Chapter 11: Falling
Notes:
There will be lemon towards the end of this chapter, be warned it will start when the chapter breaks to Severus. I think we all needed some release from that sexual tension between the two.
A moment of clarity hit Hermione as she descended from the tower. She had her wand gripped in her right hand. She was a witch. She could save herself.
Reigning in her panic she opened her eyes wide pointing her wand at the floor. "Arresto Momentum."
Twisting her body, she kicked her feet out landing in a crouched position her body curled forward protecting her left arm, her hair shifting forward covering her face from everyone. The few students that were passing by came rushing towards her hovering around her each asking if she was alright. She was not alright. No. She was livid.
"Hermione!" Daphne shrieked. The sound of thundering footsteps brought her attention to the commotion behind her.
"Let go of me!" Pansy hissed.
Standing slowly to a standing position Hermione lifted her head up parting the curtain of hair. Gasps echoed off the stone walls. She turned slowly facing Daphne who held a struggling Pansy in her grasp.
Daphne winced seeing the blood dripping freely from the slash on Hermione's face. She took a step back slightly when Hermione took a slow step towards the pair. Students shuffled back feeling the chill in the air that surrounded Hermione, she blocked out their excited whispers, she had business to attend to right now.
"You're hurt. We should get you to Mme. Pomfrey." Daphne said her voice shaking.
Hermione's lips curled into a cruel smile. "Not necessary Daphne. I think Parkinson and I were in the middle of a discussion," she said in a voice as cold as ice.
Pansy stepped back once more as Hermione stepped towards her once again, Daphne's hand tightening around her arm. "S-stay back," she stuttered trying to yank her arm free.
Letting a dark chuckle, she didn't listen to the pleas of the girl in front of her. She was mere inches apart from the pair when Daphne coming to her senses released Pansy's arm jumping away.
Pansy let out a startled cry as she toppled backwards landing on the steps behind her. "Where is all your bravado now, Parkinson? Is it not a fair fight for you when your opponent is actually in front of you, and ready?" Hermione twisted her wand in her hand raising one foot to rest on the step, so her body hovered over Pansy.
"I am going to take you apart," Hermione spoke her next word as if it was five, "met-tic-u-lous-ly." She jammed the wand into the tender flesh of Pansy's lower jaw. "We can do it do it the magical way or the muggle way."
"Miss Rosier, what is the meaning of this?" Professor McGonagall's voice was followed by the clicking of heels.
Hermione gave Pansy's a warning glare before tucking her wand in her robes, stepping back offering her hand to Pansy to help her up. She could act the part just as well as she could. Instead of taking her hand though, Pansy glared at Hermione before swatting her hand away standing up brushing her robes.
"Miss Rosier, I believe I asked you a question." The sound of impatience was clear in her professor's voice.
Turning slowly, Hermione put on her most charming smile. "Everything is fine, Professor. Just a misunderstanding."
Professor McGonagall tucked her hands in her robes her lips pursed in disapproval. "You are bleeding Miss Rosier; do you care to explain why I was alerted to a spell going off within these walls that were not in a classroom?"
Hermione shifted her stance slightly lifting her right hand to touch her left cheek. "I have no idea, Professor. I must have received this injury when I tripped into Parkinson. Unfortunately, she thought I shoved her which was not the case. I was just explaining what happened."
McGonagall's eyes flicked between Pansy and Hermione. Her eyes narrowed slightly before she gave a curt nod. "See that there are no more misunderstandings between the two of you. Go to Mme Pomfrey, Miss Rosier to see about your wound."
"No need professor, I can heal it when I get back to my dorm."
McGonagall's robes swished around her as she turned to shoo the student body away from the scene walking away at a fast clip.
Hermione turned her head to Pansy. "You've been warned, you'll not get another." She said before she walked away.
Walking slowly towards the dungeons the pain from her arm began to throb. Sucking in a sharp breath she leaned against the rough wall closing her eyes for a moment hiding in an alcove. The pain was consuming her. She knew it was broken and needed to be tended to. Going to Mme. Pomphrey was not an option. If she went there when the wound on her cheek was cleaned, she would know it was a spell that did the damage, she couldn't have that.
She wasn't protecting Pansy from being punished for attempting to kill her. She wanted to divvy out the punishment herself. She was not someone who needed someone to protect her. She could very well protect herself unfortunately for Pansy she was about to learn that lesson.
"Fuck." She took a sharp intake of breath trying to think clearly. She needed to send word to Harry what happened so he wouldn't worry. Pulling out her wand she summoned her Patronus sending a brief message letting him know she would speak to him soon. Maybe she could speak to him alone while they were on the train, they would have hours with any luck, of uninterrupted time together.
As the panther jetted away, she shook her head. She would have to send a message to her father as well, and soon. She didn't need him coming to her raising holy hell because someone thought to hurt her. She would do that after she healed herself.
"Hermione?" Hermione jumped slightly hearing Professor Snape's voice so close to her. She turned her head, her eyes wide.
Snape let out a small growl stepping closer to her. "What happened? Why are you bleeding."
"I'm fine," Hermione said stepping out looking around the corridor to ensure they were alone. "Tripped is all. I was on my way to heal myself when I stopped to send a message to Harry."
There was no need for him to know everything right now. She supposed she needed to tell him everything that did happen. Eventually.
Snape narrowed his eyes grasping her left arm tugging her slightly. The jerky movement on her arm Hermione let out a small shriek falling to her knees. Pain radiated up her arm to her chest when the bones crunched against each other in his grasp.
Dropping her arm like he had been burned Snape leaned down picking Hermione up with ease pulling her right side to him. "We will discuss this in private." He said curtly.
"I can walk." Hermione tried to shove him away wiggling her body in his arms.
He tightened his hold narrowing his eyes at her. "Stop your moving I will drop you and your arm is already injured."
"What if someone sees us."
Snape shook his head looking forward again, the wall forming an archway as he approached. "No one will notice us." He said. "I put a Notice-Me-Not on us."
She didn't see him use his wand, but that was not unusual. He was the master of wandless and wordless spells. She relaxed her body further into him grabbing her left arm as gently as she could as he entered his chambers walking straight through his bedroom to the bathroom.
It was the first time she had seen his personal bathroom. She was pleased to note that everything was neat and tidy not a thing out of place. To the left was a large tub that was sunk into the stone. It was not as large as the prefect's, but it was still impressive. To the right was a large shower stall with stone benches that appeared to be built from the stone wall jutted out.
Snape set her down on the loo going to the sink opening a large cabinet. He pulled out several towels, potions, and a flannel. He set the items on the ledge of the sink wetting the flannel kneeling in front of her. "This may sting."
She clenched her jaw, his smooth motions of cleaning the blood away nothing compared to the pain in her arm now. He raised his wand whispering a spell, she felt the tug of her skin stitching together.
Lowering his wand, he sat back on his haunches studying her. "Do you want to tell me what really happened?" He levelled her with a look that would have peeled paint off a wall. Having spent enough time with him, he didn't scare her anymore.
She glared back at him. "I fell." She said flatly.
He nodded his head, his eyes flicking to her cheek. "That is not from falling, Hermione. If you are going to lie, at least make it convincing. That was due to a spell. Now, I will ask again before we start healing your arm from your fall, what happened?"
Letting out a harsh breath, she turned her head looking at the stone wall above his head. "I will tell you what really happened if you promise to let me handle it." She said meeting his eyes once again.
He began gently removing her robe giving her another small nod. "If that is what you wish."
"It is." She growled. "I was waiting for Harry near the stairs next Gryffindor Tower when Pansy approached me."
His hands still looking up to meet her eyes. He stared at her for a moment before he tugged her gently forward to slip her robe off her shoulders. "Continue." He said gruffly.
"We exchanged a few words when she shot a hex at me." She said attempting to shrug.
"That doesn't explain your arm." He said slicing the fabric of her shirt with ease.
"I may have fallen from the Tower to the bottom hitting a set of stairs on the way down." She mumbled looking down. "If I didn't stop myself from falling, it would have been much worse."
She heard his sharp intake of breath his hands stilling on her arm. She looked up at him through the fringe of her hair seeing the murderous expression on his face. His Adam's apple bobbed twice before his voice came out deadly calm. "You realize you could have been killed, correct? And yet, you do not wish to see her punished."
"Yes." She said through clenched teeth her anger bubbling up once again. "She is mine to punish. I will not have others fight my own battles. If I do, then when no one is there to protect me, someone could kill me. I need to let her see I am not scared of her. I can protect myself."
Placing his large hands on her knees her rose to his own so he was eye level with hers. "An admirable goal to have. Spoken like a true Slytherin. Even though it is against my better judgment I will allow you to, as you say, handle Miss Parkinson. Do not break any rules, it will not matter that you and I are courting, I will have no choice but to punish you as well."
"Fine." She grumbled.
Snape took his time scanning her arm seeing the extent of the damage of her arm. "You have several breaks in your arm. It is going to take several days to heal correctly, even then we may need to rebreak parts of it to ensure it sets correctly." Flicking his wand once again a bandage wrapped around her arm, she felt the bones shift. Surprisingly, the pain started to ebb as soon as the bandage snapped into place.
Standing he handed her two potions. "Skele-grow, and a pain potion." He waited for her to down the potions before he vanished them away. "Wait in here and I will have a house-elf come in and assist your bath. You have blood in your hair and neck."
Hermione raised her hand feeling the crusted remains of blood that had dried in her hair wincing when her fingers tangled in the unruly curls. Snape leaned down brushing his lips against hers before he left the room leaving Hermione alone.
Grabbing her wand, she summoned her Patronus. Taking a deep breath and letting out slowly she began to speak.
"Father-there was an incident at school this afternoon, and I sustained an injury. Please, do not worry, I am fine, and Severus is taking good care of me healing my injuries. I will explain everything when I see you in two days." She paused for a moment. "I miss you, and I am looking forward to seeing you soon."
She was struggling with the zipper of her skirt when she heard the small pop. A small house-elf smiled up at her shooing her hands away snapping her fingers removing the rest of Hermione's clothing. "My name be Kibkey, little miss. Master Snape be telling Kibkey to take care of you."
Hermione frowned down at her as the house-elf got to work. "I can finish the rest, Kibkey, I just needed assistance with the zipper. Thank you."
Shaking her head, Kibkey motioned for Hermione to enter the large tub that had been filled. "Master Snape said that you may be refusing my help. He wanted me to tell you that this is not a request. He also wanted me to tell you that your belongings have been moved here from your previous chambers, that you be staying here from now on. He has left on an errand and will return to you shortly."
Hermione lowered herself into the water with a grunt not pleased with being told what to do. She tried to remember that Snape was trying to look out for her wellbeing. She had to admit that she did like the thought of him caring enough to see to her needs. For far too long she didn't have anyone that genuinely cares about her apart from Harry, now she had several people who did.
Severus stopped next to his wingback chair tossing his robes onto it. He turned his head looking at Hermione who was curled up in a tight ball on the couch, his Slytherin blanket wrapped tightly around her. He moved closer to her slowly so as not to wake her. He wondered why she was sleeping on the couch when the bed was available. He thought for sure since they were courting now that she would understand that she would get the bed to sleep in, it was his duty to take care of all her needs.
In the wizarding world his wife would be considered his property, of course, not everyone thought along that line. Lucius being one. He and Narcissa even though they did have an arranged marriage did absolutely love each other. He hoped in time he and Hermione could have the same.
Letting out a deep breath. he frowned. Maybe he was asking too much from her. The kiss they did share was more than he expected, as were the thoughts that were bouncing around in her mind last week while watching him teach. He needed to have an honest conversation with her soon about expectations on both. They would never make any progress if they never discussed their own feelings for each other. They had been thrown together, not that he was complaining. At least she didn't find him repulsive like many of the thoughts he heard from others. On the contrary, the images in her head were very erotic circulating around him.
Leaning over her, he brushed a stray curl from her face, his long fingers tracing the cut on her high cheekbones that had started to heal, to the curve of her jaw. She was beautiful, and his. He pulled her up gently into his arms making his way to his personal chambers. He wanted her near him tonight when she slept. When she had relayed the story to him what happened between her and Miss Parkinson, he had all he could do not to go track the chit down, killing her. He needed Hermione more than she knew.
Placing her on the bed he tucked the blanket around her on top of the blanket while he took care of his own nightly routine. He was sure she wouldn't hex him in the morning when she woke up in his bed, and with him next to her. He would keep her on top of the blanket covered in his own Slytherin one to keep her warm while he lay beneath the blanket on his bed so she would not panic thinking he was trying to take advantage of her while she slept.
Entering his chambers once again he slipped under the blanket shifting his body to the side so he could watch Hermione sleep. She was starting to whimper, her body jerking occasionally. He wanted to wait to see if she needed another pain potion before he tried to sleep. He leaned on his elbow, his head resting on his palm taking in her features. Her brows her furrowed, her head tipping back. His eyes widened in surprise when she let out a low moan.
"Severus, please." She whispered in a hoarse voice.
Should he? Should he slip into her thoughts to see what she was dreaming about? He could easily accomplish it without any effort. He was so attuned to her now he merely had to look at her to enter her mind.
Taking a steadying breath, he shifted back slightly to keep himself from reaching out to touch her. She was asleep, and that would be a violation of trust. He squeezed his eyes tight when her hips started to gyrate slightly letting out another whimper. Not pain then, well…not the kind that a pain potion would help. He would have to go to his bathroom once again to take a cold shower with the noises she was making, or perhaps, take care of the very real issue he was starting to have.
Lowering his hand, he adjusted himself letting out a low hiss. He was painfully hard which was a problem he encountered frequently when in her presence, except now he didn't feel the same that usually followed it. He was courting her; she would be his wife soon. It was only natural to have a response such as this with someone who you were attracted to.
His eyes blinked open meeting Hermione's half-lidded eyes staring at him. Her small tongue snuck out of her mouth licking her lips. "Severus?"
Clearing his throat, he moved his hand about the blanket resting it by his hip. "Are you in pain?" His voice low.
She shifted closer to him almost flush against him through the blanket. "No." She whispered. "Can I ask you a question?"
His lips tilted slightly pleased that with have a conversation with her would help slightly with his problem. "You may."
Lifting her hand, she threaded her fingers through his hair. "Do you really want to be bonded with me?"
Ah. So that was what she was worried about. It seems he was not alone in that fear.
"Yes. You may think that this is something that was thrust upon me, and I am only doing this because of who your father is, but that is not the case. When he asked me, I was…pleased at the thought of being bonded with you."
Closing her eyes her body relaxed into the mattress. "Thank you." She said tilting her head back to look at him. "I am also pleased. I know we discussed this would be a real marriage before, but I didn't know, I don't know how you really feel about me. At times I feel you do care, at least for my wellbeing, and there are times I think you loathe me."
Placing his hand on top of hers he gave her a small smile. "No, I do not loathe you. I find that I do care about you a great deal. I hope in time, you could feel the same for me."
Not a lie, but not the complete truth. He more than cared for her. She would be the only one he would ever want. No need to burden her with that much right now. In time she would see by his actions.
She leaned forward capturing his lips tugging at his hair. He let out a small growl at the back of his throat as he reciprocated slipping his tongue into her mouth tasting her. Her body trembled slightly when he smoothed his hands from her shoulder past her breast to rest on her hip squeezing them slightly before tugging her even closer.
"Please." She gasped as she broke the kiss.
Shifting the blankets away from him he leaned his body over hers. "Please what, Hermione? What do you want?"
He needed her to say it. There would be no miscommunication when it came to their relationship to the physical realm.
Her fingers moved to tug at the buttons of his black silk pyjama top. "I need you." She froze leaning her head back removing her hands suddenly. "I'm…I'm sorry, Professor."
She tried to move away from him, her movement frantic throwing the blanket off her. He grabbed her right forearm tugging her down onto the bed with him once again. "Don't call me professor while we alone, Hermione, especially in bed. You are my intended. Now, tell me why you are sorry? You did nothing wrong."
"I was throwing myself at you like some sort of slag." She cried out. "I thought maybe I was moving too fast for you."
Rubbing his nose along her cheek he gently nipped her ear. "Relax. You are not moving too fast. We can go as fast or as slow as you wish."
"I want to be with you. Isn't it too soon?"
Leaning back, he looked down at her. "As long as you are certain that you want to move forward in this direction, I don't think it is too fast. This is our relationship; we should do what makes us feel comfortable. If you must know, I want you, too."
She nodded her head cupping his cheek, her thumb running over his bottom lip. "Yes, I am sure. You are mine, and I am yours."
He let out a groan meeting her lips in a fevered kiss shifting his body, so he was settled between her thighs. Her legs came up around his waist tugging him against her core rubbing her clothed sex against him.
He removed her clothes slowly while kissing her moving downward along her collarbone once she was nude beneath him. There was something perverse to him that he was still completely clothed having her writhe under him completely at his mercy.
Taking her rosy nipple in his mouth he took it between his teeth, his tongue flicked against the hardened nub, paying equal attention to the other. His fingers lightly stroked her skin as he kissed his way down her abdomen, down her thighs. He stopped to kiss the inside of her knee on both sides widening her legs further.
Her fingers tangled in his hair tugging painfully when his tongue licked her for the first time. She tasted of sweet musk; a flavour he could get used to tasting frequently if he had his way. He wanted to devour her, all of her. He buried his face further into her folds, his tongue lapping her, his nose rubbing against her jewel.
"Please." Hermione cried out, her body jerking. "Sooo close."
Twirling his tongue around her clit, he moved his hand, slipping his fingers inside of her adding another stretching her for him. He knew he was gifted and didn't want to cause her pain. This would be her first time that he knew of. She had told him that she had never had a lover, and he knew that she was not one to lie about such a thing. Of course, he had never heard any rumours of her being intimate with anyone either. The school populace couldn't hold that kind of secret, unfortunately, he knew exactly who was shagging whom over the years. He would be the only one to bring her pleasure from now on. He wanted to show her how pleasurable their lovemaking could be.
He nipped at her clit before sucking it hard into his mouth, his fingers pumping in time with his tongue flicking against her. Her hips jerked forward burying him further into her fold, her hands gripping his hair in a death grip, not that he cared.
His length throbbed painfully at the sound of her moaning her name. His eyes opened looking up the length of her body, watching her as she came back down, his tongue still working her. Her breast bounced slightly with her panting breaths. Merlin, she was beautiful when she came, and she was his.
Her grip loosened enough for him to move up her body kissing up her body to kiss her once again. No words were spoken as he stripped his clothes hovering over her. He rubbed his length against her wetness before he slid in slowly giving her time to adjust.
Hermione's fingers clawed at his back letting out a low hiss when he was fully seated within her. He waited for a beat watching her expression for queues. He swivelled his hips slowly, withdrawing slightly before pumping back into her.
"Okay?" He said, his voice dark and raspy from him holding back his adore.
"Yessss." She moaned. "Move. Harder."
She didn't have to ask him twice. He pulled back then slammed back into her jostling her body slightly. He lifted her right leg holding it against his hip, slanting his lips against hers to kiss her deeply. Her breathing turned ragged against his after a few minutes, he could feel her walls flexing around him with each thrust. It felt like nirvana being buried deep within her. There was no war, no light or dark, there was only them coming together as one.
Moving his head, he kissed her cheek before burying his head in her neck biting her lightly as she clamped down around him. It was only three thrusts later he was joining her being thrown over the edge. Le petite mort, a little death.
Regaining his breathing he rolled off her pulling her against his chest, his fingers dancing down her spine as they tried to regulate their breathing. For once in his long miserable life, he was sated. He would cherish and protect what was his with his last breath. Anything she ever wanted; she need only ask.
Moving slightly Hermione leaned up brushing her lips against his. "Thank you, Severus."
He let out a low chuckle tucking a stray curl behind her ear. Her eyes widened locked on his left forearm. FUCK. He had forgotten about his mark. His body froze, his euphoric feeling crashing down around him. His stomach rolled waiting for the inevitable fear she will show, or disgust.
'Just like Lily did.'
"You're a Death Eater?" She whispered her eyes never leaving his Mark.
"Yes." He said gruffly.
Her eyes drifted towards his slowly. He could see the confusion flash in her eyes briefly. He knew what would be next. He didn't plan on waiting around for her to show fear. He couldn't bear to see that look on her face. He shifted to move out from under her, pushing gently on her shoulder to disentangle himself looking away from her.
Hermione yanked his arm pulling him back down onto the bed. She scrambled on top of him straddling his hips. He held his breath, his eyes closed. He felt the warmth of her hands on his face.
"Severus, look at me."
Reluctantly he opened his eyes meeting hers in the dim lighting of the room. The look on her face was not one of disgust, fear, or pity. It was a tender expression. She leaned forward placing a chaste kiss on his lips.
"You don't have to hide who you are from me. You are mine, as I am yours. I know you are a spy for the Order, it is only reasonable that you would have to take The Mark. You are a good man, Severus Snape. It matters not to me when you received this Mark for all I see in front of me is you. All of you.
"You have been nothing but good to me since you were thrown at me by my father. The man who placed that Mark on you. I know what you had to do to receive it, you told me yourself what that entails. I don't think any less of you for having it, I care about you. So, please, don't hide from me thinking the worse. I want us to work, be happy. The only way we can do that is to be open with each other. I accept everything about you, flaws, and all. I hope you will do the same for me, you already know I'm not perfect, I have many flaws of my own."
His breath rushed out of him when she finished speaking, her fingers gripping his face tenderly. It was the first time in his life he had someone tell him that they accepted him, that they cared for him. He raised his hand cupping her cheek in return. Turning her head, she kissed his Mark giving him a warm smile.
He let out a strangled groan when she did. Hermione's eyes darkened slightly as she placed her hands on his chest leaning forward shifting her hips against him as he began to grow hard once again. Grabbing her hips, he guided her feeling his own arousal slide between her folds.
He would be careful this time, taking his time with her. He grabbed her left hand kissing the fabric that covered her broken arm tenderly. He would show her how much he loved her, even though she didn't love him in return…yet. He would give her every reason to in the future.