A turning moment in life

I seem to be inspired and have quite a lot of free time, so here's the next chapter, I hope you like it. Thanks to all of you who have reviewed!!! I love reading reviews, either good or bad, it just helps to improve what I write and being my first fanfic I thought your comments would be sooo much worse. O.K. I'll stop and give you the chapter.


Breakfast in the Great Hall was a surreal experience. Severus and Hermione both sat at opposite sides of the table, neither of them had wanted to stay hidden. When Draco and Ginny entered, the tension was palpable and the anger in the Potions Master was starting to show as the air around him was undulating as does the air in a scorching desert. Hermione, on the contrary, was looking a bit fidgety and depressed. She did not want to be there, but did not think it was a good idea to hide in her rooms; she should be mature enough to face him. Now, she was not so sure.

‘So, what has you in this state?’ commented Draco to his godfather as if it was a normal occurrence.

‘Nothing.’ Severus was seething now, he did not want to talk about his sex life with the Malfoy brat.

‘The sex wasn’t as good as you expected?’

‘What?’ Snape half-screamed half-whispered, not wanting the others to eavesdrop.

‘I know what you did last night with Granger and I thought you’d be looking relax this morning at least. Maybe those curves are not as satisfying as one would think.’

Severus obviously put his feet right on the trap without giving it a second thought, ‘The sexual part was like nothing I had before, that wasn’t the problem.’

‘Then what has you so worked up?’ Draco was glad Severus actually confessed.

‘She left me in the middle of the night.’

Draco suppressed a chuckle, but was too obvious for the old spy. ‘What are you laughing at?’ Snape’s anger had just found a nearer target.

‘Oh, don’t get so mad! She must have thought that you would kick her out the minute you saw her in your bed. Have you forgotten that you have had sex, but that she really doesn’t know you? I mean the real you, not your teacher-of-hell persona. It might have been easier for her to leave instead of waiting for a scathing remark first thing in the morning.’

‘Why would she think that after…’ Severus was cut off by a glaring Draco. He must be right, it would not have been the first time he kicked someone out of his chamber after sex. Hermione did not know what kind of reaction to expect, so took the easy way out. Severus was used to having sexual partners, but he had never had a stable relationship before, he wanted to make sure he did it right. After one last glance towards Hermione, he left the Great Hall with a purpose in mind, he needed to find out what Hermione wanted from him and he knew a very good way of doing so.

On the other side of the table, the girls were having a similar conversation and Hermione was sorry she had left Severus like that, but did not know how to apologize. She decided to take a walk and clear her ideas before talking to him. Ginny went with her so they could have a girls conversation.

**__**__**

Severus was leaving the castle to buy something for Hermione in Hogsmeade, when she saw her sitting by the lake with Ginny. He would never have a better opportunity to find out what she wanted from him. Severus hid behind some trees and pointed his wand to himself, whispering a spell, and suddenly he was changing his appearance. His skin darkened, his limbs shortened, his mouth and fangs grew, until he was transformed into a black panther, his Animagus form. He was unregistered for obvious reasons in his past and had never registered after the war, but that would be quite convenient know. He silently approached the two girls.

‘But if he was so good in bed, why did you leave?’ Ginny was demanding. Severus ego just grew an inch or two after hearing the praise on his intimate skills.

‘Well, I wasn’t sure what to do.’

‘Why? Did he say something?’

‘No, but… Oh, Ginny, I thought he would be back to Professor Snape in the morning and that he would throw me out of his bed. I didn’t want to be treated as a one-night stand.’

‘You want something more from him? I thought you two were just physically attracted.’ Ginny felt a presence around them, though she did not see the panther’s eyes watching them, and was sure the Professor was eavesdropping. She wanted Hermione to confess her feelings now, so Draco and she could have some peace.

‘I wasn’t even looking after sex yesterday. I was just so happy with his gift that I turned up at his door and hung from his neck… I must have looked so wanton; no doubt he thought it was a thank-you shag.’

‘O.K. So you looked like a total slut, but do you want more now?’

‘I’d like to get to know him, he has the brains and the knowledge I always wanted to find in a partner. He is also caring in his snarky sort of way. The problem is that he won’t want me now, you saw him this morning. I’m not sure if he was so angry because he didn’t have the chance to kick me out or because he had wanted me to stay.’

‘Why don’t you talk to him then?’

‘And what do I say? Hey, sorry about last night. The sex was mind blowing, but I got cold feet in the morning. Why don’t we have sex again and see if we can do better this time?’

Ginny was laughing now, she was picturing the look in Snape’s face if her friend showed up at his door like that. ‘Well, that’s a beginning.’

‘Ginny!’ Hermione laughed and punched her friend on the shoulder.

The black panther had heard exactly what he needed to know, the visit to Hogsmeade now was inevitable. He needed something to make her change her mind about him.

**__**__**

It was strange to be in the castle without students. Hermione was in her rooms talking to Crookshanks about her classes and she told him something about Severus. Crooks was very good when judging people and though he was not a fan of the Potions Master, he told Hermione that he was a good man and his intentions towards her were probably good. Snape never threw him out of the dungeons whenever he was down there, the professor always offered him something to eat and drink and never remarked about how annoying animals were. Crooks also thought that Snape smelt like an animal sometimes, but he did not mention it to Hermione, he was sure the professor could transform himself just like that dog he met and the odious rat.

Hermione had her dinner in the Great Hall with Ginny and Draco. Professor Snape was missing, but that was normal as teachers did not need to appear at meals during the holidays. Hermione thought he would be in his lab researching a poison to kill her. She was weary when she returned to her rooms in the dungeons, she had the feeling someone was watching her. And she was right. Severus followed her to her door without being seen, his disillusionment charms were greatly improved during his servitude with Voldemort.

Severus was waiting in his rooms for Hermione, but she did not come. Maybe she had not liked his gift, or maybe she had been lying to Ginny as was not interested in him at all. But what really happened was that Hermione went straight to the shower and missed the package waiting on her bed. Severus was about to get himself drunk emptying his liquor cabinet stores, when there was a weak knock on his door. He breathed in deeply and opened the door.

Hermione was coming out of the shower when she saw the packet. She checked first if it contained anything dangerous, but it was clean. Then she read the card on top of it.

Hoping next time you will stay with me until morning,

S.S.

So, he had wanted her to stay and he was not angry. She opened the gift greedily, wanting to see what he would think was a good present for these situations. The long velvet box shouted “jewellery” the minute she looked at it, she left the box on the bed and doubted whether to open it or not. She was not sure if she could accept anything so expensive from him. With batted breath, she finally opened the box and nearly fell from the bed. There was a red and gold quill inside and another message from Severus that read: "but if you won't, then leave me a note."

She started laughing and crying at the same time. It was not an overwhelming gift, so she would have to refuse it. It was very Snape and it was not at the same time. He seemed to be a caring kind of person and worried about her reactions towards him. She decided to pay him a visit and was standing in front of his door in less than a minute.

She knocked and heard him approaching. When he opened the door, he looked at her with his usual indifferent mask in place, so as not to reveal his feelings. Hermione gave him a wide smile and said ‘I’m sorry.’