Harry Potter and his world belong to JKR

Hermione walked down the marble staircase and into the empty Entrance Hall, past several closed doors, and slipped quietly outside. She wore a long black traveling cloak clasped at her neck with a brooch, a cover in case she had run into anyone on the way down. She could see Severus's outline against the dusky sky, his hands clasped together behind his back as he looked out onto the grounds. He turned around at the sound of her heels softly clacking against the stone and walked towards her, passing the trees and archways which dotted the courtyard. His hair was tidy, his eyes wandering from her face down to her heels, and she noticed that his outfit had remained the same except for the substitution of a white necktie in place of the usual black. It had little effect to his overall appearance, but to Hermione it meant the world that he would have – even for a moment – thought about what he should look like, for her.

"Miss Granger," he said, bowing his head slightly in her direction and taking her arm. Hermione pretended to be interested in the sinking half-moon which hung over the lake, but truthfully had turned her head so she could smile unabashedly.

Her heels sunk a little into the damp earth as they walked down to the gates together, passing Hagrid's brightly lit cabin and the empty Quidditch pitch to their left. It wasn't an easy walk with the wind blowing, the branches of the forest eerily thrashing and creaking. The wind whipped their hair around their faces, which peeved Hermione slightly because of the effort she had put into taming her mass of curls beforehand. Severus pulled out his wand and began muttering a complicated series of rescinding charms, motioning for the great gates to open when he had finished. They passed the twin statues of the winged boar and Hermione waited as he re-established protection upon the entrance.

"Are you ready?" he asked, his hand on hers. Before she could nod, she already felt the unsettling nausea which accompanied Apparition. When she opened her eyes, she saw that they were standing in a fairly busy lane reminiscent of Diagon Alley. Groups of witches and wizards strolled past and bells clanged as doors opened and closed. She noticed a specialty hat shop named Tips and Don, several cafés, and Chiznell's Capes. Severus steered her past a fountain of golden water which shot up from the ground like a geyser.

"Where are we?" she asked, puzzled.

"Gnomick Alley, in Edinburgh." He led her into a restaurant, its entrance a slim, nearly hidden door.

"May I take your cloak?" asked the host, a well-dressed blond man in his twenties. Hermione slid the thick fabric off from around her shoulders and could see Severus drinking her in, struggling slightly not to grin from pleasure. She was wearing a green, knee-length silk cocktail dress which hugged her body perfectly. The waiter lead them to their table, and Hermione's first thought was that if any place could be "Snape-ish," this one was. It was an intimate setting with many small rooms and only several tables in each one. The walls were brick, inset with several fireplaces above which sat mantles decorated with cauldrons and bottles of all sizes and colors. Portraits of old men who wore white neck ruffs and black hats adorned with feathers hung above the various pieces of wizarding equipment.

After the specials had been listed and a bottle of champagne brought to the table, Severus leaned closer to her. "You are beautiful," he said, watching her turn red and sip from the yellow liquid. "Please, order whatever you like - this is my treat."

"You needn't-"

"No, of course I needn't - but I want to," he explained, looking up at her from under his heavy brow.

She reached for his hand under the white tablecloth and held it tightly.

"Thank you," she said, "for the apprenticeship, and for tonight. It was very... kind of you," she said carefully, unsure as to whether he would want to be characterized in that way.

He smirked slightly before threading his fingers through hers and saying, "Thank you for accepting my offer."

She ordered the duck with blueberry sauce, and he the roast lamb. They ate their starters, listening to the clinking of knives and forks against plates and the light chatter issuing from the other rooms. Hermione enjoyed being out among other people. She had spent such a long time away from the outside world that she had nearly forgotten it existed. This was also the first time that she and Severus had appeared in public together, and it felt something akin to a declaration of their relationship, despite the fact neither of them seemed to be recognized.

After Hermione had finished her salad, she asked, "What is the duration of an apprenticeship, generally?"

Severus sat back in his wooden chair and crossed his arms. "It depends on the trade. Becoming a Potions master requires the student to pass a lengthy examination testing your ability to recognize, neutralize, or create any number of potions, as well as identifying ingredients and knowing the history behind several of the more famous brews. The duration of your education will depend on when you feel comfortable taking the assessment. The average apprentice takes nearly five years, although I am certain you will not require that amount of time."

The main courses arrived, and Hermione savored the richness of the duck and the sweet blueberries which complimented it. The cooking at Hogwarts was excellent, but it was always soured with the thought of who had made it. She had Severus try some of the food on her plate, and he in turn sliced some lamb for her. He asked about her classes and she asked about his as they drank their champagne. She was even rewarded with one of his extraordinarily rare grins, even though it only flitted across his face for a moment. Everything about the evening – the food, the drink, the conversation – had been decadent, tasteful to the very last detail.

The waiter came to clear their plates and Severus handed him a small black drawstring bag. Hermione could tell from the clinking noise it made that it held metal coins. She took one last sip of her champagne and they left, walking out into the deserted alleyway. It was cooler than before and she drew her long cloak around her, every nerve tingling.

"Look at how bright the stars are!" she exclaimed quietly, peering up into the black sky.

"They'll be brighter when we leave the city," he replied. "Are you ready to go?" She nodded and for a moment wished she hadn't eaten such a rich dinner. However, the rushing ended quickly and the only thing she could feel was Severus's arm linked with hers.

"I can't get over the stars," she said to herself. The castle's lights glowed in the distance, and she smiled as she realized that it would still be her home for several years to come. A Thestral swooped overhead, the pair listening as it hooted and flew out of sight. They approached the castle and snuck inside, down into the dungeons. Hermione stumbled a little, giggling at herself. "Oh, my feet hurt terribly - I'm not used to heels!"

"Let me help you off of them, in that case." He picked her up and she laughed, hooking her legs around his back and grinning as his lips caressed her throat. He wandlessly opened his door, shut it behind them, and sat her on the table, the wood creaking underneath her weight. He stood in front of her, his head bent to hers, and he ran his hands along her white thighs, stroking the dark green silk of her dress. She pressed her mouth to his and let the black cloak she wore fall from her frame.

"Hermione," he said, his voice hoarse but quiet as he ran his hands along her back. "Wait here." She nodded and folded her hands in her lap, her ankles crossed, as he opened his icebox. Severus rummaged through it then walked up to her, handing her a glass vial filled with a clear liquid.

"What is it?" she asked, holding it curiously.

"A contraceptive," he responded. She paused, entirely shocked that he would have planned, that he would have thought that tonight would be the night... He quickly added, "But you needn't – that is, if you don't want to-"

She had never, ever seen him so nervous, and even though it stunned her it was also endearing. She ran her hand along his chest, unable to count the number of times she had wanted to revisit what lay beneath, the texture of the muscle, the color of the skin... The only other time she had seen it had been the day of the attack, when she had wiped his blood from his skin. It felt like years had passed since then. His black eyes scanned her face for her expression, watching and hoping that she wouldn't be angry, repulsed. The cork made a small popping sound as she pulled it out. After she drank the bitter potion she handed the empty glassware back to Severus, feeling his hand cover hers. It was shaking slightly.

"It takes a few minutes to have an effect," he said. She nodded, still speechless. "If you like I could make some tea, or perhaps-"

She lifted her right hand to his mouth to silence him. She then sifted through his hair, slowly moving her hand and pressing her fingers to the back of his head, causing him to lean forward, his lips eagerly meeting hers. His mouth on hers did something that she could not describe, and knowing that he wanted her in this way intensified every sensation. His hands went to her arms, her back, his fingertips running along her bare skin causing her to shiver. They broke away, his dark eyes boring into hers, and she could see the desire in them. It was almost too much for her.

They came together again, his mouth on hers and her hands running up and down his chest, flitting across the soft fabric of his white necktie and then undoing it at a leisurely pace. She drew away the silk fabric, carefully laying it on the worktable behind her, Severus's left hand at the small of her back and his right on her cheek. Her hands returned to his neck, and she gently touched the mottled red and white skin with her slender fingers. Those scars were remnants of the wounds she had healed, reminders of the life that he almost lost, the sheer evil which had torn apart the lives of so many, but had not entirely destroyed his.

She gently pulled away from his kiss and placed her hands flat on his chest, smoothing the fabric before raising her fingertips to the very top button of his jacket. He watched her face as she slid a nail under the loop, pulling it up and over the button, and began going down the line, each time exposing slightly more and more of his white shirt. He watched her, noting her concentration but also how her hands slightly shook in anticipation. Severus caressed the soft fullness of her brown hair, then reached down and helped her by working up from the bottom.

As they finished she pushed the front of the coat off of his shoulders, and he pulled his arms out of the sleeves, his eyes never leaving hers, as he now moved forward to lean over her. Hermione drank in the sight of him, his white tailored shirt tucked into his slim dress trousers, and realized how lithe he was, how utterly smart he looked in these clothes. And despite that, she also wanted those very clothes removed as soon as possible.

She moved to the top button of his shirt, undoing this one much more quickly and again with Severus's help. Her hands were already rushing along his chest before he had even successfully taken it off. His chest was a little different than she remembered, warmer than she had supposed, his shoulders slightly wider than his waist. She noticed marks upon his body that she had not seen that first time - a birthmark on his shoulder, another under his ribs, a scar under his right nipple. There was a light smattering of hair upon his chest, and she ran her fingers through it, then along his shoulders, arms, and down to his wrists. Her fingers lightly skimmed over his Dark Mark but she did not want to draw attention to it, not tonight.

"You are beautiful," he said, running his fingers across her cheek and through the tangles of her hair. He caught her eyes and stared into them lovingly, as if he wanted to drink in this sight and never forget it. "You are beautiful," he repeated. He kissed her deeply before lifting her off the table, carrying her the distance to his bedroom, and sitting her down on his bed.

He wandlessly lit the candle on his bedside table, stepped out of his shoes, and then joined her on the bed. Hermione moved to where she had slept last night and lied down on her side, letting him lie down beside her, wrap her in his arms, and kiss every part of her he could manage. Her hands felt their way around his back as well, feeling the muscles of his neck and shoulders strain as he moved. She smiled and giggled quietly at the tickle of his hair against her throat.

Hermione felt Severus's hand run up the length of her back, and then begin to tug at her zipper. She gasped a little and closed her eyes, suddenly losing her wits and feeling paralyzed.

Severus pulled away at the sound of her gasp. "Hermione, what's wrong?" She couldn't speak properly, she was so frightened completely out of her senses. She had never really cared for her body and now it was going to be entirely exposed to him. Surely every lump would disgust him... How could he stand the sight of her thick thighs, her hips which were wider than his? She was sure her movements would be awkward and out of sync with his. She had never done this before. "Have you never...?"

"No." She could hear her heart beating in her ears. "And you?"

"It's been quite a long time," he said simply, whispering, "If you don't want to - we can stop."

She gulped. "No, I'm just nervous," she whispered back, giving a little half laugh, feeling ridiculous. God, she wanted him, and she did not want to stop.

He nodded and murmured, "All right - just relax." His hand moved away from her zipper and instead ran along her side, down the smooth silk of her dress and back up to her cheek. She marveled at the intent look on his face as he studied her body, his handsome lips, his heavy brow, and felt his hand on her cheek, the fingertips pushing slightly to position her lips under his. She turned her head to face him and shifted her entire body so that she was pressed against his, one hand moving to his back, her fingertips rushing over his skin. His hips shifted so that they pressed against hers, and she could feel his member pushing against his trousers, insistent. At this she moaned his name, suddenly beside herself with desire. Her insides were burning for him, for something that she had never had before.

His kisses came on stronger and his hand was back at her zipper, tugging slowly until her back was fully exposed. She extricated herself from him, pushing the straps of her dress down past her arms, then shimmied out of the dress indelicately, pulling it down past her feet and letting it fall on the floor.

His arms were around her again, his nose pressing against her ear. "Your skin is so soft," he remarked, his fingers circling along her shoulder blades and then diving down to her lower back. She reveled in the feel of the skin of his stomach, his arms, his chest against hers. Severus began to kiss down her neck, her collarbone, and then the top of her bust. He reached behind her, undid the clasp, and gently pulled the bra away, letting it fall onto the floor with the dress.

He was breathing shallowly now and moved lower, his mouth gently finding her breast, kissing and swirling his tongue around the nipple intermittently. Hermione gasped, her left hand playing with his hair. His hand stroked her ribcage and then moved to her other breast, cupping it and running his fingers over it lightly, looking at her wordlessly as though he wanted to memorize this. He found the rope-like scar that traversed her stomach from her right hip bone up to underneath her left breast and kissed it, not paying it any more heed than the birthmark next to her bellybutton, which he kissed, and a mole which sat above her left hip bone, which he kissed as well.

Severus's mouth moved onto hers with a fervor that she matched. He touched his nose to hers before moving to the side of the bed, standing up and removing his black trousers. She sat up and helped him, running her fingers along his white thighs which were covered with fine black hairs. A thin trail ran from his navel to his black undergarments, which she noticed he was in the process of removing as well. Severus now sat on the edge of the bed fully naked, his eyes searching hers, and Hermione's heart was in her mouth. The thought of what was about to happen did not frighten her now. It simply thrilled her to see his desire for her expressed in this way, for what it was and what it meant. This was ultimate trust - to have him before her, nothing to obscure the sight of his body from her. She decided that it was her turn to gratify him.

Now slightly braver, she left the bed and knelt down beside his knees. She ran her fingers down his legs, noticing several deep white scars on his right thigh and calf which, she realized with a shock, must have been caused by Fluffy's bite. It always surprised her, these things about him she had known and forgotten. But she would never forget this - the way he was looking at her just now - shock and anticipation and desire within his eyes.

She moved closer to him, between his legs, kissing the patch of thick black hair before taking his member in her hands. It was strangely warm and light as she lifted it to kiss the tip, feeling it harden further at her touch, the skin smooth and velvety. She teased the inside of his thighs with her fingers before lightly resting her left hand on his hip and beginning to slowly stroke his member. Hermione listened to his low moan of pleasure and delighted in it, wanting more and finding him with her lips and then her tongue, sucking gently to create more pressure. She looked at him, watching his pupils dilating, color rising to his cheeks. He then closed his eyes as his head tilted back in pleasure.

"Ah... Hermione," he moaned thickly, his thighs quivering slightly and one of his hands sifting through her hair. After a little while his hips gave an involuntary jerk before his hands found her shoulders, pushing her away. She drew back, confused - had she done something wrong? His face looked almost pained until he opened his eyes and pulled her towards him, moving to lay back on the bed as she moved over him, his hot member pressing against her thigh.

She laid upon him and he wrapped his arms around her, drawing her tight. She could still not believe the feel of his warm skin against hers, of her body draped over his, at how easily they folded into each other. Though she had never been here before, not like this, she was so comfortable. He simply felt like home.

"Hermione," he whispered achingly into her ear. He slowly ran his fingers up and down her back, wanting to savor every inch. He discovered the feel of her shoulder blade, the small of her back, the smooth plane of her side. She buried her face in the crook of his neck, loving how safe she felt here.

Severus breathed deeply before moving so that she turned onto her side, and then her back. He was now above her. "I want to please you too," he said, his breathing shallow.

His hands moved down her body as he did, cupping her breasts and trailing along her side, causing her to shiver. He knelt on the floor and she shifted to the edge of the bed. He waited for her to draw up her knees before his hands caressed the underside of her thigh and then the strong bone of her wide hips. His fingers hooked around the band of her knickers and slid them off.

She drew up her knees but felt a bit exposed, her hands clutching slightly at the blanket beneath her. He moved close and ran a hand along the underside of her thigh, then under her knee and to her calf, finding her ankle and foot. He wanted to touch every part of her, memorize her, but right now he wanted to put Hermione at ease. He gently moved her leg so that it sat upon his back, then did the same with her other leg, noticing how slight and strong and smooth it was before his eyes found hers once more. He reached forward, finding her hands with his, and laced his fingers with hers.

Her heart hammered, waiting for an uncertain sensation as she felt him place kisses upon the sensitive skin around her core. His tongue then slowly pressed against her and she moaned, her toes curling and her eyes closing. He ran his flattened tongue up and down, then sucked lightly before moving even closer, applying more pressure, listening to her gasps and feeling her body respond as she pushed herself towards him. She breathed shallowly, her cheeks flushing as he took his time. She watched him look up at her with his deep eyes and she almost could not bear it, rolling her head back and letting out a loud moan in response. He stopped suddenly, moving his lips to delicately nip and kiss along her inner thighs.

"Severus, please," she gasped, her eyes closing, desperately wanting to finish. He returned his mouth to her core, his strong tongue flitting over her bump. He could feel her heels digging into his back, feel her hands grasp his, and he knew he was where she needed him to be. He quickly brought her into a state of high-pitched gasping and shaking before the final wave rolled over her. She was in complete ecstasy, crying out, her body pitching and trembling as he drew out her orgasm.

Hermione lay panting as Severus's hand strayed across her body and swept along her stomach. He pressed his cheek to her thigh, waiting for her to calm down again before standing up and moving with her to the center of the bed. He crouched over her, his lips upon hers, feeling her fingers graze the skin of his side.

"Are you ready for me?" he asked, his voice deep, his mouth next to her ear. She nodded, unsure how anything could be better than what she had just felt. She spread her legs slightly, drawing up her knees to place her feet on the bed, relishing in the feel of his thighs against hers as he positioned himself. He gave a ragged moan which she echoed as he entered her softly, slowly, until he was buried entirely in her folds. He lay upon her, kissing her, feeling the grip of her hands around his arms tightening and loosening, and then began moving in and out.

She whimpered softly from the tingling pleasure that grew into utter bliss, watching the expression upon his face which showed he felt just the same. She moaned, his movements quickening slightly as she relaxed beneath him. His mouth was on hers again and he began to make quiet grunts in the back of his throat every so often. Hermione was overwhelmed with pleasure as her hands roamed over his body, finding the soft dip of his spine, the muscles of his thighs which tensed and relaxed rhythmically, and the roundness of his bottom which flexed with his thighs. She moaned into his lips, beyond herself with the want of him, hoping that the delicious friction of his body within hers would never stop.

After some time he halted, his arms shaking, and disentangled himself from her. He pulled away and, taking one of her hands in his, moved to sit with his back against the headboard. She was never far from him, and she quickly moved to straddle his hips so that she faced him. His hands hovered at her waist as she reached down to find him, and both gave a gasp as their bodies joined together once more.

She settled against him, feeling the heat of his chest radiating towards hers. His mouth went to her neck, his lips tenderly lingering at her collarbone and then her throat, before meeting hers again. She loved this, the thought that he wanted her, feeling his hands roam her body as he pleased, cupping a breast, trailing down her back.

She ran her fingers along his collarbone, his chest, down to his navel, disbelieving that he was hers to touch. She put her hands on his shoulders to steady herself before moving up and down again, alternating how quickly and how deeply she took him, watching his expression intently to see what he liked best. The way he looked, the way he made her feel, the way he touched her... This was better than anything.

His breathing was labored, his hands moving to rest under her bottom, guiding her pace, then his thumb moving to press against her center. She found a rhythm that made him motionless, a back and forth with her hips that caused him to hold his breath and let it out in short gasps. Both of them could feel the tension in their bodies rising, the heat and the urge becoming uncontrollable and all-consuming. Her forehead rested upon his and his eyes and mouth were open, strained, as though he could only hold himself together for so much longer. She felt the strong sensation from her center, the raw tightening that told her she was close to those few moments of pure pleasure, and found herself reaching her peak.

"Oh, Severus!" she cried breathlessly, her whole body quivering from the intensity of her orgasm, her arms clasping around his back, and his around her. His own breathing then heightened and he suddenly shuddered below her, his lips pulled back into a grimace before he groaned into her neck, pushed in and out a few more times, and then stopped. Their chests heaved from the exertion of their love-making, a thin sheen of sweat upon both of them, arms still wrapped around each other. They kissed deeply, their foreheads still pressed together, as though they never wanted this to end. His eyes held hers, full of desire and affection and pleasure.

He lay back against the pillows and she leaned forward, resting her weight on him, nestling into the crook of his neck. He held her tight, the fingertips of one hand running along her back, the other gently twisting the tips of her hair, his chin resting on her shoulder. They both rested, trying to catch their breath, and only after they had did they break apart.

Hermione slid from him and they both moved under the covers. He turned onto his side, cradling her once more. She nuzzled into his chest and smiled to herself, remarking at the yellow of his skin next to the pink of hers in the little light coming from the candle on his table. She could see goosebumps all along his chest, and she drew the covers up further. He could only watch her in awe, his heart in his mouth and his chest seized with intense affection for her.

"Hermione," he murmured, as though he was about the slip into a deep sleep.

"Yes?" she whispered back.

There was a slight pause. "I wanted to know whether you would consider… consider living with me?"

She was stunned. "What?" she asked breathlessly, pulling away from his chest so that she could look into his eyes.

He thread his fingers through her hair, pushing it away from her face and tucking it behind her ear. "You know there is no other place I would rather you be than here. I - I love you," he whispered, his thumb grazing her cheek.

She stared into his dark eyes, eyes which glinted with passion and strength and a bit of fear. They were a warrior's eyes. And so were hers, for they had both - despite everything - survived a war that had threatened to tear away everything they cared about. Part of this had required years caught up in the troubles and desires of others, and all too little time thinking about what it was that they had really wanted, when it was all over.

But in the end, they both had learned this much - life was too precious to waste a single second with half-heartedness. There was nothing to be gained by trepidation, not when they knew what they wanted. And they both knew, now, that what they wanted most was the person in their arms.

Tears rolled from Hermione's eyes and down her face, and she moved her hand to wipe them away as he helped. "I l-love you, too," she stuttered, looking up at him, at this handsome man who enticed her, entranced her, made her feel things she had never felt before. And she let out a little laugh despite herself, because of how easy it was to admit to something of this magnitude when it was the truth. She loved him.

He pulled her into his arms and she tilted up her head, kissing him for a long, long time.