A/N: Well who knew I'd be back quite so soon with chapter 2. I woke up with a burning ache to continue so technically, I did. I want to thank my coven – Dash, Claw and Snow for being so very supportive during my writing hiatus which has been prevalent for the last couple of weeks (months really if truth be told) but I feel I am somewhat back to feeling inspired, if not completely. This little tale seems to be helping. Well I won't keep you from enjoying any longer… still no lemons in this chapter but I hope you still enjoy it, the lemons are coming soon…
Chapter 2
Severus paced Minerva's office in the dusky light of her illuminator candles. She was on the last chapter of Hermione's steamy manuscript and so had sent him a note an hour before to come and see her before she handed it over.
It had been fifteen years since they had discovered a mutual interest in literary smut. Severus had caught the then-deputy Headmistress scrambling to hide one of her books into her desk as he approached for that year's class schedule. Curiosity piqued, he had snuck like the Slytherin he was back into her office while she was in classes later that day, having given nothing away of what he had seen and 'borrowed' the book to see what her secret was.
The then young spy who was in love with a long ago best friend and had no interest in another was intrigued by the arousing escape from his dual life and thus was born a somewhat unhealthy fascination with fictional characters, their lives and their debauchery.
Now, he waited to read the efforts of possibly his most annoying student of all time and see how she had hacked at this prized past-time with her over-use of words and stumbling over the true eroticism that can be achieved when the author had literary skill. He refused to admit that in this cast the author did have such skill even though he had read her perfectly crafted essays for the last eight years.
He caught sight of Minerva's hand as she flicked to the last page and sighed in exasperation and excitement. The woman was blushing, actually blushing. Having attempted to cause this reaction himself in his boss over the years – purely for amusement – he knew it to be an almost impossible feat. He was begrudgingly impressed.
It had been quite a while since Minerva had read something quite this detailed and with a level of plot and backstory that had her more enthralled that the inevitable blue material. It seemed that Miss Granger was quite the writer and as such had written a full-length romance novel with touches of sensual delight that would have impressed Jane Austen herself.
The Headmistress had been in possession of the work for three days and had only laid it to one side in order to hold meetings, eat in the Great Hall or sleep. It had even inspired her to jot down a few notes with the idea of perhaps penning something of her own.
The characters were well-defined, the plot was enjoyable with its flawless twists and exciting turns but the subtext was undeniable. Hermione Granger was in love Professor Snape and she had used the formidable Potions Master and herself as archetypes for the lovers of her story.
"Do you love me?"
Russ's voice was rich and flavourful like warm chocolate truffles. The baritone dripped with sensual promise but also held the desperation of a man whom feared he could never be loved.
"Of course I do, you silly, silly man. There are no words hurtful enough, no deed treacherous enough, no magic dark enough to make the glow you cause in my heart to diminish. I will love you… always."
There was an intense silence as the mystical black depths of his inky irises focused solely on Kia before something settled between them. True acceptance of each other brought a potent warmth which had been missing in their trysts up until now. Finally he accepted her and she relished in it and let it wash over her.
With the descent of his thin, pale but extraordinarily talented lips onto her own, she surrendered to being the vessel of her wizard's pleasure…
Minerva took a deep breath as she finished the story and took a sip of her tea and a shortbread finger biscuit. Severus had been pacing in her office for almost two hours waiting for her to finish… waiting… for three days really if his almost hourly correspondence was anything to go by. He had spent the time like a five year-old in perpetual Christmas Eve mode. It made Minerva chuckle that anything could bring about such feelings in him but especially Hermione's manuscript. He was certainly in for a surprise when he caught on to whom she had based 'Russ' on.
"Are you still not done, woman? Is this slowing of your mental capacities a mark of your increasing years, Minerva? Only you would have tea and biscuits with this type of literature." He said with annoyance, inflecting the last word as though he doubted the story in her hands could be counted as such- ever the pessimist regardless of his intrigue for the work.
"Severus, must you be so caustic all the time? To answer your questions, yes I am done; no, my mental capacities are not slowing due to my increasing years and the LITERATURE that this exciting work most definitely is has the romantic quality that can be enjoyed with tea and biscuits. I believe though, that even if one had read this story half out of their mind on fire-whiskey the subtext would be undeniable." Minerva responded proudly.
"I think I'll be the judge of that. Hand it over then. I don't want to be up until midnight reading Gryffindor drivel about what constitutes a good time."
"I'm really not sure it's a good idea for you to read this, Severus. Now that I've read it, I feel that I would be breaking Hermione's trust were I to share this with you. Especially given how she has formed the characters."
Severus let his surprise show for a second before he hid it safely under his well-practiced emotionless face of master-skilled occlumency.
"Good idea or not, you agreed Minerva. Now, hand it over." He demanded coolly, holding out his hand.
"Fine! But don't say I didn't warn you and do not go to Hermione about this when you've read it. I will not have her trust in me broken, especially as I plan to offer her the Transfiguration apprenticeship for next year. With all this book business, I never got around to asking her the other day."
"Yes! Yes! Very Well. I shall have it back to you by tomorrow and you can discuss your precious apprenticeship with her when you hand it back."
Minerva took a deep breath and closed her eyes wondering how to ensure that Severus didn't approach Hermione once he'd read it.
"I want your word, Severus. A wizard's vow."
"What? Minerva, I… what can possibly be in this story that you would ask such a thing?"
"If you want to know, you will give me your word that you will not let Hermione know by actions or words that you are familiar with the contents of her manuscript or that you are even aware of it at all."
"Minerva, please… no more vows."
The Headmistress took pity on his fearful eyes and gave in. A little.
"Ok, Severus, calm down. I will not ask for a magical vow but I will ask you to swear it on your job. If I get any indication that Hermione is even subliminally aware of your knowledge in this, I will find another Potions Master for Hogwarts."
"Is that not a little extreme, Minerva? What could she possibly have written that has you so protective over… oh sweet Merlin… don't tell me, it's about… me?"
"Got the snitch in the first minute. Now, do you still want to read it because I will be asking for that promise from you, if you do?
Severus thought for a few moments. He knew that despite his, in his own opinion, unfortunate appearance, he was not without admirers; especially since the war but… Hermione Granger? Could it simply be that she used him as an archetype or did she use herself as the female lead? Most female writers do, in one way or another, write from personal experience or fantasy. Was he her fantasy? It seemed highly unlikely but he knew to find out he would have to submit to Minerva's demands.
"Ok, ok, fine. You blasted woman. Haven't I made enough promises in my life to do as I please?"
"Yes, Severus, you have." She said with a sad smile. "But this is different. Hermione has not given me permission to share this with anyone else and so by rights, you shouldn't know about it. You were only here the other day in the capacity of deputy-Head. If you had been in plain sight and not lurking in the shadows, she probably wouldn't have shared the manuscript in the first place."
"You know how much I enjoy lurking, Minerva. You hear the most fascinating things as a lurker."
Minerva smiled, despite herself. Severus would never change; at least, not in that aspect. He was the consummate Slytherin.
"Promise me, Severus?" She said sternly, all of sudden, her face shifting to untrusting professor.
Severus got a flash back as he remembered her from his own school days.
"Yes, Professor McGonagall." He said, just like a contrite schoolboy, although there was an underlying sense of sarcasm before he shifted into sincerity and continued. "I promise."
"Excellent." Minerva said, her smile reforming brilliantly. "Then in the words of our beloved Miss Granger… 'Happy reading!'"
The Headmistress handed over the bound stack of parchment that was 'The Wizard's Pleasure' and told Severus she'd see him at dinner in a few hours.
Severus tried, very hard in fact, not to hold the manuscript to his chest like a prized possession but failed miserably as he turned and headed to his quarters for an evening of fire-whiskey and reading.
A/N: Well is that enough of a cliff hanger. I literally had this planned as three chapters but I'm enjoying these little bite-size chunks of story with only a single scene per update. Next time... Severus reads 'The Wizard's Pleasure'.
Love and Sevvy Blessings
Moon Out! x