Disclaimer: JKR owns everything

Chapter 9 - Never runs smooth

Severus returned to the top table and sulked in the corner. Remus slid into the seat next to him. Together they watched the dancers, but there was no flash of silver anywhere to be seen.

"You're a fucking idiot, Severus."

"I danced with a student, didn't I?" he answered defensively.

"You know what I mean. Did you have to be that cruel?"

"I don't know what you're talking about, Lupin."

"Hermione, that's what I'm talking about, or do I have to spell it out for you?"

"What about her?"

"I thought you were going to ask her..."

Severus stood up angrily. "You thought wrong then, didn't you?" he hissed. "I've just about had it with you all. Did you think I wouldn't notice? Poor old Snape. Let him get laid at least once in his life, eh? Well I don't need a pity fuck from the school bike!"

Remus felt anger coursing through him. He stood up too and dragged Severus into a hidden corridor off to the side. Using his considerable werewolf strength he slammed him up against the wall and shook him like a rat.

"Don't you ever call her that again"

Severus's eyes widened. He'd never seen Remus react like that before, and if he was honest with himself, it scared the shit out of him. Black he could understand, but not Remus.

"Don't believe in calling a spade a spade, Wolfman?"

"So help me, if you don't keep that filthy mouth of yours shut I'll hex you into oblivion!" Remus shook him again, snarling.

"You and who's army?" Severus sneered, recovering slightly.

"Let's put it this way, there wouldn't be much left of you by the time Hagrid and Minerva finished with you."

"I'm shaking."

"So you are." Remus shook him again. "Her friends would be delighted to have a piece of the action, I'm sure."

"Why bother defending her honour?" he spat out.

"Because she's worth it, and your jealousy has blinded you to the fact. You should be grovelling on your knees at her feet, Severus, thanking her for giving you the time of day. The Gods only know what she sees in you." Remus let go of him suddenly and Severus stumbled forward. What was it about Hermione that aroused such loyalty in everyone? He straightened up and gathered his robes and dignity about him. He opened his mouth to say something but was interrupted by Sirius, who had appeared from the great hall. He looked at the two stiff backed men, puzzled.

"Anyone seen Hermione and Hagrid?"

Severus looked in triumph at Remus, who glared back at him.

"Try the Astronomy tower." Severus said sourly.

"Try it yourself, Snape. And don't say I didn't warn you." Remus slumped down by the wall and rested his head on the cool stone. As Severus turned to walk away, Remus's soft voice called to him.

"Hagrid said she's the only seventh year who can get near the unicorns..."

~~~ 

"What was that about, love?" Sirius crouched down beside his lover.

"You don't want to know."

"Yes, I do."

Remus hid his face in Sirius's shoulder, shaking with reaction.

"It's not even the full moon yet, and I nearly wolfed out on him."

"What?"

"I could feel it, love. I was so...angry."

"It must have been serious."

"He's such a fucking idiot, Sirius."

"I've been rubbing off on you, love. Come on, I've had enough of this party."

~~~

Severus kept to the shadows, but he needn't have bothered. Everyone was still in the great hall and the corridors were eerily silent.  As he neared the Astronomy tower he spotted Hagrid stomping towards him. He swallowed, not sure that he wanted to come across a half-giant in a bad mood.

"Come ter 'pologise?"

"I'm making my usual rounds, Hagrid." Severus drew himself up.

"No-one up there." He jerked his shaggy head towards the tower. Severus looked up and saw a light flickering.

"There is now." And he swept away. Hagrid stood and watched him leave.

"Everything going to plan?"

"Yessir, Mr Dumbledore sir. Fancy a cuppa?"

"No, but if you've got some of that homebrew..."

~~~

Severus made his way up the stairs of the Astronomy tower, not noticing the wards that closed behind him. As he entered the main viewing room, a tinny voice began to sing.

"There you are, you will see,

That you two will not pass by me,

Only will my powers be gone,

When two snakes become as one."

"Irritating little bugger, isn't it?" a quiet voice sounded from one of the windowsills. Hermione was sitting there with her knees up, chin resting on her knees. Her sandals were on the floor. Moonlight streamed in and lit her face with an ethereal glow.

"What are you doing here?"

"I came here for some peace and quiet. But that's been singing ever since I got here. Good, it's stopped now."

"What did it mean?"

"Try leaving."

Severus was startled. Did she want to get rid of him? Had he hurt her feelings that badly? He turned towards the stairs and was pushed back firmly by powerful wards that had been set.

"What on earth...?"

"Why do you think I'm over here? The closer I get to the door, the harder they push me back. Have a seat, professor, it may be a long night." She turned her head back towards the window, effectively ignoring him. She'd shed a few tears on Hagrid's broad shoulders and he'd brought her here, saying the peace and quiet would do her good. She might have known Severus would be out on his rounds. Couldn't miss an opportunity to take points away, could he?

Now he was stuck here..with her..all alone. Her pulse quickened but she ruthlessly ordered it to settle down. He'd made it quite obvious that he had no intention of approaching her.

Severus roamed the room restlessly, testing the barriers, but it was no good. He could detect the work of at least five wands. Then he remembered his conversation with Remus about the Astronomy tower and locking Hermione in it. He almost groaned. How the hell was he supposed to get out of this?

"Any ideas, Miss Granger?"

"No."

"Nothing? No plan of action?"

"Why bother?"

"Are you alright?"

"Fuck off, Snape."

"I beg your pardon?" Severus would never in a million years have thought she even knew the word.

"You heard me. You're not my teacher anymore, so I can say what I like."

He stormed up to her, the one candle that was lit guttering and dying in the breeze, and turned her to face him, his hands on her shoulders.

"You don't leave until tomorrow, Miss Granger, and you are still on school grounds. You will show some respect!" he shook her slightly so her hair tumbled over his hands.

"Respect?" she glared up at him, her eyes spitting daggers at him. "Why should I show you respect when you have never shown me any?" she hissed at him.

"Respect is earned, Miss Granger, earned. You lost any respect I had for you when you had revolving doors fitted on your bed!" they were now nose to nose, Hermione sitting on the windowsill a hairsbreadth from his body that was bending over her.

"How dare you!" her hands came up to his chest, intent on pushing him away, but he tightened his grip, fascinated by the way her eyes flashed at him.

"Oh, I dare, Miss Granger.. I dare.." and he closed the distance between them, snapping her head back in a violent kiss borne of a year of frustration and jealousy.

Winding his arms around her back, and trapping her hands between them, he kneed her legs apart and moved closer, sliding one hand down to bring her against him. The kiss softened as she whimpered and he eased back a little, amazed when her arms coiled round his neck instead of punching him in the ribs.

Her lips parted eagerly for his tongue and he tasted a mixture of pumpkin juice and mint. Her fingers kneaded the back of his head, digging in and sending shivers down his back. He felt a foot winding round the back of his leg, drawing him ever closer, and he dropped one hand to a bare thigh, exploring the split in her dress.

He broke the kiss and trailed his lips across her cheek to her neck. Her head fell back to reveal the scented column and he tasted it with his teeth and tongue, growing harder with every moan she made. He ground his hips against her centre and slid one long hand beneath her skirt, finding the lace edge of her panties. Damn, he could have sworn she wasn't wearing any!

Hermione squeezed her thighs around his hips, pressing into his hand, slightly embarrassed at the wetness he would find there, glad of the shadows that partly hid her face. She slid a hand from his neck and fumbled with the clasp of his robe, nearly sobbing with relief that he was wearing just a shirt and trousers underneath - she really didn't have the patience for all those buttons tonight....

The rational part of Severus's brain shut down as instinct kicked in when confronted with a warm, willing woman. And she was definitely a woman, his body told him, the hand not on her thigh working its way over the back of her dress. How the hell did he get this off? He felt her hand guiding his to a small tab in-between her shoulder blades and together they pulled it down. Ingenious! Her hand went to join its twin working on the buttons of his shirt.

He grasped the shoulder strap of her dress with his teeth and pulled it down over her breasts. Letting gravity take over, he gazed at her bared breasts for the first time. They were even better than his fantasy had imagined them. Pale, creamy globes thrust towards him, nipples tight and begging for attention. Her breath came in ragged gasps and she squirmed against him, reminding him of the tight confines of his trousers.

She succeeded in getting his robe and shirt off his shoulders, smoothing trembling hands down his arms, discovering the different textures of his skin. His skin was pale with a scattering of dark hair over his chest, covering his nipples and arrowing down below the waistband of his trousers, and she traced a finger downwards, flipping open the button there.

His mouth left her breast and trailed back up her throat to her parted lips. Sucking her bottom lip into his mouth, he bit gently and then soothed with his tongue. She moaned again and fumbled with the rest of the buttons, slowly driving him wild as she brushed his erection with trembling fingers. He rocked against her, the blood pounding in his veins and pooling where her hand was now gripping him.

Holding her hips against him he muttered a quick charm to rid her of the thong. She felt a warm hand sliding up her thigh, a thumb moving in small circles, working its way towards the wet folds at the juncture of her thighs and she drew in a shuddering breath.

Sliding his thumb higher and rubbing softly, he swallowed her moan as she pressed forwards, undulating against him. A groan rumbled in his throat and he picked up the pace, not knowing how long he'd last. So far no words had been exchanged between them, and he didn't want to ruin the mood.

Brushing her hand out of the way, he freed himself and balanced her against the windowsill, positioning his erection at her wet opening. Looking down into her smoky eyes, he pushed forward slowly, inching into her. Gods, she was tight!

Her eyes widened in panic as she felt him stretching her and she looked up into his dark eyes, seeing dawning realisation in their depths.

Severus dropped his head to the curve of her shoulder and stilled his movements, Remus's parting words finally sinking into his lust-filled brain.

Shitshitshitshitshit!  How was he going to get out of this? His brain was losing the argument with his body as he found himself getting even harder at the discovery he was her first. And her last, he decided as he thrust home, holding her tight against him, murmuring soothing, incoherent words against her neck. She gasped and hung on, her nails digging into his shoulders.

"I don't think I can stop." He whispered into her neck

"Who's asking you to?" she nudged her chin against his cheek, making him lift his head. She looked into dark, tormented eyes and then leaned forward to kiss him softly. Then she bit his lip, hard. He reared up and she gasped as the friction caused a burning pleasure to snake up her spine.

"What was that for?" he demanded, touching the slight swelling with his tongue. She stroked his tongue with hers, drawing him in for a deep, drugging kiss.

"For thinking I'd be shallow enough to settle for boys." She whispered and rotated her hips slowly. "Now what do we do?" she smiled wickedly at him. He raised an eyebrow and rocked forward again, watching her eyes glaze over.

"I thought you knew everything."

"No, but I'm willing to learn..with the right teacher..." she pressed against him and laughed softly

"You find me amusing, Miss Granger?" he growled and felt the shudder that passed through her. Her muscles twitched around him and his eyes widened a bit. He definitely wasn't going to last much longer...

"Not at all...Severus.." his name rolled erotically off her tongue and he kissed her again.  When he let her up for air she sighed and moved against him.

"I never thought my first time would be up against a wall and half-dressed still... do that again.... Yes yes yes yes yes!" she shuddered, throwing her head back so her hair fell like a waterfall over his arms. As her muscles contracted round him, it triggered his own release, and he moaned loudly against her neck, his back arching as he brought her forward to rest against him.

There was silence except for their heavy breathing and Severus supported her weight easily. He locked his knees and placed her gently back down on the windowsill. He hugged her tightly, not wanting to let her go, but knowing there would be the inevitable post-coital talk to get through.  He stared at her, a smug glint in his eye. For a virgin she looked incredibly wanton, dress bunched around her waist and a satisfied look on her face.

She glanced over his shoulder and he watched her eyes widen. He stepped forward, shielding her from whatever was there, but she peered over his shoulder. He looked round, and noticed for the first time a large four-poster bed that definitely hadn't been there before. Looking down at her and smiling, he swept her up into his arms, laughing softly as she squeaked and hung on tightly.

Setting her down by the bed, he leaned down for another kiss. "I think we'll find this a bit more comfortable, seeing as we don't know how long we'll be locked in here." He smiled and proceeded to help her out of her dress, deliberately exploring her soft smooth skin until her nipples tightened again and her cheeks were flushed. She returned the favour, sliding his trousers and ...boxers, she noted approvingly... down his legs, raking her nails behind the sensitive skin of his knees. He toed off his shoes and stepped out of the rest of his clothes. As she slid into the centre of the wide bed, the socks joined the untidy pile of silver and black. He followed her onto the bed and tugged her into him arms, his chin resting on the top of her tousled head. He sighed.

"We need to talk." She murmured

"No, we don't."

"Yes, we do."

"I don't want to." His hand slid down the curve of her spine to rest on her bottom. He squeezed gently.

"You're supposed to be the adult, Severus." She snuggled closer, her arm over his middle, hand caressing his stomach and working lower. He sighed resignedly.

"I know. But I don't feel like one, and we won't be talking much longer if you don't stop that..."

"I'm sorry.."

"No, Hermione! I'm the one who should be apologising to you. I'm sorry for what I said earlier..about.." his arms tightened painfully around her. His stomach churned as he remembered how his words had cut into her.

"Shhh, it's OK, Severus." She twisted out of his embrace and he felt lost for a moment, until she rolled on top of him and took his face between her hands. She leaned down and kissed him, drawing back before he could deepen it though.

"I knew what I was doing. I knew my actions were open to speculation, and it couldn't have looked very good, the way I kept getting caught. I should have known by now that you have an instinct for when students are up to something."

"That's no excuse for the way I acted, though. I practically raped you..." he ran a thumb over her parted lips and she sucked it into her mouth, biting softly. His breath caught. She truly was something...

She smiled shyly. "I didn't mind.."  Her knees parted and she sat up, rotating her hips slightly. He groaned. She was killing him, finally succeeding where Voldemort had failed, he thought with black humour. He looked up at her, and then ran his eyes slowly and appreciatively down her body to where her curls met his. And stopped. What on earth...? His eyes widened and shot back up to her puzzled face.

"What?"

"Is that a bruise?" he tormented himself with the thought he had been too rough earlier. He twisted across the bed to grab his wand, dislodging her in the process.

"Lumos!" a soft glow lit the bed as he raised his wand. He sat up and held her hip still in one firm hand so he could look closer. She squirmed slightly and he tightened his grip.

"Stay still." He looked closer and then shot her a startled look. "It's a tattoo!"

"Like it?" she smiled coyly, as his finger traced the design gently.

"Very appropriate, Miss Granger. Mystic Ink?"

"How did..?" she peered up at him under her lashes, trying to ignore the hypnotic swirl of his finger on her hip. She flushed with fresh arousal and licked her lips, watching his eyes darken.

"You're not the only one to visit Madam Ollivander..." he bent down to kiss her hip, the muscles of back stretching over his spine. She lifted up onto her elbows and gasped - and not just through what he was doing with his tongue.

"You've got one tooooo..." she fell back with a moan. He looked up and grinned at her. Her breath caught at he way it lit up his face. God, she could look at him forever! He felt humbled at the expression of love in her face and moved so they lay face-to-face, heads resting on the pillow. He leaned forward and kissed her gently. She ran a hand up his arm and round to the back of his head, drawing him closer for an erotic, open-mouthed kiss.

"Re-set the wards, love." She mumbled, "I've just figured out the rhyme...."

TBC