"Hey, I'm just going to head into the bookstore really quickly." Hermione glanced at Ginny and Harry, they were clinging close to one another in the cold and she gave them a big smile.
"We can come in with you." Harry offered, eyebrows furrowed in worry but Hermione just gave them a smile.
"No, go, I'll catch up in a few minutes, I just need to check on a book quickly." She slipped from the cold evening air into the warm air of the shop and her fingers began to thaw, mercifully. The woman who ran the store, Gemmelda was a sweet older witch with incredibly long gray hair that fell to her knees and bright green eyes. Hermione had run into her on a regular basis in many bookstores that carried the rarest of wizarding texts.
"Well, if it isn't our little genius." The woman smiled and slipped from behind the counter to give Hermione a hug that was gratefully returned. The old witch smelt of cinnamon and books, two of Hermione's favorite things, and reminded her of a Grandmother.
"Hi Nanny Gem, I was just curious if my book is here yet?" Hermione brushed some curls behind her ear and smiled hopefully. She had a month before Christmas but she wanted to make sure Severus' gift was perfect. The elder witch slipped back behind the counter and rummaged for a moment under the till.
"I believe it came in just this morning, where did I put that book?" The elder witch talked to herself as she dug and Hermione shook her head with an internal giggle. She could only hope to be so endearing when she was as old.
"What are you looking for Gem?" A male voice called from the back, Poppy Albert, Gemmelda's husband shuffled out, an old wizard with a gleam of mischief in his eye always. He pinched the older witch on the bum and she gave a little squeal of surprise as she dug.
It took everything in Hermione not to burst out laughing.
"Now you, we have company!" She scolded and swatted behind her but continued to look under the counter, Albert leant down beside her and watched with interest.
"What are you looking for, love?" He questioned again and this time the woman paused to look at him.
"That book that came in this morning, it was for that little doll over there and now I can't seem to find it." The woman brushed dust from her hands on the front of her robes as she stood from her crouched position. The old man chuckled and shook his head.
"Didn't see you there sweetie, have a hug for Poppy Albert?" He questioned as he came around and gave Hermione a warm hug as well. These people were as close to grandparents as she had and she very much enjoyed whenever she ran into them. They called her all kinds of pet names, typically thrust sweets at her, and fussed over her. It was pleasant when one was so far from their family or, in her case, had lost their parents.
"Thank you Poppy, I can honestly come back for it later." She smiled and waved a hand, the old witch clucked and her husband shook his head with a booming laugh.
"Oh no need for that, I've got it right here, just thought I'd have a spot of fun with old Nanny over there." He grinned and gave her a little wink. Hermione chuckled and took the book from him, it turned into peals of laughter when the old witch rounded on him and began to give him a good scolding.
"I have to get back to the school now. Thank you, guys." She said, though she was certain it had gone unheard as she slipped from the shop with her book, already paid for. The gold leaf on the cover sparkled marvelously and she hugged it to her chest.
Yes, this was something he would love.
She laughed at the sound of a hex and a yelp from Poppy Albert and almost scurried off down the path.
She would have to go back and visit them sooner next time, they always seemed to lift her spirits.
SSHG
Hermione had slipped into Severus' chambers after her trip to Hogsmeade and had been more than surprised to find his library empty. She'd never breached his bedroom and had no intention of starting so instead she fell onto the comfortable sofa and curled her legs beneath her with a book while she waited for him.
She assumed he'd gone to get dinner from the house elves but released a surprised squeal when he came from his bedroom instead.
She licked her lips. As she gawked and Severus stared at her with a cocked eyebrow.
He was fresh from a shower, his black hair wet and hanging limply around his face. His lean torso was exposed and a smattering of black hair lead below a Slytherin green towel.
She blinked. The bottom of his thighs were exposed, pale and muscular, little scars lined every exposed inch of him.
She thrust her book up into her face and forced down a groan.
"I am so sorry!" She was glad for the book, it hid the bright red blush she could feel crawling down from her face to her neck.
Oh Merlin but wasn't he sexy.
She glanced up over the top of the book and he was still stood there, now there was a wicked little smirk on the corner of his mouth.
"Shouldn't you, umm, get dressed?" She squeaked and he chuckled, a deep sound that drifted from him and wrapped around her.
"Considering you let yourself into my chambers, I think you deserve every bit of this embarrassment." His voice was husky and she had to fight back images of that body laying over her. No sense in getting worked up. Her thighs clenched.
He came and sat on the sofa beside her and her eyes flicked over to him, though her head did not turn. Thick masculine thighs peeked out at her and she bit her lip. Her fingers itched to reach over and touch them, to see if the skin was as firm as it appeared.
Control yourself Hermione. She scolded herself and her eyes flicked back to the words in her book.
"Do you really think this is appropriate," she gulped, "Severus?"
"Does my body disturb you, Hermione?" He drawled, his voice a deep purr, Hermione whimpered when long, slender fingers swept a curl from her shoulder and began to twist it, tauntingly.
What a wicked man!
"I don't think disturb is the word." She flinched at her own words and he chuckled, a dark sound she'd never heard before, it almost sent her running from the room.
He was so much, masculine scent, lean body, the wet black hair around his face.
Too much, he was too much, and she was floundering.
"And what is the word?" His fingers found her chin, tipped her face to look at him, she wet her lips, suddenly at a loss for words.
She cleared her throat but still nothing would come. He smirked.
"Fine, I will dress, you really should calm down, witch." He stood from the sofa and the towel fell down his hips to expose the V of his groin. She almost fainted.
In fact, she may have blacked out for a split second because when she opened her eyes again his back was to her and he was slipping into his room.
And suddenly she was on her feet, not in control of her own body, she was following him.
Curious, she was curious, that was all.
Would he let her look?
He glanced over his shoulder at her and stepped into his room, the door open as if inviting her in. She stepped, one foot over the threshold and waited for him to scold her.
When he didn't she stepped the rest of the way in and took a few more, he'd vanished from in front of her.
Hadn't he just been there?
She glanced at the bed, all green and black and smooth as silk.
The door shut behind her and her back tensed, a little rush of air escaped her.
"Now you are here, did you think beyond this point?" She turned to face him, his eyebrow was in his hairline, his eyes dark and sparkling in the torchlight. She exhaled, focused on her breathing for a second.
"Not really, no, I just…I don't know why I came, I'm sorry." She looked down at her bare feet and his stepped into her view. Her eyes traced up the length of him until they rested on his face again.
"Never be sorry for being curious, it is one of your best qualities." This time he smirked, another wicked, dark smirk that caught her breath in her chest and stunned her into stillness.
His hands took one of hers and brought it up to his chest, traced it down the center to his lean stomach for her.
Her breaths came quicker, eyes watched her fingers trace over the wound muscle there, slight, but present. Perfect.
She wet her lips again and tried to keep her composure.
"Is this what you wanted, Hermione?" His voice was low, guttural and it made her heart race in her chest as she gave a little nod. "Then allow me to indulge you." That smirk again.
