CHAPTER 2
The morning sun was streaming in through the windows when Severus realized that someone was repeatedly poking him in the arm. Her attempted to ignore the annoying poke, poke, poke, but it would not go away. And, Merlin, why on earth was the sun so bright this morning? What the hell did Albus do to his dungeon?
Cautiously opening one eye, his dark gaze fell upon the source of his annoyance. Hermione Granger. Suddenly, last nights events came flooding back to him. Hours of exploring each other's bodies, literally hours of foreplay and teasing before they finally couldn't stand it any longer and he took her. The glare disappeared from his eyes and a tiny grin appeared on his face - he had taken her three times, if he recalled correctly. Not bad for a man his age, he mused. He also recalled that it was damn near the best sex he'd had in his life - or at least the best one-night stand he'd ever had. If anyone had told him yesterday morning that he would be spending the night in the arms of the Gryffindor know-it-all, he would have laughed himself senseless. Now, he was desperately hoping that she meant it when she promised to wear her old school uniform and robes for him tonight - and that when he left her home today, it wasn't the end of it. Whatever 'it' was. Aside from incredible sex, that is.
Shaking his head slightly to clear it of memories that were stirring other parts of his body to action, he tentatively smiled at the young woman and former student who was standing beside the bed. She had not bothered to dress yet and held in her hand his passport to a better morning - hangover relief potion.
"Oh, thank Merlin," he said, taking it from her and wincing. "How many bottles of champagne did we drink?"
"Two, I believe."
"And we both had a few before we ran into each other, too."
"Actually, we both had a few before you picked me up, Professor. There was no 'running into each other,'" she said, attempting a grin.
He grinned back. "Impertinent little girl," he said in his best professor voice. "I don't drink very much, usually. Ugh, no wonder I feel like a Hippogriff is sitting on my head and House Elves put their socks on my teeth," he mumbled, unstoppering the vial and downing it like a shot of whiskey.
"House Elves don't wear socks, Severus," she smirked.
He just glared at her and thumped the vial onto her nightstand.
She watched him as the obvious relief washed over his face and his eyes began to clear. Silence fell as they looked at each other and tried desperately to find something to say or do. After all, what do you say to the best student you ever had after you've spent the night shagging her?
"You don't happen to have an extra toothbrush, do you?" he finally said.
"I'm the daughter of two dentists, what do you think?" she teased, seeming relieved.
"Lead on, MacDuff," he said.
She escorted him into the bathroom and rummaged through a drawer, searching for an extra toothbrush. Severus was contemplating the cute posterior that was temptingly displayed for him as she bent over the cabinet and was deciding that he could just be late for his meeting at the Ministry that morning - when she gasped and stood straight up, holding a pink vial in her small hand. Disbelief was clearly written across her face as she slowly turned to him and held out the vial, apparently speechless. Confused, he took it and read the label of the mass-produced potion. "Emergency Contraceptive Potion for Witches." He nearly groaned and looked at Hermione, disheartened. She shrugged silently and shook her head.
"Oh, shit," was all he could say.
***
Hours later, he was sitting in itchy, constrictive dress robes in a Ministry board room - listening to idiot after idiot drone on and on. Occasionally, an idiot would ask for his opinion on this Dark wizard or that supposed plot, but for the most part he was being left alone to his thoughts.
He had left Hermione's apartment in a bit of a daze that morning. He made it to the Ministry on time, teeth finally cleaned, showered and even fed. As they sat over their breakfast, she had been silent until he finally gathered up the courage to speak.
"Hermione, look at me." She shuddered like a first-year and continued her contemplation of her muffin. "Hermione."
She finally lifted her gaze to him. He thought she looked like a fairy creature, sitting there so forlornly in her gauzy white nightgown. She took a deep breath and whispered a barely-audible: "I'm sorry. Geoff took the male contraceptive potion when we were together because the female long- term potion makes me sick, so I haven't had to worry about it for so long."
He sighed and threw down his napkin. Reaching across the table to take her hand as she had his the night before, he looked at the pretty young woman that had propositioned him with so much confidence and poise the night before. She looked like she had lost every ounce of self-esteem she had - just in the past half hour.
"Hermione, you have nothing to be sorry for. I don't recall offering to run to the local chemist shop for a box of Muggle condoms last night or to Floo to Hogwarts and pick up a potion for either of us. We'd been drinking, for one. And two, we've both recently come out of good relationships that ended badly - I needed last night and I think you did, too. So, don't blame yourself for not thinking straight, because I have to tell you, birth control wasn't foremost on my mind last night either."
He smiled and couldn't resist the tease: "And I am the adult in this situation after all, Miss Granger."
That brought a bit of sparkle back into her eyes. She smiled shyly at him and returned to her breakfast. After he had helped her clear up their few dishes, he went into her bedroom to finish dressing for the day. His eyes fell on her nightstand and the vial she had apparently placed there while he was in the shower. He walked over and picked it up, reading the label - well, it wouldn't do much good for her to take it now if they had somehow conceived last night, he thought. 'But, if she takes it tonight, I suppose it won't hurt her or a -- the baby - if there is one already.' That thought made his head hurt a bit and he shook it slightly. Hermione entered the bedroom at that moment and was startled to see her former professor contemplating the vial. He looked from the vial to Hermione's face and carefully returned the pink glass to her nightstand.
"Am I to take it that - this being here means - well, I mean that I wondered if -" he stammered, suddenly uncomfortable.
"Severus Snape, speechless," she said, smiling. She folded her arms and leaned against the doorframe. "I could get used to seeing that. And, the answer to your question is 'yes.'"
He returned her smile and was across the room in a flash and pulled her into his arms for their first kiss of the new day. When he finally released her mouth, they were both breathless and both grinning like schoolchildren.
"I'll be here at six," he said. "Dinner and a play? Does that sound good?"
"Yes, and I'll make sure to locate my school robes for you before I head off to work," she said, grinning evilly.
It took every ounce of willpower he had to make it out the door.
So, that was how the evil potions master of Hogwarts wound up sitting, impatiently listening to very important scouting reports on the Dark - and dreaming of another night with a former student.
That student wasn't having a much better day than her professor, either. Stuffed into a formal business skirt suit and pumps, she was leading a brainstorming session with both wizards and Muggle scientists about leukemia. Neither culture had conquered this disease as of yet, but Hermione felt confident that this group would eventually do it. She didn't participate in the discussion much, however, as today her mind kept going back to bed. And back to her professor's arms.
'Who would have thought?' she mused, suppressing a smile. 'The scary thing is, that I can't wait to see him again tonight. Harry and Ron will die when I tell them. Even if they get the edited version.'
She snuck out of the office an hour early to run home, find her old robes and make sure they were charmed to fit her womanly curves, and to get ready for her date with Professor Snape.
Date with Professor Snape. Despite her brief teenaged crush on the man, those are four words she never thought she could possibly think, much less act upon. She laughed to herself as she opened her closet doors. 'What exactly do you wear on a date with your Professor?' Her eyes took in her sexy-embarrass-Ron clothes and skimmed over her work clothes to land on a simply, yet subtly sexy wrap dress. The dress was conservative in cut, yet the neckline was low and it would come off with the pull of the tie. Perfect, she mused, just like him.
'Whoa, where did that thought come from? He is far from perfect. Except maybe in bed.'
She took a deep breath and calmed down as she magically touched up her makeup and polished her shoes. She shimmied into her dress and switched purses just as the buzzer to her door sounded. After letting him in, they both stood looking at each other uncomfortably for a moment before he drew her into his arms for a tight hug.
"No regrets?" he asked, timidly. The doubt in his eyes was as clear as the rather prominent nose of his face. "We don't have to go out tonight if you don't want to, Hermione. I can leave right now and you'll never have to see me again. Just tell me."
"No regrets," she said, pulling back and dragging her lips across his cheek to capture his mouth in a brief yet passionate kiss. "But I think if we're going to go, we need to go now. If not, then you need to get naked fast."
He chuckled and smiled down on her, offering her his arm. They made their way to the Leaky Cauldron, surprisingly, and sat down for a good meal of hearty stew and pumpkin juice followed by cauldron cakes. Stomach full and happy, Hermione leaned back in her chair and looked contentedly at her companion.
"Thanks for bringing me here," she said. "I work partially with Muggles and live so immersed in the Muggle world that I don't get to enjoy things like pumpkin juice and cauldron cakes that often. I need to come to Hogwarts for a visit and let the House Elves and Dumbledore feed me until I waddle."
"Yes, you do need to come visit Hogwarts," he said. "Soon. Although, if the rest of the staff knew what had happened between us - or that we are apparently attempting a - a relationship -"
The word was a question. A question asked with apprehension and a raised eyebrow. She simply nodded to him and he smiled and went on:
"If they knew we were seeing each other, I think it would cause a few of them some nightmarish sleepless nights. And Minerva would definitely castrate me if she knew the details of what happened last night," he said, setting both of them laughing. "But, at some point in all of - this, it would be nice to bring you home to Hogwarts for a weekend. I'm sure Albus will be twinkling all over the place if I did."
"And Professor Trelawney would take credit for having foreseen it many years ago," Hermione chimed in. "Although, you do realize that Tom is a gossip of the highest order and news of our being here tonight together will be broadcast almost as effectively as if it were in the Daily Prophet?"
"It crossed my mind."
They smiled at each other and Severus stood to find Tom and settle the bill. Seconds after he left the table, an old schoolmate of Hermione's sidled up for a little 'chat.'
"Little mudblood witch is a Slytherin's whore," drawled an obviously drunk Marcus Flint around his disturbingly crooked teeth. "Who would have guessed you'd turn out so hot, Hermione? When you're done with the professor, why don't you come on over to my place?"
Hermione kept her mouth shut and abruptly stood, looking around for Severus. Not seeing him, she made a move towards the door. Flint grabbed her arm and spun her around, pressing his wand into her side.
"All it would take is a swish of my wand, Hermione, and you would -" Flint began, before he was spun around and slammed to a table. The pub fell silent as Severus loomed over the young son of a Death Eater, holding both their wands in his upraised fist.
"If my wand was that small, I wouldn't be drawing attention to myself, mate," sneered Severus. "Never touch Hermione again. Do. You. Understand. Me?"
Flint nodded and, when released, bolted for the door. Slowly, conversation resumed in the pub. Severus made his way to Hermione, who had been propelled away from the potential fight by Tom.
"Are you all right?" he asked softly. He tossed Flint's wand to Tom in disgust.
"I'm fine," she said, sinking into a gentle hug. "Thank you."
Severus offered to skip the theatre and head for her apartment or his rooms at Hogwarts, but she would have none of it. Marcus Flint was not going to ruin an otherwise lovely evening. He had selected a new, upbeat and popular musical for them to see and she thought it was just the ticket for rescuing the evening.
And it was. They left the theatre humming, happy and contentedly holding hands. Finding a dark corner, they apparated to Hermione's apartment and soon found themselves entwined on her sofa.
"Gods, I could get used to this," Severus murmured as she removed his shirt and began kissing her way down his torso. The wool of her old school jumper scratched erotically against his skin, causing him to close his eyes and sigh. She teased his navel for a moment before bending to remove his trousers, shorts and socks with a quick wave of her wand. He gasped as she directed her attentions and her warm mouth to his erection. Someone had taught her well, he chuckled to himself a few minutes later. Suddenly, his laughter caught in his throat as she moved to straddle him and abruptly filled herself with him. He opened his eyes to the vision of Hermione Granger, Head Girl, in her school jumper and skirt - riding him with a mischievous grin on her face. He groaned out her name and rose up to bury himself deeply and was immediately rewarded by a soft moan: "Severus."
She smiled and drew his hands to her skirt-covered hips and whispered: "Teach me."
From that moment on it was a jumble of limbs, sighs, peaks and touches. She reached bliss first and quickly, crying out "Professor!" as she came. He held on longer and slowly stripped off her uniform as he continued to thrust into her, finally succumbing as he magically removed her skirt. They collapsed on the sofa together and dozed for a bit before Severus claimed old age and a bad back - and they made their way into the bedroom.
Where the vial of pink potion was sitting innocently on Hermione's nightstand.
"Shit," he said, shaking his head.
"I think you said that already," she said. "But I do believe it is the only appropriate choice of words at the moment. What can I say, other than I forgot again. I am sorry."
"And you've said that already," he smirked. "It takes two to tango, as they say. You didn't forget on your own. Maybe, if we wind up together long- term, you could go on the Muggle Pill? Or I could take the male potion, if you like. We should probably discuss it."
She nodded: "Yes, some time when we aren't naked and just moments past very satisfying climaxes would be preferable."
He laughed and flopped onto the bed, holding his hand to her. He yanked her arm and she fell on top of him, giggling.
"Oooh, I didn't realize the studious Hermione Granger was capable of a girlish giggle," he said.
"Yeah, well, I didn't know that vile Professor Snape was capable of civilized conversation, much less passion," she countered.
"I'm not really, it's all an act. The end of years of covert work with the Death Eaters will do that to you," he said. "In all seriousness, Hermione, some day I need to talk to you a bit about my past. I'm fairly certain you know a good portion of it. But, I think you deserve -"
She silenced him with a kiss.
"Not now, Severus. Make love to me."
"Yes, ma'am," he said and pulled her to lie beside him, caressing her body once again.
She arched into his touch and then shifted to accommodate his questing mouth and tongue as they dropped lower and lower. 'Gods' she thought, 'he has one hell of a tongue.' Moments later, she was panting and shuddering and he was lying fully on top of her, looking rather pleased with himself. He moved to enter her and then stopped - looking at the vial on the nightstand.
"Hermione, do you want to - although, I'm not sure how much good it would do, to be honest. If we conceived earlier tonight -" he stammered, not quite sure what to say.
She shrugged and smiled up at him. "In for a penny, in for a pound, Severus?"
"Something like that," he smiled. "But, if you would be more comfortable you should drink it. I just didn't want you to misunderstand its effectiveness - since it's a per- um - encounter potion."
"I work for the corporation that produces it, Severus, I'm well aware of its indications and effectiveness," she said, reaching for his groin and cupping him - causing him to groan incoherently. "What was that, love?"
He looked at her seriously for a moment and attempted to form words in his lust-fogged brain. Finally, he sighed and said: "Hermione, you have no idea how you make me feel. I never thought I would feel like this again." He paused. "I could very easily fall --"
"Shhhh," she said, putting a finger to his lips. "Don't say something you'll regret in the morning."
He reached between them and guided his erection into her once again, sighing as he settled into her. 'She feels like - like home,' he thought crazily.
"Hermione, I could never regret anything of the past two days with you. Absolutely nothing," he said.
It was hours before they slept. Luckily, Hermione blearily thought before finally drifting off, neither of us have to work in the morning. And for the first time in weeks, she was looking forward to a weekend away from the office and at home. Snuggling into his arms more deeply, she finally fell into a contented slumber.
The morning sun was streaming in through the windows when Severus realized that someone was repeatedly poking him in the arm. Her attempted to ignore the annoying poke, poke, poke, but it would not go away. And, Merlin, why on earth was the sun so bright this morning? What the hell did Albus do to his dungeon?
Cautiously opening one eye, his dark gaze fell upon the source of his annoyance. Hermione Granger. Suddenly, last nights events came flooding back to him. Hours of exploring each other's bodies, literally hours of foreplay and teasing before they finally couldn't stand it any longer and he took her. The glare disappeared from his eyes and a tiny grin appeared on his face - he had taken her three times, if he recalled correctly. Not bad for a man his age, he mused. He also recalled that it was damn near the best sex he'd had in his life - or at least the best one-night stand he'd ever had. If anyone had told him yesterday morning that he would be spending the night in the arms of the Gryffindor know-it-all, he would have laughed himself senseless. Now, he was desperately hoping that she meant it when she promised to wear her old school uniform and robes for him tonight - and that when he left her home today, it wasn't the end of it. Whatever 'it' was. Aside from incredible sex, that is.
Shaking his head slightly to clear it of memories that were stirring other parts of his body to action, he tentatively smiled at the young woman and former student who was standing beside the bed. She had not bothered to dress yet and held in her hand his passport to a better morning - hangover relief potion.
"Oh, thank Merlin," he said, taking it from her and wincing. "How many bottles of champagne did we drink?"
"Two, I believe."
"And we both had a few before we ran into each other, too."
"Actually, we both had a few before you picked me up, Professor. There was no 'running into each other,'" she said, attempting a grin.
He grinned back. "Impertinent little girl," he said in his best professor voice. "I don't drink very much, usually. Ugh, no wonder I feel like a Hippogriff is sitting on my head and House Elves put their socks on my teeth," he mumbled, unstoppering the vial and downing it like a shot of whiskey.
"House Elves don't wear socks, Severus," she smirked.
He just glared at her and thumped the vial onto her nightstand.
She watched him as the obvious relief washed over his face and his eyes began to clear. Silence fell as they looked at each other and tried desperately to find something to say or do. After all, what do you say to the best student you ever had after you've spent the night shagging her?
"You don't happen to have an extra toothbrush, do you?" he finally said.
"I'm the daughter of two dentists, what do you think?" she teased, seeming relieved.
"Lead on, MacDuff," he said.
She escorted him into the bathroom and rummaged through a drawer, searching for an extra toothbrush. Severus was contemplating the cute posterior that was temptingly displayed for him as she bent over the cabinet and was deciding that he could just be late for his meeting at the Ministry that morning - when she gasped and stood straight up, holding a pink vial in her small hand. Disbelief was clearly written across her face as she slowly turned to him and held out the vial, apparently speechless. Confused, he took it and read the label of the mass-produced potion. "Emergency Contraceptive Potion for Witches." He nearly groaned and looked at Hermione, disheartened. She shrugged silently and shook her head.
"Oh, shit," was all he could say.
***
Hours later, he was sitting in itchy, constrictive dress robes in a Ministry board room - listening to idiot after idiot drone on and on. Occasionally, an idiot would ask for his opinion on this Dark wizard or that supposed plot, but for the most part he was being left alone to his thoughts.
He had left Hermione's apartment in a bit of a daze that morning. He made it to the Ministry on time, teeth finally cleaned, showered and even fed. As they sat over their breakfast, she had been silent until he finally gathered up the courage to speak.
"Hermione, look at me." She shuddered like a first-year and continued her contemplation of her muffin. "Hermione."
She finally lifted her gaze to him. He thought she looked like a fairy creature, sitting there so forlornly in her gauzy white nightgown. She took a deep breath and whispered a barely-audible: "I'm sorry. Geoff took the male contraceptive potion when we were together because the female long- term potion makes me sick, so I haven't had to worry about it for so long."
He sighed and threw down his napkin. Reaching across the table to take her hand as she had his the night before, he looked at the pretty young woman that had propositioned him with so much confidence and poise the night before. She looked like she had lost every ounce of self-esteem she had - just in the past half hour.
"Hermione, you have nothing to be sorry for. I don't recall offering to run to the local chemist shop for a box of Muggle condoms last night or to Floo to Hogwarts and pick up a potion for either of us. We'd been drinking, for one. And two, we've both recently come out of good relationships that ended badly - I needed last night and I think you did, too. So, don't blame yourself for not thinking straight, because I have to tell you, birth control wasn't foremost on my mind last night either."
He smiled and couldn't resist the tease: "And I am the adult in this situation after all, Miss Granger."
That brought a bit of sparkle back into her eyes. She smiled shyly at him and returned to her breakfast. After he had helped her clear up their few dishes, he went into her bedroom to finish dressing for the day. His eyes fell on her nightstand and the vial she had apparently placed there while he was in the shower. He walked over and picked it up, reading the label - well, it wouldn't do much good for her to take it now if they had somehow conceived last night, he thought. 'But, if she takes it tonight, I suppose it won't hurt her or a -- the baby - if there is one already.' That thought made his head hurt a bit and he shook it slightly. Hermione entered the bedroom at that moment and was startled to see her former professor contemplating the vial. He looked from the vial to Hermione's face and carefully returned the pink glass to her nightstand.
"Am I to take it that - this being here means - well, I mean that I wondered if -" he stammered, suddenly uncomfortable.
"Severus Snape, speechless," she said, smiling. She folded her arms and leaned against the doorframe. "I could get used to seeing that. And, the answer to your question is 'yes.'"
He returned her smile and was across the room in a flash and pulled her into his arms for their first kiss of the new day. When he finally released her mouth, they were both breathless and both grinning like schoolchildren.
"I'll be here at six," he said. "Dinner and a play? Does that sound good?"
"Yes, and I'll make sure to locate my school robes for you before I head off to work," she said, grinning evilly.
It took every ounce of willpower he had to make it out the door.
So, that was how the evil potions master of Hogwarts wound up sitting, impatiently listening to very important scouting reports on the Dark - and dreaming of another night with a former student.
That student wasn't having a much better day than her professor, either. Stuffed into a formal business skirt suit and pumps, she was leading a brainstorming session with both wizards and Muggle scientists about leukemia. Neither culture had conquered this disease as of yet, but Hermione felt confident that this group would eventually do it. She didn't participate in the discussion much, however, as today her mind kept going back to bed. And back to her professor's arms.
'Who would have thought?' she mused, suppressing a smile. 'The scary thing is, that I can't wait to see him again tonight. Harry and Ron will die when I tell them. Even if they get the edited version.'
She snuck out of the office an hour early to run home, find her old robes and make sure they were charmed to fit her womanly curves, and to get ready for her date with Professor Snape.
Date with Professor Snape. Despite her brief teenaged crush on the man, those are four words she never thought she could possibly think, much less act upon. She laughed to herself as she opened her closet doors. 'What exactly do you wear on a date with your Professor?' Her eyes took in her sexy-embarrass-Ron clothes and skimmed over her work clothes to land on a simply, yet subtly sexy wrap dress. The dress was conservative in cut, yet the neckline was low and it would come off with the pull of the tie. Perfect, she mused, just like him.
'Whoa, where did that thought come from? He is far from perfect. Except maybe in bed.'
She took a deep breath and calmed down as she magically touched up her makeup and polished her shoes. She shimmied into her dress and switched purses just as the buzzer to her door sounded. After letting him in, they both stood looking at each other uncomfortably for a moment before he drew her into his arms for a tight hug.
"No regrets?" he asked, timidly. The doubt in his eyes was as clear as the rather prominent nose of his face. "We don't have to go out tonight if you don't want to, Hermione. I can leave right now and you'll never have to see me again. Just tell me."
"No regrets," she said, pulling back and dragging her lips across his cheek to capture his mouth in a brief yet passionate kiss. "But I think if we're going to go, we need to go now. If not, then you need to get naked fast."
He chuckled and smiled down on her, offering her his arm. They made their way to the Leaky Cauldron, surprisingly, and sat down for a good meal of hearty stew and pumpkin juice followed by cauldron cakes. Stomach full and happy, Hermione leaned back in her chair and looked contentedly at her companion.
"Thanks for bringing me here," she said. "I work partially with Muggles and live so immersed in the Muggle world that I don't get to enjoy things like pumpkin juice and cauldron cakes that often. I need to come to Hogwarts for a visit and let the House Elves and Dumbledore feed me until I waddle."
"Yes, you do need to come visit Hogwarts," he said. "Soon. Although, if the rest of the staff knew what had happened between us - or that we are apparently attempting a - a relationship -"
The word was a question. A question asked with apprehension and a raised eyebrow. She simply nodded to him and he smiled and went on:
"If they knew we were seeing each other, I think it would cause a few of them some nightmarish sleepless nights. And Minerva would definitely castrate me if she knew the details of what happened last night," he said, setting both of them laughing. "But, at some point in all of - this, it would be nice to bring you home to Hogwarts for a weekend. I'm sure Albus will be twinkling all over the place if I did."
"And Professor Trelawney would take credit for having foreseen it many years ago," Hermione chimed in. "Although, you do realize that Tom is a gossip of the highest order and news of our being here tonight together will be broadcast almost as effectively as if it were in the Daily Prophet?"
"It crossed my mind."
They smiled at each other and Severus stood to find Tom and settle the bill. Seconds after he left the table, an old schoolmate of Hermione's sidled up for a little 'chat.'
"Little mudblood witch is a Slytherin's whore," drawled an obviously drunk Marcus Flint around his disturbingly crooked teeth. "Who would have guessed you'd turn out so hot, Hermione? When you're done with the professor, why don't you come on over to my place?"
Hermione kept her mouth shut and abruptly stood, looking around for Severus. Not seeing him, she made a move towards the door. Flint grabbed her arm and spun her around, pressing his wand into her side.
"All it would take is a swish of my wand, Hermione, and you would -" Flint began, before he was spun around and slammed to a table. The pub fell silent as Severus loomed over the young son of a Death Eater, holding both their wands in his upraised fist.
"If my wand was that small, I wouldn't be drawing attention to myself, mate," sneered Severus. "Never touch Hermione again. Do. You. Understand. Me?"
Flint nodded and, when released, bolted for the door. Slowly, conversation resumed in the pub. Severus made his way to Hermione, who had been propelled away from the potential fight by Tom.
"Are you all right?" he asked softly. He tossed Flint's wand to Tom in disgust.
"I'm fine," she said, sinking into a gentle hug. "Thank you."
Severus offered to skip the theatre and head for her apartment or his rooms at Hogwarts, but she would have none of it. Marcus Flint was not going to ruin an otherwise lovely evening. He had selected a new, upbeat and popular musical for them to see and she thought it was just the ticket for rescuing the evening.
And it was. They left the theatre humming, happy and contentedly holding hands. Finding a dark corner, they apparated to Hermione's apartment and soon found themselves entwined on her sofa.
"Gods, I could get used to this," Severus murmured as she removed his shirt and began kissing her way down his torso. The wool of her old school jumper scratched erotically against his skin, causing him to close his eyes and sigh. She teased his navel for a moment before bending to remove his trousers, shorts and socks with a quick wave of her wand. He gasped as she directed her attentions and her warm mouth to his erection. Someone had taught her well, he chuckled to himself a few minutes later. Suddenly, his laughter caught in his throat as she moved to straddle him and abruptly filled herself with him. He opened his eyes to the vision of Hermione Granger, Head Girl, in her school jumper and skirt - riding him with a mischievous grin on her face. He groaned out her name and rose up to bury himself deeply and was immediately rewarded by a soft moan: "Severus."
She smiled and drew his hands to her skirt-covered hips and whispered: "Teach me."
From that moment on it was a jumble of limbs, sighs, peaks and touches. She reached bliss first and quickly, crying out "Professor!" as she came. He held on longer and slowly stripped off her uniform as he continued to thrust into her, finally succumbing as he magically removed her skirt. They collapsed on the sofa together and dozed for a bit before Severus claimed old age and a bad back - and they made their way into the bedroom.
Where the vial of pink potion was sitting innocently on Hermione's nightstand.
"Shit," he said, shaking his head.
"I think you said that already," she said. "But I do believe it is the only appropriate choice of words at the moment. What can I say, other than I forgot again. I am sorry."
"And you've said that already," he smirked. "It takes two to tango, as they say. You didn't forget on your own. Maybe, if we wind up together long- term, you could go on the Muggle Pill? Or I could take the male potion, if you like. We should probably discuss it."
She nodded: "Yes, some time when we aren't naked and just moments past very satisfying climaxes would be preferable."
He laughed and flopped onto the bed, holding his hand to her. He yanked her arm and she fell on top of him, giggling.
"Oooh, I didn't realize the studious Hermione Granger was capable of a girlish giggle," he said.
"Yeah, well, I didn't know that vile Professor Snape was capable of civilized conversation, much less passion," she countered.
"I'm not really, it's all an act. The end of years of covert work with the Death Eaters will do that to you," he said. "In all seriousness, Hermione, some day I need to talk to you a bit about my past. I'm fairly certain you know a good portion of it. But, I think you deserve -"
She silenced him with a kiss.
"Not now, Severus. Make love to me."
"Yes, ma'am," he said and pulled her to lie beside him, caressing her body once again.
She arched into his touch and then shifted to accommodate his questing mouth and tongue as they dropped lower and lower. 'Gods' she thought, 'he has one hell of a tongue.' Moments later, she was panting and shuddering and he was lying fully on top of her, looking rather pleased with himself. He moved to enter her and then stopped - looking at the vial on the nightstand.
"Hermione, do you want to - although, I'm not sure how much good it would do, to be honest. If we conceived earlier tonight -" he stammered, not quite sure what to say.
She shrugged and smiled up at him. "In for a penny, in for a pound, Severus?"
"Something like that," he smiled. "But, if you would be more comfortable you should drink it. I just didn't want you to misunderstand its effectiveness - since it's a per- um - encounter potion."
"I work for the corporation that produces it, Severus, I'm well aware of its indications and effectiveness," she said, reaching for his groin and cupping him - causing him to groan incoherently. "What was that, love?"
He looked at her seriously for a moment and attempted to form words in his lust-fogged brain. Finally, he sighed and said: "Hermione, you have no idea how you make me feel. I never thought I would feel like this again." He paused. "I could very easily fall --"
"Shhhh," she said, putting a finger to his lips. "Don't say something you'll regret in the morning."
He reached between them and guided his erection into her once again, sighing as he settled into her. 'She feels like - like home,' he thought crazily.
"Hermione, I could never regret anything of the past two days with you. Absolutely nothing," he said.
It was hours before they slept. Luckily, Hermione blearily thought before finally drifting off, neither of us have to work in the morning. And for the first time in weeks, she was looking forward to a weekend away from the office and at home. Snuggling into his arms more deeply, she finally fell into a contented slumber.