I love all of the positive feedback I'm getting! Thank you all so much!
Anyway…
1 Chapter 2-More Time With Hermione
The days passed slowly as Saturday approached. Every waking moment (and some sleeping ones) was spent wishing it was Monday, or that I took Care of Magical Creatures. So by the time Saturday finally arrived, I was anxious to spend more extended amounts of time with Hermione.
That morning, I woke up early, and washed my air. Contrary to popular belief, I washed my hair with regular frequency. It just so happens that I use hair gel in rather excessive amounts. Well, I washed my hair, found some clean robes, and wandered down to the Great Hall. It was hard, trying to stroll amiably, when I really wanted to sprint. Ah well. When I walked into the large room, Hermione was no where in sight, so I sat down in my usual lonely corner of the Slytherin table. I helped myself to the food around me, and slowly began to eat. I was just in the middle of a bite of eggs, when she walked in. She looked around, saw me, waved, and sat down at her table to grab a couple slices of toast. She spread some jam onto one, and began to eat it while reading a copy of THE DAILY PROPHET someone had left on the table, occasionally peaking over the top to make sure I was still sitting here. I was. Eventually, I got up and walked out. I noticed Hermione peaking over the paper at me leaving. She grabbed another slice of toast, the paper, and her Potions book, and followed me out of the hall.
"Good morning Hermione."
"Morning Severus. Sleep well?"
"More or less. Woke up too early. Had to wash my hair."
"You washed your hair?"
"Yes, but then I added hair gel."
"Ah. I didn't realize you used it. My friends from back home used it every day, but they put their hair in a much different style."
"There are other styles?"
She laughed. "Maybe not. Shall we go?"
I held my arm out to her. "I think we shall, my lady."
She giggled, but put her hand on my arm to follow me down the corridors.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The cauldron was set up when we entered the workroom. I had done that the night before.
"So which potion do you think we should make?"
She flipped through her Potions books, stopping only at pages that had no messes on them, a sign that she had never made those before. Soon, she found something.
"What about this one? Its called 'Potion of the Winds.' If made properly, it makes the user twice as efficient at their duties, which in our case, would be homework." She pointed to it in her book.
"Perfect! We'll be able to have this one done by the end of next week. And if we make enough of it, we can have enough to last all year. Homework will be so much faster! We'll have more free time! Wow…even speaking of free time makes me giddy."
She grinned at my dramatics. "Do we have all of these ingredients?"
I looked at the list. "What we don't have is in the student stores. It's a very basic potion."
She sighed. "I know. I just thought it would be more useful than anything else. Besides, if we make this first, we'll have more time to make more complicated Potions."
"I should have seen your motives!"
She started collecting the ingredients we needed from what I had left the night before. I didn't realize that we had everything, and soon we were mixing ingredients into the large black cauldron. After the first step, we set up a charm to let us know after the 2 required hours were up. I collapsed onto the couch immediately.
"You okay? You look a little worn out."
"Exactly! I'm worn to the bone. Students are deprived of so much sleep, and it is getting really warm in here."
She looked compassionate. "Is there anything I can do to help?"
It's a good thing women can't read our minds, or she would have been disgusted beyond her wildest dreams. She just said one of the most interesting things, as far a teenage boy is concerned.
"Do you give good massages? I think I could really use one."
"Do I give good massages? My friend Ron used to have girls break up with him because of the look on his face after one of my massages. According to Lavender, it's the kind of look people get in the middle of an orgasm."
She was so matter-of-fact that I burst out laughing as I sat up. "Which is better, shirt on or shirt off?"
"I can deal with either, so you pick."
A traditional tactic to keep her from showing too much interest. "Shirt off. It is getting to warm for comfort."
For a moment, I could have sworn a saw a glint of happiness pass through her gorgeous eyes. "Alright, now lay down on the couch here, face down."
I complied, rolling over onto my stomach. Immediately, Hermione set to work. It was wonderful. Not only was she not kidding about being a brilliant masseuse, her hands were all over my back. Things like that can be amplified so much by a teenager.
"No wonder your poor friend Ron can't manage to keep a girlfriend. Hermione, this is spectacular. I wish you'd never have to stop."
"Me too. Because then, I'd never have to be away from one of my best friends."
"I'm already counted as one of your best friends?"
She kneaded her fists into my shoulder blades. "Yeah. I've never hit it off this well with anyone. Until Halloween in our first year, Harry and Ron hated me. I was friendless for nearly 2 months. Two very miserable months."
Hermione was choking back tears, and moved her hands to wipe them away. Not wanting her to cry, I sat up and held her again. When I had held her on Monday, it was different. On Monday, I had been wearing a shirt under robes. Today, I wasn't. Either Hermione didn't notice, or didn't care because she made no attempt to move. She just sobbed into my chest as I rocked her in my arms.
"Hermione, those two months were 6 years ago. Harry and Ron probably miss you more than anything right now. Why not let those days die? No one likes to remember the times they were off with one of their very best friends."
The sobbing began to stop. After several more minutes, she tipped her head up. "Thank you Severus. I've been holding in those two months worth of pain for 6 years, but now it's gone. Thank you."
"It's still not a big deal. That's what best friends do for each other, and you know it."
"I do know it. But sometimes I like to make it known that I appreciate the effort." We still hadn't moved our arms.
"Hermione, as your best friend, I demand to know. Did you have a boyfriend at your old school?"
She laughed. "Me? Not a chance. There were very few who even noticed I was a girl at my old school."
"Oh good. Another question. Did you like any of the guys at your old school?"
"Not any of the guys…" She looked at my white face. "I'm just kidding! Seriously, I'm not a lesbian. Back to your question. Well, I thought I liked one of them, but I don't anymore."
"Why don't you like him anymore?"
"Because now I like someone else." She was avoiding the question, and I knew it.
"Hermione, because you're a straight-A student, I have to assume that is the first time you've ever given a correct answer without getting full credit."
She laughed again. "You're right, it is."
I got my most professor like accent on. "Students must always correct mistakes made on essays and quizzes. Corrections must be handed in…now!"
She laughed once more. "Fine. I don't like him anymore because I like you." I could feel her cheek getting red against my chest.
"Good." Then I tilted her head up and kissed her. She responded almost immediately. I congratulated myself for catching her off-guard. After our kiss, we leaned apart.
"Mmm…you're a good kisser."
"I could say the same thing about yourself, Hermione."
She smiled, and just leaned back against me. Soon, I realized I was stroking her hair. Although I had no recollection of ever starting, I made no move to stop.
"Severus?"
"Yes Hermione?" My voice was softer than she had heard before.
"How are things going to change? I mean, between us."
"Well, if you'd like, we can keep activity like this confined to the workroom. But eventually, someone, Lily most likely, will figure it out and blab all over school. Or, you could officially become my girlfriend."
If possible, she snuggled closer. "I think I like option B better."
"Me too. Now, would you like to hear the traditions of couples at our school?"
"That would be wonderful."
I leaned back, lying down on the couch, getting more comfortable. "Traditionally, I carry your books to every class we have together. If we aren't in the same house, we switch ties. And, after dinner each night, the two of us are supposed to kiss in the Entrance Hall or Common Room. Whichever is the last location the two are together."
"I'll bring my tie to class Monday morning."
Jokingly, I started talking. "Maybe I'll even be wearing a shirt by then."
Hermione turned over some, resting her chin on top of her stacked hands. "Maybe, but why would you want to do that?"
I chuckled. "As much as I enjoy making you happy, I'm afraid I'd get a detention if I tried to pull that particular stunt."
She sighed. "Probably. What a shame. It would have made Potions a particularly enjoyable class."
"Does this count as Potions class? We are making a Potion."
"Too true." She checked the charm we'd set. "Only an hour until we have to get up and work on the Potion some more. Is there something we can do to pass the time?"
I grinned wickedly, and kissed her, showing my Hermione exactly what we could do until the hour was over.
2 End Chapter 2
There we go! They finally got the message! You know, I think this fic is going to be much shorter than my other one by several chapters. Ah well.
Coming in the next chapter: The origin of the Marauder's Map!
Don't forget to Review!!!
~HerbieWerbie
1 Chapter 2-More Time With Hermione
The days passed slowly as Saturday approached. Every waking moment (and some sleeping ones) was spent wishing it was Monday, or that I took Care of Magical Creatures. So by the time Saturday finally arrived, I was anxious to spend more extended amounts of time with Hermione.
That morning, I woke up early, and washed my air. Contrary to popular belief, I washed my hair with regular frequency. It just so happens that I use hair gel in rather excessive amounts. Well, I washed my hair, found some clean robes, and wandered down to the Great Hall. It was hard, trying to stroll amiably, when I really wanted to sprint. Ah well. When I walked into the large room, Hermione was no where in sight, so I sat down in my usual lonely corner of the Slytherin table. I helped myself to the food around me, and slowly began to eat. I was just in the middle of a bite of eggs, when she walked in. She looked around, saw me, waved, and sat down at her table to grab a couple slices of toast. She spread some jam onto one, and began to eat it while reading a copy of THE DAILY PROPHET someone had left on the table, occasionally peaking over the top to make sure I was still sitting here. I was. Eventually, I got up and walked out. I noticed Hermione peaking over the paper at me leaving. She grabbed another slice of toast, the paper, and her Potions book, and followed me out of the hall.
"Good morning Hermione."
"Morning Severus. Sleep well?"
"More or less. Woke up too early. Had to wash my hair."
"You washed your hair?"
"Yes, but then I added hair gel."
"Ah. I didn't realize you used it. My friends from back home used it every day, but they put their hair in a much different style."
"There are other styles?"
She laughed. "Maybe not. Shall we go?"
I held my arm out to her. "I think we shall, my lady."
She giggled, but put her hand on my arm to follow me down the corridors.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The cauldron was set up when we entered the workroom. I had done that the night before.
"So which potion do you think we should make?"
She flipped through her Potions books, stopping only at pages that had no messes on them, a sign that she had never made those before. Soon, she found something.
"What about this one? Its called 'Potion of the Winds.' If made properly, it makes the user twice as efficient at their duties, which in our case, would be homework." She pointed to it in her book.
"Perfect! We'll be able to have this one done by the end of next week. And if we make enough of it, we can have enough to last all year. Homework will be so much faster! We'll have more free time! Wow…even speaking of free time makes me giddy."
She grinned at my dramatics. "Do we have all of these ingredients?"
I looked at the list. "What we don't have is in the student stores. It's a very basic potion."
She sighed. "I know. I just thought it would be more useful than anything else. Besides, if we make this first, we'll have more time to make more complicated Potions."
"I should have seen your motives!"
She started collecting the ingredients we needed from what I had left the night before. I didn't realize that we had everything, and soon we were mixing ingredients into the large black cauldron. After the first step, we set up a charm to let us know after the 2 required hours were up. I collapsed onto the couch immediately.
"You okay? You look a little worn out."
"Exactly! I'm worn to the bone. Students are deprived of so much sleep, and it is getting really warm in here."
She looked compassionate. "Is there anything I can do to help?"
It's a good thing women can't read our minds, or she would have been disgusted beyond her wildest dreams. She just said one of the most interesting things, as far a teenage boy is concerned.
"Do you give good massages? I think I could really use one."
"Do I give good massages? My friend Ron used to have girls break up with him because of the look on his face after one of my massages. According to Lavender, it's the kind of look people get in the middle of an orgasm."
She was so matter-of-fact that I burst out laughing as I sat up. "Which is better, shirt on or shirt off?"
"I can deal with either, so you pick."
A traditional tactic to keep her from showing too much interest. "Shirt off. It is getting to warm for comfort."
For a moment, I could have sworn a saw a glint of happiness pass through her gorgeous eyes. "Alright, now lay down on the couch here, face down."
I complied, rolling over onto my stomach. Immediately, Hermione set to work. It was wonderful. Not only was she not kidding about being a brilliant masseuse, her hands were all over my back. Things like that can be amplified so much by a teenager.
"No wonder your poor friend Ron can't manage to keep a girlfriend. Hermione, this is spectacular. I wish you'd never have to stop."
"Me too. Because then, I'd never have to be away from one of my best friends."
"I'm already counted as one of your best friends?"
She kneaded her fists into my shoulder blades. "Yeah. I've never hit it off this well with anyone. Until Halloween in our first year, Harry and Ron hated me. I was friendless for nearly 2 months. Two very miserable months."
Hermione was choking back tears, and moved her hands to wipe them away. Not wanting her to cry, I sat up and held her again. When I had held her on Monday, it was different. On Monday, I had been wearing a shirt under robes. Today, I wasn't. Either Hermione didn't notice, or didn't care because she made no attempt to move. She just sobbed into my chest as I rocked her in my arms.
"Hermione, those two months were 6 years ago. Harry and Ron probably miss you more than anything right now. Why not let those days die? No one likes to remember the times they were off with one of their very best friends."
The sobbing began to stop. After several more minutes, she tipped her head up. "Thank you Severus. I've been holding in those two months worth of pain for 6 years, but now it's gone. Thank you."
"It's still not a big deal. That's what best friends do for each other, and you know it."
"I do know it. But sometimes I like to make it known that I appreciate the effort." We still hadn't moved our arms.
"Hermione, as your best friend, I demand to know. Did you have a boyfriend at your old school?"
She laughed. "Me? Not a chance. There were very few who even noticed I was a girl at my old school."
"Oh good. Another question. Did you like any of the guys at your old school?"
"Not any of the guys…" She looked at my white face. "I'm just kidding! Seriously, I'm not a lesbian. Back to your question. Well, I thought I liked one of them, but I don't anymore."
"Why don't you like him anymore?"
"Because now I like someone else." She was avoiding the question, and I knew it.
"Hermione, because you're a straight-A student, I have to assume that is the first time you've ever given a correct answer without getting full credit."
She laughed again. "You're right, it is."
I got my most professor like accent on. "Students must always correct mistakes made on essays and quizzes. Corrections must be handed in…now!"
She laughed once more. "Fine. I don't like him anymore because I like you." I could feel her cheek getting red against my chest.
"Good." Then I tilted her head up and kissed her. She responded almost immediately. I congratulated myself for catching her off-guard. After our kiss, we leaned apart.
"Mmm…you're a good kisser."
"I could say the same thing about yourself, Hermione."
She smiled, and just leaned back against me. Soon, I realized I was stroking her hair. Although I had no recollection of ever starting, I made no move to stop.
"Severus?"
"Yes Hermione?" My voice was softer than she had heard before.
"How are things going to change? I mean, between us."
"Well, if you'd like, we can keep activity like this confined to the workroom. But eventually, someone, Lily most likely, will figure it out and blab all over school. Or, you could officially become my girlfriend."
If possible, she snuggled closer. "I think I like option B better."
"Me too. Now, would you like to hear the traditions of couples at our school?"
"That would be wonderful."
I leaned back, lying down on the couch, getting more comfortable. "Traditionally, I carry your books to every class we have together. If we aren't in the same house, we switch ties. And, after dinner each night, the two of us are supposed to kiss in the Entrance Hall or Common Room. Whichever is the last location the two are together."
"I'll bring my tie to class Monday morning."
Jokingly, I started talking. "Maybe I'll even be wearing a shirt by then."
Hermione turned over some, resting her chin on top of her stacked hands. "Maybe, but why would you want to do that?"
I chuckled. "As much as I enjoy making you happy, I'm afraid I'd get a detention if I tried to pull that particular stunt."
She sighed. "Probably. What a shame. It would have made Potions a particularly enjoyable class."
"Does this count as Potions class? We are making a Potion."
"Too true." She checked the charm we'd set. "Only an hour until we have to get up and work on the Potion some more. Is there something we can do to pass the time?"
I grinned wickedly, and kissed her, showing my Hermione exactly what we could do until the hour was over.
2 End Chapter 2
There we go! They finally got the message! You know, I think this fic is going to be much shorter than my other one by several chapters. Ah well.
Coming in the next chapter: The origin of the Marauder's Map!
Don't forget to Review!!!
~HerbieWerbie