CHAPTER NINE: CONVERSATIONS

Poppy had just closed the door when Severus attacked. The annoying man had been absent when he woke this morning.

"I can't believe you're dating my grandmother!" Severus glared at the man in the painting.

"You forgot several greats in there,"

"Same difference! Her brother better not find out that she's dating a Gryffindor. He'll rip you to shreds,"

"He can't stop me from courting her,"

"Er…yes he can. He almost had her put to death when she refused to marry a man of his choosing,"

"What stopped him?"

"Lilith, my other grandmother. She's the one married to the old headmaster. She told him that death was too quick and that she should suffer. She promised that they would take her in as a slave. He agreed,"

"So Guinevere spent her life as a servant?"

Severus snorted and said, "no. For Slytherins, Headmaster Snape and his wife were incredibly charitable. Their reasoning was that she was family since her daughter was married to their son."

"Did they ever make up? She rarely mentions her brother,"

"Family lore has it that he asked for her the day he died, but she refused to come. Lilith convinced her that if she didn't go she'd regret it and making up with a portrait is just not the same thing. So I guess they kissed and made up."

"Thanks for the info, but he's hardly likely to come to Hogwarts,"

"So you hope. Besides you won't always be in Hogwarts," he grinned then said, "just don't hurt her."

"I won't,"

"Good,"

"Now speaking of hurting women. When are you going to talk to Hermione?"

"That segue was atrocious,"

"So sue me," he walked out the frame.

"Whenever I feel like it,"

"Fine. Just don't leave it too long," he walked back in dressed suspiciously like a certain potions master.

"I won't,"

"Good. Good. How do I look?"

"Like yourself only in black,"

"I'm busting a gut," he adjusted his robes, "I have another date with Guinevere and I want to look good."

"You look fine. So where are you taking her?"

"There's this beautiful restaurant in a painting in the Louvre. To Muggles apparently it's a rendition of what the castle of Camelot was supposed to look like. Boy, are they way off. It's on loan from the British Museum. But to us it's a restaurant. I'm taking her there,"

"That sounds nice, just make sure her brother doesn't find you. I do have one question,"

"What is it?" he was fixing his hair.

"How are you going to get to France? There's water between us,"

"There are paintings in France unbelievable as it may sound,"

"Har de har,"

"Well. I'm off. Remember tell her you forgive her!" he walked out of the frame.

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"Tell her I forgive her," he snorted, "it's not that simple."

He didn't know why he was holding a grudge. He'd thought he was through with behavior like that when he met Isola. But there was something about Granger that just rubbed him the wrong way. Maybe it was the fact that she was a friend of the Boy-Who-Refused-To-Die-And-Let-Me-Have-Some-Peace Potter. Maybe it was her constant craving for attention. Maybe it was that bushy hair. Whatever it was he didn't like it.

His eyes landed on Granger's romance novel. Now that he'd slept on it, he readily admitted to himself that he had been deliberately cruel. He'd crossed the boundary that separated teachers from their students. He still didn't know what had made him do it. Frustrated he decided to take a nap.

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The dark flame of anger engulfed his being as he hunted down his quarry. It was obvious he had been too lenient with her. It stopped tonight. No more treating her like a princess. He kicked open the door to her bedchamber. The resounding slam echoed through the room making him smile when he saw her jump.

"My Lord! What is the meaning of this?"

He watched as she scampered off the bed at his approach. By Odin! She was beautiful. He forced himself to focus on his anger.

"You humiliated me in front of my father slave!" he slammed the door shut after he'd stepped through.

He saw her swallow. He knew that the quieter he spoke the more afraid people became. She was no exception. He stalked towards her. A part of him was proud of the way she returned his glare.

"I warned you. I told you that I am no man's slave. I am a princess,"

"You lost your rank when I captured you. Now you are nothing more than a piece of chattel for me to do with as I please,"

When he was within grabbing distance, he reached out for her. He snarled as she ducked under his arm and ran for the door.

"Freeze!" he made his voice its quietest knowing that it would terrify her enough into obeying, "touch that door Fiona and I will slit your brother's throat. Open that door and I will order my men to have their sport with you. After that you will be given to my father's men. I leave the choice up to you."

He frowned as she laughed. He didn't know what she found so funny. She turned to face him. He made sure his face showed no emotion. He stood with his arms crossed over his massive chest. He hid a smile as she mirrored his stance.

"A wise choice. Now strip!"

"No!"

"It is time for your punishment. Get undressed. Do not make me have to do it myself. I promise you that you will not like that,"

He ignored the glare she was sending his way as she slowly unlaced her dress and let it fall to the floor.

"The slip as well,"

Locking eyes with him, she slid the straps of her slip off her shoulders and let it fall to the floor as well.

He couldn't quite contain a gasp. She was beautiful and she was all his.

"Come lay on my lap,"

She blushed, but didn't move.

"Now Fiona,"

He watched from under his eyelashes as she walked towards him, the light showing her body to perfection. He removed the clasp of his cloak and let the garment slither to the floor. She was trembling as she lay across his thighs. She shuddered when his hand caressed her bottom.

"You could have avoided this. Remember that,"

He removed his hand. He saw her bottom clench waiting for the blow. She gasped when he brought his hand down against her right cheek. He repeated the same action with her left cheek. Four more slaps left her bottom a nice rosy red.

He pushed her off his lap.

"Don't ever make me do that again, Hermione!"

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Severus gasped and choked. A sheen of sweat glistened on his forehead.

Oh Merlin! I just spanked my naked student!

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A.N. As you can tell this is a purely Snape scene. I decided to nudge Sev along. He was being very stubborn.