Obligatory disclaimer: JK Rowling owns all of the characters in this story (no, I won't be creating any originals), I just borrow them and occasionally use them as my love slaves *pets Severus*
What Is, And What Should Never Be Chapter FourHermione woke up the next day stiff and sore. Her hand and arm was covered with shiny, new skin that was inflexible as she tried to move her fingers. Her chest was spattered with small scabbing wounds. She painfully remembered the previous night as she applied the cream Madam Pomfrey had given her. A mistake like that would cost her the project. Snape had already been reserved about agreeing to it, and Hermione knew her stupid clumsiness would never be forgiven. And she still could not get past the fact that she had unbuttoned her blouse in front of him. The thought made her feel disgusting and dirty, even though she knew it was a necessary step after her blunder.
Tenderly, Hermione took of her pajamas and pulled on her robe. She didn't feel like having breakfast, or dealing with Ron, so she sat back down on her bed and reached over for the book she was reading. Just as she finished her page, a sharp knock came from outside. A small, dark owl was sitting on her windowsill, tapping on her window with its scaly claw. She opened the window and it fluttered down onto her bedside table, dropping a small note, folded neatly and sealed with a wax emblem, then flew swiftly back outside. Hermione carefully unfolded the crisp parchment and nearly dropped it when she saw that the signature at the bottom read 'Severus Snape'.
Miss GrangerYou no doubt realize how disastrous your error was. Your injuries could have been far worse. However, this mistake does not mean you no longer have to complete your assignment. I expect you at my office tonight, at six, to complete the ingredient preparation.
Professor Severus Snape.
***
The note left Hermione in shock for the rest of the day. She could not for the life of her understand why Snape had given her a second chance. She doubted whether she would've given herself a second chance. Harry and Ginny had asked why her arm was bandaged up, but she brushed off the comment by merely saying she'd stood too close to her cauldron fire. She felt embarrassed. Nevertheless, come six o'clock she found herself outside his office again, dreading knocking. An immediate reply came as she rapped on the door.
'Come in!' Snape snapped. Hermione slowly opened the door and stepped inside. Snape swept over and loomed above her. 'Yesterday's mistake was inexcusable. You realize how dangerous the potion is, and to blunder so early on was behaviour I would not have expected from a competent student like yourself.'
'I'm sorry, sir,' Hermione said, staring at her feet.
'Now, as you can't seem to be able to prepare the ingredient yourself, I will be helping you with the dwayberry. I have picked some fresh and it is on the table over there.' He pointed to very small oak table with two chairs, two knives and two pairs of dragon-hide gloves. Snape took one seat and Hermione, the other.
'I'm sure you remember the process,' he said. 'Remove the berries and dice the stem, leaves and flowers. And, Miss Granger…'
'Yes, Professor?'
'Do try not to cut yourself.' Hermione swore she saw a slight grin.
'I'll try, sir,' she replied. 'But, no promises.' She carefully removed the berries from the brittle stems, trying not to squash them, or tear the leaves. Her hands were shaking slightly to begin with, she didn't know why, but as she continued to concentrate, she felt more at ease in the situation and was able to slice steadily.
'Don't let your mistake get to you,' Snape told her after a while, with a kindness she had never heard from him before. 'The first time I prepared dwayberry, I knocked the entire cauldron over my feet. I couldn't walk properly for a month.' Hermione smiled. 'But, you'll do well not to mention that to anyone else.'
Silence loomed over the rest of the slicing procedure. Hermione noted the preciseness with which Snape sliced, each piece being a uniform size and his hands flowing over them with the ease that had come from years of potion making. When they had both finished, he swept all the bits into a bowl and added them to the liquid that had been simmering in the cauldron.
'I need that spoon behind you,' Snape grunted, when he had finished. Hermione reached behind to get it just as he leaned forward to do the same. Their hands met on the spoon and they both froze.
'Sorry,' Hermione muttered and turned back around. Snape slowly retreated, his cheek brushing against hers. She noticed him taking a deep breath of her hair as she did the same. He froze again just millimetres from her face. Her breath grew shallow and shaky as she looked into his eyes. She could feel his warm breath softly against her lips and, with fear, realized what was going to happen.
He pressed his lips gently against hers.
Snape drew away quickly, but still close enough so Hermione could feel his heat. Her heartbeat grew fast, and her breathing shook even more. A new feeling was coursing through her blood, and she didn't know what it was. Surrendering to her first impulse, she leaned forward and kissed him again. Hermione could feel Snape's body trembling as hard as hers. She wanted to melt away into the kiss, but a thought jolted her.
…I'm kissing a teacher…
She pulled back and stood up, with her hand over her mouth and her eyes wide. Snape looked up at her, wearing the same shocked expression she was.
'Oh, my Lord…' he whispered. 'What have I done?'
Hermione couldn't speak; she just slumped against the wall and stared out. Thoughts raced through her mind. She had kissed a teacher… not just any teacher – she had kissed Severus Snape… and she had enjoyed it.
No. She hadn't enjoyed it. It was disgusting. Disgusting and wrong, that's all it was. It should never have happened.
But she had liked it, as wrong as she knew it was…
Hermione looked up at Snape. He was sitting on his desk, holding his head in his hands and massaging his temples. She stood up nervously and took a few steps towards him.
'I, uh…' she stammered. 'I'm sorry…'
'My fault…' he replied. 'Shouldn't have…'
'I don't…'
'Completely wrong…'
'Very…'
'Could lose my job…'
'I know...'
'You could get expelled…'
'I should…'
'Lord…'
'I should go…'
'Maybe…'
'I'm sorry,' they said at the same time.
Hermione walked towards the door. She turned back briefly and looked at him, then swiftly turned and ran back to the common room.
***
Wow… that's been on my mind for a day now, and I had to actually write it. I watched Mesmer yesterday, and, by God, a movie should not turn me on that much! Alan Rickman is just… too pretty. PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO BE THAT PRETTY. Anyway, this is what came of it. Critique at will (I have my flamethrower ready). But, seriously, all reviews are welcome (do I really need to tell you that?).
