AN/ The format of this part may not appear correctly as I am posting it
from work on break.
MadaboutHarry and Ezmerlda- Good points and ideas, however this chapter and the next should take care of things Phoenix-trying like mad. (bites fingers watching clock tick) Everyone else-thanks for the reviews. Just a fly by the seat of pants story and I had fun with it. Glad you enjoyed it. WARNING: Extreme lemons ahead.
Severus glowered as he waited for Rowena outside the Great Hall. He hated things like this, thankful that Albus did not indulge in them often, and would have preferred his usual place out in the gardens, taking away house points from snogging couples. Reluctantly, he had agreed to accompany Rowena to the dance with the understanding that he would still do his rounds in the garden every half hour alternating with Lupin. His mood was still dark and he was not in the humor to be around so many people.
Rowena approached wearing scarlet robes that were cut so low that Severus suspected she would cause every hormonal young male in the hall to miss a step. Severus bit his tongue to keep from demanding her to go put on something more appropriate.
Entering the hall with his wife on his arm, Severus felt very uncomfortable. He did not miss the stares from the staff. They had not realized that Rowena had returned. The rumor mill had decided she had left him for good.
"Severus, Rowena," Minerva greeted them, eyeing them curiously. "You are looking lovely Rowena dear." She said congenially, though her look said otherwise as she noticed Rowena's plunging neckline.
"Thank you," Rowena said, smiling slyly. She was well aware of how far the rumors had gone also. "I had planned to stay on holiday until Sev could join me next week, but couldn't resist attending this lovely festivity."
Severus smirked at Minerva's obvious discomfort, surmising she had been the one to start the 'she has left him' rumor. Minerva bade them to have a nice evening as she hurriedly left.
Leaning down, Severus kissed Rowena lightly on the cheek. "I definitely enjoyed that my dear," he purred.
Rowena raised an eyebrow. "Does this mean you are taking back the mean things you said to me last night?" she teased.
"Not at all," he said, though a smile played on his lips. "I still want an annulment, but that does not mean I cannot appreciate your cattiness."
"I can show you my claws if you would decide to come home tonight," she challenged, running a finger up his chest.
Severus caught her hand, smiling slyly. "I am afraid you will have to find another for that Rowena. Though I am sure you will have no trouble as half the men in this room are drooling over your attire as we speak."
Rowena laughed. "You will come around Sev."
"I would not put good money on that," he said as he led her to the dance floor.
After dutifully dancing several times with Rowena, Severus stood in the shadows, looking for Hermione. He had not seen her on the dance floor and he scowled in frustration as he did not spot see her anywhere in the hall.
"Severus." Lupin's voice interrupted his search. "I turn the garden over to you."
Severus nodded; glad to get out of the hall for a bit.
"Be sure to check the alcove near the gate, I have broken a couple up several times there." Severus snorted. He would relish in taking away house points tonight.
Severus went through the high hedge into the alcove Remus had mentioned and saw her sitting on the bench. She looked up at him and he flinched at the hurt he saw in her eyes.
"Professor."
His breath caught in his throat. Hermione rarely went out of her way to enhance her features and though he did not care about such, he was stunned at the transformation. She was exquisite.
Hermione had allowed Pavarti and Lavender to get her ready, since her heart was not in it. She had spoken truthfully when she told Harry she was a fool. Not for what she had shared with Severus, she had wanted him that weekend and had no regrets about it, but for allowing herself to get so upset because he had been aloof towards her ever since they had returned to school.
What had she expected? For him to announce to the world they had slept together? 'Why not just brand a scarlet letter on my cheek', she chided herself. Still she desperately wanted to talk to him, to see where they did stand. Perhaps it had only been just a chance encounter. Nothing more. If that is all he had wanted then she needed to know. She thought she deserved that much.
Pavarti had plaited tiny braids all over the top of her head, then gathered and twisted them into an elaborate design on the back of her head. She had used gels on the remaining hair so that it flowed down her back in soft waves.
She had only protested when Lavender had given her a corset to wear. Despite her protests, the girls had laced her tightly into the contraption that pinched her waist until she thought she would lose her breath and pushed her breasts up until they threatened to spill out of the square neck of her robes.
"That's the way it's suppose to work with these robes," Lavender told her. "I only wish I had so much to display," she teased. "There will not be a man in the hall tonight that will not look your way trust me." Hermione glared at her. She didn't want anyone looking at her, except for Severus and it appeared that he no longer wanted to look.
Hermione's worst fears had been confirmed when she saw Severus enter with Rowena. She watched as they whispered intimately after Professor McGonagall had left from speaking to them. The gestures and smiles between them spoke volumes to her and she had left the hall quickly, trying not to cry, berating herself for thinking there had been anything between her and Severus.
"Miss Granger, why are you not inside enjoying the festivities?"
"I do not feel the need to explain why I am not to you, Professor," she said testily, her meaning clear.
Severus rubbed his chin a moment and cast a concealment charm on the alcove. "Hermione, I need to explain about these past weeks."
"Don't bother. I understand completely. It shouldn't have happened, you are married."
"That didn't seem to bother you that weekend."
"That weekend was a mistake," she lied, wanting to hurt him as he had done her these past weeks.
He looked at her coldly, flinching at her words. "I most definitely agree Miss Granger."
The pain in her eyes was more than he could take as he saw the tears welling up in them. Damn.
She started to walk past him. Grabbing her arm he stopped her.
"Let me go!"
He stared down at her, fighting the urge to let her walk on, to let it be done with. It would be much easier. Instead he could think of nothing else but doing what he did. Pulling her to him, he kissed her hard, bruising her lips as he ground his mouth against hers.
She struggled against him, pushing at his arms as he kept kissing her. Easing up on the pressure, he parted her lips, slipping his tongue into her mouth, coaxing and caressing hers until she responded, their tongues dancing as she no longer fought him.
"Hermione," he whispered as he kissed his way down her neck. "Forgive me, I never meant to hurt you."
He pulled back to look into her eyes. "You must understand. I could not be around you. It would have been obvious that I have a desire for you, and with the suspicions already in the air," he kissed, her gently this time. "I wanted to spare you."
She pulled away from him, fire flashing in her eyes. "Why should I believe you Severus? Am I to believe that you have so little power over your desires that you cannot be around me long enough to tell me what was going on? I think not." She stood there with her hands on her hips glaring at him.
Severus chuckled. She reminded him of the day she stood in Dumbledore's office ready to fight tooth and nail to keep him from being fired. Yet because of his desire for her, he was ready to throw her on the ground and take her here, to the hell with being fired.
Hermione was angry. How dare he laugh at her? "I will not be your whore Severus," she said acidly. "I am leaving unless you can give me a plausible excuse for treating me as if I were just that, a one-night fling. Tell me do you give into your desires to sleeping with students so easily?" She knew she had struck a nerve as she saw the rage cross his face. Stiffening her back, she stood her ground as he came over to her.
"I have never touched a student Hermione, until you. As for being a fling, as you so delicately put it, that never entered my mind. I wanted you because." he ground his teeth together, fighting the conflicting emotions he was feeling.
"Tell me Severus," she challenged, "or I walk away from you and I promise I will never look back."
"Because I love you damn it!" He looked shocked that he had actually said it "Because I love you," he said more softly a look of amazement crossing his features.
He looked at Hermione. She was smiling in understanding. Coming to him she put her arms around his neck and kissed him gently. "I love you too Severus Snape," she murmured. "See, the world didn't come to an end because you told me what you felt."
Sitting down on the bench, he pulled her into his lap, kissing her hungrily. Pulling away, Hermione looked at him sadly. "Though I love you Severus, I will not be your mistress," she said bluntly.
"I would never ask you to," he said soberly, though his fingers strayed down to the ample display of her breasts.
Hermione couldn't help but giggle. "Men. Tell me, does every man think with the head between their legs more than the one on their necks?" Chuckling, Severus removed his hand. "I must say that I have not been guilty of that for many years, though having a beautiful woman in my arms, displaying her charms so boldly, I find that it is difficult to reason with both at the same time.
"Seriously, Hermione, I would never ask you to become involve in a relationship you are not comfortable with. I cannot lie and say I feel the same way about it though. You are intelligent enough to realize that my marriage to Rowena is not a good one. Still, I am married and I will try to keep my hands off for the time being. However things may not always stay the way they are," he said giving her a sly grin.
"What do you mean?"
"You will see. Until then, I will try to curb my desires and be more civil towards you. We will talk again when you return from the hols."
Severus hoped he would be able to tell her he was no longer married by then. Rowena's reaction to his explanation of his father's will, had led him to believe she was hiding something. He had enlisted the aid of a friend to do some checking for him.
Severus kissed her gently. "I think you should go back in and I need to get back to disturbing young lovers."
Remus watched for Hermione to come back into the hall. He had directed Severus to the alcove where he had found her sitting alone. Hoping they would resolve the tension between, he was very glad to see her enter with a smile on her face. Apparently they had resolved their issues for the better.
**** Severus frowned as he came into the classroom the first Tuesday evening after the break. Hermione and Remus were chatting and laughing, and when Remus bent closer to whisper something in her ear, Severus felt a rage surge through him as he saw her blush.
Hermione noticed Severus standing the doorway giving them a murderous stare and she tried not to smile.
She had spent the last part of the spring holiday at Sirius' with the 'boys', Harry, Ron, Sirius and Remus. It had been an amusing stay and Remus had been the only one there to act halfway mature and a companionable friendship had developed between them.
Since the others tended to treat her as one of the 'guys', she had been subjected to listening to male hormonal debauchery at its worst. Remus had came to her rescue on more than one occasion when one of the others would start telling a rather randy story, reminding them that there was a lady in the house, to which they would roll their eyes.
In retaliation, she and Remus had formed their own conspiracy. They launched into practical jokes on the other three that would have made George and Fred Weasley proud.
She had received Severus' post while at Sirius', informing her that the Harpy's blood had arrived and that they would work on her potion the first Tuesday after her return. Ron had wanted to know who had sent her an owl as he noted Hermione's flushed face.
"Professor Snape just informed me the ingredient I needed to finish my project has arrived. Can't help it if it makes me happy Ron."
"A three foot parchment to tell you an ingredient had arrived?" he said in disbelief, trying to snatch the paper from her.
Remus had intervened telling Ron that Professor Snape had evidently written about all the properties of the ingredient and how they related to her potion as well as others. Ron lost interest as he mumbled something about Hermione being daft when it came to schoolwork. Remus had given her an understanding wink
He had been partly right. Severus had indeed written extensively about potions. However he had shared with her some ideas he had for potions he wanted to explore, to work on, with the implication that he wanted her to work with him. It was clear that he was thinking of her being with him after graduation.
"Shall we get on with it Miss Granger?" Severus said acidly, ignoring Remus' grin.
This time Severus had tested the Harpy's blood thoroughly to make sure of its purity. After the last drop had been added, the potion turned to a pale blue, signaling that it had mixed successfully.
Hands shaking, Hermione ladled some of the potion into a small vial and took it over to another table where enzyme samples mimicking the chemical compound of the brain waited. Adding drops to each sample, she placed one under the microscope.
"Please look," she told Severus as she crossed her fingers.
Severus looked through the microscope for what seemed like an hour. When he finally straightened, he had a small smile on his lips.
Hermione expelled her breath and grinned.
"Of course the true test will be administrating this to the volunteers at the hospital," Severus reminded her, trying to sound nonchalant though he was as excited as she was. He had already prepared the scroll for the hospital when they first started her project, for he never doubted her success.
The three of them filled small vials and carefully packed them in a box. Severus summoned a house elf to retrieve two of the school owls. Soon the package was securely attached and on its way.
"Congratulations Hermione," Remus said giving her a hug and a kiss on the cheek, smiling as he noted Severus glaring at him. "I always knew if there was an answer to a problem you would be the one to find it. I do believe I will call it a night. Stay and finish cleaning up or whatever you still need to do. Goodnight Severus."
Severus only nodded, still scowling. Remus chuckled at the man's apparent jealousy.
As the door closed, Hermione was startled as she felt hands on her shoulders turning her around. "Seve." His lips claimed hers, the intensity of his kiss making her knees weak as he bent her backward. She swore he was growling as he kept kissing her. She felt his hands clasp her around the waist and lifting her off the ground, he sat her on the nearest desk.
He broke the kiss and began kissing her neck as his hand moved beneath her robes, undoing the buttons on her shirt. "Severus," she protested, "we can't, not here. It's too risky." He stopped her protest with another kiss. His eyes stared deeply into hers and she gasped as she saw the fire there, a look of hunger and anger reflected in them. Pulling out his wand he murmured a few charms locking the door and placing a silencing charm on the room.
He claimed her mouth once more, thrusting his tongue in, as she felt his hands tear her robes open. Shivering in fear and desire, she wondered if he was jealous over Remus giving her a hug. Her thoughts felt muddled as his mouth descended on her breasts still encased in her lacy bra.
She tried to still his hand as he reached up under her skirt to pull her knickers down.
"Do not deny me Hermione," he growled as he finished pulling them down tossing them away. Her heart pounded fast as she looked at him. His face was a mask of passion and darkness and though it frightened her, she wanted him. She had resolutely decided she would not be with him like this again because he was married, but she did want him, 'all of him, good or bad', she thought, 'for I do love him'.
She shook her head. "Never. I would never deny you," she said huskily, opening her arms for him. His face relaxed a bit as he gave her a sly smile as he thrust into her hard, making her gasp.
He was like a man possessed as he drove into her, making her gasp and moan at each sharp thrust. She was still virgin tight and he felt a pang of guilt wondering if he was hurting her, but the driving desire for her, the pangs of jealousy of seeing her so comfortable with Lupin had stirred the darkness in him.
Lifting her legs he put them over his arms as he drove her deeper into the desk. Her head was hanging over the edge and whimpers were coming from her. He felt her response to him, the tightening within her and he increased his pace as she screamed his name as she exploded with release, his own following quickly.
Pulling her to a sitting position, he hugged her tightly; ashamed of what he had just done, but relishing in it nevertheless. "Hermione, I."
"Its alright Severus," she said, rubbing her hand against his cheek. Somehow she instinctively knew he needed this acceptance. "I love you, everything about you."
He laughed dryly. "I do not understand how you can, but can selfishly say that I am glad that you do." He had practically raped her, taking her though she had clearly stated in the garden she did not want to feel like a whore because he was married. If she hated him he could understand that, but she had expressed her love for him.
Shaking his head he looked at her in amazement. "What in Merlin's name do you see in this selfish beast? Surely it was not my good looks or charming personality that attracted you to me?" he said sarcastically.
Hermione smiled. "I think I started to see you as a man instead of my potions professor sometime after my fourth year. You made sure that it was not an easy task, always sneering and nasty, especially to the Gryffindors. When I learned that you were a spy for Dumbledore I realized that there was more to you than just a self-righteous, sneaky Slytherin."
Severus snorted at this. "Perhaps I did it to save my own hide, did you think of that?"
"Even if you did, it still made me look more closely at you. I had always admired your intelligence, though I must say I did not agree with your harsh teaching style.
You seemed so alone, Severus, and I must admit at first my thoughts towards you were those of pity."
He rolled his eyes.
"But it began to change during my sixth year. I saw how vehemently you protected the students when the school was attacked and sacrificed yourself to protect Dumbledore at the end." She paused, remembering how close to death he had been when they had brought him into the hospital wing that day. Her heart had plummeted and she had realized at that moment how much she truly cared for him.
"I think I fell in love with you while you were in the hospital. Though I do not know if you remember, we often talked long into the night. I realize you were in pain, sometimes under the influence of potions, but you talked to me, revealed to me that you were truly a man, with the same fears and desires as any other human."
Severus chuckled. "The Florence nightingale effect. Really Hermione, taking advantage of man in his weakened state."
"Call it what you will Severus. It does not change the fact." Her eyes danced with mischievousness. "Of course, I was always drawn to your sarcastic wit, less than kempt hair, rather large nose," she emphasized this by running a finger down his nose, to which he promptly caught the offending finger and kissed it, "and most of all, your sexy scowl." she teased.
He laughed, and then helped her from the desk as they straightened their clothes.
"I would like to promise this will not happen again," he said, giving her a thorough leer, "but I am afraid that I may not be able to keep that promise. However, I do not want you to think that I expect you to be my mistress and will try to refrain from touching your delicious body until I am free."
"Free?" Her words came out in a strained catch. "Are you saying that you are going to end your marriage?"
"I have asked Rowena for an annulment."
He was surprised at the anger that crossed her face. "How could you think I would be happy with that? I would never be able to face myself if I thought I had caused your marriage to end."
"Hermione," he said gently, "you must believe me. Whatever this may look like, I had chosen to end my so called marriage before I ever touched you."
She looked at him skeptically.
"On my word, even if I had never known you, I would still be seeking an annulment from Rowena."
Hermione nodded, believing him as she stepped into his embrace, allowing her heart to flutter in wishful thinking.
****
Severus entered the Three Broomsticks the next evening curious that Edwin had wanted to see him. Spotting the short, gray haired man in a corner, Severus approached him.
"Severus," Edwin greeted him, standing and shaking his hand vigorously. "Good to see you again."
Edwin Perry had been a fellow Death Eater, who had deserted several months before Voldemort's downfall. Severus had helped the man hide and a friendship of sorts had developed between the two.
"And you Edwin, though you could have owled me with the information I had asked you to check into."
Edwin sat down and waited for Severus to order from the barmaid before he spoke. "I know. It was simple enough to find what you were looking for." He handed Severus a thick envelope. "You were correct in you suspicions."
Severus felt a moment of victory, but seeing Edwin's serious face, pushed the feeling aside.
"After I had secured the records, I was curious. You will see why after you read them. Rowena was very young she was brought into St Mungo's and it wasn't her parents that admitted her, but a woman, Helga Smith, who claimed was a distant cousin. I sought the woman out and questioned her."
He stopped looking at Severus intently. "I wrote down everything she told me, but I felt you would rather hear it from me."
Edwin spoke quietly as he told Severus everything he had learned from Helga about Rowena Treymaine.
Severus' face was impassive as he listened to Ediwn, but a dark fury burned in his eyes. "Thought you would like to know 'everything'," Edwin said somberly, as he got up to leave.
"Yes, of course." Severus shook Edwin's hand. "Thank you for finding this out."
****
The next day something strange occurred at Hogwarts. For the first time in his teaching career, Severus Snape cancelled his classes. He sat in his chambers all day trying to control the murderous rage that threatened to consume him.
MadaboutHarry and Ezmerlda- Good points and ideas, however this chapter and the next should take care of things Phoenix-trying like mad. (bites fingers watching clock tick) Everyone else-thanks for the reviews. Just a fly by the seat of pants story and I had fun with it. Glad you enjoyed it. WARNING: Extreme lemons ahead.
Severus glowered as he waited for Rowena outside the Great Hall. He hated things like this, thankful that Albus did not indulge in them often, and would have preferred his usual place out in the gardens, taking away house points from snogging couples. Reluctantly, he had agreed to accompany Rowena to the dance with the understanding that he would still do his rounds in the garden every half hour alternating with Lupin. His mood was still dark and he was not in the humor to be around so many people.
Rowena approached wearing scarlet robes that were cut so low that Severus suspected she would cause every hormonal young male in the hall to miss a step. Severus bit his tongue to keep from demanding her to go put on something more appropriate.
Entering the hall with his wife on his arm, Severus felt very uncomfortable. He did not miss the stares from the staff. They had not realized that Rowena had returned. The rumor mill had decided she had left him for good.
"Severus, Rowena," Minerva greeted them, eyeing them curiously. "You are looking lovely Rowena dear." She said congenially, though her look said otherwise as she noticed Rowena's plunging neckline.
"Thank you," Rowena said, smiling slyly. She was well aware of how far the rumors had gone also. "I had planned to stay on holiday until Sev could join me next week, but couldn't resist attending this lovely festivity."
Severus smirked at Minerva's obvious discomfort, surmising she had been the one to start the 'she has left him' rumor. Minerva bade them to have a nice evening as she hurriedly left.
Leaning down, Severus kissed Rowena lightly on the cheek. "I definitely enjoyed that my dear," he purred.
Rowena raised an eyebrow. "Does this mean you are taking back the mean things you said to me last night?" she teased.
"Not at all," he said, though a smile played on his lips. "I still want an annulment, but that does not mean I cannot appreciate your cattiness."
"I can show you my claws if you would decide to come home tonight," she challenged, running a finger up his chest.
Severus caught her hand, smiling slyly. "I am afraid you will have to find another for that Rowena. Though I am sure you will have no trouble as half the men in this room are drooling over your attire as we speak."
Rowena laughed. "You will come around Sev."
"I would not put good money on that," he said as he led her to the dance floor.
After dutifully dancing several times with Rowena, Severus stood in the shadows, looking for Hermione. He had not seen her on the dance floor and he scowled in frustration as he did not spot see her anywhere in the hall.
"Severus." Lupin's voice interrupted his search. "I turn the garden over to you."
Severus nodded; glad to get out of the hall for a bit.
"Be sure to check the alcove near the gate, I have broken a couple up several times there." Severus snorted. He would relish in taking away house points tonight.
Severus went through the high hedge into the alcove Remus had mentioned and saw her sitting on the bench. She looked up at him and he flinched at the hurt he saw in her eyes.
"Professor."
His breath caught in his throat. Hermione rarely went out of her way to enhance her features and though he did not care about such, he was stunned at the transformation. She was exquisite.
Hermione had allowed Pavarti and Lavender to get her ready, since her heart was not in it. She had spoken truthfully when she told Harry she was a fool. Not for what she had shared with Severus, she had wanted him that weekend and had no regrets about it, but for allowing herself to get so upset because he had been aloof towards her ever since they had returned to school.
What had she expected? For him to announce to the world they had slept together? 'Why not just brand a scarlet letter on my cheek', she chided herself. Still she desperately wanted to talk to him, to see where they did stand. Perhaps it had only been just a chance encounter. Nothing more. If that is all he had wanted then she needed to know. She thought she deserved that much.
Pavarti had plaited tiny braids all over the top of her head, then gathered and twisted them into an elaborate design on the back of her head. She had used gels on the remaining hair so that it flowed down her back in soft waves.
She had only protested when Lavender had given her a corset to wear. Despite her protests, the girls had laced her tightly into the contraption that pinched her waist until she thought she would lose her breath and pushed her breasts up until they threatened to spill out of the square neck of her robes.
"That's the way it's suppose to work with these robes," Lavender told her. "I only wish I had so much to display," she teased. "There will not be a man in the hall tonight that will not look your way trust me." Hermione glared at her. She didn't want anyone looking at her, except for Severus and it appeared that he no longer wanted to look.
Hermione's worst fears had been confirmed when she saw Severus enter with Rowena. She watched as they whispered intimately after Professor McGonagall had left from speaking to them. The gestures and smiles between them spoke volumes to her and she had left the hall quickly, trying not to cry, berating herself for thinking there had been anything between her and Severus.
"Miss Granger, why are you not inside enjoying the festivities?"
"I do not feel the need to explain why I am not to you, Professor," she said testily, her meaning clear.
Severus rubbed his chin a moment and cast a concealment charm on the alcove. "Hermione, I need to explain about these past weeks."
"Don't bother. I understand completely. It shouldn't have happened, you are married."
"That didn't seem to bother you that weekend."
"That weekend was a mistake," she lied, wanting to hurt him as he had done her these past weeks.
He looked at her coldly, flinching at her words. "I most definitely agree Miss Granger."
The pain in her eyes was more than he could take as he saw the tears welling up in them. Damn.
She started to walk past him. Grabbing her arm he stopped her.
"Let me go!"
He stared down at her, fighting the urge to let her walk on, to let it be done with. It would be much easier. Instead he could think of nothing else but doing what he did. Pulling her to him, he kissed her hard, bruising her lips as he ground his mouth against hers.
She struggled against him, pushing at his arms as he kept kissing her. Easing up on the pressure, he parted her lips, slipping his tongue into her mouth, coaxing and caressing hers until she responded, their tongues dancing as she no longer fought him.
"Hermione," he whispered as he kissed his way down her neck. "Forgive me, I never meant to hurt you."
He pulled back to look into her eyes. "You must understand. I could not be around you. It would have been obvious that I have a desire for you, and with the suspicions already in the air," he kissed, her gently this time. "I wanted to spare you."
She pulled away from him, fire flashing in her eyes. "Why should I believe you Severus? Am I to believe that you have so little power over your desires that you cannot be around me long enough to tell me what was going on? I think not." She stood there with her hands on her hips glaring at him.
Severus chuckled. She reminded him of the day she stood in Dumbledore's office ready to fight tooth and nail to keep him from being fired. Yet because of his desire for her, he was ready to throw her on the ground and take her here, to the hell with being fired.
Hermione was angry. How dare he laugh at her? "I will not be your whore Severus," she said acidly. "I am leaving unless you can give me a plausible excuse for treating me as if I were just that, a one-night fling. Tell me do you give into your desires to sleeping with students so easily?" She knew she had struck a nerve as she saw the rage cross his face. Stiffening her back, she stood her ground as he came over to her.
"I have never touched a student Hermione, until you. As for being a fling, as you so delicately put it, that never entered my mind. I wanted you because." he ground his teeth together, fighting the conflicting emotions he was feeling.
"Tell me Severus," she challenged, "or I walk away from you and I promise I will never look back."
"Because I love you damn it!" He looked shocked that he had actually said it "Because I love you," he said more softly a look of amazement crossing his features.
He looked at Hermione. She was smiling in understanding. Coming to him she put her arms around his neck and kissed him gently. "I love you too Severus Snape," she murmured. "See, the world didn't come to an end because you told me what you felt."
Sitting down on the bench, he pulled her into his lap, kissing her hungrily. Pulling away, Hermione looked at him sadly. "Though I love you Severus, I will not be your mistress," she said bluntly.
"I would never ask you to," he said soberly, though his fingers strayed down to the ample display of her breasts.
Hermione couldn't help but giggle. "Men. Tell me, does every man think with the head between their legs more than the one on their necks?" Chuckling, Severus removed his hand. "I must say that I have not been guilty of that for many years, though having a beautiful woman in my arms, displaying her charms so boldly, I find that it is difficult to reason with both at the same time.
"Seriously, Hermione, I would never ask you to become involve in a relationship you are not comfortable with. I cannot lie and say I feel the same way about it though. You are intelligent enough to realize that my marriage to Rowena is not a good one. Still, I am married and I will try to keep my hands off for the time being. However things may not always stay the way they are," he said giving her a sly grin.
"What do you mean?"
"You will see. Until then, I will try to curb my desires and be more civil towards you. We will talk again when you return from the hols."
Severus hoped he would be able to tell her he was no longer married by then. Rowena's reaction to his explanation of his father's will, had led him to believe she was hiding something. He had enlisted the aid of a friend to do some checking for him.
Severus kissed her gently. "I think you should go back in and I need to get back to disturbing young lovers."
Remus watched for Hermione to come back into the hall. He had directed Severus to the alcove where he had found her sitting alone. Hoping they would resolve the tension between, he was very glad to see her enter with a smile on her face. Apparently they had resolved their issues for the better.
**** Severus frowned as he came into the classroom the first Tuesday evening after the break. Hermione and Remus were chatting and laughing, and when Remus bent closer to whisper something in her ear, Severus felt a rage surge through him as he saw her blush.
Hermione noticed Severus standing the doorway giving them a murderous stare and she tried not to smile.
She had spent the last part of the spring holiday at Sirius' with the 'boys', Harry, Ron, Sirius and Remus. It had been an amusing stay and Remus had been the only one there to act halfway mature and a companionable friendship had developed between them.
Since the others tended to treat her as one of the 'guys', she had been subjected to listening to male hormonal debauchery at its worst. Remus had came to her rescue on more than one occasion when one of the others would start telling a rather randy story, reminding them that there was a lady in the house, to which they would roll their eyes.
In retaliation, she and Remus had formed their own conspiracy. They launched into practical jokes on the other three that would have made George and Fred Weasley proud.
She had received Severus' post while at Sirius', informing her that the Harpy's blood had arrived and that they would work on her potion the first Tuesday after her return. Ron had wanted to know who had sent her an owl as he noted Hermione's flushed face.
"Professor Snape just informed me the ingredient I needed to finish my project has arrived. Can't help it if it makes me happy Ron."
"A three foot parchment to tell you an ingredient had arrived?" he said in disbelief, trying to snatch the paper from her.
Remus had intervened telling Ron that Professor Snape had evidently written about all the properties of the ingredient and how they related to her potion as well as others. Ron lost interest as he mumbled something about Hermione being daft when it came to schoolwork. Remus had given her an understanding wink
He had been partly right. Severus had indeed written extensively about potions. However he had shared with her some ideas he had for potions he wanted to explore, to work on, with the implication that he wanted her to work with him. It was clear that he was thinking of her being with him after graduation.
"Shall we get on with it Miss Granger?" Severus said acidly, ignoring Remus' grin.
This time Severus had tested the Harpy's blood thoroughly to make sure of its purity. After the last drop had been added, the potion turned to a pale blue, signaling that it had mixed successfully.
Hands shaking, Hermione ladled some of the potion into a small vial and took it over to another table where enzyme samples mimicking the chemical compound of the brain waited. Adding drops to each sample, she placed one under the microscope.
"Please look," she told Severus as she crossed her fingers.
Severus looked through the microscope for what seemed like an hour. When he finally straightened, he had a small smile on his lips.
Hermione expelled her breath and grinned.
"Of course the true test will be administrating this to the volunteers at the hospital," Severus reminded her, trying to sound nonchalant though he was as excited as she was. He had already prepared the scroll for the hospital when they first started her project, for he never doubted her success.
The three of them filled small vials and carefully packed them in a box. Severus summoned a house elf to retrieve two of the school owls. Soon the package was securely attached and on its way.
"Congratulations Hermione," Remus said giving her a hug and a kiss on the cheek, smiling as he noted Severus glaring at him. "I always knew if there was an answer to a problem you would be the one to find it. I do believe I will call it a night. Stay and finish cleaning up or whatever you still need to do. Goodnight Severus."
Severus only nodded, still scowling. Remus chuckled at the man's apparent jealousy.
As the door closed, Hermione was startled as she felt hands on her shoulders turning her around. "Seve." His lips claimed hers, the intensity of his kiss making her knees weak as he bent her backward. She swore he was growling as he kept kissing her. She felt his hands clasp her around the waist and lifting her off the ground, he sat her on the nearest desk.
He broke the kiss and began kissing her neck as his hand moved beneath her robes, undoing the buttons on her shirt. "Severus," she protested, "we can't, not here. It's too risky." He stopped her protest with another kiss. His eyes stared deeply into hers and she gasped as she saw the fire there, a look of hunger and anger reflected in them. Pulling out his wand he murmured a few charms locking the door and placing a silencing charm on the room.
He claimed her mouth once more, thrusting his tongue in, as she felt his hands tear her robes open. Shivering in fear and desire, she wondered if he was jealous over Remus giving her a hug. Her thoughts felt muddled as his mouth descended on her breasts still encased in her lacy bra.
She tried to still his hand as he reached up under her skirt to pull her knickers down.
"Do not deny me Hermione," he growled as he finished pulling them down tossing them away. Her heart pounded fast as she looked at him. His face was a mask of passion and darkness and though it frightened her, she wanted him. She had resolutely decided she would not be with him like this again because he was married, but she did want him, 'all of him, good or bad', she thought, 'for I do love him'.
She shook her head. "Never. I would never deny you," she said huskily, opening her arms for him. His face relaxed a bit as he gave her a sly smile as he thrust into her hard, making her gasp.
He was like a man possessed as he drove into her, making her gasp and moan at each sharp thrust. She was still virgin tight and he felt a pang of guilt wondering if he was hurting her, but the driving desire for her, the pangs of jealousy of seeing her so comfortable with Lupin had stirred the darkness in him.
Lifting her legs he put them over his arms as he drove her deeper into the desk. Her head was hanging over the edge and whimpers were coming from her. He felt her response to him, the tightening within her and he increased his pace as she screamed his name as she exploded with release, his own following quickly.
Pulling her to a sitting position, he hugged her tightly; ashamed of what he had just done, but relishing in it nevertheless. "Hermione, I."
"Its alright Severus," she said, rubbing her hand against his cheek. Somehow she instinctively knew he needed this acceptance. "I love you, everything about you."
He laughed dryly. "I do not understand how you can, but can selfishly say that I am glad that you do." He had practically raped her, taking her though she had clearly stated in the garden she did not want to feel like a whore because he was married. If she hated him he could understand that, but she had expressed her love for him.
Shaking his head he looked at her in amazement. "What in Merlin's name do you see in this selfish beast? Surely it was not my good looks or charming personality that attracted you to me?" he said sarcastically.
Hermione smiled. "I think I started to see you as a man instead of my potions professor sometime after my fourth year. You made sure that it was not an easy task, always sneering and nasty, especially to the Gryffindors. When I learned that you were a spy for Dumbledore I realized that there was more to you than just a self-righteous, sneaky Slytherin."
Severus snorted at this. "Perhaps I did it to save my own hide, did you think of that?"
"Even if you did, it still made me look more closely at you. I had always admired your intelligence, though I must say I did not agree with your harsh teaching style.
You seemed so alone, Severus, and I must admit at first my thoughts towards you were those of pity."
He rolled his eyes.
"But it began to change during my sixth year. I saw how vehemently you protected the students when the school was attacked and sacrificed yourself to protect Dumbledore at the end." She paused, remembering how close to death he had been when they had brought him into the hospital wing that day. Her heart had plummeted and she had realized at that moment how much she truly cared for him.
"I think I fell in love with you while you were in the hospital. Though I do not know if you remember, we often talked long into the night. I realize you were in pain, sometimes under the influence of potions, but you talked to me, revealed to me that you were truly a man, with the same fears and desires as any other human."
Severus chuckled. "The Florence nightingale effect. Really Hermione, taking advantage of man in his weakened state."
"Call it what you will Severus. It does not change the fact." Her eyes danced with mischievousness. "Of course, I was always drawn to your sarcastic wit, less than kempt hair, rather large nose," she emphasized this by running a finger down his nose, to which he promptly caught the offending finger and kissed it, "and most of all, your sexy scowl." she teased.
He laughed, and then helped her from the desk as they straightened their clothes.
"I would like to promise this will not happen again," he said, giving her a thorough leer, "but I am afraid that I may not be able to keep that promise. However, I do not want you to think that I expect you to be my mistress and will try to refrain from touching your delicious body until I am free."
"Free?" Her words came out in a strained catch. "Are you saying that you are going to end your marriage?"
"I have asked Rowena for an annulment."
He was surprised at the anger that crossed her face. "How could you think I would be happy with that? I would never be able to face myself if I thought I had caused your marriage to end."
"Hermione," he said gently, "you must believe me. Whatever this may look like, I had chosen to end my so called marriage before I ever touched you."
She looked at him skeptically.
"On my word, even if I had never known you, I would still be seeking an annulment from Rowena."
Hermione nodded, believing him as she stepped into his embrace, allowing her heart to flutter in wishful thinking.
****
Severus entered the Three Broomsticks the next evening curious that Edwin had wanted to see him. Spotting the short, gray haired man in a corner, Severus approached him.
"Severus," Edwin greeted him, standing and shaking his hand vigorously. "Good to see you again."
Edwin Perry had been a fellow Death Eater, who had deserted several months before Voldemort's downfall. Severus had helped the man hide and a friendship of sorts had developed between the two.
"And you Edwin, though you could have owled me with the information I had asked you to check into."
Edwin sat down and waited for Severus to order from the barmaid before he spoke. "I know. It was simple enough to find what you were looking for." He handed Severus a thick envelope. "You were correct in you suspicions."
Severus felt a moment of victory, but seeing Edwin's serious face, pushed the feeling aside.
"After I had secured the records, I was curious. You will see why after you read them. Rowena was very young she was brought into St Mungo's and it wasn't her parents that admitted her, but a woman, Helga Smith, who claimed was a distant cousin. I sought the woman out and questioned her."
He stopped looking at Severus intently. "I wrote down everything she told me, but I felt you would rather hear it from me."
Edwin spoke quietly as he told Severus everything he had learned from Helga about Rowena Treymaine.
Severus' face was impassive as he listened to Ediwn, but a dark fury burned in his eyes. "Thought you would like to know 'everything'," Edwin said somberly, as he got up to leave.
"Yes, of course." Severus shook Edwin's hand. "Thank you for finding this out."
****
The next day something strange occurred at Hogwarts. For the first time in his teaching career, Severus Snape cancelled his classes. He sat in his chambers all day trying to control the murderous rage that threatened to consume him.
