Chapter 9 – T.L.C.
Severus lay awake for a long time listening to the soft, even breathing of the young witch curled up, sleeping beside him. He doubted he had ever felt more at peace with another person, let alone someone clinging to him so sweetly, as if they were already lovers. She did say she'd welcome me into her heart, into her arms and her bed. It seems she was quite serious about her declaration.
He waited for over an hour to be sure she was not going to wake, before wandlessly removing her from her cuddled-in position and gently turning her to face away from him in the middle of the bed and hovering her just a few inches over the mattress. I must remember to thank Filius for the invention of Wingardium Leviosa, he thought as he shifted his own body towards her and brought her down to rest in the curve he made with his torso and lap, effectively spooning her with one arm resting under the curve of her waist and the other draping over her ribcage. Oh, Merlin help me, she smells like Aphrodite herself. He gently swept her hair to the side and admired the delicate curve of her neck. So beautiful.
Again, he really couldn't stop himself, wasn't sure he'd try if he could. She was just too damn tempting. He was careful in his movements, he knew he had to be delicate with her, not do anything too untoward; he feared he had already pushed that boundary too far as it was. But she was just so close, smelled so intoxicating and that curve at the side of her neck, where it swooped around to face him was just more than he could resist. He leaned in and placed the softest of kisses to the delectable little arc he was focused on… she shivered. So responsive. His cock stirred at her reaction and he pulled her close, the hand draped over her ribcage slipping upward, completely by accident to rest between her breasts. Magnificent!
Severus shifted and shuffled behind her, adjusting his weight and angle slightly every couple of minutes until he finally found a comfortable position where the dull ache in his groin was minimal enough that he could maybe, just maybe, get some sleep. He squeezed his witch as tightly as he dared and savoured the feel of her sleight frame pressed against him and how every time his breath caressed a spot on her neck, she unconsciously shivered a little a wriggled against him. It was heavenly.
From the moment he wrapped his arm around the object of his newly discovered fantasies – courtesy of the witch herself – Severus Snape was in hell. Feeling Hermione Granger nestled warmly into his body was not, it seemed conducive to a good night's sleep; nor was it conducive to keeping a thousand or scenarios from tumbling through his mind of delicious ways to wake the little minx. Every time his breath caught a particularly sensitive spot on her neck, she gave the sweetest little sigh, shivered and wriggled her perfect little arse against the desperate arousal he was incapable of relieving. It was the worst kind of torture imaginable – painfully delicious and with no way out. Yes, Severus Snape was in hell, it was all the fault of Hermione Granger and her bottom and there wasn't a damn thing he could do about it.
Oh thank fuck, she's moving. One more little wriggle and I'll come in my robes. Again
Alas, her movement was minimal and Severus was hard pressed to know what to do. At first he had endured her absent-minded sadism admirably; enjoyed it even. Occlumency had helped immensely with shielding his mind from his fire in his veins, the surges in his groin, the quickening of his breath and heart; he had focused so intently though, and for so long, that his mind had grown weary as her seductive onslaught had continued. Eventually, occlumency had failed him, for the first time in his life, and he allowed the resignation to sweep through him that even if he could bring himself to move away from her, to shift to the other side and untangle their bodies, he really didn't want to; he was just going to have to put up with it.
With her small and half-hearted attempts at movement becoming more regular, more bold, he grew both fearful and anticipatory of their embrace ending. He had convinced himself she would feel the evidence of his arousal, how could she not? The proof that he had been driven half mad with his self-induced desire and her subtle grinding and wriggling throughout the night was resting against the small of her back; and as he lay there, incapable to rational thought, he convinced himself she would be disgusted by his lack of control, despite her fantasies.
"Oh!" she squeaked and Severus had to constrict his throat to keep from groaning in both pleasure and mortification as she stilled completely, frozen against him. Her next movement was so utterly and unashamedly deliberate though, it wiped the self-deprecation and mortification clear from his mind. She decidedly pushed her perfect derriere upward and back, manipulating the solid bulge in his boxers from her back to between her legs, against her heated core. He moved with her as if pushed and that was the moment he noticed; his cock wasn't being constrained by a placket as it should be, but pushing his silken underwear to tent directly against silken slit, he could feel her moist heat against the silk that separated their intimacy. One of them, he wasn't sure which, had conjured this feat with accidental magic.
He could feel her attempting to manoeuvre herself from his grip and as much as he had been praying for the relief of her extricating herself, he found he couldn't bear to let her go. Again her bottom shifted, sliding herself against him and the control he had stoically maintained on his vocal chords slipped, emitting a low groan from the sensation. In panic, fearing his wakefulness was discovered, his grip tightened around her and her whole body stiffed against him.
"I'm sorry" Hermione whimpered, clearly fearful he was angry at being found in such a state. "I couldn't help it."
She's sorry? She couldn't help it? Oh Merlin, the girl things I'm angry with her. Now I definitely can't move… if she finds out I've been awake the whole times and able to move, she'll hex me to Kingdom Come. I'm really not prepared for the full force of fierce-Granger, I'm only just getting used to dulled and mental images of horny-Granger.
His only option really was to sense her emotions, maybe her thoughts too. He had a filter for his empathic senses and he had had to keep it decidedly switched off throughout the night, lest she was dreaming of him and he had to deal with her arousal plaguing his groin as well as his own. Now, though, he needed it to plan his next move, he held his breath and slipped the mental shield that held his empathic abilities away…
She was a ball of tension, sexual and – oops, he cringed – urinary. I'm keeping her from using the facilities; well now I just feel awful. Although, after the state she's had me in all night, perhaps this is just a little pay back; karma coming back to bite her on that delectable, peachy backside. He smirked to himself.
There's nothing for it. I must ascertain her thinking to determine my next move.
He entered her mind gently, pushing into her thoughts with no resistance; there was no sign of her occlumency space, just the sound of her disembodied voice, eternally thinking…
Oh that groan he made. It was so good. So him. I almost came on the spot. He's so fucking sexy. I never want to move from this spot. Do I get him to groan again? He's so tightly wound, it has to have been an accident or because he's more relaxed asleep. It's worth it, even if it wakes him. Gods the things his voice does to me. It's too risky though, surely. Think sensibly Hermione. You're bladder is ready to burst and if you move, if the vibration of that climax-inducing rumbly groan echoes in just a certain way, you might set it off. Hearing that is not worth peeing on him. Now, what do I need to get out of this little predicament?
Snape had never imagined her need for him would run so deep, that her desire was hinged on a simple groan of please; so much so that she would risk rupturing her bladder. Perhaps, he thought, if she is so completely enamoured with me, I could get away with having hidden my awakened status.
'My wand. I need my wand. Where the fuck did I leave it?
'Bollocks! It's on the floor. There's no way I can reach it, with this yummy entanglement of limbs we're in, I've got no chance. I wonder if he pulled me to him in the night or if I shuffled towards him? Better if he pulled me over, dragged me into him. Mmmm, what a gorgeous thought; I bet he's possessive like that.' She shivered.
Snape reeled as Hermione continued to let her thoughts run away with her.
'Focus Hermione. Right. Wandless Accio? I've done it before, once, on adrenaline. I really don't have the concentration for it with 'that', there…
She's thinking about my dick. Again. This witch is insatiable.
'Snape!' Her mind suddenly screamed his name with a solution. 'He's amazing at wandless magic. Maybe I could use his magic to summon my wand…'
He felt her hand cover his own where it sat between her breast. Wow, she really doesn't mind that I'm pawing her.
"Accio wand." She whispered.
That'll be my wand on its way then. My magic will call to my wand, even with her voice it won't call for a wand it's never touched, not without Expelliarmus.
She shivered again and he groaned to himself. Granted, he thought, she is extraordinarily responsive but my response to her, it's unnerving. Is it my wand she's reacting to? Trapped between my magic and that of my wand, that would make anyone shiver.
'Oh what a beautiful wand." Snape heard in her mind as she admired the channel for his magic. Ebony? Too obvious; well, maybe ebony or… No! This isn't ebony at all, its blackthorn. Typical! Ogham tree to represent the dark half of the year. What are those decorative bands?'
This will be interesting. Despite her 'O' in Herbology, Pomona always said Hermione was never a great fan of the subject. I wonder if she'll know them.
He waited.
'Ooooo, belladonna – beautiful and poisonous, how fitting,'
Charming!
'Awww, a daisy chain – delicate, youthful, unbelievably whimsical, considering who this wand belongs to,'
Lily!
'A Russian vine? Tough, durable, fast growing – the wood of my wand. How very interesting.'
Very interesting indeed.
'Surely that's symbolic that we belong together. Symbols of each other's wand materials sometimes magically appear when one is romantically attached to their… oh fuck! That book I read… just before Christmas, the one about soul connections and old magic and binding loves. But that means… No. Wand branding was really rare; I remember that bit. I need to remember. Why? Why are wand brandings so rare? Was it about past loves? No! No, it was past lifetimes. Wand branding is incredibly rare because it only occurs if the pair has been romantically involved in more than three previous lifetimes.'
Severus felt the need to withdraw from his mind; her fast process of analysing what she knew was an aphrodisiac and the subject left his heart buoyant but his mind in a very acute state of fear.
'Yet more proof that I belong with Severus Snape; this is so weird.'
More proof? Is this not the first proof?
He was just preparing himself to remove himself from her surfaced thoughts when he experience a flash of white light, a whirl of colour and he found himself in her occluded space. The desk still sat open on the desk before him but the contents of the room had improved immeasurably. It was now, as he had originally suspected, a library. Turning to see the rest of the room, he caught four neat rows of book shelves, full of tomes. He itched to see them but there was movement to the left of him; a russet, high backed, leather armchair appeared and Hermione Granger was sitting in it, her nose in a book. He smiled to himself… somethings never change. How could her mind ever be anything else? She began reading aloud…
'The soulmate connection of the two wands, especially when they are inscribed with the botanical of its partner, allows each witch or wizard of the relationship to use the others wand as easily and effortlessly as if using their own, albeit with a more than insignificant level of arousal at the time of use. Using the wand of your soulmate is an extremely intimate undertaking and at a time when old magic was at its peak, was used as the first act of binding in the ancient hand-fasting ritual: The 'Nodum erit aeterni delicti' ceremony; otherwise known as The Knot of Eternal Damnation.'
Severus's fear grew exponentially as she continued.
'Two souls bound by this ceremony are fated to fall in love lifetime after lifetime; souls entwined by magic, the status of soulmates determined by the first time the ceremony is performed. If 'The Nodum erit aeterni delicti' is only performed between the same two souls in one lifetime, the magic can be undone by performing the ritual with another; however, if it is performed by the same two souls in two sequential lifetimes, it is sealed by its namesake, for eternity.'
The library and the apparition of Miss Granger faded back to black and Severus was returned to her surface thoughts…
'Could Snape and I have been bound by this ceremony more than once? What if we are? What if I'm eternally damned to be with him, in however many incarnations, until the end of time? Is it damnation? Maybe. If he never stops thinking of me as some insufferable know-it-all, little girl. That's already getting old and this is literally forever. Bladder, shut the fuck up, I know you're full but I can't do anything about that right now. Trust me, I'm working on it. Right, mind over matter. My brain controls everything, right? Convince my brain I'm not about to piss myself all over the love of my life.
Snape lost his breath releasing a silent but completely unrestrainable laugh. At just that second, she took the longest, deepest breath of her life as she created a mental mantra.
'I don't have to pee, I don't have to pee. I don't have to pee. Fuck, it's not working. Stupid fucking meditation gurus. I need to see my wand… NOW!
'SNAPE, MOVE!'
Unable to disobey her, due to other undiscovered magics working through their bodies, Snape felt himself edge away from her slightly before his arm - which had still been draped over her - flung itself away and he landed flat on his back with a forceful thud. Hermione was off the bed and running to the bathroom before he had regained his senses. Thankfully, his mind went with her.
Ignoring the relief that spread through her as she relieved her bladder, Snape focused on her thoughts that focused on her wand. She must be studying it very closely.
'What is that? It's burned into the wood. Fruit of some sort. It's been there since my first day of lessons at school. Is it not something to do with Gryffindor? I just assumed. Is that… is it shrivelfigs?
Snape realised the significance before Hermione as he lay on the bed, rubbing at his still painful erection.
'Oh fuck! Shrivelfig! The magical name for sloe fruit. And sloe is the fruit of…
Her pausing in her thoughts, hesitating in even allowing her mind to admit the truth confirmed Snape's suspicions.
'The fruit of the Blackthorn.'
Well, that does it. Those symbols would not be present as a full band of adornment of both wands if the bonding had not taken place for the required two sequential lifetimes. It is a marriage of magics and the bands are as wedding rings. My soul is bound to Miss Granger's.
He allowed himself to be logical while he awaited her return.
She is intelligent, that is essential and thankfully she has a passion for quietness, learning, research, oh and that intolerable Gryffindor need for adventure. Maybe I can shag that out of her? Give her the adventure of her life, never letting her out of bed.
She is bloody gorgeous. How the fuck did I get so lucky? She deserves better but it's not like it's my fault she's tied to me – at least not in this lifetime.
The mental debate between his desires, logic and self-loathing continued while Hermione stayed in the bathroom. He could sense her back and forth too, having withdrawn from her mind to give her privacy and focus on his own thoughts for a while, which is why, twenty minutes after her disappearance, he was so shocked to find himself being thrown one of her mental offerings without prompt or searching…
'Yikes! Oh, who can count all the things he is, was or ever could be? At least this is something he can't refute; we're magically bound for the ages, by destiny and fate, by old magic. You don't stand a chance now Snape! You're mine. End of.'
Hmmm, possessive little thing, he thought as he heard her returning. Very nice!
It took literally ten minutes until she was back on the bed, having summoned parchment, quills and ink from her beaded bag - that thing must weight a ton – flopping herself on her front, her toes just catching in his loose hair and making a list… Snape listened in…
'Contact Harry – patronus; potions for Severus – via Madam Pomfrey…'
She's calling me Severus now? Cheeky little witch.
'Eat something. Meet Harry for potions. Attempt to wake Severus?'
I wonder how she'll do that.
'Read that book again. Ancient Proclivities of Ceremonial Enchantments'
Where on earth did she find that book? It's not even in the restricted section.
'And Severus needs some sort of wash…'
Where is she going with this?
'A sponge bath?' She giggled.
Yes! Yes, dear girl. A sponge bath would do nicely. Let you see what you've done to me, you little vixen. And the perfect opportunity for me to get a hold of you too.
"Time to get this show on the road. And almost time to get you up, about and moving, sleeping beauty. Don't think I'm letting you laze around in bed all the time while I do all the work."
Perish the thought. He mused to himself as she laughed.
"Although the lack of sneering and sniping is rather pleasant. You should definitely tone that down in future. I'll let you keep the billowing robes though. They're rather sexy."
Oh really? I shall keep that in mind, witch.
She was up and about again. Gods, does she never sit still?
He listened intently, skirting on the edge of her mind as she cast her patronus to message Potter…
'a lioness? Hmmm… contemplate later, message now.'
Her patronus is a lioness. Unsurprising. I wonder what it was before.
"Hello lovely. Please take this message to Harry Potter ok?
Snape and I are both safe. He needs sustenance though and so do I. Please get some meal replacement potions for him from Madam Pomfrey; oh and some vitamin ones too. He's still unconscious and I have to get nourishment into him somehow. I'll have whatever you can rustle out of Molly or the house elves. Meet me in an hour outside the Hogwarts wards; I'm assuming they've been enabled again. Oh, oh and some towels, transfiguring a pebble makes for very rough fabric. Love to everyone, see you soon."
She was pacing, he could hear it as Potter's voice echoed through the small room…
"Everyone is fine. Paperwork is going through to get Snape pardoned, should only take a few days. Best to keep him where he is until it's all settled. Guess you're playing warden, nursemaid and guardian angel for a bit longer. I'm in the hospital wing now, I'd only just left after checking on Lavender; she was attacked by Greyback. Madam Pomfrey is sorting out your supplies; ironically Snape brewed them himself. McGonagall is insisting on coming with me to see you so be prepared. See you in a bit."
Ah yes, my potions. At least I know they will be of impeccable…
Snape's thought was cut off as she lay back down; she resumed the position of laying on her front but leaned back to place his hand on her thigh. She shivered at the feel and oh how the feel of her soft, creamy flesh burned his palm and fingertips. She lay reading like that for over forty minutes and he listened contentedly as she read the Ceremonial Enchantments book aloud, only dipping into her mind every five minutes or so to relive her wish of his hand to move up her thigh.
There was a shuffling from near his feet, followed by her swinging away from him.
"I'm going to get supplies, sir. I won't be long."
He was just about to debate whether or not to be awake when she returned but was saved the trouble by her kissing him, square on the lips and turning away to hurry down the corridor. It had been a gentle kiss, tentative; as if the desire to do was held back a little by her nervousness that he would push her away. Not a chance I would, he thought as his mind followed her out towards the wards she had placed.
'I hate how much he suddenly makes me blush. I didn't even get this pink when I was fantasising about him bending me over my work bench in potions, my face pushed into a cauldron or Amortensia, his hands gripping my hips, him, thrusting.'
Snape spluttered to himself in bed.
'Focus Hermione. Harry can't see me all flustered and flushed. He knows what I'm like when I'm thinking about shagging. It's how I ended up shagging him. Yeah, let's not go there.'
Unexpected jealousy rose in him as he heard that last little bit of information. It seems she is no longer interesting in The-Boy-Who-Lived, Twice apparently. Still… need to keep an eye on that if she is truly to be mine.
As she left the wards to disapparate, Severus Snape finally opened his eyes.
A/N: I know, I know, I'm mean – no sponge bath yet, you're probably all going to hate me for a further delay. I promise it is on its way but I'm channelling my inner Slytherin - for Severus. The second reason is that chapter 5 was too long for all of Snape's point of view in one chapter. This seemed like a nice resting point for the end of Chapter 9 and we will pick back up with our dark Sleeping Beauty soon – hehe.
Thank you so much for all the wonderful reviews. I am so grateful. I am posting this just before I head to work so have finished it up quicker than planned. I will re-read and edit to night if need be – please ignore spelling and grammar issues, they will be fixed.