A/N: Thanks again to all my wonderful reviewers. You know who you are. As usual, you guys are great!
Well, here's the next chapter. It contains the love scene and I had a hard time writing it. I mean, a really hard time. I suck at writing both drama and love scenes however I felt that their first time together shouldn't be humorous so I did my best to come up with a believable scene. Don't know if I made it or not but I needed to get that out of the way so I could continue on with the rest of the story.
Chapter 5 – Where in the World Are Severus and Hermione?
"Class dismissed. Everyone enjoy the weekend." Hermione thought the hour would never end. She had droned on mechanically for the last 30 minutes and to tell the truth, she had no idea what she had said. Her students must have noticed that her heart wasn't quite in to teaching today but they didn't seem to mind. Why would they when so many of them had their minds on the Hogsmeade trip. She watched the last of the students file out, waited a respectable amount of time then jumped up and grabbed her suitcase from the closet and practically ran down to the dungeons. Severus was taking her away this weekend on a trip to celebrate her birthday but he wouldn't tell her where. They had been inseparable since they had made peace two weeks ago but by her own choice their relationship had been taking a slow course. The first week she had only allowed conversation and a modicum amount of snogging, as the students liked to call it, followed by a second week of light explorations. She was well aware that he was getting terribly frustrated but she was holding out for something special. She wanted their first time together to be wonderful and memorable. She had been very excited when he suggested the trip and had begged and pleaded for him to tell her their destination but all he would say was to pack warm muggle clothing. She had to admit that it was exciting not knowing where they were going. The prospect of having the world as your playground was intoxicating.
She stopped at his room and tucked the suitcase inside then headed back to his classroom. The door was cracked slightly and she could hear his silky "terrible teacher" voice drifting out. So many times as a student, that voice had terrified her. Now she found it a bit funny and incredibly sexy. But that didn't stop her from feeling sympathy for the students now stuck inside the room.
"You do realize what adding the fluxweed at this point will do, don't you Miss Scott?" he jeered
"Ye…ye…yes sir."
"Then are you going to add it or not. What is the hold up? Wait, before you decide, perhaps everyone around you would care to duck first. I, myself, would like to be a good distance from you."
Her hand shook as she held the fluxweed over her cauldron, trying to decide whether to dump or not to dump. Snape towered over her, glaring at her. The pressure of his little psychological game became too great and tears began to form in her eyes. Eventually, she put the vial down and sobbed quietly into her hands. Obviously unmoved by her emotion, Snape swept back up to the front of the class. "10 points from Gryffindor, Miss Scott. For the rest of you, no doubt the lack of attention today has something to do with the coming weekend. If I ever have a display like this again several of you will be spending your Saturday and Sunday with me serving detention. Everyone out, NOW!"
When the class had emptied out, Hermione walked in and threw her arms around him. "Lucky for them we're going on a trip this weekend or they would have detention. If they only knew what a pussycat you really are."
Thoroughly disgusted by that statement he could only glare at her in annoyance, but she ignored it and acted totally unaffected. Realizing that he was getting nowhere with his glare, and actually not wanting to, he asked "Are you ready to go?"
"Yes. So where to now?"
"The gates of Hogwarts."
She pouted a tiny bit after realizing that her ploy to get him to reveal the destination hadn't worked. He, in turn, ignored it and acted totally unaffected. They made a quick stop at his room to grab their luggage and they were off.
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When the world stopped spinning and she was able to see clearly again Hermione found herself in a charming small town. It looked foreign to her, somewhere in North America she suspected. In one direction she could see the sea and in the other, low mountains. The weather was chilly, somewhere in the 40's she supposed, as there was no steam coming from her mouth when she breathed out. Severus watched with fascination as her mind worked furiously to determine the location. She finally looked up at him and said, "I think we're in Canada or the United States, possibly Alaska. I determined that by the terrain and the weather."
He flashed an impressed look and spoke in a professor's tone. "Very good, Professor Granger. You're a true scholar. To be precise, we are in Nome, Alaska above the Northwest corner of those United States. You've guessed where we are but not why we're here." He flashed her a devious grin. "Come, I've made lodging arrangements for us at what the muggles call a Bed and Breakfast. Shall we?" he offered her his arm and led her off.
Hermione thought their room was enchanting. Severus simply found it a bit impractical, however it did have all the elements they needed – a bed, fireplace, and bathroom. But he was pleased, never the less, that she was happy.
"OK, Professor Mystery, tell me how I should dress for dinner?"
"I've arranged for us to have dinner here in our room so clothes are optional." he grinned, then sobered. "Wear something practical and warm. I'll be taking you on a moonlight stroll this evening."
This web of secrecy was taunting her mind. She wanted to know where they were going after dinner. But alas, her patience kicked in to overdrive and she gave up for the time being.
She dressed in a pair of black wool slacks and a tight red cashmere sweater. He had pulled his silk hair back into a ponytail and thrown on black pants and a white pullover shirt. Hermione looked at him approvingly. She found that his hair pulled back was very arousing and the muggle clothing he donned most flattering. At precisely 7:30pm there was a knock on the door and the owner of the B&B wheeled in a table spread with a white tablecloth, white matching linen, fine china, and gold silverware. One single red rose sat in a vase in the middle. The china plates were filled with Beef Stroganoff and asparagus spears. The final toping on the cake was a bottle of red wine with two crystal wine glasses. He certainly had gone out of his way to make this a special night for her. Hermione found herself overcome with affection for him.
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The remains of their dinner and the empty wine bottle were scattered across the table. "Now are you going to tell me where you're taking me?" she asked with impatient curiosity. He only grinned and pulled out a handkerchief. "How would you feel about being blindfolded?" he asked. She found the thought more than a little erotic and placing her trust in him, nodded agreeably.
"First, put on your coat, boots, and gloves." With curiosity coursing through her, she obeyed him and bundled up in her warm outerwear. Feeling slightly tipsy from the wine, she allowed herself to be blindfolded and led out into the cold night. Being temporarily robbed of sight, she tried to hone in on her other senses, to pick up on the sounds and smells of the small street, to feel the air on her tongue. Her face was growing cold, giving her the perfect opportunity to snuggle closer to Severus as he led her through the darkened streets. If they had been back at Hogwarts they would have used a warming spell but here in the muggle world they would have to create their own heat. At the moment, it was much preferred. As pleasant as the walk was, it seemed to drag on forever. She could now sense a change in the scenery. The hard pavement gave way to a soft spongey step. She felt the path incline upward, maybe a hill or mountain. When they reached their destination she tugged at the blindfold but his hands slipped over hers and stopped them with a light caress.
"Let me" he murmured. He pulled the blindfold off and Hermione let out a gasp. They were standing on a small mountain in complete darkness. The lights of the tiny town twinkled below but it was nothing compared to the stars above when she looked up. She had never seen so many stars in her life.
"Oh Severus, it's beautiful! What a wonderful spot." She threw her arms around him and kissed him tenderly.
"Wait, Love, the best is yet to come. Keep your eyes to the sky."
Reluctantly she tore her eyes from him and looked up. After a short time the night gave way to a shimmering light show filling the sky. Colors of every hue danced and whipped across the heavens. She watched, rapt in fascination until she could no longer control her emotions. Tears filled her eyes, and for a moment all she could do was cry. She recovered her voice and spoke softly "And the northern lights in the crystal nights, came forth with a mystic gleam..." she stared blankly for a second then said "That was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. I've always wanted to see the Aurora Borealis. You did this for me?" she asked with disbelief. He nodded and she repeated "I can't believe you did this for me?" She wound her hands around his waist and looked up at him with love in her brown shining eyes. "Let's go back to our room," she whispered, "I want to be with you. I want you to make love to me."
Ever so slowly they broke apart and walked back to the tiny Bed and Breakfast, arm in arm, neither speaking a word. Shutting the door to their room they pulled off their outer garments and boots and left them where they dropped. He gently kissed her and drew her up to him; his arms circled around her waist and lifted her off the floor. They stood joined together for a long while. Unwillingly he put her down to change his hold, then scooped her up in his arms and walked to the bed, gently setting her down.
"No," murmured Hermione, "I want to make love on the floor in front of the fireplace, like our first night."
He stared at her for a moment then, without a word, took her arms and gently pulled her up and over to the fire. He sat down first and reached up for her. Without hesitation she dropped by his side and watched the glowing heat radiating from his eyes. Hermione embraced him but he removed her arms and eased her back until she was flush with the floor then lay beside her and propped himself up on his elbow. Gazing down at her with reverence, his hand idly traveled over her face, taking time to caress her cheek and lips. She stared up at him for a long moment, holding him a willing captive. "I want you" he murmured softly in her ear then traced his tongue over her earlobe and nibbled softly on it. He left a path of soft kisses down her jaw and onto her neck. Overwhelmed by sensation, she grabbed his head and pulled him to her mouth, opened her lips slightly and allowed him entry. His tongue danced around her lips, then pushed into her mouth, drinking in her taste. With a slow purposeful rhythm he explored her palate, and tongue. That drew a moan from her that she could no longer suppress. He caressed her cheek softly again then ever so slowly his hands moved down to her neck, and on to her shoulders. He lightly massaged them then continued his downward progression. She kept her wide eyes on him as he moved. Slowly, he pulled her sweater up and, gently lifting her, slipped if over her head. It was tossed aside. Severus drew in a sharp breath. She was wearing a thin black satin bra, the evidence of her arousal showing clearly through the slick fabric. When he rubbed his long fingers over the satin she let out a shiver and wrapped her arms around his waist, gently running her hands up and down his back. His hands lingered on the satin for a few moments while he watched the reaction on her face. Wanting to feel his skin against her, she briefly stopped him and worked on removing his shirt. It joined her sweater across the room. Raising her up slightly he deftly unhooked her bra and slid it off then pulled off her pants revealing the matching black satin panties. His tongue took up where his hands had left off while his hands roamed further down. She pulled the tie from his hair and ran her fingers through the soft luxuriance. Quickly, she grabbed his hands and paused them to allow her to undo his slacks, then pulled them off to once again join hers on the floor. She felt the smooth fabric of his black silk boxers and the hard peak that had formed in them but he moved her hands away.
"I want this to be special for you. Relax and let me do this," he softly pleaded. While his tongue continued to work on her breasts his hands worked lower. The combination was sending her into bliss. Pleasure sensations pounded Hermione's tiny body leaving her shivering rhythmically until she thought she could take no more.
"Severus….I…..I….." she couldn't complete her thought. She was at a loss for words as the delicious tension welled up inside her. Shivers continued to roll over her and gain in intensity until she arched her body up and threw her head back whimpering his name while waves of ecstasy flowed through her. When the last spasm had abated and her breathing returned to normal she pulled him into a tight embrace.
"That was heavenly but I want you to join me." She spoke softly and gently pushed him on his back. Throwing a leg over him she straddled his hips, satin against silk, and rocked forward and back. She was rewarded by his throaty groans of pleasure. Keeping up her slow rocking rhythm she bent her head low to linger lightly on his lips then traced a trail with her tongue down his chin, and onto his neck. She sucked delicately in spots, being sure not to leave a lasting mark. The trail continued down to his chest. She sucked slow circles around his nipples. And all the while, her rhythmic movements were keeping him on the edge and he was gasping and panting and calling her name. She flipped off of him and grasped the waistband of his boxers, pulling them off, keeping her eyes steady on his. Then slowly she looked down and smiled. "You're perfect," she whispered and touched him lightly with even stroking sweeps. Again, he rewarded her with a series of growls and groans. Satisfaction grew in her as she worked her magic and watched the blissful expression build on his face. Without a word he stopped her and removed her panties. Turning on his side, he grabbed her and pulled her into an embrace, their legs meshing together. Then with a swift movement he placed her on her back and settled himself in between her thighs. She raised one leg and wrapped it around him and he slipped easily into her. They both froze, reveling in the intensity. After a long while he began to move. Hermione matched him, stroke for stroke. It was an incredible feeling. She had only been with one other person but he had been a mere boy and that experience couldn't even begin to compare with the wonderful connection she was feeling with Severus. The pace picked up and the heat increased. The room was filled with gasps and moans. And the movements were coming faster still. All the while they stared at each other with love and desire. She was narrowed to him and he to her. Then she saw him throw back his head and call her name and she was pushed over the edge with him.
Afterwards they moved to the bed and lay together, his arms wrapped tightly around her while she softly caressed his chest. She glanced at the window and noticed the first snowflakes beginning to fall lazily from the sky and smiled at the sight. "Perfect ending to a perfect day."
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"Hermione? Hey, Hermione? Where are you?"
She snapped out of her daydream and looked over at Lavender Brown.
"I've been talking to you for the last 5 minutes and you haven't heard a word I've said. Where's your mind?" she asked
"Oh, I'm sorry Lavender. I was just thinking about the first trip Severus ever took me on."
"Well, I take it from the smile on your face that it was a good trip."
"Oh yes, it was the best."
"Maybe some day when we have more time you can tell me the whole sordid story." She thought about that for a minute and teasingly added, "Is this a story that I want to hear about one of my ex-teachers, especially that particular teacher? Well, I finished your makeup. You look ravishing if I do say so myself. Maybe a little whorish," she joked again.
Hermione startled slightly and moved to rise towards the mirror. Lavender put her hand on her arm and said, "I just wanted to see if you were paying attention. It was a joke, silly. OK, now let's put your hair up and arrange it around your veil. We're running out of time."
A/N: Hermione's quote on the mountain was from Robert Service's The Ballad of the Northern Lights