Bring Me to Life

Chapter 4- The Morning After

The night passed all too quickly for Hermione. She had returned to her dorm quietly. It seemed to her that she hadn't gotten a lot of sleep before she had to wake again and make her way down to breakfast. To the Great Hall. To him.

She dressed slowly, dreading what may face her. It was a Saturday, so there was a good possibility that Snape might not be in the dining hall. She threw on a pair of blue jeans and a long sleeved shirt. Then, she was off to the Hall, to either great relief or a great doom.

However, as she entered the Gryffindor Common Room, there was something about the atmosphere that made it...different. Everyone, from the first years to the seventh years, were talking. And they all had something in common with their conversations. All of them were talking about how they had broken into song the night before.

Edging her way past some chattering first years, she made her way to the portrait hole and out into the halls. Even there, talk filled the air. Talk of inner emotions spilling out to a catchy beat. There was no way anybody could know that she was the one responsible for the spell, but Hermione still felt like she had a huge sign on her that said 'I did it'. She rushed past even Harry and Ron and ran, headfirst, into something solid. It knocked her back to the floor.

"Let me help you up."

She had run smack dab into Severus Snape. He had his hand extended to her. She accepted it, and he pulled her to her feet.

"Perhaps we should have that talk now," he said, quietly.

"Yes," she said. "Perhaps. Where shall we go?"

"This way. Out onto the grounds," he said, leading her through the front doors of the castle.

Snape waited until they were a good ways away from the castle before he spoke.

"I went to Dumbledore last night," he said, not looking at her.

"Really? What did he have to say?" Hermione said, returning the favor.

Snape laughed. It was an odd sound, Hermione thought, but a nice one at that. He stopped walking and turned toward her.

"You're not going to believe this, but he said that we could court each other."

"Isn't that against school policy?" Hermione asked.

"That's what I asked him, but he said that as long as we weren't...together, we could date."

"Weren't together? How can we date if we're not together?"

Snape gave her a meaningful look. Finally, Hermione smiled at him.

"Oh, you mean as long as we don't have sex."

He flinched.

"What? If you love me like that way you sang last night, what's wrong with the idea of having sex with me?" she asked, a bit forcefully.

He closed his eyes this time, as though the thought caused him pain.

"You must understand. I noticed you a while back, and I began to have feelings for you. However, I knew I couldn't be with you, so I put it into my mind that you were a student and nothing more. But now that we have this chance to be...together, I have to unlearn all of that." he explained. "So can we please use some of the nicer insinuations until I get used to it?"

Hermione smiled mischievously at him.

"What?" he asked.

"So...what you're saying is that I can freak you out just by saying the word?"

"Hermione..."

"Sex."

"Hermione, stop!"

"Sex!"

"Please!"

"Sex, sex, sex, and more sex!"

"Hermione!" he all but yelled. She laughed.

"This could be a problem," she said.

"Yes, I know. Perhaps we can continue our conversation later, in the classroom? I see Potter and Weasley looking for you now."

Hermione looked past Snape and saw her two friends coming down the lawn after her.

"I think you're right. See you at...nine?" she asked.

"Fine. Good bye, love," he said, slipping away.

She couldn't help but blush when he said that. She turned and watched him walk down towards Hogsmeade until she felt someone tap her on the shoulder.

"'Mione?" came Ron's voice. She turned and smiled at him.

"Yes?"

"Are you alright?" he asked.

"Yeah, you're looking a bit...spaced," Harry said.

"Oh, I'm fine."

"Okay...you'll never believe what happened last night!" Ron exclaimed.

She simply smiled.

---------

She tried her best to tame her bushy hair as she made her way through the halls, trying to get to the potions classroom. She knocked once.

"Enter," came Snape's voice.

Hermione slipped inside. He was standing at the head of the room, by the door that adjoined with his office.

"Let's talk in here," he said, opening the door for her.

She nodded and entered. She didn't take the seat in front of his desk, preferring him to ask her to sit. He did so as soon as he had entered.

"There are several things we must address tonight," he said as they both sat down.

"You mean, how are we going to keep our hands off each other?" she asked.

He raised an eyebrow. "Exactly. I really think, however, with both of us being as mature as we are that it shouldn't be a problem,"

"You mean we can't even kiss?"

"You sound disappointed."

"I am."

"Really?"

Hermione blushed. "You must understand...I haven't...I mean that I haven't had time...what I mean to say is--"

"What are you trying to tell me? Hermione, I have never known you to be so speechless," he asked, looking a bit concerned.

"I've never been in...anywhere near a mature relationship, so I've never..."

"You're a virgin!" Snape exclaimed.

Hermione hushed him and looked around as though she expected a million people to jump out of a nearby closet and just laugh at her.

"It goes further than that. I've never even been kissed," she said, lowering her eyes to the floor.

Snape smiled. He stood and walked around his desk to her. He lifted her chin up towards himself.

"Stand up," he said softly.

She did so, looking a bit uncertain.

"We can only chance this once, until you graduate, but, if you permit me..."

He slipped his arms around her waist. She could feel her eyes closing, and then, his lips on hers. It was so slow, so gently, full of care and love. Finally, he pulled back. Hermione opened her eyes, and they found each other staring at one another.

It was simultaneous. They both went in, and they just kissed. Over and over and over again. It was only when Snape noticed his hands beginning to slip up her shirt that he pushed her back.

"Maybe it will be a problem," he said breathlessly.

"Severus...I think we could use some help."

He raised an eyebrow at her.

"What?"

"You called me Severus."

"Well, bloody hell," she said with a smile, "that's your name, isn't it?"

"It's nice, hearing you call my name."

They stared at each other again.

"We need help," they said at once.