a-muses-inspiration, acdecnerd, AloysiusWag, azulkan2, barbi bee, Beth, Black Slytherin Girl, chomper318, Clairvoyant Snake, DragonSpitfire22, Enchantressofthestars, Ezmerelda, Genevieve Jones, Goddess Usagi, hahaha-evil, heidilynnemartsolf, Jack'sAngel, Jessica, June W, junkyardkangaroo, kalinda, kneazles, lee74, lynn, M'cha Araem, Madelynn Rae, Mlle. Gigi, otherside2, patagonia, quillMaker, Rae, sallene, severusgirl, ShinHee Tae, SilverMoonset, ShellyD1982, Thamara, Trinka, vegiegurl, wackoramaco87, – Thanks!
Betz – Thanks – though sometimes I find Severus going slightly OOC when he's around Hermione (grin) he's not going to be a flowers-and-romantic poems in public guy (though I don't think he would go for romantic poems in private anyway, lol).
Emeraldian Onyx – Thanks – welcome to the world of Hermione/Snape stories (grin).
Droxy – Thanks as always!
HarryPotterFreak1234 – Thanks –quite often the characters can take over the story even though you have laid out the plot……
Jessica – Thanks for pointing that out – I will have to correct that mistake at some stage….
Strega Brava – Thanks – I hope the baby is doing well!
sinj – Thanks – I will see….
A/N: Whew, I've finally managed to update – RL has been quite hectic lately. I hope you like the following chapter – it is ah, 'lemon scented' so I've increased the rating for that reason (nothing explicit though).
Part 20
And so it was that as Severus-Crow flew in the direction defined only as away from Her, the wild tangle of his thoughts veered backwards and forwards from that of human to the more instinctual thoughts of his Animagus form.
Anger……………why had he let himself down in reacting so to Her touch…………….why did he crave Her touch so much? urge to claw-tear-rend-anything-everything Why had he allowed her to disrupt his life in this way? image of flying alone once again, forever free from earth-bound nest-mate Life had been so orderly before he………..before she………
He wanted her……….he didn't want to want her……..
Surely he had betrayed himself………..
Another part of his mind whispered Why?
At that Severus-Crow slowed in his flight and dropped towards the ground, transforming with unaccustomed awkwardness back into his true form. He had flown some distance into the forest that lay just beyond the retreat, and all was dark and quiet about him as he sat in a less than graceful manner upon a nearby log. He managed to regain control over his thought processes and some of the turmoil in his mind faded, replaced by a different kind of anger that rose implacably in his mind now in having let himself and yes, Hermione down by running away from herlike a coward.
However, he was forced to face the grains of truth tossed up in his previous thoughts, that life had indeed been simpler before Hermione had intruded into it. Before he had started noticing her as a woman she was in the process of becoming rather than just a Know-It-All.
But then Severus laughed, and the sound was bitter and loud in the forest. Yes, his life had been simpler, and could be given a variety of other descriptions as well……..such as barren. Lonely, even.
But the fact remained that how could he hope to maintain a sense of order over himself if a simple touch from Hermione confounded him so at times?
Part of his mind whispered, then why did it confound him so?
Why………….
The answer came from a dark corner of his mind.
Because at some deep level, you still feel that Hermione will eventually turn around and laugh at you.….
Because you still feel that in showing enjoyment when Hermione touches you it makes you too vulnerable………..and in Hogwarts years ago you learnt the hard way that moments of vulnerability were exploited by those stronger than you………
Deep down then it meant he still didn't fully trust Hermione not to hurt him.
But trusting someone was part and parcel of being in a relationship, the sober thought came to him; of being willing to show Hermione what lay underneath his harshness and grumpiness.
Of allowing himself the freedom to feel true pleasure in her touch. To give pleasure as well. Part of his mind said mockingly, would it kill him to do so?
Hermione had shown her courage in reaching out to him not once but on many occasions- did he want her now to maintain a careful distance from him at times, to see her mentally wondering whether it was a wise idea to give him a spontaneous kiss or touch?
The answer to that in the end was simple.
Hermione had determinedly made herself resume her work, though to tell the truth she felt her efforts were wooden at best at the moment. She couldn't help but feel dispirited of the thought of having somehow repelled Severus. She had no wish to hurt him, but what happened if you did so inadvertently?
When she heard the flutter of wings later that indicated a bird had landed at some point behind her, Hermione felt a rising hope within her, but it was with care that she stopped what she was doing and turned around.
Her heart leaped despite herself when she saw that Severus-Crow was indeed on a nearby branch, with an unfathomable look in the black eye that was turned down to her. His posture though seemed slightly hunched to her gaze – from shame? Or something else?
Hermione stood up carefully and found herself involuntarily wiping her hands in nervousness over her trousers, and with irritation made herself stop. She cast the (well used) Keep-Away charm again and found herself talking quickly, almost gabbling her words to the transformed Slytherin before her in her haste to reassure him.
"I'm sorry if I upset you before. I won't touch you again – I mean, I won't touch you again when you're in this form." She swallowed and managed to retrieve some personal dignity as she looked up at him. "If you don't want me to then that's fine," she said with quiet earnestness.
Severus-Crow uttered a harsh caw and flapped forward off the branch. As Hermione watched with slight alarm she saw the bird swiftly flow into a suddenly larger and elongated dark shape as he fell that became Severus Snape, to her relief rising up from the ground after a moment (without too much loss of his dignity) in a swirl of dark robes.
"No!" was the first involuntary and sharp word from his mouth. When he saw Hermione flinch slightly yet still stand her ground, Severus swallowed and approached her slowly.
"I find that once again I must apologise for inappropriate behaviour on my part, Hermione," he said stiffly, his hands feeling uncomfortable at his side. "The fact that I was in my Animagus form at the time does not excuse me from…….reacting so to you."
"That's all right," Hermione said quietly.
She had been upset for he could still see traces of this in her eyes, and this realisation made his mouth tighten.
"No. It is not," Severus said with grim emphasis. Then he gave her a bitterly ironic smile.
"But tell me, what would you do with a thirsty man who sees an oasis of water…….but feels at times he would drown were he to give in to his desire to drink?" he said softly.
Hermione blinked. Was that how he saw her at times – something that he could metaphorically drown in?
She swallowed. "Well," she said carefully, "it should be said that the ah, man would hardly drown if he were to take sensible sips of water."
"Indeed," he murmured. "At first," he felt compelled to add.
Hermione felt her cheeks start to turn pink at that and tried to ignore it as she went on. "It should be said as well that this….water would hardly wish the man to drown in it………………and that perhaps ah, the water doesn't feel it is deep enough anyway for anyone to drown in it."
Now that had to be one of the more bizarre things she had ever said, she thought. But the essence of it was true – she wasn't 'Hermione Granger the Voluptuous Man-Eater'.
"Then perhaps the water is deeper than it realises," Severus countered softly yet cryptically.
"Maybe the……….water too has fears at times of being totally consumed," Hermione added in quiet admittance, looking away from him for a moment. After all, at times he had seemed to her at Hogwarts and even here at times to be like a dark force of nature in himself that would consume you without mercy if you got too close …..
Then the distance between them was quickly crossed and she felt her face being tilted by a pale hand.
Severus said roughly down to her, "Do not think that………I would never give you a reason to think or fear such a thing."
In a voice that was then lower, almost a whisper, he said, "Touch me…..….."
Her heart feeling as if it was in her throat and her brown eyes darting up to look at his, she reached up with a hand to brush some errant hanks of his black hair away from his face and then ran her fingers gently over his cheek as if he was fine china, Severus' heartbeat racing as she softly brushed a thumb over his lower lip as well. She felt a swift exhalation of breath from his mouth as it blew over her fingers.
"I often find there is a persistent itch behind my……head when I have transformed," Severus asserted softly before he bent his head and kissed her with a surge of feeling that welled freely in him. Hermione's earlier confession that she had her own fear of being overwhelmed by him served to bring a fresh upsurge of protectiveness within as well.
Hermione felt his urge to connect with her again and the love he was feeling towards her in his kisses and she relaxed in renewed happiness, wrapping her arms around his waist. Feeling emboldened by Hermione's response the firm pressure of his mouth upon hers became coaxing, exploring……….she suddenly felt the inquisitive dart of his tongue against the seam of her lips and with a tingling rush inside her Hermione opened her mouth to him.
Heaven……Severus thought to himself in satisfied bliss as he explored the delights of her mouth, tasting her warm depths. Here and now Hermione undoubtedly seemed to embody everything that he had denied himself in many cold, self-disciplined years, and also everything that was warm and bright in life. He felt her tongue brush curiously against his and Severus' breath hitched at the hot rush of sensation her response caused in the pit of his stomach, feeling a surge of desire rush up within him. However, he was able to ride it this time instead of feeling he was being overwhelmed by it. His kisses became more hot and probing, and though clearly inexperienced in this type of kissing, Hermione responded willingly to him, her body brushing slightly against his.
In response he instinctively pressed his hips against Hermione's soft curves, his roused body demanding a way to find her warmth.
Hermione gasped though at the hot feel of him, her body tensing and when he paused to look quickly down at her face for signs of revulsion (that a part of him was nevertheless always on the alert for) he only saw the pinkness of her cheeks, discomfiture nevertheless warring with desire in her eyes. Angry with himself for overstepping their unseen line in this way he pulled away from her and to quell his desire he quickly tried to think of something horrible………….Gryffindors completely winning the next Quidditch season………Trelawney leering suggestively at him……..gods, what a ghastly image he thought and desire quickly wilted.
Hermione had found herself almost melting against his dark frame, delighting in the new sense of confidence with which Severus had kissed her – he had come back to her, he did enjoy and seek her touch after all. But when she had felt the heated pressure of his body press against hers after she had responded to his kissing, it had suddenly unnerved her long enough for him to notice and draw back. I want you, his body had clearly said. Hermione was reminded anew of the reality that he wasn't a boy from her own year, but a formidable man in his own right. Experimental fumbling in her time with Viktor had been one thing, but being with Severus was another. But she had never been with a man completely in that way and there were some things that all of the knowledge in books couldn't prepare you for - she wasn't that much of a Know-It-All!
It was true that her in brief times with Future-Severus they had been in well, almost-intimate situations, but those experiences had still had a slightly dream-like feel to them in contrast to the intenseness of day-to-day reality. Such as now. To her embarrassment she felt like a child again that was out of her depth.
"I'm sorry," she said in genuine chagrin. "Much of this," she waved her hands briefly, "is a bit new to me," she admitted in a rush, a definite flush rising up from her neck. "But I'm still eager to um, learn in time," she added firmly, hoping that her cheeks weren't too pink as she looked at him.
She was untouched, part of Severus' mind hissed in triumph at the thought that she had never let Potter or Weasley, or anyone else, into her bed. But he could, no would, wait until the time was right.
Nevertheless after a moment a hand of his gently reached to tuck a stray lock of bushy hair back behind her ear to reassure her.
"Then your education will continue at a………..suitable pace, Hermione," he murmured. If he talked and kept talking, then his mind would be distracted from the thought of what he would have been tempted to do if Hermione had truly responded to him before, her job be damned…..
A small smile crept across Hermione's face. "I don't have many complaints so far," she said delicately as she tilted her head at him, hoping that he would be reassured that she hadn't genuinely rejected him.
Severus folded his arms in an attempt at severity, trying and not quite succeeding to hide his unbidden elation that she enjoyed his kisses and touches. "You are a shameless tease Hermione, and were you back at Hogwarts I would…….reprimand you accordingly," he said dryly, eyeing her.
"Then what a shame it is that you can't take points off me anymore," Hermione pointed out blandly, folding her arms in turn and managing to calm down slightly from before.
The corner of his mouth twitched. "How unfortunate…...though there are other ways of……..punishment," he said slyly, a teasing note entering his voice.
At that all Hermione could do was open her mouth and then shut it quickly before she looked like a gaping fish, her imagination having all too readily offered up ideas of what Severus could do to her.
Enjoying the way she had looked when he had teased her (and thinking with reluctance that it was nevertheless a good idea to leave her for now) Severus then gave her a deliberately patronising smile, the kind that a Slytherin would give to a Hufflepuff if he felt like it.
"I believe I should leave you to the…….delights of weeding," he remarked with a smirk.
"Thanks," Hermione informed him dryly, though how she was expected to get back to her gardening as if nothing had happened just now she had little idea…..
"My pleasure."
Hermione then eyed him. "It's a lovely day – why don't you sit outside after lunch and read?" she said mildly.
Severus raised a dark eyebrow at her effrontery.
"Are you daring to tell me what I should be doing?" he pointed out silkily though the corner of his mouth twitched.
Hermione thought about it for a moment.
"Yes," she said firmly and Severus heard the definite undertone of someone has to!
Wretched girl.
"Then please enlighten me as to why I should abandon a civilised reading room for an insect-plagued seat outside," he said acerbically.
"Because it is a nice day and you spend enough time inside anyway. Besides, what insect would dare attack you?" Hermione added pertly.
"Impudent girl. However, if I do consider your idea I will be going to a place where I can have peace and quiet……..until later then."
However, for a moment neither of them wanted to part, his black gaze upon her face………but then Severus pursed his mouth and stepping back Apparated away.
Hermione sighed to herself and resumed her work, though to tell the truth she was glad now to have the distraction of her work to stop her thinking about being in Severus' arms before, how the heat of his body had felt against hers. Her cheeks flamed and she felt a sweet ache for him in the pit of her belly. Weeding, yes, weeding and other manual labour perhaps were quite good ideas right now……
Severus did decide in the end there was merit in sitting outside after his lunch with a book, but almost regretted it when several biting insects decided he would be a tasty meal. The following litter of tiny bodies around him before he put up a repelling shield soon proved them wrong.
He had found a secluded spot that was nevertheless near where Hermione was currently working – despite Hermione's assurance that this James already had a girlfriend, his Slytherin mind was hardly inclined to trust the motives of any red-blooded wizard within her range.
Few things impressed his mind these days, but he had to admit he was impressed by what he had seen of the vegetable garden and its corresponding fruit garden where all manner of things grew (regardless of what season they actually belonged in). However, this meant of course that the management cheerfully felt it was their divine right to leave a big bowl filled with various fruit in his room each day regardless of whether he wanted or ate the blasted things or not! Why, today there had been enough grapes for a small yet decadent feast.
Severus considered again the diet that Hermione was eating at this place and cynically doubted that there was any complimentary fruit bowl for her, though she would probably relish it more than he would. Then his eyes narrowed speculatively as a thought popped into his head and Hermione would have looked askance at the faint smile that crossed his face a few moments later. Yes, this plan had distinct potential…...
A tired Hermione was well and truly glad to finish her work by the time the day had ended – the garden had been restored to rights in many areas but there was still much to be done. She considered her fingernails ruefully – some of the nails were torn and there were a few scratches. She did not consider herself to be a vain person but was nevertheless relieved that Severus had made her some hand cream.
She wondered whether Severus had taken her advice and sat outside this afternoon – he could say as many tart remarks he liked at the thought but she felt he needed time sitting outside here and not thinking of anything in particular.
James had thanked her for the effort she had done today and the praise had left her with a satisfied feeling that made up for the sweat and grime she had accumulated (although her work garments deflected dirt they didn't prevent everything). Hermione ran herself a hot bath, dumping a liberal amount of healing bath salts that were provided into the steaming water.
After the bath she felt clean but pleasantly tired now as she put on a black robe, and she was glad that at dinner James did not expect too much conversation either, the gardener looking a bit worn out himself. When Hermione rested in her room afterwards she tended to her hands, making sure that the torn nails were set to rights and rubbing her cream into her hands. She sniffed appreciatively as the pleasant smell of it rose to her nose, and though she was hardly an expert on hand creams in general Hermione felt that no other woman would complain at the quality of what she had. She doubted that Severus was a flowers-and-chocolate type of man, but nevertheless his gift to her spoke more eloquently of what he felt than any bunch of flowers.
Before she went to see Severus she made sure she was looking neat and tidy, putting a dab of her rose-scented perfume on her wrists as a final touch. At 8.00 on the dot Hermione Apparated to what she was starting to think of in amusement as 'their' library and saw Severus reading a book in a chair by the fireplace in which a fire was burning merrily. The table was set up for a game of chess and a nearby lamp was lit as well that made the room feel pleasantly homely. Her attention was caught briefly by a bowl that was up on a shelf, with Hermione wondering whether it had been there yesterday. The sources of light in the room made the darkness of Severus' hair and robes seem even more dramatically dark in comparison, though it was kind to his skin and did not make it appear so sallow to Hermione's eyes. His face immediately turned to look up at her and a smile came easily to her face at the sight of the faint warmth in his sharp eyes.
"Hello, Severus," she said but he had already risen from his chair, having put his book aside on a side table.
"Good evening, Hermione," he murmured, his black eyes intent upon hers as he advanced quickly upon her and enfolded her in his arms, his mouth darting down to drop a kiss upon hers. "I trust you are well?"
"Yes, though I'm a bit tired," Hermione admitted ruefully as she wrapped her arms around him in return, almost indecently glad to be embraced by him (and inhaling with pleasure his spicy smell). Though she wouldn't admit it to Severus she felt she couldn't get enough of being held by him – it was both comforting and darkly enticing in a way she couldn't really explain. "It's been a long day. Did you go and sit out in the garden after all?" she added off-handily.
"Yes. I would not go that far to say I enjoyed myself, but I had a tolerable time," he said dryly, though his eyes narrowed slightly as he noted the telltale signs of weariness upon her face as he looked down at her. "But in your case you should not feel that you are being paid to work yourself into the ground, is that clear," he warned.
Hermione shook her head in negation. "I don't, but there is a lot of work that needs to be done," she pointed out patiently, secretly thinking that it was ironic that when she was at Hogwarts Severus would not have thought twice about overloading her with Potions homework to the point of exhaustion.
"Then it can wait," he said tartly. Then as he looked down at the warm and sweet-smelling armful of Hermione he was holding he relented. He bent his head to brush her forehead with a soft kiss, which then led to an equally soft kiss upon her nose and then another one upon her mouth. Hermione raised her head, seeking more of his kisses like that of a flower seeking rain, feeling at the moment like soft putty within his hands and even content to be so for now.
Severus perceived the way she was feeling and felt oddly touched by her implicit trust in him as he kissed her, even though his darker side whispered of how she was fruit ripe for the plucking at the moment. He rejected that thought, for it was different fruit that he had in mind…….
"Come with me," he said, Hermione hearing a new and decidedly wicked note in his voice as he took her hand in a no-nonsense way and led her over to the nearby sofa. "Sit."
What did he have planned now, Hermione thought with a raised eyebrow as he sat down on the sofa beside her and then lowered his dark head so he could nuzzle her neck, his knee brushing against hers. Oh. Well, if he wanted to have a kiss and cuddle so to speak then she had no complaints, Hermione thought as she arched her neck so as to offer more of it to him, reaching out also to run a hand playfully over his shoulders.
"Close your eyes, Hermione," he then murmured against her throat.
"What?" Hermione said as she paused, feeling startled.
Severus lifted his head so that his fathomless black eyes were fixed upon hers, an odd smile upon his face. "Do you trust me, Hermione?"
That was a tricky question, Hermione thought. Yes, she felt she could trust him, but could she do so right this minute?
"Right now I would like to," she replied honestly.
"You may," he said silkily before he darted forward to kiss her swiftly on the mouth. "Now obey me and close your eyes."
Hermione eyed him carefully and then did so, feeling the warmth from his breath lightly upon her face.
"Good girl," he murmured and then she heard him say "Accio bowl" in a commanding tone.
Hermione was tempted to open her eyes but kept them closed as she heard the faint sound of a bowl no doubt hitting his hands as he caught it. What on earth was going on?
After a moment when she felt something small and round (a grape!) being brushed lightly against her lips she opened her mouth in a silent 'o' of surprise and felt the grape deftly popped inside. She opened her eyes to stare at utter surprise at this decidedly non-Severus behaviour, though her mouth was automatically chewing the sweet flesh of the grape. The bowl she had seen before was now perched upon his knees with a variety of grapes inside it, some dark coloured and others a paler colour.
Once she had swallowed, she said in amazement, "You're feeding me grapes?"
Severus looked at her with a faintly sly smile that then shaded slightly into a guarded one.
"Yes," he said abruptly, his eyes watching her.
This type of grape-feeding behaviour wasn't something that she would have thought the ill-tempered Professor Snape of Hogwarts to be capable of, but then several of Hermione's brain cells got together for a meeting and swiftly concluded this behaviour was a good development on his part. Encouraging said behaviour was definitely a good move.
"I'm not complaining," she then informed him decisively and then feeling mischievous she opened her mouth beguilingly to emphasise her point. For a moment Severus stared at her mouth, feeling quite glad that he was sitting down as his legs felt as they were turning into jelly, and he felt that Hermione had somehow broken several laws just by opening her mouth in that way. The thought of sardonically rebuking Hermione for opening her eyes had fled his mind.
Her mouth. Grapes. Mouth. Kissable mouth. Damn, he had forgotten what he was supposed to be doing for a moment, and it was her fault, he grumbled to himself. Here he was trying to portray himself as someone who could easily seduce Hermione if he wanted to, and he instead he got lost in his own mists of infatuation, so to speak. He thoroughly deserved to have the indignity of little pink hearts floating around his head for everyone to see for that!
Giving his mind a good shake Severus pushed his hand hastily down into the bowl and after seizing a grape managed to bring it up to Hermione's mouth with some assured delicacy once more, as if he was conducting a potions experiment that needed his thorough concentration.
Hermione wisely decided not to mention that Severus looked endearing when it seemed that he had got carried away there for a moment, and it was with impish delight that she accepted his next grape. He seemed to have a thing about making sure she ate enough food, and feeding it to her personally as he was doing at the moment was probably the next logical (and decidedly seductive) step for his Slytherin mind. At times she would slowly and delicately eat the grape offered to her, knowing by the twitching of his face at times that she was putting him through all sorts of torment.
At one point Hermione took pity on him and put her hand on his arm to make him pause.
"I think it's my turn now – why should you have all the fun?" she managed to say firmly.
She saw a flicker of surprise in his eyes then as if he had not really thought she would want to do the same to him………then another emotion appeared in his eyes before it was hastily veiled. But Hermione recognised it nevertheless. It was craving.
"Indeed," he nevertheless said dryly, but her sharp ears heard the faint roughness in his voice. She licked her lips absently as she reached forward to take a plump looking grape. Yes, that one would do.
She looked up and saw that Severus' gaze was fixed upon her mouth again and he seemed to be breathing slightly faster. Her hand trembling slightly she lifted the grape up to his lips, feeling at the same time that her mouth was slightly dry. His black gaze had lifted to her eyes now and Hermione found it was hard to look away from the dark intensity in them. She almost gasped when she felt Severus slowly take the grape into his mouth, his lips brushing her fingers for a moment. With deliberate care she saw him eat the grape and then swallow it, his eyes never leaving hers.
"More?" Hermione inquired faintly.
"Undoubtedly," he whispered and she reached into the bowl once again. As she continued to give him grapes with an odd mixture of tenderness and solemnity as if she was carrying out a ritual, it seemed to her after a while that in 'feeding' him as he had done to her that they were both doing something more profound than just having some titillating fun. She could see a similar realisation mirrored in his eyes and the energy between them seemed to be of a different level than just desire.
For Severus it seemed that his world had shrunk down to the fact that he was hungry, had been hungry inside for long time and here she was, this bright and infuriating Gryffindor who loved him………and fed him. As he had fed her in turn.
When there were no more grapes they stared as one down into the empty bowl, and then Severus seized her arm and roughly sought her mouth as if he would taste the sweetness of the grapes there, the bowl somehow pushed to the floor without it breaking. Hermione flicked her tongue against his lips and after a startled moment he parted them, allowing her access and for her to take the lead. She felt a quiver run through his body as she set out to gently explore his mouth, his eyes appearing to be nothing but black pupil to her before Severus closed his eyes as if he was giving in to the moment……
Because they were both a bit full from the grapes (and both still retained the feeling of having undertook a ritual together) it was more tenderness than passion that flowed between them. Severus made the occasional groan as she kissed him, and then she gave her attention to the rest of his face; the sharply defined lines there, his sallow cheeks, touching her mouth softly at one point to the frown line between his eyes (feeling his hand clutch her robe spasmodically at that). His high, ascetic forehead did not escape her attentions nor did his prominent nose. He opened his eyes sharply at that as if she was mocking him, allowing himself to relax when she gently pressed another kiss to his nose. Daringly at one point Hermione reached a hand to touch the top most black button of his collar, wanting to undo just this one but then she gasped when she felt his hand move to seize her wrist.
"I will not be responsible for my actions if you decide to…….unbutton me, little Gryffindor," he whispered by her ear, a note of warning in his voice, for despite the way she had kissed his face he was still conscious for the need to have boundaries between them. Any other Slytherin would surely have well and truly seduced her by now, but he found himself thinking of Hermione as a rare feast to appreciate and eat with care……..for the first time in a long time he had a real chance of happiness in his life, and he did not want to jeopardise things really by rushing them. It was just human nature that at times either or both of them would want to push those boundaries….
Hermione hastily removed her hand. "I got carried away," she admitted in chagrin.
The tension eased slightly.
"Indeed. Do I have that effect upon you?" Severus inquired smoothly, fascinated despite himself.
Hermione tilted her chin and huffed at him. "I'm not answering that question," she replied spiritedly.
She heard a low chuckle from him as he bent his head to nibble gently on her ear…….
The fireplace was starting to hold more glowing embers than it did flames as the professor and his ex-student sat comfortably together on the couch, Hermione's head resting against his shoulder, a pleasant warmth inside her. She noticed that his hair was not as greasy as it had been at Hogwarts, but then he was having a break from bending over steaming cauldrons all day, something that would really make anyone's hair lank and greasy. Occasionally they would seek to surprise the other by placing a random kiss on the others face, but when Severus turned and saw Hermione's eyes start to droop in tiredness despite herself he sighed, feeling somewhat weary himself, though pleasantly so. He dropped a last kiss upon her forehead.
"It's past your bedtime, Hermione," he said dryly, then silently berated himself for having the word 'bed' in a sentence at this time of the night. His body had been overcome before by a pleasant languor, but now hot and more urgent feelings suddenly made themselves known to his body regarding the young woman next to him. Feeling agitated he quickly drew away from her and stood up.
Unaware of the reason for his change of mood, Hermione blinked her eyes up at him, feeling sleepy. "All right, Professor Snape," she grumbled as she got up in turn, her brown eyes warm upon him. If he was not careful he could fall into them……
"I'll see you tomorrow then," Hermione continued but then she glanced at the unused chess set, having forgot about it. She was about to open her mouth to say she would go and clear it away when Severus said brusquely, "I will clear things away. Now just go and yes, I will see you tomorrow."
Hermione was about to ask what on earth was wrong with him when she noticed how rapidly his pulse appeared to be beating at his throat, a spot of colour on his cheeks…...an unusual tenseness about him. She automatically wanted to soothe him, but was suddenly aware that it was getting late, and she was alone in here with a man who had made it quite clear earlier today how much he wanted her…..
Oh, she thought in sudden realisation. "All right. Good night then," she then said calmly, readying herself to Apparate away. Then her eyes sought his. "I love you," she added softly.
His eyes darkened with an inner heat for a moment before his face softened despite himself at the words. "I love you too, though I sometimes wonder why," he said gruffly. "Now go."
She dipped her head, a faint smile upon her face and stepping away from him then vanished, leaving him alone.
Despite a cold shower afterwards Severus dreamed later that night that he was at Hogwarts, pursuing a Hermione that just seemed to be out his reach. No matter how fast he went she was always just ahead of him in the corridors, an impish smile on her face as she occasionally looked back at him, daring him to keep after her. Tiny golden flowers fell from her robes in her wake and then suddenly she stopped and turning around seized his arms. "Now I've got you," she said firmly, her eyes dancing. She pulled him down to the floor and he fell with her……..falling upon a field of golden flowers that surrounded them. He reached towards Hermione but she was already in his arms, her hands stroking his chest, reaching down suddenly between his legs to touch where he ached for her. "There you are," she said warmly, stroking him intimately. Unable to hold back Severus lost control and cried out her name at his sudden, hot release…….he woke panting for breath, his limbs tangled in his sheets and evidence of his dream upon him. Damn her, he grumbled to himself as he reached for his wand and a Cleaning charm ready in his mind. But nevertheless there was a faint smile upon his face.
The next morning when Hermione was carrying on her clearing up of the garden, the flutter of approaching wings behind her made her pause but it was a different sound from that of Severus-Crow. Curious, she turned and blinked when she saw that the bird was Hedwig, Harry's snowy white owl who bore a letter that was addressed to her from Harry.
"Hello, Hedwig," Hermione said immediately.
The owl blinked imperiously at her, and she noted that there was something about his bearing as well that indicated disapproval, though whether it was toward her or to the letter itself she wasn't sure. Her mouth tightened slightly.
"Thank you," she nevertheless said politely and then quickly cast a Cleansing charm upon her hands before she took the letter carefully from Hedwig.
The owl eyed her again and then took to the air in a loud rush and flap of white wings. Within moments the owl was gone.
Hermione stared down at the letter in her hand as if she could discern the contents that way, then with a feeling of misgiving opened the envelope. The note inside was brief and to the point – would be she able to come and see Harry and Ron tonight after her dinner at 7.30? She knew that Harry wasn't the greatest letter writer, but the wording here was almost to the point of being a blunt order, and also she didn't like the assumption that all her evenings were automatically free. After all, if every evening was like last night then her evenings would be quite occupied for a while (and she felt slightly pink at that thought). Because she hadn't been to see Harry & Ron's flat yet, a photo of the flat (an ordinary looking brick-and-tile place with a blue door, raggedly looking green bushes huddling near the door) was attached so she would be able to have a location to 'fix' upon when she Apparated there (and this method was easier than constructing a special Portkey for her). Harry and Ron had decided to flat together in a city that was nevertheless within a reasonable broom flight distance from Hogwarts (and that not much energy was expended in Apparating). Certainly Ron was keen to experience 'Muggle culture' but not be too far from places like Hogwarts if there was a genuine magical crisis – although dead, the shadow of Voldemort and the War would probably hang over the wizarding world and its current generations of wizards for a long time…….
She didn't have to be a Seer though to realise that there was a good chance this meant that her friends had now heard from Remus Lupin about her lunch with Severus in the weekend. It was something she had tried not to think about too hard in the last couple of days. There was a glint in her eyes though that would have made her friends feel uneasy if they had seen it, for Hermione felt that if she was right then she would also be prepared to say a few things in return. Such as the minding of their own business for starters. But there also could be a different and serious reason for the letter, which made her decide to go as well in the end.
Hermione put the letter back in its envelope and tucking it in her pocket went back to her work, though the letter seemed to be burning where it was. So it was that when she heard a familiar dry 'caw' behind her, it was with a sense of welcome relief that she turned to smile at Severus-Crow on the branch he was perched. However, when she saw that he carefully held a stem in his beak, with a little cluster of grapes attached to said stem (and a deliberately bland look in the black eye turned to her) Hermione blinked and then burst out into helpless laughter, memories of last night running through her mind (Severus-Crow certainly seemed to be more at ease this morning as well). She clapped her hand over her mouth and managed to stop laughing so she could activate the Keep Away charm.
When that was done and feeling in a lighter mood, Hermione did her best to look severe though her eyes were dancing.
"You're terrible, did you know that?" she scolded him, putting her hands upon her hips. "I won't ever be able to look at grapes in the same way ever again, do you realise that?"
"But thank you," she smiled as she walked over and carefully took the grapes from his beak. "I was feeling quite……..hungry," she added with a sparkle in her eyes.
Severus-Crow eyed her darkly but did not seem to be able to look away from her as with great care Hermione ate each single grape, pausing when she had finished to delicately lick her lips in case any of the juice had escaped.
The crow made an odd sound and then eyed her in a way that indicated that she ought to be ashamed of her behaviour, that she definitely deserved a reprimand at the very least for said behaviour……..and that he would be the one to reprimand her later if he had anything to say about it.
Hermione then sobered and after a pause pulled the envelope out of her pocket.
"I won't be able to see you tonight as Harry and Ron have just asked me to come and see them tonight instead," she said with some reluctance.
The look in his eye noticeably cooled and there was a sharp sounding 'caw' from him, though whether it was because she wouldn't be seeing him tonight or whether it was from distaste of her friends she wasn't entirely sure.
"I will make it up to you, don't worry," she promised, and then she paused.
"I can't help but think that Remus Lupin has told them well, about the time he saw us in the weekend," she said unwillingly.
At that the gaze of Severus-Crow became flinty and then he gave her an interrogative 'caw', tilting his head to the side.
Hermione believed she understood what he was trying to convey and shook her head.
"If I am being called over because of that then I refuse to be bullied because I've started seeing you," she said firmly, then her voice gentled. "I care for you – I know you're worth caring for and no one will convince me otherwise."
Severus-Crow was silent at that but the look in the black eye he turned to her conveyed enough to make her feel warm inside.
For the rest of the day Severus-Crow seemed determined to keep her company in his own way – if she was clearing away fallen branches he would watch from a nearby tree (and give the occasional sardonic sounding 'caw' if she missed a branch), if she was busy on her knees weeding she could be sure that he would be pacing the ground nearby, a watchful black eye upon her. Sometimes while she was weeding he would give her the occasional imperious peck on her leg that meant that it was time she paid some attention to him, thank you. Hermione would pretend to glower down at him in a way that said she was not amused by his behaviour, but then she would relent despite herself and gently run her hand over his feathers, making sure not to neglect the area behind his head. The fact that he was actively seeking her touch now made her feel warm inside.
Hermione thought wryly to herself that Severus-Crow was being more of a familiar to her than her own cat Crookshanks, for the cat had decided that the front porch of the retreat was Cat Heaven thanks, only returning to Hermione's room at night with the air of doing her a big favour.
Fortunately today wasn't as tiring for her as yesterday was, so when the day came to an end and she washed and had her dinner, she still felt she had enough energy to go out. When she had said goodbye to Severus-Crow in the garden he had fixed her with an implacable eye that if she had any trouble later on he expected to be the first to hear about it……..
When she was ready to go she felt satisfied that her appearance was presentable; she was dressed in a pair of jeans (with her wand in a handy pocket) and a top that was neither too fancy or dull – just the sort of thing you would wear if you were going to see your close friends.
With the location of Harry and Ron's flat in her mind she took a deep breath and Apparated to a spot just by some bushes near their front door, so that if a Muggle happened to be nearby they wouldn't be able to say with certainty that 'yeah, a girl just popped out of nowhere as sure as I'm standing here!'
When she had done so, she checked that the coast was clear before she went to knock briskly on the front door – she was certain that this was the right address for there was evidence to her senses of a spell laid on the house that would deflect the attention of Muggles if there was anything 'odd' going on, and judging by a low level magical energy in the neighbourhood this appeared to be a popular place for other wizards and witches to live. There were lights on in the flat and after a moment the door was opened.
"Hermione!" Ron said with a welcoming grin on his face though there was an uneasy look in his eyes. "Come in – er, mind the mess, it's a bit untidy."
That was a bit of an understatement Hermione thought as she walked into what was their main living room. Although there were Quidditch posters pinned with mathematical precision on every available wall it seemed, there was the occasional empty mug on the floor and empty pizza boxes on a nearby table. The sofa and chairs (no doubt from a second-hand furniture shop) had the appearance of well-cared for but nevertheless worn furniture that had previously been owned by an elderly person. Rugs in Quidditch colours were draped haphazardly over the backs of the chairs and sofa and it was clear that the brown carpet needed a good clean (as well as the windows).
It didn't appear as though Hermione was going to get a tour of the flat, for Harry got up quickly from the chair he had been sitting on.
"Hello Hermione," Harry said pleasantly though there was an edge of steel to his voice, and his smile didn't quite reach his green eyes. "I'm glad you could come."
"Hello Harry," Hermione replied equally pleasantly. "Your letter sounded quite urgent." There was a genuine query though in her voice and eyes as she looked at Harry and he sighed, looking to her eyes again like the Harry she knew.
"I asked you to come here because I wanted to hear your version of the story Remus told me yesterday," he said in a quiet voice, Ron coming over to look at Hermione with uneasy eyes. "You're one of my oldest friends and I'm sure there was a perfectly logical reason why he saw you having lunch with that greasy git Snape in the weekend. I want to hear it right now."
TBC
A/N – Yes, it's a cliffhanger, but after 14 pages I felt this was the best place to end the chapter…………I will update (crosses fingers) next month. Merry Christmas to you all, and maybe Santa might leave a Snape underneath your tree (grin).