Gorgegirl - How did you guess..cough

Fan - Um, according to the HP sites I've seen Hagrid is a Gryffindor.I must check the books to double-check!

Hermisa - Yes, the dream was a wake-up call for Sev.

Beth Ann Ginny, Raija Darknight, Snapefan51, Strega Brava - Thank you!

Sweet Audrina - There's a few more chapters to go.

Tegan - You'll have to wait and see.

Zoe - See, told you there was no need for panic!

Part 12

WARNING If for you steamy H/S scenes are 'out of line' Don't read this chapter and all will be fine.

This chapter rated R for a reason cough and not for those below 17. I daresay some of it is badly written and mushy so I'll apologise in advance..

Severus bent and kissed her with yearning hunger as he pulled her closer to his tall body, his black eyes closing in pleasure when Hermione parted her mouth under his and twined her arms around his neck.

He had missed kissing and touching her, no matter how much he had tried to forget it. But now he found that now with the barriers down between them, desire sang a sweeter song than before in his veins.

Hermione had tried to start again with Ron; she had really tried, but in the end it had been to no avail. When he had embraced her she had felt vaguely uncomfortable at times, and when he had kissed her she had found herself hoping it would be over soon.

But here, now, in the arms of Severus she felt as though she belonged here. For good this time, for he had given her the words she had wanted to hear, that he loved her. She could feel the racing beat of his heart against her equally racing one. When his hand moved to gently cup and caress her breast she whimpered in desire and sagged slightly against him, her legs suddenly feeling like jelly.

He laughed quietly against her mouth, and she had no objections when he gently urged her back against a table, and clasping her waist lifted her up so that she was sitting on it. Her face flushed, she whimpered again as he stepped closer to her, swiftly parting her knees with his warm hands and stepping between them, pressing his hard body intimately against hers.

"That's better," he murmured as Hermione embraced him, running her hands over his back, feeling a burning hunger for him. Severus sought her mouth again, his kisses demanding. He wanted her so much.he pushed his hand through the top of her robe, his hand trembling slightly as he felt her warm skin underneath his fingers. He gently kissed her way down her neck as his hand moved down to caress her warm breast.

Hermione moaned and squirmed against the Potions master. [Damn him!] she thought in frustration. Why did he get to have more enjoyment than her at the moment? It was easy for him to touch her anywhere he pleased, for her robe was a fairly loose garment. But she could only touch his face, hands and part of his neck. As usual, under his black cloak he was wearing a black outfit that was (repressively) buttoned all the way up to his neck, the appearance of white cloth at his wrists and neck hinting at the shirt he wore underneath. All those buttons..she had had enough of them. All of them.

She reached a determined hand up to the top button and managed to undo it (a slightly tricky task for he was currently dropping soft kisses in the hollow of her throat). One button was done. Then the next one, and the next.part of her mind noted that under her fingers she could feel his white shirt was made from fine linen (no third-rate cloth at factory sales for him, of course).

The realisation that Hermione was intent on unbuttoning him eroded more of his self-control, and his breathing coming faster Severus leant forward, pushing her down on the table. Feeling his warm body on hers, a startled Hermione tried to think of something witty and seductive to say. "Mwhaa", she moaned and flushed (well, that had been a failure). Ah, if he didn't touch her again she would die. If she couldn't touch his body soon she would take him with her.

"I'm not too heavy, am I?" Severus said huskily against her mouth as he moved his hand gently along her thigh. "No, it's fine...ahh...more than fine..", she gasped and writhed under him as his seeking hand moved higher.

Suddenly Severus froze, his face flushing slightly and he pulled away from her. What had possessed him? He had had no intention of rushing her before, and now here he was, preparing to take her on this uncomfortable wooden table for Merlin's sake!

Hermione stared up at him with bewilderment. "What's wrong? Is it...me?" she asked in a quiet, shaky voice.

"It isn't you", Severus said harshly as he moved off the table and got to his feet. "It's me..I can't..here am I about to make love to you on a table, and I had promised myself to take things slowly. I don't want to act like before when I had set out to get you in my bed as soon as possible, and for one reason only." Though he tried not to show it there was a struggle for self-control and agitation on his face. "You should leave now, before I..."

He was really upset, Hermione realised as she sat up, her body trembling in remembrance of his touches. It was heartening to realise he valued her good opinion of her, but on the other hand she didn't want to see him plagued by doubt and self-loathing. Also, she didn't want him to stop, she admitted to herself. Part of her was naturally anxious at continuing to the logical conclusion, for despite Ron's inept attempts that she had tactfully rebuffed before, she was inexperienced. However, she felt a trust for Severus that she hadn't before, that he wouldn't willingly hurt her.

Feeling as though he needed a long, cold shower, Severus nevertheless offered a hand to Hermione for her to get off the table. Hermione took his hand, but instead of getting off the table she gently held his hand in both of hers, holding it as if it was something precious. His fingers quivered slightly under hers. "It's just a hand, nothing more", Severus said, trying to sound caustic but failing miserably.

Hermione took a deep breath, trying to calm down. "Do you know why I gave you a cake for Christmas in the first place?"

Severus averted his face from hers as he remembered his past behaviour regarding that cake. "Hermione, you don't have to say.."

"Listen!" Hermione said firmly and he looked at her in surprise. She continued. "Every year at Christmas I would see you get grumpi- um, miserable, and this past Christmas I thought I would try to do something to make you happy, even if only for a little while."

Severus felt an unaccustomed lump rise in his throat.

"And now, after what we've both been through, I think we both deserve to be happy", she said. "Especially tonight. Don't push me away again," she whispered, gently bringing his hand against her cheek. "I love you, Professor."

He stared at Hermione wordlessly with his dark eyes, his heart seeming to pause for a second then he pulled her into his arms. "Call me Severus," he whispered against her hair in a way that sent a delicious shiver through her. Then he kissed her forehead gently, almost reverently.

"Come, then", he said softly and taking her hand firmly in his one, he drew her out of the classroom and into his office. Silvery moonlight shone through the diamond-paned windows there, giving enough light for Hermione to see the door at the end of the office that led to his quarters.

It seemed to them both that they had ceased breathing and that their world had shrunk to just the two of them, while tingles ran up both of their arms from their clasped hands. On passing through the door into a dark room Hermione paused, aware of a thick carpet underneath her shoes. But Severus, a dark shape beside her, gently tugged her hand to follow his unerring direction into another room. Words were murmured by him and then fire sprang into life in a small fireplace..in his bedroom.

Hermione blinked at the sudden light and stared about her. His room was austere, with plain stone walls, though the firelight lent them a warm golden glow. In front of the fireplace was a chair, while against one wall stood an oak wardrobe with a chest of drawers beside it. Against another wall stood a bookcase laden with books. A white shirt lay where it had been carelessly flung over a stool, and a pile of books were stacked haphazardly on a small table next to the bed. The bed..it was covered with a thick black bedspread that fairly invited you to touch and stroke it.

Despite herself she gulped and turned back to stare at Severus, who was watching her as if everything else paled into insignificance besides her. Some nervousness must have shown in her eyes for he gently drew her to him and kissed her tenderly, the way he had kissed her the first time beside the frozen lake while his hands caressed her back softly. "Don't be afraid," he whispered, and Hermione let out a sigh, putting her arms around him. He said a word and then she felt her hair free itself from its confining braid to tumble in a brown waterfall down her back.

Then taking his wand he tapped the end gently against her stomach. "To prevent pregnancy," he explained quietly and then whispered a protective charm that sent a tingle through her and she thanked him. Then he put the wand aside then turned back to her. He hesitated, then asked her in a slightly awkward tone whether Ron had slept with her. Hermione blinked then shook her head firmly. "No," she said. "I haven't slept with anyone..I found I didn't want to sleep with Ron, either." Severus managed to conceal a triumphant smile, feeling an almost primitive glee in the fact that Ron had not bedded her..would never bed her if he had anything to say about it.

Then his hands were running down her body and grasping her robe gently pulled it up over her head and cast it on the floor. She kicked off her shoes, feeling a bit self-conscious as she stood before him in her undergarments, unaware of how lovely she looked, her skin a warm gold from the light of the fireplace. Then her chin lifted and there was a gleam in her eyes as she stepped towards him. "My turn," she said thoughtfully.

Severus felt his mouth go dry, his breathing coming faster. Her turn? Why, he was this close to asking her to do anything she wished with him..his eyes were pools of heated darkness as he watched Hermione gently tug at his cloak, removing it and dropping it on the floor. A look of intense interest had replaced the nervousness and she reached up to his buttons at his neck.

"I've had daydreams about undoing these buttons," she said half to herself and then flushed. His eyes gleamed down at her. "Hermione, I assure you I did not choose these clothes for them to be the object of fantasies for hormone-driven women," he said dryly, bending to kiss her neck. "Nor did I recall daydreams about me being part of the class requirements. However, I will not deduct points for your..impertinence."

Hermione felt a grin tugging at her mouth and paused for a second. "That will be a first, I think."

Severus raised his head to give her a brief yet fierce kiss. "Have I given you leave to stop?"

Hermione pretended to look contrite. "No. I apologise for my lapse," she said as she moved her hands back to his buttons. When she had completed that task he took the heavy black garment off himself and tossed it aside, then tilted his head to one side in sardonic invitation for her to continue.

There was a shy gleam in her eyes when she took off his white shirt and she blinked when she saw his slender torso. There was no reason to keep that covered up.no reason at all, she thought. However, when she dropped her hands to his hips she hesitated. Severus took pity on her and kissed her gently. Then kicking his shoes off he removed his trousers and the rest of his clothing until he stood naked and oddly beautiful before her.

Her eyes widened and she blushed when he reached determinedly for her, deftly removing the last of her clothing, then pulling her into a tight embrace. "Severus," she gasped against his mouth as he kissed her fiercely, both of them trembling at the feel of their naked bodies touching. "I love you so much..what are you doing to me? You touch me and I am boneless," he whispered harshly against her mouth.

"I think that's my line," Hermione muttered, instinctively arching her body against his. She wanted him so much..he gave an inarticulate cry and then he lifted her up in his arms and laid her on the bed, stretching out beside her. He was determined to touch her everywhere and did so, smiling in triumph at her moans...encouraging her to touch him and crying out in his turn when she did so.

When she could bear the tension no more she arched against him. "Severus...oh, please.." she begged him and then he groaned, moving over her and into her. Her body was new to passion and so his movements were gentle, his black hair brushing her face as he stared down at her with love in his molten black eyes. Hermione was unable to look away from his face that was flushed with passion, knowing hers to be the same way. Severus..her professor..her lover at last...and then passion overtook them both and flung them to a dizzying height where there was no one but themselves and love as their bodies and souls entwined.

Then the Slytherin and the Gryffindor fell back to earth dazed and satiated, content to lie in each others arms in the aftermath of passion.