Author's Note: Once again, thanks to debjunk for the beta work...and you can thank the facebook group ladies for encouraging my complete and utter lack of patience.


Chapter Two

She choked on a laugh. "Professor Snape?"

"Severus," he corrected. His gaze was intense and heated.

"Hermione, then," she said, bemused. "Was that your idea of a pickup line?"

"No." Short and clipped. She studied him with the efficiency she used when picking a man for a tumble. She'd never thought he was particularly bad-looking as a student. As an adult, he definitely held appeal. High cheekbones, expressive brows, impressive nose, thin lips that looked like they'd be supple enough for a proper snog. But he looked…off. Flushed. Sweaty. Her stomach flipped.

"Are you alright?" Hermione asked, concerned.

"Yes." He stepped closer. He looked nearly fevered. His scent swamped her. "Surely you are not unaware of what most of our…community…is like?"

"Only most?" They were both speaking in low tones, aware that they were not in their world.

He seemed to struggle with words, keeping his hands clasped behind his back. "There are the rare cases where someone is not mated."

"I thought…perhaps I wasn't…or it was bollocks…"

Snape—Severus—shook his head. A few thin black strands plastered themselves to his cheek and she moved to brush them back before she could check her movement.

He inhaled sharply and stepped back. "Do not touch me here," he hissed. "Come with me."

Hermione nodded, withdrawing her hand, turning to give the bartender a generous tip for her drink.

She followed him out of the bar, taking his distraction as a chance to inhale him. He was delicious. There was definitely an appeal to him. To the narrow waist, the long legs that threatened to leave her behind. The grace with which he moved. The long-fingered hands clenched by his sides.

She followed him into the alley but again, he spoke. "Not here. Come with me?"

It was a question this time, not a command, and her heart clenched at the pleading note in his voice.

Hermione nodded, taking his elbow. He even felt hot through the layers of fabric, and she barely had time to process the sound he made at her touch before he Apparated them both.


Her touch inflamed him. Merlin, was this what he had been missing? His control snapped, and they had hardly landed in his sitting room before he turned to her, holding her face in his hands and pressing his lips to hers.

She barely had time to see where they were—books, a single ratty armchair—before his mouth was on hers. Gentle yet fevered kisses that she couldn't help but respond to.

"Where have you been," Severus asked again, his voice a low growl. The sound scraped down her spine and she shivered.

"London?" Hermione gasped. She buried her fingers in his hair, pulling his mouth back to hers. Some part of her was a bit alarmed that they'd gone from former student-teacher to this…whatever it was. Need, perhaps. She'd certainly never felt this way before.

Severus kissed her hungrily. His mate. His, his, his. His mouth was determined to show her what a good mate he could be, and he struggled to stop kissing her.

He managed to pull his mouth from hers. "Miss Granger—"

"Hermione," she corrected him breathlessly. "What's happening?"

It was like ice down his spine. He frowned, looking down his nose at her. That large, lovely nose she was suddenly hoping was indicative of other large, lovely things.

"It appears we are a mated pair."

She shook her head, less in denial and more in confusion. "How?"

He stepped away from her, hands clasped behind his back once more. "I thought you said you knew."

He wasn't going to touch her unless she was aware of it. Of everything. No matter how delicious she smelled. Or how she tasted. He struggled inwardly to maintain control.

Hermione frowned at him, hands on her hips. "Not that, I've read about it—but I mean…how. Why us? Why didn't we know sooner?"

"I have not seen you since you visited during my convalescence. I have avoided ministry functions pertaining to the war."

"So have I," she muttered. He still smelled so good. It called to her.

"As such," he continued, "I doubt that we have been in proximity since you came of age."

"Probably. But…you'll forgive me if I say this is a bit fast."

He scowled, the look familiar. But now she wanted to kiss it away. "It is the way of things. It is my understanding that once needs are met mates can work out the rest."

"Your understanding?" Hermione asked. "You haven't had a mate before?" She didn't care a bit about having been his student. She hadn't been for years. She was more curious as to why a man his age hadn't found someone to be with.

His lips curled. "I am not a beta and you seem to be my only mate. Hermione."

He had tacked her name on at the end deliberately, she was certain. His voice caressed the syllables in a way that made her want to lean into him, to pull his face down to kiss her.

"I've never had a mate, either," she admitted. She shifted towards him. "What happens now?"

"Either you leave and reject me," he paused and she didn't move. His shoulders dropped in relief. Just a tiny fraction, but she saw it. "And we go about our lives avoiding each other. Or we let nature take its course.

"As I have waited a rather long time for my mate," Severus added, "I would prefer to worry over the details later."

Hermione was also rooting for nature right now. With him so close, with the scent of him on the air, nature sounded damn good. "I've never…I don't have a mating gland," she admitted, ashamed. "I've never been with an alpha."

He frowned and stepped closer to her and tilted her chin to look at him with one long, pale finger.

"I am not an alpha, Hermione. You are."