Chapter 4

As he regained consciousness, Severus' first thought was that Hermione had been taken again. Somehow, the Death Eaters had gotten word of her abduction, and had tracked her down to the safe house. Though his rational mind would've dismissed the idea as next to impossible, his concern for the girl had become so deeply ingrained in his very being that it had eclipsed all other notions as his befuddled consciousness resurfaced.

Instinctively moving to withdraw his wand from its compartment in his left sleeve, Severus' wrist caught suddenly against a strong force. He realized with growing alarm that he had been crudely restrained, and was about to mutter a wandless incantation when his eyes focused on the female form crouched on the ground in front of him.

"Hermione?" he spoke, surprised to see her there.

The girl narrowed her eyes at him and tilted her head, wondering why he called her that.

Suddenly remembering himself, Severus blinked away the last vestiges of confusion and concentrated on the tricky position he was in. Though it was within his power to free himself from her bonds, for now he would allow her to believe that she had the upper hand.

He looked cautiously at her, hoping she wouldn't lash out at him and force him to demonstrate his power.

"There's no car," she spoke in almost a whisper, "how come there's no car?"

There was desperation in her eyes, and Severus realized the cause of her confusion.

"No," he answered, "There's no car."

"Then how did we get here?" she demanded, hysteria rising in her voice, "How do we get out?"

"Were you planning on going somewhere?" he asked, and immediately regretted it when he saw her face fall.

She stared at him long and hard, sizing him up. She was clearly stuck with him, alone in the middle of nowhere, with little chance of encountering another person, and she had no idea why. She could keep guessing, but none of her previous guesses were satisfying enough to be plausible. He really didn't seem insane; though she'd only just met him, something in his eyes told her that he was fully lucid and sensible. He seemed gentle, even caring, though something else in his eyes told her that he was fully capable of harming anyone who crossed him. There was a palpable strength to his presence; a power that was inscrutable and something beyond sheer masculinity. She was slightly afraid of him, but it was that same fear that made him all the more captivating. Perhaps he was some kind of pervert, but it would have to be a kind she was not familiar with. Whatever he was, she was intent on figuring it out.

"You're going to tell me why you brought me here, and you're going to tell me now." she tried, failing to ignore her secret embarrassment at the naivety of her approach.

Severus saw right through her, but feigned frustration.

"I told you," he insisted, "You're here so that I can protect you."

She looked at him disbelievingly. "What do I need protecting from?"

"Well," he offered, "That 'Brutus,' for starters - he didn't seem too keen on protecting your welfare, except from that mob, who I'd also expect you'd be pleased to be far away from..."

"That was nothing," she scoffed, "I've danced for worse crowds than them."

Severus shuddered to think what she meant by that, and winced sorrowfully at the thought. Hermione furrowed her brow at his expression, sensing his pity.

"At least none of them tried to kidnap me, to get me all to themselves in some remote shack in the middle of the outback, trying to convince me that it's for my own good... next you'll probably want to start pretending I'm your wife or something, and that it's perfectly normal to keep me trapped out here..."

"I can assure you I have no such intentions." Severus interjected, "My reasons for keeping you here are in no way... carnal."

Hermione smirked at that, detecting slight embarrassment from the man. She decided to push it further to be sure.

"Oh no? Not even a little bit?" she asked playfully, coloring her voice with fake disappointment.

She then rose to her knees in front of him, causing Severus to frown in confusion. Whatever she was playing at, he didn't like it.

"You mean to say that you dragged me all the way out here in my dancing shorts and my dressing robe just to serve me toast and eggs and keep me out of trouble?"

She had a mischievous look on her face that made Severus more than a little nervous as her fingers traced up and down the edge of her robe. He gave her a hard look that he usually reserved for misbehaving students, a look that had intimidated many a first-year needing to be taught just how formidable the wrath of Severus Snape could be - but she appeared undaunted, and, to his great consternation, simply laughed at him. It wasn't a nervous laugh, either, but the perennially intimidating laugh of a female quite aware of her own prowess.

"I don't believe you." She said in a low voice that was nearly as blood-curdling as Voldemort's could be.

She fixed her eyes on him like a snake about to strike, and Severus called upon his own skill at manipulation to present a rather convincing mask of impassivity. She didn't falter, however, and proceeded to rise to the challenge with an unconcealed note of glee.

Severus watched in horror as she proceeded to tug at the sash of her robe, slowly revealing the taught skin beneath the delicate satin. Pulling the fabric to one side, she exposed a single breast, which looked even more lovely up close, working her hand up around the perky flesh and gingerly coaxing a soft pink nipple into a rosy hardness.

Severus furrowed his brow in displeasure, looking her straight in the eyes in silent chastisement. Undaunted, she held his gaze confidently, immune to the shame he intended to provoke in her. Recognizing her audacity, his eyes softened into a pained sadness that was so genuine that she faltered for just a moment.

"Enough." he spoke quietly, "Please, enough."

Hermione frowned and lowered her hand, but didn't cover herself. She stared at him appraisingly, searching for any indication that he was bluffing. Was he really not interested in her body? She was almost afraid to consider the possibility. If she didn't have that power over him, what did she have? Her sexuality was her greatest asset, and she knew how to work it to her advantage. If she was stuck with a man who was truly immune to her charms, she might not have any chance of ever getting away...

She was suddenly motivated to take more drastic measures. Standing up, she pulled off the rest of her robe and straddled the dark man's lap before the gown had finished fluttering to the floor. Severus pulled back in surprise, appalled as she started stroking his chest and hair. She nuzzled her face against his, pressing her breasts into his chest as she whispered seductively into his ear:

"Come on, love, you must like me just a little... you're not so bad looking yourself, you big, strong man..."

Severus struggled against her, shouting "Get off! You're making a fool of yourself!"

Hermione gripped the hair at the back of his head and pulled back, causing him to gasp.

"What are you into, huh? Do you like it rough? Is this what you want?"

Severus' eyes widened as she started grinding into his lap, rolling her eyes back in gratuitous pleasure.

She slowed down to look back into his eyes, searching for any sign of arousal.

"I can be whatever you want me to be, sweetheart," she spoke low and seductively, grinding her hips in an agonizingly slow rhythm.

Suddenly aware of an erection forming beneath her, Severus decided that she had gone too far and muttered a wandless releasing charm to free himself from his bonds.

Hermione was surprised to find strong hands grip her arms and toss her onto the sofa beside her, staring up in disbelief as Severus stood before her, irate.

"How did you...?" she started, then quickly regained her composure in an effort to maintain her sense of control.

"It doesn't matter," she smirked, "I felt you, you dirty old man. I know that you want it." She laughed triumphantly, and Severus looked away in frustration.

"Just go to your room," he commanded, staring at the floor, "I don't want to look at you."

"Yes you do," she chuckled, "but I'll go anyway... see? I can be a good girl when I get what I want."

Hermione picked up her robe and dragged it over her shoulders, neglecting to tie the sash around her waist.

As she strutted back to the bedroom, she heard Severus ask quietly, "What happened to you?"

She paused at the door and considered his words, trying to figure out what he meant. Unable to discern any meaning, she frowned and slowly walked into the room, quietly closing the door behind her.

Severus ran a hand through his hair and down his face, then rubbed the back of his neck as his other hand pinched the bridge of his nose. This was going to be much harder than he realized.