an unlikely match...

The sunset was beginning overhead and in front of the two star-crossed lovers as they walked down the spindling, ivy-covered lane, sneaking looks at each other but never speaking. What would they say? It was cooler, and Hermione suddenly wished she had remembered a sweater. Looking to Snape though as he looked intently ahead of them suddenly made her warm, and all thoughts of a sweater were far behind her.

They had apparated out of the ballroom moments earlier after Snape\'s impromptu suggestion of a walk, which she had gladly gone along with. He had grasped her around the middle, initiating a small gasp from Hermione as they left. In the manor she had felt suffocated, out here in the garden she felt free. She knew that the guests were probably frantic inside, gossiping to their heart\'s content.

She didn\'t care.

They were somewhere foreign yet Hermione felt she knew it. She was acutely aware of the fact that Snape was a mere few inches away, and could smell his invigorating cologne. His hand swung back and forth between them, occasionally brushing against her own. She shivered inside and out, but tried to mask it with a small sigh of indecision.

Snape\'s warm hand over her\'s was a welcome surprise, and soon her fingers were interwoven with his, he still didn\'t look to her and she didn\'t he. It was a familiar, comfortable reverie, which she was certain they had experienced before.

The memories of she and Severus were all restored, and now as he walked alongside her it was if he had never left. The hahat hat she knew felt silken under her fingertips; the lips that she knew were fitted for her own. The hands that had brought her to ecstasy and had created the perfect potion, all of it she remembered. It was almost an overload as they came back to her, but she relished them all, greedily gobbling them up as she watched him.

She was curious to see if he was only taking her for a walk to calmly break things off, or to promise more. Either way she wasn\'t sure of wto eto expect, and this was cause for uneasiness. She wanted to enjoy the sunset with him, she wanted to kiss him, and she wanted to go home with him. She just wanted him.

But did he want her?

They continued walking as she stole a look at his contented face, a small wistful smile upon those lips. Lips she was now aching to kiss, so much in fact that she was continually licking her dry lips in faux anticipation.

Snape glanced over at her, seeing her dark eyes intent on the road ahead of them, the sunset giving her an almost glowing look. She was so dear to him, but how could he ever explain?

She was everything to him, slowly over those three years of being away from her had killed him. The mere mention of her in the staff room was a constant heartache and reminder of what could have been perfect. He wanted to kiss her, take her home with him. Just have her.

But, would she want him?

He had been foolish, not even considering that he should come back for her. How many nights had he lain awake, looking to the ceiling and wishing she was back there beside him. How many times had he awoken from a dream, calling her name? She was made for him, he at times had believed it and now was certain of its t.
.

Dumbledore had never known of their affair, and this was a saving grace for some causes for if he had ever found out Severus would have been dismissed immediately. But on the other hand, a part of Snape knew Albus would have made him go after her. The oldl knl knew some things.

A cool breeze was picking up and he felt Hermione draw closer to him, a little cold he assumed. He quickly released her hand, feeling the cold invade it as she searched his face in question. He gave her a gentle smile and tossed his cape over them, pulling her to him in his left arm as they continued, his palm warm on her shoulder.

She slipped her arm around his waist as they continued down the path, the night soon upon them and felt his breath hitch a moment and then relax. Hermione could barely make out the shapes and even though \'d \'d been walking only fifteen minutes she was a bit curious as to where they were going.

\"Where are we going?\"

Snape smirked, looking to her tenderly. \"You\'ll see.\"

Hermione nodded and then suddenly she stopped in her tracks and his heart literally stopped in his chest. He clenched his jaw and stopped along with her, his hand and cape falling from her shoulder. He peered down at her, seeing her making a small face and looking to her shoes.

\"What is it?\"

She looked up, seeing the panic in his voice. She beckoned him to lean closer, using his given name in a voice that sent shivers up and down his body. Tingles that were all too familiar. How could a young girl make him feel this way?

He still stared at her, seeing she was wringing her hands together in anxiety. All he could do was watch in mute despair. This is it Severus. She\'s going to leave you. You\'ve bloody well blown-

\"May I kiss you?\"

Snape broke from his momentary maudlin thoughts and looked to Hermione silently, his pale face almost glowing in the darkness of the night.

\"What?\"

\"Sorry.\" she felt a familiar blush creep its way up her neck and face, and she suddenly wanted to have that coveted time turner with her. \"I suppose I just-\" Snape shook his head in anger at his idiotic response and cleared his throat.

\"Yes. I\'d like it very much if you did.\"

Hermione looked up to him with question in her eyes, andentaentative smile. \"Really?\"

He was still a moment, and then a small non-malicious smile entered on his lips and he nodded dar dark hair briefly, the dark tendrils looking glossy in the night\'s shimmering moonlight.

She felt her breath leave her as she leaned up on tiptoes, grasping him by the forearms as she titled her face up, eyes shut. She worried that she wouldn\'t reach him, that he\'d change his mind. All of those thoughts soon left, as she was welcomed with warm lips pressed softly against her own.

His lips were softer than she remembered, but just as sweet. Her eyes were lazily closed as her his, his hands having found their way around her waist and shoulder to draw her closer to him. Her hands went around his shoulders, drawing his mouth more against her own.

Her tongue slowly licked the familiar lips, and soon he was smiling against her lips as he remembered their unspoken language. He tilted her head, still kissing her deeply as his own tongue slid into her mouth, reaching around for her own. She soon obliged, her smaller tongue sliding into his own mouth after a vicious battle in the middle. His lips were growing harder, and she was becoming contentedly breathless.

Breathing became a second priority, and one that they barely indulged in as they continued the needy kisses. Kisses making up for three long years of loneliness, three years apart from each other.

Suddenly he felt wetnegaingainst his cheeks and his eyes flew open to see Hermione\'s eyes clenched as tears slid down her cheeks. Her kisses stopped along with his as he pulled away, past worried.

She offered small sorry\'s, punctuated with sloppy hiccups and small whimpers as she tried to regain control over her body. He hadn\'t really ever seen her this way, and was sure of what course of action to take.

His dark brows furrowed as he looked down to her, his eyes filled with concern as he viewed the tears making small rivers down her cheeks. He was suddenly self-conscious, had he made her cry because of his kissing? He gave a tentative question as she stood in front of him, trying to blink back the onslaught of tears.

\"Why are you crying Hermione?\"

Hermione shrugged, \"I don\'t know.\" she answered honestly. \"I-I\"

He quickly drew her to him, her face buried in his chest as hbracbraced her tightly, rocking her gently and soothing her with quiet \"Shhhh\"\'s as she sobbed, her arms at her sides as he held her and she succumbed to him. He knew why she was crying. It was the same reason he was about to. They were together again.

All fears that they didn\'t want each other were gone, that one kiss symbolizing the millions of things they couldn\'t put into words. It was so much more than a kiss.

Soon her sobs subsided and she pulled her face back, wiping her eyes with the back of her hands as she offered a strange giggle, looking to Snape with an apologetic smile on her face, wondering if she detected a bit of a misty look to his eyes. She opened her mouth to speak when she felt a warm finger upon her lips as he shook his head.

\"Don\'t apologize.\"

She nodded, smiling and sniffling a bit before she took a deep breath. He waited until she was ready, and then grasped her hand and they continued their trek. He was silent the way there, but feltfelt as his hands and soon his arm was around her once again as they came upon a small legion of trees.

\"Just past there.\" he said, looking at her worried face. \"Just past these tree\'s and we\'ll be there.\"

Hermione nodded resolutely, as they moved in between the trees that littered the ground around them. Hermione was still clutching his hand, refusing to ever be apart from him again. She felt that she was finally right in life, she was whole. This is what she had been missing for those years.

Wthe the last of the trees parted via Snape\'s wand Hermione\'s eyes widened in disbelief. \"I thought this looked familiar.\"

Snape smirked and nodded as they looked out at the moon washed landscape. Hermione felt a small tug of familiar tenderness go off as she recognized the grounds of Hogwarts.

\"I can see why you didn\'t apparate us here.\" she said in a somber voice. Snape stroked her cheek absently with his forefinger and regarded her with a protecting look of emotion on his face.

She looked back to the grounds, the familiar large castle illuminated even now by the lights inside, the hut that Hagrid kept, the lake...

A millions emotions went through her mind as she recognized the lake, their special place. Where he had first proposed to her, and she had believed all was right with the world. Now they were back.

He guided her over the grounds, empty of course because it was past curfew. They were slowly making their way over to the sacred rock, a small smile on both their faces but Hermione\'s soon faltered, still needing some answers.

\"Why...why did you never come for me?\" She suddenly asked, her hand still entwined with his. He breathed softly and then turned to her, seeing her pensive face and wishing he could soothe her.

\"To be perfectly honest, I didn\'t think you\'d want me.\"

Hermione\'s jaw went slack, \"Not want you?\"

\"After what I\'d done.\" Snape\'s eyes went to the ground, and he was mumbling, obviously embarrassed. \"I thought you\'d perhaps come to your senses and gone for a younger man.\"

Hermione felt her heart thumping slightly; he still thought he was so repulsive? She shook her head lightly, holding back irrational tears. If there was one thing Snape hated, it was pity.

\"I have come to my senses.\" She said lightly, grasping his other hand, \"That\'s why I\'m here.\"

He offered a small grin, nodding as they made their way over to their place by the lake. When they had reached the rock Snape suddenly grew quiet and leaned over to kiss her. She was leaning in to cool the lusting fire in his eyes when they heard a noise, a small whimper.

Hermione looked to Snape, her eyes widened in a bit of fear. Had someone followed them? Was Austere here? Hermione clutched Snape to her, before looking to his eyes and seeing the stone cold glare that had encompassed on his features. She followed his eyes and tried to hold in an extremely amused laugh.

There hidden in the shelter of their rock were two students, presumably fifth year as both of them were wearing a prefect badge, like the one she had received in her fifth year. The boy wore a Slytherin crest on his sweater, the girl a Gryffindor. That wasn\'t what was surprising, what was surprising in fact was the fact that they were kissing like rabbits that had just gotten out of prison. The boy was clumsily groping the girl through her vest as she kissed him and told him not to squeeze so hard.

\"Ouch. Stop.\" she suddenly said, still not noticing the figures \"You\'re watch is caught in my hair.\"

She attempted to disentangle the young man\'s watch from her mass ightight auburn hair as the boy looked down at her desperate to kiss her again. Seeing this she smiled and kissed him roughly, dragging him back down with her.

Hermione barely contained a laugh, as she looked to Snape\'s horrified face as the two fourth year students continued going at it. They kissing madly and sucking at each other\'s las Sas Snape\'s face twitched in fury.

\"FIFTY POINTS!\" he roared, as the two petrified students broke apart. The girl offered a small scream at Snape\'s voice and they squinted into the darkness, seeing Hermione and he.

They were petrified; Hermione recognized that look all too well. She too had worn in when ct int in her schemes, and she could barely contain her mirth as Snape looked to them warily, worried they might explode. Suddenly the girl blinked rapidly, looking over to Hermione and speaking timidly.

\"Hermione Granger?\"

Hermione blushed and shook her head, \"No I\'m not her. But you\'re not the first to confuse me with her. Apparently we look a bit alike.\"

The girl nodded, satisfied with the response and still clutching to the raven haired boy as he looked over to Professor Snape and spoke dimly, his eyes widening as he did so.

\"Professor Snape?\"

\"Who does it look like boy? Dumbledore?\"

The two of them went pale, eyes widened in horror. They stood, smoothing their clothing and blushing wildly. \"I\'m so sorry Professor.\" the girl uttered lowly, \"We-\"

\"Fifty points is lenient.\" Snape hissed at the girl, not letting her finish her story. He saw her trembling and pointing to the castle he uttered a frightening, \"GO!\"

She took of squealing and rushing off, not looking behind her as the boy remained behind, his stance straight as his black hair fell into his eyes. Snape made a small circle around the boy as Hermione regarded the scene carefully a few feet away.

\"And Bendson,\" Snape finally said looking to the boy of his house, \"I expected more. Consorting and carrying on around with a Gryffindor past curfew?\"

Hermione suddenly stepped out from her perch a few feet away, hands on her hips. \"And just what is so bad about Slytherin\'s consorting with Gryffindors?\"

Snape looked over to Hermione, giving her a meaningful look. Then it suddenly clicked as she offered a playful smirk that he had to acknowledge. He hid his own smirk and looked back to the frightened boy.

\"I 't t't take points off of you or that young woman you were...with.\" he said primly, \"But I assure you, if I catch you out here again past curfew or up to those.... activities, rest assured I won\'t be so generous.\"

The boy offered a curt nod, as Snape dismissed him with a wave of his hands, and running as fast as his young legs could carry him. Hermione watched Snape coming over to her, his dark eyeitteittering mischievously.

\"Why Professor Snape,\" she admonished, \"You\'ve gone soft.\"

He offered another knowing smirk before leaning over and whispered into her small ear, his breath tickling it and causing shivers to run through her over and over. \"Actually Miss Granger, as you\'re about to find out later I am anything but.\"

She laughed lightly, grasping onto him as he moved closer. \"Presumptuous aren\'t we?\"

\"Always.\"

She giggled again but stopped, as hoiceoice grew somber. He took her hand and they sat down on the rock, looking out at the lake, admiring its color and placid calmness. It was serene as Snape sat next to her, their legs touching and his arm around her waist as she leaned her head on his shoulder and many gentle kisses later they broke off, blushing and breathless.

In a sudden motion Snape had moved to standing, looking to Hermione with a look in his eyes that she cou't q't quite place.

\"Will you stay with me?\" he blurted, and then seeing her perplexed look elaborated. \"At my home. Here.\"

She was speechless, \"Really?\"

\"Yes.\"

She nodded, thinking this over. Snape saw her timid thinking over and his mind raced at all the reasons she should stay with him. He was frantic, and he spoke suddenly, taking her by surprise.

\"You don\'t have to stay forever, but I mean I\'d like for you to. And well, you could take some classes here, or even teach here and well if that doesn\'t appeal to you, you could go to a wizarding University, I could give you a letter of refer, yo, you\'d deserve it and-\"

\"Calm down Severus.\" she interrupted smoothly, patting his hand gently and smiling up at him. \"I was just wondering if your room was big enough to hold all my things.\"

\"Oh.\" he paused, collectively thinking of the perfect thing to say to the entrancing creature before him, her hand in his and all he could think that was right was; \"I love you Hermione.\"

Hermione felt the tears fall from her eyes, spiraling down her cheeks and smacking lightly onto the hand Snape held. This is what had been missing. Him.

\"I love you too.\"

He nodded, looking to her with tender affection in his eyes before he shifted, and before she could say anything he was kneeling in front of her. Hermione\'s heart raced, looking into the ashen yet loving face of her lover.

He reached into his robe, pulling out a small black, velvet box. \"I should have done this a long time ago.\" he said in a silken voice, and Hermione\'s heart raced as she watched his hands move. They opened the small box and Hermione\'s breath hitched as she viewed the sparkling diamond ring inside. It all became blurry as tears overrode her and he asked the question she had been waiting to hear all along from him.

\"Hermione Granger, will you marry me?\"

Words failed her as she reached down and carelessly tousled a lock of his dark hair, seeing as his lips stayed in a minuscule smile, looking to her tenderly. Was she ready to start over? Was she ready to be involved with Severus Snape? Her memories were restored and she knew her feelings for him were true and meaningful.

She saw his face waiting, pensive, nervous and questioning. Anxiety was washing over him, and Hermione felt a tug at her heart that he would so readily assume she\'d say no. She was almost speechless, but her lips prompted her to speak.

Her answer came to her as most of her decisions did, from her heart. The words were spokeainsainst his warm lips as she wrapped her arms around his broad shoulders, feeling the familiar way he held her as his heart thumped loudly against her own she answered.


\"Yes.\"

THE END.

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NOTE: Thank you v. much for all the reviews, and I\'m greatly pleased you enjoyed it. As for those of you whom inquired if I had a mailing list to alert about updates, sadly I apologize I don\'t. I haven\'t any clue how to do such a thing. cheers. holden.