A/N: Good morning/afternoon/evening my lovelies… before I get started with my usual amount of wittering on, I need to mention, as I failed in the appropriate chapter than the character name of 'Kia' in Hermione's manuscript was the brain-child of my incredibly clever and talented fellow Coven member Claw who has posted the second story to the Priestesses of H.I.S.S. account. Please go check it out there or on her own account under the name SlytherClaw Black; it is an amazing dramione plot and the first chapter had me completely floored with the wow-ness of it.

As per the rules of the 100 titles challenge which this story is a part of, at least one Coven member must be present at some point during the story. That will be happening next chapter. As a thank you to Claw for the Kia-inspiration, she is definitely going to be in it but I am hoping to get us all into it. Claw, Dash, Snow and perhaps myself too.

Well I have babbled enough for now. Happy reading. Please review… :D

Chapter 5

Severus cast a very quick locking charm on the office door to buy them several precious seconds but as he turned back toward the Headmistress and his eyes flew to the wand in her hand, he shook his head in the most vigorous and animated gesture of denial she had ever seen from him.

"No!" He stated in a quiet but insistent voice. "Not again."

"There is no other choice, Severus and you know it." She said, equally as insistent before turning toward the door. "I'll be with you in a moment, Miss Granger. I am just finishing a floo call."

"Ok, Headmistress." Hermione's muffled voice drifting into the cavernous, circular office and both teachers could hear the excitement in it; could practically feel her anticipatory energy vibrating through the stone and wood barriers between them and her.

Severus sighed as his mind imagined that energy bouncing around on top of him as he grasped her hips and tried to hold her on him as she exploded around him. He shook himself from the imagery quickly given what he was about to face.

"Just make it quick, Minerva. And please, not a robe-rack this time."

"I thought you looked positively fetching as you held up my robes and hat. At least they were green for you, Severus."

He shot her a glare as she began to flourish her wand and silently cast a transfiguration spell. He was convinced she only did it silently so he wasn't sure what she was turning him into.

Severus found himself simultaneously moved to right in front of her desk and then held stationary on the floor.

Hidden in plain sight. Interesting approach.

He couldn't see anything but heard a further wand swish toward the desk… placing the manuscript out of sight he assumed and then another swish toward the office door to remove his ward.

"Come in, Miss Granger. Please have a seat."

Severus heard shuffling of feet, the thunk of a school bag and then not heavy but considerable pressure being applied to whatever his form was. It took a moment to settle as the pressure wriggled a little and seemed to be trying to get comfortable. He realised the pressure was coming from Miss Granger and belatedly understood exactly what Minerva had transfigured him into. He suddenly very much missed his ability to scowl.

A fucking armchair. Insufferable, meddlesome old crone.

His ire melted quickly though as he felt the recent focus of his unprecedented desires stroke her hand along his… arm?

"This chair is beautiful Minerva. The leather is so soft. Has it always been here? I've never noticed it before."

"Thank you dear. The armchair has been at Hogwarts for a long time but I've only recently had it moved to my quarters. It reclines too. There's a lever on the side, give it try?" Minerva told her favourite student and if Severus had eyes in that moment, they would've been wide.

He felt a small yet strong grip on his 'lever' as the girl pulled it back and pushed herself more forcefully against him. His 'legs' suddenly shot forward and he found himself playing lounger to the sweetly rounded curves of the Gryffindor Princess as she reclined against his leather and stuffing body. He was just about to begin plotting his revenge for Minerva's cheek when Hermione wriggled against him and sighed.

It was both the sweetest and most arousing thing he had heard for a long time and he found himself revelling in the pleasure of being so close to her. His revenge plans for the Headmistress eviscerated. He thought, in fact, he might buy her some flowers.

"This is lovely." He heard Hermione say. "I think the leather is heating up too. Is that a spell?"

Minerva chuckled.

"Oh no, Miss Granger. That is a completely natural occurrence, I assure you. I think the chair likes you."

Severus could hear the woman's smugness and the slight inflection on the word 'chair'. He wanted to roll his eyes at her antics and cover her with the furnunculus jinx.

"Is it sentient then Professor? That's…. unusual isn't it? I've never heard of sentient furniture."

She sounded completely awed.

"It is highly unusual. Sentient furniture tends to be a wizard whom has been transfigured. I personally used this as a course of payback in my youth. A peer attempted to blackmail me and so I turned him into one of the lovely suits of armour in the entrance hall."

"Professor!" Hermione exclaimed in shock as her hand suddenly pulled his 'lever' forward once more and she rocketed in the same direction as his 'legs' shot back under him.

I'm getting too old for this shit.

"I turned him back… about a month later."

Hermione giggled and Severus could feel her bottom wiggling against him. It was wonderful.

"Well, that's okay then." Hermione chastised mockingly. "Can we talk about my manuscript now Professor? It's really why I came by so early. I can't wait to know… what you think."

"I found it rather easy to see through your attempts at hiding the… shall we say… character inspirations? I must ask dear, how much of this story is, well… erm… autobiographical."

Severus could feel Hermione's whole body warming with embarrassment and whilst he felt rather indignant at the fact that Minerva implied he would be inappropriate with a student, he understood that for the sake of propriety, she had to ask.

As the silence stretched out for a few moments, Minerva extended her interrogation for gossip under the guise of concern for her student. She knew very well, Severus hadn't laid a hand on her. He hadn't even laid a hand on himself with her in mind until last night. Well… maybe once. After she saved his life.

"You're in a safe place, dear. You can trust me. If Professor Snape has ever…"

"No! No, never. I promise. Professor Snape has never touched me like that. Or at all. I swear it, Professor."

Severus felt Hermione tense as she defended him so vehemently. He also heard her mutter almost silently, "more's the pity", and again, if he'd had eyes, they would've widened. It was one thing to read her intense sexual interest in him, it was quite another to hear it from her own lips.

"Ok. I will take you at your word. For now. But, Miss Granger… Hermione… what you wrote is extremely explicit and whilst amazingly well written, I don't think I can let you leave without asking when and how this interest in Severus first made its appearance."

"Well… erm…"

"It's ok, take your time. There's no-one else here and you have my assurance that this will go no further." The older witch placated. Severus could imagine her almost salivating for the details; between Minerva, Poppy and Pomona, they lived out a rich and varied precarious love life through the older students.

"It's something that happened very gradually. I was always rather fascinated with him. He's interesting. Intelligent. Formidable. It really started with respect and curiosity when I first came to Hogwarts; I found him instantly worthy of respect, from my very first potions lesson. I can still remember his voice describing the subtle art of potion making; telling us that foolish wand waving was not needed. I was completely captivated even then by his passion for the subject. I had to ignore a lot of what Ron and Harry said about him or I'd have ended up in tears at how much they bashed my favourite professor."

Severus smirked mentally at that last part. He was never anyone's favourite anything. An undeniable warmth was filling his heart as she described her interest in him. He knew Minerva was doing this on purpose but he found… as Hermione continued her declaration, he didn't mind at all.

Twenty more minutes of praise and respect for him later and he was about ready burst with smugness… and then the conversation heated up.

"So, it was your fifth year when you started to feel more than respect and admiration for Severus?"

"It's hard to tell. These things happen so gradually and I'm sure it had been coming on before that but the night after the first DA meeting, I had a… dream about him."

"Ah yes, I remember your fictional telling of that dream… what was it you said… ah yes… 'eyes black as coal burning with the embers of the fires she stoked in his soul and body, bored into Kia's own honey flecked irises as her pupils expanded in her desire.' Very emotive words."

"Thank you Professor." Hermione replied shyly.

How can she be so shy after half of the things she's written?

"I do not wish to pry too deeply, Hermione but as you have brought this 'story' to me, I hope you will allow me the liberty…"

After a moment, Minerva continued and he assumed Hermione had nodded her assent.

"How do you feel about Severus now?"

There was a long silence. Hermione hadn't tensed up but she was very still and he could tell she was thinking very carefully of how to word what she said.

"I… I think he's the bravest man I've ever known and I love him to pieces."

Severus felt his heart explode in his albeit, currently heartless body. No one had ever freely admitted to loving him. Possibly no-one had ever loved him at all. It felt all at once completely suffocating and like he could breathe for the first time. He wanted to wrap his arms around her and kiss every inch of her sun-kissed skin, every tiny freckle on her perfect nose and curve of her young, ripening body. He wanted to return her love ten-fold.

"Then my dear, you deserve him and his love. I couldn't let him go to anyone who would not love him as you do."

"What…? I… Professor, it's all a fantasy. He would never… I mean, he's…"

"What is it, dear? What is it you think he wouldn't love equally as fervently as you love him?"

"I don't know… he's just always felt so… unapproachable… never mind unattainable. That's why I turned to writing my fantasies down. Not to mention, I'm still a student."

"You are only a student for a few more weeks Hermione. What I called the meeting for a few days ago was to offer you an apprenticeship with myself to take over as Transfiguration Professor when I retire."

"Really?" Hermione squealed. "Oh, Minerva, I'd love to."

"That is wonderful news but you see with you here as my apprentice, you will be free to pursue a relationship with Severus, should he feel enamoured in a similar way. Once I retire, as my deputy, he will become Headmaster and you will become Head of Gryffindor."

"Whaaaaaaat? But I'm too young for that."

"Who told you such poppycock? I was only 25 when I took the position myself. You are already nineteen, thanks to your time-turner use in third year, your birthday is only a few months away and the apprenticeship is three years."

"You make it all sound very easy. I sincerely doubt it will all be so simple."

"The best things in life rarely are my dear. Just take Severus as an example… a more complicated and difficult man would be almost impossible to encounter and yet you have already told me he is both your favourite professor and the bravest man you have ever known. Contrarily, do you remember Professor Lockhart?"

Severus felt Hermione shudder.

"Point taken, Minerva. How can I possibly approach Professor Snape with my interest in him though? He's likely to laugh me out of the dungeon… well, maybe not laugh. He never laughs. Scowl me out of the dungeon, maybe."

"I have one idea that could work," Minerva began, knowing it already had, "I could let Severus read your manuscript and let your seductive words work their magic on him. He is only a man after all and putting the thought of a beautiful young woman in his mind that is crazy about him might have a very potent and almost magical effect."

Why Minerva, you sneaky little… THAT is positively Slytherin of you.

"I don't know. Does it not paint me as something of a…"

"It paints you as a woman, Hermione. A fully grown woman who knows what she wants and isn't afraid of going after it. The proud and brave lioness that you are."

Severus tried very hard to roll his non-existent eyes.

"But Minerva… everything in the story is conjecture, fantasy, a collection of dreams. I've never… what I mean to say is that I'm… erm… a… a virgin."

Minerva looked momentarily surprised, given the level of erotic detail in Hermione's writing but schooled her expression quickly.

Severus was both in awe at her imagination and overjoyed that should this now mutual attraction come to anything other than a brief flirtation over morning coffee, he would be the first and only man to claim her because he had no intention of ever letting her go if it did come to that.

"I can't imagine that would be a problem. A good man sees the bestowing of such a gift on him as just that… a gift. Never fear about that side of things. Severus is a very good man. In fact I may have to concur with you that he is the best man I know."

Severus felt his heart warm for his friend as she proclaimed him so worthy of her minx of a cub.

"Ok. Well, I guess I don't mind him seeing it. It helps that you agree with me about him. You've known him a lot longer. I was just a little scared of his reaction."

"I hope that we will both be pleasantly surprised. Now why don't you go and get started on a sequel for me to enjoy and I will meet with you tomorrow to make preparations for your apprenticeship contract."

"Yes Professor," Severus heard Hermione say as the pressure against him eased and she got up. He felt the loss acutely. "Thank you for everything. Please try to give him a little heads up before he dives completely unknowingly into the sordid details of my mind."

"I will dear and I shall see you in Transfiguration this afternoon."

Hermione launched herself into older witch's arms quickly and then withdrew just as fast, slipping out of the door and presumably running toward Gryffindor Tower.

Minerva waited for the tell-tale sound of the gargoyle shifting before returning Severus to human form, a smirk playing on her lips at what she had stealthily wheedled out of Hermione.

"You are worse than Albus ever was?" Severus said in his usual deep but monotone voice but he couldn't conceal his excitement from her.

"Too true." Albus agreed from his portrait behind Minerva's desk.

"Well, I learn from the best. I worked with Albus and his penchant for meddling for almost fifty years and I've had to watch your Slytherin tactics for nearing thirty, Severus. You can't blame a witch for picking up a trick or two."

"Be that as it may, whilst we betrayed her trust in my reading the manuscript in the first place, this feels more disloyal somehow, especially on your part, Minerva."

"Perhaps, but I want to see you happy Severus and that girl loves you. Against all the odds, after everything that has happened in the last eight years, she has taken you into her heart and given you permanent residence there. I have never seen such passion and devotion to a man as I saw in her eyes as she spoke of you. Mark my words, Severus, grab this opportunity whilst you have it and never let her go."

"I shall come to the meeting with her tomorrow, visibly, and ask to speak with her afterwards… how is that for a beginning?" He asked, feeling rather proud of himself.

"Adequate. For now."

"You're impossible."

"Again, I learn from the best in that regard too." She replied with a slight smirk and a Snape-eyebrow.

"Well, I should go to breakfast. You've kept me here much longer than anticipated."

"Be happy, Severus." Albus said with an oil-painted eye-twinkle from his frame.

Severus left the office and walked quickly toward the gargoyle. He only had thirty minutes left until the end of breakfast and being a chair for an hour made one surprisingly hungry.

As the gargoyle moved aside and he stepped into the corridor, his feet halted abruptly at the sight before him.

Hermione was sitting just to his left, her back against the cold stone or the wall holding the gargoyle entrance and her eyes had just snapped up to his… wide and suddenly shining with tears.

A/N: Once again, I have managed to incorporate one of my evil-Slytherin-witch cliff-hangers. Is it wrong that I take such pride in them? The rest of the coven and my loyal readers from my personal account know to expect them now and I even told the girls last night that I had a good one planned for this chapter.

I must thank Dash, just before I go for idea of turning Severus into an armchair. It worked perfectly and I am so pleased with this chapter which is a lot less bit-sized than the others. I got carried away. This is more of a hold-it-with-both-hands bitesize.

Well rules were made to be broken. Even my own.

Love and chunky-bite Blessings

Moon Out! x