Akima - Really? g
Beth Ann - I like the buttons too.don't ask me why!
Ghaeth, Lady Osolone, Sweet Audrina & Zoe - Thank you - I tried not to have it too mushy.
Tegan - Thank you, I enjoy your writing too.
A/N: This is a fluffy chapter, with a bathtub making an appearance, heh.
Part 13
When Hermione's mind came back to itself she found she was lying in his arms against his chest under the covers of the bed. The fire still burned brightly in the fireplace and the room felt like a warm, cosy nest. She blushed as memories rushed back. Had they really - had she - had he -
[We had sex!] she thought in astonishment, realising she must have spoken aloud when there was a chuckle from Severus, his hand moving gently over her bare skin. Or he could have heard her thought somehow - Harry had always sworn that Professor Snape could read his mind, especially at inconvenient moments. She lifted her head to see Severus watching her, his black hair lightly tickling where it brushed over her skin, his eyes a brilliant black. "If we didn't have sex then I'm waiting to hear your description of what we did," he said dryly. "Or rather, what you were doing since there were two of us, you know."
Hermione snuggled closer to him. Yes, there was a very nice body under his clothes. "You can't talk - you're the one who wanted to do it on the table!" she countered. "Yes, but you had no objections at the time," he retorted lightly, a smile of dark amusement on his face as he bent to kiss her, feeling a warm happiness inside that was rare for him, for he had found a completion in her. "Fine, blame it on me," Hermione sighed, returning his kiss.
After a while Severus smirked. "I cannot wait until I see everyone's reactions when they see us together," he mused. Hermione paused, feeling uneasy. "I don't think we should rush things at the moment," she said carefully, sitting up slightly. His eyes narrowed and there was a chilly look in them. He drew away from her slightly. "Why the delay - are you thinking you would be ashamed to be seen with me openly?" he said flatly.
Hermione blinked. "No, I wouldn't be ashamed!" she said firmly, dropping a tender kiss on his aquiline nose. "It's just that...."
"Yes?" Severus pursued, though his voice was a trifle softer. Hermione swallowed. "I've been going out with Ron for a while and if I'm suddenly seen with you people will jump to all sorts of conclusions - I don't want to be pointed out as um, some kind of whore."
Severus relented. He was forced to admit she did have a point and he had no wish for her to attain an unwelcome reputation. "Very well, I will say or do nothing in public - for now," he said.
"Thanks," Hermione sighed. Severus watched her. "Perhaps you shouldn't," he said, "for it means that I will have to act towards you in public as if like other people you are an irritation to me."
"I know," Hermione nodded. But at least they would both know it was pretence. Then there was a mischievous look in her eyes and she gave a big sigh. "To keep up appearances I don't suppose it would be a good idea to have any more of um, this, you know," she mused. "Which is a shame because..." her next words were cut of by a giggle when Severus abruptly pushed her on to her back, pinning her to the bed with his body and glowering down at her though there was a gleam in his eyes.
His voice though was a silky, dangerous purr that sent pleasurable shivers down her spine. "If you think to deny me the pleasures of your delectable body, my Miss-Know-It-All, you will have another thought coming." He paused to kiss her, hard, then continued. "I would have to show you the error of your ways. Repeatedly."
Hermione blinked. "I don't think I would complain," she mused thoughtfully. His eyes glittered down at her. "You would not be complaining if I have anything to say about it.." he murmured, his hand moving purposefully down her body then hovered at her hip in silent question. "Yes," Hermione breathed, twining her arms around his body as he crushed his mouth down on hers and buried himself inside her. It was less awkward this time for her and her body seemed to melt against his like warm honey as he took her, determined to put his mark on her very soul.
"I think I'll be crawling back to my room at this rate, not walking," Hermione mumbled a while later, a bit out of breath. "I think I'll need a shower, too."
Severus, regretfully disentangling himself from her body, tilted her face up to his with a gentle, pale hand. "I have a bath which you are welcome to use," he murmured. He was in a mood to be generous, and it pleased him to see her look of surprised enquiry on her face.
"You have a bath?" Hermione said in surprise. There were only showers at Hogwarts, no baths. [A/N: This only applies to my version of Hogwarts] "We don't, though sometimes I wish we did," she sighed. Severus raised an eyebrow. "Of course you don't have baths. It would be a waste of water, and you women would spend half the day in them too," he said sardonically, and then his voice gentled. "But as I said, you may use my bath. It's big enough for two," he added in an off-hand voice.
Hermione blinked and blushed slightly, an all-too-clear vision of her and Severus in a bathtub together. Then she nodded firmly. "All right then," she said in an equally off-hand voice. "Then it shall be done," Severus commented, his eyes glinting as he rose from the rumpled bed, picking up his discarded cloak and flinging it over his pale body. He walked over to a door in the corner of his bedchamber and opening it walked through the doorway.
Presumably it led to a bathroom because Hermione soon heard the sound of running water. She wondered what the bath looked like - though knowing him it was probably something old-fashioned, and not one that encouraged you to loll around in it and daydream. Still, a bath would do wonders for her right now, and it was big enough for two, he had said. [Mwhaa.] Hermione thought, sitting up and bundling up her tangled hair into a rough knot at the nape of her neck. After a while she heard Severus call out to her that the bath was ready, and that any comments about the lack of a rubber duck would be ignored, thank you.
Hermione grinned and getting up off the bed wrapped her discarded robe about her. Padding over to the doorway she walked into the bathroom and blinked. Severus was a man who disliked unnecessary luxury in his life - his clothes were all in a severe, classic style and galleons were spent on books, not on ornamentation. But being raised in a chilly castle full of draughts (despite efforts to remove them) had left him with an appreciation, no, a need for a decent bathroom, that although set out along simple lines, was the best that galleons could buy.
The floor was made up of pale grey marble tiles that also marched up the sides of the walls to waist height, the rest of the walls and ceiling painted white. Though a light source was evident, its whereabouts was hidden to the casual eye. The vanity and sink were granite of a darker grey with a small, mirrored cupboard above containing personal items one accumulated in a bathroom, while another door led off to a toilet. A wicker basket stood against one wall, a black sock hanging down from its lid giving the bathroom a homely touch.
Hermione's attention was caught by the other occupant of the bathroom and the freestanding tub in the corner, hewn from copper-coloured stone. It was round, too..filled near to the brim with gently steaming water. Lavender would kill for such a bath. In the wall, set where one could comfortably look out when seated in the bath, was a round window of clear glass that fairly bristled with defensive spells that also rendered the view to be one way only. Nothing short of a nuclear bomb would get through that window, Hermione thought. The vague outlines of mountains could be seen in the distance, and the black sky glittered with stars.
Severus, in his dark attire was perched on the side of the bath, frowning slightly as he tested the water with a hand. Then he muttered something under his breath and the waters hissed and bubbled for a moment then subsided. He tested the water again and allowed his frown to subside. Perfect. Then it faded altogether when Severus turned his dark head to gaze at Hermione and studied the expression on her face with amusement.
There was a sardonic smile on his face. "I did say I had a bath, so why don't you cease your impersonation of a gaping goldfish and enjoy it."
Hermione needed no further invitation, unfastening her robe and hanging it on a nearby hook. There was only one towel on its rack, she noticed, a thick black one. Then she clambered into the bath, sighing as she sat down in the warm water. "That feels wonderful," she said appreciatively, smiling up at Severus. She obviously had no knowledge of what that smile did to him, he thought, feeling compelled to murmur a soft-edged word, his pale fingers trailing in the water. He smirked at her look of surprise as foaming bubbles spread swiftly across the surface of the water.
"I don't believe it - a bubble bath!" Hermione said, laughing at the unexpected hilarity of it all, having a bubble bath in the middle of the night with Professor Snape. Who on removing his attire from his thin body joined her in the water, his face relaxing at the feel of the water soothing his limbs. Passion had been satiated for now between then, though this did not stop Severus from taking the soap and kneeling in front of her, gently washed her, his hands learning again the soft curves of her body, his black eyes closing in pleasure when Hermione did the same to him.
His eyes opened though when she exclaimed unhappily over the Dark Mark on his arm. Or rather, what remained of the Dark Mark, now a small, twisted mass of dark scar tissue. For Voldemort, in his last days had enacted a final, petty revenge against the Death Eater who had left him by speaking a word that was vicious to the ears of those who had happened to hear it, and Severus, with an agonised shriek torn out of him, had found the Dark Mark burning into his arm. "Leave it," he told Hermione tersely, but not unkindly. "Nothing can be done for it, I have tried."
"Does it hurt?" Hermione asked with concern, a grave dignity upon her despite the streaks of bubbles adorning her neck and face from his teasing hand (he had decided to ignore the bubbles which she had patted on his nose). "Sometimes, yes. But it can be tolerated." To which Hermione could only reply by reaching out and holding him.
It was with reluctance that Hermione after the bath left him for her own bed. She was dressed in her own robe, her hair neatly plaited again (and feeling the cleanest she had been in a long time). Severus was back in his own clothes again because, he commented while he kissed her at his door, he had some papers that regrettably needed marking.
"Well, don't stay up all night then!" Hermione scolded him. His thin mouth quirked. "I won't dignify that with a 'yes dear' but will urge you to go, before I change my mind and take you back to bed..good night, my love."
"Good night," Hermione whispered, feeling unwilling to leave in her turn, both of them holding the other tightly for a moment. Then Hermione stepped away and turning made her way back to her room. She had a separate room from the others as benefited her status and made little noise, but there were ears that listened, and eyes that stared into the darkness and wondered where she had been for so long..
Beth Ann - I like the buttons too.don't ask me why!
Ghaeth, Lady Osolone, Sweet Audrina & Zoe - Thank you - I tried not to have it too mushy.
Tegan - Thank you, I enjoy your writing too.
A/N: This is a fluffy chapter, with a bathtub making an appearance, heh.
Part 13
When Hermione's mind came back to itself she found she was lying in his arms against his chest under the covers of the bed. The fire still burned brightly in the fireplace and the room felt like a warm, cosy nest. She blushed as memories rushed back. Had they really - had she - had he -
[We had sex!] she thought in astonishment, realising she must have spoken aloud when there was a chuckle from Severus, his hand moving gently over her bare skin. Or he could have heard her thought somehow - Harry had always sworn that Professor Snape could read his mind, especially at inconvenient moments. She lifted her head to see Severus watching her, his black hair lightly tickling where it brushed over her skin, his eyes a brilliant black. "If we didn't have sex then I'm waiting to hear your description of what we did," he said dryly. "Or rather, what you were doing since there were two of us, you know."
Hermione snuggled closer to him. Yes, there was a very nice body under his clothes. "You can't talk - you're the one who wanted to do it on the table!" she countered. "Yes, but you had no objections at the time," he retorted lightly, a smile of dark amusement on his face as he bent to kiss her, feeling a warm happiness inside that was rare for him, for he had found a completion in her. "Fine, blame it on me," Hermione sighed, returning his kiss.
After a while Severus smirked. "I cannot wait until I see everyone's reactions when they see us together," he mused. Hermione paused, feeling uneasy. "I don't think we should rush things at the moment," she said carefully, sitting up slightly. His eyes narrowed and there was a chilly look in them. He drew away from her slightly. "Why the delay - are you thinking you would be ashamed to be seen with me openly?" he said flatly.
Hermione blinked. "No, I wouldn't be ashamed!" she said firmly, dropping a tender kiss on his aquiline nose. "It's just that...."
"Yes?" Severus pursued, though his voice was a trifle softer. Hermione swallowed. "I've been going out with Ron for a while and if I'm suddenly seen with you people will jump to all sorts of conclusions - I don't want to be pointed out as um, some kind of whore."
Severus relented. He was forced to admit she did have a point and he had no wish for her to attain an unwelcome reputation. "Very well, I will say or do nothing in public - for now," he said.
"Thanks," Hermione sighed. Severus watched her. "Perhaps you shouldn't," he said, "for it means that I will have to act towards you in public as if like other people you are an irritation to me."
"I know," Hermione nodded. But at least they would both know it was pretence. Then there was a mischievous look in her eyes and she gave a big sigh. "To keep up appearances I don't suppose it would be a good idea to have any more of um, this, you know," she mused. "Which is a shame because..." her next words were cut of by a giggle when Severus abruptly pushed her on to her back, pinning her to the bed with his body and glowering down at her though there was a gleam in his eyes.
His voice though was a silky, dangerous purr that sent pleasurable shivers down her spine. "If you think to deny me the pleasures of your delectable body, my Miss-Know-It-All, you will have another thought coming." He paused to kiss her, hard, then continued. "I would have to show you the error of your ways. Repeatedly."
Hermione blinked. "I don't think I would complain," she mused thoughtfully. His eyes glittered down at her. "You would not be complaining if I have anything to say about it.." he murmured, his hand moving purposefully down her body then hovered at her hip in silent question. "Yes," Hermione breathed, twining her arms around his body as he crushed his mouth down on hers and buried himself inside her. It was less awkward this time for her and her body seemed to melt against his like warm honey as he took her, determined to put his mark on her very soul.
"I think I'll be crawling back to my room at this rate, not walking," Hermione mumbled a while later, a bit out of breath. "I think I'll need a shower, too."
Severus, regretfully disentangling himself from her body, tilted her face up to his with a gentle, pale hand. "I have a bath which you are welcome to use," he murmured. He was in a mood to be generous, and it pleased him to see her look of surprised enquiry on her face.
"You have a bath?" Hermione said in surprise. There were only showers at Hogwarts, no baths. [A/N: This only applies to my version of Hogwarts] "We don't, though sometimes I wish we did," she sighed. Severus raised an eyebrow. "Of course you don't have baths. It would be a waste of water, and you women would spend half the day in them too," he said sardonically, and then his voice gentled. "But as I said, you may use my bath. It's big enough for two," he added in an off-hand voice.
Hermione blinked and blushed slightly, an all-too-clear vision of her and Severus in a bathtub together. Then she nodded firmly. "All right then," she said in an equally off-hand voice. "Then it shall be done," Severus commented, his eyes glinting as he rose from the rumpled bed, picking up his discarded cloak and flinging it over his pale body. He walked over to a door in the corner of his bedchamber and opening it walked through the doorway.
Presumably it led to a bathroom because Hermione soon heard the sound of running water. She wondered what the bath looked like - though knowing him it was probably something old-fashioned, and not one that encouraged you to loll around in it and daydream. Still, a bath would do wonders for her right now, and it was big enough for two, he had said. [Mwhaa.] Hermione thought, sitting up and bundling up her tangled hair into a rough knot at the nape of her neck. After a while she heard Severus call out to her that the bath was ready, and that any comments about the lack of a rubber duck would be ignored, thank you.
Hermione grinned and getting up off the bed wrapped her discarded robe about her. Padding over to the doorway she walked into the bathroom and blinked. Severus was a man who disliked unnecessary luxury in his life - his clothes were all in a severe, classic style and galleons were spent on books, not on ornamentation. But being raised in a chilly castle full of draughts (despite efforts to remove them) had left him with an appreciation, no, a need for a decent bathroom, that although set out along simple lines, was the best that galleons could buy.
The floor was made up of pale grey marble tiles that also marched up the sides of the walls to waist height, the rest of the walls and ceiling painted white. Though a light source was evident, its whereabouts was hidden to the casual eye. The vanity and sink were granite of a darker grey with a small, mirrored cupboard above containing personal items one accumulated in a bathroom, while another door led off to a toilet. A wicker basket stood against one wall, a black sock hanging down from its lid giving the bathroom a homely touch.
Hermione's attention was caught by the other occupant of the bathroom and the freestanding tub in the corner, hewn from copper-coloured stone. It was round, too..filled near to the brim with gently steaming water. Lavender would kill for such a bath. In the wall, set where one could comfortably look out when seated in the bath, was a round window of clear glass that fairly bristled with defensive spells that also rendered the view to be one way only. Nothing short of a nuclear bomb would get through that window, Hermione thought. The vague outlines of mountains could be seen in the distance, and the black sky glittered with stars.
Severus, in his dark attire was perched on the side of the bath, frowning slightly as he tested the water with a hand. Then he muttered something under his breath and the waters hissed and bubbled for a moment then subsided. He tested the water again and allowed his frown to subside. Perfect. Then it faded altogether when Severus turned his dark head to gaze at Hermione and studied the expression on her face with amusement.
There was a sardonic smile on his face. "I did say I had a bath, so why don't you cease your impersonation of a gaping goldfish and enjoy it."
Hermione needed no further invitation, unfastening her robe and hanging it on a nearby hook. There was only one towel on its rack, she noticed, a thick black one. Then she clambered into the bath, sighing as she sat down in the warm water. "That feels wonderful," she said appreciatively, smiling up at Severus. She obviously had no knowledge of what that smile did to him, he thought, feeling compelled to murmur a soft-edged word, his pale fingers trailing in the water. He smirked at her look of surprise as foaming bubbles spread swiftly across the surface of the water.
"I don't believe it - a bubble bath!" Hermione said, laughing at the unexpected hilarity of it all, having a bubble bath in the middle of the night with Professor Snape. Who on removing his attire from his thin body joined her in the water, his face relaxing at the feel of the water soothing his limbs. Passion had been satiated for now between then, though this did not stop Severus from taking the soap and kneeling in front of her, gently washed her, his hands learning again the soft curves of her body, his black eyes closing in pleasure when Hermione did the same to him.
His eyes opened though when she exclaimed unhappily over the Dark Mark on his arm. Or rather, what remained of the Dark Mark, now a small, twisted mass of dark scar tissue. For Voldemort, in his last days had enacted a final, petty revenge against the Death Eater who had left him by speaking a word that was vicious to the ears of those who had happened to hear it, and Severus, with an agonised shriek torn out of him, had found the Dark Mark burning into his arm. "Leave it," he told Hermione tersely, but not unkindly. "Nothing can be done for it, I have tried."
"Does it hurt?" Hermione asked with concern, a grave dignity upon her despite the streaks of bubbles adorning her neck and face from his teasing hand (he had decided to ignore the bubbles which she had patted on his nose). "Sometimes, yes. But it can be tolerated." To which Hermione could only reply by reaching out and holding him.
It was with reluctance that Hermione after the bath left him for her own bed. She was dressed in her own robe, her hair neatly plaited again (and feeling the cleanest she had been in a long time). Severus was back in his own clothes again because, he commented while he kissed her at his door, he had some papers that regrettably needed marking.
"Well, don't stay up all night then!" Hermione scolded him. His thin mouth quirked. "I won't dignify that with a 'yes dear' but will urge you to go, before I change my mind and take you back to bed..good night, my love."
"Good night," Hermione whispered, feeling unwilling to leave in her turn, both of them holding the other tightly for a moment. Then Hermione stepped away and turning made her way back to her room. She had a separate room from the others as benefited her status and made little noise, but there were ears that listened, and eyes that stared into the darkness and wondered where she had been for so long..
