AN:/ I wanted to get this one out super quickly as it's just a filler chapter, nonetheless, it's still a sweet little flashback. Shotouts will be in the next chapter, so please leave me a review! Enjoy!

Song: Timebelle - Apollo.

Chapter 10: Kiss.

Severus glared at the note in his hand. The evening was damp and foggy; a mirror image of his mood right now. He hadn't expected Lucius even to deem him worthy of a response, yet, here in his hand was the blond gits' response.

'Not a chance in hell.'

He shouldn't have entertained the thought that he would willingly let him into the Manor, but he had to get in there somehow.

Today had been a tiresome day filled with glares and staff meetings—a man keeps lurking at the gates, but never makes a move to come in—the way Albus spoke of the man made it seem like it was a minor worry. However, it was evident to Severus that the man wanted something from someone in the castle otherwise he wouldn't continue to pace beyond the gate.

Severus stared at Lucius' response one more time then it burst into flames. He was back to being surrounded by dark magic books, and he was yet to come across anything that matched the way she acted. It angered him that he was passive about the situation.

His mind was screaming at him to destroy the wards around Malfoy Manor and hex the fool until he gave him answers, but Severus knew Malfoy—he would've prepared for such an occurrence. He could easily have her killed if Severus attacked him, hurt her more than he already has.

He knew her too well which was why confusion frequently flooded his mind. She would fight with every breath she took to escape such an enchantment—yes, he'd noticed her many eye twitches—but he was missing something big.

How could he not know what was going on? He, a master spy, could not for the life of him work out what has happened to the woman he loves.

Severus brooded behind his desk for most of the night until a thought triggered the memory of their first kiss:

He was running late. Incredibly late. Albus had hounded him the moment he'd finished teaching his last lesson of the day and had him talking to other Professors about their opinions on a mischievous second year. Severus was angry; it was Albus' job, not his.

Unfortunately, as he stormed around being Albus' errand boy, he was putting off going to The Three Broomsticks to meet Hermione. He felt reluctant to go as things have been tense for a while now.

Severus had come to the realisation that he found Hermione Granger attractive—that word couldn't begin to summarise the way he felt—he always experienced a pull when she was nearby, and it aggravated him daily.

A woman like her could never reciprocate his feelings. He should be past the point of self-deprecation, but it was hard not to when he laid his eyes upon such a beautiful witch.

It boggled his mind how she voluntarily spent most of her time in his presence. He would come back from a busy day at work to find her loafing about on his sofa as if it was her home. She took time out of her own hectic day to invite him out for quick lunches and long dinners on a Friday.

Hermione had never mentioned anyone she dated; she could be dating someone right now, but Severus vowed never to ask. Jealousy and possessiveness were not one of his strong points, and he detested how easily she brought that side of him out.

He didn't want to lock her away and keep her to himself; he just didn't wish for another man to have her, nobody could understand her the way he does. Severus knew that she'd shared things with him that she hadn't even told Potter. It meant a lot that Hermione trusted him to carry her secrets with him.

Severus finally made it inside The Three Broomsticks and looked around in search of her frizzy hair. He stalked around the tables unable to find her, and he walked over to the bar to ask the man if he'd seen her. After being told that she'd left a short while ago, he pinched the bridge of his nose and left to find her.

He wandered off in the direction of her bookshop, but a noise made him pause. Severus craned his neck to look down the dark alleyway, and he heard another yelp.

"Stop!" Severus flinched at the sound of Hermione's voice.

Before his brain could keep up with his body, he flew into the alleyway and yanked the man who had her pinned to the cold ground, away.

There was no point in using his wand, a fury that hadn't been present since the war boiled up in his body and Severus started to punch the man repeatedly.

He wasn't sure how long had passed, but there was blood soaking his robes, face and hands. The man coughed up more blood, and it only caused Severus to raise his fist one more time—Hermione yelled out to him and latched her hand around his wrist.

"Severus!" She pulled on him hard. "Stop, let him go."

"Stop?!" Severus spat with venom, and she managed to get him to stand up.

"I-I'm fine," She stammered, and he curled his lip at the sight of her ripped shirt and bloody lip. "Please, let's go."

Severus made a move to go back, but she reached up her shaking hand and cupped the side of his face.

"Please, Severus…" He growled out in annoyance and made sure she was walking ahead of him as they stepped out of the alleyway.

They returned to his quarters in a painful silence. Hermione had unshed tears in her eyes, and he stared daggers at the back of her head. Severus wasn't angry at her, just frustrated because he couldn't go back and kill the man.

Hermione awkwardly stood in the centre of the room, then turned to look at him. He couldn't bear the expression on her face; it caused his heart to speed up because he didn't know how to make it go away.

Severus retrieved his wand and waved it at her body. Her cut lip healed and her torn top returned to what it once was, but it still didn't erase the pain from her face.

"What happened?" He asked in his deep baritone voice.

"You didn't show up on time. I thought that you might be running a little late so I was heading towards Hogwarts when that man grabbed me. H-He only managed to startle me a little; I'm glad you turned up in time otherwise the outcome would've been worse-"

"He attacked you."

"I'm OK," She replied. "He just frightened me that's all," Hermione wiped away the tears that started to fall, and he clenched his fists.

"I'm going to kill him," Severus turned on his heel, but she raced over and grabbed his arm. He turned quickly and stared down at her.

"You can't do something stupid like that-"

"Stupid? That imbecile would've raped you!" Severus didn't understand why he seemed angrier than her about what had just happened, but the idea of someone defiling her like that made his gut churn.

"But he didn't Severus—I just want to forget it happened. Let me heal your hands," She took hold of both of his wrists and, to his surprise, treated them with wandless magic. The blood from his clothes evaporated, and she looked up at him.

"We need to report him to the Ministry-"

"No we don't," She kept her voice steady and kept hold of his hands. "I'm grateful that you were there Severus. Thank you," Hermione pushed herself up on her tiptoes and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek.

He held his breath as his heart pounded fast in his chest; he was sure she could hear it. Her lips lingered near his cheek, and he could feel her warm breath fan across his skin. Severus swallowed hard when she returned to look up at him.

"Severus, I…" She trailed off unable to finish, and he found himself unable to move his eyes away from her parted lips. Lust flashed across her eyes—she couldn't possibly want him, could she?

Severus lowered his mouth towards hers and kept them an inch apart. He was scared. Terrified. Hermione, however, became frustrated and closed the gap between them.

Heat exploded in his chest, and he could barely contain the animalistic urges within him. Their lips moved perfectly together, her body sank into his and her fingers curled around his clad chest. Severus finally got to live his fantasy of burying his hand into her hair to bring her even closer.

Hermione allowed his tongue to evade her mouth and she instantly groaned. The small noise coming from her throat turned him on more, and he gripped onto her waist.

It felt like they kissed forever, but they soon had to part swollen lips for oxygen. Severus gazed down at the beautiful witch in his arms and swallowed the lump in his throat when her misty eyes beamed at him.

"I've wished to do that for awhile," She whispered breathlessly.

Severus responded with a dumbfounded look; it was rare that anyone could cause such a reaction from him, but he couldn't think of a single thing to say back.

Hermione's face tightened suddenly, and she took a giant step back with an anguished look on her face. "D-Did I cross the line? Oh dear, Severus, I apologise profusely—I thought that you…"

Severus shook his head quickly then marched over to her with a long stride. Once again she was wrapped in his arms, and his lips devoured hers as if she was his last meal. The kiss was enough to make his toes curl and his head spin. It felt like heaven.