When my dreams just move along

Two days later Hermione sat in the late August sun with Ginny Weasley. In front of her a show of sheer testosterone and male ego was being played out on the Quidditch field.

The guests for the celebrations had been arriving since yesterday morning. Many of Hermione's graduating class were back, as well as current students and those who had graduated before her.

All four towers in the castle were filled to capacity, as well as the guest rooms in the dungeons.

Hermione had remained in the dungeon yesterday morning, at Harry's request. Harry had asked for a chance to drop some hints about the change in "sleeping arrangements" to Ron. She had told Harry he needed to do more than just drop hints, he needed to flat out tell Ron what had happened and to keep his big mouth shut. She did truly adore her redheaded friend, but his temper could flare as hot as his hair. The last thing she needed was Ron overreacting to things he didn't understand in front of Severus. Given everything that had happened since graduation, she just might hex Ron herself if he started any of his Greasy Git crap.

She felt many eyes on her as she and Severus entered the Great Hall for lunch. Although, in true Snape style, they were not linked arm in arm, or staring starry-eyed at each other; it was obvious that they were entering the room as a couple and not as the student and teacher that most in attendance were accustomed to.

"Hermione" came an enthusiastic squeal from the Weasley table. She saw Ginny jump to her feet and come rushing over to her. After the two friends hugged and made the proper "you look great"-type exchanges, Ginny turned to Severus. A bit more subdued she said, "Hello to you, too, Professor Snape. We've saved seats for you two at our table, if you would care to join us. Harry's already here."

Severus was a bit shocked at being invited anywhere, nonetheless being invited by a student. He recovered quickly and replied politely, "Good Day Miss Weasley. I do thank you for the invitation; but I believe the decision as to seating arrangements is in Hermione's hands today."

Hermione smiled at this minute break in public 'Snape-ish' behavior. "Lead the way Ginny."

They weaved their way between tables to the Weasley family. One by one she embraced each member of the warm family she had come to love. Once again Severus offered his hand to each with a brief offer of welcome. When she came to Ron, he couldn't look her in the eye. She felt Severus stiffen and she flashed Harry a warning glance. She saw him kick Ron, hard. Ron straightened his spine, almost imperceptibly, and lifted his eyes to Hermione. "Hullo, 'Mione," he said quietly. With a sheepish half-grin he opened his arms.

"Hello, Ron." And with that, she stepped into his embrace and the awkwardness was forgotten; at least until they parted. Ron lifted his gaze to the taller, dark man beside her.

Ron glanced briefly at Hermione and then back to the Potions Master. With a sigh of acceptance he offered his hand. "And hello, to you, Professor Snape."

Severus took the hand that was offered and shook it firmly. "Welcome back Mr. Weasley."

They had just all found their seats when Harry nudged Hermione and motioned with his chin toward the door. Draco Malfoy was standing just inside the Great Hall, looking a bit awkward.

Hermione nudged Ginny with her elbow. "Squeeze down you guys. Harry grab another chair." Harry stood up, pulled an empty chair from the next table and sat it between Hermione and Ginny. He caught Draco's eye and motioned for him to join them.

If the thought of Hermione and Snape being a couple wasn't enough to cause Ron to have a heart attack, Draco Malfoy joining the Weasley party just might have been. Ron's eyes widened as the class bully stepped up to the table; Harry shook his hand, before once again taking his seat.

"Thank you all for the invitation. I'm afraid the war has greatly reduced the number of Slytherin who are able to attend the festivities." He clapped Severus on the back and gave Hermione a quick peck on the cheek before sliding into his seat. He looked across the table and noticed the extremely uncomfortable red-haired man seated beside Harry. "Ron, good to see you." He stood slightly again, and offered his hand.

Ron's eyes widened a bit more, but he stood and shook the hand being offered. "Same here, Draco."

The meal was served and gradually Ron relaxed and began to enjoy himself a bit. The old house prejudices were almost forgotten; but, not quite. Since the wizards outnumbered the witches at the table, the conversation quickly turned to Quidditch. And since they were still Gryffindors and Slytherins, there was a very quick challenge issued. The men rose from their seats to form teams for an Alumni Quidditch Match, to commence in an hour.

Molly Weasley also excused herself to visit with a group of women she had graduated with.

That left Ginny and Hermione to catch up. Ginny moved back into the seat recently vacated by Draco. "OK, Hermione, we have a LOT of catching up to do. Harry has given us an overview of what has happened since June. I want the wicked details. So spill it."

"Oh, Gin, this has all been such a wild ride. Up and down. Nightmares to dreams. I was never sure if I was awake or asleep. The only thing that was constant through it all was Severus. He worked so hard to try and keep me grounded, through the good and the bad. Now, it seems the nightmares have finally moved along, and I'm left with just the dreams. He's not the man that I thought he was when I was a student."

Ginny laughed at this. "Well from what I've seen here today, he's not the man I thought he was either, and I am a student. Speaking of changed men, boy has Draco done an about-turn. Daddy said he was spying for the Headmaster Dumbledore for the last year or so. I never would have guessed."

Hermione looked at her friend mischievously. "Do I detect a spark of interest in Draco Malfoy? You know you'll push your brother right over the edge. They're gonna have to admit him to the psych ward at St. Mungo's."

The two of them broke up in a fit of laughter at this. Hermione pulled the younger girl to her feet. "C'mon, we better start down to the field. If we're not there to cheer, we will be in so much trouble. Why they insist on this testosterone induced battle, I will never know. I just don't understand wizards sometimes."

Ginny winked at Hermione, and hooked arms with her. "Well, if you thought my big brother was ready for a straight jacket before, just wait until he sees his little sister cheering for the Slytherins." They started out of the Hall, making for the front door and then on to the Quidditch Field.

"Having a change of House loyalties, Miss Weasley?" Hermione asked in her best Potions Master impression. She couldn't keep a straight face and they burst again into a fit of giggles. "Then the only words of wisdom I have for you, my friend, is 'the Bad Boys are where it's at', Ginny."

And so, Hermione found herself at the Quidditch field watching the man she loved and many of her closest friends acting like a bunch of hormonal teenage boys. She and Ginny cheered for red and green alike. Point for point the teams matched each other. Side by side, students and teachers battled, united by their house loyalties. Severus, Remus, Oliver, and Ron, were but a few old friends who had joined the game. The afternoon wore on and in the heat, players were often substituted to allow the men to rest. Though it was not the usual Slytherin-Gryffindor blood-drawing battle, it was still heated.

Only two men remained on their brooms the entire game. After about 3 hours of game play Harry and Draco were both in pursuit of the snitch, flying through the trenches around the outside of the field. The snitch darted out of the trench and flew straight up, with the two young men neck in neck behind it. The snitch stopped in mid-air for a split second and flew straight back and between the seekers. Not to be deterred both brooms were quickly halted, turned, and both men were, once again right behind the shining gold ball.

They screamed toward the field and neither man was going to be the first to pull back. The crowd around the field collectively took in and held a breath as the snitch brushed the ground. Both men hit the grass at the same time and rolled end over end in unison. When they sat up, side-by-side, they each held a wing of the snitch.

The crowd erupted in cheers, hoots, and applause. The game was a draw. Both teams met in the center and exchanged handshakes. Draco was the first to his feet. He unceremoniously spat out some grass and dirt; then turned and pulled Harry to his feet.

Clapping each other on the back, they made their way, limping, off the field; laughing the entire time.

You've lost the race by miles

A short time later, Hermione Granger was sitting in bed on top of one very naked Severus Snape. Her hands were working lanquidly over his body.

"Oh, God, Hermione. What have you done to me?"

Hermione halted her ministrations and rocked back on her heels. "Excuse me, what have I done to you? I have done nothing to you, my darling. You are the one who decided to get on a broomstick and flit about like a foolish schoolboy."

"Don't stop rubbing, please. My back is killing me." Hermione smiled at this and leaned forward to begin massaging his back again. "The game may have been a draw, but I certainly feel like I lost. I believe I'm getting too old for this."

He took on a serious tone, "You know, Hermione, I wouldn't have been in the situation to be invited to play in that game if not for you." Severus made to roll, and as Hermione crawled off to the side, he rolled and faced her. "I was never what one would call a social creature before this summer."

"I know, Severus." She smiled slightly and brushed a stray lock of hair from his forhead. "But, you don't have to go to these lengths to show off for me."

"That's the thing, Hermione." He reached up and took her hand and brought it to his lips before continuing, "I didn't do it to show off for you. I was really enjoying myself. It's been a long time since I was last able to let down the Greasy Git act and just enjoy myself publicly. So long that I'm not sure where the Git ends and the man begins."

She moved closer to him and lay down on her side. She spoke softly, like a caress. "I know where the man begins."

"You should, he is of your creation." He entangled his hand in her hair and pulled her to him, covering her mouth with his.

He began to move on top of her but was stilled by her hands. "No, no, you are in no condition for anymore physical exertion, my darling. Lie down while I get a potion to fix those aching muscles."

"Out in the lab, third shelf…"

"Severus, I believe I'm aware of where to find it."

After a minute or two, she returned with a small flask. She, too, was now naked. She sat on the bed next to him, "Open up, Sevie." He shot her a nasty look at the nickname, but obeyed.

Dropping the flask on the floor, she straddled him once again. "I believe I was massaging you. I'm sure your back isn't the only thing hurting you right now."

She began rubbing light circles with the palm of her hand across his bare chest. She brushed across his nipples and was delighted when they responded. She leaned down and her mouth took the place of her hands.

She placed light kisses across his chest, while her hands massaged a trail down his sides, over his hips, and across his thighs. He groaned as her thumbs brushed his aching erection on their way back up his body.

She continued to kiss his body, working her way down his torso. Her bare breasts rubbed lightly across the heat of him, causing his hips to buck in response. Still she did not directly touch him.

She placed light kisses on his stomach and his hip. She skipped over his groin entirely and moved to kiss his thigh, stopping at the knee. She moved across to the other thigh and with her tongue lightly traced a trail. Up his thigh, through the wiry hair, and up his shaft to swirl around the tip.

His hands grasped the sheets beside him. It was all that he could do, not to force her to take him fully in her mouth. He pleaded and begged, the words were somewhat incoherent, but the meaning was clear. She smiled at the sight of him and then lowered her mouth.

He hissed sharply as she suddenly took him fully into her. Of their own volition his hips began to thrust. She alternated between sucking him hard and flicking her tongue across the tip.

His hands came up to bury in her hair. He threw his head back and called her name out to the Gods and anyone else who was listening.

Then she stopped and was gone. His eyes flew open and he began to sit up.

"Ah, Ah, Ah," was her only response and she pushed him gently back down. Being in control like this was all the foreplay she needed.

She came up to straddle him once more and lowered herself onto him. She began to ride him, slowly. She moved her hips with a now practiced rhythm. When she felt him beginning to approach his release, she stopped abruptly and removed herself from him. She began the process of kissing his body again, working her way down to taste herself on him. She rose and mounted him again.

Over and over again the scene played out. Finally she sought her own release. She rode him hard, leaning back to allow him access to her nub. His hips rose to meet her own. She drug his hands away from her over-stimulated clit, and raked her nails roughly across his chest, grasping at something, anything.

Finally she allowed them to both reach the pinnacle and she collapsed upon his chest. He continued to rock his hips slowly, eeking out the last of her orgasm. Suddenly, another, gentler, wave was upon her. She bit his shoulder and cried out "Oh, Sev, it won't stop coming."

He smiled against her and stilled his hips. She rolled to the side and nestled herself against his body, warm and immensely satisfied. "Still feeling old, Severus? Still feeling you lost the game?"

"No, old is not a descriptive term I would employ right now. Satified, sated, exhausted, but not old. Speaking of exhausted, how long until the banquet begins?"

She yawned and pulled up the blanket. "About two hours," she murmured sleepily, resting her head on his chest.

They were late for dinner…again.