Hermione was warm, and comfortable. She didn't want to wake up, her eyes resisted opening, yet her mind gradually became more active and she eventually realized she was not going to easily fall back asleep. She was slightly disoriented as the view of the unfamiliar room came into focus. The fire had recently been tended to and Hermione noticed fresh candles placed in the holders about the room as well. In fact everything looked slightly tidier, and the dust was not so stifling. She tossed her thick quilt on the back of the couch and stretched. Snape was nowhere to be seen, or heard for that matter.
She got up, retraced her footsteps from the night before and locked herself in the bathroom. Turning on the hot water in the shower, Hermione was happy to discover that the plumbing seemed perfectly functional, so she indulged herself in a rather long wash. After drying off she transformed some of her black attire from the night before into a skirt, camisole and a knit sweater then used her wand to dry her hair. Once she finally exited she found Snape busy in the kitchen.
"What time is it?" Hermione asked as she peered around him at an array of fresh food, both hot and cold.
"Nearly dark." Snape replied, offering her a plate to fill as she chose. She grabbed a biscuit and after taking a bite she realized she was utterly starving.
"The spell from last night will have drained your energy, eat as much as you want." he said, waving his hand at the counter. She obliged and piled on an extremely large helping.
Hermione soon felt completely recharged, yet did not want to face the headmaster, not yet. They hadn't discussed whether or not Dumbledore should know of her involvement in field testing the boggarts. She didn't want to think about it. To distract herself from the thought of a turbulent future, she let her mind focus on simpler things.
"May I see the rest of the house?" she asked before he could bring up anything else.
"There is not much else to see." he said slowly. Hermione stood up regardless and after a moment he rose as well. She followed him back into the sitting area and to her surprise he revealed a hidden door amidst the books that led to an upstairs. In fact there wasn't much to be seen. Two bedrooms and another bath, all sparsely decorated. She was hoping to find portraits or framed pictures of his family, or insightful clues to his past, but there was nothing.
They then went back downstairs and through another door that led past a small brewing area and into a dank wine cellar. Both walls were lined with wine-racks, and at the back was a countertop with a few assorted potions and several decanters of hard liquor. She perused the wine shelves, her nose crinkled as most of the bottles were thick with dust and cobwebs.
"Wow." she explained, pulling one from its spot and trying to make out the label. "How old are these?"
"Old." Snape retorted, grabbing the bottle from her and examining it. "Most are likely rubbish." He uncorked it and brought it to his nose. "This one is bad," he said, replacing it. "However, there are certain varieties that may be quite rewarding at this age." Stepping forward he investigated a few before handing her back one.
"This," he explained, indicating to the bottle in her hand, "is a Rhodes, elf-made, from France. It's at its peak."
Hermione nodded and headed towards the back of the room.
She then noticed a small vial, though it was dusty she could still make out what it contained, an unmistakably pearly substance. She picked it up and rubbed it clean with her thumb, then smirked.
"Professor Snape!" Hermione exclaimed tartly, turning to face him and biting her cheek to keep from smiling. "Is this a love potion?" she asked gleefully, brandishing the bottle in the air.
"That's... not mine." he replied hotly, making a swipe for it, but she was too fast.
"Suuuure." she said, smiling now. "Say what you will. I bet it's quite powerful, having been brewed by a potion's master. Maybe I should hold onto this, slip it into your drink later hmm?"
Snape's brow tightened, his expression darkening, until his eyes met the expression of mirthful humor Hermione wore. How long had it been since he had seen her smile? He softened, relaxing his stance and clearing his throat with an awkward cough, and then one corner of his mouth twisted up into a wry half-smile of his own. "I assure you, Miss Granger, that if that potion is used tonight, it would be purely for research purposes. Strictly professional. We could study the effects that age and alcohol have on such a concoction."
Hermione laughed. "I'm sure the wizarding world is in dire need of such results."
Snape lowered his gaze, shaking his head back and forth while finding himself unable to suppress a deep chuckle. When he looked back up, however, he seemed finished with playing along. There was the recurrent withdrawal in his eyes, the expression that caused Hermione's laugh to catch in her throat. He turned sidelong to her, his eyes remaining on her for a moment, then dropping away before he took a few slow steps towards the stairs. With one hand reaching for the railing, he paused, and his head lifted back up. Straightening as though a physical weight had been lifted off his shoulders, he spoke out to her, yet did not look back.
"Grab the wine... and leave the potion for heaven's sakes!"
Hermione grinned as she dutifully set the small bottle down. She then picked up the aged wine and hurried upstairs.
After a glass they were both becoming more and more neglectful of their obligation to return to Hogwarts. Hermione dreaded the thought of the impending interrogation about Voldemort's actions. Talking about the night's events would make them all the more real in her mind, and she was not ready to cope with such a reality yet. Snape, still recovering from the effects of the torture he endured, did not think himself quite strong enough to be the man Dumbledore expected him to be. So it was that a second glass was well under way by the time the fire's heat truly began to radiate throughout the house.
Hermione set down her wine and shrugged off her outer cloak, feeling quite warm, likely from the wine as well as the fire. She then carefully lifted off her sweater, making sure her light camisole didn't rise up with it. Once off, her eyes were drawn immediately to the Dark Mark staining her pale inner arm. She didn't often lounge in short sleeves and felt suddenly very self-conscious about it. She surreptitiously moved to replace her sweater.
"Don't." Snape said, deducing her movement and not wanting her to cover up so quickly. The firelight turned her skin to gold and he could finally admire her delicate frame as the tight camisole left her collarbone and shoulders exposed. "You don't have to hide with me." he added slowly.
Hermione looked at him gratefully but still kept her bad right arm pinned against her lap, causing her to move rather stiltedly as she reached for her glass with her left.
"Here." Snape offered and did something that completely surprised her. He deftly undid the buttons along his left sleeve with his other hand revealing the white cuff underneath, which he then undid as well. Pulling both a up a bit, he revealed his mark to her, and then casually settled back into the seat. It was a remarkably intimate gesture for him. She'd never so much as seen him undue the top button at his neck.
"Thank you." she said earnestly as she inched nearer to him on the sofa, drawing her legs up beside her. She then lightly grabbed and flipped over his arm and placed it partially on her lap. She turned hers over as well and placed it next to his to examine them, the marks were identical. She then ran her fingers up his wrist and softly traced over the black blemish.
"Why did you join?" she asked quietly, laying her head on his shoulder but still looking down at his arm. She didn't expect him to answer, but again he surprised her.
"Because I was young. And stupid." he began. "I wanted to feel... in control of something in my life. I was unhappy, and bitter. I made a decision that I thought would make me appear powerful."
"Why did you decide to change sides?" she ventured, but the moments of silence stretched on.
Finally he sighed. "To save someone I cared about."
Hermione sat up and studied his face, but he was staring forward. "Did it work?" she whispered.
"No." he said suddenly, abruptly standing and stepping towards the fireplace. "He killed her."
Hermione gazed upon him with shock and sadness as he put his hands on the mantle and lowered his head.
She went to him and laid her forehead on his back. Slipping her arms around his waist she hugged him. "I'm sorry." she whispered sadly, squeezing her eyes shut. "I'm sorry for what he did. I'm sorry for everything he's done to you." She thought of just yesterday. The pain her father inflicted on this man for simply trying to protect her. Tears welled underneath her eyelids and trickled out onto her cheeks.
Snape gently unhooked her hands and turned to face her. He looked with confusion at the tears on her face, brushing one away with his thumb.
"Don't apologize. I shouldn't have spoken about such things to you." he said tenderly, tilting his head down to press his lips up against her brow. "Yesterday I was afraid I might lose you, and I couldn't bear the thought of it." he continued, speaking softly into her ear. She closed her eyes and leaned into his neck, feeling the vibrations of his speech against her cheek. "We shouldn't be doing this." he said slowly. "I made a promise... yet, no matter how hard I try, I just can't stay away from you..."
Hermione tilted her head up, her lips found his in an instant. He kissed her fiercely and she pushed her body flush against his. She could feel his need in the way his hands gripped her close, one on the back of her head, the other on the small of her back and moving lower. His fingers wove through her hair, grabbed it, tugged it gently. Hermione moaned softly. She melted against him, inhaling his cologne, grabbing his arms, his neck, his back, she wanted to be closer, she pushed her hips into him, but then felt him tense and unexpectedly he began to pull away.
"Please..." she half moaned "...don't stop." He furrowed his brow as she gazed up into his dark eyes, searching them for the reason of his reluctance. "I want this." she whispered sincerely, trying to reassure him before she pressed her lips against his once more. He gradually relaxed and fell into the rhythm that she set as she captured and recaptured his mouth. She ran her tongue along his lower lip then gently bit it, causing him to slightly gasp and open his mouth for her. She pulled on the back of his neck and deepened her kiss.
She knew his hesitation was fading when he grabbed her hips and tugged her closer. In one quick motion she stepped back, pulled off her shirt then pressed herself into him again. His hands run greedily up her bare back and down her sides and she could feel the coarseness of his coat against her skin, now becoming hypersensitive. Her hand slid to his throat and fumbled with the top button of his black overcoat. After undoing two of them, she decided to speed things up and, with a moment of concentration, ran her hand down his front undoing the rest magically. He stiffened but did not object as she slowly pushed the coat off his shoulders and down his arms. It fell to the floor with a soft thump. She undid the buttons on his collar shirt as well, but he grabbed her wrist to stop her from completely removing it. She then tentatively pressed a hand against his bare chest as the other slid into place on his side. She could feel his muscles straining against her touch, yet he radiated a burning, desirable heat. She nuzzled into his neck, sucking and kissing, and then moved down and kissed along his collarbone. He drew in a quick intake of breath, and then let it out in a slow, pleasurable sigh.
Snape's hands made their way up to her breasts, massaging them over her bra, his thumbs sneaking under to graze her skin, causing her breath to hitch. Her fingers tightened into the fabric of his shirt, and she tossed her head back as he ran his lips down her neck. Her hands dropped lower to rest on his pant-line, she ran her fingers just along the hem. He was kissing her again with an intensity that made her cling to him.
Then he suddenly stopped, catching her off guard. She was dizzy and flushed and about to yell at him as he stepped away yet he reached out and pulled her along with him, covering her protesting mouth with his. He broke the kiss once more to lead her across the room, where he was momentarily waylaid as Hermione wrestled control from him. She got ahead of him, cutting him off and grabbing the unbuttoned shirt - using it to drag him back into her wanting lips. He pushed back, and she gave way, stepping backwards while her lips stayed locked with his. He pressed her soft body into the wall beside the stairway. She could hear the grated sound of his breath in her ear. She lifted her knee up along his leg and he slid his hand beneath her smooth thigh, pulling her leg up even higher. She became acutely aware of his arousal for as her skirt lifted up with her leg and she was pressed closer into him with no other barrier than just her panties.
She then shoved him off of her and up a few stairs before pushing him against the wall to embrace him once again. They slowly ascended the stairwell as such, and eventually entered a bedroom. Snape manoeuvred her towards the bed then gently eased her down upon it, his body following close behind.
Hermione's legs parted, and an involuntary moan escaped her throat into the kiss as his weight pressed down upon her. Her head swam with the buzz, and in a moment of passionate strength she once again took hold of his shirt and with one smooth movement she rolled him onto his back and sat up, straddling him gently. His arousal was made clear to her once again, and her hips moved slowly forward and backwards against the stiffness of his trousers while her hands released his garments and slid roughly up his chest, then back down towards where their hips joined.
His eyes closed as he grabbed onto her hips and encouraged her body as it rocked back and forth over him. He moaned pleasurably, then pushed himself up with one arm and kissed her vigorously. His free hand went round her back and undid the clasp of her bra. Hermione had a moment of panic, trying to hold it up to cover herself, but his hands rubbed up her body towards them and as they neared she dropped her guard and he cupped both breasts, fingers brushing over nipples and sending jolts of pleasure through her. He leaned down and kissed one, then sucked, and she nearly cried out.
He then grabbed her and flipped her so she was once again lying on her back. She pushed off his shirt. He allowed it this time, and then continued his ministrations until she felt an impatient hotness settle between her legs.
"Professor." she moaned, bucking into him. He moved up to kiss her while his hand slinked under her skirt and stroked her purposefully. She clenched her teeth and moved to undo the button of his trousers. He paused when he felt her rushed hands clawing at his waistline
The pad of his finger brushed her lower lip. He looked at her carefully. "Are you sure?" he asked slowly, his voice hoarse with passion.
"Yes." Hermione whispered.
