It was nearing midnight and the potions classroom was so cold that Professor Snape could see his own breath despite the fact that he was working over a steaming cauldron. He set his wand to stir and stifled a yawn with the back of his hand. It was well past midnight.

The hospital wing was running lower than he felt comfortable with on several potions and it was time that he prioritized getting caught up. Historically, he hadn't minded keeping the stores full because the extra duties kept him distracted doing one of the few things he loved most. Ever since the war had ended, however, he found that the responsibility of keeping the stores full had become a bit more tedious. Now that he wasn't ruled by fear and dread he found enjoying his free time to be a bit easier.

He hadn't planned to brew so late, but fortunately he had become accustomed to functioning on little sleep long ago. Nevertheless, it wasn't ideal. He reminded himself that it was his own fault that he was brewing much later than he'd intended. He had to constantly revise his schedule thanks to his little rendezvous with Hermione Granger, and it was most certainly worth it.

He scraped the contents of his cutting board into the cauldron with the back of his knife. The mixture began boiling rapidly from the addition, just as intended, and his wand continued to stir. Pleased with the potion's progress, Severus moved to a second cauldron that was cooling down to his right. He inhaled the scent before deciding that it had sat long enough and beginning the tedious process of filling the vials that waited nearby.

He always made a point to clean as he worked, so by the time the potions were finished there wasn't much to do in the lab except to scour the cauldrons and put everything back in its place. By the time he had readied the potions classroom back to its normal state he was utterly exhausted. Professor Snape conjured a glass of water and sunk into the chair behind his desk.

He was trying to decide if he should return to his rooms and try to get some proper rest, or if he was better off taking a short power nap behind his desk. Naturally, he'd prefer to sleep in his bed, but if his time was limited the transition didn't seem worthwhile. He reached into the pocket of his trousers to check his pocket watch and momentarily froze when he pulled a pair of pink knickers out, of which he'd forgotten.

The small swatch of fabric hung off his pointer finger and he realized how dainty they were even though they were simple in style and design, which is what he preferred. He wasn't the type of man to get off on pretty bows and girly frills. The light pink blush of the fabric, and the spot that was once wet from her, was all he needed. He balled the garment back up in his fist before bringing it to his nose. They still smelled like her.

He knew quite well that if someone were to see him like this that it would be rather embarrassing, but he was also certain that anyone willing to pass judgement likely hadn't had the pleasure of finding a pair of sexy knickers in their pocket. It wasn't often that he took Hermione's underwear, but when he did, he intended to enjoy it. He always laundered and returned them via owl or she would collect them when she visited his rooms. He didn't hoard them; that wasn't the point. He wanted to enjoy the reminder of their time together after it was done, and her they were confirmation that she had enjoyed it.

He inhaled her scent again and thought back to the first time he had made her wet. It had been in the very spot he sat now. Late one evening she had met him in his classroom, which was becoming routine at that point, and he made her sit in his desk chair. He recalled how gorgeous she'd looked in a pair of white knickers and a white camisole like some sort of ethereal goddess. To this day he couldn't understand how she was able to fight the chill in the room when she was like that, but he assumed it had something to do with the tension and adrenaline.

He had made her lean back in the chair and he positioned her heels on the edge so that her legs were spread wide open. If he recalled correctly, that had been the first time he'd made her display herself so openly to him. He remembered the nervousness in her eyes, but she didn't hesitate to comply. She looked utterly divine with her knees up by her shoulders and her cotton-covered pussy on display.

He left her like that while he brewed a batch of Wolfsbane. It was a difficult potion to brew and, quite frankly, once he'd gotten started he barely had the opportunity to look at her. She stayed still and quiet for the entire duration of the process. When he returned to her she hadn't moved a muscle and he was surprised to find that her knickers were moist. The all consuming scent of her sex was hanging in the air and Severus couldn't remember getting a boner so fast since he was a teenager.

He could feel his cock twitching now from the memory and he shoved the pink knickers back into his pocket before they could send him over the edge. He retrieved his pocket watch. Nearly four. Professor Snape cursed under his breath before shoving the timepiece back into his pocket, picking up his frock coat, and storming from the classroom. If he hurried and didn't let himself become distracted, he might have enough time for some halfway decent sleep.

He always enjoyed the peace and quiet that hung heavily in the dungeon corridors in the middle of the night. No student would dare to be out of bed and in his domain at this hour-not even the Slytherins. He relished in the cold stillness as he quietly made his way around through the memorized hall.

As he rounded the corner there was an uneasiness that fell over him. He drew his wand and gripped it at his side. He slowed his pace as he crept. Finally, a small figure was apparent at the end of the hall and Severus felt raw anger rip through him. For a student to be lingering outside of his rooms at such a late hour was absolutely unacceptable. He faded into the darkness and closed the space between them. Once he was close enough that he could step from the shadows and reprimand the intruder his anger bubbled over. The shadow jumped when he became visible.

"What in the bloody hell are you doing out of bed at this hour? Which house do you belong to? You better say a prayer that it isn't mine…"He spat.

"Severus, shh! Don't scream!" The voice was familiar. "I've been knocking. Where have you been?"

"Hermione? What are you doing here?" Worry flashed across his face and he closed the space between them so he could finally see her. She was wearing pajamas and her hair was wild from sleep.

"Can we talk inside? It's frigid out here," she asked and Severus nodded before ushering her inside.