Chapter 7 ~ There's Got to Be a Morning After

.Tap. Tap. Tappity Tap.

"Go 'way," Hermione moaned, her face buried in a pillow.

Tappity. Tappity. Tap. Tap.

Oh, that had to be the most annoying sound she had ever heard.

Hermione opened her eyes. It was so bright. What time was it? She rolled over and grimaced as pain shot up her body.

"Oh…gods," she breathed.

Now fully awake, Hermione felt that her throat was almost closed with thirst. She was parched, and her head pounded. Gingerly, she rose in the bed, aching all over. She saw a pitcher of water on the night table, and scooted over painfully.

Swinging into a sitting position on the edge of the bed, she poured herself a glass and drained it straight down. She filled it again, and drank another quarter glass before her throat felt lubricated again.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

What the hell was that noise?

Hermione turned to look out the bedroom window. On the sill stood a familiar black raven, one eye cocked against the glass, glaring in at her. It had a package tied to its leg, and looked extremely put out at having to wait to be let in.

Hermione tried to stand, and almost fell because of the horrible ache between her legs. She spread her legs and saw her inner thighs were heavily bruised. Further investigation showed the lips of her sex were swollen and her soft pink inner flesh, raw. She groaned as the bird began tapping the window again.

"I'll be there in a minute," she groaned. "Keep your wings on."

Hermione noticed the vials and the healing draughts left on the table. Trusting Severus' judgment, she drank them down, one after the other. Slowly, the worst of the pain subsided. Hermione sighed in relief. Her body felt as if it had gone ten rounds with a mountain troll.

She went to the loo, and her morning piss was excruciating, if small. She had come so much last night, it was a wonder she had any fluids left. Hermione stood up, stretched and winced as pain shot up her back. She twisted around to take a look at it in the bathroom mirror, and gasped at the angry welts and bruises that greeted her eyes. The bruises went from her shoulders to her lower back and upper ass. Two bruises in the shape of four fingers creased both sides of her hips.

"Oh, Severus. What have you done to me?" she whispered as she gazed her wracked body.

She walked back into the bedroom. At least most of her pain was gone, although she looked awful. If anyone in authority could see her condition, she was sure Severus would be arrested for assault. But, damn…what an assault it was. He was brutal, but he was thorough.

And the sick part was, she loved it. When he was battering her, she wanted every bit of him just that way.

Tappity! Tappity! Tap! Tap! Tap!

"Okay, okay. I'm coming," Hermione said as she threw on her robe and tied it, wincing a bit as the belt tightened on the bruises on her lower back.

She realized she didn't have her wand to unward the window, so walked into the living room to retrieve it from the foyer table. A lump rose in her throat when she thought of Severus disrobing just inside the front door, his dark eyes flashing with anger and lust. She blushed as she passed the patch of wall he had pinned her against. It was good she was leaving. She would never be able to think about her flat in the same way again. Snape's domineering presence was everywhere. It was no longer her home.

Hermione walked back into the bedroom and unwarded the window. The raven flew in and perched on the headboard, its feathers fluffed up with indignation.

"Thank your master for the length of time it took me to let you in," Hermione muttered as she approached the bird, who stuck out its leg with a decided air of asperity.

As she untied the package, she said to the bird, "And you caught me packing again, so there's no treats. You better not shit on my sill again, or I swear to the gods I will transform you into a feather duster before you can fly ten feet."

The raven looked a bit cowed. As soon as the package was removed, it let out a loud caw and flew straight out the window. This time it left nothing but the package behind. Hermione opened the package. Inside was a large jar of salve, and a small parchment. She unscrewed the top of the jar and smelled its contents. A mix between icy-hot and honeysuckle. Not too bad. She closed the jar and placed it on the bed, before picking up and unrolling the parchment. It was written in Severus' hand. She read the message.

Dear Hermione,

You were asleep when I departed, but I trust our rendezvous made a definite impression on you, and your current needs were satisfactorily met. In regards to said impressions, I have sent you a jar of my own special healing salve that I use when I find myself in need of quick reparation and relief. Apply it to the affected areas and they should clear fully within two hours of application. Also, here are the wards I used to lock your door. You will need them to exit your flat.

A number of drawn symbols followed this sentence. The note continued.

I would like to meet with you after you have settled into your new rooms at Hogwarts, to discuss the venture at hand. If you are in need of my services before then, feel free to contact me in the established manner. You can trust I will respond to your request quickly.

Sincerely,

Prof. Severus Snape
Potions Master

P. S. Be sure to drink plenty of fluids during the day, to recover those you lost. SS

Hermione re-read the letter, shaking her head at the thinly veiled reference to her bruises and rawness (impressions), and the insinuation that she would actually be "needing his services" anytime soon. Currently, she felt as if she had had enough sex to last the rest of her natural, and maybe unnatural life. But still, it was considerate of him to send her salve for her bruises. She believed that this was the same salve he used when he returned battered and broken from meeting with the Dark Lord. Somehow, it made her feel closer to him.

She waited for the parchment to burst into flame, but it didn't this time. Clearly, he wanted her to keep it…maybe as a reminder of their night together. She re-rolled it, and deposited it in her robe pocket. Picking up the salve, she headed for the bathroom for a hot, steamy shower. She could smell him on her still, and his scent was intoxicating, but she needed to attend to her bruised and sex-wracked body, and there was no other way for it.

Severus watched Hermione through the scrying mirror as he took his lunch in his private quarters between classes. He had winced when he saw the extent of the bruises covering her luscious flesh, but damn…it wasn't as if he could help himself. It had been far too long since he had enjoyed Hermione's body. The fact that she hadn't reacted too badly to the painful cost she paid for denying him for so long reassured him that Hermione Granger bore him no ill. And her private thoughts of how much she loved his violent possession, assured him that, if he were patient, he would have her again.

A/N: I think Hermione may be ruined for mere mortal men. Something dark is inside that young woman. Severus, perhaps? ~ Author Note 2005

A/N/N: This is the second appearance of Raucous, Snape's OC familiar is this series. He doesn't have a name yet, or a larger role, but it's clear he has a personality. Raucous played a major role in "The Ring" which was written before Severus' history was revealed by JKR. He's half Lemurian in that one. lololol. Still it was a fun story, with Hermione having to journey to his homeland to deliver a mysterious object to his ancestral tomb and facing all kinds of danger. Raucous went with her and they were a team. He is also promeniently featured in "Becoming Familiar with a Man of Misery" where he is Hermione's antagonist. They can't stand each other. Hexes and droppings fly. lol. He's a fun character. I love writing animal characters. There's a saber-toothed black panther that is Hermione's pet in "Payback is a Witch" who can communicate with his mind. He used to be a shapeshifter, but a Brahmin cursed him because he diddled his daughter, so he's stuck in cat form forever. The Brahmin added the saber-teeth so everyone would know the panther was unnatural. He was named Bagheera, after Rudyard Kipling's Jungle Book character. He was funny too. He referred to Snape as "That ugly wizard with the big lingham." lol. Well, I'm rambling. Thanks for reading.