Warning: This chapter contains references to rape in past tense. If you are unsettled by this topic, please do not read.
Severus stood, Hermione's tiny hand still wrapped around his. He twisted his hand to hold hers and gently led her to a couch on the other side of the room. He sat on the far left and turned his body slightly so he could guide her next to him. Putting his arm around her shoulder he pulled her close. Moving her hair behind her ear, Hermione placed a hand on his chest and her head on his shoulder. Severus breathed in deeply. The scent of fresh berries mixed with a hint of mint drifted from her hair. As he held her, he watched the fire across the room crack and shoot tiny sparks like fireworks into the air. He watched the ash burn out before it settled back into the dancing flames. He felt Hermione move and he was lifted out of his trance. Looking down, he saw her gazing up at him, a grin etched into her lips. Severus grinned back.
"What?" he asked playfully.
"Nothing" she said and quickly ducked her head back down.
Severus chuckled. "Well, it must have been something for you to be looking at me that way."
Hermione looked back up at him. "I'm just enjoying being with you. You're very comfortable. And surprisingly warm considering you spend all your time in these cold dungeons." The smirk on her face grew until a giggle escaped her lips.
"Quite the witty one you are, Miss Granger."
Hermione frowned a bit. "Back to 'Miss Granger' now are we, Professor?"
A big smile came across Severus' face and he laughed wholeheartedly. "Old habits die hard. Forgive me?"
Hermione raised herself up and planted a kiss on his lips. "Forgiven."
Before she could lower herself back onto the cushion, Severus gripped her upper arms and prompted her to straddle his lap. She did so willingly, leaning in for another kiss.
"What did I do to become so lucky as to have you?" Severus purred into Hermione's ear.
"What did I do to have you?" Hermione copied.
"Hmmm. Let's see. Well, I'm intelligent, wise, lived, and quite handsome if I do say so myself." Tossing his hair sarcastically he added "I'm quite the catch."
Hermione laughed and gently punched him in the arm. "Aren't we a witty one, " she said with a wink.
Sliding back to his side she placed her head back on his chest. "Can I ask you something?"
"Of course you can" he answered, stroking her soft hair.
"Why were you snogging Professor McGonagall?"
There was an uncomfortable silence. Hermione dared to look up. Severus was watching the fire again.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have been nosey" she said and she pushed herself off him and into a sitting position.
Severus put his hand on her shoulder. "You weren't being nosey" he said gently. "I was lost in thought for a moment." He pulled her back into his arms.
"Minerva and I, being human, have needs. We're both older and single and decided that we would try a strictly sexual relationship to fulfill those physical needs. I haven't been with a woman in years and she hasn't been with a man in years. Close to the end of the war she figured out that I was a double spy. I couldn't confirm that piece of information or it could have gotten her killed, but she lightened up toward me and the negative air between us cleared. In front of others I continued to act in my normal ways toward her, just like I've done with you. I'm guessing that's why you were so shocked when you realized what was about to happen between us."
"Did you really want to have a threesome with both of us?" Hermione asked a little uneasily. She wasn't sure if she wanted to imagine that.
"It would have been interesting" he said. "Never would I force anyone to do anything like that…not on my own free will, at least."
Hermione furrowed her brow. "What do you mean 'not on your own free will'?"
"As I said, I have baggage that I carry around with me. I am not proud of any of it, but no one ever disobeyed an order or denied a "gift" as he called it, from Voldemort."
"What were these "gifts"?" Hermione asked hesitantly.
Severus drew in a deep breath and his lips turned to a straight, tight line. "He would bring us women and we would have to take advantage of them. Some of them we knew, some of them we didn't. He would cheer us on the more violent we got with them."
Hermione's face went white. She knew Voldemort did some horrible things, but forcing his followers to rape women?
"About a month after he started bringing us women to violate, I became ill with an extremely high fever. I had some potions in my cabinet that cured me in a few days time. The next day, I was brought a woman but I couldn't perform. I was beaten for it. I realized that I was unable to perform because of the potions I had taken. They had a side effect of sexual dysfunction. I immediately brewed a few cauldrons worth and kept a vile hidden in my robes. One batch I made was accidentally diluted when I dropped a whole jar of pickled toad eggs into the mixture. By diluting it, the effects were half as strong as a potent mixture and I was able to sustain an erection for about ten minutes before I was unable to perform again. Of course I became the object of a joke with the other men, but it worked to my advantage. They would poke fun about me being an "old git" and tell me how much fun I was missing out on. If I had been caught taking that potion, I would have been killed, but I risked it because I didn't want to hurt anyone."
Hermione's mouth was in an "o" shape, eyebrows raised, face white.
He patted her on the shoulder. "That's enough for now. Dinner will be starting soon."
Severus helped Hermione off the couch and they walked in silence to the Great Hall. Hermione walked in the main doors and Severus rounded the corner toward the professor's entrance. Hermione immediately noticed Harry, Ron, and Ginny sitting in the same place they had eaten breakfast.
"Where were you guys during lunch?" she called excitedly as she neared the table.
"We had a lunch detention." Harry scowled.
"A lunch detention? Who gave you a lunch detention?" Hermione said, wrinkling her nose.
"Snape." Spat Ron and he glared at the empty seat at the end of the professor's table.
"What? No way. I didn't see you guys when I was headed down to class after lunch. What did you get in trouble for, anyway?"
Harry and Ron exchanged looks.
"What?" Hermione demanded.
Ginny piped in. "He gave them a detention because he said they were walking too loud. He told Ron to pick up his feet and stop dragging them. I got in trouble for laughing too loud. Can you believe it?"
Now Hermione shot a glare at the professor's table. Snape had finally taken his seat and was too busy eating to notice her staring at him.
"I had started to like him after the war, but he's the same old greasy git he's always been" Ron bawked.
Hermione kicked him under the table.
"Ginny!" he squealed. A few Ravenclaw students turned to see what the commotion was about. "Mind your own business!" he barked at them and they turned back to their plates.
"I didn't do anything, Ron" Ginny huffed.
"Whatever. If you like him, then fine. Just don't bring him near me."
"I said I didn't do it, Ron. I got in trouble for laughing. Do you think that makes me like him?"
"You probably secretly fancy him" Ron mocked.
Now Ginny really did kick Ron. He yelped again and held his leg.
"That's enough!" Hermione shot at them. "Let's just eat and get back to the common room so we can finish our homework before we all get a detention."
Once back in the common room, Ron, Harry, and Ginny started a game of Exploding Snap. Hermione went to her private rooms to do homework. When she sat at her desk she noticed an owl in her window. When she opened the window, the owl flew in, dropped a letter on her desk, and screeched to get back out. Hermione let the owl out and picked up the letter. Her name was written on the front with the same calligraphy she recognized from the chalkboard in potions class. She tore off the envelope and read the letter:
Hermione,
I would like to inquire about you coming to our prior meeting place tonight at 7 o'clock. Perhaps you can stay out late.
S
Stay out late? Of course she could stay out late. She didn't have a curfew this year. Unless he meant for her to stay in his room for the night? It was the weekend. Hermione looked at the clock. It was 6:30. She found her beaded handbag. She had never removed the undetectable extension charm from it so she was easily able to fit her bed clothes, an outfit, and some toiletries for the next day. Slipping the beaded bag inside of her school bag, she realized that if she had misinterpreted his message, he would never know. She had packed her belongings in the handbag for the space, but if he didn't intend on her staying, she could simply keep the bag hidden.
Tossing her schoolbag over her shoulder Hermione made her way to the common room portrait. Her three friends were so involved in their game that they didn't even notice her leaving. As she walked down the deserted corridors, she smiled to herself. "I wonder what tonight will hold" she thought and she disappeared into the dungeons.
