All the way

Once Hermione was out of the cell, she flitted down the cold corridor as fast as she could, her head in a muddle. She passed the desk with the horny guard and ran to the front doors, ignoring the mans yells.

\"You forgot your wand!!\"

She hopped down the stairs two at a time and skidded to a stop at the bottom, in the mud. Without a moments hesitation she apperated.

With a \'pop\' she stumbled over her coffee table and fell in a heap on the floor. Sitting up, Hermione rubbed her head and willed herself to calm down.

Oh Gods, Snape had just kissed her! Hermione new she should be disgusted, he had been filthy before she cleaned him, but she could only think... WOW!

Slowly, as her heart rate returned to some where near normal, she lifted herself onto the sofa and put her head in her hands. Why on earth had he kissed her? He had hated her for so many years, what had changed?

A wave of guilt rushed over Hermione. She should have known that he hadn\'t been near any one remotely female for years. But she hadn\'t led him on, had she?

Hermione sighed and pulled out her wand. She righted her coffee table and banished her coat to a cupboard. She rubbed her temples, a migraine coming on.

Well, the logical part of her brain said, what’s happened has happened, there\'s nothing you can do about it.

But shit, she was in a mess. How would she ever be able to face him again? Should she confront him, or act like nothing ever happened?

Hermione needed a friend. And wine. And chocolate. Now.

Jumping up, Hermione grabbed her bag and darted for the fire place. She waved her wand and a fire appeared, then she threw the powder in and stepped into the green flames shouting,

\"The Burrow!\"

____________________________________________________

Ginny was sitting at the kitchen table, at the burrow, painting her nails a deep, blood red, when the fire place roared into life and Hermione tumbled out, looking slightly dazed.

\"Hey \'Mione!\" The red-head chirped, \"What you doing here? You usually send an owl.\"

\"Oh,\" She looked up from dusting the soot off of her skirt,\" If you\'re busy -\"

\"No, come in and take a seat. Mom and Dad are out in Diagon Ally, so I have the house to my self.\" Ginny didn\'t know how Hermione could live on her own. She still lived at The Burrow.

\"Oh Gods Ginny, I need help!\" Hermione said as she plopped down opposite her friend.

Ginny had never seen Hermione so flustered. She was usually so composed.

\"What ever is the matter?\" She asked her brown haired friend.

\"Well,\" She fiddled with her hair, \"There\'s this man, right... and, well... I thought he hated me, but I saw him today and we were talking. Well, I thought he was looking at me a little strange, but he doesn\'t get a lot of offers, if you know what I mean, so I just ignored it. And then he was leaning closer and closer, so I stood up to go, and than he grabbed me and... Well... kissed me...\" She trailed off weakly.

Ginny gaped at her friend. She knew Hermione was not a virgin and had been kissed a lot before, but she had never been like this. Who ever this man was, he had either been really disgusting or really, really good.

\"And you\'re not going to tell me who he is?\" Ginny prompted.

\"No!\" she said a bit too quickly, but Ginny didn\'t press.

\"Ok, so is this a good thing or a bad thing?\"

Hermione groaned, \"I don\'t know Gin! It was a good kiss, but the situation is, well... difficult.\"

\"Do you work with him?\" Ginny asked.

Hermione groaned louder, \"Don\'t remind me!\" She looked up from her hands, \"I quit my job today, because of \'him\'.\"

\"I don\'t understand?\" Ginny was confused.

\"Like I said, it\'s difficult. You\'ll know what I mean soon enough, but please wait until I’m ready to tell you.\" Hermione pleaded.

\"Alright, I won\'t force you to say anything.\" Ginny said kindly, then perked up, \"So, let’s get some wine down your throat and forget about your... um... disturbing day, eh?\"

\"Sounds good to me!\" Hermione cheered up.

____________________________________________________

A few hours later, Hermione was sprawled over the Weasleys living room floor, pretending to sleep. She was, in fact, thinking about Snape.

Her drink fuzzed mind contemplated the kiss and the whole situation. Finally, she heard Ginny snore and knew she was asleep at last. Every time Hermione had tried to leave, her red-haired friend had dragged her back into the living room and forced more wine into her hand.

Satisfied that she was really asleep, Hermione sat up quietly and grabbed her bag. She crept into the kitchen and flooed home. Falling out of her fire place, Hermione trudged into her bed room and got under the covers, fully clothed.

With Ginny\'s help, she had decided to act like nothing had happened and if Snape brought it up... well she\'d deal with it if it happened.

Snuggling down, she fell asleep.

____________________________________________________

At the same time, Snape lay on his clean bed thinking. Azkaban had driven him mad, he was sure. Never, in his life, had he acted before thinking, until now.

He sighed and turned onto his back. Why on earth had he been so stupid as to kiss the poor woman?

Mmmm... A very lovely woman...

He scolded himself again. She may be lovely, pretty, and sexy, with nice hips, an absolutely beautiful chest and a hot, wet mouth that would feel so good -

NO!

Just because she was all of those delicious things, didn\'t mean that he could take advantage of her compassionate nature and leer at her like some old pervert.

Oh Gods, how was he ever going to face her again? He was sure she didn\'t know how stunning she was, it would be terrible of him to do anything unethical towards her.

Right, he would explain and apologize to Hermione and then, for good measure and if it was called for, he would grovel for her forgiveness. But only because she was his ticket out of here. Yes, that’s what he decided to do.

But she was magnificent...