Disclaimer: See Chapter one

A/N: Thanks for all the reviews!

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Power in All its Glory

Chapter 10: Consequences

Hermione stared at her Potions professor. Her brown eyes were wide in shock as her mind scrambled to understand what he had just said.

He knew her weakness.

She suddenly felt that maybe she had gone too far. However, she knew there was no turning back. She took a deep breath and then forged ahead.

"What are you going to do? Fail me?" Her eyes flashed defiantly. "You wouldn't dare!"

"Not that weakness, Miss Granger," Snape stated softly.

Hermione had no warning as he suddenly grabbed her and pulled her toward him. As his lips crushed hers in a demanding kiss, she gasped in surprise. He took advantage of her slightly open mouth to slide in his tongue.

Hermione could feel all the pent up anger behind the kiss. It felt like a punishment, and she tried to resist his attempts to deepen the kiss. However, Hermione was no match for the Potions master. He was physically stronger than she was and more experienced. She found her body responding to him as she was bombarded with many new sensations. He wrapped his hands in her hair and pulled her closer. She moaned, and the kiss changed from punishing to caressing. She thought she could feel his need, his desire when as suddenly as it had started, the kiss ended.

Snape pulled away and glanced over at the bemused girl.

No, he thought, she was definitely a woman.

He had no idea when that transformation in his mind had taken place. He turned and moved further away from her. The more distance between them the better. His face was unreadable as he once again surveyed her.

"Now that we got that settled, let us move on to more pressing matters," he stated coolly.

Hermione stared at him in disbelief. She wasn't sure what to think or feel. She chose anger. It was always a safer emotion.

"Nothing is settled, Professor," she spat. "You think you can kiss me, and I will meekly do whatever you want."

"Miss Granger," Snape smirked. "I do not think there is ever any danger of that." He raised one eyebrow. "Do you?"

"Then as I stated before, I am going to speak to Professor Dumbledore, and there is nothing you can do about it." She looked at him, daring him to retaliate, again.

"I do not think so, Miss Granger." He spoke calmly, and Hermione felt her resolve slipping. "Just what are you going to tell him?"

"I will tell him …" Suddenly she realized what he had done. She could not go to Dumbledore. If she did, he would know that Snape had kissed her, rather passionately. The Potions master would definitely be sacked.

Her weakness … of course, she thought … it was him.

She didn't know whether to be angry because he had manipulated her, or to be in awe because he believed so strongly that she would not betray him.

She wondered what he was keeping from Dumbledore that would cause him to take such drastic measures.

Professor Snape watched the varying emotions flitting across her face. He had felt a moment of panic when he wondered if he had read her wrong. When he saw the final resigned but determined look on her face, he knew he had not.

"Fine, then." She spoke at last. "Let's hear your plan."

She stared at him through narrowed eyes. Her lips were pursed together angrily. She stamped her foot impatiently.

"Well, I think we first need to deflect any suspicion from ourselves," he began. "The three detentions you had recently with me could be a liability."

"You want me to get a detention with someone else." It was not a question but a statement and he, not for the first time, was amazed at her perceptiveness.

"This is your last year," Snape continued. "Many students get in trouble their last year."

"Did you have any certain professor in mind?" Hermione gave him a contemplating look.

"Not particularly," Snape answered innocently. "Sprout, Vector, or Black."

Hermione however was not fooled.

"I will not be used for your revenge, Professor."

"I am not suggesting it for revenge," he stated unconvincingly. "All right then, not just for revenge. Professor Black is the perfect choice. Do you really think anyone would be having an affair with Professor Flitwick? We have to be realistic about this. If Black gets hurt a little then that is just an added bonus." He shrugged nonchalantly.

"Wait a moment, Professor. If I had detention with Black, wouldn't that still implicate me?' Hermione glared at him. He would go to any lengths for revenge, and she should not be surprised that he was willing to sacrifice her in the process. She sat down in the chair in a huff. She was tired of his arrogance and the way he used her for his own gain.

"You didn't let me finish." Snape moved around the chair to face her. "I've already checked Black's file. He has a habit of assigning detention to the young females in his classes but oddly not to the boys."

Hermione looked up at him in surprise.

He smiled smugly, crossing his arms in front of him.

"So you see, Miss Granger, Potter's godfather is not as innocent as you think he is. So if he gives you detention, which he will, then he will just be continuing his pattern of singling out beautiful young girls."

Hermione again started to protest when she realized he just called her beautiful.

She looked up into his face, but he gave nothing away. Her eyes caught his, and she almost stopped breathing as he held her gaze.

Finally, he looked away, uneasily. "I also think you need a boyfriend."

Hermione stood in indignation. "What?"

"It would take some heat off of you if you had a boyfriend," he clarified.

Even as she protested, Hermione knew he was right.

As always.

The bastard.

She said one word, knowing he had an answer for her.

"Who?"

"I was thinking of Neville Longbottom," he answered in a bored voice.

"You have got to be joking," she replied her hands on her hips. "No way!"

"Please Miss Granger," he said sarcastically. "Share your suggestions with me."

Damn. Him. She didn't have a choice.

Neville was the only one who wouldn't ask questions. And, she had to admit, they were already partners of a sort. He had already agreed to help her.

"What about you?" she questioned. "What are you going to do while I am acting so strange Professor McGonagall will soon be calling St. Mungo's about me." Then she paused, "or my parents."

"I will be finding out who is doing all of this." The look he gave her seemed to be softer than before. "Don't worry. I will not let anything happen to you, Hermione."

The strange thing was, she believed him.

****

Harry took another swig of his butterbeer. He and Ron were at the Three Broomsticks waiting for Hermione. He looked over at his red headed friend.

"Hey, Ron."

"Yeah?" Ron answered in between drinks of his beverage.

"What do you think was up with Draco and Pansy this morning?"

"You mean during breakfast?"

"Yeah. Don't get me wrong. I always love to see Malfoy get slapped around, I was just surprised it was Pansy doing the slapping." Harry smiled at the memory.

"Did you see the way he just stared at her as she stormed off? It was priceless, mate." Ron smirked, obviously enjoying the thought of Malfoy's discomfort. "Neville told me," he added, "that Draco snuck out last night after curfew, and Pansy caught him. I don't think it was the first time either. She thinks he is seeing someone else."

Harry laughed aloud.

"That would explain her exhibition this morning." He shook his head. "Malfoy has been acting strange lately."

"I know what you mean. It has been days since he insulted anyone. That's not normal Slytherin behavior."

Ron's eyes were wide as he took another drink of his butterbeer.

"It creeps me out."

"You know who else is acting weird." Harry continued. "Hermione."

Ron looked toward the door, checking to see if their friend was anywhere around.

"She has been really distracted lately. She didn't even notice Draco and Pansy having it out."

"Maybe she did notice," Harry suggested, "but was just pretending not to notice."

"What?" Ron looked very confused.

He could be so thick sometimes. Harry lowered his voice.

"I think Hermione and Draco have something going."

Ron choked on his beverage.

"You are not serious."

"Just think about it a moment." Harry tried to explain his theory. "They both have been acting strange lately. They have both been seen sneaking out after curfew. Hermione came in very late or should I say very early the other day. She had been out all night."

"Maybe she fell asleep in the Astronomy tower. You know she goes there sometimes to think."

Ron did not want to believe it was true.

"I asked her where she had been. She turned red and yelled at me to mind my own business." Harry looked at him as if this confirmed everything.

Ron shook his head in disbelief.

"But Draco Malfoy? Not our Mione."

Harry finished his drink and stated, "Well, look at it this way, mate. It could be worse."

"Worse?" Ron looked at him incredulously. "How?"

Harry smirked.

"It could be Snape."

****

Draco Malfoy lay on his bed staring up at the ceiling. His life was over. He was only seventeen, and it was over.

He knew it was only a matter of time before he was expelled, and then his father would kill him. He could picture his fathers grey eyes piercing him with a disappointed and furious glare. He would then make a scathing remark about how worthless he was and how he brought disgrace on the Malfoy name, and then, he would kill him.

When had everything gone so wrong?

He thought about the skirmish between him and Pansy this morning. She had found out he was out after curfew the night before. She assumed he was with another girl.

Well, he reminded himself, he had been with someone else. However, she wasn't a girl she was a woman. And he had only gone there to talk. Of course, he couldn't tell Pansy that. All he could do was deny everything.

It didn't really matter what he said. Pansy would have her own version of events, and it would be all over the school in no time.

It wasn't that he minded losing Pansy. In fact, he had grown tired of her games. He was afraid news of his nighttime escapades would reach Snape's ears. Even though the dark professor was his head of house, Draco knew he wouldn't hesitate to turn him in to the headmaster. Then it would all be over.

The worse part, he surmised, was that he didn't even remember anything. Not for the first time, he wondered what had happened that night. Did they have sex? It was funny that the thought no longer made him shudder. He remembered her clear eyes and the feel of her hands as she held his face. Images of what might have happened fluttered through his mind. He wondered if he had been any good.

He shrugged that thought off. Of course, he had been good. He smirked. He was after all a Malfoy and a Slytherin.

****

Severus Snape stormed into his dungeons. He furiously paced the floor like a caged tiger.

What the hell was he thinking?

He kissed her.

A student.

At the time, it had seemed like the only logical alternative. Now it just seemed …

stupid.

And foolish.

And … oh, he could go on and on. But it would not change anything.

Why, why, why. Even as the word resonated through his head, he knew the answer. He had no choice.

The question he should be asking himself instead would be why he did not want to stop.

He fought back the memory of her soft lips, her sweet smell, and her silky hair.

He would not allow the memory to resurface.

That moment ... that kiss had been the turning point. Now, they could not go back.

Until that point, it had been a set up. It had not been their fault.

They had been innocent.

Severus stopped pacing and ran his hands through his dark hair. That was the problem.

He had not been innocent. His thoughts of Miss Granger had definitely not been innocent.

That was why he could not go to Dumbledore. That was why he had to stop her. No one could know the true depth of his feelings for her.

He had to think. He needed to clear his thoughts. He needed to meditate.