A Quick Note: Because I started this story long before OotP I will largely be ignoring the events of that book.
Summary: Hermione is trying to seduce Lucius Malfoy. Lucius Malfoy is being…well…Lucius. In the mean time Hermione has suffered through a grueling meeting with Lord Voldemort were she was forced to beat the effects of Veritaserum, and then answer several inappropriate questions about her sex life, and also whether or not she could kill her parents if she had to and of course she can't. And as if that wasn't enough for our heroin she had to sit through a rather unpleasant dinner with Severus Snape and his French tart Babette Labelle, who of course Hermione does not like. Plus she had to spend the night at Snape Castle because Lucius is doing some rather nasty things over that the Manor. And now, because she was assigned rooms that give her access to Severus' very secret bed chamber Hermione is there awaiting his return.
Chapter Eleven: Then There Was Two
Disclaimer: See chapter one
The first time Hermione had been in Severus' bedchamber had been six months after the infamous "birds and the bees" discussion. She'd been so very nervous about the whole thing. Severus thought it would be best to complete the sexual training at his castle, believing that it would allow the cottage to be a safe place of sorts. Plus if he told her they were going to the castle she had no doubt what was going to happen. Over the months of training Hermione was grateful for the distinction. But on that first night the change of location had only made her more frightened.
As she'd been instructed the day before, Hermione Apparated to the edge of Snape castle grounds just as the sun was setting behind the looming building in front of her. She was greeted by a noiseless carriage, which carried her through the front archway and up to the front door. Climbing the steps, Hermione knocked once on the door and gingerly step inside as it opened to reveal the grand foyer.
After she located Severus, who had been waiting in the study, the two had a small dinner, followed by a quick tour of the more "public" areas of his castle. Then he'd taken her across the bridge that joined the two towers, saying that he would show her the more secret entrance on another visit. At that point Hermione had made an uneasy joke about secrecy, which Severus ignored, and the two remained in silence until they reached his bedchamber.
Hermione balled her hand in to a fist, "So…" she said, looking down, and bring her fist around to hit the back of her neck.
"Uncomfortable, Miss Granger?" Severus asked, as he magicked his clothes from the chair across from the bed and sat down.
"What was your first clue?" She sighed. "It would help if you called me Hermione you know."
"Would it?"
She met his eyes, "Maybe not," she admitted.
"There really is no need to be nervous," he said. Although his tone didn't quite reach reassuring, his eyes did. "I'm not going to make you do anything you don't want to do. At least not right now."
"But eventually you will." She tried to sound impassive but failed as her breath caught on the last word.
Severus stood up, and nodded, "But not tonight, Hermione." He brushed a strand of hair from her face.
"But not tonight," she whispered back.
And then he was kissing her.
Hermione touched her fingers to her lips at the memory, letting out a soft sigh. And then promptly shook her head and stood up. She was mad at Severus, Hermione reasoned as she began to pace, and she was going to stay mad. And then her body went ridged and she strained her ears to hear what could only be him climbing up the stairs. Hermione inhaled deeply throw he noise, and let the breath out in a whoosh as the door swung open to reveal a very threatening Severus Snape. Hermione involuntarily took a step back the last of her breathe catching in her throat.
"Miss Granger," Severus ground out.
"I was kind of hoping that we could drop the formalities, Severus." She smiled sweetly, despite being more then a little bit afraid.
"And I was hoping to have a peaceful night with few interruption," came the reply. "But as you can see…" he trailed off, gesturing towards her.
"Look," Hermione pleaded, dropping the façade, "I know you're angry with me–"
"What was your first clue?" Severus drawled taking a step towards her, even as Hermione stepped further back. She was painfully aware that she was quickly running out of room to retreat.
"I know you're angry," she repeated, choosing to ignore the interruption, "But," she continued, "You had to know that I would use the secret passage to come up here. You did select the rooms for me after all."
"Perhaps it was a test," he countered, again moving to close the gap. This time she did not retreat.
"A test?" Now it was Hermione's turn to be angry, "I'm sorry, but you lost the right to test me when I was put in that house. I'm no longer you pupil, Professor."
"Regardless, it was still foolish to come up here, and you know it. What if I had brought Lucius back with me because he had wanted to see you? How would you have explained your absence, and subsequent return?"
"I warded the door," she answered confidently, even though she knew it was a lie. "It's charmed to warn me if Lucius approached. I would have made it back in loads of time."
"Lie," Severus whispered, grabbing her arm tightly. She had not realized that he was that close, or that angry.
"No," Hermione answered, trying to shrug out of his grip. "I wouldn't lie to–"
"Stop!" Severus commanded, tightening his grip on her arm to the point that she thought she might cry out in pain. "Do not finish that sentence, and do not lie to me. I stopped by your room when I returned and I assure you the door was very much not warded."
"Let go of my arm," Hermione said calmly, looking him straight in the eyes. "You're hurting me." Hermione saw both angry, and remorse flicker briefly over his eyes before he dropped her arm and stepped back.
"You promised never to lie to me," his voice was as steady as it had been, betraying nothing.
"And you promised never to hurt me."
"You know you shouldn't be here, Hermione." He said softly not looking at her.
"Yes, I suppose I do," she conceded. "But then you should have had Babette put me in a different room. If I recall correctly, the one across the foyer is just as nice."
"You really should have warded your door."
Hermione gave him a half smile, "I know, I just…well…forgot, actually."
"You forgot?" He did not try to mask the condescending nature of the statement.
"Yes, and I'm sorry," she spat, rolling her eyes, and turning away. "But I'm tired. I'm tired of Lucius, I'm tired of Draco, and Voldemort, and this game, and having to think of everything all time. And I'm tired of you, and I'm tired of being someone I'm not. Because let me assure you, Severus," she let out a harsh laugh, wheeling around to look him square on, "I don't like the person that you've made me."
Severus shrugged, "Well," he said offhandedly, "If it makes you feel any better, I don't really like the person I've made you either. And in fact I'd wager that not many people really like the new you." And then he did that last thing Hermione expected, he smiled at her, and she couldn't help but smile back.
Taking the few steps necessary to close the distance between them, Hermione burrowed her head into his chest, although she did not reach out to touch him in any other way. They stood like that for several minutes; Hermione's head bowed seeking comfort, and Severus unmoving staring at some indistinguishable spot on the wall. Then he bowed his own head, and brought his hand up to gently stroke her hair. "I've missed you," he whispered, the hair muffling his voice. And that was all Hermione need to bring her own arms up and around to embrace him. Pulling back slightly she lifted her head up to smile at him. And then he was kissing her; just like he had the first night she'd been here. Only this time, she was kissing back, and she was not nearly as afraid as she had been so long ago.
***
Later, Hermione rested her head on Severus' shoulder, her hand tracing patterns on his chest, and stomach. Severus had fallen asleep some time ago, and now Hermione was just enjoying the comfort of his arm around her. Well perhaps not enjoying, as much as she was relaxing into the familiarity of it. Hermione sighed, and lifted her head up to look at Severus' sleeping face. It was odd, she thought, that now that she didn't have to be here, this was the only place she wanted to be. On that first night she had come here, and for the many weeks and months that followed, she had been only afraid, and disgusted, and very, very lonely. Who did one talk to about "sexual training"? Although when Hermione thought about it now, she supposed that it was more endurance training then actually learning sexual techniques. Of course she had picked up a few thing that she otherwise would not have known. In this situation question and improvement were expected, it wasn't like sex with one's lover were a critique of ones technique wasn't always appreciated. Severus would tell Hermione where she needed improvement, and how to respond in a given situation, and he also helped her to understand the power of her body, and how to use it to her advantage. Having sex with Severus also helped Hermione to understand dark and powerful men who were used to getting what they wanted. Which was of course beneficial to understanding Lucius. And as for Sex Magic, the power of which had been overstated, and generally only used as a means of torture, not control, Severus and her had only ever delved into the theory. There were some things that even he was not prepared to engage her in.
Thus the thought process had always been for Hermione to learn control, and tolerance from her training. Lay with Severus and you could lay with anyone. Except as all the parts of her training with Severus progressed, Hermione found herself more and more fascinated with him, and eager to be in his company. When Hermione had confessed these feelings to him (due to the nature of their relationship honesty about feelings and desires was essential, and confessions like this one came with a relative ease because of the trust and respect that has been built) he had smiled gently at her and told her to forget them. "You are bound to feel that way," he had told her, "It is virtually impossible to have this sort of intimacy with someone without developing a certain infatuation. And now that you have experienced this lust you will know what to expect with Lucius and when the time comes you will be able to control it."
"And so you feel nothing?" She had asked, unable to stop herself.
"Exactly, and in time you will feel the same. As I have indicated before, you will likely come to resent me when this is all over." Hermione hadn't argued with him then, and nor had she ever brought it up again. She agreed with him about feelings being inevitable, but she could not believe that she would ever resent him, and nor did she entirely believe that he felt nothing for her. Even if he was a master of this game, he was too gentle and considerate to be entirely detached.
Nevertheless, with so many other things to focus on, Hermione had never spent much time considering what Severus having feelings for her could mean, and just as he had predicted eventually her feelings for him became more of subconscious awareness then an overwhelming force. Now, however, as she lay beside Severus she had all the time that she could possible want, because it was exceedingly difficult to think of anything else.
Hermione sighed and snuggled closer, breathing in his scent. Slowly she felt her eyes growing heavier and heavier, and although she really didn't want to, Hermione fell asleep.
***
Opening her eyes, Hermione looked up to see black eyes staring into her brown ones. She searching his eyes for a moment, which revealed nothing, Hermione ventured a small smile. Severus responded by reaching up and stroking her cheek softly. "Sleep well?" He asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Hermione nodded. "Only when I'm with you."
At that Severus smiled slightly, but said nothing, instead kissing her forehead gently.
After a few moments, Hermione pulled away from him a teasing glint in her eye, and ventured, "Are you still angry with me?"
"You know I'm not," he responded seriously.
"Good," she rolled away from him on to her back, and allowed her gaze to traveling to the ceiling. "Severus," she to was serious, "why did you allow me access to your rooms?"
There was a long pause and then, "I knew you'd find your way up here with or without my help, and I was feeling uncharacteristically helpful when I left Miss Labelle with her instructions. And," he added after another long pause, "I was curious."
"Ah."
"Hermione you understand why I was angry with you earlier?" His voice had an urgency that implied he very much needed her to understand.
"Yes," she replied, still they did not look at each other. "You were of course right. I was careless, and I could have jeopardized the whole mission." The thought made Hermione chuckle. "How ironic would that have been? 'She survived a face-to-face conference with the Dark Lord under the supposed influence of Veritaserum,' they'd say, 'but damned if she couldn't resist the temptation to see her…teacher.'"
"That would be rather embarrassing," Severus agreed dryly.
Hermione shook her head, and sat up, the sheet pooling at her hips exposing her naked upper body. "I should go," she said throwing her legs over the side of the bed, knowing she was right, but still not wanting to get up.
"That would probably be best."
That was the push she had needed. Standing up, she laughed harshly, "You're so predictable." She gathered her robe around her.
"Perhaps," he agreed, sitting up, "but effective."
Hermione shook her head; "I don't suppose your bed will be empty for long though."
"Meaning?" His voice was sharp.
"Meaning that I'm sure Babette Labelle will be happy to keep you company when you're lonely. If not in this bed then perhaps in her own."
"Miss Labelle is nothing more then my apprentice. I am training her as a replacement for me at Hogwarts should anything happen. I asked her to escort me to dinner this evening because it was the best way to introduce her to Lucius without him finding out about her and being suspicious."
"Oh," Hermione replied her eyes down cast. That did make sense.
"Furthermore," Severus continued as if she had not spoken. He was sounding less and less pleased as he went on. "I am thoroughly displeased with your performance tonight. It is lucky that Lucius has not reason to suspect that you have any interest in me, and will write you're behavior off as either jealousy at his attention to Miss Labelle, or some old grudge you carry towards me from your time at Hogwarts. And you should be thankful, Miss Granger, that Miss Labelle did not draw any attention to your behavior."
"Don't lecture me, Severus," although she only sounded defeated. "I know I screwed up. I was frazzled, and unprepared. I've talked with Lord Voldemort a day ago, and…and you never mentioned her to me."
"It was none of your business, Hermione." His tone was gentler, "You're training had ended before I first met Miss Labelle."
"I know, its just…oh I don't know." She paused and sat down on the chair, defeated. "How can you do this every day?"
"Because I have too, and because I know what would happen if I didn't." That was how he always responded, 'predictable.'
"But don't you every just wish, even for just a moment, that you could be your self and damn the consequences?"
Severus looked at her hard for a moment. "Hermione is there something wrong?" And after considering it for a moment, she told him everything she had let Lucius do to her the night before last, although it felt like it was several weeks ago, and as she was talking she realized that it really had bothered her. Even though they hadn't had sex she was still frightened of the control he had had, and they way he manipulated her. She also confessed everything that had been bothering her about her meeting with Voldemort, mainly the conspicuous question about her parents, and how she had told him that she could do anything he asked.
When she was done, Severus watched her for several moments, before nodding his head. "I have nothing to offer that will make your… experience with Lucius any better. Although it has been my experience that a confession often helps. As for you response to Voldemort, I do believe that you could have done better. However, it was truthful enough, and other then that you performance was flawless, so I think we can afford a small slip of the tongue."
Hermione smiled, "And my parents?"
"I too was surprised by that question, and I spoke to Albus today about increasing the security around your parents. I assure you Hermione they are quite safe at the moment, and I will be listening for even the smallest hint of a plot against them."
She nodded letting it all sink in. "I suppose I'll have to tell all of this to Dumbledore." She sighed, "When is our next meeting?"
Severus thought for a moment, "If you would like I can convey all of what you have told me to him. I know it is sometimes difficult to talk with Albus."
Again she nodded, "Thank you."
Severus raised an eyebrow, "It's the least I can do. Hermione, you understand that after tonight you and I can only see each other in an official capacity."
"Yes," she said closing her eyes. "Severus if things were different do you suppose that you and I could have been more then this?"
"Perhaps," he conceded, "But then if things were different, I doubt very much that we would have had the opportunity, for lack of a better word, to get to know each other at all."
Hermione stood up, and crossed the room to where Severus still reclined on the bed. Reaching out she brushed his hair back behind his ear, and bending down kissed him firmly on the lips, he responded by wrapping his arms around her pulling her closer. Returning the embrace, Hermione moved her head to rest on his shoulder. "Goodbye," she said, and although she'd said it to him before she knew that this time it was for good. The odds that they would both survive the war were slim that it was pointless to hope that in some distant future they could have a life together.
They clung to each other for another moment, and then she pulled away leaving the room and pulling the door shut behind her without looking back.
***
The following day Hermione Apparated back to Malfoy Manor.
Next Chapter: Now that Snape is out of the picture Lucius is free to take center stage, and he does, with vengeance.
Author's Notes: This has been a long time coming. I hope the summery at the top help a little after the long wait. And, while I can't promise that chapter twelve will be out sooner, I will try and do my best.
A special thank you to every one who reviewed, and especially to those who sent me e-mails demanding that I update. Hats off to Alex for editing this for me. Also I am looking for another beta to give each chapter a final check after Alex and I have at it, if anyone is interested please e-mail me: jay_a_are@hotmail.com
Thank you, and good day.
