Hermione told Harry about it at dinner, he found it very amusing
"Wear something nice" he smirked
"I most certainly will not! That would look so obvious" she told him shoving a piece of broccoli
In her mouth.
"I was only kidding" he smiled, he looked up at the staff table and saw that Snape was
talking to McGonagall about something

"I wonder what they're talking about?" Harry sighed
"Maybe he's telling her about my extra lessons, she is our head of house after all" Hermione guessed
"Oh yeah, extra lessons" Harry laughed wiggling his eyebrows
Hermione rolled her eyes "That's not even funny" she frowned
Harry looked her with a smirk and she giggled
"Ok, maybe a little funny"

When they left dinner she walked with Harry towards the dungeons
Hermione didn't know what to do with herself, she was a nervous wreck
She was going to be alone with him, and she had never been alone with him because she never got detentions.
"Don't look so nervous" Harry assured her
"Wish me luck" she said
"Good luck" Harry giggled and went no further

Hermione arrived at the door and knocked proudly
"Come in Miss Granger" a deep voice echoed
She opened the door, and there he was sat at his desk
He rose from his desk and took a few steps towards her

"Good evening Miss Granger" he nodded curtly
"Good evening Professor Snape" she smiled her eyes sparkling
He noticed this and could not pull away from her gaze for a moment
"What would you like me to do?" She asked
"I would like you to clean out the potions cupboard and organise the potions and ingredients,
Then I need to brew blood replenishing, and sleeping drafts for Madame Pomfrey so I'd like you to assist."
Hermione agreed and got to work without question, he was impressed by her work ethic
To be honest, he always had been.
Hermione Granger may well be an insufferable know it all, but she was a bright young witch,
She never answered back in class and always worked hard.
He admired her for that

He watched her as she cleaned everything thoroughly and placed them in the order he preferred
"Miss Granger, how do you know what order I wish my potions to be in?" He asked
"I just pay attention to things Professor, in class when I'd go to the cupboard to get something I took in the order of things" She explained
He smiled to himself, he wasn't facing her so she couldn't see, thank Merlin
Snape returned to his marking work, and sighed at the incompetence of the students.
"Something wrong Professor?" Hermione asked without thinking about the consequences

Snape glared at her and she looked down instantly regretting asking
"Everything is quite alright Miss Granger, I just wish that some of my 3rd year students had the same intellect you had as a 3rd year, these dunderheads never cease to amaze me with their stupidity" he gave her a small smile
'He just smiled at me?' She thought to herself in suprise
Hermione just laughed at Snape's comments, and tried not to make any more eye contact

"I've finished with the cupboards Professor, is there anything else I can do while I wait for you?" She asked
"Wait for what Miss Granger?" He quizzed
"To start on the potions for Madame Pomfrey"
Snape looked at her and nodded "Hermione I trust you to start on the brewing, I will only be 5 minutes more" he said in his usual cold unaffected drawl
"Ok" she said and got the cauldrons ready, she was so proud of herself.
The dreaded potions master actually believed in her ability
'Hold on, did he just call me Hermione?' She thought to herself

She was getting the ingredients for the sleeping drafts ready, and set them aside in the order of brewing, Snape noticed this small detail and it impressed him

Before long Hermione felt a presence behind her and heard a gentle breathe over her shoulder
She shuddered inside and her heart started to race
"I see this is coming along nicely Miss Granger" he said
"I hope it is Professor, I think I might have added the second ingredient a minute too early" she sighed
"It looks fine Miss Granger, ones instincts are usually correct" he smiled
"Unless it's a Weasley of course" Hermione chuckled at this
"I should probably put the flobberworm mucus in now" she reached out to grab it but he did so at the same time, his hand brushed hers and he didn't pull it away for a few seconds
He cleared his throat "very good Miss Granger, I will start on the blood replenishing potion"
He moved away from her with a deep shade of red spreading across his cheeks

They brewed the potions in silence for what seemed like hours, but in reality was more close to half an hour
Snape finally broke the silence
"Miss Granger, you told me you have some issues within your friendships...what are those issues? if you do not mind me asking"
"It's just been a hard summer, that's all Professor, at the burrow" Hermione smiled
"Ah, so your issue is with Ronald Weasley I presume" he said in a sexy low growl
"Yes, you could say that" She sighed

"Like what exactly?" He asked meeting her eyes with his
"His constant wasting of my time, leading me on only to knock me back again" she blushed

"I see, and why, pray tell would you let a blinded buffoon like him cause you so much anguish?
You are a bright young witch, do not waste that intellect on an ungrateful boy who is unworthy of you Miss Granger" he looked away from her fast realising what he had just said

Hermione had a sad look in her eyes "each time I think we are slowly getting closer, a much prettier girl comes along and he forgets I exist" she sighed
"Prettier girl? At Hogwarts? So you do have a fault after all, you're blind to you own beauty"
She didn't know what to say, she just blushed. Snape cleared his throat

"Miss Granger, that will be all for tonight. I will finish the rest myself, you may leave" he scolded her not looking at her at all. The ice prince had returned
Hermione nodded and prepared to leave
"Professor i hope I didn't say anything that caused offence, or was out of place. I will see you tomorrow. Goodnight" she smiled and left the room
He just continued to stir the potions until she was gone and once she was he stopped what he was doing and sighed
"What on earth were you thinking?" He scolded himself