Back in time...

Back in time..., Chapter 3.

Hermione and Severus continued to sit next to each other in Potions, (which benefited Hermione greatly as Potions was (apart from Divination obviously) her worst subject and Severus was a "Potions whiz") and slowly built up a friendship. She felt she could talk to him about anything, and with Dumbledore's permission told him the truth about her past, taking a huge weight of her shoulders. Hermione had never understood the whole house rivalry (except maybe for Draco Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson) and was perfectly happy about making friends with a Slytherin. This however didn't mean that she was no longer friends with the Gryffindors and still kept close with her fellow house mates. She was on her way out to the tree by the bottom of the lake with Lily and The Marauders when she heard a familiar voice call her name.

"I'll see you later" She called to her friends and hurried to the source of the noise. "Severus" she squealed and pulled the boy into a tight hug. "Where were you in Potions, I was hopeless by myself."

" I fainted again." He replied looking upset. Fainting was a regular occurance with Severus, although it had apparently gone down since he had met Hermione.

"Oh 'Rus, are you okay now though?" He had made it clear early on that he hated being called Sev and so she promptly took up the nickname 'Rus.

"Yes, Madame Pomfrey worked her wonders as usual, so I'm right as rain. Would you like to take a walk?"

"Oh yes, that sounds lovely."

Hermione and Severus were lying under the tree by the bottom of the lake in the hot summer sun. They had used an Accio spell to get their books from their Dorms and were revising for their upcoming exams, conferring every so often of something they needed help in, each finding the perfect answer in the other. Both were completely content, they were more than content, they were happy, very happy indeed. Lying in the sun, with their heads together, learning. It was bliss.

" 'Mione, what are you doing for thee summer holidays, seeing as... well you know." She did know, she had managed to stay at Hogwarts for the Christmas holidays with Severus but she couldn't stay for the whole of the summer holidays. "Don't worry 'rus, its all sorted, i'm staying at Lily's for the summer." She said with a smile.

"Your staying at Lily's! Oh that's brilliant, I live not five minutes from there, we can see each other all the time" He replied beaming at her. She simply laughed in glee at his reaction beaming at him in return.

" I GOT AN O!" Hermione screamed running at Severus.

"I knew you would" he replied pulling her into a tight squeeze. " Just like in every other subject." He laughed pulling her closer and planting a small kiss on the top of her head. Realising what he had done, he released her proposed they went for a walk in the sun, seeing as they only had a few more day's left before the summer holiday's.