A/N: SO SO SO sorry it's been so long since I updated this!
Chapter 5 – Disturbances and Revelations.
"You there, Hermione?" Ron called loudly, giving Harry a hand up from the floor. Even now he still couldn't land on his feet nine times out of ten.
"Hey! Sorry," Hermione said, hurrying into the room her cheeks aflame.
"There you are," Harry said. Giving her a quick hug he pulled a face and rubbed his arms. "It's freezing in here as usual. Let's go into the library, yeah?"
Nodding, Hermione let the two of them lead the way. Her mind was still racing from the incident between her and Snape only moments before.
When Ron had called out her name she'd automatically turned toward the door and away from Snape. He'd then moved away and the moment between them had passed. Why did they have to come NOW? Hermione thought as she followed them into the library, closing the door behind herself to keep some heat in. It wasn't worth the magical expenditure to heat the whole house with charms anymore, especially now that there were only two full time occupants.
The boys had made it so far into the room before realising that it was already occupied. Hermione noted with interest the Snape had moved back to his usual chair but hadn't left the room. Something Hermione had half expected him to do. Harry and Ron stood still for a moment, obviously uneasy until Hermione sat down on the sofa and waved for them to take a seat. "Come on!" she said, pointedly ignoring the tension in the room.
"Snape," Harry said blandly once he'd seated himself next to Hermione on the sofa, leaving Ron no option but to take a seat on the rug in front of the fire.
"Potter, I take it you're well?" Snape replied, rather less acidly than he would have in the past.
"Yes, thanks," Harry replied and that was the end of it. Snape turned back to Hermione's book and Harry turned round to Hermione and smiled.
"So, Harry, what's up?" Hermione asked innocently.
"We just thought we'd pop by and see how you are, is all," he replied, settling into the sofa and toeing his shoes off. "Have you had any luck at finding a flat?" he continued. "Not that there's any rush or anything."
Hermione shook her head. "Not much," she said, "I've been so busy working this week I've not really had the chance to get looking again."
"Change over time again?" Ron asked aware that she must have just started a new project.
"Yeah a big one," she said, pointing to the pile of books at one end of the sofa.
"So..." Harry began slowly, a look of slight uncertainty mixed with determination across his features, "I had an idea the other day."
Hermione resisted the urge to roll her eyes. She looked past Harry's shoulder noting that Snape had raised the book above the level of his eyes... but not before she saw the smirk gracing his lips. No doubt he was struggling to hold back whatever sarcastic comment he had.
"Oh?"
"Yeah, there's this guy at work..." he trailed off as Hermione let out a low groan which made Ron laugh.
"Told you, Harry," he said from his place on the floor in front of the fire.
"No, just listen, Hermione," Harry continued, desperation edging into his voice. "He just wants to get to know you."
"Harry..." Hermione began, her hands covering her face as if she was trying to hide.
"Aw come on, Hermione," Ron said from the floor causing her to look at him strangely. He knew she was trying to sort things out with Snape! Cocking his head towards the man in the chair, he continued, "I mean... what have you got to lose?"
"Yeah, Hermione," Harry piped up. "It's not like you have to see him again."
"Maybe, Harry. I just don't see-" Hermione began but was cut off as Harry smiled and said a 'yes!' to the ceiling.
"Harry!" She said sharply, making him look to her. She saw Ron bite back a laugh at his behaviour out of the corner of one eye but let it go. "Honestly I'm not giving you a definite answer, okay? We'll see," she said, folding her arms over her chest and looking at him seriously.
"Just... don't push me on these things, Harry. You know I don't like it."
"But that does mean yes, right?" he said, looking at her hopefully.
She didn't answer other than to put her head in her hands and wish he'd get the picture.
"And here I was thinking that a monogamous relationship meant that one didn't see other people," Snape spoke quietly, closing Hermione's book and putting it on the arm of the chair.
Hermione's head shot up at his comment, her mouth open while her brain tried to sort out some sort of a response. "Wha..."
"Hermione, if we're to have an open relationship I would appreciate a little advance warning," he said standing from the chair and approaching her, passing in front of a silent and confused looking Harry in the process. Bending down so his face was level with hers he moved so his mouth was next to her ear and spoke quietly, his breath warm on her ear. "I'm not one who likes to share."
She moved her head back so that she could see into the man's eyes and drew her eyebrows together, confused. What was he doing?
Standing up slowly, Snape nodded to Harry before leaving the room silently.
"Hermione... what was that?" Ron ventured quietly, looking at Harry as he did. Harry hadn't moved, he was sat still looking for all the world like he was contemplating the meaning of life and was having a very hard time coming to grips with the answer.
Hermione came to her senses quickly as Ron spoke and stood up, glancing at Harry before replying. "I... I'll be back in a moment," she said, leaving the room.
Outside the closed library door Hermione stood still and thought for a few moments. Ok so what was that? Hermione sighed in frustration and decided to try and find out what the man was playing at. Now.
... ... ... ... ...
Hermione hurried down the hallway after Snape, her cheeks pink and almost ran into the sideboard in her haste. Reaching the kitchen, she stopped in the doorway and crossed her arms, anger and confusion radiating from her very being. "What the hell was that?" she said in a harsh whisper.
"What was what?" Snape asked nonchalantly his back to her as he made himself some tea.
"That... that... You just made it look like me and you were... are..." she stuttered, cheeks going an even deeper shade of red.
"Dating? Courting?" Snape said, turning to look at her. "That was the intention. Oh and it's you and I, not me and you."
"But, I, we... it's not true!" she declared, ignoring the little voice in the back of her head that claimed she wished it were otherwise. Especially with the way he'd been behaving recently.
"They don't know that, do they?" he said, gesturing behind her in the general direction of the library.
"So? That's not the point!"
He sighed and turned around to pour his tea into his cup. "And here I thought you'd be grateful."
"Grateful?" she echoed unbelievably, coming into the kitchen and pushing the door to behind her as she did.
"Yes, after all I saved you from what would no doubt be an absolute waste of time. Namely the blind date they were trying to persuade you to go on."
"I was going to say no," she answered, walking to the cupboard to grab a cup.
"So when you said 'maybe' and 'we'll see', you meant no?" he said, pouring tea into her cup.
"I... yes," she answered lamely. It was true she didn't want to go, but she hated telling Harry no. While Ron had slowly come to accept Hermione's appreciation for being single, Harry wouldn't, or couldn't, believe that she was happier on her own. Liar, her mind supplied, you do want someone. It's just that you're not sure they want you. Or you weren't until a little while ago.
"Well, I'm sure you would have convinced them both thoroughly," he said passing her her cup of tea, complete with one sugar and a little milk as she always took it. "But now there is no need to as they think you are otherwise... engaged in that area."
She sighed, resisting the urge to bang her head against the wall when the door in to the library opened, creaking as it did.
"Hey, 'Mione, you coming back to explain? Harry's not looking too happy," Ron said loudly as he made his way down the corridor to the kitchen.
Hermione looked up and then quickly to Snape. Putting her tea down, she made to go to the door to make him shut up before Ron began to dig his grave even deeper, but was pulled back as Snape grasped her wrist and tugged her toward him.
"Wha-mmf," she began to ask, but was cut off as his lips came into contact with hers. A gentle pressure of lips on lips, but one he was controlling nonetheless.
"'Mione, did you hear me? I said- Oh. Holy..." Ron said as he stood gawping in the doorway.
Severus pulled back from Hermione and turned to Ron with a completely straight face. "Mr Weasley, if you'd be so kind as to shut the door for a moment, Hermione will be right with you."
Nodding mutely, Ron began pulling the door shut, with his eyes wide as Snape held onto Hermione possessively.
Hermione was astonished. He'd just kissed her. He'd just KISSED her! She turned to look up at Snape... no Severus.
"What the," she began in a low voice, but a finger came up to her lips stopping her from continuing.
"One moment," he said quietly. Standing back from her he looked at her appraisingly for a moment, then shook his head. "You need more... more."
Hermione blinked and frowned. "More... what?" she asked confused and assumed he was insulting her cleavage... or lack thereof.
"More... ah, yes," he stopped and raised a hand to her collar, pausing to look at her face before undoing one of the buttons on her blouse. "That should work."
"Work?" She asked.
"You'll see," he answered. Picking up his tea from the side, he went over to the door, opening it to reveal a still dumbstruck Ron. "Mr Weasley, excuse me."
Ron took a step to the side and Severus passed before turning round to look at Hermione. "I'll see you in a while, Hermione. I'll leave you to talk with the... boys." With one last look at Ron's shocked face, he ascended the stairs towards his room in silence.
Hermione pulled out a chair from the under the table and plonked herself down on it as Ron slowly came into the room toward her. "He... kissed me," she whispered.
"Um, Hermione... what's going on?" Ron asked, coming round the table to take a seat next to her. "Cause from here it kinda looks like you and Snape are... well. Together," he said his face screwing up as he tried to process the idea of it. "I thought you'd not got that far yet...?" he said, looking pointedly at her open blouse.
Hermione just sat there, one hand on her lips trying to let it sink in that he'd finally kissed her. And it had been out of some twisted desire to wind the boys up!
... ... ... ... ...
Hermione made her way upstairs slowly, her mind still reeling from what had happened roughly half an hour earlier. She'd snapped out of her daze when Harry had stormed into the kitchen and asked if it was true. Suffice to say Harry wasn't exactly quiet about it and had woken up Mrs Blacks' portrait.
She'd then quickly made a few lame excuses about having a few things to sort out, gesturing up to the portrait for a start, and that she was 'obviously not able to go on that blind date' and that she had 'a lot of things to do, so could they come another time'.
Five minutes after that, after trying to keep Harry from searching out Snape, Ron had disappeared through the Floo dragging Harry with him
Flopping down onto her bed, she lay there trying to think why Snape... no, Severus, had done what he had. Was it because he just wanted to annoy the boys? He always did like to wind them up. Did he want to trick her into thinking she had a chance? Did he know how she felt? Did he really like her? Was this all part of a plan she wasn't aware of? She sat up and rubbed her eyes irritably. Why did it have to go like this?
Standing she decided to got have a hot shower and get an early night... even if it was only eight thirty. She really couldn't face Severus right now and although she knew she'd never get to sleep, it was better to at least try.
... ... ... ... ...
Waking up the next morning, Hermione sat up and yawned. She'd not slept well and had woken up numerous times with thoughts of the evening running though her head. When she wasn't thinking about what she was going to tell Harry she was reliving the moment Severus had leant into her and spoken into her ear. Suffice to say that had spawned a few more fantasies which had immediately been stored for later use.
Of all the things to happen, Hermione thought as she crossed the room to the dresser and began selecting things to wear for the day. After dressing slowly she opened her door, unsure of quite what she was going to say to him, and made her way downstairs.
He wasn't in the kitchen when she got there so she helped herself to some cereal and tea, eating quickly because she'd missed out on her evening meal the night before.
Part of her wanted to hide in her room and concentrate on work. Avoid him and hope that the situation sorted itself out. She knew it wasn't realistic and her stubborn side stamped its foot and demanded she confront him. Somehow.
Finishing up her breakfast and leaving the dishes in the sink Hermione made her way to the library, if he was there, she'd talk to him. If he wasn't, well, she'd do some work.
Peering around the door frame Hermione couldn't see him in his chair or the sofa and sighed – partly in relief and partly because it was something she'd have to do later. It wasn't in her nature to not do something once she knew it needed to be done.
Settling down onto the sofa with her notes and books Hermione set about commenting on the book she'd written off as useless yesterday in her notes.
'Mr K. Bruhn – 101 Ways to Keep Safe'. Needs reclassifying, no defence mentioned, only 89 'ways' in total. Crap, she added, scowling at the book, before crossing it out and finishing with: Atrocious Grammar.
Putting the book to one side Hermione leant down slightly to one side to pick up the next from the pile on the floor, reading her previous notes as she did, but stopped as she felt something rather more alive in the way.
Looking up she saw the Severus Snape stood over her, one eyebrow raised in amusement.
"Good morning," he said simply, moving out of the way so she could get at the books.
Hermione didn't reply, annoyed that he'd snuck up on her and hadn't said anything. She picked up the next book in the pile only to find that it was 'Temptations and Passions'.
"I finished it last night, so thought to leave it where you'd find it," he said as he sat himself down in his usual chair.
"Right," Hermione said crisply, putting it to one side and picking up the next book on her pile. She opened the book, looking half heartedly down the contents page and then flicked her eyes up to find that he was watching her.
"What?"
He shook his head and said, "Nothing, I was just watching."
"So I noticed. You seem to have taken to doing some rather unusual things in the last few days, Sir."
He didn't reply, just sat there looking at her his face showing no reaction. It wound her up even more and she shut the book on her lap with a snap. "What was that yesterday?!" she finally bit out.
"What was what?" he replied neutrally, seemingly unaware of her anger.
"That? What!? The kiss! You kissed me!" she said standing up and moving toward the fireplace.
"Oh that," he said.
She whipped around quickly to face him, her ire growing yet more. "I, you... Severus Snape!" she said loudly, "I want to know why you did it!"
Moving to the bookcase behind the chair, his back to her he replied, "I told you before, I thought I was helping you."
Hermione was speechless. So he's sticking to that is he? Hermione thought, frustrated.
"Helping!?" she all but shouted, remembering at the last minute to keep her voice down, lest she wake Mrs Black. "Helping," she hissed her voice quieter. "How the hell did you think that that would help?"
"Well, Potter stopped nagging you, didn't he?" he replied as he browsed the bookcase he obviously knew by heart.
"It won't stop him asking what the bloody hell you were playing at!"
He turned around then, walking to the side table and leaning against it. "Really?" he said sounding rather amused.
"Yes really!" Hermione barely resisted the urge to stamp her foot and kick the fire place.
Turning away from him she leant one arm against the fireplace and looked into the flames, her mind racing. "You don't get it," she said quietly, her anger fading.
"Well then why don't you explain it to me," he said from his position against the side table as he looked out of the window.
Turning her head towards him she started speaking over her shoulder. "I just... gah! This past week or so with you here has confused the hell out of me. When I first got here you were your usual sarcastic self and I thought I'd cope, but then you changed, you started flirting. DON'T you deny it," she added as she saw him look at her. "You started flirting, that night in the kitchen for instance, then when you kissed my hand. Not to mention the glances and veiled comments."
She moved from her position in front of the fireplace and moved around the sofa, closer to him. "You confused the hell out of me because I don't know whether you mean it or if you're just messing about with my feelings because I'm the only other person in the house."
Taking a few steps closer, closing the gap between them, she continued, "And then you kissed me. As if I wasn't confused enough about how you felt about me before you went and made it ten times worse last night." She sighed and shut her eyes, clenching her hands into tight fists before releasing them and looking up at him. "You confuse me."
He looked back at her, his face unreadable and slowly, almost too slowly for Hermione to bear, he moved. Standing straight he took that final step that lay between them and brought a hand up to brush his thumb across her cheek, rubbing away the tear she hadn't realised was there.
"I don't mean to," he said softly, almost as if he were afraid to.
Standing there for what seemed to Hermione like a small lifetime she heard those words echoed in her head over and over again as she looked into his eyes. Until, still moving slowly as if he were afraid she'd reject him, he brought his lips to hers.
It was like a dam had burst. Hermione's tense muscles in her back, her neck, and even her knees, relaxed and she leant into the kiss. It was gentle at first, nothing more than lips on lips, and then she felt his mouth open. He sucked her lower lip a little, teasing it with his teeth before making a deep sound in his throat and bringing his other hand to hold her head, his fingers tangling in her hair. The kiss changed then, becoming more aggressive and Hermione's arms came up to hold his torso, clinging onto the material as if it were life itself. His tongue probed her mouth, tasting, teasing, learning and Hermione lost herself to the feelings running though her.
Barely minutes later, and far too soon for Hermione's liking, he pulled away from her completely, his head down. "I'm... sorry."
Hermione was puzzled. "What for?" she asked, bending so she could see his face, partially hidden from view by his hair.
"I shouldn't have done that," he said bringing his eyes up to meet hers. "I meant for you to be the one who... instigated anything."
Hermione shook her head. "That's silly," she said, making him scowl.
"Honestly! If you had tried anything that I didn't want, do you really think I would have even hesitated to hex you?" He shook his head slightly, still unsure. "You know as much as I admire you not wanting to pressure me into anything... I think you should have kissed me a long time ago."
He sat back against the side table again, his arms by his sides, grasping the edge. "You... really do like me?" he said looking like he didn't believe what he was hearing. "I mean I thought I was sure you felt some... attraction to me, and I'll admit at first I was trying to find out more about that... but... well, then I realised I was attracted to you too and it changed."
Hermione smiled and moved to lean against the side table next to him. "So I like you, and you like me. What now?" she asked, looking up to him with a smile on her face.
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Only one more chapter to go. I'll post it when I'm able. Please leave me a review, they feed the muse! ;)