A/N: Thank you all so much for your reviews, favorites and follows! You can follow me on tumblr (nauticalparamour). So - we have come to the end of this fun little story. I hope you enjoyed this sweet Valentine's treat! If you enjoyed my writing, please check out some of my other work. I have two works in progress right now. One is a silly/fun wolfmate story with Fenrir and Hermione. The other is a time travel AU where Hermione goes back in time to adopt Tom Riddle.

Please let me know what you thought of the story! Thanks for reading!

Severus Snape had been taken aback when he'd gotten the note from Miss Hermione Granger, revealing all of her deeper feelings for him, and her desires for some kind of a relationship to exist between them. At first, he thought it might be some cruel trick on her part, before all of the pieces finally clicked into place.

She hadn't been blushing because she was embarrassed by Lily's actions with her body, rather it would appear that Miss Granger also had a little crush on him. Part of his heart soared with the possibility of a beautiful young woman like Hermione wanting him, just as much as he'd come to want her. It had taken a long time for him to admit that to himself, but he finally had.

But, the other, larger, more rational side of him knew that he couldn't encourage this kind of a romantic relationship between him and a student, even if she was an "eighth year" and had been of age for two years. He'd tried to let her down easily, holding back every ounce of snark that he had in his body, trying not to hurt the poor girl's feelings.

Then he prayed every day that she would move on with someone her own age. The only thing worse that the possibility that she might be playing a trick on him, was that they might actually get along well enough that he was destroyed when he inevitably fucked it up. He wasn't sure that he could open himself like that to all the pain and hurt again.

As the months went by, though, it was very clear that Miss Granger's feelings hadn't changed, if any of the blushes and lingering gazes during class were any indication. She never went on dates to Hogsmeade with any other of the boys' in her year, though not through lack of other male attention.

And, as the days ticked nearer to graduation day, Severus began to confront his own feelings and insecurities. His own desires for the girl - young woman - hadn't cooled at all, despite added distance between the two of them. He thought a lot about Lily's desire to have a second chance at love. It was then that he realized Hermione could be his second chance at love. Of course, Lily had scored his affections, but he had no reason to believe that Hermione would act in a similar way.

He'd waited until graduation was over and Hermione was no longer a student to approach her. She was standing with Potter and the entire brood of Weasleys, laughing along with them, and making plans to visit the Burrow later that week. The scene was nearly enough for him to turn tail and hide, and forget any second chances.

Taking a deep breath, though, he persisted, walking straight up to her. "If I may intrude, I was wondering if I might speak to Miss Granger, alone for a moment." He said, knowing that his voice had made Hermione stop laughing and tense up in nervousness.

He walked them away from the crowd, not wanting to be embarrassed in front of an audience if he could help it. The only problem was that he didn't know where to start.

"You wanted to speak with my Professor Snape?" Her shaking voice brough him out of his thoughts.

"Severus." He said, quietly. "I am no longer your Professor, Miss Granger. You may call me Severus."

"Hermione." She said brightly, a slow smile transforming her face.

"That's actually the reason I wished to speak with you, as well, Hermione." He started cautiously. "As you know, earlier this year, I told you any kind of relationship between the two of us would be considered improper, seeing as I was your Professor. However, now that you have graduated, I was wondering...well, if your offer still stands?"

Her laughter made his dark eyes snap up, when for a millisecond, he worried that she might be laughing at him. He worried that the embarrassment he'd faced with Lily was about to repeat itself. But then he saw that she was so happy. Biting her lower lip, she regarded him cautiously. "You want to be in a relationship, with me?" She asked, hopeful.

"Well, I was thinking we could start with a date, and see how it goes from there." He told her, cheeks turning a bright pink at the suggestion that he, dour Professor Severus Snape, was intending on taking anyone on a date.

"I'd love that." Hermione said, now smiling enthusiastically. Before he was able to prepare himself, she was launching herself into his arms, wrapping her hands around his neck, and pressing her lips against his in perfect kiss. Severus wrapped his arms around her just as tight, for once not letting himself care that he was kissing her in front of an audience that consisted of the entirety of Hogwarts' staff, graduating class, and their parents. She didn't seem to mind, so he wouldn't either.

A voice broke them from their stolen moment, making Severus more than a little annoyed. He'd finally gotten the witch! And some pigheaded Weasley was going to ruin the perfect moment? The most perfect first kiss he'd ever had.

"Oi, Hermione? What are you doing kissing the greasy dungeon bat like that?" Ron Weasley shouted their way. Oh, if there was ever a time that Severus had wanted to give that little swine a detention it was right now.

Hermione turned to look at her friend, scowl clearly written on her face. "Don't you talk about my boyfriend like that Ronald Weasley! I never say anything when you let Lavender do her best octopus impression on your face." She hurled back on him.

He wasn't sure if Weasley was dumbfounded by the way she'd told him off, or the way she likened Brown to an octopus, or the way she'd just called him her boyfriend. In the end he decided he didn't care, because Hermione Granger had just announced to everyone that she wanted to date him. He didn't think he'd ever been more proud.

"Boyfriend?" Severus teased, whispering in her ear, pleased to see a shiver run up her spine. "I thought we agreed to take it slow, witch."