A/N: Hello all, I'm so very sorry for the delay in posting more. I swear I didn't abandon this story, the new computer I bought died. Some circuit fried the motheboard and processor (some defect that happened during the original shipping-don't ask me what or how), and I had to send it back to HP. They finally sent a new one back that got lost in delivery and took forever to get sorted out. Basically, it has been a huge pain in my butt. However, I have computer again now. Yay. You never realize how depend you are on one until you don't have one any longer.

Anyhoo, I promise to update again very quickly to make up for the lapse in new chapters. I've not gotten to everyone's reviews yet and I will get on that next. Haven't even been able to read most of them yet.

Special Thanks to TabiPrewitt, who has been awesome with this story. I'll send fresh chapters to you soon, I swear. lol.

Disclaimer: I don't anything from the HP franchise, I just play with the characters for fun, for free, and cause I'm secretly pervy...though I doubt its much of a secret anymore. lol.

Chapter 14

They didn't meet up often over the next two weeks, although, her detentions she had alone with him found her naked and wrapped around him. Other than the first one that started it all, and her Saturday ones, she didn't do an ounce of work. Unless you counted riding or being ridden by Severus and screaming as she exploded around him as work, which she didn't.

Her detentions were really the only time they had a chance to be together. Even her final Saturday found her flat on her back, and later on her knees in his private chambers, since Draco was given a very easy task that he finished quickly. Mainly to get him out of the way so Severus could have her.

As soon as the door closed behind the blond Slytherin, Hermione used her wand to remove any traces of dirt or grime as Severus warded his door. He was placing silencing spells too, as she added in a contraceptive one for herself.

It wasn't long before she was naked with him between her thighs.

Each morning following their trysts, she found a few things waiting on her bedside table, though she hadn't a clue how he managed to leave them there for her. A pain potion, and a healing potion, and he'd already given her a small tub of salve for any bruises or bite marks he might leave behind that she left hidden in a drawer.

In his classes, he still sneered at her and occasionally called her on helping Neville, though it was rare that he did so. Still ignored her raised hand and called her insufferable and annoying while glaring at her.

During their meals, they rarely looked in each others direction. He still walked with her on occasion when she patrolled alone discussing different things just like they had talked about before. He even asked her again about her shop, wondering if she'd put anymore thought into it or not.

She shrugged, saying she had but still hadn't made any final decisions. If she was going to open a shop, then either she would have to go to university or apprentice to get her Potion's Mistress' license. The laws were clear that a Master or Mistress was required for commercial brewing. She was still debating which route she wanted to go.

He was again pondering his own thoughts about her opening the shop, but kept them to himself for now. Instead of leaving the discussion on the shop, he moved them on to other topics.

They did get around to that talk that both knew was needed. Both agreeing to keep things simple for now, they both still agreed not see or sleep with anyone else while sleeping with each other. However, they would see where it might go after graduation.

With Easter around the corner, Hermione was still studying for her N.E.W.T.S. Trying to insure she had it all down and ready for the exams. Severus found her one Sunday headed to the Room of Requirement to practice her casting for D.A.D.A.

He decided to join her, knowing that if anyone came across them it could be easily explained. He'd seen her enter and had just come in to find out what she was up to. Being the suspicious kind of man that he was, it was believable.

He watched her duel with the dummies for a bit before finally speaking up. "You shouldn't be relying on your shield so much. You should duck and dodge the spells more so that you can cast faster."

She glanced his way, a bit of hair clinging to her forehead with her sweating. "What?" Her cotton pants giving her more room to move than her jeans would and her t-shirt was sticking to her chest some.

He shed his outer robes, laying them over a chair. "If you use a shield each time, it will drain your magic and eat up time where you could be casting a return spell. Watch."

She moved out of the way and watched as the dummy shot a spell at him and instead of using his shield, he rolled out of the way and fired a return shot much faster than she had. Hermione frowned as she saw him do it again and again. Each time moving out the way instead using a shielding charm. He was able to fire more spells and use less magic than she'd been doing.

"Hmm." She said after watching for a bit. "That does make more sense. Would that be allowed on the exam?" Knowing that there was both a written and physical demonstration required for each test.

Severus straightened again, dusting himself off. "Yes. If you practice what I showed you, you should score better. Assuming you don't take a hit, of course."

She looked him over, a smirk starting to form on her lips. "Care to take the dummies place?"

His brow rose. "You want to duel with me?"

She shrugged. "Simple spells only, of course."

His lips started to curve. "I doubt you'd work as hard if they were all simple. Knowing they were real and could cause pain would keep you on your toes."

She frowned, looking unsure now. "How real?"

He chuckled. "Nothing life threatening, of course. But a stinging jinx sent your way would make sure you don't grow lax in your vigilance."

"Have I somehow annoyed you enough to make you want to send a stinging jinx my way?" She asked, knowing he was very skilled in dueling.

"Not today, but the desire to do so has been there before." He replied, chuckling again at her annoyed look.

"Fine. When do we start?" She asked.

In answer, he shot a spell at her, one she wasn't ready for and barely blocked in time. "Arse." She muttered.

"You should always be ready." He responded, while smirking at her in amusement.

She didn't know how long they dueled, but she knew she was covered in sweat and so was he. She was getting better at ducking instead using magic to block a spell, though a few hit her and had her cursing. He usually was laughing softly at her choice of crude curses too, especially since it was him that she was verbally cursing.

She did get a few of her own shots in. A triumphant smirk on her lips when he grimaced in mild pain. He frowned when she called out 'Avis', not understanding at first why she just conjured a bunch of small twittering birds. But quickly figured it out when her next shout of 'Oppugno' sent them flying towards him to attack.

Rather annoyed now, he shouted out 'Langlock', a spell he'd created that glued her tongue to the roof of her mouth so she couldn't shout out spells. She narrowed her eyes and used nonverbal spells instead.

He'd tried using Legilimency, but she quickly put up a wall and when she did, he didn't bother focusing anymore magic on reading her thoughts. She tried hitting him with a tickling charm, and in revenge he sent the tarantallegra charm at her to make her legs dance uncontrollably. Both were successfully blocked, much to each of their reliefs at not looking ridiculous with the spells had they sent.

She sent out a Jelly-Fingers curse and right behind it was a blindfolding curse. He ducked one and was hit by the other. Cursing at himself for getting hit and not being able to see, he wasn't surprised at finding himself in a full body bind only seconds later. Though he appreciated that she caught him before he hit the floor.

He heard the smugness in her voice when she removed the blindfold and the body bind as she spoke. "I think I won." Helping him stand again.

Severus debated his next move, and then with no more than a nonverbal spell, her wand flew out of her hand and into his. "Actually, I did. You should never trust your opponent until you are sure the battle is fully over and you are safe."

She rolled her eyes. "You cheated."

He smirked at her as he moved towards her. "Did you forget I'm a Slytherin? We all cheat, if that is the only way to win."

Hermione looked up at him. "I should have remembered that, and I will next time."

Severus smirked more, his arm slipping around her waist. "Next time you won't catch me with the blindfold. Now, what does the victor of this battle get for winning?"

She laughed softly. "What do you want?"

He bent down and met her as she rose up to kiss him. His tongue barely gained access to her mouth when he heard the door open. Not having any other choice, he quickly pushed her back with his foot behind her, making her trip and fall on her arse. Biting back a wince at how hard she landed.

Draco stepped inside and saw her land. His eyes finding his Head of House standing over her with his arms crossed.

"Next time, Miss Granger, I wouldn't..." He purposely paused, not having any clue what to finish that statement with and glanced behind him. "Draco." Nodding at the boy.

"Sir? What are you two doing?" The blond boy asked, taking in both Hermione and Severus' sweat drenched clothes.

Hermione realized in an instant why Severus had done what he did, but Snape spoke up before she could. "I found Miss Granger in here practicing and she asked if I wanted to duel so she could prove my corrections to her form wrong. I showed her why that was a bad idea and why I was correct in what I said."

Draco looked at Hermione who was now glaring and he smirked. "I take it you lost the duel?"

Hermione only glared more. "I won, he cheated."

Draco snickered as Severus gave her a bored look as he spoke. "I already pointed out your folly in that statement. You shouldn't trust your opponent to be finished just because you are. Now, I have better things to fill my day than dealing with you on a Sunday when I shouldn't have to."

With that, he picked up his discarded robes and left the room. Draco moved over to help her to her feet since she hadn't tried to stand yet. "I cannot believe you challenged my godfather to a duel. How stupid could you be? He was a Death Eater, a very skilled one. Did you think he got that role by not being able to handle a duel?"

Hermione huffed. "I still won. He cheated."

Draco sighed. "If you say you won but ended up on your arse, obviously you didn't win. Why were you in here anyway?"

Hermione shrugged. "I was practicing. Why are you here?"

Draco shoved his hands in pocket. "Same reason. Want to duel another Slytherin?"

Hermione grinned. "Why not? I won't make the same mistake again."

An hour later had Hermione snickering as Draco was hanging upside down, with his wand gone, pigtails hanging down with him, and bright pink lipstick smeared over his lips, while he glared at her.

"You've had your fun, now let me down, Granger." He growled at her, annoyed that she'd bested him in a duel.

Hermione continued snickering as she took him in, wishing she had a camera available. Inspired, she conjured a muggle Polaroid camera with instant developing film and snapped a shot as he snarled at her.

The camera disappeared, and the picture ended up in her back pocket. "Now, I'm finished having my fun." She told him, still smiling smugly.

When she lifted her wand to lower him down, she paused, remembering what happened with Severus. "This is how I lost with Professor Snape. How do I know you won't hex me when I let you go?"

Draco growled at her. "I won't, now let me down." Fully intending on getting his revenge when he was loose.

Instead, she slowly backed away from him, as he growled at her more. "You'd better not leave me here, Granger. Otherwise, you won't like what I do to you when I do finally get free."

When she hit the door that would let her out, she smiled and flicked her wand at him, but nothing happened. "The spell will release you after the door closes again and I'm out of this room. You are a Slytherin and I've already learned they can't be trusted very well in these situations."

With that she fled the room, running as fast as she could. Figuring he'd be quick to follow and get his revenge for the pigtails and lipstick. Not to mention the picture of him looking that way.

Sure enough, she heard him shout at her from several feet away. "You're not getting away that easy, Granger!"

She turned a corner and sped down the hallways even faster on her short legs. Hoping she could get somewhere safe before he caught up with her.

She chanced a glance behind her and saw he was gaining on her and cursed. With every ounce of energy, she forced her legs to move faster and turned another corner. Only to see McGonagall speaking with Snape only a few feet away from her speeding form.

She tried to stop and ended up skidding to a halt mere inches from colliding with Minerva and in her attempt to not to hit the older woman, she slipped and landed on her bum once again at their feet. She didn't get a chance to say a word when both professors raised their brows at her, before Draco came barreling around the same corner she'd come from.

He saw the same thing she had and just barely managed to stop before ramming into his Head of House, landing on his rear in his attempt to stop like she had. McGonagall and Snape looked at both students on the floor and sighed.

"What the devil are you two up to now?" Severus asked with a hint of annoyance in his voice.

Hermione swallowed and glanced at Draco, drawing a blank on how to answer without getting them in a whole heap of trouble. Draco on the other hand figured they were in for it again no matter what he said and spoke up. "Sir, I was trying to catch Granger after her final spell when we were practicing our casting."

Severus looked to Hermione. "I see you didn't learn your lesson with dueling Slytherins."

Hermione bit back a smirk. "I still won again, but this time I didn't set him free until I was out of the room."

Minerva was frowning. "What is going on, exactly?" Confused as the two students finally moved to stand again.

Hermione looked to the headmistress. "Draco and I were practicing our casting in the Room of Requirement for our upcoming N.E.W.T.S and knowing how Slytherins are...more apt to cheat than I am, I didn't release Draco until I'd left the room. However, he...wasn't all that thrilled with the final spell I used to win the duel. Nor was he finished apparently."

Minerva's brows rose. "What spell?"

Hermione was doing her best to keep from laughing as Draco cleared his throat and looked anywhere but at the Headmistress or his Head of House. "Er...I think in order to save Draco's pride...it might be best to just say that he ended up bound and unable to get his wand back." She said, still fighting a laugh.

Minerva looked at both of them. "I'm assuming neither of you were using harmful spells or anything I'd have to punish you both for?"

Both Draco and Hermione shook their heads. "No, ma'am." Hermione said. "Nothing more harmful than a minor stinging jinx now and again."

The headmistress nodded. "Very well. Need I remind you both about not running in the hallways?"

Again both shook their heads no, neither looking at Snape since they figured that had McGonagall not taken over this discussion, they'd both probably be in a world of trouble.

Minerva sighed. "Alright then. Neither of you actually collided with either myself, or Professor Snape, so you both may go. Mr. Malfoy, if I were you, I'd keep any...revenge for spells cast, to your duels. Miss Granger...I'd suggest dealing with the repercussions of your actions before you leave the privacy of the Room of Requirement from now on."

They both mumbled a 'yes, ma'am' before they made their way, much slower now, away from both adults. They didn't get far though before Draco spoke. "I want that picture, Granger."

Hermione snickered. "In your dreams, Draco. They say a picture is worth a thousand words and this one...is worth a heck of a lot more than that. You'll never live it down if this gets out. Which means...I won't be hearing anymore jokes about me wanting to shag you unless you want every students and staff member to have a copy of it by dinnertime."

Draco sighed. "You, Granger, have a bit of Slytherin in you, I see. Fine. No more jokes about you wanting to shag me. You have my word. Can I have the picture now?"

Hermione snorted. "Hell no. There would be nothing to make you keep your word otherwise."

Neither thinking about the fact that their voices were drifting down the hallways towards the same two professors they'd almost run into only moments before.

Minerva glanced at Severus, a chuckle escaping her. "What do you think she did to him that was so embarrassing that it could be used as blackmail?"

Severus was a bit surprised at hearing Hermione use blackmail at all; he didn't think she had it in her to do so. With a slight frown to his lips, he spoke. "I don't know, but considering how much Draco has been taunting her this year...I'm sure it was well deserved."

Minerva looked at Severus in surprise. "That is the first time I've ever heard you taking the side of anyone not in your house, especially with a Gryffindor involved."

Instantly realizing his error, he had a sneer on his lips. "The little know-it-all isn't known for doing anything truly harmful to anyone, so there is no need to worry about it. I know how my godson is too. I'm not taking her side, merely pointing out the obvious. Had you not stepped in, they both would be in more trouble than they are now. You're more lax that I would have been."

With that said, he turned and stormed back to his dungeons as his black robes swirling around him. He didn't know what Hermione had done, or what the picture showed, but he'd find out. He also knew that he needed to use more caution than he had been where she was concerned. A slip up like the one he had with the Headmistress could be more costly that he was prepared for right now.

A/N: Okay, I will posting again in a day or two. Take care and leave me your thoughts.