Chapter 4 – Intrusions and Bad Habits
Dragging herself wearily into Grimmauld Place, Hermione hung up her cloak and headed to the kitchen to make some tea leaving her bag near the umbrella stand in the hallway.
She'd finally finished sorting out the books she needed for this next project at work and they were safely shrunk and lightened in the bag. It had only taken her a total of twenty one bloody hours!
No wonder they gave it to me. Most of them would have taken one look at that book list and willingly run a mile over hot coals to not do it.
Sighing, Hermione slowly entered the kitchen and began making tea, her mind so focused on obtaining the much needed refreshment that she didn't hear someone enter the room until the door clicked shut.
"Hello, Granger," came a voice she'd heard only the week before. Malfoy.
Turning around she looked at him quizzically. "Malfoy, why are you here?"
Pulling out the chair at the end of the table, he sat and turned to her, "I'm visiting Severus, of course."
"Oh. I didn't know you did that," Hermione said turning back to her tea. "Do you want some tea?"
"Please," he replied. "It's the first time I've been able to really. My parents were... less than enthusiastic about my wishing to visit him for some reason."
"Really, so now that you're in the flat you're not listening to them?" Hermione asked wondering if he'd open up to her.
"Very astute, yes, I'm officially disowned. Or at least until my father accepts that I'm trying to be my own man and not a mini him."
Hermione turned back at him and smiled honestly. "Good for you."
"Thanks, I guess," he replied thoughtfully.
"Sugar? Milk?"
"Just one sugar, no milk."
Giving him the one sugar, Hermione joined him at the table, a pack of biscuits set between them to nibble on. They sat quietly for a few moments, just thinking their own thoughts until Draco broke the silence.
"He likes you, you know."
Hermione turned to him her brow creased, unable to quite believe what she'd heard. "Pardon?"
"Severus. He likes you. A lot," Draco repeated.
"I..."
"Don't go all timid and shy, Hermione, you know he does or at least you have an idea. Don't you?" Draco asked, biting a biscuit noisily.
"Well... I have noticed a couple of things," she answered warily.
Draco nodded and finished his biscuit slowly, not saying anything else for a few minutes more. Hermione, becoming uneasy in the silence, stood and washed her cup and turned once she'd finished to see if Draco's cup was empty, only to find him standing and walking to the door.
"Thanks for the tea, Granger. Look," he said, shifting from one foot to the other before looking her in the eyes for a moment. "He likes you and I know he won't take that last step and tell you outright. If you want him you'll have to do something, too. No matter how it might seem with his flirting, he doesn't want to think he's forced you into anything. He'll need you to approach him first."
Hermione bit her lip as he spoke, realising that he must know the truth. He does know the man better than most, she conceded. "Thanks, Draco," Hermione said, using his first name for once and surprising him. "I understand what you mean... it's just doing it that's the problem."
He smiled. "I know. Just don't leave it too long; he's never been what you'd call patient." Nodding, he slipped through the door and headed back to the library, leaving Hermione to wash his mug and mull over what he'd said.
... ... ... ... ...
Leaving the kitchen ten minutes later after a quick sandwich, and with a jumble of confused thoughts running through her head, Hermione looked first at the staircase and then down the hallway to the library door. It was open, the small amount of light from the fire and the few lamps in the room spilling out onto the dark floor of the hall.
Not really thinking about it she wandered down the hallway until she stood nearly at the door to the library, listening to the quiet crackle of the fire and the occasional murmur from Snape or Malfoy.
Taking a peek inside, Hermione could just see in the low light that Draco lay out on the sofa, his feet hanging over one end. Snape as ever, sat in the high backed chair, his long legs stretched out toward the fire and one hand holding a wine glass over the arm of the chair. They were speaking quietly but she couldn't discern what it was they were saying. After a few more moments observation, she withdrew and turned to head towards the stairs.
"Miss Granger," Snape's voice called from the room as she started to walk away.
Shit. Did he see me? How did he see me? Hermione's mind panicked as she turned, almost as if she were a puppet on a string, and walked into the library.
"Sir?" Hermione said as she entered the room, grateful for once for the dim lighting so that her blush was somewhat hidden.
"This came though the Floo earlier. Draco forgot to bring it to you when he went to the kitchen," he said, holding out a small envelope to her.
Taking it she glanced at Draco where he lay on the sofa, one arm thrown behind his head and he smirked at her knowingly. He'd forgotten on purpose then.
"Thanks," Hermione said sheepishly. She'd been caught trying to listen in on their conversation and although he hadn't called her on it, he knew she knew it.
Crossing his legs at the ankle he smirked up at her from the chair and said, "Goodnight, Miss Granger. I shall see you in the morning."
Knowing this was her cue to leave she nodded and turned to Draco, "Night, Draco," she said, exaggerating his first name a little. "See you around."
"Night, Hermione," he replied in the same tone as she. "I'm sure you will. Remember what I said."
"I will. Goodnight, Sir," Hermione said, turning back to Snape and noting the faint frown on his face. Moving to the doorway Hermione almost missed his quiet, "Goodnight, Miss Granger." She smiled to herself and after picking up her bag, she set off up the stairs.
Once in her room Hermione turned her attention to the letter. Looking at her name on the front she recognised the handwriting as Ron's. What's up now? Hermione thought amused. After their talk about Snape she'd discovered that the wedding planning was in the process of being taken over by a very controlling and selectively deaf Molly Weasley. Hermione had been very glad at that moment in time the she and Ron had never reached that stage in their relationship. She didn't think she could cope with Molly as a mother-in-law.
Hermione,
Just to let you know that me and Harry will be coming over the day after tomorrow – sometime late afternoon-ish. Thought I'd tell you in advance, don't want to interrupt you snogging Snape. Ugh.
Anyway, I think Harry's got it in his head to set you up on a date or something. Be warned.
Take care,
Ron x
P.S. – If Snape sees this you have to obliviate him!
Smiling, Hermione put the letter inside her bag and took out the shrunken boxes of books. Setting them in order on the table according to the numbers just visible on the lids, she sighed heavily.
She'd somehow ended up bringing over a hundred and eighty books back home from the Ministry and needed to go through all of them. In a month. It looked like for the first time in her career she'd be asking for an extension.
Dumping her bag on the bed she drew out her wand and cast an unshrinking charm on the first three boxes. Books by authors A though D, each written on Defence Against the Dark Arts and most of which would be utterly useless, not to mention out of date. She arranged them in piles by surname and then stopped, too tired to do anything else that night.
Quickly undressing she got into bed and started trying to think through what Draco had said to her that night.
So number one, he likes me. I like him back. Number two, he will and has flirted with me, but won't approach me properly. Why? Draco said it was about him feeling like he's pushing me into something, but he should know I'd not one to do anything I don't want to. So... maybe he's afraid of rejection? I suppose it fits after everything that's happened... Hermione hit her pillow, trying to plump it up and flopped back down on it, her plaited hair over one shoulder. Three, he seems to be slightly jealous if the look he gave Draco earlier was anything to go by. Perhaps Ron and Harry coming the day after tomorrow could be used to an advantage...
Hermione's thoughts drifted onto other things as she slowly fell asleep, her mind replaying the conversations and interactions with Severus Snape she'd experienced since she started living at Grimmauld Place.
... ... ... ... ...
Grabbing her towel and wand, Hermione took one last glance at the stack of papers she'd only part worked through, and headed for the bathroom down the hall.
She'd spent way too long on this project for one day, and her body was protesting the idea of continuing. She'd been up since the crack of dawn reading, reporting, and analysing things that were absolute rubbish. She had known that there were a lot of books on Dark Arts defence but... that so many of them were works of fiction made her furious. She'd managed to discard a large group of them from the list at the library but had ended up bringing home a lot more than she'd wanted to. Which meant a lot more work and thus tons more paperwork – the one thing Hermione had come to hate about her job.
I got a whole six done today, she thought to herself as she flicked her wand in the direction of the bath causing it to start filling and a mass of scented bubbles to spread out over the surface of the water. So just another hundred and seventy four odd to go. Fabulous.
Sighing in relief Hermione sunk into the bubble-filled bath tub until only her eyes and nose were above the bubbles. The hot water helped to ease her tender back muscles and soothed her neck.
Who knew paperwork could be so damn stressful? she thought to herself. Taking the flannel from the side of the tub, she quickly soaped herself up and washed thoroughly, getting the necessities out of the way before she'd properly relax.
Now, where's that book, she thought, looking to the tiled floor beside the bath. Bugger, I forgot it.
She settled back into the hot water, closing her eyes and considered leaving the book where it was and just letting her mind wander for once. But as soon as she did, her thoughts immediately turned to her dark haired housemate and their recent interactions.
That wouldn't do at all. Sitting up again she grabbed her wand from next to the taps and cast a small charm on the door, causing it to open slightly.
"Accio Temptations and Passions," she said half heartedly. Settling back to wait, Hermione ducked her head fully under the water luxuriating in the feel of the warm bath. Holding her breath underwater always made her remember her baths at home when she was little and how her mum used to pour a jug or water on her head to wash her hair. She smiled beneath the bubbles as she recalled how often she'd cried because she'd got soap in her eyes.
She surfaced and glanced toward the door where the book ought to be appearing any second...
Only it didn't.
Hmm. Picking up her wand again, she repeated the Accio charm, concentrating harder this time and waiting impatiently.
It arrived a few moments later, sliding into the bathroom through the slightly ajar door and coming to a stop above her. Hermione grabbed it from the air when it threatened to fall into the water. Took your time, she thought wryly, settling back into the tub. Opening the well worn book to her favourite chapter, where the leading man effortlessly charms his way into the damsel's under things, Hermione settled in for a nice reread of her favourite sordid romance novel.
That lasted all of about three minutes before the door to the bathroom swung wide open and her housemate Severus Snape stood in the doorway, his eyes most definitely not on her face.
Making an 'eep!' noise, Hermione pulled her arms to her chest in an attempt to cover herself and dropped the book into the bath in the process. "Um, Sir?" Hermione said her face getting redder by the second.
Her voice made him realise where he was looking and his head swung towards the opposite wall, only to swing back again when he found himself looking at a mirror image of Hermione in the bath.
"I didn't realise you were in here, Miss Granger," he said visibly pulling himself together and taking a step into the room.
"I...," Hermione trailed off, her eyes widening as he came further into the room.
"It's common practice to lock or ward the door while taking a bath," he said, a smirk developing on his face.
She blushed and opened her mouth to explain but as he moved closer to the bath, she moved to try to cover herself up more in compensation. It was a good thing she'd decided on a bubble bath she told herself as she stared up at him.
"Reading in the bath is never a good idea and a horrible habit to boot," he said as he noticed the book that was now floating in the bath above her stomach. "Books get absolutely ruined by the steam and such."
She nodded dumbly and looked away, still unsure of what to say.
"Accio" he paused as he read the title. "Temptations and Passions", he commanded. She gasped as drops of water splashed her face as the book flew into his hand.
"Oh, so this is what you're reading?" Snape intoned, brow raised in question. "One does wonder why this type of drivel is so popular..."
Turning away he walked toward the door, reading the back of the paperback as he went. "I'll leave you to it then, Miss Granger," he said, looking over his shoulder at her once again, before glancing down at a page in the book. "Septimus Sinclair, the devastatingly handsome magician quickly grasped... honestly! Miss Granger, if you want inane drivel read something by Lockhart, this is just... utter rubbish!"
Closing the door behind himself Hermione heard him wander down the stairs toward the kitchen or the library, the sound of his footsteps more obvious in the silence left behind in the bathroom.
... ... ... ... ...
Back in her room a short time later Hermione sat thinking about her housemate's intrusion of her bath time. She knew he'd most likely done it on purpose; after all there were only so many places she could be.
Sighing, she cast a drying charm on her hair and began the task of plaiting it to keep it out of the way. It seems like the only thing that's been going on in my life lately is reading for work, thinking about Snape and staying in, in the hope that he'll approach me again.
Well he did tonight, didn't he Hermione? In the bath of all places. What does that tell you about how he feels?
She didn't know. On one hand she was pretty sure that if he had the gall to do that, he was telling her pretty obviously that he liked her. His observation of her chest told her that rather well. But on the other she couldn't help but doubt herself.
She'd not dated much really, being far more interested in work and other things to value the idea of having someone to be with. Harry and Ron had, early on, both tried and failed to set her up. Ron had eventually seen the 'light' so to speak and stopped nagging her to find someone when it became clear to him that she wasn't looking. Harry on the other hand, well, he hadn't been single for more than a week at a time since the war had ended and had developed an irritating stance that a person is only complete when they're with someone. It drove her nuts.
Standing from her seat on the bed, Hermione tidied up her papers from the days work and quickly climbed into bed, even though she was still wide awake.
She hated not being certain about things. Hated not knowing. This thing with Snape was driving her mad, and in some ways she wished that she'd never come to Grimmauld Place. At least then he'd just be one of her daydreams instead of this strange reality.
Snuggling down under the duvet Hermione tried to relax and get to sleep, but it wouldn't work. She couldn't stop thinking about all the things he'd said to her, and she couldn't get the image of him out of her mind.
Rolling onto her back she opened her eyes and looked about the dark room, trying to distract herself but it was no use. He was on her mind and she couldn't shake it.
Licking her lips she moved a hand under the covers, pulling her top up so that her stomach was bared and began rubbing it in small circles, thinking back on the daydreams she had piled up over the years that starred Severus Snape.
Her hand moved down under the edge of her pyjama bottoms and into her underwear, a favourite fantasy playing out in her mind.
Stood in the middle of the room, naked but for her underwear, Hermione listened intently for signs that he was in the room still. The blindfold on her eyes distracting her as the smooth silk of it touched her skin.
"Severus?" she says quietly.
"I'm here, Hermione," he replies coming to stand behind her, his arms encircling her waist. "Tell me what you want, Hermione," he says into her ear, his voice ragged with emotion.
"I want... I want you to touch me," she answers breathily, grasping his hand and guiding it between her thighs. "Here."
He kisses her neck and does as she asks, his fingers moving beneath her knickers and probing her folds gently until his fingers happen upon her clitoris with unflinching accuracy...
Hermione bit her lip hard as she lost herself in her imagination, her fingers taking the place that she longed Severus' to.
"What else, Hermione?" he asks biting on her neck lightly, his fingers driving her crazy because he won't give her the pressure she so desperately wants.
"Oh, more... please, more," she gasps, leaning heavily against him. "Harder, I need... yes... that...," she cries out. He does as she asks, finding himself unable to deny her and she slowly crumbles around him. "Severus..."
Hermione's free hand reached out and clenched the bed covers as she climaxed, her mind firmly thinking of Snape as she did. "Ahhha!" she gasped, louder than she meant to.
Hermione's knees gave way as she orgasmed, causing him to hold onto her tightly and lower them both to the soft carpet. "Oh god," she uttered into his neck as he held her close.
Softly running a hand over her stomach, he caressed her skin looking into her eyes questioningly.
"Perfect," she said in reply to the unasked question.
Hermione's free hand travelled in patterns over her stomach as Snape's did in her mind, her other hand still in her underwear gently caressing herself until eventually she stopped, relaxed enough to try sleeping.
Taking her hand out of her underwear Hermione cast a light cleaning charm, dropping her wand on the bedside table afterwards and lay on her side in the dark yet again.
Thinking more calmly about her situation now, Hermione made herself a promise. She was going to try and find out where this thing with him could lead. If she had to do something to move it on, she would. She just had to try not to make an idiot out of herself or... well, run away in embarrassment or something.
... ... ... ... ...
Having had a late breakfast and done a little work, Hermione decided she'd work in the library for once. Not only did it mean a change of scenery it also meant the possibility of him being there.
Grabbing the big stack of books from the edge of the kitchen table Hermione set off at a slight stagger for the library, hoping that the fire was lit already because it was cold yet again.
Pushing the door open wider with her foot Hermione took a few steps into the room and dumped the books on the first chair she came across, surprised by how much they weighed when full size.
"Good morning, Miss Granger," Snape said from his seat by the fireplace.
"Good morning, Sir," she replied cheerfully, grabbing the top two books as well as the parchment and self inking quill from the pile. "I thought I'd work in here for a while today."
"Your latest project?"
"Defence against the Dart Arts. I've need to go through and produce a full report on all the literature available," she explained.
He closed the book he'd been reading, one of hers, and asked her, his face mocking, "All the books?"
"No, not really. Just the decent ones or what are supposed to be the decent ones anyway. Which it turns out is very few. I start reading and then find out three chapters in that the author hasn't ever even seen a vampire however thinks they're the number one authority on how to kill one. I've yet to actually find a book that's decent." She looked down at the book she held in her hand entitled '101 Ways to keep safe' by Mr K. Bruhn. Yet another one that looks to be a hopeless case.
He laughed, making her look up at him. "Miss Granger, you'll be looking for a long, long time in that case."
"Oh, I know," she replied. "I'm just glad I managed to whittle the book list down to about one eighty before I brought them back here. Honestly, some of the books on the list in the library at the Ministry were less use than a chocolate teapot."
"I don't doubt it," he added before turning back to the book he held.
Hermione read for a little while, finding out that Mr K. Bruhn's book only actually had 89 ways to keep safe, all of which were based upon the idea of not leaving the house. Shutting it with a noise she put it on the floor by her feet and turned to look into the fire, in contemplation.
"Bored already, Miss Granger?" Snape said, breaking her reverie.
"Oh, no, just thinking," she replied, turning to look at him and taking note of the book he was reading out of interest.
Temptations and Passions.
Smiling Hermione looked back to his face and asked as offhandedly as she could, "Enjoying the book, Sir? Even though it's... what was it... oh yes, 'utter rubbish'?"
He smirked at her and turned to the book before replying, "Call it intrigue into why you should find it so interesting to have read it more than a few times judging by the look of the pages, Miss Granger."
She stuttered for a moment realising how obvious it was that she'd read and re-read that book so many times before quickly recovering, not allowing him to embarrass her with a book. "It has its uses," she said, her cheeks pink.
He looked up to her, one eyebrow raised, "That so? I would have thought, Miss Granger that your imagination could do much better than this. It's hardly the best piece of erotic literature to be published."
Hermione shifted on the sofa, something that didn't escape his attention. "Uncomfortable?" he asked.
"No, just... Well it's not something I've ever really discussed before..." she trailed off.
"Which, your imagination or the book?" he said, the smirk on his face growing.
"Both," she answered honestly.
"Ah I see," he said looking back to the fire, "so you've never told a close friend your most valued daydream, your most illicit desire?" He paused turning his head back to her. "What or who you most... want?"
Hermione swallowed and attempted to stop herself from blushing, unsuccessfully. "I," she began, her throat tight, "I haven't really had any close female friends..."
He nodded and turned back to the flames for a moment before standing up and moving to sit next to her on the sofa, the book still in his hand. Hermione's heart beat faster and she turned to face him as he settled himself next to her, one of his legs brushing the side of hers.
"This," he began, opening the book to a particularly worn page as he held the book on his knee, "seems to be a part you like."
Hermione moved slightly so that she could see which page he meant and ended up leaning against his shoulder to be able to see.
"Well," he said, his eyes running over the words quickly, "I suppose it has a basic value in that it's worded in such a way as could appeal to some." Turning the page he quickly continued to read how Septimus Sinclair seduced and brought the young maiden to the brink of madness and back. Yes, one of the more thoroughly read sections, her mind admitted.
"This though," he said pointing out a paragraph to her. "Rubbish. How an author can be allowed to use such insipid terminology is what I don't understand. That's what editors are for."
Hermione looked up at his face as he spoke, wondering quite what he was hoping to achieve by doing this. He wasn't trying to educate her on the finer points of erotic literature that was for sure.
He turned to face her as he spoke but stopped as he realised how close they were. He looked at her, his eyes dipping between her eyes and her lips a few times before moving slightly closer and his body turning towards hers.
Kiss me, Hermione thought. Do it and don't stop.
It didn't happen though, because at that moment, Ron and Harry arrived at Grimmauld Place via the Floo in the next room, shouting for Hermione the minute they were able to.
... ... ... ... ...