So apparently I threw you a curve ball by adding Bill to the mix. There's a recipe something like break a relationship. Separate Ron from Hermione, binning the Ron. Pour Severus over Hermione and mix well. Add heat and serve. ^_^
I'd like to answer some more reviews:
LadySnape88: I like catching people off guard, haha. Thanks for the review
Her Royal Goddess: Thanks, I anticipate reviews from you, hehe. Severus is a very, very bad little boy when Mommy Minerva isn't watching. ^_- After I read a particularly strange fic the other day, I was like "Oh my God, I've gotta throw them a curveball," so I did. I'm glad you loved the mini-fic, I was a bit lacking on the inspiration for this chapter until after I wrote it. ^_^
HarryPGinnyW4eva: Thanks! Yes, yes Bill. Don't worry, this will all be sorted out in the craziest way possible. ^_-
NinaCor11: Thanks, I couldn't help but do it, same with Minnie. I think we've all done something equally silly like that at some point, so I couldn't resist. ^_^
catysmom: Thanks!
Sandlapper: Haha, I agree. Yes, he's very interested, and he has no idea that Hermione might have found someone else already. Severus will most assuredly not be happy about it, because he doesn't share well at all.
Notwritten: Thanks!
Sleepingbutterfly: Thanks!
Beautiful-Liar13: Now, Molly would raise hell if her eldest lost his bits, he's actually liked for the most part... besides, it's only legal if it fits the circumstance. Thanks for the review!
Atomicmom: I know, I know, I'm so mean. Good for you, because I'm a bit of a tease. ^_- Bill didn't cheat, that's not why it didn't work with Fleur, but I'll go into that later, haha. Thanks for the review!
Once again, the ever growing alert list, the people who have me or my story as a favorite, and ALL of my magical reviewers, thank you, thank you, thank you and a thousand hugs, kisses, and cookies to all.
If you recognize it, it's probably not mine.
Ch. 10 – Simple and Clean
Hold me, whatever lies beyond this morning is a little later on. Regardless of warnings the future doesn't scare me at all; Nothing's like before. - Hikaru Utada
Hermione stretched, reveling in the strong, solid warmth pressing into her back. Wait, what?
She looked down the line of her body to see a long, muscular arm of alabaster skin wrapped around her waist and a pair of pale, manly legs entangled in hers. She could feel an impressive morning glory pressing into her rear covered by sheer silk, and when she turned to see the a sculpted chest, she found the amused face of one Severus Snape.
He watched as her expression changed from shock to happiness then to confusion. He leaned forward and caught her lips with his, then groaned as she pressed into him. She pulled back, uncomfortable from the awkwardness of the position and looked at him questioningly.
"Severus, did we...?" she trailed off. He quirked an eyebrow at her.
"Did we do what, Hermione?" he asked, just trying to be difficult.
"Did we, you know...?" she responded. He smirked.
"No, I don't know, Hermione. Did we go skiing? Did we swim? Did we make a potion?" he supplied.
"Severus!" she smacked his bare chest with the back of her hand. "Did we..." she hesitated, "oh you know what I mean! Did we shag?" she finally managed.
"Don't yell, Hermione, I have a headache. Would it be a problem if we had?" he asked.
"Well, no, I just would like to remember it if we had... I mean, well," she blushed and he took this opportunity to cut her off.
"Considering you are wearing that atrocity of a nightgown, I would say that no, we didn't, although I must ask, how much did we drink last night?"
She glanced down to see an old-fashioned flannel night gown as she shook her head. "I have no idea, but I feel like I've been ran over by a herd of hippogriffs."
He raised his eyebrow. "You realized you had already taken one Sobering Serum last night, yes?" he asked. She grimaced.
"Oh my, no wonder. I know those don't layer well with more alcohol." They were interrupted, once more, by an incredibly irate Minerva.
"SEVERUS SNAPE, what the bloody hell do you think you are doing here?" she screamed causing both of the younger professors to jump up and for Severus to pull the sheet with him to hide his bear chest.
"I'd say, I was getting ready to go skiing with Hermione, when you entered trying to start a row while both of us have horrendous headaches," he retorted.
Minerva had the grace to look embarrassed then very confused. "You're going skiing?" she asked, "Heavens, it's the middle of summer!" Then she must have remembered why she was there, and her facial features molded themselves into a scowl. "Severus Snape, I sent you to bed last night," she growled. He smirked once more, as both seemed to ignore the scarlet Hermione.
"I would say I ended up in bed, yes. Now Minnie, unless you have something useful to supply, I would request that you leave immediately." Minerva's scowl deepened then she sent Sobering Serums hurtling towards the couple at break-neck speed.
"If you aren't downstairs by lunch, I'm sending Filch to come find you," she spat then stormed out of the room as the pair in bed grimaced at both the potions and the thought of Filch.
"Well, that explains the nightgown, at least," he paused, "unless you normally go to bed dressed like a nun." Hermione shook her head then, her face still a bit bright, faced Severus.
"We're going skiing?" she squeaked, the embarrassment at the euphemism obvious in both her face and her voice.
"Not unless you want to," he smirked, "but I figured it would get Minerva out of the room."
He leaned in and kissed her once more, and together they fell back into bed.
Bill went to the Magical Menagerie, a florist in Diagon Alley, with a mission in mind. He read over the list of flower meanings and made his selections carefully, then had the arrangement the witch produced packaged with a scarlet ribbon and sent to Hermione's rooms at Hogwarts. The witch stopped him as he headed out the door.
"You must be quite crazy about her, yeah?" At his nod and smile, she continued. "Why not shower her with flowers, then?" He listened to her proposal, and considered the possibilities.
"Alright. I'll do it."
Rita Skeeter sat at her desk, staring at a list of topics that she had the chance to cover, but most were too mundane for her tastes. Who wants a story about the Quidditch World Cup again or the lastest broom technology? She was terribly bored, so she transformed into her amimagus the Auror's office, and heard the familiar voice of Draco Malfoy.
"What do you think Weasley did to piss off Granger so much?" she heard him ask someone nearby.
"Draco, you know the requirements for the spell to be legal. He had to have cheated on her," a voice answered, belonging to the Auror Hestia Jones.
"Yes, I know, but it's hard to believe Granger could actually hex someone's bits off," Malfoy responded, then he paused, as if considering it, evidenced by the halting of footsteps in the hallway. "Well, no, I could believe it. She decked me one in third year." Hestia's laugh joined Draco's, and the pair came into view.
"So, I'll bet it was with Brown. She hated the bint, and Weasley always had a thing for her," Draco said.
"Well, you know she's his secretary, Magical Games and Sports," supplied Hestia, "it's very likely."
Colin Creevey, who had been listening from behind his desk cut in. "I heard that he had a drinking problem from Nevile!"
The Aurors continued to gossip, never aware of the lime green beetle on the wall.
Harry and Ginny sat at the park, watching James and Al play on the swings while Lily cooed from Ginny's arms.
"So, what do you make of this whole thing with Ron and 'Mione?" Ginny asked her husband.
Harry sighed. "As much as I hate to say this, Ron had it coming to him. You've seen how he treated 'Mione. He rarely treated her like she deserves, and he stayed out all the time getting drunk. Hermione deserves so much better than that." Ginny nodded, disappointed in her brother, but accepting of his fate.
"So, did it seem like something was off between her and Snape?" Ginny asked. Harry shrugged.
"He seemed like he's into her... He danced with her all night and then there was that... nevermind," he trailed off, but he had Ginny's full attention.
"That what, Harry? I don't remember anything," she stated. Harry made a face.
"I wish I didn't either."
"Well, what was it?" she pushed.
"I... I think it was a toast that I'm praying I misheard," but at the look on his face, Ginny knew he would say no more.
Severus and Hermione left her bed after about an hour of kissing and groping, but they both agreed to waiting before going farther, so as not to bollix it up before it even gets started. They made their way to her kitchen, and Hermione made a pot of coffee. Severus looked at her in confusion.
"If you prefer breakfast tea, I can make you some," she offered.
"Oh, no, coffee's fine. I just didn't expect that you indulge in a bad American habit like myself," he replied. He flooed the kitchen's for a breakfast order, then sat back as he watched Hermione – now clad in a skimpy nightgown – moving about the kitchen merrily.
"Perhaps we can play that game of chess we never made it to?" he asked. She nodded and they set up the chess set on the table.
Okay, I'm cutting it off here, I'm a bit frustrated at the moment and I'm lacking inspiration because of it. I'll post something else tomorrow, but ta ta for now. - Rei