A/N: Here we go, the next chapter of my story! Thank you all who read and support this story, I enjoy writing it, thank you for your comments and reviews, they are much appreciated. Just a reminder for those who keep asking about updates: I update and put up a new chapter every six days as it gives me time to read the reviews and take on board people's comments. Chapter Warnings - potential mentions of sexual assault, bad language, violence and sexual situations. Enjoy, many thanks!
Chapter 37 – Dumbledore, Observations, and Severus' Birthday Present
The following evening, Hermione made her way down to the dungeons for her occlumency lesson. Harry had told her in a roundabout way what had happened with his first lesson with Severus so she was prepared for Severus to be in a less than favourable mood. She got to the hidden entrance to Severus' rooms and let herself in.
She went and sat on the sofa in his main room, he wasn't there yet but she knew he wouldn't be too long. She waited patiently for his arrival. The longer she waited, the more panicked she would become. She hated it when she knew that Severus had gone to a death eater meeting, she really did worry about him – and now Draco as well – she really hoped that he had not been called tonight.
A few minutes later Severus' floo activated and Hermione relaxed, Severus was here and he was alright. Thank Merlin for small mercies.
However, she was shocked and more than a little nervous when Albus Dumbledore steeped out of the fireplace. It was apparent that the old headmaster was equally as shocked at Hermione's presence in Severus' rooms.
"What are you doing in a professor's private rooms, Miss Granger?" He asked her.
Hermione knew that she would have to be very careful about what she said next. She and Severus could both get into a lot of trouble if she didn't think on her feet.
"I'm here for occlumency lessons" she told the headmaster.
Dumbledore blinked. Why was Severus giving Hermione Granger occlumency lessons? He had told Severus that this was unnecessary. So why had Severus deliberately gone behind his back?
Hermione seemed to remember this at exactly the same moment that Dumbledore did and she quickly went to follow up her previous comment.
"I felt it necessary to be taught how to defend my mind. There is going to be war soon, we all know that those closest to Harry are prime targets. If I'm to protect the Orders secrets I need to know how to defend my mind, I personally think that we all do. Also, we both know that Harry and Professor Snape have an unstable relationship; it is only a matter of time before they are at each other's throats. I figured that if there ever came a time that Professor Snape could no longer teach Harry then maybe I could. So that's why I persuaded the Professor to teach me". She told him, praying that the headmaster would accept her explanation and just move on.
"I will accept your reasoning for now Miss Granger but that does not explain why you have access to the Professors private rooms" Dumbledore said sternly, still waiting for an explanation. He had been curious about the nature of Severus and Hermione's relationship when she had spent the week between Christmas and New Years in Severus' bed 'recovering', Dumbledore was concerned that there was slightly more to it than what they were letting on.
"The Professor said that it was for safety reasons. Like this evening, he has been held up and is late for my lesson. If the lesson took place in the classroom or his office, then I would have to wait outside in the corridor where anybody - mainly the Slytherin's – could see me and that could leave me vulnerable to attack. He also felt that his classroom and office were unsafe as anyone could walk in and whilst we could explain it away as a detention, people would want to know why I received detention and would draw unnecessary attention to our lessons. Which is dangerous for the both of us" she explains to the headmaster.
Dumbledore still looked suspicious and was about to interrogate her further but before he could, Severus entered his rooms.
Severus froze at the sight of his nervous Hermione and the headmaster, currently sat in his private rooms. A sweat immediately broke out on the back of his neck and he tried to stay calm, how was he going to explain this.
"Good evening Severus" Dumbledore addressed him.
"Miss Granger and I were just talking about why she has access to your personal rooms" Dumbledore stared at him disapprovingly.
Severus went to reply but Dumbledore held up his hand, demanding silence.
"I know about the occlumency lessons and I am displeased you went behind my back. However, I came to talk to you about much more important matters and so this will be a conversation for another night" Dumbledore said.
He turned to Hermione.
"Now, Miss Granger, if you don't mind I need to speak with Severus, you will have to postpone your lesson for tonight" he told her.
Hermione nodded in agreement and collected her things and made her way to the door.
"Miss Granger, we will meet here tomorrow evening at the same time to conduct your lesson" Severus told her.
Hermione nodded in acknowledgement and had to try and hide her glee. This meant that she would be spending the evening with Severus on his birthday. She was excited.
"Yes sir, good evening Professor, headmaster" she said to them both and left the rooms. She headed for her own dorm.
Inside Severus' quarters, Dumbledore was looking at Severus with curiosity as the girl left the room.
"I can explain-" Severus began.
Once again, Severus was cut off when Dumbledore raised his hand.
"I told you Severus, there are more important things to discuss" he told Severus.
Severus nodded and waited for Dumbledore to begin.
"How is Draco?" Dumbledore asked.
"He's recovering but he's getting better. The poor boy was forced to do this and he has practically been backed into a corner" Severus told him.
Dumbledore nodded.
"You mentioned a task that he has to do" Dumbledore prompted.
Severus began to explain in detail about what had happened and what Draco was required to do.
After Severus had finished explaining, Dumbledore sat in silence for a moment to think about it all.
Finally he spoke.
"I have a feeling that any day now I'm going to be told to leave by the Minister of Magic and Delores. I won't have a choice and I won't be allowed back. I need to put some plans and preparations in place before that happens. With that inquisitorial squad that Delores has formed, it is only a matter of time before the DA is uncovered and I am gone. We must prepare now" Dumbledore said.
"What do you want me to do?" Severus asked.
"I'm not sure yet, give me a few days and I will be back and will tell you the plans" Dumbledore said as he made his way back to the fireplace. He flooed back to his office.
Severus sat and breathed a sigh of relief, thanking Merlin that the headmaster had decided to drop the occlumency issue for the night. He and Hermione had dodged a massive bullet tonight.
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The following day, Hermione bounced through her classes in excitement, she couldn't wait to see Severus, it was his birthday and she knew that he had not realised that she had remembered when his birthday was.
That evening, she found herself walking down to the dungeons to Severus' private rooms. Once there, she gave the password and was granted access. She entered the room and immediately found Severus.
He was sat in his chair by the fireplace, in his evening clothes, wearing his reading glasses and marking a pile of essays.
He looked up at her and acknowledged her as she entered his rooms. His look immediately turned to one of confusion as she bypassed the main room completely and headed towards his bedroom.
Hermione knew that his curiosity would get the better of him, and he would follow her. She entered his bedroom and immediately got into position behind his bedroom door so that she could close it once he had passed over the threshold. As predicted, not a minute later, Severus entered his rooms.
He was again confused, there appeared to be no sign of the witch but he was so certain she had come in here. Then the sound of his bedroom door closing had him spinning around so fast he thought he might suffer from whiplash.
He met the eyes of his Hermione, who didn't waste a second. She stalked towards him and immediately drew him in for a deep and sensual kiss.
She let her tongue lightly sweep across his lips, begging for entrance to his mouth. Permission was granted. As soon as she had access to his mouth, passion flared between the two. Hermione took a moment to gently nibble on his bottom lip; she knew that this drove him crazy.
"What's this about?" He asked her when she paused for breath.
She shushed him and moved her lips towards his ear; she gently nibbled on his earlobe and whispered in his ear.
"Happy birthday, big boy" she said seductively. Severus groaned and his eyes practically rolled into the back of his head.
Hermione stripped him of his shirt and played lightly with his nipples, he groaned even more loudly. His hands moved towards the knot that was around her neck and held her cloak together. He looked at her, silently asking permission if he could undo it and she nodded.
He undid the knot and removed her cloak and nearly came on the spot. Under her robes, all Hermione had on was purple, and black, lacy, see through, lingerie, and Severus paused to take in the beautiful sight before him. He started to massage her breast through her bra, seeking her face to make sure that she was alright.
Hermione taking his distraction as an advantage pushed him backwards until his knees met his bed and within the blink of an eye he was on his back, on his bed.
The minx had already removed his top and was making quick work of his trousers. She slid them down his legs and then removed them completely.
Severus was as hard as a rock and was struggling to control himself, especially when Hermione began kissing every single spot of exposed skin that she could find.
She reached his snail trail and seductively drifted lower and lower. She reached where he clearly needed her most and she let out a deep, warm breath, teasing his cock before quickly moving on to kiss the tops of his thighs and down his legs.
Severus groaned in anticipation. He wasn't sure how much longer he could take the teasing. She then moved so that she was lying on top of him and she started rubbing herself against his hardened length for extra friction, she groaned in pleasure as did Severus. She could feel him tensing and she knew he wasn't going to last much longer if she carried on the way she was going. She could feel that he was already leaking and Hermione was so wet but tonight wasn't about her. No, she promised that tonight would not be about her and instead, be all about her Severus, this was one of his birthday presents after all.
Hermione, seeing that he wasn't going to last longer if she continued with what she was doing, quickly moved to the next stage.
She gripped the waistband of his boxers and removed them completely, so that he was on full display.
His flushed, purple, throbbing cock pulsed in need for her, he was weeping, and she felt herself salivating. All she wanted to do was taste.
Severus saw the look in her eyes and knew what she was going to do. He went to tell her that she didn't have to if she didn't want to. But she silenced all thought when she abruptly placed light kisses down his shaft.
He gasped in delight and had to grip the bedsheets in order to stop himself cumming right there and then.
She could taste him, and it was addicting, she plunged her plump lips over his head and began to blow him.
Severus gasped, she was phenomenal. Not only was she giving him the best blow job ever, she was also deep throating him, he was surprised. Was there anything that this girl couldn't do?
Hermione was so absorbed in what she was doing that she hadn't notice Severus begin to tense up. He was close and he knew he was going to cum. Hermione moved her lips back up to the head of his dick and lightly swiped her tongue across the slit that she found there.
That was game over for Severus. He roared as he exploded in her mouth and she greedily gulped down everything that he had to offer her.
Once Severus had finished, he grabbed Hermione and pulled her down so she was lying next to him and hugged her.
"That was amazing" he told her as he kissed her forehead.
She hummed in pleasure and he moved his hand down towards her knickers. She stopped him.
"It's all about you tonight" she told him and he found himself loving her even more.
"Thank you love" he whispered.
"Happy birthday Severus" she whispered as both of them drifted off to sleep.
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Meanwhile, across the castle, in the Gryffindor tower, boy's dormitory, Harry Potter was sat up in his bed. The rest of his housemates were either out or asleep, Harry had the curtains drawn around his bed and was intending to check in on Malfoy. Harry was still suspicious of Malfoy and with Hermione not saying a word; Harry knew that he would have to keep an eye on Draco himself.
He had seen Hermione's name appear on the map and assumed she was going to the library. However, then she headed in the complete opposite direction of the library and towards the dungeons. Harry found himself watching his friends every move.
Was she going to meet Draco? Why would she willingly walk into the snake pit?
However Harry was thrown completely when he saw her enter and unmarked entrance. Was this where she secretly met up with Draco?
However, Harry was even more confused when he saw the name of Severus Snape appear in the same vicinity as Hermione. Were these the potion master's private rooms? What the hell was Hermione doing there?
Harry was now hooked on the events, almost like an intense film that you just had to keep on watching.
He watched as Hermione and Severus' name moved and became undeniably closer together. This was the type of closeness that Harry normally noticed from couples who were trying to get it on in hidden alcoves.
'No, there was no way' Harry thought and he couldn't help but watch the names on the map, he felt like he was completely overstepping a boundary and knew that he should have shut the map and left her alone. But he just couldn't.
The two names floated together for a while before moving and giving the impression of lying down. He couldn't help but notice Snape's name barely moving but Hermione's name was moving at a rhythmic pace up and down on the page. Harry's eyes widened - no she wouldn't, she couldn't be doing that. There was no way that she was doing THAT with Snape - was there?
Harry was unsure, he didn't really know what to think and he didn't want to know anymore, he took one last look at the map, the two names appeared to not be moving anymore and we're now lying next to each other and gave the impression that they were sleeping.
Was Hermione having sex with the greasy git of the dungeons?
Harry didn't want to know. He closed the map and cast mischief managed and put the map away, he then lay down and settled into a restless and uneasy sleep.
Should he ask her about what he had seen? Should he keep quiet but keep an eye on her?
He would decide once he had got some rest.
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The following morning, Hermione woke next to Severus in his bed and found that he was staring at her fondly.
She smiled back and then moved to kiss his cheek.
"Thank you for last night love, you're beautiful" he told her.
She giggled, glad that he had enjoyed one of her presents. She paused and remembered that she had another gift for him in the pocket of her cloak. She couldn't believe that she had nearly forgotten about it.
She moved quickly and grabbed the wrapped package out of her pocket and handed it to Severus, when he did not immediately take the gift she looked at him curiously. He was staring at her, she had fallen asleep in her little ensemble, and she blushed. As it was morning, it meant that it was lighter in the room. Severus noticed her blush and smirked.
"Did you bring extra clothes because I refuse to let you leave here in just that and your cloak?" He told her.
He was surprised that the goody 'know-it-all' had pranced through the corridors of Hogwarts in just her cloak and sexy lingerie. It was a major turn on and Severus was mentally telling his cock to pipe down. It was being insistent this morning, it had liked the attention that it had received last night and now it was craving more.
Severus was embarrassed by this and tried to hide it, but Hermione could see the tented sheets - she wasn't stupid.
She grinned.
"No Severus, I brought my bag and my uniform and put all my books for today in it, just in case I ended up staying the night. That way I can creep out of here completely undetected" she told him.
"You're a minx!" He exclaimed, chuckling at her antics.
"I know" she yelled back as she grabbed her clothes and made her way to the bathroom.
Severus was left alone in the room, still staring at the wrapped gift. He could hear the shower turn on and he could hear the melodic voice of his Hermione as she sang some song about 'Dancing in the Dark'*.
He began to unwrap his gift like an excited child, he had never celebrated his birthday before, his family didn't have the money for such luxuries, hell, Severus was lucky if he walked away with only a slap across the face from his father.
He stared at his gift, she truly was thoughtful and he would always treasure the gift - she was amazing. This had been the best birthday ever.
*'Dancing in the Dark' by Bruce Springsteen (1984)