(A/N: Ok, sorry – I know its been awhile since I've posted. LadyTiffany –
yes, Herm and Sev will get some – no worries! And Spike Lover – I've
decided to give you the points, for two reasons: #1: I'm a Slythie!! and
#2: You are the only one who took a guess (heh). Actually, Vivian
Darkbloom comes from the Vladimir Nabokov novel Lolita. So 20 points to
Slytherin!)
Chapter Eleven
Severus and Hermione left dinner together and went immediately to the Headmaster's office. They stood there, each trying to remember the password, and each failing miserably. "Shit," Severus muttered. "Hermione, you're Muggle-born, think of some candy, it's probably something along those lines."
Hermione paused to think. "Um…Skittles, okay, no…Scooter Pie, Sour Patch, Sour Belts, Lemon Drops, erm…Candy Canes -- " And at that moment, the gargoyle slid aside, leaving the doorway free for their entrance. She looked back at Severus, who smiled thoughtfully.
"I always knew he was biased toward the Muggle-borns," he joked. Hermione giggled, and they entered the office. Albus looked up from the papers on his desk, and smiled at the pair.
"What can I do for you, Professors?" he asked. They took the two chairs in front of his desk, and Hermione began to speak.
"Well, you see, I – this may be a figment of our imaginations, but we just want to know for sure. I mean, if its true, there could be serious repercussions…"
"Just spit it out, Hermione," said Severus edgily.
She smiled, unaffected by his flip attitude. "Are there side-effects of using coven magic, sir – Perhaps along the lines of an emotional bond…or inner connection?"
Albus leaned back in his chair, sighing mentally. This would teach him to pair the two smartest students Hogwarts had ever seen together again. "Severus, Hermione…I did what I thought was best. Using coven magic puts something of a connection between the people involved, yes. Its not quite a bond, however. It simply makes each person more in-tune to the feelings and emotions that another member of the coven is experiencing, if the feeling is strong enough." He paused. "With practice, the connection can be turned off. If it is so desired. Minerva and I have already turned ours off." He paused again. "I hope that this does not upset you two too much. I did what I had to, and I hope that you can see that."
Severus shook his head. "You should really have been a Slytherin, Albus."
Albus looked back at him. "And who says I wasn't, Severus?"
Hermione coughed, and the Potions master looked thunderstruck. "You're not saying that you were a Slytherin, are you?"
Albus smiled. "No. Nor, however, am I saying that I was a Gryffindor. For all you two know, for all anyone knows, for that matter, I could have been in Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw."
Severus and Hermione rose from their chairs. "I see," he said. "Well, thank you…Were you going to tell us if we didn't ask?"
Albus looked up at his professors. "I knew you would ask. You both are too smart not to figure it out."
They left the room together. Once outside the Headmaster's office, they stood for a moment, each collecting their thoughts.
"Well…" Hermione began lamely, trailing off when she couldn't think of anything to say.
"Yes," Severus mused. "Maybe we can try this shutting off thing. Perhaps a potion would help, yes…Come with me." And he turned around, his black robes swirling around his legs, and stalked down toward his dungeons. Hermione shook her head in amazement, and practically ran after him, struggling to keep up with his long strides.
They arrived in his private stores room, Severus collecting bottles with a frenzy that rivaled Hermione in a library. He levitated them with a casual half-wave of his wand, placing them onto a small table in the corner. "Accio!" His cauldron flew through the air, and landed neatly on the fire. He tossed her wormwood and fairy wings, which she caught agilely. "Add this when I tell you to," he instructed, magically filling his cauldron with a liquid of some sort. "Now," he commanded, and Hermione obediently added the ingredients. The potion made a soft 'poof' and began to smoke slightly. Severus, upon seeing this, stepped back, a pleased look hovering on his face.
"Would you perhaps mind explaining this all to me?" Hermione asked, slightly annoyed.
Severus looked down his nose at her. "Adding the fairy wings gives the potion power over our emotions – almost like an Imperio, but dealing with our emotions. We will control our emotions, and stop them from going awry. We can have an iron grip on our emotions."
"Any side effects?" she asked, interested.
Severus shrugged. "None – that I know of, anyway," he amended. And with that, holding up one of the vials, he drank it. As the liquid met his mouth, Severus staggered slightly, immediately putting out a hand to reassure Hermione. He steadied himself, and turned his face toward his co- Professor.
"Go ahead," he invited. "Try and ascertain how I am feeling."
Hermione cocked her head and concentrated. After a few futile moments, she looked at the Potions master admiringly. "I can't – very good, Severus."
The corners of his mouth turned up slightly. "Here. Drink this."
She drank; grasped his offered arm for support, and felt herself close to his probing mind.
Severus nodded at her. "You have done it." It was not a question, she realized, but a statement.
"Yes."
He nodded again. "Good."
Hermione checked her watch. "Well – its getting late…I guess I'll go off to bed."
He smiled slightly at her. "All right. Do you have enough of the potion I gave you?"
"Yes, I have plenty." She paused. "Thank you, Severus. I really appreciate all this." And with that, she approached him slowly, stood on her tiptoes, and kissed him softly on the cheek. Then Hermione left the room, leaving a dumbstruck potions Master behind her.
*~*
When Hermione had left the room, Severus still had not moved. He recollected himself with a shake, and went to prepare for bed. He, as usual, put on his black pajama bottoms, but, as he was feeling slightly hot, he decided to forgo the shirt that night. He drank his potion, and fell asleep.
* * He was in his potions classroom, cleaning up after a long and tiring lesson. Seventh year Gryffindors and Slytherins. One would think that Albus had learned not to pair those groups together anymore, but he would insist on the torturous pairing each year. Severus magicked the last potion bottle to the shelves, and then sat down at the nearest desk. He buried his face in his arms, too tired even to move to his own desk. He heard a slight noise from the direction of the doorway, but, calling upon his years of experience as a spy, he did not look up immediately. When he did raise his head, slowly and cautiously, he was struck dumb by what he saw. A woman stood in his doorway, smiling slightly. She was a vision in periwinkle blue robes, which perfectly set off her eyes (brown with gold streaks), and her long hair fell softly in waves around her face, reaching nearly to the middle of her back. Severus slowly inhaled, then exhaled, as he tried to determine why this woman looked so damn familiar…Then it hit him. Her name was Hermione, and she was now his colleague. What was she doing here at that time of night? As Severus pondered that question, she walked purposefully into his dungeons. She reached him, and walked around him so that she was standing behind him. He tried to stand up, but her hands rested on his shoulders.
"Shh…" she warned. "Stay sitting, please."
All of a sudden, Hermione's hands began to move on his tense, knotted shoulders. He groaned into her soft touch, forgetting all else except her hands on his body. Finally, when he could take no more of this blissful torture, he deftly swung her around and pulled her into a deeply passionate kiss. She responded in kind, and soon, without his knowing how it had happened, Severus had been divested of his robes, remaining dressed only in his Muggle dress pants and black button-down shirt. He eagerly returned the favor, pulling her robes off of Hermione's lithe body swiftly. Severus drew in his breath sharply. She wasn't wearing anything underneath her robes, save a small black negligee. She grinned at his surprise, and continued to divest him of his clothes, taking her time. Soon, Severus had reached his breaking point. He picked up the small woman in his arms, damsel-in-distress style, and carried her to his chambers. And then -- **
He awoke, sweating and breathing heavily. And aroused. He groaned into his pillow, and threw the covers off of his body. Severus reluctantly rose from his bed, and padded off to the shower. "Well!" commented the mirror. "You'd think you could have warned me, dear."
"Shut up," Severus growled, and the mirror harumphed.
*~*
Meanwhile, Hermione was having a very strange dream as well.
** Hermione found herself on a stage, looking out at the empty chairs where the audience should sit. "Hello?" she called, searching for some sign of human life. No one answered, so she shrugged, and began to explore the stage. She pulled back the curtain on stage left, and stepped backstage. She entered the prop room, and looked at the props assembled there. There were books, mattresses, a canopy bed, and two robes: one black, and the other blue. She advanced on the bed, touching the silky covers with one hand. Suddenly she heard a noise behind her, and she turned instinctively. There she saw Severus, who continued to walk towards her, and finally stopped when he was practically on top of her. She could feel his warm breath on her skin, and she sighed at the sensations he was creating in her. Hermione demurely looked up into his intense eyes, and what she saw there startled her. She saw desire, but more than desire, she saw lust. Severus reached down, and ran a hand gently through her hair. She sighed again, as his mouth claimed hers in a kiss that made her knees weak. Before she could fall, his arms encircled her waist, and supported her. She smiled at him, and kissed him deeply. When she could take no more, she took his hand, and led him to the bed. She had just begun to take off his clothes, when she -- **
Awoke. She sighed, what was wrong with her? Hermione guessed it had been too long since she had seen any action. She shook her head, remembering the last time she had gotten any. Ron. The tears welled up in her eyes at the mere thought of his name, and what they had shared. Hermione shuddered, and gave in to the tears.
Chapter Eleven
Severus and Hermione left dinner together and went immediately to the Headmaster's office. They stood there, each trying to remember the password, and each failing miserably. "Shit," Severus muttered. "Hermione, you're Muggle-born, think of some candy, it's probably something along those lines."
Hermione paused to think. "Um…Skittles, okay, no…Scooter Pie, Sour Patch, Sour Belts, Lemon Drops, erm…Candy Canes -- " And at that moment, the gargoyle slid aside, leaving the doorway free for their entrance. She looked back at Severus, who smiled thoughtfully.
"I always knew he was biased toward the Muggle-borns," he joked. Hermione giggled, and they entered the office. Albus looked up from the papers on his desk, and smiled at the pair.
"What can I do for you, Professors?" he asked. They took the two chairs in front of his desk, and Hermione began to speak.
"Well, you see, I – this may be a figment of our imaginations, but we just want to know for sure. I mean, if its true, there could be serious repercussions…"
"Just spit it out, Hermione," said Severus edgily.
She smiled, unaffected by his flip attitude. "Are there side-effects of using coven magic, sir – Perhaps along the lines of an emotional bond…or inner connection?"
Albus leaned back in his chair, sighing mentally. This would teach him to pair the two smartest students Hogwarts had ever seen together again. "Severus, Hermione…I did what I thought was best. Using coven magic puts something of a connection between the people involved, yes. Its not quite a bond, however. It simply makes each person more in-tune to the feelings and emotions that another member of the coven is experiencing, if the feeling is strong enough." He paused. "With practice, the connection can be turned off. If it is so desired. Minerva and I have already turned ours off." He paused again. "I hope that this does not upset you two too much. I did what I had to, and I hope that you can see that."
Severus shook his head. "You should really have been a Slytherin, Albus."
Albus looked back at him. "And who says I wasn't, Severus?"
Hermione coughed, and the Potions master looked thunderstruck. "You're not saying that you were a Slytherin, are you?"
Albus smiled. "No. Nor, however, am I saying that I was a Gryffindor. For all you two know, for all anyone knows, for that matter, I could have been in Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw."
Severus and Hermione rose from their chairs. "I see," he said. "Well, thank you…Were you going to tell us if we didn't ask?"
Albus looked up at his professors. "I knew you would ask. You both are too smart not to figure it out."
They left the room together. Once outside the Headmaster's office, they stood for a moment, each collecting their thoughts.
"Well…" Hermione began lamely, trailing off when she couldn't think of anything to say.
"Yes," Severus mused. "Maybe we can try this shutting off thing. Perhaps a potion would help, yes…Come with me." And he turned around, his black robes swirling around his legs, and stalked down toward his dungeons. Hermione shook her head in amazement, and practically ran after him, struggling to keep up with his long strides.
They arrived in his private stores room, Severus collecting bottles with a frenzy that rivaled Hermione in a library. He levitated them with a casual half-wave of his wand, placing them onto a small table in the corner. "Accio!" His cauldron flew through the air, and landed neatly on the fire. He tossed her wormwood and fairy wings, which she caught agilely. "Add this when I tell you to," he instructed, magically filling his cauldron with a liquid of some sort. "Now," he commanded, and Hermione obediently added the ingredients. The potion made a soft 'poof' and began to smoke slightly. Severus, upon seeing this, stepped back, a pleased look hovering on his face.
"Would you perhaps mind explaining this all to me?" Hermione asked, slightly annoyed.
Severus looked down his nose at her. "Adding the fairy wings gives the potion power over our emotions – almost like an Imperio, but dealing with our emotions. We will control our emotions, and stop them from going awry. We can have an iron grip on our emotions."
"Any side effects?" she asked, interested.
Severus shrugged. "None – that I know of, anyway," he amended. And with that, holding up one of the vials, he drank it. As the liquid met his mouth, Severus staggered slightly, immediately putting out a hand to reassure Hermione. He steadied himself, and turned his face toward his co- Professor.
"Go ahead," he invited. "Try and ascertain how I am feeling."
Hermione cocked her head and concentrated. After a few futile moments, she looked at the Potions master admiringly. "I can't – very good, Severus."
The corners of his mouth turned up slightly. "Here. Drink this."
She drank; grasped his offered arm for support, and felt herself close to his probing mind.
Severus nodded at her. "You have done it." It was not a question, she realized, but a statement.
"Yes."
He nodded again. "Good."
Hermione checked her watch. "Well – its getting late…I guess I'll go off to bed."
He smiled slightly at her. "All right. Do you have enough of the potion I gave you?"
"Yes, I have plenty." She paused. "Thank you, Severus. I really appreciate all this." And with that, she approached him slowly, stood on her tiptoes, and kissed him softly on the cheek. Then Hermione left the room, leaving a dumbstruck potions Master behind her.
*~*
When Hermione had left the room, Severus still had not moved. He recollected himself with a shake, and went to prepare for bed. He, as usual, put on his black pajama bottoms, but, as he was feeling slightly hot, he decided to forgo the shirt that night. He drank his potion, and fell asleep.
* * He was in his potions classroom, cleaning up after a long and tiring lesson. Seventh year Gryffindors and Slytherins. One would think that Albus had learned not to pair those groups together anymore, but he would insist on the torturous pairing each year. Severus magicked the last potion bottle to the shelves, and then sat down at the nearest desk. He buried his face in his arms, too tired even to move to his own desk. He heard a slight noise from the direction of the doorway, but, calling upon his years of experience as a spy, he did not look up immediately. When he did raise his head, slowly and cautiously, he was struck dumb by what he saw. A woman stood in his doorway, smiling slightly. She was a vision in periwinkle blue robes, which perfectly set off her eyes (brown with gold streaks), and her long hair fell softly in waves around her face, reaching nearly to the middle of her back. Severus slowly inhaled, then exhaled, as he tried to determine why this woman looked so damn familiar…Then it hit him. Her name was Hermione, and she was now his colleague. What was she doing here at that time of night? As Severus pondered that question, she walked purposefully into his dungeons. She reached him, and walked around him so that she was standing behind him. He tried to stand up, but her hands rested on his shoulders.
"Shh…" she warned. "Stay sitting, please."
All of a sudden, Hermione's hands began to move on his tense, knotted shoulders. He groaned into her soft touch, forgetting all else except her hands on his body. Finally, when he could take no more of this blissful torture, he deftly swung her around and pulled her into a deeply passionate kiss. She responded in kind, and soon, without his knowing how it had happened, Severus had been divested of his robes, remaining dressed only in his Muggle dress pants and black button-down shirt. He eagerly returned the favor, pulling her robes off of Hermione's lithe body swiftly. Severus drew in his breath sharply. She wasn't wearing anything underneath her robes, save a small black negligee. She grinned at his surprise, and continued to divest him of his clothes, taking her time. Soon, Severus had reached his breaking point. He picked up the small woman in his arms, damsel-in-distress style, and carried her to his chambers. And then -- **
He awoke, sweating and breathing heavily. And aroused. He groaned into his pillow, and threw the covers off of his body. Severus reluctantly rose from his bed, and padded off to the shower. "Well!" commented the mirror. "You'd think you could have warned me, dear."
"Shut up," Severus growled, and the mirror harumphed.
*~*
Meanwhile, Hermione was having a very strange dream as well.
** Hermione found herself on a stage, looking out at the empty chairs where the audience should sit. "Hello?" she called, searching for some sign of human life. No one answered, so she shrugged, and began to explore the stage. She pulled back the curtain on stage left, and stepped backstage. She entered the prop room, and looked at the props assembled there. There were books, mattresses, a canopy bed, and two robes: one black, and the other blue. She advanced on the bed, touching the silky covers with one hand. Suddenly she heard a noise behind her, and she turned instinctively. There she saw Severus, who continued to walk towards her, and finally stopped when he was practically on top of her. She could feel his warm breath on her skin, and she sighed at the sensations he was creating in her. Hermione demurely looked up into his intense eyes, and what she saw there startled her. She saw desire, but more than desire, she saw lust. Severus reached down, and ran a hand gently through her hair. She sighed again, as his mouth claimed hers in a kiss that made her knees weak. Before she could fall, his arms encircled her waist, and supported her. She smiled at him, and kissed him deeply. When she could take no more, she took his hand, and led him to the bed. She had just begun to take off his clothes, when she -- **
Awoke. She sighed, what was wrong with her? Hermione guessed it had been too long since she had seen any action. She shook her head, remembering the last time she had gotten any. Ron. The tears welled up in her eyes at the mere thought of his name, and what they had shared. Hermione shuddered, and gave in to the tears.