A Room in the Dungeons

Dresoul – Thanks, your review made me really happy : ) it was what motivated me to squeeze out another chapter tonight

Mmoirai – Thanks for the review, and thank you doubly for being nice and critical at the same time. I understand completely your worries for Snape – I've read fics where he is barely recognisable. If I get a chance I might go back and gruff him up more. I understand your annoyance with Hermione climbing into his bed, but try as I might to squish that need for the aww factor I can't help myself sometimes. Thank you and feel free to give constructive criticism on any of the next chapters, I'll try to take your advice into account : )

Thank you everyone else for reviewing, and especially my regulars: Obezyanka, Heidi191976, RedWritingHood, and catysmom.

(for other people who reviewed and I didn't acknowledge, sorry, all the critical ones were great and I did listen! I just try to get the chapters out quickly as possible, so review replying is a little tricky.) Enjoy!

Snape sat stiffly in his chair, plain black robes drawing some looks of disapproval from the parents who were dressed to the nines. He ignored them and stared straight ahead, not bothering to hide his boredom and irritation. The ceremony had been dragging on for an hour already and looked to be preparing for at least another. How long did it take to throw some piece of parchment at a kid? After what seemed an eternity, Dumbledore himself finally stood up signalling that the end was drawing near. Snape sighed deeply in relief and payed a little attention, the awards were ordinarily at least vaguely interesting. Snape smirked as, of course, Hermione's name was called over and over until the headmaster asked if she wouldn't mind just standing to the side to save time. The crowd tittered and Snape snorted at the little know-it-all standing there in her demure blue dress robes. He thought it was a good move on her part that she'd finally learnt to be herself and not try and look like a Knockturn Alley whore. If he was ever going to be honest with himself (which was just about impossible) he'd realise that ever since that traumatic night with her as a drunk fourteen year old, he'd developed a bit of a soft spot for her. As it was he just smiled wryly at the memory of her in her silk gown and glamour charms stumbling around his quarters. As it was, their conversation the next morning had led to him taking her a little more seriously, though being as hard with her as always. If he was ever going to admit to being proud of a student, he may recognise a little pride in how she'd turned out, somewhere very deep down of course. Lost in thought, he barely noticed when the ceremony finally ended, and the celebratory dinner commenced. He had planned to skip it, only the actual presentation being compulsary, but as he rose to leave Dumbledore caught his eye and with a grimace, Snape joined the rest of the teachers at their table. The meal seemed to go on for hours, Snape having being sat next to the mad divination witch who kept, not too subtely and breathing cooking sherry all over him, trying to predict his love life. When she moved from predictions to loud and graphic suggestion that sent a shudder of revulsion through him, Snape got up and left. As walked down to his dungeon chambers he felt the usual graduation pang of jealousy and anger that many of these idiotic children were off to a better place than he was ever going to achieve. He thought of Hermione and the excited glint in her eye when she told him she'd been accepted into a very prestigious training facility that took in a few wizards and witches each year that showed outstanding magical ability. It was the first time she'd talked to him like she had that day 3 years ago and he'd managed a tight smile and word of congratulation. He pretended the jealousy gnawing into the pit of his stomach didn't exist and simply imagined it was the day to day strain of teaching idiots. He pulled his door locked behind him and stripped out of his robes, down to his boxers and slipped with a sigh into his covers.

“What the hell are you doing in my bed?” The memory of those exact words came back to him and a small smile found its way onto his face. This time Hermione didn't drunkenly roll out of bed, she hadn't even been asleep, but waiting. Snape's gut wrenched as he realised this and he felt his palms begin to sweat. He almost rolled his eyes at his acting like a schoolboy, and turned on the light.
“Well, I would've thought it was obvious.” Hermione smiled at him and with a jolt he realised she was in her underwear. Snape looked pointedly away.
“You are not a drunk fourteen year old Mi- Hermione, a seventeen year old woman should know better than to crawl into another's bed.” Hermione laughed scooting closer to him and bringing beads of sweat out on his forehead.
“I do know better Severus, I know that I've been waiting 3 years to do this. Surely you could tell I had feelings for you.” Her use of his first name had shocked him and he forced himself to look at the girl...woman sitting next to him. She was attractive in a understated, unusual way. He thought over her last comment, and in a sudden moment of realisation it became clear. After almost every potion lesson Hermione had been slow to leave, often trying to strike up conversation when the other students had gone. He recognised now the desire in her eyes for his personality, mind and obviously body. He couldn't believe he didn't see it before, and with a hesistant probing into his own feelings (something he rarely did) a jolt of understanding came over him. He felt the same way. He'd been supressing it as a slight appreciation of her quick mind, but now she was of age, it was... something more. Hermione had been watching him silently during this path to enlightenment and had watched with amusement the emotions passing across his face. When it had settled into a look of complete understanding Hermione gently rested her hand against his cheek and turned his face towards her.
“Hermione...I...This...” Snape started, confused and angry that he didn't have complete control of the situation. Hermione smiled and put a slim finger against up to his lips.
“You're going to explode if you try to understand it Severus.” With that cryptic message she leaned forwards and gently rested her lips against his. Snape grasped around for his personality which seemed to have left him suddenly as meek as a kitten. With a mental shrug he entangled a hand in Hermione's curls and began kissing back.