Epilogue

"Thank you sir. I really do appreciate everything you've done."

"You are most welcome, Ms. Granger. Perhaps you would like to get settled in your new quarters now?"

"Actually I thought I would say hello to Professor Snape first."

"As you wish. Have a pleasant evening my dear."

Dumbledore had been so kind to me. After all, no one had ever before asked for two apprenticeships at the same time. Professor McGonagall already knew about my request but I had yet to discuss the matter with Professor Snape. I knew that if he said no I still had my Transfiguration apprenticeship.

……..

It was after dinner when I arrived in the dungeons and I hoped it was not late enough to irritate him.

How would he respond to seeing me after all those years? I must admit, I was nervous as I approached his door.

I had to wait a minute before he opened it. Apparently, I had arrived as he was changing for bed.

I had wrongly presumed my feelings towards him would have dissipated over the time I spent away from him. For a moment I couldn't say anything; I just stared at his half buttoned white shirt.

"Miss Granger!" I snapped out of my daze at his exclamation.

"Hello sir." I replied steadily.

"What are you doing here?"

"I've come back for some apprenticeships."

"Some – Sorry, come - come in." He stood aside and took a moment to recover from his shock while he did up the last of his buttons.

"I was hoping I could discuss my ideas with you."

Snape shut the door and gestured for me to take a seat.

"Of course. Does this mean you're staying here now?"

"Oh yes. I have an apprenticeship with Professor McGonagall."

"I see." He took a seat opposite me. "And, if you don't mind me asking, what have you been doing since you graduated?"

"I worked as an accountant for Gringots in Paris." I knew he would raise his eyebrow.

"Very impressive. Why would you decide to return to Hogwarts?"

"Well, for one, I love this place and I know I'd love to teach." Snape made a funny noise that, most unfortunately, traveled all the way down my spine. "You might scoff but I think I would be much happier here."

"Happier than in Paris?"

I nodded. "What about you? Has anything exciting happened?"

"You need an answer to that?"

"I would like one, yes."

Snape took me in, probably mulling over my intrusive question… if you could call it intrusive. At least he couldn't take points off me. I found myself wishing he would instead give me detention. After all, he owed me one, didn't he?

I blinked trying to erase those sudden thoughts.

"I have had the odd commotion around here but certainly nothing Earth shattering."

As he replied, I sensed something behind his stony façade. I had received updates periodically from Dumbledore and Harry over the years and I knew things were heating up between the two opposing sides. More than likely, the unease beneath Severus' mask pertained to Voldemort.

"Well, I suppose no news is good news." I tried to keep it light despite the uneasiness I was feeling myself.

"Perhaps. What did you wish to discuss?"

"I had hoped you might allow me to take out an apprenticeship in Potions."

"Right." Severus slowly answered.

"I understand you haven't had an apprentice in…"

"I've never had one."

"Exactly, in forever." I half smiled. "But perhaps you might consider me?"

"And you believe you could handle two apprenticeships?"

"Yes, I'm positive."

He paused for a while. "I shall have to think about this."

I nodded. "That is all I can ask of you. Thank you." As I stood up Severus did the same. "I suppose I will see you around a lot now."

"Yes… I can never seem to get rid of you." He led me to the door.

"It's… nice to see you again."

"It's…nice to see you too."

My breath caught in my throat for only the second time in my life. We paused for a minute until I asked, "I've been wondering…"

"Yes?"

"My last night here as a student…" I looked down at my feet for a moment before gathering my courage and looking him in the eyes. "Who kissed whom?" I could tell I had caught him off guard.

He paused for a moment before answering very deliberately, "I'm not sure."

"Okay… well," I was about to say goodbye but after so long a time away from him and after the sudden appearance of old feelings, I instead said: "Maybe this time I could… you might allow me to kiss you?"

"Miss Granger! If that is why you came here-"

I hung my head. "Yes, you're right. Nevermind."

But then I felt his finger on my chin lifting my head so he could look in my eyes. Merlin those eyes are penetrating…

"-then allow me to give you what you came for."

If possible, this kiss was even more sweet and tender than the last. It was also mixed with a deep sense of longing and loss which I suppose resulted from us spending so much time without each other. I never thought my departure could affect either of us so much. Sometimes Know-It-All Granger can be wrong. But only sometimes…

I became a puddle of goo, lost in those luscious lips, in that magical feeling coursing through the very core of me.

When we broke apart, he softly admitted, "I've missed you."

At that moment I was completely and utterly lost, completely head over heels, utterly his to do whatever he wished. "I've missed you too."

We looked at each other for a while and I found my eyes drooping with the fatigue that came with being so busy relocating that day. I tried to keep my eyes open but it was so hard when his kiss had just relaxed me so much. It had been a strange day indeed.

Apparently, Severus noticed my drowsiness. "You should get some sleep Hermione."

Oh Merlin. His voice was so deep and tender and my named rolled elegantly off his tongue in an almost seductive way. He was just making it all much worse.

"Yes, I should." I didn't believe my words. I was hopelessly lost in his gaze, my feet seemed to be glued to the spot. How I wished he would wrap his arms around me… "I-"

"Yes?" He asked again, but this time his voice was lower, quieter.

"I suppose…" I was breathless and he had barely done anything. Despite my usually loquacious nature, I had never been this bold before. But honestly, my intentions were…had always been… somewhat pure. I just wanted to feel the security and warmth that I knew being close to him would afford. I longed to fall asleep curled up in his strong, protective arms. I finished my sentence as a slight blush rose in my cheeks. Could I really be suggesting this to the cold and snarky Potions Master? "Your bed is closer…"

Severus paused for a moment, obviously debating with himself. I dreaded him turning me down and telling me to leave.

Finally, it seemed like hours later, he answered with, "Yes, I suppose it is."

I barely had time to smile before we were kissing again. My breath was lost again. All too soon he broke apart and whispered, "Hermione, I will never understand why you like me as much as you do, but I can't thank you enough for it."

That was more than I had ever expected.

…………..

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee. :-D

'Tis over my friends. Hope you enjoyed and thanks for your lovely reviews!