May I Touch You, Miss Granger? - Completed

A volatile yet beautiful union.

Quiet. Peace. Serenity. The halls of Hogwarts were like nothing else when void of the rambunctious, ill-behaved, snot-nose, abecedarian, wanna-be wizards. The air was warm for Scotland, and it was unusually sunny outside. Thankfully the bottom two floors of the castle did not have windows. It was dark, cold and damp compared to the rest of the castle, but this was where Severus Snape spent the vast majority of his life and this was where he was comfortable. Where he felt safe. Since there were very few students around, it was uncommonly quiet in the castle.

If it was not for one witch. One particular witch who kept popping up everywhere. The library, the Great Hall, on the grounds, the library, his potions lab, the library. He was not going to be able to continue using the library if this kept up. So many questions. He wasn't aware it was possible for one person to have that many questions, forget about actually remembering the answers. She always had something new to discuss or ask, and that was only with him. Surely she was the same with Minerva, Filius and the others. It isn't like she would seek him out specifically.

Frustrating. That was the perfect word to describe her. She was driving him to the brink of madness. She was always there, and if she wasn't right there beside him, she was knocking at the door of his mind. He couldn't get her out of his head, no matter what he tried. Frustrating. She was completely, utterly, unforgivably frust- No. He had it right the first time. Insufferable. She was completely, utterly, unforgivably insufferable, that Miss-

"Granger, why do you insist on carrying your gargantuan tower of books when you could simply levitate them far more easily?" He heard a yelp and several thuds as he turned the corner. Hermione was splayed across the floor with at least 12 books, 12 large books that she acquired for some light reading, all tossed about. Her hair was a mess, her unbuttoned robe was draped off the side of her small frame, her skirt was riding up her legs inappropriately and she looked truly pathetic.

"That's seemingly hypocritical, sir. You carry your potion crates everywhere."

"Not everywhere, Miss Granger. Besides, I do not drop my crates. Reparation spells work on books, not potions. Nor do they work on ankles."

"Thankfully, healing spells do. So, if you'd please." Hermione raised her hand up for Severus to take hold. She looked at him expectantly while he collected himself. Finally, with a sigh of defeat, he grabbed hold of her hand and pulled her up. "OW, ow ow ow ow ow-" The pain in her leg was unbearable the moment she tried to set it down. She would have fallen back to the floor if Severus had not swung an arm behind her knees and lifted her up.

"Are we not going to the infirmary, Professor?" Hermione inquired as she noticed their intended path.

"My office is closer, and I do not wish to carry you up three flights of stairs." Hermione had to bite her tongue to stop herself from suggesting the levitation spells they had moments ago discussed for fear he would let go of her. "Unless you do not trust my competency to heal."

"Oh, no, sir. That's perfectly fine." Her one arm was swung up over his broad shoulders, and she placed the other lightly upon his chest. "I trust you." She wasn't sure if it was the unfamiliar touch or the equally unfamiliar words that caused him to tense beneath her fingers, but she was relieved when he eventually relaxed.

With the flick of a finger from underneath her body, Severus opened the door to his potions classroom and walked straight through to the back where his office and chambers were held. Hermione had seen the office only once, and found she was still as awestruck as she was the first time. Books. Books lined the majority of all four walls. Not one portrait. No means to disturb his concentration. The only bits of decoration, if one could consider it as such, were the strange jarred items that Hermione decided to ignore for the time being. There was a large desk in the middle of the room, slightly toward the back left. Hermione noted that there was no spare chair opposite his to accommodate a student were one to ever take advantage of the potion master's office hours. She was certain that was a rare occurrence.