What A Girl Needs

AN: nonentity had a few questions for me that might help you others. No Hermione hasn't been with Draco again, since he's with Harry now, but patience! You never quite know where I'm going with a fic, so there is still a good chance that there will be some more DM/HG action or maybe even a little HP in there. :) Also nonentity brought up that Harry was supposed to go to the Burrow after a few days during the holidays, but he was really only going Christmas day, not the whole time. Hope that helps. I'm getting a good response, though perhaps I should have posted a little slower so I could get more reviews and suggestions, since some only read fics with high review rates in ratio to chapter numbesr; 9 chapters and a handful of reviews seems sad doesn't it? :) Oh well, at least I'm having fun and getting some lovely feedback from those of you who are sweet. :) Enjoy the next chapter.

Chapter 10

Hermione sighed and stretched on the stool she’d dragged in so she could study while her latest potion simmered. She had now brewed the challenging Wolfsbane potion twice in the last three and a half months, the first turning out rather below par. This batch looked much more promising, but she wanted to stay with it as much as possible to ensure it stayed that way.

She’d been Professor Snape’s apprentice for about four months already, but she was still a bit surprised that he’d decided to start her out on some of the more difficult brews. The only thing she could figure was that he wanted to see if she could handle more complex potions, since she’d done well enough on all of those taught in his classes. It was doubly hard since she was also studying for NEWTS, keeping up her Head duties and running a business.

As predicted the other girls had lost interest, leaving Pansy and herself to deal with the growing company, almost exclusively, after a month. After discussing it, Pansy and Hermione had pooled their own profits and bought out the other girls. The others hadn’t even wanted to take the money, but Hermione explained to them that it was important to prevent future legal issues. Luna had allowed her shares to be bought out, but had offered a slot in her father’s paper to advertise, thus maintaining some contact with their company.

It was that advertisement that really made the venture blossom. They were up to one hundred different models, which had forced them to revise their ordering process. The two women had created a pictured catalog which detailed each model and their individual prices.

Orders had begun to roll in at such a rate, they’d finally put their heads together with Fred and George Weasley and opened a shop in the back of the twin’s joke shop. There was more room for storage and Hermione and Pansy didn’t have to constantly apologize to Dumbledore about the hard use of the school owls. The twins had gladly offered their own owls for deliveries, at a surprisingly reasonable rate, along with a fair rent for the space the girls had needed. When offered some of the profits, the twins had declined, saying that the store had increased their business quite a lot. A surprising number of witches had left their children to shop in the twins’ joke shop, while slipping through the discrete back door to make their own purchases from Wizards’ Wands. They’d even hired a couple of free house elves to tend the store since the witches and even a few wizards seemed more comfortable dealing with elves than a fellow human peer.

Hermione sighed again and tapped her wand on the burner under the cauldron, turning it down very low, and then casting a stasis charm over it. With the business being largely run on its own and by three enterprising house elves, she’d had a bit more time to study, but it hadn’t freed up much time for the Potions Master. As a result he demanded every minute of her free time. In fact she had a meeting with him in two minutes, so it was rather fortunate that he was probably in the next room grading, rather than several floors below. Studying in the dungeons definitely had advantages in that she didn’t have to cut short her study time to run to the dungeons each time he called or when her potion needed something. It was simply a matter of him poking his head in the door or her leaning over and dropping another ingredient in. The disadvantage was that she didn’t see her boys much.

Deciding she’d see what he wanted to discuss tonight and then go see the boys, she shrugged out of her school robes and tossed her tie on top of them. Snape had relaxed considerably around her in the past few months and had allowed her to relax quite a lot in return. She was allowed in his private study, lab and quarters and didn’t need to dress in full uniform any longer. It was nice to be able to be more herself here now, rather than just an unwelcome guest like she’d been at first. She’d even gotten to see the tall man dressed down, in comfortable slacks and a white button up, late in the evening.

Hermione wandered into the study and frowned when he wasn’t at his desk. She thought she heard a shuffle in the next room, presumably his bedroom, since she knew the remaining doors were a closet and the door to the hallway. Peering inside she discovered it was indeed his bedroom, dominated primarily by a lovely old wardrobe and a huge four poster. It didn’t occur to the young woman in the slightest that any shuffling from his bedroom might not be for anyone else’s eyes. Snape was not that relaxed that he’d be changing with his door wide open anyway.

She ventured inside quietly, not seeing him anywhere and was just beginning to think she’d simply heard a house elf when she heard another shuffled and a tell tale splashing that made her blush red. Dear Merlin Professor Snape was in the bathroom, and she could now see him quite clearly, positioned in front of the toilet! Maybe he really was that relaxed around her, or simply thought she was still hard at work two rooms away. Fortunately his back was to her, but his casual stance and the placement of one hand before himself left little doubt on the matter.

She may have been intimate with that part of him twice now, but it was still hard to imagine the man with anything resembling a penis. As relaxed as he’d become it was still hard to see him as just another man, especially since he hadn’t exercised his rights as Master since her punishment over three months ago. She wondered vaguely about that. Surely he would have shown at least a little interest since she was sure he hadn’t been away from the castle much. All of the teachers were too busy preparing the 5th and 7th years for OWLS and NEWTS.

The splashing stopped and the toilet flushed, jerking her out of her thoughts. The faucet turned on, indicating he was happily conscientious about cleanliness; good to know. Realizing she was about ten seconds from getting caught she started to back away. The faucet stopped just as she got to the door and then there was an odd silence followed by an annoyed sigh.

She frowned and crept forward, wondering what the sigh was about, when another sound froze her in place; a soft groan fluttered across her ears. A brief pulse of alarm shot through her. Was he hurt? When she’d seen him a moment ago he hadn’t appeared to be in any pain. He was very good at healing spells, after years with Voldemort, and a headache wouldn’t stand a chance against one of his potions. That brought her to the next possibility that sent her creeping even closer to the door in excited anticipation. If not a groan of pain then maybe another sort….

Sure enough, when she peered around the door she was once again staring at his back, and the motion of his right arm left little doubt as to what he was doing. Professor Snape masturbated? It seemed rather adolescent of him to do so, though she knew that was silly to think. After all he was still a healthy young male. She barely stifled a giggle and blushed delightedly. This was too good to pass up, despite the very real possibility that he’d hex her senseless. “Sir?” she asked ‘innocently’.

Hermione never thought she’d see the day that anyone truly startled Severus Snape, but at the sound of her voice, he made a rather remarkable sound and spun, wand in his left hand and well his wand in the right. He relaxed marginally and frowned at her, pocketing his wooden wand and started to wrestle his half erect length back under his clothing. “Miss Granger,” he grunted, cheeks lightly flushed. “Can I help you? I don't recall inviting you into my private bedchamber.”

She smiled beautifully and walked closer, close enough that he paused in his efforts and raised a brow at her. “I do apologize for coming in uninvited, but we have a meeting scheduled,” she glanced at her watch, “two minutes ago.”

“My apologies,” he murmured turning his attention back to his buttons. “Give me a moment and we'll meet in my study.”

“Yes, well the thing is…” she found herself purring to him, stepping well inside his personal bubble, inhaling is lovely, spicy scent. “It seems that you’re late for a meeting.” She ran her finger down the long row of buttons on his robe. “Do I get to punish you or does that only apply to my own tardiness?”

His eyebrow went up and he let his hands drop from his fly. “Punish me Miss Granger?” he purred back, his voice dark and startlingly playful. He chuckled at the startled look she shot him at the change. Of course he was quite embarrassed that his apprentice had caught him masturbating like a fifteen year old boy, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t turn it back on her. “Would you like me to go down on you as per the usual punishment method?” Actually she’d only been punished once; she learned quickly, and he learned that he didn't much care for that method anyhow.

She wasn’t sure where this bravery was all coming from, but she also didn’t want to waste time studying it too hard. “Oh definitely, but maybe first we should take care of this?” she said softly, looking up at him through her lashes as she slid her hand into the half buttoned fly of his trousers. He was still partially hard, and strained wonderfully against her hand, filling out more at the gentle caress. Another soft groan floated down over her as her fingers slid around him.

“Won’t your boyfriends be jealous Miss Granger?” he purred darkly, his right hand sliding into her hair and tugging her head back with a gentle, but firm pull.

Hermione smiled slightly and looked up into his face. “I haven’t had sex since the last time you caught me at it,” she admitted softly, squeezing him and delighting at the shudder that ran through his body.

“Oh? Did I scare off all of your paramours then?” he asked teasingly, a slight smirk on his lips. As a man he would be amused by that possibility. Of course she’d lost two of her lovers to each other, so she didn’t feel that bad about it. That and she’d been gently turning Ron down for months, telling him she’d let him know when she was ready to sleep with anyone again. Guess her renewed interest in Professor Snape meant she was about due for some male attention. Ron would be ecstatic.

“No, I just decided not to sleep with anyone for a while. I needed to focus,” she said softly, tugging at him again and biting her lip as she drew out a grunt from the tall man.

“And now?” he asked grinding his hips towards her.

“I think a little fun is important now and then, as long as my studies don't suffer from it. Plus, it’s been so long and it seems a shame to waste something so nice,” she said sliding gracefully to her knees. “Don’t you think, sir?”

“Oh definitely,” he murmured, eyes shuttering in his excitement. Of course he was excited; what man wouldn't love to look down and see this beautiful woman, with her wild hair and teasing smirk, at his feet?

“Why haven’t you asked me for this before now?” she asked casually, tugging him completely from his trousers and rubbing her cheek against the hard length.

“For the record I still haven’t asked you Miss Granger. That aside, I told you that I didn’t require much,” he said, breathe hitching softly as she nuzzled him like an affectionate cat. It was oddly erotic and he felt a new rush of blood fill his loins at the sight. “I didn’t want to pressure you, like before. I didn’t particularly care for the results of our last encounter.”

She laughed and tickled her tongue up his length. “Why? Because you now have to brew the lubricant for Wizards’ Wands?” she teased.

“Partly,” he grunted, flexing his fingers in her hair. “Mostly I didn’t care for the guilt it brought me.”

“Severus Snape feels guilt?” Hermione asked with a laugh, pausing and looking up at him.

“Of course I do!” he snorted, looking a bit annoyed at her insinuation.

“Hmm,” she said noncommittally and shrugging. She turned her attention back to him and with a small smile teased her tongue over him again. Feeling a small thrill at his groan she repeated the motion again and then took him deep into her mouth. He was really quite large and it was definitely difficult to take much of him quickly. Like before she had to relax and slowly work over him, taking him deeper with each descent until he was brushing the back of her throat and then sliding deeper, cutting off her air.

“Oh Hermione,” he purred roughly, thrilling her with the use of her first name. He’d never said it before and the sound of that velvet tongue wrapping around her name sent a rush of pleasure straight to her core. She hummed in response and he clenched his fingers in her hair, his cock jerking alarmingly against her tongue. “Stop,” he hissed, forcing her back off of his length.

Chest heaving, from her attentions to the tall man and from roiling lust, she looked up at him, waiting for him to call her back. Instead he looked down on her lovely young face, startled by how innocent she could still look, even kneeling at his feet, even after he’d caught her after two rather risqué nights, even though she’d owned the most popular adult toy company in their world. He wondered if she’d ever look anything other than angelic…well maybe not angelic, but rather sweet at least.

He was looking at her oddly and she wasn’t quite sure what it meant, though the lust burning in his eyes hadn’t dimmed, so that was a bonus. Standing slowly, she bit at her lip for a moment before making a decision that was possibly rasher than any of those she’d made in the last ten minutes. She pulled out her wand and with a muttered charm stood before him completely bare, nipples crinkling suddenly in the cold of the dungeons.

Without a word Hermione turned and walked out of the bathroom and into the bedroom, heading for his big bed. He’d never invited her into his bed and she might be, not only overstepping her bounds, but possibly crashing willy-nilly through them. She heard him following behind, his steps as soft as ever. Since he wasn’t calling her out and warning her against her intended destination, she smiled to herself and climbed up on the wide mattress. She rolled onto her back, and in a wholly uninhibited move, spread her legs wide before him.

“Very pretty,” Severus rumbled, flicking his fingers down the long row of buttons down his front. She smiled and flicked her wand at him, stripping him right down to his pale skin. He raised an eyebrow at her, “Impatient?”

“It’s been over three months, very nearly four,” she said, eying him hungrily. Oh he was hiding quite a lot under those robes. He still wasn’t dashingly handsome, but he had a beautiful cock and his body was lean and muscled. Years of staying in shape to survive the Dark Lord had been good to Severus Snape. He’d even put on just enough weight to take away the gaunt look he’d often had during the war. “Won’t you help me…Master?” she purred tossing her wand off to the side, feeling a rush of excitement that he would let her tease him like this. Teasing was never something he would have tolerated from her before. If one of his potions students dared to speak to him in class, the way she did in private, he'd likely hex them or have them expelled in the case of this very situation. It was a testament to how much he had relaxed in her presence.

He laughed softly. Oh she might be a good little Gryffindor most days, but she definitely had a little bit of devious Slytherin in her as well. “Master hmm? As nice as that sounds in this setting, I’d much prefer my name Hermione.”

She shivered at the sound of her name again and smiled up at him as he moved forward and knelt on the bed before her. “Professor Snape?” she teased, smiling and spreading her legs further for him.

“Also nice, but not quite what I want,” he said running his calloused hands down her inner thighs. Not to mention he didn’t particularly care to be reminded that this was a student in his bed, despite her impending graduation in two months. He'd never dallied with a student, in all his years at the school, including his own years here. But she wasn't just a student. She was his apprentice and thus something entirely separate in his eyes and the wizarding world's.

“Oh? What is it that you want…Severus?” she hissed softly arching her hips slightly at his touch.

“Say it again,” he murmured, leaning down to kiss her left knee.

“Say what, Severus?” she asked cheekily.

He growled and nipped at her thigh in retaliation. “Minx. I should punish you for your impertinence.”

“Are you going to take house points?” she asked with a small smile. At his snort she laughed a little and arched her hips suggestively. “Besides you still owe me an apology for being late yourself.”

“True,” he said with a surprisingly serious look. “Tardiness shan’t be tolerated, even from myself.” She blinked at him, unsure, for a moment, if he was flirting or actually serious. He simply smirked and with a wicked look in his eyes dipped low and tickled his tongue up her sensitive core.

Hermione gasped and jerked at the teasing touch. The next pass of the limber muscle was a flat, full-on swipe that explored her so thoroughly, she blushed. Harry had done this several times while they’d been together, but it had been a while and she’d never quite gotten used to it anyway. She couldn’t help but remember that it had been hours since she’d taken a bath, that morning actually. Severus didn’t seem to mind though, so she didn’t embarrass herself by mentioning it to him.

Severus hummed softly, tasting the young woman for the first time, wondering why in the hell he’d chosen to leave her be for so long. It’s not like he had women lined up at the door waiting for him and taking the young woman was well within his rights. She was very much of age and she was basically his to do with as he pleased. Best of all, perhaps strangely so, she seemed rather thrilled at the prospect, if her soaked woman’s flesh was anything to go by. None-the-less he enjoyed the tart, musky taste of woman on his tongue and reveled in the feeling of her slick body parting easily under his caresses. He’d contemplate what to do with her later when he was less pleasurably engaged.

Hermione groaned and pumped her hips gently in response to his rather thorough exploration of her most intimate flesh. She shuddered and stretched like a pleased cat as he slid two long fingers into her and suckled gently at her swelling clit. “Oh Severus,” she sighed, humming in pure enjoyment. “That’s lovely.”

“You think so?” he teased, nipping at her sensitive labia.

“Oh yes,” she gasped. “You’re very good at apologizing.”

Severus actually laughed at that, transforming his face rather dramatically. She blinked down her body at him, startled by how very handsome it made him look. At her odd look in his direction he smiled and raised a brow at her. Not knowing how to respond she just smiled and shook her head, reaching for his long black hair.

He rumbled softly as her fingers massaged over his scalp and long hair, bending back to her weeping core. “Am I forgiven yet then?” he murmured gently as he brushed over her humming clitoris with that lovely large nose of his.

“Almost,” she said clenching her hands in his black locks and arching her hips. “I think I need just a little bit more to satisfy me.”

“I believe you are correct Hermione,” he purred, chuckling softly. She sighed at the soft huff of his warm breath over her sensitive skin. She tasted wonderful, so feminine and tart, a taste he hadn’t had on his tongue in months. He’d been far too busy with classes and research to go in search of a woman, and even if he had done so, he didn’t care to taste the skin of whores. More often than not they tasted used; of other men. He didn’t have issues with tasting another man on a woman, if he was involved with both at once, but he certainly didn’t care for the taste of a strange man on a strange woman. Hermione had a nice clean, musky taste though, one he could easily appreciate.

Hermione arched her hips upward, loving the gentle burn that was the beginnings of what promised to be a mind-blowing climax. He hummed softly and the vibration tickled over her swollen flesh, sending a shock from her core up to her tightened nipples. “Oh that’s very good,” she sighed, flexing her hips as he repeated the hum with a teasing tickle from his tongue. He chuckled again and suckled her engorged clit and labia into his mouth, laving at both with the flat of his tongue. Another hum and she was gripping the sheets and arching up; tightening as she finally found the delicate little place where her climax would start to build; pulsing her hips tightly and shifting her legs restlessly at the wonderful sensations.

He shifted his questing fingers until his thumb slid inside her slick folds and his index finger gently into her bottom, rubbing the two together wonderfully through the thin wall between. She gasped and quivered, tightening so hard her hip began to cramp on her. The burn was becoming unbearable and she couldn’t hold in the high gasps that fell from her lips. “Oh please!” she begged as the burning spun into a tight coil suddenly. She stiffened and stopped breathing for a blinding second, before grunting rather inelegantly and bucking hard against his mouth. Through the wave of pleasurable heat and tingling she was mildly aware of his deep, throaty groan. The sound sent another wonderful wave through her, racking her already trembling limbs and clenching her hard around his invading fingers.

He slowed his caress to a gentle tickle and then rose above her as she relaxed back into a twitching puddle. “Apology accepted?” he asked snidely, with a small smirk on his lips.

“Mmm and then some,” she sighed, breath hitching as she twitched deliciously. “Oh that was lovely, thank you.”

“Are you finished then?” he teased.

“Oh no,” she said shaking her head with a small smile, reaching down to grip his firm length. “I don’t think so.”

“I believe I have already apologized thoroughly madam,” he murmured, eyebrow going up mockingly.

“Yes well,” she said nibbling her lip, “I think we should get to know each other as Master and apprentice…you know bond a bit more.”

“Indeed?” he purred with a small laugh.

“Oh yes,” she said firmly, amusement glinting in her eyes. “It’s important to know and understand each other, don’t you think? It can't all be about books and potions now can it?”

“In that case, perhaps we should continue, Miss Granger,” he said, smoothing his hands up her thighs and coming to rest over her hips. Curling his long fingers under her bottom, he arched his hips and very slowly slid inside her warm, sensitive tunnel. “Ah, I’d forgotten how very tight you are Miss Granger,” he rumbled, his eyes sliding shut. “Merlin bless young women and virgins.”

“I’m hardly a virgin sir, not after the holidays,” she teased, clenching her slick tunnel around him teasingly.

“Oh please, remind me that you’ve been with the Boy Wonder himself,” he muttered sarcastically, thrusting hard against her in retaliation.

She giggled. “Sorry sir. I didn’t take you for the jealous type. Perhaps you’d like to pee on me and mark your territory?”

Another hard thrust was the initial answer. He leaned over her and quite pointedly raked his eyes down her body. “I don’t need to relieve myself on you to stake my claim Miss Granger. You already belong to me. Should I ever relieve myself upon your person, I assure you it won’t be to ‘mark my territory’.”

She frowned at that, her face thoughtful. He could all but hear the wheels turning in her head. “Miss Granger,” he muttered, sitting back slightly on his heals, “Please tell me you aren’t trying to puzzle something out mid-coitus.”

She made a face at him, “Coitus?”

“Mid-fucking then,” he sighed, rolling his eyes. “Not that this is something I’d normally say to a partner, but what are you thinking?”

Hermione flushed a shrugged. “It’s just…do people really do that?”

“Do what Miss Granger?” he asked, feeling a twinge of frustration that he was buried to the hilt in her wonderfully tight body and she felt the need to request a lesson in...well he wasn't sure what yet.

“You know…relieve themselves on someone?” she said hesitantly.

Severus snorted in amusement and leaned forward again. He closed his eyes and began to thrust slowly again, reveling in the slick glide of her body all around his pistoning length. “Sometimes,” he rumbled, a faint smile on his lips.

“Oh,” she said softly. She was silent for long moments as he worked into her, broken only by the gasps that she couldn’t hold in. Despite how good he felt inside, she couldn’t help but be curious still, and being her, couldn’t stop the questions from flowing. “Is it fun or revolting?”

He smoothed his hands up her belly and over her firm breasts, teasing the hardened nipples until she was flushed and squirming, all the while driving into her warm body. “Depends,” he finally replied pulling from her and turning her over onto her belly and tugging her hips up a bit. Perhaps if she couldn't see him she wouldn't be so tempted to ask questions?

“On what?” she said, breathe catching as he thrust back into her body. Or perhaps not....

“On which partner you are, I suppose,” he replied, squeezing her rounded buttocks in his hands and groaning softly. At least this position provided an excellent view, even if she did insist on continuing to chatter. “I don’t particularly care to receive, but I might give,” he admitted, “If the mood were conductive.”

“Oh,” she said, finally sounding somewhat satisfied with the answer. It was still tumbling around in her brain a bit, but she finally turned her attention to the man behind her and groaned at the lovely sensation of him gliding into her body. “I love your cock sir,” she sighed, arching her back so her body opened even further to him.

He snorted. “Perhaps you could drop the ‘sir’ when you say something like that Hermione,” he said, his rumbling voice tickling over her sensitized skin.

“Yes sir,” she hummed, giggling at the slap on the bottom she received in answer. Sighing softly as he sped up slightly, and arching his hips in a way that had him gliding over a sensitive spot, she let herself slide fully into the moment. “It really is lovely though. So big and thick and you use it so well.”

“You’ll turn my head with such pretty words,” he said, breathe hitching slightly. He tugged her hips higher and thrust a little harder. His control was starting to slip a bit and if he didn’t get her attention fully involved soon he was going to finish long before she reached her own peak.

Hermione wasn’t sure what it was he’d just done, but suddenly he was hitting all the right spots inside her. There was a lovely little place that he kept gliding over with the wide head of his cock and then a bump at the end that tickled her belly with each thrust. “What is that, at the end?” she gasped.

“Cervix,” he grunted back, thrusting again and digging his fingers into her hips for leverage. “Does it hurt?”

“No!” she said, groaning long and low as he sped up slightly. “I like it,” she panted. She dug her nails into the dark coverlet of his bed and pressed back hard into him. “More,” she pleaded.

Severus growled deeply and leaned over her, one arm sliding around her hips and the other bracing on the bed. With a sharp jerk of his hips he set a hard, fast pass, intent on reaching his climax now, hoping she’d be along for the ride. If her high gasps were anything to go by, he needn’t worry on her behalf. “Ah fuck Hermione,” he grunted breathlessly.

“Severus!” she gasped. “I think…I’m….” she trailed off, freezing against his chest briefly before jerking lightly and groaning softly. Hermione shuddered against him and hummed to herself, fingers relaxing against the bed and back softening under him, sinking slightly and opening her body up naturally.

He groaned, eyes sliding shut, hips working desperately now. All style had fallen by the wayside and only the drive for his own climax mattered. Within a few short moments he felt it start; his balls and perineum pulled tight, his nipples hardened and a wonderful burning rolled up from his toes. Gasping, he stiffened and with a euphoric sense of relief, felt his seed boil out of his loins into her clutching body. After a frozen moment of soft spasmodic thrusts he slid away from her body and on to his side next to her.

“Thank you,” she said softly after a moment. “It has been a long time and that was perfect, exactly what I needed.”

He smiled slightly as she turned her head to look at him sleepily. “My pleasure Miss Granger.”

“Hermione,” she corrected gently.

“Hermione,” he said with a nod. “Are you falling asleep?”

“No, I’ll get up and leave you be soon,” she said, reluctance in her voice.

He studied her for a long moment, before sighing and reaching up to tug the covers and sheets down. She started to roll from the bed, but he silently grabbed her and didn’t let her go until she was under the covers. When she gave him a questioning look, he smiled slightly and settled down next to her. “You may stay. It’s late and a long trek back to your tower. That's all this is though, a place to sleep. Don't read into to much with that ever working brain of yours,” he warned softly.

She gave him a curious look like she wasn’t quite sure what to make of him, but finally nodded and smiled. “Thank you.” He waved off her thanks and relaxed again the pillows with a sigh. “Goodnight,” she murmured before slowly drifting off to sleep. Her boys would just have to wait for later.


AN: Not sure if this will be a HG/SS in the end, since I'm working that out as I go. Maybe there won't be any final pairing with our girl. Not sure. :) Just hang in there. There are probably only a few chapters left anyway. I love hearing from all of you, so don't be shy!