A/N Heeeey everyone. I'm sorry it took soooooo long for any update but I'm hoping you'll think it's worth the wait. It's like almost 5,000 words long, I wrote sooo much. But here it is, enjoy and tell me what you think.

Well Severus what a bed you have laid for yourself.

"Whatever do you mean?" the dark man said to himself.

Come on man! You inadvertently told her you'd been looking at her like a prime cut of meat. 'No one likes a book on legs, no matter how nice they are'. Are you telling me you think that comment went unnoticed by such an attentive person?

"What can I say, I have an eye for beauty," he replied with a smug smile.

Admit it, you're waiting for tonight as much as she is.

Another smile meant that he was indeed looking forward to the forthcoming event. He intended upon making it quite the moment for the girl. He loved that pink flush that appeared on her cheeks when she got flustered. And the way she bit her lip when she got nervous. He found her to be quite the little distraction in the best way possible.

"Alright you have a point, but it's more for me than for her," he replied sitting back in his seat, "Foreplay is my forte and I do so enjoy it"

This was how he spent most of his mornings before slithering to the Great Hall for breakfast, sitting in front of the fire in his bedclothes, watching the flames lick at the cold of the dungeon. He'd had the young woman on his mind for what seemed like ages, she puzzled him in ways that he could not explain. He found her to be quite the annoyance when he'd first met her, as he had said, a book with legs. She seemed that way in class but her written assignments were what made him so cross with himself. Her intelligence shown through brilliantly when it came to written work. He could tell she had carefully crafted each sentence but not so purposefully. And so now, at a good ripe age, he decided that perhaps she was ready to plucked…in so many more ways than one. And age had been deliciously wonderful to her. He couldn't help noticing in the last years particularly. She had developed a beautiful sized bosom, the girl had curves that could kill a man of his age. He liked that she wasn't a spindly little tart. He couldn't wait to feel her soft flesh against the rough pads of his palms. With a jump he snapped out of the trance he hadn't realized he was in.

Trying very hard to ignore the tightness in his pants, he stood from his chair and decided it was time for his morning entrance at breakfast. Standing in the bathroom, he examined his features. Severus Snape was an intense man, with a look that could make an entire room go either winter cold or hellfire hot.

He entered the hall with his usual dark glare, letting it wash over the entire hall. Most of the students would miss it but the few that had the misfortune to look up just as he had walked in were greeted with a chill down their spines. As he took his seat, he scanned the hall for a bushy bunch of curls. He waited patiently to see her bustling in.

She finally made her appearance and immediately felt his stare. She looked up slowly and briefly locked eyes with the Potions Master. A chill went through her and she felt her cheeks get hot. There you go again, letting him get to you. You're a mess with your knickers in a twist. 'He has no effect on my knickers whatsoever!' she shouted to her conscience. The girl sat down quickly, her back to his end of the staff table. She kept her head down and ate her breakfast, fighting the urge to turn and look at the head table.

A smug smile spread across his features as he made eye contact with her, "And so the game of cat and mouse begins," He could tell, even from this distance, that she was blushing. He watched her back until his concentration was broken by Professor McGonagall.

"I've been informed that one of my students has applied for your apprenticeship," the professor said taking the empty seat next to Severus.

"I would assume you'd be referring to Miss Granger, seeing as she is the only Griffyndor that applied," he said taking a drink of his pumpkin juice.

"You're treading on fragile ground Severus, She's bright but naïve, she won't see through you they way I do. I can see exactly what you're up to and if you step too far I'll be here to put you your place," the stern woman said fixing him the firm glare.

A smirk that could only work on Severus Snape, spread across his features.

"Well Minerva, I think she knows what she's getting into, professional or…otherwise. If she's as bright as we all like to think so she will be just fine,"

His voice had a seductive tone to it, this made Minerva give him a slight glare before she stood and went to her own seat, slipping a scowl every now and then , as if to keep him in line. Severus just basked in the slight madness of it all. So Minerva knew what his intentions were but she wasn't really trying to deter him. Well perhaps she thought the girl could do with a good lay as well.

Don't do it, don't you dare do it! He wants you to turn around, can't you feel his eyes on you? 'But I do want to turn around' the girl whined to her inner voice. She sat eating her breakfast, face hot, trying terribly hard not to peer around to steal another glance at the professor. They were across the room from each other and not even facing and she was flustered…what would happen in her brewing session tonight when they were in a smaller room with less people. 'why don't I just save him the trouble and pass out now?'

"Ugh….I just remembered…..we have double potions this morning," Ron whined miserably looking into his oatmeal.

Hermione perked up a little at this thought but then her mind went reeling into the abyss that contained her deviously distracting professor. She was torn between excitement and terror. Excitement because of how he made her feel and terror….also because of how he made her feel.

"You two are not going to slough off all your work on me again, these are complex potions, and if you wish to be successful Aurors, you need to know how to make them," Hermione said, straightening in her seat. She was being honest but at the moment her concern lay in hiding her mixed anticipation.

"Oh come one Hermione! Just this one more time?" Ron whined.

Without a word, the young witch grabbed her books and left the table in silence, her nose in the air. She truly didn't believe in cheating, she'd helped her friends enough and it was sink or swim now.

Severus watched as she stalked from the Great Hall. That's right, Gryffindors, double potions first thing today. A smirk spread across his sallow face that spoke of dark deeds and disgust all at once. He decided to go to his classroom early, just in case any students needed any help.

Just as he had suspected, the little Granger witch was standing outside the classroom. He decided he would play with her, like cat with its food.

"I see you're ready for class but are you ready for your practical audition?" Severus asked, right in the girl's ear.

Hermione jumped nearly ten feet in the air. His breath made goosebumps pop up all over her body. She turned to face the dark man.

"I have been studying up on some of the more complex potions in some volumes I bought in the used section at Flourish and Blotts. I looked through them on the off chance you might choose a potion in the field of behavior modification or mind altering, as those are considered some of the more challenging potions to master. I did not study any potions that required more than a 24 hour brew time,"

Snape looked down his hooked nose at the young witch. She fully expected a sneer or a harsh comment but neither came.

"Excellent deducing skills, Granger," he said almost reluctantly. He was searching his mind for another off the wall slightly inappropriate remark, he longed for the embarrassment he was able to evoke in her.

"It seems that your body is not the only well defined thing about you. You're actually using your mind," he quipped quickly seeing the rest of the Gryffindors making their way to the room.

Hermione stood there astonished and blushing. I told you. She was too stunned to argue with herself. She was still trying to process what had happened. Her whole body was reacting to him, from her head to her aching center, down to her feet. The young witch was able to shake the stupor long enough to enter the classroom. She looked around, usually she would have loved to sit up front but she wanted to hide today. And of course, the one day I decide to be invisible, I have to sit up front.

Her cheeks still bright red, she took her seat at the front of the room. This would be a difficult lesson.

Indeed it would be.

Severus was well aware of how on edge the 7th year was, he simply reveled in it. He decided at that moment that this would be a wonderful opportunity to embarrass her further. That lovely little blush would grow brighter and he would bask in the cruelty of it all.

Hermione looked up to see her professor looking her direction, he had a look on his face that made her nervous. It was a cross between a smirk and an evil grin.

"Your potion for the day maybe found on page 870, begin immediately, I expect complete potions at the end of the first hour," Severus walked about the room as he said this.

Hermione had a feeling she was no going to like this potion. As she flipped though the book, she came to the page and nearly passed out. He can't be serious, this potion will show everyone's latest dream like a television. And dear merlin, my last dream was definatley NOT school appropriate.

The young Griffyndor looked up from her book to see her Professor looking right at her as if he knew what had just dawned on her. Her face was hotter than ever as she began work on her potion and attempted to keep from looking back at her Potions Master.

This is not good, not good at all.

True he was hoping to alarm her but he didn't want to truly humiliate her. He had a plan, part of it was set in motion and he was going to make sure if followed through well.

"You have 15 minutes to finish your potions," the professor announced. He planned to take each student one by one to see their potions finished results. He smirked at his brilliance.

Severus watched the hourglass like a hawk, counting each grain of sand, he got sick enjoyment out of the fact that very shortly he would be witnessing something humiliating from each one of the dunderheads.

Hermione was surprised at herself. She thought she'd be frantic and nervous but the brewing calmed her nerves. The potion was relatively simple, one just needed to pay attention. Hermione's mind was now completely focused on her potion, she was biting her lip, the way she did when she was in deep thought. She watched as the solution change from the putrid orange to a deep blue. Alright now in 5 minutes it'll turn black….odd color for a potion…not very appetizing. I suppose it shouldn't be considering it pulls ones last dream from they're subconscious.

Severus watched her, quite amused with her. She had obviously forgotten that he had designed the whole lesson around her. Watching her work was entertainment, although he did have to say he particularly enjoyed how she bit her lip. A devilish smirk spread across his features. He had evil plans indeed for the evening ahead, she would be doing so much more than biting her lip.

Hermione looked up to see the hourglass and her cheeks immediately went pink, Snape was staring at her with one of his smirks. It was intense, like he was thinking about something while he was staring. She tried look back at her potion but his gaze was almost paralyzing. She managed to pull herself away long enough to extinguish the fire beneath her cauldron and bottle her sample. She labeled it and, eyes downcast, she handed it to her professor.

"Always setting the standard," he said taking vial, "Now if you would please clean up your area and take a seat in the corridor,"

Hermione didn't realize until she'd settled herself on the cold stone floor that she had an impending doom to face.

That's right, seal your fate with a perfect potion. Now you've done it. He'll know no matter what you do now.

Slowly more students started to join Hermione in the hall. She could tell by the conversations that no one had read the potions effects or even what it was. She almost felt sorry for them all except she was too busy worrying about herself. Stupid stupid stupid, you idiot. It's almost like he knew! You idiot…

Another hour went by as she sat and watched everyone else go in, come out slightly green, in tears, or red faced. Severus Snape was truly a man with a joy for other's misfortune.

The door opened and the familiar voice of her Potions master crept out from behind it.

"Granger?" he said with no surprise in his tone.

Hermione stood on shaky legs and followed the professor into the classroom. She jumped when the door slammed behind them, her heart was beating wildly.

"Your potion is exemplary as usual, which means your dream should show more vividly," he said bringing her vial to her. Hermione swallowed hard, this was bad, terrible, terrible, terrible.

"Now if you be so kind as to dose yourself and we will begin," the Potions Master said with a smirk.

Eyes shut tight, Hermione swallowed the potion, she felt her head spinning, she could feel the potion pulling the dream from her subconscious. Hermione watched the dream pour out of her and onto the stone wall. She almost had to bite her lip to stifle the laughter. She'd been so foolish. The potion pulled your most recent dream, we don't remember all of our dreams. How could I get so carried away?

It was evident from the expression on her professor's face that he had been expecting something else as well. He'd had humiliations galore in mind, but at this rate it was only slightly embarrassing and not in the way he'd hoped it would be.

I suppose there's time for that later. She still has to come for the practical this evening.

"Run along Miss Granger, but don't forget…..your practical is this evening," he said the last bit with a touch of something else in his tone.

"Yes, Professor."

That was hell and half on the nerves but see now you have tonight to worry about. That man has a serious attraction to you. You could almost feel his intentions in the way he talked to you and when he stared at you. Why are you not passed out or at least fanning yourself? You have a sexy, mysterious man paying an awful lot of attention to you and all you can do is fret or deny it. I think it's finally time to admit that he wants you, all of you.

'So he wants to posses me? How original. He's just a man'

Even you know that's a lie.

'Even so, I won't know until tonight, will I ?'

Oooh I so can't wait.

She rolled her eyes at her own subconscious. Although she found herself thinking about him once she entered the Hall for lunch.

She looked up at the staff table and saw the Professor staring at her again, she smiled as she took her seat at her House table. She had this strange satisfaction from the fact that in the end she had won. Sure he would have his fun later but she didn't have to sit and watch her naughty dreams be exposed to their main star. She still had something that she could keep to herself.

"What are you smiling about?" Ginny asked, scooting onto the bench next her.

Hermione told Ginny about what had happened during the double Potions session and the ginger could only laugh in response.

"He thought he had you," she said with a laugh," but….this only proves what I told you already, he wants you Hermione. And tonight is only going to be one big session of foreplay,"

This thought didn't terrify Hermione as much, the fact that she had nearly leveled the Quidditch field. It almost felt as though she were playing along with him…then a wicked and evil idea crossed Hermione's mind and grin spread across her face.

"Ginny I've just had the most brilliant idea," she said nudging her friend in the side.

Ginny gave her a strange look to which Hermione answered with a glance towards the staff table.

"Oh…are we going to play?" Ginny said gleefully.

"I think we are," the older girl replied with cocked eyebrow, "Meet me in my dorm after final classes let out,"

"Oh I like this ," the redhead said nearly bouncing out of her seat.

The girls met as planned and Ginny left Hermione to go to dinner. Hermione had decided it best to not go to dinner and just wait for her practical with Professor Snape. The brunette had waited until she thought it was about the time that he left the Hall and made her way to the Entrance Hall, she glimpsed inside the Great Hall and he had indeed left his spot at the head table. A little skip in her step Hermione skittered down to the dungeons.

Why wasn't she at dinner? Probably some last minute studying. Not that it would do her any good. It might be prudent to at least try to do the practical…at least a little bit?

Severus laughed to himself, of course the practical would be started because that was how he intended to begin his torture. And it would be delicious to see her reactions to the different things he would do.

A light knock interrupted his thoughts.

"Enter," he said in his usual deep tones.

What he saw when the door opened was not at all what he had been expecting.

Hermione stood in the door frame, the small alterations she had made to her uniform had done exactly what she was expecting. The alterations were in fact, small, she and Ginny had taken in the shirt so that is was slightly tighter and they had taken an inch and a half off the skirt. Small changes but they had achieved their desired affect.

Severus had been taken aback by her appearance but he regained his composure long enough to realize what was going on.

Oh so she's in on playing the game now? Seems I was right, she knows exactly what she's getting herself into.

"Ms. Granger, I know that you have done a lot of studying but none of it will do you any good. The potion I wish you to brew is one of my own creation. You will still have a guide on how to brew it but that is all it will be, a guide. The true potion-making relies on you," he pulled out a single piece of parchment.

There was a small jolt of excitement inside Hermione's chest. She would get to brew one of his personal potions, it made her mind tingle. He was skilled at his trade and to brew under him was an honor in itself but to brew a potion that hadn't even been tested and published yet, excited Hermione in the most professional sense.

"This particular potion takes hours to brew, I have already made arrangements with your head of house and the Headmaster and both know you will be returning late to your dormitory. Gather your materials and begin straight away," he said crossing his arms.

Looking over the guide, Hermione gathered all the ingredients and equipment she would need.

The potion is even titled, how exciting, I wonder what its for. I'm sure I could figure it out by looking at the ingredients and maybe even they're supposed to be added. He did that on purpose.

Severus watched as she tried to work out the potion. She looked enticing in her concentration. Once she got a good start he would begin his treachery.

You can feel his stare on you can't you?

Of course but I'm trying to work this out so I'm going to ignore him for the time being.

You know he's not going to just stand there the whole time, right?

Yes, I know, he's got evil plans up his sleeve, but so have I. He won't be expecting it, not at all.

Once it appeared she was about half way through the potion Severus came closer, standing behind her, looking over her shoulder.

"Make sure you watch how thick you cut the Arrowroot, too big and it might not fit" he said in a low tone, right next to her ear.

She turned so that they were nearly nose to nose, "Of course, sir," . She made sure to lick her lips before turning back to the potion.

Severus felt a tightness in his pants that made him grimace as he walked. Returning to his distant post, he stood in behind desks, he watched her still.

The young witch decided to use one of her weapons, she turned her back to the professor, and bent over to search through her bag. She stayed that way for what seemed like an eternity before standing with a quill and a book in her hand.

That dangerous tease, she's getting in deep now. Severus walked behind her once again, she was standing next to the cauldron, he stood as close to her as he could without pressing his arousal against her.

With a smirk, Hermione closed the space between them, feeling him throbbing against her backside.

"Oh, Professor! I didn't see you there," she said feigning surprise. She was a tad surprised, at her own bawdiness. It was exciting.

Severus spun Hermione around and pushed her up against the nearest desk. She was blushing lightly as he bored his dark eyes into her chocolate ones.

"Ms. Granger, I believe you are a tease," the professor said pressing against her a little more.

"Professor," she tried to be coy but she was losing her gusto.

She had that blush that he adored so and she had a look of lust dancing in her eyes. He leaned down and captured her lips in a kiss. The kiss was full of passion and want, the tension that had been brewing silently between them for the last few days. Slowly he slipped his tongue between he swollen lips, beginning a tango with the two muscles.

When they broke apart, Hermione panted, her lips red and puffy. She hadn't realized it bit she was a hot mess in his arms. Her hands had fists of his black robes and his were grasping her bottom firmly. They were pressed flush against each other.

"Ms. Granger," Severus began. He wasn't sure what he had been about to say but she had taken any word he was going to speak, out of his mouth. He'd expected this to be a fun little romp where he could play with her and let her go but judging by the lump in his stomach, that was not the case.

"Yes? Professor," her voice was small but full of the lust they had just shared.

They looked at each other, both unsure of what to say or even think. They had obviously been taken by surprise at the amount of attraction between them. They were still holding one another, neither one wanting to let go.

"I'll finish my potion then, shall I?" she said with a blush.

He cleared his throat, "Uh, yes, probably a good notion,"

As Hermione turned from him, she smiled to herself. The moment they had just shared had been so surreal but so tangible at the same time.

He returned to watching her, this time with more than lust, with actual interest.

What if something comes of this Severus? Do you have it in you to let another that close? Ironic don't you think? That she's a muggle-born as well.

'That has nothing to do with it. But I will admit, that maybe she's more than what I thought'

'Wow…that's all I can say, Merlin, it's all I can think. What was that? Was it pure sexual tension or was there more?'

I think we both know there was more to that embrace than sexual tension. There was so much more to it than that.

"Ms. Granger, What is your interest in Potions, may I ask?" Severus asked holding his chin with one hand as he watched her brew.

She looked up as if she had been in a daze.

"I've always had an interest, Sir. I do a lot of reading on the side. I guess it all started when I read Vapors of Valic by Tobias Iman. It was one of the most interesting volumes I'd ever picked up. So I guess it didn't really start until my second year, that's when I found it. He has such a way of talking about Potion Making that draws the reader in, It's hard not to fall in the love with the science of it. I have all his books, he's a fantastic writer," She blushed at having gushed so much about a silly book.

"I had a similar experience when I was in school but of course my real passion lies in the Dark Arts. Iman is a fair writer but I prefer the work of Strand or Krat," he replied sounding less formal than anyone had probably ever heard him.

Hermione smiled to herself once more, perhaps her subconscious was right.

"I believe it's done, Sir, shall I cork a sample or do you wish to inspect the lot of it?" she asked with her hands folded, fidgeting all the way.

"None of the above, I've watched you brew the whole thing, I will give you an evaluation this weekend. All the applicants are to set up times to meet with me for one last stage in the process. You may make you appointment now if you like," he offered, adopting his teacher tone again.

"What slots are available?" she asked packing her schoolbag.

"Saturday at three and five," he replied.

"Saturday at five, please," she said shouldering her bag.

"This Saturday at five then," he said with nod.

Hermione wore a giant smile out of the room and all the way up to her dormitory.