Disclaimer: I wish I was JKR and HP belonged to me.
A/N: This is the penultimate chapter, and I'm going to be really mean and make you wait. Seriously, it's going to take me a while to write the last one, so please be patient.
And thank you all again, you wonderful people (and Sunglow999 - please go and read Soulmatchers, it's great!) for all your kind reviews. Let me know if there are any pairings you'd like to see, and I'll give it a go.
Chapter 7 - Bedknobs & Broomsticks
Severus watched with hooded eyes as Cleo slid off his lap and over the floor to his bed. The firelight danced off her skin, making it glow orange and yellow. She really was a sight to behold, and he smiled slightly as she wound herself around one of the posts. She had explored his rooms thoroughly over the past few weeks, and he had missed her presence last Friday. He grunted, remembering the Valentine's celebration with displeasure.
He had been forced to endure the sight of Hermione dancing again with nearly every boy in the sixth and seventh years. He remembered the thousands of tiny winged hearts fluttering around the enchanted ceiling, with distaste. Dumbledore had insisted on everyone wearing a flower. If looks could kill, Severus's rose would have shrivelled immediately.
Remus had caught his eye and flapped his elbows, grinning evilly. Hermione had been swung close to the top table by Sirius (he had no problem dancing with a student) and Severus noticed the sheen of sweat on her skin. Remus had cut in and Sirius had joined Snape at the top table.
"Not dancing, Snape?"
"Don't be an idiot, Black."
"She won't be here forever, Snape. She'll soon be snapped up by some young blood."
"Hasn't she already?" he nodded towards the group of young men waiting their turn. He had stood up, unable to watch any longer. He had escaped to his rooms and got disgustingly drunk for the first time in years.
He got up and went over to the bed, shedding his robe and throwing it over a chair. He lay on the bed and clicked his fingers to attract Cleo's attention. She slid over to him, sliding over his leg and settling on his chest, her tongue flicking at the exposed flesh where his shirt was open. He stroked her head gently.
"Ah, Cleo. If only Hermione was a one man woman like you." He sighed softly. He leant his head back and swallowed hard. Gods, he was feeling sorry for himself tonight. Tears burned at the back of his eyes and he blinked, rubbing them with his free hand. It was getting harder and harder to keep his distance from her. All he wanted to do was fling her over his shoulder and carry her away somewhere remote where he could ravish her. He didn't think she'd object too much; he wasn't so blind that he couldn't see how she looked at him sometimes.
"I wouldn't share her, Cleo." He murmured as the snake found her usual spot in the hollow of his collarbone.
"She'd have to put up with that. But I'd love her, Cleo. So much that she wouldn't want anyone else." He sighed and then looked at the clock on the wall.
"Time to get you back, my lovely. I wonder if Minerva will ask your owner to sell you to me?"
Hermione was in turmoil. How could she have known how her human self affected him like this? Her feelings went so much deeper now she had got to know him. He was gentle and kind, loved his books (always a good point) and he cared about his students, even if he was sarcastic all the time. He was witty, had a dry sense of humour and his voice could make a cake recipe sound sexy. His body was hard in all the right places and she'd certainly explored enough of it to know!
Her skin tingled as he lifted her away from him. She wrapped her tail around his wrist and squeezed.
"Don't want to go? Sorry, Cleo. Minerva is expecting me to bring you back. I'd love for you to stay the night, but all good things must come to an end." He rubbed her nose lightly with his and sighed. She flicked her tongue at him and unclenched her tail. Back to the real world she would go. Only four more months before NEWTS and graduation, and there was still Harry, Ginny and a date with a broom.
The better weather eventually arrived and Harry was waiting for Hermione to meet up with him. He grinned to himself. This was going to be fun. Hermione was hopeless on a broom; he wasn't sure what it was, lack of balance, or what, but get her six feet off the ground and she panicked, losing all control.
Hermione ran up, breathless, with Ginny close behind.
"Sorry I'm late, Harry, had to finish my Charms essay."
"Hey, Gin. What're you doing here?"
"Moral support. Plus I have to see this." She winked saucily.
"OK, 'Mione. We're going to start off slowly." He had an impulsive thought. "Ginny and I will give you a demonstration, and then I'll take you up so you can get used to the height."
He held out his hand to Ginny and settled her in front of him on his broom. He slid one arm around her waist and grasped the broom with his other hand. He kicked off gently, making sure they were both balanced. Ginny snuggled closer as the wind caught her hair and blew it over Harry's shoulder. Perhaps this hadn't been such a good idea, thought Harry. A gust of wind caught them and he tightened his arm, his hand accidentally grazing Ginny's breast. She pressed into his hand, her breath catching in her throat. Yes! At last! Damn! Harry quickly moved his hand away and landed, a little harder than he wanted. He didn't want to scare Hermione.
"There, see? Nothing to it." He flushed. "Come on, 'Mione, your turn."
Hermione sat in front of Harry. As she was that much taller than Ginny, Harry held both hands on the broom, is hands over hers. It certainly wasn't as comfortable as it had been with Ginny, but that couldn't be helped. He was here to help Hermione learn how to fly, not try it on with his best friends' sister.
They pushed off and Hermione was surprised to find herself enjoying it. The fact that someone experienced was in charge of the broom helped, she supposed.
As her laughter echoed across the Quidditch pitch, a shadow watched them. Another conquest; this time it was Potter. Severus clenched his fists. How many more would pass through her bed? He turned and went back to the castle. A drink sounded good right now.
A few more laps around the pitch and Harry suggested she take control.
"Are you sure?"
"Go ahead. You can always conjure us up a safety net if we fall." He grinned.
Hermione took a deep breath and Harry slowly released his grip on the broom. A little wobble, but they were still airborne. Hermione grew in confidence and flew a little faster. Harry indicated the goalposts and she steered them around them. He nudged her higher and she flew up, then dove down. She landed a little heavily, but they were in one piece. Hermione hugged Harry,
"That was great! When can I do it again?"
Harry rolled his eyes at Ginny." One tandem flight and she's Gryffindor's next keeper!"
"Nah! She'll be after your position!" Ginny giggled, the sound sending a shiver down Harry's back. He shook himself, and then started to instruct Hermione in the basics of broomstick riding.
"Brooms are like horses, really. They know if you don't really want to ride them. Get used to one of the schools' nags before trying a thoroughbred." He caressed the handle of his Nimbus 3001.
"Nag? Thoroughbred? What's a horse?" Ginny asked.
"I'll tell you later" Harry promised. Ginny hugged herself. There would be a later!
Because Harry was a patient teacher, and Hermione a quick study, he soon had her flying three feet off the ground at a fairly high speed. She was taking to it like a duck to water, and couldn't understand what her problem had been all these years. Perhaps if someone had done what Harry had done, she'd have been flying before now. She wondered how good Severus was on a broom....
Flushed with success, she left Harry and Ginny at the Quidditch pitch, putting away the brooms.
"Would you take me up again, Harry?" Ginny asked, sidling closer to him as they out the brooms away.
"I don't think that's a good idea, Ginny." Harry mumbled, remembering the feel of her breast in his hand.
"Why not?"
"You're Ron's sister."
"So?"
"He's my best friend."
"What's that got to do with it?"
"Nothing, I suppose."
"Then take me up." Ginny could be as stubborn as her brother.
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because I don't want to, OK?" Harry was beginning to sound like a two year old.
"No, it's not OK, Harry Potter!" Ginny stamped her foot "Give me a better reason."
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because I don't have one, alright?" Harry slammed the broom shed door so hard it bounced back open and whirled to face her. She was an inch away from his chest, looking up at him with huge brown eyes, lips parted. He groaned, remembering her breast, then her p.js, then the whipped cream. He whimpered, and then with lightning fast relexes honed from seven years of Quidditch, he hauled her into his arms, grinding his mouth against hers. Ginny squeaked in surprise and he let her go as suddenly as he'd grabbed her.
"Sorry." He muttered, turning red. Her eyes glowed at him.
"What for?" she breathed and launched herself at him, knocking them back through the door and tumbling them amongst the brooms.
Her legs wrapped themselves around his hips as she fumbled inside his robes to get to his chest. Harry was gobsmacked, but recovered well enough to do a bit of groping of his own. He cursed the heavy robes they both wore and eventually tore the clasp from the front of hers, catching three shirt buttons in the process.
Tongues duelling for control of the kiss, neither of them heard the door click closed and soft footfalls creeping away.
Only two more items on her list.....
TBC
A/N: This is the penultimate chapter, and I'm going to be really mean and make you wait. Seriously, it's going to take me a while to write the last one, so please be patient.
And thank you all again, you wonderful people (and Sunglow999 - please go and read Soulmatchers, it's great!) for all your kind reviews. Let me know if there are any pairings you'd like to see, and I'll give it a go.
Chapter 7 - Bedknobs & Broomsticks
Severus watched with hooded eyes as Cleo slid off his lap and over the floor to his bed. The firelight danced off her skin, making it glow orange and yellow. She really was a sight to behold, and he smiled slightly as she wound herself around one of the posts. She had explored his rooms thoroughly over the past few weeks, and he had missed her presence last Friday. He grunted, remembering the Valentine's celebration with displeasure.
He had been forced to endure the sight of Hermione dancing again with nearly every boy in the sixth and seventh years. He remembered the thousands of tiny winged hearts fluttering around the enchanted ceiling, with distaste. Dumbledore had insisted on everyone wearing a flower. If looks could kill, Severus's rose would have shrivelled immediately.
Remus had caught his eye and flapped his elbows, grinning evilly. Hermione had been swung close to the top table by Sirius (he had no problem dancing with a student) and Severus noticed the sheen of sweat on her skin. Remus had cut in and Sirius had joined Snape at the top table.
"Not dancing, Snape?"
"Don't be an idiot, Black."
"She won't be here forever, Snape. She'll soon be snapped up by some young blood."
"Hasn't she already?" he nodded towards the group of young men waiting their turn. He had stood up, unable to watch any longer. He had escaped to his rooms and got disgustingly drunk for the first time in years.
He got up and went over to the bed, shedding his robe and throwing it over a chair. He lay on the bed and clicked his fingers to attract Cleo's attention. She slid over to him, sliding over his leg and settling on his chest, her tongue flicking at the exposed flesh where his shirt was open. He stroked her head gently.
"Ah, Cleo. If only Hermione was a one man woman like you." He sighed softly. He leant his head back and swallowed hard. Gods, he was feeling sorry for himself tonight. Tears burned at the back of his eyes and he blinked, rubbing them with his free hand. It was getting harder and harder to keep his distance from her. All he wanted to do was fling her over his shoulder and carry her away somewhere remote where he could ravish her. He didn't think she'd object too much; he wasn't so blind that he couldn't see how she looked at him sometimes.
"I wouldn't share her, Cleo." He murmured as the snake found her usual spot in the hollow of his collarbone.
"She'd have to put up with that. But I'd love her, Cleo. So much that she wouldn't want anyone else." He sighed and then looked at the clock on the wall.
"Time to get you back, my lovely. I wonder if Minerva will ask your owner to sell you to me?"
Hermione was in turmoil. How could she have known how her human self affected him like this? Her feelings went so much deeper now she had got to know him. He was gentle and kind, loved his books (always a good point) and he cared about his students, even if he was sarcastic all the time. He was witty, had a dry sense of humour and his voice could make a cake recipe sound sexy. His body was hard in all the right places and she'd certainly explored enough of it to know!
Her skin tingled as he lifted her away from him. She wrapped her tail around his wrist and squeezed.
"Don't want to go? Sorry, Cleo. Minerva is expecting me to bring you back. I'd love for you to stay the night, but all good things must come to an end." He rubbed her nose lightly with his and sighed. She flicked her tongue at him and unclenched her tail. Back to the real world she would go. Only four more months before NEWTS and graduation, and there was still Harry, Ginny and a date with a broom.
The better weather eventually arrived and Harry was waiting for Hermione to meet up with him. He grinned to himself. This was going to be fun. Hermione was hopeless on a broom; he wasn't sure what it was, lack of balance, or what, but get her six feet off the ground and she panicked, losing all control.
Hermione ran up, breathless, with Ginny close behind.
"Sorry I'm late, Harry, had to finish my Charms essay."
"Hey, Gin. What're you doing here?"
"Moral support. Plus I have to see this." She winked saucily.
"OK, 'Mione. We're going to start off slowly." He had an impulsive thought. "Ginny and I will give you a demonstration, and then I'll take you up so you can get used to the height."
He held out his hand to Ginny and settled her in front of him on his broom. He slid one arm around her waist and grasped the broom with his other hand. He kicked off gently, making sure they were both balanced. Ginny snuggled closer as the wind caught her hair and blew it over Harry's shoulder. Perhaps this hadn't been such a good idea, thought Harry. A gust of wind caught them and he tightened his arm, his hand accidentally grazing Ginny's breast. She pressed into his hand, her breath catching in her throat. Yes! At last! Damn! Harry quickly moved his hand away and landed, a little harder than he wanted. He didn't want to scare Hermione.
"There, see? Nothing to it." He flushed. "Come on, 'Mione, your turn."
Hermione sat in front of Harry. As she was that much taller than Ginny, Harry held both hands on the broom, is hands over hers. It certainly wasn't as comfortable as it had been with Ginny, but that couldn't be helped. He was here to help Hermione learn how to fly, not try it on with his best friends' sister.
They pushed off and Hermione was surprised to find herself enjoying it. The fact that someone experienced was in charge of the broom helped, she supposed.
As her laughter echoed across the Quidditch pitch, a shadow watched them. Another conquest; this time it was Potter. Severus clenched his fists. How many more would pass through her bed? He turned and went back to the castle. A drink sounded good right now.
A few more laps around the pitch and Harry suggested she take control.
"Are you sure?"
"Go ahead. You can always conjure us up a safety net if we fall." He grinned.
Hermione took a deep breath and Harry slowly released his grip on the broom. A little wobble, but they were still airborne. Hermione grew in confidence and flew a little faster. Harry indicated the goalposts and she steered them around them. He nudged her higher and she flew up, then dove down. She landed a little heavily, but they were in one piece. Hermione hugged Harry,
"That was great! When can I do it again?"
Harry rolled his eyes at Ginny." One tandem flight and she's Gryffindor's next keeper!"
"Nah! She'll be after your position!" Ginny giggled, the sound sending a shiver down Harry's back. He shook himself, and then started to instruct Hermione in the basics of broomstick riding.
"Brooms are like horses, really. They know if you don't really want to ride them. Get used to one of the schools' nags before trying a thoroughbred." He caressed the handle of his Nimbus 3001.
"Nag? Thoroughbred? What's a horse?" Ginny asked.
"I'll tell you later" Harry promised. Ginny hugged herself. There would be a later!
Because Harry was a patient teacher, and Hermione a quick study, he soon had her flying three feet off the ground at a fairly high speed. She was taking to it like a duck to water, and couldn't understand what her problem had been all these years. Perhaps if someone had done what Harry had done, she'd have been flying before now. She wondered how good Severus was on a broom....
Flushed with success, she left Harry and Ginny at the Quidditch pitch, putting away the brooms.
"Would you take me up again, Harry?" Ginny asked, sidling closer to him as they out the brooms away.
"I don't think that's a good idea, Ginny." Harry mumbled, remembering the feel of her breast in his hand.
"Why not?"
"You're Ron's sister."
"So?"
"He's my best friend."
"What's that got to do with it?"
"Nothing, I suppose."
"Then take me up." Ginny could be as stubborn as her brother.
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because I don't want to, OK?" Harry was beginning to sound like a two year old.
"No, it's not OK, Harry Potter!" Ginny stamped her foot "Give me a better reason."
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because I don't have one, alright?" Harry slammed the broom shed door so hard it bounced back open and whirled to face her. She was an inch away from his chest, looking up at him with huge brown eyes, lips parted. He groaned, remembering her breast, then her p.js, then the whipped cream. He whimpered, and then with lightning fast relexes honed from seven years of Quidditch, he hauled her into his arms, grinding his mouth against hers. Ginny squeaked in surprise and he let her go as suddenly as he'd grabbed her.
"Sorry." He muttered, turning red. Her eyes glowed at him.
"What for?" she breathed and launched herself at him, knocking them back through the door and tumbling them amongst the brooms.
Her legs wrapped themselves around his hips as she fumbled inside his robes to get to his chest. Harry was gobsmacked, but recovered well enough to do a bit of groping of his own. He cursed the heavy robes they both wore and eventually tore the clasp from the front of hers, catching three shirt buttons in the process.
Tongues duelling for control of the kiss, neither of them heard the door click closed and soft footfalls creeping away.
Only two more items on her list.....
TBC