Chapter 5 ~
Sitting with Ron and Harry in the Great Hall, Hermione tried her best to keep from staring up at the High Table every second. Twice, she had felt eyes on her neck, and turned around to find the Potions Master gazing intently at her.
"Bloody hell!! I am so tired of this crap. Who gives a damn whether lizard's tongue has to be diced or julienne-ed? Isn't that the same thing, anyways? Why does that slimy git insist on giving us so much bloody homework?!?"
Hermione glanced over to see Ron complaining loudly to no one in particular. Next to him, Harry was stuffing himself with spaghetti and had a concerned look on his face.
"Hermione, how did your escapade with Snape go last night?" he inquired.
Ron jumped in before she could respond. "'Escapade'? Jeez Harry, they aren't bloody figure skating!" He let out an amused snort. "Unless there is something about Snape that you would like to tell us, Hermione?"
She giggled. "No, Ron. As far as I'm aware, Snape doesn't even own ice skates. He just had me researching yesterday evening."
"What's it for?" Harry questioned. "Nothing to do with hamster toenails I presume?"
"No-" Hermione paused. Now that she thought about it, she didn't really know exactly what the end result of their project would be. //How on earth did Snape dodge informing me of that little detail?// She knew that they were working towards developing a potion that would keep a person alive after massive blood loss, but she didn't have a clue as to whether Snape was just tying to make this discovery to better the field of wizard medicine, or he needed it for personal reasons. After recalling that vague but cryptic journal entry, she really wondered.
"Hello? Hermione? I really didn't think that this was that hard of a question, but if you aren't up to it-"
"Oh, sorry Harry. Umm, the research is for a potion, yes, a magical potion," Hermione stammered. She didn't know how much she should tell them, knowing that Snape probably didn't want the whole of Hogwarts knowing about their endeavor.
"Okay," acknowledged Ron. "A magical potion. Could you *be* any vaguer?"
"No, it's okay Hermione," said Harry, coming to her rescue. "You don't have to tell us if you really don't feel like you can."
Hermione shot him a grateful smile. "sorry guys. I would, but," she glanced up at the High Table and locked eyes with Snape, "I really think it's best if I don't." "Fine," said Ron, a little hurt. "As long as you aren't going to run off and become a Death Eater, and you aren't down there snogging him senseless," he cringed at the thought, "then I guess that's just fine and dandy with me."
"Ewwwwww," croaked Harry, pretending to gag on his pasta. "Ron, you just sent me to a very bad mental place, bring me back!!" At this, Ron burst out laughing and Hermione swatted him over the head and abandoned her seat next to her friends.
As she left, she too wished that she could get the extremely distracting thought of her lips on the Potions Master's. Working with him now was going to be next to impossible.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~
Indulging in a fantasy earlier that morning, Hermione had hesitantly transfigured her plain white underwear into a shockingly daring set of lingerie in deep Slytherin green. Now she was regretting that decision immensely, as just the prospect of Snape ever laying eyes on it was sending chills down her spine.
Breathing heavily, she arrived in the Potions Master's office and frantically began distracting herself with work.
"Miss Granger," came a silky voice that did nothing to calm her shivers. "Are you feeling alright? You appear to be hyperventilating," Snape sneered at her. "Was the trek all the way down here too much for you?"
Hermione continued to breathe deeply, trying to quell her anger and arousal, oddly enough, both directed at the professor sitting across from her. She was beginning to feel light-headed. Was too much oxygen bad for the body?
At the sight of the shaking teenager before him, Snape stood and made his way over to Hermione's side. Her kneeled down to be at eye-level with her and with a look of concern, he spoke. "Miss Granger, what have you eaten today that may have upset your systems?"
Embarrassed, Hermione answered. "I haven't eaten anything today," she said meekly.
Snape exploded. "I don't know why Headmaster Dumbledore such confidence that you are indeed clever. That intelligence is certainly hard to fathom when you don't even have common sense enough to provide the proper nourishment for your body!" he exclaimed with vehemence. He continued on, but it all ran together as Hermione's vision began to blur around the edges and dizziness overcame her.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~
Strong arms wrapped around her and she felt safe in their familiar embrace. "Mmmm," she sighed contentedly. She leaned into the body that was holding her and snuggled into the firm chest. She heard someone clear their throat, and when she finally looked up, she looked straight into the eyes of her Potions professor. his face was only inches away from hers, and she took in the dark smattering of stubble along his strong jaw line. //He's so adorable// she thought.
"Miss Granger," his deep voice sent a fresh bout of shivers through her body. 'You are shivering. Perhaps you should be taken up to the hospital wing. You passed out for a few minutes. Are you feeling any better?" Without waiting for her response, he held up a piece of chocolate to her. "Here, eat something," he said with a concerned look on his face.
Hermione's sense of reality seemed to be slightly distorted. Here was her Potions professor, about 20 years her senior yet the only person in the world that she wanted for her own, and he was holding her in his arms and feeding her chocolate. Well, not "feeding" exactly, more like offering, but still, it was pretty damn cool. Taking the moment and running with it, Hermione edged forward and closed her lips around the wedge of chocolate still in Snape's hand.
She heard him inhale sharply as she nibbled of a bit of the sweetness, being sure to brush her lips across his fingertips. She retreated, and swallowed the warm chocolate, licking her lips. Hermione smiled up at her professor and saw him take a shuddering breath. "Are you feeling better, Miss Granger?"
"Yes Professor, I believe I am." she breathed. Surprised at her own confidence and figuring that if she did something terribly embarrassing, she could blame it on a fever, Hermione edged her face up inch by inch toward his. The movement was almost to subtle to be noticed, but she felt him stiffen around her. Unconsciously worrying her bottom lip, she watched as her finger reached up and traced along the older man's jaw. //A little rough around the edges// she thought to herself as the sensitive skin of her fingertip slid over his six o'clock shadow.
His hand raised up, and to her surprise, did not brush her away, but rested on hers. His hand was cool and unexpectedly soft and gentle, and his touch was tender. At this contact, Hermione's heart just about exploded out of her chest. She was sure he must hear it through her robes. She inched even closer to him, seeing the almost invisible flecks of gold speckled through his stormy eyes. Hermione didn't have a clue what was going to happen next. Well, actually, she knew what she wanted to happen, but how she was going to go about it was somewhat problematic. Before she could even muster up the courage to cross what little space parted them, he hand leaned in gracefully and pressed his cool lips against hers.
A/N : Thanks so much to everyone who reviewed! You are wonderful encouragement and just get me writing faster!!!
me: I'll try and write "Really Fast"!! I think 5 chapters in 2 1/2 days is pretty darn good. I won't be able to update this often later though.. Winter break ends tomorrow!!
kiki 0303: yup, HG/SS all the way. :D
Quirk (Mbpquirk@aol.com) : Thanks so much!1 I will try an induce shivers as often as possible!!! That's my favorite part!
Erica: And more you will get. High five from fellow die-hard HG/SS fan!!
Tracy: Well, I set up the story to keep my options open because I'm not quite sure if I want to create Snape as the living dead. But I will definitly keep it a big possibility!
Draco MalfoyGirl 16 (PNeoQueen@aol.com) : Thanks again for helping me out with the whole posting-in-the-wrong-place thing!! You're a lifesaver!!!
And the anonymous reviewers, thanks for reviewing, it's a big help.
Sitting with Ron and Harry in the Great Hall, Hermione tried her best to keep from staring up at the High Table every second. Twice, she had felt eyes on her neck, and turned around to find the Potions Master gazing intently at her.
"Bloody hell!! I am so tired of this crap. Who gives a damn whether lizard's tongue has to be diced or julienne-ed? Isn't that the same thing, anyways? Why does that slimy git insist on giving us so much bloody homework?!?"
Hermione glanced over to see Ron complaining loudly to no one in particular. Next to him, Harry was stuffing himself with spaghetti and had a concerned look on his face.
"Hermione, how did your escapade with Snape go last night?" he inquired.
Ron jumped in before she could respond. "'Escapade'? Jeez Harry, they aren't bloody figure skating!" He let out an amused snort. "Unless there is something about Snape that you would like to tell us, Hermione?"
She giggled. "No, Ron. As far as I'm aware, Snape doesn't even own ice skates. He just had me researching yesterday evening."
"What's it for?" Harry questioned. "Nothing to do with hamster toenails I presume?"
"No-" Hermione paused. Now that she thought about it, she didn't really know exactly what the end result of their project would be. //How on earth did Snape dodge informing me of that little detail?// She knew that they were working towards developing a potion that would keep a person alive after massive blood loss, but she didn't have a clue as to whether Snape was just tying to make this discovery to better the field of wizard medicine, or he needed it for personal reasons. After recalling that vague but cryptic journal entry, she really wondered.
"Hello? Hermione? I really didn't think that this was that hard of a question, but if you aren't up to it-"
"Oh, sorry Harry. Umm, the research is for a potion, yes, a magical potion," Hermione stammered. She didn't know how much she should tell them, knowing that Snape probably didn't want the whole of Hogwarts knowing about their endeavor.
"Okay," acknowledged Ron. "A magical potion. Could you *be* any vaguer?"
"No, it's okay Hermione," said Harry, coming to her rescue. "You don't have to tell us if you really don't feel like you can."
Hermione shot him a grateful smile. "sorry guys. I would, but," she glanced up at the High Table and locked eyes with Snape, "I really think it's best if I don't." "Fine," said Ron, a little hurt. "As long as you aren't going to run off and become a Death Eater, and you aren't down there snogging him senseless," he cringed at the thought, "then I guess that's just fine and dandy with me."
"Ewwwwww," croaked Harry, pretending to gag on his pasta. "Ron, you just sent me to a very bad mental place, bring me back!!" At this, Ron burst out laughing and Hermione swatted him over the head and abandoned her seat next to her friends.
As she left, she too wished that she could get the extremely distracting thought of her lips on the Potions Master's. Working with him now was going to be next to impossible.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~
Indulging in a fantasy earlier that morning, Hermione had hesitantly transfigured her plain white underwear into a shockingly daring set of lingerie in deep Slytherin green. Now she was regretting that decision immensely, as just the prospect of Snape ever laying eyes on it was sending chills down her spine.
Breathing heavily, she arrived in the Potions Master's office and frantically began distracting herself with work.
"Miss Granger," came a silky voice that did nothing to calm her shivers. "Are you feeling alright? You appear to be hyperventilating," Snape sneered at her. "Was the trek all the way down here too much for you?"
Hermione continued to breathe deeply, trying to quell her anger and arousal, oddly enough, both directed at the professor sitting across from her. She was beginning to feel light-headed. Was too much oxygen bad for the body?
At the sight of the shaking teenager before him, Snape stood and made his way over to Hermione's side. Her kneeled down to be at eye-level with her and with a look of concern, he spoke. "Miss Granger, what have you eaten today that may have upset your systems?"
Embarrassed, Hermione answered. "I haven't eaten anything today," she said meekly.
Snape exploded. "I don't know why Headmaster Dumbledore such confidence that you are indeed clever. That intelligence is certainly hard to fathom when you don't even have common sense enough to provide the proper nourishment for your body!" he exclaimed with vehemence. He continued on, but it all ran together as Hermione's vision began to blur around the edges and dizziness overcame her.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~
Strong arms wrapped around her and she felt safe in their familiar embrace. "Mmmm," she sighed contentedly. She leaned into the body that was holding her and snuggled into the firm chest. She heard someone clear their throat, and when she finally looked up, she looked straight into the eyes of her Potions professor. his face was only inches away from hers, and she took in the dark smattering of stubble along his strong jaw line. //He's so adorable// she thought.
"Miss Granger," his deep voice sent a fresh bout of shivers through her body. 'You are shivering. Perhaps you should be taken up to the hospital wing. You passed out for a few minutes. Are you feeling any better?" Without waiting for her response, he held up a piece of chocolate to her. "Here, eat something," he said with a concerned look on his face.
Hermione's sense of reality seemed to be slightly distorted. Here was her Potions professor, about 20 years her senior yet the only person in the world that she wanted for her own, and he was holding her in his arms and feeding her chocolate. Well, not "feeding" exactly, more like offering, but still, it was pretty damn cool. Taking the moment and running with it, Hermione edged forward and closed her lips around the wedge of chocolate still in Snape's hand.
She heard him inhale sharply as she nibbled of a bit of the sweetness, being sure to brush her lips across his fingertips. She retreated, and swallowed the warm chocolate, licking her lips. Hermione smiled up at her professor and saw him take a shuddering breath. "Are you feeling better, Miss Granger?"
"Yes Professor, I believe I am." she breathed. Surprised at her own confidence and figuring that if she did something terribly embarrassing, she could blame it on a fever, Hermione edged her face up inch by inch toward his. The movement was almost to subtle to be noticed, but she felt him stiffen around her. Unconsciously worrying her bottom lip, she watched as her finger reached up and traced along the older man's jaw. //A little rough around the edges// she thought to herself as the sensitive skin of her fingertip slid over his six o'clock shadow.
His hand raised up, and to her surprise, did not brush her away, but rested on hers. His hand was cool and unexpectedly soft and gentle, and his touch was tender. At this contact, Hermione's heart just about exploded out of her chest. She was sure he must hear it through her robes. She inched even closer to him, seeing the almost invisible flecks of gold speckled through his stormy eyes. Hermione didn't have a clue what was going to happen next. Well, actually, she knew what she wanted to happen, but how she was going to go about it was somewhat problematic. Before she could even muster up the courage to cross what little space parted them, he hand leaned in gracefully and pressed his cool lips against hers.
A/N : Thanks so much to everyone who reviewed! You are wonderful encouragement and just get me writing faster!!!
me: I'll try and write "Really Fast"!! I think 5 chapters in 2 1/2 days is pretty darn good. I won't be able to update this often later though.. Winter break ends tomorrow!!
kiki 0303: yup, HG/SS all the way. :D
Quirk (Mbpquirk@aol.com) : Thanks so much!1 I will try an induce shivers as often as possible!!! That's my favorite part!
Erica: And more you will get. High five from fellow die-hard HG/SS fan!!
Tracy: Well, I set up the story to keep my options open because I'm not quite sure if I want to create Snape as the living dead. But I will definitly keep it a big possibility!
Draco MalfoyGirl 16 (PNeoQueen@aol.com) : Thanks again for helping me out with the whole posting-in-the-wrong-place thing!! You're a lifesaver!!!
And the anonymous reviewers, thanks for reviewing, it's a big help.