER voice. The voice that sent chills down his spine, the voice that haunted him in his sleep, the voice which he could not escape no matter how hard he tried...

"SEVERUS!" the voice called out from behind him again as Snape cringed.

Slowly Snape turned around with a scowl to face the pain in his side worse than Hermione Granger.

"Professor Trelawney," Snape said in a solemn voice to the Divination instructor (if you could call her that).

Although Snape intimidated her at first, Trelawney had developed a not-so-secret crush on the Potions Master and tried weekly to seduce him into her tower; which, of course, was never going to happen as far as Snape was concerned. He loathed her constant advances and horrendous pick-up lines, such as, "I was looking in my crystal ball and saw us together in the future," or, "If you come up to my office, I'll do more than just read your tea leaves." The look of anguish on Snape's face more than out weighed the longing gaze and crooked smile of Trelawney's pathetic seduction techniques.

"Now, Severus, how many times have I told you to call me Sybil?" she asked flirtatiously.

"Enough that I've come to ignore you," he said curtly.

"Oh, Severus, I had a vision today and I HAD to tell you," she sighed over dramatically, "Oh, it was horrible, just awful!"

"I'm sure it was," Snape said shortly, "Now, if you'll..."

"You poor dear, you willing went into the Forbidden Forest at night when you were suddenly attacked by a tall figure clad in black! Oh, I can't bear to go on about what happened to you after that, but with my inner-eye, I'm able to save you from such a fate! Severus, promise me you won't go out into the forest today!"

"Professor Trelawney, I can assure you without a shadow of a doubt that I have no business or intention to enter the forest today, tonight, or any other time for that matter, nor do I have some sick twisted death wish! Now, please ex..."

"OH THANK YOU, SEVERUS!" she exclaimed.

To his absolute horror, she bounded over to him, wrapping her arms around his middle in exaggerated sobs, "I'M SO HAPPY YOU'RE ALIVE BECAUSE OF ME!" She closed her eyes and puckered her lips up at his face, causing him to because nauseous.

"Professor Trelawney!" Snape hissed while some passing students could no longer hold back their giggles, "I'm not dead yet! Will you please get a hold of yourself?! You're setting a bad example for the students!"

Snape shot a glare over to the group of students, indicating that they'd better shut up and leave before something terrible happened to them. Since they did value their lives, the students took the hint and went quickly down the hall.

"Professor Trelawney, please remove yourself!" Snape hissed, "I have to...

"Oy, what's going on here?" a voice suddenly asked behind them.

The instructors turned around and were taken by surprise to find none other than their newly appointed Head Boy Neville Longbottom with his arms folded over his chest and a foot tapping impatiently on the ground while Dumbledore stood behind him chuckling.

"And just what do you think YOU'RE doing, Mr. Longbottom?" Snape asked dangerously.

"As Head Boy," Neville began while puffing out his chest and proudly displaying his new shiny Head Boy badge, "part of my duties is to patrol the halls and make sure that neither students nor teachers are engaging in inappropriate behavior."

"You'd better watch what you say..."

"Now, now, Severus," Dumbledore said with twinkling eyes while putting a hand on Neville's shoulder, "He's just doing his job."

"Yes, Headmaster," Snape growled before shooting one last glare at Longbottom, "Now, as I was trying to say earlier, I must give Mr. Malfoy his assignment for today!"

"Oh, so sorry," Trelawney blushed.

"Do attempt to prevent making a spectacle of yourself in the future, Professor Trelawney," Snape said smoothly. "Good night!"

Neville and Dumbledore chuckled as they observed a forlorn Trelawney watching the Professor stride quickly down the hall and around the corner, cursing that she didn't even get to first base with the man of her dreams: Severus Snape!

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Hermione hummed happily to herself as she fixed her hair in the mirror before she went to her detention. She really didn't see the reason for it, especially if he was going to have her scrub cauldrons; however, she felt the need to look nicer. She tried to deny her reasoning, dismissing it as just an act of grooming to make her feel "pretty," but she knew the real reason why: it was for Professor Snape.

She tried to deny herself even further by stating it was only because she didn't want to hear him tease her about her bushy hair, but she knew that wasn't entirely the reason. The thought disgusted her yet she didn't really care. Had he REALLY bewitched her mind and ensnared her senses?

Finally, she put the finishing touches on her hair that flowed down her back in long soft curls. After checking what little make-up she did use (only mascara and lipstick), she decided that was as good as it was going to get. She summoned her mangled toothbrush (just in case), and hurried out the door. She didn't want anyone to notice she had redone her hair or touched up her make-up. As she quietly descended the stairs and crept out the door, Hermione let out a sigh of relief, happy she slipped out unnoticed.

"Hello, Hermione," a low voice suddenly said behind her.

She gave a startled yelp as she spun around to face...

"Ron!" Hermione gasped, "Oh, you startled me!"

"Sorry," Ron grinned taking a step closer to her. Suddenly, his eyes grew wide as he noticed how she looked. "Wow, you look... different."

"Gee, thanks," Hermione said sarcastically.

"No, I mean in a good way. I mean it's just... You look nice."

"What? I don't look nice ALL the time?" Hermione questioned with her hands on her hips, "I usually look like trash?"

"No! You KNOW that's NOT what I meant. I mean... you look so... beautiful," Ron said as he gaped at her, "even more so than usual."

"Oh... Thanks, Ron," Hermione said uncomfortably under his strange gaze.

"Why did you sneak out of..."

"I don't have time to explain. I have to get to detention. See you later!"

Before Ron had a chance to stop her, Hermione was running down the hall towards the dungeons. He stood there flabbergasted, not just because she acted so strangely, but because he was amazed she looked so... lovely.

Hermione gave a sigh of relief as she turned the corner and didn't see Ron running after her. The last thing she needed was him pestering her! Slowly, she made her way to the dungeons, wondering if Snape had figured out the riddle yet. She was hoping not. It would definitely be nice to know she could stump the highly intellectual Professor Severus Snape!

Finally, she arrived to the dungeons and opened the door at seven o'clock sharp. She couldn't help but smile when she saw Snape writing at his desk with the hourglass sitting on the top of it.

"Since when did you stop knocking?" Snape asked curtly as he quickly put the hourglass back in the drawer of his desk, "I didn't allow your entrance. What if I was doing something dangerous and you walked right into it?"

"Well, sir," Hermione began as she stood in front of his desk, "The only reason I can see that you wanted me to warn you about my entrance is because you wanted time to put away the hourglass I gave you."

"Nothing can be further from the truth!" Snape lied.

"Besides, Professor, it's not like you didn't know I wasn't coming."

"That's enough of your impertinence for one evening, Miss Granger."

"Speaking of impertinence, how's Draco Malfoy?"

"Please stop acting like you care," Snape drawled, "but since you did ask, he's doing as well as one could hope. He has set up his tent by the lake and is studying at the moment."

"Well maybe the sunshine and fresh air will do him some good, not to mention he'll be free of distractions and can study more often. Maybe he could even read a good book. There are tons of good reads in the library!"

"Why am I not surprised that you'd see his misery as an opportunity for him to study?" Snape asked rolling his eyes.

"Well, Professor, my philosophy is when life gives you lemons, make lemonade."

"Hmph," Snape snorted in response.

"She's got a point you know," the voice inside his head chirped.

"Shut-up!" he hissed out loud.

"Excuse me, sir?" Hermione asked with a puzzled look.

"Nothing, Miss Granger. How are your hands? Are they useful enough to extract beetle wings?"

"Oh, uh, yes, they can do that," Hermione said quite shocked that Snape asked her about her hands first.

"Good, at least you'll be useful for something tonight. I just received a shipment of dead black beetles this afternoon and I need the wings extracted, stored into a jar, and labeled. Are you capable of not botching that up?"

"Yes, sir."

"The box of beetles as well as the jars are in the storage room. Get to work."

"Yes, sir," Hermione giggled as she walked over to the storage room.

"What's so funny, Miss Granger?"

"Nothing, Professor," she answered with a giggle again.

"It must be something unless you are going mad and laughing for no reason at all."

"Well, sir, if you must know..."

"I thought I made it clear that I must."

"I was wondering if you had solved the riddle or not," she began, "but since you hadn't said anything about it, I suppose that you were... stumped."

"Hmph, hardly," Snape smirked as he pointed his wand towards her, "Serpentsortia!"

With a flash of light, a snake flew out of the tip of Snape's wand and landed at Hermione's feet. She gasped at the sight of the large black snake as it slinked towards her, but a low chuckle from Snape strangely gave her some comfort.

Knowing he wouldn't let anything harm her, she grinned and said, "Very good, sir. You got it correct."

"Of course I did," he said smugly before banishing the snake with a flick of his wand, "It would be a travesty to Slytherin if I didn't. Although I must say I'm disappointed it was so easy."

"Easy?!" Hermione scowled, "Easy my left foot!"

"Tut, tut, tut, Miss Granger," Snape warned in a voice smooth as silk, "Remember, you're speaking to a Professor."

"Well, sir," Hermione said sarcastically, "if you think THAT was easy then PLEASE, by all means, tell me a better riddle that is worthy of your intellect, Professor Snape."

"Your temper and cynicism will get you into trouble, silly girl. However, since you DID say please... We are twins that see all except each other."

"Feh, talk about easy! They're eyes," Hermione said haughtily getting a bit bolder, "If that was worthy of your intellect, then I'm very sorry that even Crabbe and Goyle can out wit you."

"Oh, Miss Granger, you are skating on thin ice!"

"By the way, Professor, not all eyes are the same, either. Some people have two different eye colors."

"And some people are unbearable little chits!"

"And some people are uncouth sadists!"

"Oh yes, that temper and mouth WILL get you into trouble! Fine, if you didn't find THAT worthy of the Know-It-All brain of yours, then here's another..."

"No, sir. It's MY turn to give a riddle since that's how the game has been played thus far."

"A game now, is it?" Snape asked dangerously, "Well, Miss Granger, I don't play games. I play for blood, and I guarantee that you won't win."

Hermione didn't show any intimidation or fear from Snape's words as she stared him straight in the eye. Finally, she said just as dangerously, "With all do respect, sir... bring it on!"

"I thought you'd say as much," he smirked, "Fine then. It's your funeral. What are the rules of engagement since this is YOUR game."

"Rule number one," Hermione began, "you can only tell riddles you know the answer to."

"Of course," Snape huffed rolling his eyes, "the second rule should be that the opponent has only twenty-four hours to solve the riddle."

"Agreed. Rule number three: if I stump you, then I get one detention taken off from this month."

"All right, Miss Granger, but if I stump you, then I add another detention to your month."

"Fine, are we clear on the rules?" Hermione asked with her hands on her hips.

"Crystal," Snape smirked, "Now that's taken care of... Let's play. It's your move, Miss Granger."

Hermione grinned deviously as her mind chose the perfect riddle for her Professor Snape. All the Potions Master could do was lean back in his chair and wait for the retaliation from his lioness. That night marked the beginning of a strange new friendship between the Professor and the student.

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A week and a half had passed as Snape and Hermione continued their competition, neither one successful in stumping the other. Hermione served her detentions faithfully everyday, including on Saturdays and Sundays, much to her dismay.

"Since when did 'everyday for a month' exclude weekends?" Snape asked sarcastically before dropping a pile of first year essays in her lap at dinner Saturday evening.

Despite she was forced to give up her Saturday and Sunday nights, Hermione had to admit she was having fun with their little game. Although she knew he'd never fess up to it, Snape was enjoying the competition as well. Everything was running smoothly.

That was until the second Sunday evening.

Hermione had just arrived for her detention when Snape handed her an empty jar. At first, she was confused until she remembered the riddle she had told him yesterday.

"Yes, Professor Snape, a jar is correct," she grinned.

"Yes, and I must thank you for that one, Miss Granger, for it was the inspiration for your detention duty today."

"Uh-oh," she frowned.

"Uh-oh indeed. Today you shall go into the storage room and label every jar on every shelf as well as place them in alphabetical order."

"Yes, sir," Hermione said as she walked to the room and opened the door. She stood in the doorway in complete shock as she saw the entire room was in... orderly fashion. What was going on here? Why would he send her into a room that was already clean?

"Professor Snape," Hermione said quizzically, "the storage room is in tip-top shape. It's already clean and orderly. With all do respect, sir, why fix something if it isn't broken?"

"Just because something's fixed, doesn't mean it can't be broken," Snape drawled, "Now, as I said before, I want everything with a label and on the shelf in alphabetical order. I want to make sure these dunderheads I have to instruct actually put away my ingredients properly. Can you manage that while resisting the urge to once again steal something from my storage room?"

Hermione fought the blood that was rising to her cheeks, but knew it was a losing battle. Instead, she quickly turned away and began her task.

"I'll take that as a yes," Snape said sarcastically, "I shall be attending to another storage room by my desk if for some odd reason you'll need to speak with me. Unless the castle is on fire, please, hesitate to ask me anything."

"Yes, sir," she said as he turned heel and unlocked the second room with his wand.

"Sir, do you need labels on those specimens in that room too?" Hermione asked, hoping she wouldn't have to do such a tedious task.

"Yes, Miss Granger, but I won't have you do it. You see THIS room is ONLY for potion ingredients that are dangerous and unstable. One wrong move and you'll be haunting my dungeons for the rest of eternity, and Lord knows the last thing I ever want is to have your Know-It-All spirit tormenting me for the rest of my days!"

"A simple, 'No thank you,' would have sufficed!" Hermione growled to herself before returning to her labeling.

Snape heard her little remark, but chose not to retort. Besides, he had more important things to attend to. He also had to be extremely careful with his work. He was serious when he gave Hermione that warning.

Slowly, Snape took the first jar off the shelf and began to label it carefully, making sure not to agitate the ingredients inside or else the bottle would explode. He did the same with the second jar as well as the third without consequence.

It was the fourth jar that would be the problem.

This jar contained a substance called Muertolla, a substance distilled from the Morira plant. Its nickname was "Muerto," the Spanish word for "death" for it possessed a neurological poison so powerful that the effects from the fumes alone could cause paralysis. In less than ten seconds, the toxin would invade the lungs and enter the blood, eventually causing the nerves to cease transmitting messages to and from the brain as well as stop all motor functions. Eventually, the toxin would reach the heart before a minute had passed, causing it to stop beating, which would inevitably lead to death. Unless there was an antidote near by, no one survived "Muerto."

Even later, when Snape looked back on that night, he still wasn't sure what went wrong or how that jar even ended up broken on the floor, but, before he even knew what was going on, the fumes as well as the liquid of the Muertolla crept up on him. As soon as he smelled the strong sickening scent, Snape immediately dropped to the floor, no longer capable of moving. Damnit, he KNEW he should have worn some sort of mask! Soon, Snape's breaths became labored and his eyes began to sting and blur from the harsh fumes. He tried to will himself to stand, but his legs wouldn't budge as the fumes filled the room. Soon, his arms gave out and all he could do was lie there, waiting to die.

'So this is it,' he thought to himself, 'This is how it's all going to end. Not on a battlefield during the glory of combat, not in a bed surrounded by friends and family, not even surrounded by Death Eaters waiting to hex me. I, the Potions Master, die miserably at Hogwarts on the cold dungeon floor by means of a potion ingredient that was broken by my own hand. How pathetic!'

As he struggled to breathe, all he could do was think about Hermione and how he could warn her not to enter the room and leave the dungeons immediately. Then he began to think of her beauty, her intellect, her smile, and how he never got to tell her how gifted she really was.

"Hermione," he whispered what he thought to be his last breath and pictured her face in his head. If he were to die in such a lowly matter, at least he'd have an image of her as his last memory. Slowly, Snape closed his eyes and saw Hermione smile again as the world around her began to turn black...

"SEVERUS!" a voice suddenly called out from behind him.

Snape snapped his eyes open. That voice. It sounded so far away. Who could it be?

"SEVERUS!" a voice called again. Suddenly, he recognized the voice.

It was Hermione.

"Hermione, no!" he said as loud as he could, "Don't... Muertolla..."

Just as he was about to slip into unconsciousness, Snape suddenly felt a pair of hands grab his own and began to drag him out of the storage room. Although he couldn't raise his head to see his savior he already knew who it was.

'Stupid girl,' he thought as he slowly began to slip from consciousness, 'Silly stupid girl.'

Hermione pulled and tugged at Snape with all her might trying hard NOT to breathe in the fumes. For being such a thin guy, Snape was heavy! She had seen him collapse from the other room and panic struck her. Her first reaction was to call out to him, her second shock that she called him by his first name and not his title. However, now was not the time to think of such things. She had to get him out before he... well she didn't want to think about it. With her eyes squeezed shut, the Gryffindor continued to pull at her Potions Master's paralyzed body, dragging it along the stony floor. Finally, she had him out of the storage room safe and sound.

"Frios!" Hermione cried as she pointed her wand at the spilt substance.

A blast of cold blue sparks flew out from the end of her wand, hitting the Muertolla and freezing into its harmless solid form. A quick, "Expurgo Aeris!" quickly cleansed the air of the remaining fumes. Hermione ran to Snape's personal storage room and retrieved the antidote for Muertolla poisoning. He had to receive it before he stopped breathing or else there would be no hope for him to recover. Time was of the essence!

"Severus!" she cried as she dove next to his body with the vial in hand, "Severus, I have the antidote! You need to drink this before it's too late!"

She set the vial down by his head and pulled on his hands to try and sit him up. Unfortunately, Hermione couldn't possibly hold him up and administer the antidote at the same time! After slowly lowering him to the ground, she scrambled over to the top of his head and pushed him up slightly off the ground before maneuvering herself under him. Finally, she laid his head on her lap and looked down at him.

'God please don't let it be too late!' she thought as she uncorked the vile.

Snape's eyes were little slits as he fought to stay awake. Oh, her lap was so soft against his head, like a warm pillow made just for him. He wanted nothing more than to just sleep, nothing more. The problem was that he knew that if he did he'd never wake up again. He looked up at Hermione as she wore an expression of pure distress and fear on her face. Why was she so scared? If anything, he should be frightened... but he wasn't. He knew she'd take care of him, and that brought him a strange peace. Although, she was still an idiot for running in there to save him in the first place, typical Gryffin-dork!

However, he couldn't help but think how most students would have probably let him die and rot in there without giving it a second thought. Hermione was different though. She was always more mature than her years, and she reacted quickly and sensibly. He didn't know if it was her Gryffindor spirit or Gryffindor stupidity, but whatever it was, it would probably (hopefully) save his life.

Snape was too tired to cringe when Hermione poured the bitter tasting antidote into his mouth. God it was horrible! What was even worse was the fact that he couldn't even swallow the sour substance. Really, if he could barely breathe, why on earth did she think he could swallow?!

"Severus, please!" Hermione pleaded, "You have to drink this!"

Severus? Did she just call him Severus? Not Professor, not sir, no formalities at all. Why? He'll have to reprimand her for that later. However, he couldn't help but think how melodious his name sounded rolling off her tongue.

Snape's thoughts were broken when he felt Hermione's gentle but strong hands slowly glide down his neck, trying to coax the antidote down his throat. He wanted to close his eyes so badly and just feel her hands on his skin. It was the first tender touch he had ever received from a woman in such a long time. Usually the only thing he received from a woman was her scorn or a slap in the face. His own mother hadn't even caressed him like that as a child! Snape couldn't suppress a chill as her hands stroked his throat. Oh, it was so good!

Snape finally felt the antidote go down his throat. It was surprisingly soothing, almost as soothing as Hermione's gentle hands. However there was still something that wasn't feeling right, something that was still off.

Suddenly, he felt very dizzy. He felt so tired. He really couldn't... stay... awake... The world began to turn black. Snape closed his eyes as he heard someone who sounded far away call out his name. If he could, he would have smiled knowing the last thing he saw before he succumbed to the darkness was Hermione looking down upon him with those deep chocolate eyes.

"Severus!" Hermione called out in alarm, "SEVERUS! NO!"

She shook his shoulders hoping to awake him, but it didn't help. He was out cold... and he stopped breathing! Oh no! What was she going to do? She'd already given him the antidote! What else was there? Actually, she knew there was something else that might be able to save Severus, and she knew how to do it too.

CPR.

Hermione took a deep breath and checked his pulse. It was faint, but at least it was there. At least she'd only have to perform rescue breathing! She gently put his head back on the dungeon floor and positioned herself so that she was now kneeling beside his head. She tucked her hair behind her ears and took another deep breath. Hermione pinched Snape's nose and tilted his head back ever so slightly to allow air to enter and exit his lungs. Hermione closed her eyes and took a deep breath once more to relax herself before finally descending her mouth onto Snape's, crushing her lips onto his own as she fought to bring him back to... her.

'Severus!' she thought as she gave him his first breath, 'If you can hear me, please, don't die! Don't die! Don't leave me!'

Although he was unconscious, Snape felt his lungs fill with air before gravity pushed down his chest and let the air out. He felt it happen again while a pair of lips touched his own. What was going on? How was this "kiss" literally filling him with life? He heard someone call out to him again.

"Severus!" the voice cried, "If you can hear me, please, don't die! Don't die! Don't leave me!"

Who was that? It wasn't his damn conscience. Oh God, was it Trelawney? No, not her, so then who could it be? Whoever it was, they apparently wanted him to stay. As the lips crushed against his again, he thought it best if he listened to whoever was speaking to him and fight this poison in his body. After all, he needed to live, not only because he was an essential asset to the Order, but he hadn't told Hermione his riddle yet. He'd be damned if he was going to let the little chit win!

Before he could analyze the voice any further, he felt the antidote begin to course through his veins, slowly counteracting the toxin and bringing mobility back into his limbs. Finally, as the lips once more pull away his own, he began to cough.

"Oh thank you, God!" Hermione sighed in relief holding back tears. He survived the "Muertolla!" He was going to be just fine. She rolled him onto his side and let him continue coughing.

Snape tried to sit up, but was having great difficulty while coughing and regaining his strength.

"No, sir," Hermione gestured tried to lie him back down, "Don't get up just yet. You need..."

"What I need is for you to get away from me!" he snapped as he pushed away her hands and sat up. Unfortunately, he moved too quickly and a pain shot up into his head like a knife. He almost fell backwards back onto the floor, but Hermione grabbed him at the shirt just in time and held him up.

"Sir, please!" Hermione pleaded.

It took all her remaining strength to steady him.

"Stop it!" he spat as he pushed her hands away again.

Suddenly, Snape grabbed Hermione's arms, causing her to yelp in surprise.

"Hermione, you stupid girl!" he sneered shaking her slightly as he continued, "Why did you do such a thing?! You could have been killed! I'm not worth risking your life! Why didn't you use that brain of yours you love to show off and..."

"Severus, please, calm down!" Hermione begged with those pleading chocolate eyes.

Suddenly, she grabbed his face and stared deeply into his black eyes full of anger and... worry? Yes, he was worried; however Hermione had a feeling it wasn't because he was fretful about himself. He was worried for her, and whether the Muertolla affected her or not.

"Severus," she whispered as a thumb gently stroked his cheekbone, "please, calm down. It's over. We both survived. It's okay... It's all right..."

Hermione and Severus were entranced by each other's gaze as they continued to hold each other close. There was something between them, an unspoken force that seemed to bring them closer, something buried inside them that only wanted to cry out to the heavens and let itself be known. Whatever it was, it was stirring emotions inside of them neither could have anticipated and neither could seem to fight against.

"It's all right?" he asked in a whisper.

"Yes," she answered back, "It's all right... It is right."

Severus' grip on Hermione's arms loosened but he did not remove his hands. Instead, he continued to stare at her and she at him. Those eyes... so beautiful, so deep, so sweet. Hermione's thumb slowly stopped stroking his cheek and brushed against the corner of his lips, sending a surge of adrenaline through his body. That alone felt intoxicating. He slid his hands slowly up her arms and gently squeezed her shoulders, which sent a small shiver through her.

"Hermione," he whispered in a voice smooth as velvet.

"Severus," she whispered back.

Slowly, the two began to lean towards each other; their heads tilted slightly, their eyes gradually closing, and their lips tingling in anticipation of feeling the other's upon them. Finally, Hermione could have the desires of her heart, the man she had been captivated with since 12 Grimmauld Place. She could have Severus Snape for herself.

Their lips were inches from each other's now and getting closer by the second.

Finally, Severus could have what he thought he never could, he could have her, the girl who had fascinated him for years. He could have Hermione, his Hermione, his...

STUDENT!

"NO!" Snape suddenly bellowed making Hermione jump and let go of his face.

He quickly released his hands from her shoulders and jumped to his feet. He backed away from Hermione as if she carried the plague and turned his back to her. He couldn't face her, he just couldn't. Funny how he could stare Voldemort straight in the eye and lie to him but he couldn't face the young woman behind him who wanted nothing more than answers as to why he wasn't following his heart.

"Thank you for your assistance, Miss Granger," he said gruffly with his back still to her, "You must never speak of tonight to anyone, understood?"

"But Severus..." Hermione began to protest.

"PROFESSOR SNAPE, MISS GRANGER!" he suddenly snapped, "And 10 points for not addressing me as such!"

"Y-y-yes sir," Hermione said down hearted, "And I understand. I will not speak of what happened tonight to anyone, I promise."

"Good. You are done for the night. You are dismissed."

"Sir," Hermione said in a soft voice as she rose from the floor near tears, "Sir, I think you should see Madam Pom..."

"Thank you for your concern, Miss Granger, but you are done for the night. You are dismissed."

Hermione stood there silently staring at the Potions Master in disbelief. No, no, no! It couldn't end like this, not like this! She had to know what to do from here.

"Sir, please," Hermione pleaded, "We have to talk about... About what happened tonight. I have to know what you're thinking. What happened between us? What's going to happen to us n...?"

"YOU MUST NEVER SPEAK OF TONIGHT WITH ANYONE! YOU ARE DONE FOR THE NIGHT, MISS GRANGER! YOU ARE DISMISSED! NOW GET OUT!"

Hermione took a deep breath, fighting against the tears she desperately tried to hold back. Why was he doing this? She knew he felt the same emotions she had, but what caused him to push her away? Hermione tried to speak but found the words stuck in her throat. She wanted to tell him it was okay, it was right... but the words would come. Damn her body for betraying her again!

After standing there a few moments staring at his back in disbelief, Hermione sprinted up the stairs and slammed the door behind her, causing Snape to cringe. It was only after she was gone that he released his sorrow and his anger against himself for being so weak and began to over turn desks, kick chairs, throw cauldrons, and break jars into thousands of pieces. He knew it was right, he knew it, but he couldn't act on it! She was STILL his student and THAT made it wrong. However, if this was the right thing to do, then why was he feeling so terrible? Finally he sank into his chair and laid his head on his desk, hoping he hadn't made the biggest mistake of his life.

Hermione was sobbing loudly into her pillow while Crookshanks flicked his tail in annoyance at the edge of the bed. Honestly, she wasn't hurt so why was she making such a fuss, especially when it was so close to his bedtime? The truth was Hermione actually WAS hurt, but not physically. She was heart broken a pain unlike anything imaginable. She couldn't believe how much it ached. It was worse than anything she had ever felt before. Oh, out of all the people in the whole wide world why did she have to like a man that didn't like her back? What made it even worse was he was her PROFESSOR! How could something like this happen? How?

Hermione stopped crying after she heard a tapping at her windowsill. She looked up and gasped at the sight of a very large black horned owl with green eyes glaring at her through the glass. She sat up and wiped the tears from her eyes before she went to the window and let the owl in. It fluttered onto one of the chairs by the fireplace and held out one of his legs to her that contained a note. She took some of Crookshanks' dry cat food and gave it to the owl, much to Crookshanks discontent. The owl hooted happily in surprise of the treat and flew out the window after gobbling it up.

Hermione slowly opened the note and recognized the writing immediately. Oh Lord, it was a note from Professor Snape! Again, she took a deep breath to steal herself against anymore harsh words and began to read.

Miss Granger,

Prof. S.S.

Hermione crumbled the note in her hand and threw it into the fire. What the hell?! What was that riddle supposed to mean?! What kind of answer was that?!

"No, I'm not wrong!" Hermione growled, "I'm not! He's the one!"

Hermione crawled back into bed and cried herself to sleep; her last thought was wondering why Snape never gave her an answer. What was to happen to them? Little did she know he actually did give her his answer, but she just hadn't figured it out yet.

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Yea, there's chapter 8! I hope you all liked it!

- DADA Mistress