Deliver me 20- citrus and ginger
Someone said something, they always do. Who are they? Those damn nosey people who can not stand for anything to happen if it isn't happening to them, or happening the way they want it to. Someone always has to complain, even when there is no purpose. So it was that on Hermione's third day she was called into the chancellors office to "answer a few questions."
"Mrs Granger..."
"Ms." The chancellor gave her a sideways glance.
"Ms. Granger. We had a complaint from a fellow student who said that you and a teacher were behaving inappropriately in class. What would you like to say in your defense?"
"I have no reason to defend myself, I have done nothing wrong."
"Are you saying that these accusations are unjustified?"
"Yes sir, I have been to my classes two times and I have taken notes and done assignments."
"A fellow student said he saw Professor Snape talking to you and standing a little too close." The man sitting across from her raised his eyebrow and seemed to be trying to intimidate her. She laughed to herself at his pitiful attempt, she had been intimidated by the best, still was actually.
"Chancellor Labadie, Professor Snape and I have known each other for many years. I was his student, we worked together to defeat Voldemort and we are now co-workers, or will be when the school year begins. Whoever complained saw a simple, innocent conversation about glasses." The chancellor stared at her for a minute.
"Have you talked to Professor Snape yet today?"
"No, but I am going to be late for his class in another five minutes."
"I understand, he said the same thing when he came by earlier. I just thought maybe he had asked you to say that. I know him better than that though." He smiled
at her. "Maybe you two should keep your conversations to a minimum in the classroom. Here, you can floo to the potions building." He indicated a large fireplace
and she happily grabbed the floo powder and stepped through without saying goodbye.
Hermione stepped into class and sat down a second before Persephone. The chalk board was filling with directions by itself. Hermione read;
"Finish your potion, I will be back to help you test them before the end of class. Do not test them on your own!"
Hermione laughed to herself. She had a strong feeling he was talking directly to her on that last part.
Classes went on in a normal way for the next week. Snape had become almost, talkative, when teaching the class. He would tell anecdotes to the class and answer various questions and have discussions while the brewing was going on. Hermione had of course ensnared him into many of the conversations, but out loud and in front of the entire class. Hermione felt like she was doing something worth while for the first time since Draco left.
Her job was less than fulfilling, her home life was a joke and the relationship business was even worse. Snape had backed off, she assumed because of the
complaint, her only other pseudo lead on a relationship, or even just a date, was a the guy who worked at the local punk shop. Oh yeah, and the son of someone
her mom worked with, who had never actually called. So when her brain came off of hiatus and began working again, Hermione began to feel like her old self for
the first time in forever. She had a plan, but she had to get some information first.
It was the end of class and all the professor worshipers were at the front of the room with their barrage of questions for Snape. Hermione stayed in the back so that she could be last. Finally everyone began to clear out.
"Ms. Granger, did you have a question?"
"Well, yes but It's kinda involved, do you have a few minutes?"
Snapes office at the college was tiny, Hermione had a sneaking suspicion it had been supply closet at one time. She was surprised to see a computer, and not at all surprised to see that almost every surface was covered in books. Snape followed her gaze to the computer.
"I see you have found my friend. I actually wish we could have these at Hogwarts, I find that they are much easier to use than anything magical." Hermione was surprised to hear him complimenting a muggle device but thought she should probably not say anything. "What is it you wanted?" 'Such a loaded question' Hermione thought.
"I have come up with a plan for my future, but I am not exactly sure of how to accomplish it. I know the basics but I need to know more."
"You mean you are not going to stay at Hogwarts forever?" He smirked, knowing that she was not happy there.
"I would really like to teach in a college setting. I want to be a professor at the collegiate level." Snape smiled a little and shook his head.
"I could see that, you really would fit in better in this environment than a typical school. So how can I help?"
"Would you help me lay out a sort of plan, so I will know what my basic goals are from year to year?" Snape motioned for her to move closer, laid a piece of paper on his cluttered desk and pulled out a pen. Hermione remained standing, considering there were no chairs and leaned over to look at what he was writing, she put an arm between them to brace herself while she was reading. He had written a few words at the top of the paper when he stopped.
"What is that smell?" Hermione looked around and sniffed at her clothes, thinking she stunk.
"Does it smell bad?"
"No not at all, it's very pleasant, like citrus and ginger, and something else." He had closed his eyes and was inhaling the scent, moving slightly as if trying to find it.
"Oh that's me, it's my lotion." She began to move her arm away when he laid a finger on her wrist and stilled her movements. He leaned closer to her arm and drew in a deep breath. His finger moved up from her wrist with feather light touches to the inside of her elbow. He gently took her arm in his hands and moved it closer to him. He bent his head down and placed his lips on the inside of her elbow where his finger had been. He looked up into her face to see that her eyes were closed and her lips were slightly parted. He stood quickly and smoothly and slid his right hand across her cheek to the back of her neck and his left hand went up then under her arm and wrapped around her back to pull her into him. Then sensation of his lips on her arm began to fade with the realization that his lips were on her lips. He held her securely in his arms and just pressed his lips to hers at first, his right hand coming forward to caress her cheek and neck. Then he used his thumb to pull at her chin slightly opening her mouth enough that he could begin to explore. She felt his tongue on her lips and his tongue on her teeth and his tongue on her tongue and in her mouth. Then she remembered she had a tongue. Her hands moved up to his body, her right arm up on his shoulder with her hands in his hair and her left on his arm. She began to try to taste him, licking his lips, searching out his tongue. They kissed and moved their heads to change to different positions, looking for deeper penetration into each others mouth, but never came up from air. They were both afraid if they broke the kiss it would never happen again. Just as Snape had lifted Hermione up onto one of the many book laden desks in the small office, they were interrupted by a strangled cough. They pulled apart swollen lipped and lusty eyed to see one Draco Malfoy, standing with Hermione's lab-partner Persephone.
