Chapter One
Hermione doesn't know when it started, but suddenly Professor Snape is everywhere. She feels like a paranoid student again, not wanting to put a toe out of line in fear of losing House points.
It's her first year of teaching at Hogwarts, and she feels unworthy. So many great and noble wizards and witches have stood where she stood -- how does she dare to take their place behind a teacher's desk? Of course, she knows her lesson plans and textbooks backwards and forwards, and all of her classes go flawlessly. Her students seem eager to learn, and Minerva McGonagall, the Headmistress, is always there for support or mentoring.
As for Snape. It seems like she sees him frequently during the work week. He seems to pop up and help her whenever she needs it, such as to corral a line of first years. At breakfast he often passes her his copy of the Daily Prophet when he's finished reading it and recommends an interesting article. She dropped a stack of books once in the library and suddenly there he was, coming from around the corner to help her pick them up. When he sees her enter the staff room, he passes her a mug of tea he happens to have just made.
Snape's attentions seem odd but not entirely unwelcome. Hermione does sometimes feel like a fish out of water, like she doesn't have any confidence. His little acts of kindness brighten her day, and somehow she knows that behind the gruff act he puts on, there is a compassionate and caring heart.
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Hermione is standing in front of a full-length mirror in the staff room straightening her cuffs and brushing out the wrinkles in her robes. Snape walks by and pops his head in. Their eyes meet, and slowly, as if in a dream, Hermione watches, as his hand reaches out and straightens out her collar. His long fingers happen to touch the back of her neck, and the contact is unexpectedly warm. He lingers in the doorway as Hermione gapes at him.
"Forgive me, Professor... Granger, that was inappropriate." He turns to leave.
"No! No, I appreciate it." She offers him a shy smile, and watches as he shifts from foot to foot, like he has something more to say. This is the first time they've ever been really alone together.
Finally words tumble out of his mouth. "I'm heading into the forest on Saturday morning to stock up on potions ingredients. Would you... like to join me?"
Hermione is taken aback. For some reason she gets the feeling that this is more than a friendly outing -- it's a date. When did her former professor transform into a man she finds attractive, a man she would really like to get to know better? To her, his black hair doesn't look greasy, and his dark eyes look soft and kind.
She grins at him. "Yes, I'd enjoy that very much."
He smiles in return, and in a whirl of robes he is gone.