26A...26A, Ah, it was the last seat at the back of the carriage. She could see the top of the head of the person who will be seated next to her. He/she had black hair. Hermione heaved a tired sigh. The last man who had sat next to her on the Night Express was an old Squib who was visiting a student. He stank and had a tendency to occasionally slip his hand on her thigh in the middle of the night.
Nothing can be worse than that, she thought to herself.
She reached her seat and saw that it was worse. It was Professor Snape.
Severus Snape looked up disapprovingly at Granger.
'Please tell me you are just passing through,' he said in an exagerrated suffering tone.
Hermione showed him her window seat ticket and he rolled his eyes annoyingly, pursing his thin lips.
'Aren't there carriages for professors?' she dared ask.
'No, Granger, I just relish the feeling of being seated next to Know-it-alls and folding myself into this cramped space, ' he indicated his long legs which were folded uncomfortably, his knees knocking the seat in front of him at times.
Hermione deliberately neglected to respond to his comment on Know-it-alls. 7 years of sarcasm from her Potions Master now rolled smoothly off her after much practice.
'Could you help me with my bag?' she asked, seeing that she couldn't reach the overhead compartment.
'Contrary to belief, I am not a bell boy. It is somewhat depressing to know that the Brains of the Golden Trio during peaceful times, does not even have the mental capacity to conjure a simple levitating spell to lift its own baggage.'
Hermione glared at him, biting back her tongue to keep from retorting back. Oh, 8 hours of ride is going to feel like 8 years.
Pouting, she sat down beside him in a huff, resolutely staring out the window, refusing to look at him for the entire journey.
'Granger.'
She ignored him.
'Granger,' his voice was nearer, yet she still refused to respond.
'Granger.' his lips were now beside her ear, his breath tickling her. She shuddered and turned. His face was so close, they were eye to nose.
'Yes Professor?'
She watched in fascination as he enunciated each word with his thin lips. She noticed his bottom lip was a bit chapped.
He whispered.
'Get. Off. My. Cloak.'
Oh.
Hermione quickly stood up as Snape pulled his crumpled cloak away from her.
Who in his right mind wears a cloak while seated on a train? Hermione thought irritably to herself. I'm going to sleep, the faster this journey ends, the better.
She woke up an hour later, teeth chattering. It was bloody cold, didn't the damn train have heating? The carriage lights have been dimmed as it was almost midnight and most of the passengers were asleep. The only sound was the rumbling of the train on its tracks. Oh wait, there was another sound, a soft snoring. Hermione looked beside her. Snape was slouched, fast asleep, his face partially covered by his long hair. His hands were crossed in front of him. Even in sleep, he looked tense and ready for battle.
Hermione shivered again and looked longingly at his cloak. Stealthily, she sat closer and slipped inside his cloak, wrapping half of it around her It was toasty warm from his body and she sighed in content.
I'll just wake up before him tomorrow, she thought as sleep overcame her.
Snape opened his eyes. It was almost dawn. He winced as he stretched his body. Someone was latched onto him. His defences went up automatically. He looked down at his enemy ready to hex him. When he saw that it was Granger, he relaxed and his features softened.
The girl was cuddled up to his side and had somehow stolen half of his cloak, wrapping it around her body. Her head rested on his upper forearm where she was cultivating a pool of drool on his sleeve. Perhaps she had mistaken her for a black bolster for she had one arm draped across his waist and her leg was hooked around his knee. Snape's stone cold heart gave a lurch. No one had wanted to touch him, and here Granger was, treating him like a pillow. He had to admit, the feeling was not unpleasant. However, dawn was approaching and some students will be stirring soon, so it was best she untangle herself.
Snape cleared his throat until Hermione roused.
'Time is it?' she asked sleepily.
'5am.'
'Let me sleep 1 more hour,' she muttered and snuggled closer to him.
'What the-' She had edged so close that he had no place to place his left arm. Giving up, he placed it around her body in a not-hug.
Another hour passed.
'Get up Granger, we're almost there.'
She ignored him and continued sleeping. The train whistled as it approached a tunnel. Everything went pitch black as if someone had thrown Peruvian Instant Darkness in the air.
Someone was holding her by her chin and kissing her softly, tentatively on the lips, as if shy and unsure to continue. She opened her eyes but couldn't see a thing. Whoever it was, he was a good kisser. His slightly chapped lips explored her plumper ones, tasting her strawberry lip balm. She smiled slightly and kissed him back, rubbing her balm over his lower lip. She felt his upper lip curl upward in a sneer and she kissed the sneer, smoothing it into a smile of pleasure. Emboldened, he kissed her harder, demanding her response in turn and she opened her mouth, inviting him in. Their tongues met, caressing each other as if they were old mates, him stroking, her swirling around his, causing him to let out a small whimper of pleasure. Then the darkness was receding, and the carriage was slowly filled with light as their train exited the tunnel.
Hermione could see again but her kisser was gone and her lips felt strangely alone. Snape was staring straight ahead, a frown on his face. His pursed lips slightly shiny and no longer chapped.
Hermione made to get up from his embrace but his arm around her waist refused to budge. He held her that way for awhile, refusing to look at her, his face unreadable, while his hand underneath his cloak caressed her side, the thumb grazing the underside of her breast occassionally.
As the train pulled into London station, Snape released her. She reached out toward him and he flinched automatically, shying away from her. Catching himself, he forced himself to remain still as Hermione adjusted his collar that had folded down in the night.
With a nod, he stood up. Hermione could hear his joints popping as he stretched and got her luggage from the top compartment for her.
Then without a word, with both their bags still in his hands, he exited the train.
'Sir!' she called out , running after him, wanting her luggage back.
Snape spun around, waited for her to catch up and then said in his authoritative voice that dared her to say no.
'We're having breakfast together.'