The Conference

When the dance was over, the string quartet that was playing took a break. Severus ushered Hermione back to her table and sat down after she asked him to join her. Donald came over and shook Severus' hand enthusiastically. "Severus Snape, it's so good to see you! I must say, I've never seen you dance before. You did quite well."

Severus glanced at Hermione and smiled. "I'm afraid I can't take the credit for that, Donald. Miss Granger would make a novice look good."

Hermione blushed and softly replied, "Thank you, Professor."

"Indeed she would." Donald agreed, "Say, you wouldn't happen to have intentions of stealing her away from me for an apprenticeship once she graduates, would you?"

"I have every intention of doing so, Donald." Severus replied honestly, "Who else could share my obsession with exactness?"

"Well said, Severus." Professor Lawry laughed, "I suppose you two would be perfect for one another."

"But you don't take apprentices, Professor." Hermione stated as her blush deepened.

"I do now, Miss Granger." Severus replied cleverly, causing Hermione to laugh along with Donald.

They spent the next few minutes talking with Donald about Hermione's excellent class performance. When the band started playing again, Donald took Hermione onto the floor for a dance and Severus watched her movements closely. She was so graceful, each movement so precise and calculated, much like his own. Yes, they indeed were a perfect match.

Hermione sat the next song out while Severus went to get them drinks. They sat and talked about potions and Hermione's classes as the song went along. By the start of the next song, Hermione was ready to dance again. Severus led her onto the dance floor and held her tightly. She gently rested her head against his chest and silently swayed with him to the music. He had never been so close to another woman besides his mother. She fitted perfectly into his arms, as if she were made for only that purpose. He sighed deeply and closed his eyes, thinking to himself that if this was all a dream, he never wanted to wake up from it.

When the song ended, he gathered his nerve and whispered in his ear, "Would you come with me, Miss Granger? I need to speak to you in private."

She nodded and replied, "Sure, ofcourse."

They left the ballroom, hand in hand, and Severus led her to his room. Once inside, he offered her a seat on the bed, which she accepted, then sat beside her. Both of them turned so that they could face one another, and Severus began, "Miss Granger, I've known you since you first became a student at Hogwarts. I can't say that we were ever friends, but I think you know that I've always respect you greatly."

Hermione nodded. "I feel the same way about you as well."

He paused for a moment then said, "I have something to tell you, something I've never told another living soul on this earth. It's quite personal in nature, so I trust that this secret is safe in your hands."

She looked at him curiously, noticing how nervous he looked. "What is it, Professor?"

He took a deep breath then said, "This will be a lot easier if we refere to eachother by our first names, if that's alright."

Hermione nodded. "Certainly, Severus. What do you want to tell me?"

He hesitated for a moment then went on, "Well, as you know, I became a Death Eater at a very young age. I was barely a man then."

Hermione nodded. "Yes, I know. Do go on."

He stood up and paced nervously in front of her. "This is a very difficult thing to tell, so please forgive me if I fumble for words. I have never lied to you, and I'm not about to start now. I took the Dark Mark of my own accord, and only realized later that I'd made a terrible mistake. As you know, the Dark Lord never endulged himself with any woman who was not a pureblood Witch. His followers, however, weren't so picky."

Hermione's expression became grave. "You're talking about the dark revels, aren't you? I've heard about them."

"That was the one thing I couldn't do, Hermione." he said, wringing his hands nervously as he paced, "In every other way I was as guilty as the rest of them, but I couldn't bring myself to assualt helpless women sexually."

Hermione sat silently and listened. After an awkward silence, he continued. "It was horrible watching what they did to those women. I wanted no part of it, so before each dark revel I would drink an impotence potion. It kept me from having to participate, but not without a heavy price. I couldn't risk having any relations whatsoever with women for fear of being found out. I lived my life in solitude up until now."

Hermione stood up and gently took his chin in her hand. "What are you trying to tell me, Severus?"

He looked into her amber eyes and softly replied, "What I'm trying to say is that due to that, I was never able to have sexual relations of any kind, ever."

"Merlin's beard!" Hermione gasped and put her hand over her mouth, "You mean you've never made love to a woman?"

He sighed deeply and nodded. "Yes, Hermione, that's exactly what I'm saying."

"That must have been terrible!" she exclaimed, "No wonder it was so difficult for you to tell me. I had no idea."

"It was a price I paid gladly to keep what little honor I still had in tact." he said sadly, "But I always wondered what it would be like. I know this is a lot to ask of you, and if you say no I'll certainly understand, but I'd like to finally experience the act of loving a woman. I'd like that woman to be you, Hermione."