Chapter Four- Meeting in the Closet

Waking up the next morning, Hermione was more confused then ever. With thoughts of the kiss still fresh in the mind, Hermione got ready for class and calmly walked out of her room. Instantly she was pulled by the arm into a closet. She didn't need to see in the pitch black to know who was holding her close to his body. "Shh." He said in a low whisper. She leaned into his chest. She liked being near him. She could feel his breath on her neck as he whispered into her ear. "Tell me what you want." He growled.

"You." She said in a quiet whisper.

"That could mean a number of things Miss Granger." He said in her ear, flickering his tongue to lick her neck.

She moaned. "I want you to stop teasing me and kiss me."

He smirked. "Very well Miss Granger." He said, steeping back from her. "I trust you can sneak out well enough on your own."

She glared at him. "You bastard!" She said in an angry whisper.

"I may be a bastard," Snape said, tracing her with his fingers, "but you are the one who wishes me to kiss her."

"Fuck you." She said loudly.

"If you wish Miss Granger, then you may have the pleasure." Snape said.

"You wouldn't know who the Gryffindor is with that kind of arrogance." She said.

"You do not have to join me tonight if I am such an arrogance bastard." Snape said with a smirk. She's unable to stay away, just as I am unable to stay away from her. We are bonded now, by something we can't control. He turned the door knob, leaving Hermione in the darkness.

-x-

Hermione walked into the Great Hall fuming mad. She sat down at the table and slammed her fist on the table. "Are you okay?" Ron asked.

Hermione glared up at Snape. "Bloody bastard." Hermione said under her breath.

"What?" Ron said.

"Nothing." Hermione said. "I'm fine Ron." She said with a smile, and then stared down at the table.

"Good Morning Miss Granger." His silky voice burst into her head.

"What do you want Professor?" Hermione said with venomous tone.

"Well Well Miss Granger, I see our little encounter this morning didn't leave you in the mood I had hoped." Snape said.

Hermione could feel him smirking and staring at her with his black eyes, but she refused to look up at him. "And what mood would that be Professor? You ordered me out of your room last night and then pulled me into a closet to tease me."

"I intended for you to be intrigued Miss Granger, I would have assumed that you would naturally be intrigued as to why I was there in the first place. Or, why I invited you to my room tonight." Snape said coolly.

"As intrigued as I am Professor, I still am angry. I don't like being toyed with. I am not a game you can play when you are bored." Hermione said, resisting the urge to look up and see his expression.

"Is that you what you think then?" Snape said with a harsh tone. "That I am only playing a game, ready to throw you away when I become bored with you." He was practically yelling in her head, the restriction that he had before was gone. "I could lose my job if they knew what happened last night, or this morning. I invited you to my rooms tonight to talk to you about this, to see if it was worth my job. And you insinuate that I am playing a game! You little brat!"

Hermione didn't shake or quiver in fear while he yelled in her head. She just sat there, calmly, until he finished. When she knew he was done, she spoke. "I had no intentions of angering you Professor, although you rightly deserve it for what you did to me this morning. If you cannot understand why an unattractive student is confused by her handsome Professor's sudden interest in her, then you aren't being reasonable."

"You are in no way unattractive Miss Granger." Snape said. "Handsome you say? I'm sure plenty of people would disagree with the description of me."

"Then they are blind." Hermione said. "I have to go Professor, class will start soon."

"Very well then, good day Miss Granger." Snape said, not letting his emotion show.

Hermione looked up at Snape, catching his eye. "See you tonight Professor."

-x-

Hermione sneaked out at her normal time and stalked to the dungeons without being seen. When she arrived there, Snape wasn't in his room. Looking around suspiciously, Hermione saw that the door to his privet room was opened slightly. "Professor Snape?" Hermione yelled.

"In here Miss Granger." Snape said, his voice coming from the open door. "I'm fixing something."

Hermione was apprehensive to enter the room, but she did anyways. Walking in slowly, Hermione took in the room. It was dark and dreary, with no real personal touches to it. A large four-post bed was along the wall that was far away from the door. There was a fire place and several chairs in front of it, but the fireplace wasn't lit. Hermione instantly shivered in the coldness of the room, took out her wand, and lit the fire. "There, you are going to freeze in here." She said.

Snape looked at the girl and smiled. "I suppose I should thank you."

"No need." Hermione said, taking a seat in front of the fire. "What are you fixing?"

"Something for the Order." Snape said. "There, I'm done." He waved his wand and whatever he had been fixing was gone. Snape sat down next to Hermione in the chair breathless and produced two drinks. Hermione reached for hers cautiously. "It's coffee." He said drinking his to show her it was safe.

Hermione sipped on the coffee, allowing the warm liquid to run down her throat. "Your room is dull." Hermione said bluntly.

"Yes, I know." Snape said with a smirk. He looked over at the bed. "In my life, that's all that matters, because I'm nothing without a good night's sleep."

"Are you making small talk Professor?" Hermione said with a smile.

"Only until I have regained my strength." Snape said.

Hermione smiled at him again, then saw the bookcase and walked over to it. She scanned the titles. "You have some amazing books in here, some that I've only heard fairy tales of."

"Yes." He said. She was so deeply interested in his books, that she didn't see Snape stalk out of his chair and come up behind her.

"Professor, could I borrow a book sometime?" Hermione said, turning around. Directly in front of her was Snape's tall form and she looked to see him.

"I don't share well." He said in a low growl.

"I know that," she said with a smirk, "but I'd offer you something in return for the book."

"And what pray tell, is a book worth to you?" Snape said with a smirk.

"Everything." Hermione said with a dangerous look in her eyes. "Why did you invite me here Professor? Since you intended me to be curious, I am sure that you knew I would ask a blunt question."

Snape said nothing, but pushed her up against a wall. He stared deep into her eyes, his face only an inch away from hers. "I brought you here because I wanted to see you."

"What do you want Professor?" Hermione said, turning the question back on him.

Snape didn't answer, he just kissed her hard. Pushing her against the wall, he let his passion drive him. He nipped at her neck with his teeth and growled. Removing her robe quickly, Snape nibbled at the exposed flesh of the low cut shirt. Hermione whimpered. "Tell me Hermione, do you fear me?" He asked her, returning to stare in her eyes.

"Yes." She said breathlessly.

"And do you trust me?" Snape asked.

"Yes." She said in response.

"Do you want me?" He asked, letting his fingers play with the hem of her shirt.

"Yes Professor, I want you." Hermione said, staring deep into his eyes.

"If this kiss continues, I will lose control." Snape said.

Hermione traced the outline of his lips with her finger, before moving up to whisper in his ear. "I want you to lose control... Severus."

The sound of his name escaping from her lips was the last straw. He picked her up and roughly threw her on the bed.

-x-