A Pressing Matter
Chapter 4
A Pressing Continuation
A/N: I want to apologize for the long wait. But my original draft of this chapter ended up being deleted (on accident) forcing me to have to completely rewrite. I also want to thank those who reviewed and said that story was labeled as complete. I don't know why that happened. I did fix it and I think there maybe one or two chapters left here.
I feel I should address the cliffy. I know you've probably thought me a spiteful bitch and I do apologize. Well actually not really. It was necessary and if it roped you in to read another chapter, than yay for me. I hope you enjoy.
Xoxoxo
Time completely stopped. They untangled their bodies from each other quickly, quietly. Snape helped Hermione off his desk and guided her to stand behind the door. The tension was palpable as he opened the door, seamlessly applying his mask of indifference. His eyes caught the nervous fidgety form of one of his own.
"Miss Harding?" The girl appeared to be a jumble of nervous and his heart sank for the witch behind his door.
"I've come to ask your for assistance with a pressing matter." The words quickly left the girl's lips. He shook his head her
"I'm no longer able to assist in those matters." He says flatly, but his heart was racing, in wondering of how Hermione was handling this. He closed the door with a slight slam. He took in his witch, she shook with anxiety and anger. He acted quickly by grabbing her, placing his hand over her mouth. "Not one word until we reach my private quarters." She doesn't respond but he can feel her seething in his arms. He placed them under a disillusionment spell, waiting a few moments for the girl to leave and carefully walked them out his office door.
As Snape walk them down the hall, he cursed every deity he could think of for this. As if fate, the cruel heartless bitch, seemed to take particular joy in taking away any shred of happiness from him. It's was why he stayed aloof, for this exact reason. The moment he choose to be happy, it was in danger of being ripped away. He considered quickly of maybe just bedding Hermione, let her use her fury on his body. But for some reason he felt that would be cowardly. If she was as angry as her stiff, shaking body suggested, then she was going be particularly venomous once he released her. And he deserved what was to come.
Once inside his chambers, he charmed the door. He turned the witch to look at him. "I'm going to let you go, alright?" He didn't want to, but knew there was no other choice. He steered himself for the on coming onslaught.
Xoxoxo
The whole walk back his chambers, she was a wreck of emotions. Her mind playing back the sound of the unseen girl's voice, over and over again. Hermione felt something inside her snap. She wanted to reach around the door and hurt the girl, she wanted hurt Snape too. He had just said he was going to stop seeing anyone else. All thoughts that she could have forgotten about it all ended with the knock on his door. Then as if she wasn't already compromised, her mind took her to a dark place and wondered during all the times they weren't together if he truly was still sleeping with others. By the time they reached his quarters she was seeing red. She barely acknowledged that he said anything. And then she was out of his grasp, the only thing holding her back.
First she started to hit him in his arms and chest. If it hurt, he hadn't registered. After a few moments her voice returned to her.
"Are you kidding me?!" She screamed. Not truly needing an answer for this question. With the blood pounding in her ears that she never heard him say,
"I'm sorry." Hermione put some distance between them while she tried to form a coherent thought.
"Is that why always came here?!" Hermione screeched, she couldn't even look at him as she began to pace frantically.
"Yes, but not for any other reason than I selfishly didn't want our time intruded on for any reason." He decided that no matter how the accusations would come he would answer honestly, if he were to have any hope of keeping her. Her pacing was making him dizzy, her hair took the brunt of her anger as she grabbed at it.
"Sure it wasn't because you were ashamed someone would see you with me?" He was shocked that in her current state that she would even think that about herself. He desperately want to hold her, but knew she wouldn't allow him to, not right now, if ever again.
"I have NEVER been ashamed what we've been doing." His voice registered the bit anger he felt at the situation and at her own opinion of herself. Then added "I may only be ashamed of myself for never noticing you as anything more than a student, before you came to me." She blinked at his honesty. But quickly the anger seeped back in.
"So they've been still coming to your door? You just said you wanted only me, why didn't you stop this before?" He thought on that. He should have, he felt from the beginning this was different, he treated it as if it were. Why didn't he just start saying he no longer wished for them to come? Then it dawned him.
"Yes, they have. I only just realized you were the only one I wished to open my door to. I ignored all the other inquiries. However, I should have started saying no from the beginning, but..." he paused, not knowing how to word something so personal. "I left the notion open in case you decided you didn't want to continue." It took Hermione a few moments to understand what he was saying.
"So you thought that if I left, you'd just go back to fucking anyone who came to the door?"
"I have never just fucked anyone whom came to the door!" His tone was darker than he wanted. He needed to calm down, he wasn't good with expressing his feelings out loud and the harsh reality that played out before was making him too edgy.
"So how many have you said yes to since I came to you?" That accusation felt like a stab to the heart and hurt more than the having his throat ripped open.
"None." She shook her head as if she didn't believe him.
"How am I suppose to believe that? There plenty of weekends that I wasn't here."
"Granger!" Snape growled and then quickly changed his tone. "Hermione, I haven't had another woman in my office, since about two weeks before you came and none since." He hated having to justify himself to anyone. But she needed to know. "I have had no other interests, but you."
"You are skilled liar. How am I to truly believe anything you say?" He kept his distance from her to allow her space to think, but this accusation hurt more than the others. He grabbed her shoulders and made her focus on his eyes, she struggled against his hold as he started to speak.
"Since the beginning, I sought the girls who came to me, for companionship. Having never been able to maintain a normal relationship with anyone. This was the only way I could reach out. But I hated myself for it after each encounter, I would become physically ill. But with you, I didn't feel ill, upset or disgusted with myself. I couldn't understand why. That's why kept inviting you back, it was... nice to not feel like rubbish after." He took a moment to regain some composure, if was far more open than he was comfortable with. "But if you still feel as if you can't trust me." He let go of her and walked to his bookshelf and grabbed a small wooden box from the shelf, pulling something out from inside and walked back to her, opened his hand. "You can administer this."
Xoxoxo
Inside his hand was a vial, the lack of color alone screamed at what it was to her. She raised her hands to her mouth and a sob escaped her lips. "Veritaserum?" After seeing the vial, all the anger and pain came out of her, like popping a balloon. She felt like she couldn't breathe. She grabbed the offending vial and threw it into a nearby chair like it was a grenade. She dropped to the floor on her knees and started to cry, she hated being emotional in front of anyone, but she couldn't contain the emotions swirling inside any long. She didn't know how long she sat on the hard floor crying, but once her legs started to go numb,She moved to sit on her bottom and pulled her knees to her chest with her arms; and shortly after the tears stopped. When Hermione could see clearer, she could see Snape standing nearby, but looking more like someone whom came across a wild animal, he was trying to maintain a guarded, safe distance away. "Why do you have that?" She croaked. Finding her voice had suffered from screaming at him and the crying.
"Old habits, die hard, I assume." He offered her his hand to help her stand but she pulled him down to sit on the floor with her. He moved forward and held her face in his hands, trying to discern her current emotional state. Seeing her calmer, he kissed her forehead. She lightly moaned at his touch. She looked up at him, eyes half swollen from her tears. He kissed her nose, she whimpered. Finally kissing her on the lips. It was suppose to be quick peck, quickly turns into a more passionate kiss. It built the heat that was happening back in his office. He reluctantly pulled away. She had an adorable pout on her face. "We need to talk. Are you willing to trust my word?" She stayed quiet for a moment as she replayed in her mind all he had said.
"You would become ill? Like vomit?" He slightly chuckled that the smart woman would need that kind of clarification.
"Yes, Hermione."
"But not with me? Why?"
"I truly haven't figure that one out, myself." He shifted his position on the floor. "I suspect it may be because I actually... care about you." He looked at her to see her reaction. Her eyes were the only thing to register they were wide "You are not another faceless female student. You are the Insufferable Know It All, whom I've grown fond of through protecting you and your numbskull friends. And after everything that has happened between us now, it's not just an obligation."
"I'm sorry I yelled at you..."
"And the assault on my person?" Snape ask sound more amused than upset
"Yeah that too." She stretches her legs and goes to get up. He followed suit and they took a seat on his small couch. "If it bothered you so much, why did you keep accepting offers."
"I suppose I felt I deserved to feel that way... after." She stared at him confused.
"You saw it as a punishment?"
"I have done a great deal of bad things in my life, Hermione. Unforgivable things, that I need to atone for."
"Are you crazy? You have more then paid for those 'sins' you committed." She took his hands in her. "You really need to stop torturing yourself. You have given your life and no one could ask you to give any more in forgiveness."
"It's not so easy. I long decided that somethings aren't attainable for me. Being happy has always one of those things."
"Well that is the most stupid thing I have ever heard you say." She huffed. "You are an intelligent wizard but the thought that you don't deserve happiness is absurd. If anyone deserves that, it most definitely IS you." He just dismisses her comment. "You know, maybe I'm not sorry for hitting you after all."
"I'm not mad at you for it. I was reluctant to let you go, knowing you were going to be distraught."
"Distraught? I'm most definitely not distraught. I'm a lot of things; angry, hurt , and so on. But distraught wasn't one. I felt like something inside me snapped and have never felt like that before."
"That fiery beast of a feeling was jealousy." He says slightly amused. "Which I'm honored but at the same time, feel as if I'm unworthy of."
"Oh shut it." She says with a small smile on her face. "So what now? Do we go on a date or something?" She blanched at the thought of a date, it seemed a bit backwards. Snape let out uncharacteristic laugh.
"Well I was going ask if you wanted spend term break with me. I was thinking of going home and we could spend some time getting know each other. I suppose we could venture out into Muggle London together, if that's what you would like."
"You want us to go away together?"
"Yes. Here there is too much that can happen and our time is always too short."
"I want to talk to McGonagell." Snape turned even more pale, than normal.
"Whatever for?" Uncertainty in his voice
"After the break. We can come up with a cover story. I just want it said we are together, that way there isn't any surprises later. I'm of age, that helps a bit. I just don't want anyone looking too closely into your previous arrangements."
"Damnit. You have a point, Insufferable Know it all." He growled after a long moment.
Xoxoxo
The term was about to end and it seemed like the secret news of the "needs professor" was no longer taking partners had spread through quiet whispers. Hermione had managed to hear some of the whispers. Mostly speculation that he got caught. But the stories were always so far fetched, one such story she managed to catch was a scornful student was turned down and she made it her point to be vengeful and told the headmistress. She knew this wasn't the case, and found it amusing. Until a week earlier where she started getting very harsh stares from some of the female population. It was exactly the opposite of what Hermione was use to. Normally she couldn't stop the hero worship and now she felt like she was a pariah.
It was a Hogsmead weekend and luckily Snape didn't have to chaperone. She made her way to his quarters. She wasn't even all the way through his doorway when he started to snog her. The freedom of a virtually empty school was liberating. The seduction was delirious, while clothing magically disappeared and they collapsed on his bed. Hermione hadn't realized that when Snape was finally able to be the man he wanted to be, that he would actually be beyond passionate. Their weekends together were spent in carnal bliss and in the aftermath, they would talk and get to know each other. Mostly talking about what they wanted in their future. It felt like a real relationship, just not during the week where there were clear lines between their affections and appearances.
And no matter how great the weekends were, during the week she felt awful. She felt more and more spurned by her fellow students. Hermione tried not to look too much into it. Until it was thrown in her face. The first instance happened while in Severus' class. The harsh stares always seemed the strongest here. She could feel the angry eyes of a blond Slytherins boring into her skull. Doing all she could to ignore the glaring witch, she tried to focus on the lecture from her wizard.
Finally breaking under the pressure, she hissed at the witch. "What?!" She said nothing and turned away. What she missed was Snape witnessing the exchange and the horror on his face. That he quickly removed and snapped in his usually fashion.
"Is there a problem, Miss Granger? Miss Harding?" The name struck a cord and Hermione had to do everything to keep her seat and not storm out of the classroom, forcing Severus to take house points for attacking the witch, which could have caused more problems. The witch turned and faced the professor and meekly said no. Hermione bit her tongue, so hard that she almost drew blood. "Miss Granger for disrupting the class you will serve detention with me this afternoon." She just put her head down, as the classmates chuckled.
The rest of class went on with another incident. When he finally excused the class, he asked Hermione to stay behind. Once the classroom was over, he walked to her charming door before he pulled her into a tight embrace. In his arms, she started to cry. The only real outlet for the torrent of emotions swirling inside her.
"I don't know why she was singling me out. How could she have known?" Her face became fearful "Do you think others know?"
"I seriously don't believe anyone knows." He pulls her away from his chest to look her in her eyes. "You will tell me of any other like encounters, and we will deal with it as it occurs. Do you have any idea why?"
"Well I have been hearing rumors about you no longer providing your services. Most are just hogwash. Like a vengeful witch got you in trouble..." the realization hit them both at the same time. "Oh god! They think it's me!"
"Crap!" Snape pulled away and began pacing, trying to compose his thoughts. "How many would have known about you coming to see me?
"Just a witch named Nina from Ravenclaw. She was the one who told me how to approach and who you were. I over heard some girls talking about what you did for select students. They didn't say it was you, just mentioned that Nina knew the 'rules'. So I went and asked her."
While she was recounting Hermione's story, he was running his fingers in his hair in a fit of frustration. "Alright, you are to protect yourself at all times, you hear me. Keep you wand with you and be vigilant. I want you to be safe. If need be I'll assign more detentions, if it means your aren't alone."
"I don't think it will need to come to that. I will just be more on guard now that I know why I've been given so many cross stares. Thank you for not taking house points, by the way."
He smirked, "that could still be arranged."
"You will not, Severus." He pulled her close and kissed her quickly before she could argue more. She melted into his kiss, then it was over, much too soon
"Be back her after lunch, I will find something terribly degrading for you to do."
"Oh jeez, thanks."
Xoxoxoxo
Hermione was beginning to feel uncomfortable, even though there hadn't been any real encounters yet. The harsh stares and muffled insults were becoming too much for her. She spent as much time hiding as she could. Mostly in dungeon classroom near Severus' classroom, that he set up for her to study in with wards on the room so she would know if someone was going to come in.
She was on her way back to her dorm from her classroom, when she was accosted. She found herself pressed up hard against the wall, with a hand grasping around her throat. She was having hard time breathing. She tried to focus on grabbing her wand, when her attacker spoke.
"I thought I told ya, not ta cause him trouble?" Hermione tried to respond, but couldn't with the hand pressing against her throat. "I knew he wouldn' want ya. But ya still had ta try."
"Pl-ea-se." Hermione said trying to breath. Her vision was getting blurry. Then all of sudden, the obstruction was gone. And she was being pulled into the classroom she had just vacated and sat in a chair.
"Miss Chadwick can you explain, just what was going on out there?" His voice was even but there was a hidden tone of anger. She didn't respond right away. "I expect you to answer me." Hermione could tell Snape was losing his patience.
"Why are ya protectin' her?" She throws a terrible glare at Hermione, who was finally able to breath again. "If I'd known she'd make trouble, I wouldn' have told her?"
"What are you talking about?"
"That hateful bitch, didn' like you sendin' her away and now ya can't..." she turns and points at Hermione. "She is jealous.."
"That's enough!" He said ending her incomplete ramblings. "Assaulting another student is grounds for expulsion. I will be personally taking you Flitwick and making sure your punishment is appropriate."
"But sir, I was protectin' ya."
"Listen here, Miss Chadwick. I stopped because you girls are more trouble than your worth. Might I add I do NOT need protecting from second rate witch." His voice was dangerous, as he addressed the terrified and hurt Nina. "Miss Granger I wish for you to stay here, until I return from disposing of Miss Chadwick and I will take you to see Poppy." Hermione nodded as he strolled out pulling the witch behind him.
Hermione cried as the shock of her attack, finally subsided. Her hands went to her throats as she felt the pain and tenderness from being strangled. It seemed like eternity, before her hero in black returned. He was quick to pull her into his arms. "Are you ok?" Turning her neck to see the bruising. She sniffles and nods. "Let's go."
Holding his hand out to help her up. "You have no idea how much control it took me to not..." he paused noting how his thoughts turned dark.
The whole walk to the hospital wing was silent and he had her walk slightly in front of him so he could hold her hand, under the cover of his robes. As they walked in, Madam Pomfrey came upon them.
"Severus, what can I do for you?" He directed Hermione to sit on a cot and pulled Medi-witch aside.
"I came across Miss Granger being assaulted by another student."
"Oh my. Where was she hurt?"
"She was being strangled." Poppy looked shocked.
"I will tend to her. Is the other student being taken care of?"
"I left her with Flitwick, I'm sure the right thing will be done."
"Hermione is in good hands. If you have classes soon, you may go." He nodded
"Tell her to come to my office this evening, so I can check on her well fair. I will sent note that I've excused her from the rest of her classes. She doesn't need more attention." Poppy nodded And with that he left in flowing wave of black.
"Hello dear. Let me check you." Hermione's throat hurt still, she just nodded. The elder witch runs a diagnostic spell to assess the damage. Then she walks away and grabbed a couple of vials and a small jar. "Take one of these pain potions now and one if it hurts more later. Put this on the bruising a couple of times a day to help go away. Your vocal cords are a little bruised but nothing permanent. It will be hard to talk for a day or so. And if your throat hurts any, my suggestion would be a cuppa." Madame Pomfrey applied some of salve. "Oh Professor Snape said once I released you, to go see him. He has excused you from your other classes for the day." The elder witch pulled Hermione in for a hug. "You poor dear. I'm releasing you, but if you want to rest here for a bit. You are more than welcomed." Hermione nodded and laid down on the cot for a bit and quickly dozed off.
Xoxoxo
It was more than two hours since Severus left Hermione in the medical wing. He didn't know why it was taking her so long to return. She didn't appear to be that injured. His office was feeling very confined as he waited. The sound of the knock, bringing him more relief then he had felt in ages. He opened the door to see Hermione standing there. Her eyes puffy and red from crying and the dark bruising around her neck was just slightly visible as she hung her head. He ushered her in, closing and charming the door.
"I fell asleep." Her voice was pained and horse.
"That explains a lot. How are you?"
"I'm..." she didn't know how to answer. "I've been through worst." She said whispering to protect her throat.
"I suppose you have. It's a good thing term is over this week." Hermione nodded in response.
"Madam Pomfrey said tea would be good for my throat." She whispered.
"How very British." Severus said with a smirk as he calls for a house elf.