AN/Okay here be OOCness and mush. Bring spoons and enjoy. Warning to those of you who don't like a little smut, better skip this chapter.
Remus sat down at a table in the corner opening the book he had brought with him. He knew it had taken a lot out of Severus to ask him to spend Tuesday and Thursday evenings being a chaperone for Hermione, yet Remus was glad to do it for them.
Hermione burst into the room the excitement clear on her face as she told Severus about the lecture in Edinburgh that weekend.
"And Professor McGonagall agreed to let you attend with me?" he asked suspiciously.
Blushing, she told him that about the arrangement. "If Professor Lupin agrees, I can go."
Severus was seething. How dare she treat Hermione that way? "You go Miss Granger, I will bow out."
"No," her face fell. "I would rather you go and I will stay…"
"You both will go," Lupin said brightly. "I will be glad to accompany Hermione to Edinburgh. It will be a nice change of pace if I do so say so."
****
Remus stifled a sigh as Hermione thanked him once again as they rode the train to Edinburgh that Friday morning. "Hermione," he said gently, "if you thank me one more time, I am afraid I will go quite mad. I told you it was no trouble and am happy to do it."
Hermione blushed. "Sorry Professor. I just know what an inconvience…"
Remus held up his hand. "Not another word. I would think the inconvience would be yours and Professor Snape's." He gave her a sympathetic look
"I know," she said sheepishly. "Its ridiculous when you think about it."
Not really, he thought. The tension between Hermione and Severus had been very intense in the classroom the last couple of weeks. It had not helped the rumors when it was learned that Rowena had apparently left for an extended vacation. He studied her a moment, wondering if he had made the right decision about this weekend.
Remus had listened to the rumors and had watched carefully. He had seen Severus and Rowena in the Three Broomsticks on occasion and surmised there was no love there. It wasn't his place to judge or condemn, so yes, he didn't have any regrets about this weekend. He smiled at Hermione who was looking out the window. The girl had a good heart and wherever that took her would be no one's business but her own.
****
They settled in a hotel several blocks from the university and went to a small pub for a bite of lunch. As they finished their meal Remus told her that he was not going to the lecture.
"What?"
"Don't be so surprise Hermione," he teased. "I am sure this Manning chap is very interesting, but to tell you the truth I have no interest in listening to him."
"Oh." She bit at her lip, a worried look on her face.
"I am sure you and Professor Snape will be properly chaperoned among dozens of fellow patrons," he laughed. "Really Hermione, you are an adult, at least in spirit if not according to your Muggle laws, and should be able to handle any situation in whatever manner you see fit." He gazed at her intently. Hermione flushed. Could he actually know how she felt about Severus? If he did, why was he telling her this?
"Besides I do have a friend I planned to visit while I am here," Remus said, interrupting her thoughts.
Ah. "I see." Hermione smiled at the flush on his face.
****
Hermione saw Severus as she approached the building where the lecture was to be held. He stood stiffly to the side of the entrance scowling at the people who passed by. She took the opportunity to appraise him before he saw her. Dressed in black trousers, a plain white shirt and a dark gray jacket, with his hair pulled back neatly at the base of his neck she thought him quite handsome.
She had chosen a simple dark blue dress with a vee shaped neckline and a slightly full skirt that fell below her knees. Her hair had been twisted and gathered in a knot, though she knew that several of the unruly locks had escaped and tickled at her ears. Low black heels completed the ensemble. She had wanted to look serious but couldn't help but wish she had chosen something a bit more daring as her eyes fell on Severus. Stop that, she chided herself. He is married, it doesn't matter if she is a bitch, he still is married.
Severus was beginning to get impatient as he waited for her and Lupin. He had Apparated to a small wizarding section of Edinburgh and had taken a cab to the university. Though he had been in Muggle society often enough as a Death Eater, he was very uncomfortable being here now. Scanning the growing crowd of people approaching the building his eyes caught hers. She blushed as he caught her staring at him.
Approaching her, he raised an eyebrow questioningly.
"Professor Lupin has decided not to join us," she told him as he stopped before her. Her cheeks were still flushed as she felt him taking in her appearance. "It seems he made other plans for this evening."
Severus looked surprised at her news, though he was actually glad he would not have to put up with Remus' company tonight. Not when I can have this charming woman to myself. "Shall we?" He took her hand as he led her through the people.
The lecture was very interesting and Manning proved to be a charismatic speaker. For two hours silence filled the hall as those in attendance listened. Hermione stole glances at Severus who had not moved during the entire time, intently listening and watching the man.
When the lecture was over, questions from the audience were allowed and the room erupted with whispers as people stood to address the psychiatrist. Often Severus would snort and remark to her about the foolish questions, how the Muggles did not understand what the man wanted to do.
"Why don't you ask him something then?" she challenged, smiling sweetly. He gave her a disdainful look. She knew he was uncomfortable around so many Muggles. Placing a hand on his arm she told him that if he wanted to they could leave.
He nodded, a small look of gratitude crossing his features as he stood, offering his hand to her. They left the hall and walked into the cool night air. The moon had risen, bright and three quartered, and Hermione realized that if this lecture had been next weekend Professor Lupin could not have came. Fate had smiled on her she mused, for she had truly enjoyed the talk. The lecture would be continued tomorrow morning and she hoped Severus was planning to attend.
It had been terribly warm inside and she shivered as they walked down the long flight of stairs from the hall. "You are chilled," Severus said, taking off his jacket and putting it around her shoulders. She smiled at him, breathing deeply of his aroma that filled her nose from his jacket. Spicy, with a hint of muskiness, reminding her of deep woods, dark and mysterious.
They stopped and he looked at her a moment. "Will Lupin be coming to escort you to wherever you are staying?" he questioned.
"No, I don't think so. We had not discussed it. The hotel is only a few blocks away and it is a pleasant evening for a walk."
He frowned. "I am sure you know much more about Muggle society than I, however I for one do not think it is the safest thing for a young woman to walk alone in a strange town."
She tried to hide her smile, as she started to remind him that she was a very capable witch, but stopped as he offered to walk her to the hotel before he left.
They walked companionably side by side, discussing the lecture. Severus would glare at those who passed and Hermione tried hard not to giggle. They came to the pub she and Remus had dined at earlier and she realized that she was extremely thirsty. "Would you have time for a drink?" she asked. He looked at her quizzically a moment, an odd glint in his eyes before he agreed that he too could stand to wet his throat.
The pub was very crowded and they found no place to sit. The barmaid directed them to a small patio in the back as she took their orders.
Sitting at a small table in the corner, Hermione felt self conscious as she felt Severus' intense gaze. "So when is your wife coming back from vacation?"
Severus stiffened, then frowned, and told her sometime before the spring break. Good going Granger, ruin a lovely evening by mentioning his wife.
She began discussing Manning and soon Severus was relaxed and speaking animatedly. They barely noticed the other patrons leaving the patio and how quiet it had become inside.
"Last call," the barmaid told them as she came to collect their glasses.
"Oh, I didn't realize it was so late," Hermione laughed.
"I guess that's what happens when you are in good company," the woman told her, giving her a wink before she left.
Watching Hermione intently once more, Severus was lost in his thoughts. He was desperately fighting the urge to pull her up from her seat and kiss her thoroughly.
This evening had been delightful, not only the lecture, but being with her. Her intelligent comments on Manning's theory, the way she carried herself with confidence, and now with the moonlight reflecting her deep brown eyes, he was starting to lose his resolve. It did not bother him that he was married, that was just an unfortunate inconvenience, but she was technically still his student even if they were not on the grounds of the school.
Standing, he absently pulled on the silver chain around his neck, fingering the pendant he wore, a habit he had acquired since he had received the gift.
Hermione stood up and smoothed her skirt before she looked at him. "Time to leave…" she saw him caressing the small silver disc and recognized it as the one she had sent to him at Christmas. "You kept it?" she asked in amazement.
He looked at her, his dark eyes glittering, as he moved to stand in front of her, his resolve to keep his hands off her flying into the night sky. Why wouldn't I keep it? Don't you know how much it, you, mean to me?
He didn't remember when it had started, just that it had happened sometime during her sixth year. She had become an obsession. At first he dismissed it as lust, it had happened before, after all he was human. There had been the occasional student he had fantasized about briefly, knowing it was just pure lust and often found that it took care of itself when he visited a place he knew in Knockturn Alley. However, nothing had helped him put Hermione from his thoughts.
Finally he had to admit to himself it wasn't just physical attraction that found his thoughts drawn towards her. After all she was not the prettiest of girls and she never went out of her way to try to enhance her features. It had been her thirst for knowledge, her quick mind and love for learning that charmed him. He looked forward to seeing her in class, to challenge her and to watch her respond to that challenge with that sharp wit.
During the last term of her sixth year, Dumbledore had enlisted his help in supplying medicinal potions for the Order and St Mungo's as injuries were becoming massive with the attacks of the Death Eaters. He had asked if Severus could find a student to help him and of course he had thought of her. She had risen to the challenge and between them they had fulfilled the request in half the time.
During that time of working together, he had studied her, memorized every detail of her features, imprinted her fragrance in his mind and had etched her into his heart, though he would not admit it. It had disturbed him that he thought so much about her. For the gods sake she was a student, a silly little girl that had annoyed him in class during her first years. Yet he couldn't get her out of his mind, his dreams. It had been one of the reasons he had finally agreed to let his mother arrange a marriage. He thought if he was that hard up, that he had to fantasize about young students, he needed the company of a woman desperately.
The start of this year had almost broken his resolve about marrying Rowena. Working so intimately with Hermione in his chambers, he had not missed the way she smiled at him, her eyes lighting up with a special look, the way his named rolled off her tongue as if she were tasting each syllable. And he had fed off of it. He had came close several times to just saying the hell with it, grabbing her and carrying her off to his bedroom to make love to her until they both were exhausted. The closest he had been to taking such actions was the evening Lupin had came for the Wolfsbane potion. Severus was still unsure whether he should thank him or wring his neck.
And here she stood before him, eyes shining brightly, surprised, yet pleased, that he had kept a gift she had given him. Her face was tilted up and she had a small smile on her face.
"I never did get a chance to properly thank you," he said softly and lowered his mouth to hers.
Hermione felt his lips on hers and she thought she was dreaming. His lips were soft, questioning. She answered his question as she put her arms around his neck and kissed him back.
Severus did not hesitate. His arms went around her pulling her close as his tongue parted her lips. His tongue stroked the inside of her mouth, drawing the sweetness he found there.
He's kissing me, she thought amazed, feeling her stomach flutter from the sensations. In her dreams it had never felt so good
"Gods Hermione. Do you know how long I have wanted to do this?" he murmured against her mouth.
Her knees went weak. He actually had wanted her as much as she wanted him. All vestures of what was proper flew from her as she surrendered to his kiss, to him, as he pressed her tightly against him.
It felt as if she could not get enough of him, his touch. She kissed him hungrily, with all the passion she had stored up over the year. He moaned against her mouth and she felt his hands caressing her back and then her buttocks.
"Ahem."
They broke apart quickly as the barmaid grinned at them. "Sorry folks but its closing time."
Hermione was glad for the darkness as she felt the heat flowing over face. Severus stood there looking at her through half closed eyes and a small smile on his face.
"I guess we better be going," she said regretfully, afraid that the moment had been just a lark.
They walked in silence the short distance to the hotel. Hermione turned to look at him, not wanting him to go but unsure if he wanted to stay.
"Well here we are," she said hesitantly. Before she could register another thought she found herself in his embrace, her face lying on his chest as he hugged her tightly, his hands caressing her back.
She felt his heart beating rapidly beneath her cheek and she knew he did not want to go. Forgive me, but I want this, if just for tonight, she thought as she pushed away the nagging voice of reason that told her it was very improper to want a married man. Regret would be for another time.
"Hermione…"
Pulling back she looked up at him. "Don't go," she murmured. His dark eyes studied her for a moment before a sly smile graced his face. Taking her hand, he brought it up to his mouth and kissed her palm before entwining his fingers through hers, as she led him into the hotel and up the stairs hoping that Lupin was asleep in his own room and not waiting up for her.
Entering the small room, Severus stopped her when she started to turn on the lights. He flicked his wand and the curtains parted allowing the moonlight to flood the room. Pulling her to him he kissed her until she lost her breath. Breaking the kiss he moved down to her neck laying soft fluttering kisses down to the base of her throat, stopping to suck on her collarbone. Her hands entangled in his hair as she moaned, leaning against him. She barely heard him murmuring her name as his hands pulled the zipper to her dress down.
Hermione's mind was racing as she trembled in his arms. She had never been intimate with a man before, had never wanted to be until now. Would he mind? What if she wasn't skilled enough to please him? Unsure of what to do, she just gave into the sensations flowing through her as his he finished removing her clothes and undergarments.
The first brush of his hands against her bare flesh made her jump, the sensation sending ripples down to her core. His hands moved down to gently cup her breasts as he looked into her eyes. Sensing her uncertainty he removed his hands to catch hers, drawing them up to the buttons on his shirt.
Severus watched her as she undressed him, noticing the way she kept hers eyes adverted as she lowered his pants and undergarments. Her shyness was endearing and he felt a rush of passion fill him. The women he had known were often the aggressor. Those he paid wanting to hurry on to the next patron and Rowena, well, she often had her own agenda.
Hermione braved a look at the man standing naked before her now. Lean, but not skinny, his pale skin seemed even more so in the moonlight flooding into the room. Her gazed traveled lower and she bit her lip as she saw his manhood. She had never seen a naked man except for Harry. She had accidentally walked in on him when he was getting out of the bath at the Weasley's one morning during the summer between their fifth and sixth years. That was not the same, she thought as she saw the aroused man before her.
Trying to stifle a small chuckle, Severus stood still allowing her to take her time as she studied him, her wide eyed glances arousing him further. "Do you find what you see acceptable?" he teased, his voice a low purr. "For I surely find the sight in front of me most delectable."
Hermione blushed and could only nod as he closed the small gap between them, capturing her lips once more. The heat of his body against hers made her gasp and she returned his kiss urgently, drawing a moan from him as he pulled her down on the bed with him.
As his mouth gave hers full attention, his hands seemed to be everywhere at once as the sensitive fingers played on her body, finding spots that sent tingles down her spine and others that made her wet with desire. Mimicking his actions she ran her own hands over his body, feeling him jump when she touched certain spots and moan softly at others. Hesitantly her hand traced its way down to touch him. Her fingers brushed the soft, silky skin of his manhood and he broke the kiss, closing his eyes as he allowed her to explore him there.
Hermione traced him with her fingers before grasping him, stroking feeling him twitch beneath him. She had borrowed a book from an older cousin, a sex guide for married couples, when she was 15 and curious about the whole lovemaking deal. It had been a most interesting read though she couldn't imagine ever doing some of the things shown in detail within the book. Now she understood. Being with Severus, the object of her desire, she wanted to please him. She pushed on his chest rolling him to his back.
Kneeling over him she kissed him on his chest, hesitantly moving lower. Severus raised his eyebrows as her lips trailed downward and he buried his hands in her hair wondering about the shy little bookworm. He didn't wonder long as he felt her place her warm lips on him. He groaned in pleasure as she took him in her mouth.
This isn't so bad she thought as she stroked him. It delighted her as he moved against her, his hands urging her to continue her administrations. What she lacked in skill she made up for in enthusiasm.
She felt his hand pulling her away from him and she looked at him surprised. Was she doing it wrong? He chuckled at the confusion on her face. "I enjoy thoroughly what you are doing, however I think it is my turn to have my taste of you."
Severus moved swiftly, rolling her onto her back as she giggled. If Ron could only see me now, thinking how ridiculous it was to think of her friend right now. His utter disgust over just thinking she had feelings for Severus would pale if she ever told him about tonight, knowing she never would.
Thoughts of Ron and everything slipped away as Severus began kissing her body. The slow, sucking kisses seemed to touch every inch of skin as he started with her throat, moving down until he was at her breasts. Her insides seemed to melt as he took each nipple into his mouth, teasing with his tongue until they grew erect.
As he kissed his way down her stomach, Hermione felt an ache deep within her. The book definitely didn't mention the intense emotional pleasure she was feeling right now she thought as she stroked Severus' hair, loving every touch from him.
Parting her thighs, his kisses found their way to her center. Her hips arched at his first touch and she bit her lip from crying out as he caressed her most sensitive spot. She made small noises of delight, wriggling against him and he laughed, enjoying her reaction. She was so responsive to him, his touch, and it was a heady sensation as he brought her near to release.
Severus moved back up her body, kissing each inch along the way. He was drunk on the taste of her, her unbridled reaction to him. Finally reaching her mouth he kissed her slowly, drawing the sweetness from it as he pressed against her, teasing her. His hand shook slightly as he reached down to guide himself into her, entering her swiftly.
"Severus!" She gasped, biting down on her lip, her body tensing.
Bloody hell, he hadn't known. The shy act was innocence and he cursed himself for not recognizing it. Kissing her face he waited for her to adjust to him being within her. His limbs were trembling slightly from the intense emotion racing through him. He had never taken a virgin willingly, only those taken in brutal rape during the raids he had participated in and the thought that she offered herself to him almost sent him over the edge. Steadying his desire he kissed her, his hands began caressing her legs and arms until he felt her start to relax small noises coming from her throat.
Slowly he began to move, fighting hard to still the urge to ravish her as dark thoughts crept unbidden into his mind. This was the girl he had dreamt about for over a year and he wanted her to find her pleasure with him.
Soon he felt the tension ease from her body and she began to move with him, her untutored motions awkward. He lifted her legs, guiding her to place them around him and he smiled at the look of delight on her face as she felt him go deeper.
His pelvis pressed against hers, as he moved in small circles until he felt her response, her body gripping his, signaling her soon release. She had kept her eyes closed since he had entered her, from shyness or embarrassment he did not know, but now he wanted to see into them as he watched the emotions on her face as she neared completion.
"Open your eyes Hermione," he told her, trying to make it a request though the passion in his voice made it sounded more harshly than he had intended. He quickened his pace, feeling her tighten around him. "Look at me. I want to see your pleasure, I want to experience it with you."
"Oh Severus, " she gasped, opening her eyes and looking deep into his.
"That's right love, let it go," he urged and he felt her clamp tightly around him, her release washing over him and he let go, flooding into her.
Kissing her deeply, he untangled their sweaty bodies and pulled her to him, her head resting on his shoulder as he brushed a lock of hair out of her face. She was trembling and he felt almost humbled by what she had shared with him. "Thank you," he murmured.
****
