A/N: First of all, to all my reviewers: Thank you so very much for the kind, encouraging words! They are SO very welcome! I do so appreciate Reviewsthey give me the spur I need to write more of my story. Secondly, I sincerely apologize for the tardiness of my completing and posting this chapter: I had a rather RUDE Realitybite(down with a particularly NASTY stomach virus, and just couldn't keep my brain in gear)!! It just absolutely SUCKS when Reality bites! OOOooohh Well! A different Chapter, same shtickI'm NOT . . . I don't . . . et cetera ad nauseum! Yawn!!! So let's just get down to it, shall we?
Chapter Fourteen: Guy Talk/Girl Talk; or, I'm Hot For Teacher!
Severus' body remained perfectly still, loosely holding Hermione on his lap, as his dark head swivelled like a praying mantis' to pin Harry with a steely stare, his black eyes glittering with surpressed fury. Hermione felt the tension building up in him, and for the very first time since she'd fallen in love with this sardonically broody dark wizard, she was just a tiny bit frightened of him. This wasn't her Severus holding her any more. This was Professor Snape, with his life-time of practice at being a Bastard Extraordinaire She immediately slid off his lap, back over onto her own place to be out of the line of his fire.
"Mister Potter! WHAT did you DO?" exclaimed Severus, in a chilly, biting tone. "And do not lie to me, Potter! I shall know if you even attempt to do so, of that you may rest assured!"
These words, addressed to Harry, accompanied by the sudden change in Severus' demeanor, caused Neville to promptly faint! This came as no surprise to anyone present, except for Gillian. She immediately slipped from her place, and crawled under the table. That was where Neville had slid after loosing consciousness, and she anxiously patted his face as she attempted to shake him awake. When he opened his eyes and saw Gillian hovering over him, Neville hugged her tightly to him, and decided that they were probably in the very best place they could possibly be while Harry and Severus 'duked' it out, so to speak.
Draco was making frantic gestures towards Harry, trying desperately to attract his attention--with absolutely no success! All of Harry's concentration was focused on Severus. "We needed to keep all of us, and Hogwarts, safe and hidden. The best concealment spell we could find on short notice was the Atlantean Charm, so I cast it! Why would anyone even search for us, if they thought Hogwarts was destroyed?" Harry truthfully answered, staring into those burning black eyes. "Besides even though I cast it, it was Draco that found it in one of your books from your private library!"
"Shit! Just can't keep your mouth shut, can you, Potty?" Draco snarkily grumbled under his breath, as Severus' head, black eyes glaring, swivelled back towards his godson. "You went through my private library, Mister Malfoy?" Severus coldly asked.
Draco nervously attempted to swallow, but the tightness in his throat was not permitting it. However, his voice came out firm and unafraid as he answered the question, "Yes, sir, I did. We needed something more, something powerfulThe Dark Lord had sent the Dementors to find us. They were tracking Lupin, and he led them straight to us. It seemed like a good idea at the time, sir." Draco's voice trailed off into a nervous silence, as Severus continued to grill him with that black, bottomless stare.
The silence in the Great Hall was deafening, as Severus continued to alternate his biting glares between Harry and Draco. Finally, when Hermione's nerves could stand no more (her heart was pounding so loudly she could actually hear it hammering deep inside her eardrums!) Severus slowly closed his eyes, shook his head from side-to-side, rubbed one long, ivory, index finger against the bridge of his nose, and then began to chuckle. His dark head tilted back, as his deep, baritone laughter filled the echoing room, to the amazement of everyone present.
"The Atlantean Charm, you say! And you managed to cast it alone? Well, well! You really are Saint Potter after all!" Severus snarkily exclaimed, once he'd regained his breath, and control of his amusement. "I seriously doubt if even the Dark Lord could have cast that warding alone, without using combined magicks! We might actually stand a chance of winning this war . . . if we can manage to keep you alive long enough that is, Potter!" Severus then bent down to lock eyes with the terrified Neville Longbottom under the table.
"You can come up now, Longbottom. I'm not going to eat either one of you," and with these words, and that sardonic lipcurl of a grin from Severus, Neville hesitantly smiled back at him. An embarrassed Neville, along with a very confused Gillian, crept out from under the table and resumed their seats.
All three of the Weasley sons, and their girlfriends, had been watching with great interest during this whole exchange. It was Luna Lovegood that took the initiative to explain it all to the confused Neville, "Neville, you've been going all around Hogwarts, both inside and out for all these past weeks. Use your eyes! We've not blown up anything!"
Neville was staring in confusion straight at Luna, as she spoke very patiently, and very rationally. He still scratched his scalp, and asked, "But what about the photograph? They don't lie, Luna!" Luna gave an exasperated sigh, and murmured under her breath, "Dunderhead!", much to Ron's amusementbut aloud she said, "All that photograph proves is that one of the Deatheaters works for The Daily Prophet. How else would they have known to be 'on hand' to take the photograph, when even the Ministry and the Order didn't know that You-Know-Who was sending the Dementors into Hogwarts itself? But the Deatheater-reporter, that's information we didn't know about before. We now have an unexpected weapon! We could use that person to feed . . . disinformation . . . to the followers of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named!"
Ron leaned back in his chair, and whispered over Luna's back to Fred and Erika, "Scary, isn' she?" They both vigorously nodded in totally impressed agreement.
After taking a dumbfounded look at Neville's painfully slow up-take, Luna slowly shook her head, took a deep calming breath, and tried a more simple explaination, "Neville, Hogwarts is still standing, just as it always has! The Atlantean Charm presents the illusion of destruction to everyone, except those protected inside when it's cast. The camera prints what the photographer sees, so if the person sees destruction, that's what the photograph shows. It's truly a pity that now only a personally-bound invitation from a resident will allow an 'outsider' to enter, and be able to see Hogwarts as it really is! To anyone else, it will always look like a burned-out ruin. That's the only downside to this charm," she regretfully sighed, and then softly continued, "Hogwarts has always been so beautiful!"
Severus was most impressed by Luna Lovegood's devious idea. It was a very Slytherin of her; and not for the first time, he felt the warmth of that ingenuous intelligence that shone brightly out of her fey-little mind. He might personally believe that Divinations was codswollop, and a sheer waste of time, but from the innate abilities Severus could read within Luna's mind, she'd make a wonderful Seer! Perhaps he could drop the merest hint to the girl . . . .
Everyone sitting around the table drifted off into their own personal happy memories of Hogwarts: the first time they'd ever seen it, coming across the dark lake as totally awed first-years, it's golden windows welcomingly glowing; the massive stonework covered in fluffy white snow in the winter, and the holiday comraderie along with the inevitable snow ball fights; it's charmed, ancient, stained-glass windows glistening in the sunshine at the re-greening of spring. They all took a long few minutes of just reminiscing, before the priviledged few present sadly realized that to the world at large, Hogwarts was destroyed! It would always appear to be a burnt-out husk, a ruin, just one more senseless casualty of this stupid war.
But what was done was done! The Boy-Who-Lived had done the very best he could with no-one to advise him, and they were safe. Although, considering Tom Riddle's quite perverse attachment to the school, it had to have been like a kick in the balls from his point-of-view! When Severus ohsocasually dropped that juicy little tid-bit into their supper conversation, everyone present, including Minerva MacGonagall, gloatingly decided that it had been an acceptable loss after all!
It seemed no-one wanted to linger and converse after the meal was done. Draco and Miranda had already slipped away before the dessert course was even served! He'd offered to demonstrate the counter-curse they'd discussed earlier at tea, and she'd invited him to come back down with her to the Slytherin commonroom for just that purpose. They were fooling none of those remaining at the table as to just what they'd intended to practice!
Ron casually draped his long, muscular arm over Luna's dainty little shoulders as he leant into ask her, "Luna, would you like to come up to my room and have a game of Wizard's Chess?" Luna lifted up her pale-grey, puzzled eyes to meet his hot, hazel-green eyes, and replied, "But Ron, I don't play Wizard's Chess." Ron's smile turned quite wicked all of a sudden, and he whispered, "I didn't ask you to come play the game, luv. I asked if you wanted to have a game." He swooped in, and seared her lips with a quick, passionate kiss. "Never mind! Luna, would you like to come up to my room for the night?" She answered with no embarrassment at all, "Of course, Ronald! I would love to spend the night with you." And so they became the second couple to leave the Great Hall.
Neville was twitching in his seat, unsure of just how to go about getting Gillian alone. He didn't even dare let his mind dwell on just why or what he wanted her alone for. What if she'd decided she didn't want to again? What if she was sore? 'Shit, Neville you wanker! You're a bloody Gryffindor! Grow some balls . . . if you're wanting to use them, that is,' his mind screamed at him. He looked into those pale, trusting, sky-blue eyes, and smiled. Neville lifted one of his large, calloused hands to gently stroke Gillian's jawline with a single finger, stopping to rub it slowly across her full bottom lip. Then he leant in ever so slowly, to breathe against her lips, "Do you want me, like I want you?", and he kissed her with a passionate, but feather-light touch of his mouth. When he broke their kiss, Gillian licked her swollen lips, and whispered back, "Let's go." They spoke to no-one, merely held each other's hand and left for his room in Gryffindor Tower, as if there hadn't even been anyone else present in the Great Hall.
Amanda and Erika looked into each other's eyes, and nodded their silent feminine understanding. Who would have ever thought it? Neville Longbottom must really be something else in bed! Their sisterly concern for young Gillian was finally satisfied, and they could now return their undivided attention to their own identical love interests, Fred and George. Fred pulled Erika tight enough against him to leave her no doubt as to his aroused interest in her. George slipped his arm around Mandy's waist, and in their doubled 'twin speak' the foursome agreed to take this on upstairs for the night. "'Night, all," merrily called Erika, as she pulled Fred towards the doorway. "We'll see you in the morning," Mandy said as she slapped George on his arm for pinching her bum, before she smacked a quick kiss on his cheek, and they all slipped away to race each other upstairs to the Fat Lady's portrait.
Minerva MacGonagall rose from the Heads table, and made her way down to where the last two couples remained; one, a pair of her most beloved Gryffindors, and sitting with them, a pair of equally dark Slytherins. She paused directly in front of Severus, taking mental note of both Harry and Hermione's tensing-up in preparation of defending the dark ex-Potions Master, if necessary. Minerva politely inclined her greying head and met his hopeful black gaze with her own still beautiful willow-green stare, from overtop of her wire-rimmed reading glasses. "Severus," was the only word she used, and then she walked on towards her own chambers and bed.
But it was enough. Severus gave a soul-deep shudder, as an unexpected peace suddenly rippled, then released, the taut muscles of his back. He whispered barely loudly enough for Hermione's ears to catch, "She's forgiven me!" in a tone of pure disbelief and wonder.
Even though he'd so positively reassured Hermione that it would happen, Severus personally didn't believe that the old witch would have ever forgiven him for Dumbledore's murder. If he'd been in her shoes, Severus knew he'd be screaming for Hermione's murderer to receive countless 'crucio's, and when life was barely left clinging in the bastard, he'd demand a Dementor to perform 'The Kiss'. 'Gryffindor's!' he thought in awed amazement, catching Hermione's hand and lifting it to his lips, to brush the softest, most possessive kiss onto her inner wrist.
"Severus!" breathed Hermione, feeling her bones melting at the heated branding of his unexpectedly possessive lips. He released her, and she straightened up from where she'd unwittingly slumped in her seat. Hermione could feel the waves of distress Harry was emitting. Help me! Teach me! She felt the words inside her mind, more than actually hearing them. So like a dutiful sister, she lifted her amber eyes to meet Severus' deep black gaze and asked, "Severus, would you mind terribly if we all took a moonlight walk in the Serpent's Garden? Maybe somewhat of a 'double-date' if you like, since none of us can actually go out on a date? I'd like a chance" she was cut off in mid-sentence by Severus' lips, as he dipped his ebony head to silence her rambling chatter the very best possible way.
Severus had already figured as much, knowing his Hermione's soft heart, and from the frustrated waves of uncertainty and panic screaming at his mind from Harry. 'Shit, Severus! I sincerely hope that the Boy Wonder catches on faster at sexed than he did with Potions! Because by Merlin's Balls, I intend to shortly bed my Hermione . . . no matter where, no matter what, no matter who's present, Harry Bloody Potter included!' Severus irritatedly thought to himself, as he plunged his hot tongue into Hermione's mouth to shut her the hell up. 'But that might be the very lesson Potter needs,' whispered a tiny, perverted voice inside Severus' mind. 'Shut up, Shut Up, SHUT UP!!' Severus mentally scolded that devilishly wicked voice, but felt himself hardening a bit anyway at the voyeuristic idea of actually showing Harrythe boywholivedtobeapaininmyarsePotter all the various techniques of seduction. 'No. Damn! I'll not expose my Hermione to that . . . unless SHE wants to, that is,' he smirked into her lips, unseen by anyone.
When Severus broke their kiss, he cleared his throat as he prepared to do what he knew Hermione wanted, even though it grated horribly against his nerves. He turned his dark eyes to meet Harry's desperate 'deer caught in the headlights' look. Severus had a quick mental chuckle at that look, but aloud he drawled the invitation that he knew Hermione wanted to hear from him, "Harry, Elspeth, would you care to accompany Hermione and me on a," here he strangled a bit, just trying to stay polite, and choked the words out, "double-date in Salazar's suite?" 'Say no, PLEASE say no,' Severus' mind was begging.'Oh, fuck it, they're taking us up on it!' Severus resignedly sighed.
Elspeth quickly shot a pleading look at Harry, sure that he would refuse. To her surprised pleasure, Harry nodded his head, and met her hopeful amethyst gaze, saying, "We'd be honored, Severus." He stood and offered his hand to Elle, helping her up. Hermione stroked the side of Severus' cheek, and silently projected her thoughts of appreciation and gratitude towards him.
At the wicked little lift of an inky eyebrow, and smirk that crossed Severus' visage, she felt a trill of excitement deep in the very core of her being . . . as well as a tiny gush of wetness in her knickers. Hermione knew without any words that Severus would ohso make her pay for this later! She almost cancelled this 'date' herself, thinking about all the ways Severus would be making her pay, and she felt a sudden throb in her netherregions for only Him. An irreverent thought shot across Hermione's mind, causing a very Slytherinlike grin to purse her lips, as she surpressed a giggle. 'Ohmigod! I'm hot for Teacher!'
The last two couples left the Great Hall, and made their way down to Severus' chambers in the dungeon. Several minutes later, Severus stood in front of the huge mirror in his bathroom, preparing to open the way, then he stopped out of curiousity. He turned to Harry, and asked him, "Harry, can you read these runes?", indicating them with a longfingered ivory hand. Harry answered, "I've never excelled in Ancient Runes, sir, but I'll try." He pushed his glasses up higher on the bridge of his hawkish nose, as he leant in to attempt to see the carved runes more clearly.
They looked so strangely familiar, like he should be able to read and understand them. He stepped closer to the mirror, and almost as if in a trance, he reached out and traced the symbols with his right index finger. Elle stepped closer to his side, as she also attempted to read the strange symbols. She had excelled in Ancient Runes, but this language and these symbols were both ohso familiar, and yet completely unknown in any of her studies. Severus bent nearer to Harry's shoulder, to whisper in that relaxing velvety purr, "Try thinking in Parseltongue."
Elle suddenly gripped Harry's arm so tightly as her mind spiralled away, that it was probably going to leave a mark tomorrow. Both of their minds had slipped sideways into that very reptilian part of their brains, and her left hand undulated up his right arm, so that her slim fingers were tracing the symbols along with his. Their hands and arms seemed to twine together like two mating serpents, and they both began speaking Parsel-tongue in unison. The unintelligible words coming from their lips made no sense to either Severus or Hermione, but the symbols began to glow just the same as when Severus used his blood to open them.
"What do these words say, Harry?" Severus querried softly, in his mesmerizing baritone timbre, desperately trying not to pull Harry back from that section of his brain too quickly. The images Severus could read there were different; dark, somewhat disturbing, and rawly primal, but not truly evil, and he wanted to explore them further. It was almost like being able to Legillimize the workings of the Dark Lord's mind . . . without the unfortunate repercussions, of course! "Fascinating," Severus murmured under his breath, "Simply fascinating!"
an hour later . . . ,
The girls were inspecting the night-blooming jasmine that climbed the corner of the wall nearest to Salazar's alchemy tower. They looked like tiny, fragrant, white fallen stars. Their fragrance was simply intoxicating, and they each picked a handful and stuck them magically as ornaments into their hair.
Severus and Harry had been walking together, discussing the wording of the runes on Salazar's enchanted mirror. "What I don't understand is . . . if Slytherin hated Muggle-borns, why would the wording be 'True Bloods'? Shouldn't it have read 'All 'Pure Bloods' who seek the protection and sanctuary of Salazar Slytherin, enter here and be sheltered from all harm'?" Harry asked Severus. "Were Pure-bloods called 'True-bloods' back when the four founders built Hogwarts?"
"Not to the best of my knowledge," Severus replied, deep in thought, as he stroked his chin with one long index finger rather absentmindedly. "Harry, history is always written by the victors. Never forget that! Perhaps what the Wizarding World commonly thinks of Salazar Slytherin, and all of Slytherin House for that matter also, has been . . . shall we say . . . coloured . . . by the misperceptions of his colleagues over their disagreement? It probably was then further distorted by centuries of telling and retelling. It is possible that even the original cause of the founder's disagreement has been misinterpreted over the centuries. Rather like the child's game 'Gossip' or 'Party-line', if you will."
Harry slowly nodded his unruly dark head. He hated to admit it, but Severus did make sense. All of his own personal dislike for Slytherin House, had begun by his listening to Ron's gossip while they'd been waiting to be sorted. That had been before he even knew anything about the workings of theWizarding World, the duplicity of the Ministry, and before he'd learned to question the authority of a wizarding world that panicked at the very mention of one word: 'Voldemort'!
At any rate, Severus had given Harry the honor of discussing topics that interested both of them, without being overly sarcastic or obviously condesending, and gave him the respect of one adult wizard to another. An ivory hand reached out to almost touch his arm, but paused to hover in mid-air when he'd caught Harry's attention. Severus whispered, "Not a word, Harry, until we can research this further, at a later date. We do not need to create a 'cause' for Hermione's sense of injustice to want to rectify at this time. It's enough that we now know that these chambers can truly be used as a fortress of last resort, if necessary."
"Severus," called Hermione, as the two girls approached the spot on the gleaming-white, pebbled pathway where he and Harry stood quietly talking. "Yes, my love?" Severus turned to meet Hermione's outstretched hand with his own, his dark eyes and expression bland but interested. Elle slipped under Harry's left arm, to be pulled close against his chest; the top of her blue-black head nestling into a perfect fit against his collar bone.
"Severus, I'm in the mood for some music, and some conversation that is totally unrelated to . . . ," here Hermione stopped for a breath, gestured with a vague wave of her hand unable(or unwilling) to complete the sentence, and self-consciously began to gnaw her bottom lip.
Severus gave her that lop-sided grin she loved, and acquiesced with the single word, "Quite!" He turned them to the right, as he led the way back down the stone spiral staircase, and into Salazar's private chambers. Hermione felt that Elle and Harry needed to experience a happier time there, to experience some decadence, to learn about each other, like she and Severus had done. To celebrate life, to celebrate love, to celebrate Now! By the tender squeeze Severus gave her hand, she knew that she wasn't alone in longing for some nowfor just a short time. Just Now. Not Later. Not Tomorrowit might never come for some of them. Just Now!
Severus lit the fire in the massive fireplace in the outer room with a smooth, wandless, magical wave of his elegant, pale hand, and his spell, "Incendiare!" Hermione and Elle excused themselves to visit the loo, leaving Harry and Severus behind.
There was a stretch of silence between the two wizards that threatened to turn uncomfortable, then Severus spoke, "Harry, I need to send Lupin's things to the Shrieking Shack, and retrieve several things from my potions stores. In addition, I'd like to have a quick shower and change of clothes. I suggest you accompany me, to take advantage of a loan of fresh clothing, and use of my bathroom. Lovemaking is always more pleasant if both partners are clean." At Harry's startled expression, Severus' raised eyebrow came up to damnnearly touch his hairline. He sardonically quipped, "No, Harry! I'm not preparing you for participating in an orgy. Even were I tempted, I would in no way share what is mine!"
Harry released a breath he didn't even realize he'd been holding. "What about Hermione and Elle, sir? How do we excuse ourselves to them?" Harry hesitantly asked. Severus sighed, "Damn, Potter! Are you truly that thick about the fairer sex?" Severus shook his head in disbelief, before he resignedly sighed and softly spoke, "The female of the species wants intimacy and wants to please her partner, where most males simply want sex." Harry nodded. This he understood from hanging around the Weasely sons.
Severus was attempting to avoid Harry's curious emerald stare as he continued, "It doesn't have to be that way, Harry. We do not have to be rutting animals, only looking to flip a skirt. The act of love can be a beautiful experience, if you're lucky enough to find the right partner. One who can fill your mind and heart, as well as satisfy your lusts. The trick is to put your partner's needs and desires first, and yours last. Believe me, that will bring you much more satisfaction than simply crawling onto a warm body and grinding out your lusts."
It was Professor Snape that began this lecture, and Harry rather felt like he should've been taking notes as Severus' deep voice purred, "The Art of Lovemaking is rather like brewing a potion. Each ingredient, no matter how seemingly insignificant, carefully added at just the correct moment, in the perfectly measured porportions, with the precise amount of delicate stirring, knowing the right time to increase the flame under the cauldron, and the exact time to tamp the fire, and reduce it to a slow simmerthese techniques, when applied to lovemaking is the Art of Seduction, at least as I practice it. Walk with me." Severus led a silent, but highly curious, Harry into Salazar's bedchamber, to await the ladies' return.
Elle's amethyst eyes were glittering with good humor, as she excitedly told Harry about the size of the enormous tub in Salazar's private bath. Hermione chipped in, "You should take a bubble-bath in it sometime! You can almost swim in it!"
Severus scooped Hermione up clear off her feet, and locked her in a quick kiss as he spun her around. "What a wonderful idea, Hermione, my love! Harry and I need to make a quick 'round' anyway, and leave Lupin's things for him to be prepared to face the day. We'll probably be gone at least an hour, maybe a bit longer. Why don't you and our guest share a bath, have some of the female conversation that I know is inevitable at times like these, and make yourselves comfortable?" At the stubborn lifting in protest of Hermione's chin, Severus suddenly found to his surprise that he wasn't above wheedling. He upped his ante, "I'll bring out my old radio as a special treat. Would you like to dance with me again, my love?"
Hermione's amber eyes glowed into molten honey, as she reached up and stroked the lean line of Severus' cheek. She longingly whispered, "Oh, yes, Severus! Please let's do it again! Let's relive that night, and have it come to the conclusion it should have then." Severus dipped his mouth quickly to the left, and managed to sear a hot, moist kiss into the palm she caressed his cheek with. His jetblack eyes glittered with smoldering promises, and he passionately purred in an even deeper baritone, "You may summon Gristle, and she will serve you without question. I've ordered her to consider you her mistress . . . now that you are the Mistress of my heart."
Hermione was moved to speechlessness, an extremely rare condition for her! She simply nodded her head, swallowed hard, and managed to say, "Hurry back! We'll be waiting for you both." Elle was breaking away from the passionate kiss Harry had given her, and expressed much the similar sentiments to her lover, Harry.
The two darkhaired wizards walked away: one with perfectly straight, slightly longer, smooth, ravenwing black hair, a bit taller, powerfully graceful, with a fit, lean, more mature build of an adult wizard approaching his prime; the younger's dark hair was unruly almost to the point of 'shagginess', not quite black because of the reddish-brown streaks here and there, not quite as tall as the other wizard, but with the powerful, perfectly sculpted, muscular body of a young adult male. Both girl's eyes trailed after her own lover, even after they'd disappeared from view.
Hermione summoned Gristle, and had the helpful house-elf draw a deep, hot, bubblebath with the jasminescented potion she'd used all those weeks she'd spent in the Time-turned past with Severus. Gristle then cast elfin 'warming' spells on the bathroom, and bedchamber. Even in the warmest of summer months, this deep into the stone belly of Hogwarts, it was always chilly. Gristle left the two young ladies soaking in the huge deep tub of silky, fragrant, hot water, to fetch them clean nightwear from Salazar's attics. Hermione made a point of specifically telling the mischievous house-elf not to bring them haremgirl outfits, which opened a whole new line of questioning from an amused Elle!
guy talk . . . ,
Severus laid out two identical changes of clothes with a minimum of fuss, and no unecessary movements, as his bureau and closets were as methodically organized as his brilliant mind. All black, just as Harry expected the clothing would be. Black, silk-cotton blend tee-shirts, black silk boxers (once Harry felt the luxurious hand of that fabric against his naked groin, he'd never go back to cotton underpants), and black men's yoga pants made of the same knit as the tee-shirts.
Severus then pulled a twine-tied brown-paper package from the floor of his wardrobe, and tossed it onto the foot of his king-sized bed. "Harry, could you have Dobby deliver this to the bedroom in the Shrieking Shack, since Gristle is occupied with our ladies?" Harry nodded his head, summoned Dobby, and gave him the package and orders. He then turned to Severus and said, "Sir, I can send Dobby to fetch me a change of clothes. It's really not necessary for me to borrow your things, though I appreciate the offer."
Severus arched a jaded eyebrow at Harry, and managed to sound affronted as he scoffed, "Why, Harry? Are you afraid the use of my clothing might contaminate you? Let me reassure you then. These clothes are magically charmed to automatically clean themselves, and to fit the wearer. Hermione was the last person to wear the set I've loaned you. She wore them to practice tai-chi in the mornings, while we worked on the Wolfsbane potion. I seriously doubt if she left any germs on them. If it helps you to justify their use, consider it the loan of a school uniform."
Harry picked up his set of black garments without further comment, and simply asked, "Who showers first, you or me?" Severus' face didn't change expression, other than a higher lift of a black eyebrow, and he replied, "Why, as my guest, you go first. Towels will appear when you call for them. There is a charmed shaving brush in a mug on the counter. If you lather your face, leave it for two minutes, then wash it off, it will leave you smooth-shaven. Sorry I can't loan you a toothbrush, but I do have a potion to rinse your mouth with that leaves your breath fresh for twenty-four hours. Do you need anything else?" Harry smiled and shook his head, "No sir, I believe you've covered it all." He went into the bathroom, and firmly closed and locked the door.
Severus opened the secret drawer in his bureau, and extracted a small rubyred glass bottle, opened the tightly screweddown lid, sniffed deeply at the contents to check for the herbal's freshness, and smiled quite wickedly before pocketing it. If noone else induldged, he and Hermione still would. She'd said that she wanted to relive that night, correct? Besides, it relaxed his brilliant mind, and had eased the pains of one too many crucio's, along with lowering his inhibitions so that he could 'share' and 'talk'; something really big in Hermione's vocabularyshocker!
A slow grin spread across Severus' face, and he went delving into his memories of Hermione from the last time they'd spent time in Salazar's chambers. 'Strange how accepting of me that little witch is,' thought Severus, not for the first time. 'She knows most of the very worst I've done and been, and still she loves me!' He really shouldn't have let his mind go there; as some of the very worst he'd done came rushing unexpectedly back, flooding the back of his throat with a bitter bile, and obliterating the happy moment he'd had from only a second ago. Severus was lost; locked in the darkest, most tortured, chambers of his mind. He silently prayed for a sound, or movement, just anything to break the thrall, and allow him to come back from this terrifying brink that had unhinged him before.
Ten minutes later, Harry emerged from the bathroom, still towelling his dark hair. "Thanks for the use of your shower and toiletries, Severus. I do feel refreshed and relaxed. And thanks for use of the clothes as well. They're very comfortable. I guess that I really do need to break down and let Hermione take me shopping, like she's always nagging me to do! Good luck on that," Harry quipped with a smile that faltered as he looked up to surprise a glimmer of self-loathing on Severus' face, before the man could resume the 'face' that he usually presented to the general population.
"You are most welcome, Harry," Severus thankfully said, snatching himself back from his dark past, and he gathered up his clothing before going in to take his own shower. "I'll be out shortly," he called over his shoulder, as he stepped into the bathroom. Harry had seen that look only one other time on the older wizard's face. It had been there in the few seconds prior to Dumbledore's murder. Harry knew what was behind that look, or thought he did; the same self-hatred and disgust he'd felt towards his own self when he'd forced that poisoned brew down the Headmaster's throat, cup after murderous cup. Harry shook himself, and to occupy his mind, he took advantage of this moment of unexpected privacy in Severus' most intimate chamber to take a look around. It had been Hermione that had once told him that someone's most private space reflected the closest reality to the innerowner of the space.
The organized way Severus kept his clothing and personal effects spoke volumes about how wellorganized the dark wizard's mind was. Frills and luxury were absent on every inch of the Potions Master's powerful person, indicating that he cared little about what others thought of him, except for these hidden, sensuous, and sinfully luxurious, silk boxers. Something secretly sexual, something noone except himself, or only someone on the most intimate of terms with Severus would be aware of. So that would mean he'd definitely not be a 'kiss and tell' wizard, unlike Guilderoy Lockhart.
Harry had gotten truly nauseated at some of the things that 'wizard', for want of a better word, had bragged to a twelve-year-old Harry about, when he'd been serving countless detentions with the narcissistic pervert! Lockhart had liked them young; both male and female! The wanker had even attempted to make a pass at him! Harry had truly been afraid for Hermione's virtue, what with her crush on the slick bastard and all, until she'd come to see for herself that 'pretty is as pretty does'. She'd been heartbroken for a couple of days, but it had been a learning experience for her!
Her handsome idol had proven to have feet of the basest of clays. It had been the two of them, Harry and Hermione, that had quite literally caught Lockhart 'with his pants down', and Lavender Brown bent over his office desk, after class one afternoon. Lavender had been a busty 'early-bloomer', but she still was only twelve years old, just like them!
Hermione had ran out in a flurry of hurt tears, with Harry chasing after her. They'd finally decided to go to the Headmaster about the situation, after the Quidditch match that day. But then Hermione had been found Petrified, and their moment of confession and confrontation had passed by as unimportant. At least Severus Snape, at his absolute darkest, had never been even remotely accused of improprieties with an underaged student of either sex before!
Severus stepped back into his bedroom, perfectly groomed, his long, ebony hair spelled dry to lay in silky blueblack smoothness down just past his black tee-shirt encased shoulders. "Harry," Severus acknowledged with a nod of his head, before striding into his sitting room, turning to press a small stone in the wall, which revealed a secret doorway, and he entered his private potions laboratory. He riffled through several shelves, and different coloured and shaped bottles and vials, until he'd found what he'd been searching for. Harry had followed him, and suspiciously watched as Severus pocketed one of the little green vials, and held out a second one to him. "What is this, sir?" Harry asked.
Severus sighed, and explained as best as he could, "Harry, we may not win this war. Even if we do win, we personally, may not live to see the victory. Would you leave the woman you love pregnant, and alone, to raise an unexpected child in the midst of that chaos?"
At Harry's thoughtful, negative shake of his head, Severus nodded in approval, and continued, "I wouldn't, either. Normally it would go against my inclinations of fairplay to dose an unsuspecting witch with a potion. But I've discovered that when a woman's heart is involved, sometimes rationality goes flying out the window! It's possible that they would even consider it their duty to bear our child, especially if we fail to survive. However, if Voldemort lives . . . I wouldn't want a child of mine to endure being bound to serve him as my replacement, or to be the whipping boy for my sins. Would you?"
"No, Severus, I wouldn't," Harry answered with cold, brutal honesty. Severus looked deeply into those emeraldLilylikeeyes, and nodded again at whatever he saw there, saying, "This is a simple conceptionprevention potion. Three drops provides twentyfour hours of effectiveness. It is virtually odorless, and tasteless, when disolved in something acidic and sweet, like wine or fruitjuice." Harry nodded again, as he accepted, and pocketed, the second green vial. "Thank you, Severus," Harry solemnly said, and the two darkhaired wizards left back through the charmed bathroom mirror, to return to the witches awaiting them in Salazar's chambers.
girl talk . . . ,
Hermione scrubbed Elle's shoulders and back with a soapy sea-sponge, and turned around to receive her own turn at being lathered and scrubbed. It was turning out to be quite the sensual experience for both of them, as both girls shyly confessed to each other that they each had 'experimented' before with a female House-mate. Gristle had 'popped' back in with heated towels for them, and two similarly-made silk gowns for them; one white, one red.
The girls climbed the stone steps up and out of the massive tub, and proceeded to dry themselves. All the bottles and jars of unguents, lotions, scents, and breath-potion were setting around in just the order Hermione had used them during her former stay in Salazar's chamber. She and Elle smoothed their arms and legs, along with various other areas, with the sweetly scented lotion that Severus had brewed especially just for her. They went through the typical blushing and gossiping and giggles of all young women everywhere, as they prepared themselves for their 'dates'.
Hermione looked longingly at the red gown, smoothing one hand over the raw silk, and sighed regretfully as she passed it to Elle. There was no way possible that Elle could 'pull off' the white gown; she was just too pale. It would do nothing flattering for the dark girl, except to 'wash' her out completely. 'Oh well, the white is just as lovely,' Hermione thought to herself.
Hermione slipped the softly rustling white silk over her head, and smoothed the long skirt of the gown over her hips and thighs, making sure it clung in all the right places. Elle did the same with her gown, and looked the most 'Vampirella' she ever had . . . but it suited her dark, mysterious looks to perfection, and Harry deserved the best in Hermione's opinion.
The girls had talked about their fantasies, about what they'd like to do when the war was finally over, and about the best charms and glamours to use to appear sexy for their respective lovers. They had a wonderful laugh about ex-boyfriend's frustrations, when they'd not gotten into their knickers. Hermione had admitted to Elle about her first and only othertime being with Viktor Krum, when she had made such careful plans to seduce Ronald Weasley, but then he'd spoiled everything by not asking her to the Ball. She hadn't ever told anyone else about that, except Ginny of course, whose romantic jealousy and envy had finally almost completely soured their friendship. They were still friends of course, just not 'tight' like they were at the beginning.
Ginny had thought Hermione and Harry were doing each other after their fifth year, when Hermione had only been comforting Harry after he lost Sirius to the Veil. She had actually accused Hermione of trying to steal Harry from her! Harry had actually been trying to pursue Ginny, in his own clueless, clumsy, way, and had discovered to his surprise that when it came down to it, he just couldn't perform the act with his best mate's little sister!
That had been when Ginny took Blaise Zabini up on his invitation to the Beltane Ball during Hermione's sixth year. She'd been extremely angry with Harry both for not asking her to be his date, and turning her down when she'd crawled into his bed one night. Ginny was feeling lower than hippogriff dung about herself, when the quite handsome Slytherin pureblood had way-laid the red-head that Monday, and asked to be her escort to the dance. She'd accepted him with alacrity, much to everyone's shock, including Blaise's! For him, it had been a dare that Draco had set, just a bloody bet! For her, it had just been a way to spite Harry, and to try to make him jealous. It had ended with Ginny falling just as hard for Blaise as he unexpectedly fell for her, to both of their shocked amazements!
Hermione confided to Elle that it was just fine by her that Ginny had 'moved on'. "I mean, Ginny's my friend, and I still love her very much, but she could never have made Harry happy on a long-term basis, Elle," Hermione regretfully sighed, before she continued, "Ginny was the only girl in among all those sons! She's been pampered and coddled and spoiled her whole life by both of her parents, as well as all of her brothers. She'd be expecting the same from Harry for the rest of their lives, and he doesn't need that! I think that what drew him to Ginny to begin with is the same thing that drew me to Ron; that sense of home, and family, and safety. Harry's had a hard life, with no one to pamper and care for him. Once this war is over, it needs to be Harry's turn for a while."
Elle was quietly thoughtful for a moment, staring at herself in the bronze mirror and combing her almost waist-length, blue-black, straight hair. "Hermione, do you realize that almost the same things could be said about Severus? He's had a hard life; certainly with no one to pamper and care for him! I mean, of course as an adult, he's responsible for becoming a Deatheaterwith all the ramifications that title entails. But why? What made him become a follower of You-Know-Who, and more importantly what or who pulled him back before he completely lost his Soul?"
Hermione shook her head, and replied as she turned to allow Elle to comb her tangled, honeybrown, hair out, "I'm not at liberty to speak about Severus' past choices, or personal life. I gave him my solemn word that I'd respect and protect his privacy." Elle nodded at Hermione's suddenly tight-lipped, closed expression. It was the briefest explaination Hermione had ever given to any question . . . ever! Those simplest of sentences spoke volumes to Elle about the depth of Hermione's love and devotion to her former HeadofHouse.
the date . . . ,
Severus went around the expansive chamber filling and lighting the four hanging copper incense burners with a wandless magickal wriggle of his long, ivory fingers. Soon the sweet smell of incense and herbs filled the room with the smoke of mystery and sensuality. Harry had joined Hermione and Elle as they lounged among the pillows and cushions of 'the passionpit'. Hermione summoned Gristle and ordered her to fetch Master's music maker (the name the little houseelf had given her Master's radio), and by the time Severus was done, old rock music was again filling the chamber.
Severus joined Hermione and the younger couple among the pillows, assuming the 'lotus' position with one graceful sweep and curl of his long, muscular legs. He called Gristle and quietly ordered some refreshments for them to nibble on as the mood took them, to be delivered the next time she was summoned. He whispered something into Hermione's ear causing her to smile and blush, before she shot a wicked glance towards Harry. She nodded her head, and Severus dug in his right pocket, pulling out a small rubyred glass bottle.
Severus withdrew some kind of herbal remedy from the little bottle, and loaded the hookha burner with a tiny bit of charcoal and generous pinch of the herb. He started it smoldering with the same wandless magick that he'd used to light the incense braziers. As the herbal began smoking, the deepblue glass bowl of the hookha began magically filling with liquid. Severus pulled one of the long, silkwrapped tubes to him and inhaled a long, slow, drag of silveryblue smoke into his lungs as Hermione gently stroked his tense shoulder. He pulled her into his chest with one strong, sinewy arm, and she tilted her head back as his lips met hers, and he very gently exhaled the draw of smoke into her mouth, filling her lungs as she slowly inhaled.
Harry was in a state of total shock! He'd tried pot before with Ron and the twins while visiting at the Burrow. He was aware of Hermione trying it with Ginny; they'd even all done it together before once or twice. But being raised 'Muggle', Harry had a problem with being very accepting of watching an older wizarda former Professor, at thatindulge. Drug use was bad, wasn't it? His brow furrowed, as he watched Hermione blow the silvery smoke out in relaxed little rings.
Severus arched an inky dark eyebrow at Harry's expression. It was somewhere caught between shock, disapproval, anger, and fascination. Fascination . . . now he could work with that! Severus took another draw, and passed the intricatelycarved, silver stem to Hermione, just as Elle reached for a second stem. Harry put his hand on Elle's arm as she pulled the silken tube over to them. She looked at Harry, truly puzzeled for a moment, then she brightened, and offered it to him first. When he shook his head, she shrugged her shoulders and inhaled for herself instead.
Severus stretched his back out, snapping the tension loose, and lounged back against the silken pillows, letting Hermione settle back against his leanly muscled chest. He ran a longfingered hand through Hermione's waves of honeycoloured hair, as he accepted the stem from her slender hand. The relaxation had almost immediately taken hold, and Severus contentedly sighed, as he brought a ringlet of Hermione's hair to his nose to breathe in deeply that sweet scent he just couldn't get enough of. It was fresh and pure; it was just Hermione, and he adored it! She tilted her head back, as she reached up and pulled Severus' head down for a lazy kiss.
Harry shook his head again, trying to wrap his mind around this new development. Elle reached over to stroke his jawline with a slender index finger, as she reverently exhaled. "It's alright, Harry," she softly said. "You don't have to indulge if you don't want to, but it's only polite that you were offered. It's not really commonly done here in England anyway, except by Slytherins. However, if you ever go to Egypt, or Morroco, or any of the wizarding communities of the East, it would be considered extremely rude not to partake if your host offers. 'Sort of like refusing to try the house label of a winery owned by a prominant wizarding family."
Hermione added, "I was raised Muggle too, Harry. I understand your qualms completely. I researched it, after Severus offered to smoke with me the first time. The wizarding community doesn't partake just to 'do drugs' and lead to addiction, like so many Muggles fall into. It's like a smokable potion, used sparingly, and only used on certain occasions, or for meditative or medicative reasons." She purred these last few words out, as Severus had begun to tenderly massage her neck and shoulders with his long, talented fingers.
Elle looked puzzeled, and asked Harry, "You mean Muggles don't know how to exercise selfcontrol, and they let the euphoria take them into addiction?" Harry grimly nodded, then clarified, "Yes, some do move to stronger, harsher substances, and become drug addicts. It's a hard, horrible lifestyle that tears apart families, and can even lead to death. There are vastly expensive government campaigns to battle the import and distribution of 'drugs' of all kinds." Elle rolled her violet eyes, and said in a wry, but nondescriminatory tone, "Muggles!"
She just shook her dark head, unsuccessfully trying to understand the concept that Muggles would choose to become addicted. One of the very first lessons all good wizarding children learned was control; control of their emotions, control of their magicks, control of their actions. One had to learn to be responsible, to be in control, before one could let go and loose control! She found it incomprehensible that not all peoples understood that simple fact. Elle took another slow draw from the stem, and leaned back against Harry's shoulder to ponder this strange chasm further.
Harry slowly reached over, and took the stem from Elle. He hesitantly took a draw and held it in his lungs. Almost immediately he felt his tensions and selfconsciousness melting away, and he passed it back to Elle. Harry glanced over at Hermione and Severus. She was returning the favor of passing the sweet, evergreensmelling smoke into his mouth, like he'd done to her initially. Much to Harry's amazement, Severus actually shuddered! They made it look so sensuous, so . . . erotic! Well, he'd wanted to learn the art of seduction, and this looked to be something he could actually do for Elle.
Harry reached for the stem again, and took another, longer, deeper, draw of the delicate herbal smoke. He gently took hold of Elle's chin and tilted her face up towards his, leaning down to slowly release the smoke into her mouth, letting her pull it in at her own pace. Damn! It was remarkably sensual, and Harry felt himself hardening as Elle nursed the smoke and oxygen from his mouth into her own ruby lips! He felt himself shuddering in response, and instantly he understood what Severus must be feeling.
Sweet Merlin! This feeling was awesome! It felt better than the actual euphoria of the smoke! It was like having your soul sucked out, and put back, over and over again. Not scary and depressing like a Dementor's Kiss, oh no! This felt like mental sex! The electric tingling started in his lips, where Elle's mouth was barely brushing his, and slowly consumed his entire being; brain, heart, groin, every nerveending in his body! He shuddered again, as she released his mouth, softly stroked his cheek, and melted back against his chest. Harry looked over to meet Severus' sardonic grin, and returned a wicked, knowing, little smile to his instructor. Severus inclined his dark head, before bending down to recapture Hermione's mouth in a languorous kiss.
A song began playing, an upbeat tune called "Get Down", and Hermione gave an excited squeal, saying, "I love this song! My mum and I used to dance around the house to this while we dusted and cleaned! Come dance with me, Severus, please!" He shook his dark head, and grinned that lopsided grin as he replied, "No love, I'll not embarrass myself gyrating in front of our guests like that beat deserves. I still need to be able to command a bit of respect, after all. Perhaps Harry?" Severus glanced over at the BoyWonder, to find him vehemently shaking his head 'No!'
Elle hopped up, saying, "Let's go! I never had to do housework because that's what house-elf's are for, but I learned these old dances from my mum and dad." Hermione gave an exasperated huff, remembering her ill-fated crusade on the behalf of the House-elf's of Britain. 'Oh well, the creatures are happiest when serving their Masters. If that's what brings them joy, who am I to deny them?' she gloomily thought, before she stood up and took Elle's hand to lead her out to the open center of the deep maroon Oriental carpet.
As they began to dance, Severus summoned Gristle. "Yes, Master? Ist youse ready for 'freshmins?" Gristle asked while bowing low to him. Severus answered in the affirmative, and the little houseelf 'popped' out to almost immediately 'pop' back with a large silver tray loaded with both a crystal pitcher of icecold water and a carafe filled with the sweet bloodorange juice that Hermione favored. There were small ham-and-cheese rolls, sweet biscuits, grapes, blood-oranges, apples and pears cut into thin slices, and both dark and milk chocolate. Severus politely and formally thanked Gristle, which still amazed Harry, and the little houseelf bowed low to her Masteradoration emminating from every inch of her tiny frame. "Youse ist mos' welcome, Master," Gristle replied, her elfin face suffused a burgandy colour of embarrassment, before she bowed again and 'popped' out.
Severus was lazily watching the gyrations of the giggling girls, then turned his head to meet Harry's eyes. Harry's own eyebrows arched when he watched Severus' eyes instantly focus, and he alertly raised up to pour a crystal goblet of the fruitjuice. He then glanced furtively at the girls once more, before tipping exactly three golden drops from the little green potion bottle Harry hadn't even seen him extract. The little bottle was back in his pocket in a flash.
Harry suddenly realized that being a Potions Master would also mean that person could easily be a Master Poisoner. 'Why has Severus never tried to just poison Voldemort, and be done with the evil, murdering bastard?' Harry irately thought. Severus answered him, just as if he'd spoken the question aloud, "Because before any morsel of food, or sip of drink passes his lips, it is tasted by captured Muggle slaves. If my attempt was unsuccessful, I'd also be quite useless as a spy for the Order because I'd be quite dead." Harry nodded, then did the same as Severus had done, making a goblet of spiked juice for Elle before tucking the little green potion bottle back into his pocket.
Severus called to Hermione at the song's end, "Come love, have some cold juice." Hermione skipped happily back over, only to launch herself into Severus' arms and plant a breathless kiss on his firm lips. She gladly accepted the goblet from his hand, and drank deeply. Elle was panting from the silly exertions of their dancing, and thanked Harry for his thoughtfulness as she drank thirstily from the icy cold juice he'd prepared for her.
Hermione reached over to take one of the ham rolls, and daintily bit into it's crusty bread. She sighed pleasurably, as Severus refilled her juice before taking a ham roll for himself. Severus indicated the tray with a wave of his pale hand, and Elle politely inclined her head as she reached out to take a roll for herself as Harry refilled her juice goblet, before pouring one for himself. He set the carafe back onto the tray, and took a ham roll for himself. Like everything else Harry had sampled that suited Severus' or Hermione's tastes, it was delicious!
Severus asked Elle about her family estate, Wildewoode, and the foursome's conversation dwelt on pleasant themes. Not one word about the coming battle, or the enevitable losses that were sure to occur. It seemed that without an actual verbal agreement, everyone present had decided to shut the world and tomorrow out for this one night. They talked and laughed and nibbled their way to sedation, occasionally getting up to dance to a song here and there, or leaning into their other half to exchange a short or lengthy kiss and languid stroke of hand against body.
The opening symphonic strains of 'their' song began to play, and Severus stood to his feet and formally bowed over Hermione's hand. "Miss Granger, would you honor me with this dance?" Severus softly asked. She grasped his hand, and he pulled her firmly to her feet, sweeping her into the patterns of the dance. Elle wistfully looked up into Harry's emerald green eyes, her amethyst eyes moist with the desire to be held and swirled around by him in time to the music. He whispered, more to himself than to her, "But I can't dance, my heart! I have two left feet." He glumly sighed. Elle smiled a watery smile, and whispered back, "Oh, Harry! It's just moving slowly in time to music. Not everyone uses fancy dance steps, that's what lessons are for. But I'd give anything to have your arms around me! Won't you just try?"
Harry just couldn't refuse his goddess, especially when she'd begged so prettily, so he rose to his feet to lead her out, and swept her into his arms. "If I break your feet, just remember you asked for this," he murmured into her silky, blueblack hair. Elle's face was practically glowing, her happiness plainly showing, as she snuggled against Harry's chest. There wasn't enough room between them for air to pass, as he pulled her tighter to him, and they slowly moved in a small circle as they swayed to the music. 'Sweet Merlin,' thought Harry, closing his eyes, as his arousal became more and more obvious brushing against Elle's stomach, as they continued to circle in their dance. 'No wonder this dancing stuff is so popular! It is almost as good as Sex!' Harry dipped his head down to meet Elle's upturned lips, and lightly grazed her mouth with a whispersoft brush of a kiss. He felt her nipples harden against his chest, and she softly moaned into his mouth, before giving a small shiver of desire.
Harry opened his eyes to meet Severus' dark gaze over the tops of their respective witches heads, and tried to thank the older wizard wordlessly for everything. Severus' trademark eyebrow lift caused Harry to smile, and Severus gave a small smile back. As the song finished, Hermione seemed loathe to leave her dark wizard's arms, and he softly spoke to Harry, "Harry, I give you and Elspeth permission to use my private chambers tonight so you may have your privacy. Hermione and I will be staying here in Salazar's suite. Give Dobby my permission to come and go to attend you and your witch. However, please endevour to not break my bed in the process." To Harry's additional surprise, Severus gave the younger wizard a knowing wink! Severus gave a wave of his hand, and the same song began to replay.
Just before he swept Hermione into the dance again, Severus added, "Now would be a good time to take your witch, and do whatever it is you do in private, Harry. Unless you really need visual aides in your quest for better lovemaking skills, that is, because things are about to . . . heat up . . . considerably between me and my witch!" And with that comment, Severus bent Hermione backwards over one long, strong arm, and proceeded to deeply and passionately kiss her most thoroughly, before pulling her back up to spin her around back into the pattern of their dance.
Harry grinned and pulled Elle from the room, leaving Severus and Hermione still dancing the dance of their love, as they made their way out to go up to Severus' chambers for their very own midnight rendezvous!
end Chapter Fourteen . . . .
A/A/N: well, people what do you think? As far as lemonysnippets go, sometimes what you imagine is better than what you actually get. There will be more lemons in the future, rest assured, but we've got a bit of angst coming up next. I'll try not to catch anything else (but you can't get a vaccination against writer's block), and not be SO tardy with the next chapter. Once again, reviews are welcometruly expecting some flames from NarcAnonsbut c'est la vie!! People . . . this shit IS fiction after all!!! Much lovetheshadoelady