Ah, and here comes the smut (well, a little at least!) finally! You'll all be pleased to know you can forget about Justin for this chapter…Ooh, and here's a nice, useless piece of information – the spell check doesn't like 'Sevykins' and oddly enough doesn't have any suggestions. For some reason I found that absolutely hilarious – I think perhaps it's time for bed.
Hermione stood at Snape's classroom door, biding her time. She watched on as her old Potions Professor sat marking papers, cringing at the large red marks he was making on each and every page.
"Writing love letters to Sybil?" Hermione finally said innocently.
Snape's head snapped up, a nasty sneer on his lips. "Hardly. And you'd do well to keep your nose out of my personal affairs!"
"Oh, come on now, Sev, I was just having a little fun…and Merlin knows you could do with some!" Hermione scorned, leaning back against the doorway.
"You will address me as Professor Snape! And from what I've heard you can hardly comment on the state of my personal life," Snape growled, but the moment the words left his lips he regretted them.
Hermione's face fell, and she looked at the floor. "What do you know about my life?" she snapped, her face tinged red with embarrassment.
"Never mind. Did you come here for something other than to harass me because I have more important things to do than listen to silly little…" Snape stopped short. She most certainly wasn't a silly little girl anymore.
"Actually," Hermione replied, relieved that her marriage was no longer in question, "I wanted to borrow some ingredients from your stock. Charlotte seems to be coming down with a cold, and Poppy only has full strength communis algesco syrup."
Snape would have loved to have told Hermione his potions supplies were for school use only, but the thought of her poor daughter suffering through a cold wasn't something Snape wanted to be responsible for.
"Very well." Snape rose from his chair, and headed for the walk in storage cupboard at the front of the class. He removed the wards, and Hermione followed him in. Snape began to search the shelves for the appropriate herbs and minerals, yet once again he was distracted. Hermione was standing just inches from him, the confined space of the storage cupboard suddenly shrunk even further.
"It's quite all right, *Professor*," Hermione said irritably, having already spied several of the required bottles, while Snape continued to stare blankly at the shelves. "I can get the ingredients myself."
Hermione began removing jars and flasks from the shelves, placing each one on the tiny counter below as she went. Snape, though he tried not to, couldn't help but notice the way her body moved, it's luscious curves as she stretched for those ingredients on the upper shelves. It wasn't long (and too soon for Snape's liking) before she had everything all lined up except one key ingredient. Hermione desperately searched the shelves before her, not wanting to have to ask for help. Finally, she had to give in. Snape watched on amused, knowing precisely what she was doing.
"All right, where's the lavender?" Hermione finally snapped, glaring at the shelves.
Snape stepped forward, stretching his lean body up to pull the jar of dried purple flowers from the top shelf. He would've said something snarkey, given that Hermione would never have been able to reach them anyway, but the process had brought his front up against her back, sending sparks to all the most inappropriate places. Snape lingered there a little more than what he knew was appropriate, and was about to pull away went he felt Hermione shiver against him. *No, she couldn't possibly find this arousing,* Snape lectured himself, *just back away now, before there's any harm done*. Though his mind was set to get out of there as quickly as possible, his body tried desperately to defy him. As he felt a familiar tingle building in his pants, the panic allowed his brain to finally take control.
"All you had to do was ask," Snape growled against her ear, before turning on his heels and sauntering from the closet back to his desk.
Hermione grasped hold of the edge of the bench, trying to calm herself down. *What the hell was that,* she thought angrily. *You are a married woman, Hermione Granger! You should not be having nasty thoughts about your co-worker!*
Hermione spent much of the rest of the day running those few moments in Snape's Potions cupboard over and over in her mind. The thoughts she was having about Snape were disturbing her on so many levels. First of all, despite what a sham her marriage was, she was nonetheless still married, though she was fairly sure Justin was anything but faithful to her, Hermione refused to sink to his level. Then there was the fact that Snape was a good twenty years older than she, if not more. And he was SNAPE!
With a sigh of relief Hermione dismissed her last class for the day, and picked up her quill. Sending a note to Ursula to say she would be a little late back, she soon received a reply.
Hermione, dear, take your time – you could do with a little break. Ursula.
Hermione grabbed up her bag and headed for Hogsmeade – what she needed right now was a good, stiff drink!
The Three Broomsticks was packed. Hermione sighed – right now she want some peace, time to think. She was about to leave when she heard her name bellowed over the din.
"Hermione! Do come and join us!"
Hermione turned in the direction of Dumbledore's voice and saw him and several of the Hogwart's teachers around a table on the far side of the room, most of them looking at her expectantly.
With another sigh, Hermione made her way through the crowd, taking up the empty chair between Hagrid and Sybil Trelawny. She saw Snape looking at her from the other side of the table and gave him a sharp look, before regretting it. It wasn't his entire fault she'd spent the entire day fantasizing about him, she supposed.
"May I get you a drink?" Dumbledore asked, interrupting the blatantly nasty silent exchange between his Potions and Astronomy Professors.
Hermione gratefully accepted, and the old wizard, after taking several orders, departed for the bar.
"So, Hermione, I hear Severus' mother is your new nanny," Minerva broke the silence. "That's quite a coincidence."
Hermione smiled, wondering really how much of a coincidence it was. "Yes. And she is surprisingly very good." Snape glared at her once more, before unfolding his newspaper and purposefully blocking her out of his line of sight.
The mindless chatter continued for another good half an hour, during which time Hermione downed more than her fair share of drinks, and given the amount of time since she'd last touched anything even vaguely resembling alcohol, she was feeling quite daring and talkative. Snape, meanwhile, had barely glanced away from his paper, and was still nursing the firewhiskey he'd had when Hermione arrived. Not that Hermione was watching, of course...
"Sybil," Hermione asked politely. "Had any more visions lately?" Hermione caught Snape's scowl over the top of his paper, and a giggling fit escaped from her lips. Sybil didn't seem to notice, however.
"Funny you should ask," Trelawny twitted, looking at Snape like a lovesick puppy. "I had a vision about myself and darling Severus."
Hermione laughed, but she wasn't the only one. Minerva seemed to be having trouble swallowing her wine.
Snape threw his paper down onto the table, and gave Hermione his best sneer.
"Do tell," Hermione pressed, trying to look interested in what Sybil had to say.
"Well, I don't really think it is appropriate for present company," Sybil said, her cheeks staining pink.
"Oh, come on now, we're all adults!"
Minerva had given up trying to hide her giggling, and was now holding on to the table for dear life.
"No, I'd better not. Of course, Severus," Sybil drawled, her hand clasping over the top of his. "I'd be more than happy to share it with you." She topped the comment off by licking her lips.
Snape yanked his hand away so quickly anyone not knowing better would have thought he'd been burnt. He leapt to his feet and spat at Hermione "I shall see you in my office immediately!"
Hermione snorted. "You're not my bloody Professor anymore Sevykins."
"And you've made that quite clear, Miss Granger. However, you are a member of the staff at Hogwarts, and I, being a head of house, am your superior!"
"Ooooh," Hermione grinned, "bet that makes you feel like a big boy doesn't it?"
"MY OFFICE NOW!"
Hermione stopped in her tracks – that tone was not one to be messed with. The whole bar had fallen gravely silent, everyone patron turned to towards their table. She gave Albus a questioning look, sobering up somewhat.
"Severus is correct Hermione. And I do believe you've had quite enough to drink for one evening…"
Hermione blushed with shame. "Sorry," she muttered, getting to her feet, knowing that she would have a difficult time facing those present the next morning, and not solely due to the hangover she would undoubtedly have.
"Quite all right, Hermione. We're all entitled to let our hair down once in a while," Dumbledore replied softly. "Severus, make sure Hermione reaches her rooms safely."
Snape grunted in reply, and marched out of the crowded inn, it's occupants all following his departure. Hermione followed slowly behind, feeling like she was a first year again.
They walked back to the castle in silence, not a single word exchanged until Snape slammed the office door shut behind them.
"I don't know what you are playing at, Miss Granger, but I suggest for your own wellbeing that you cease immediately!" Snape growled, glaring at the witch standing before his desk.
"Me?! You're the one who embarrassed me! My bloody superior indeed!" she yelled back, her fists balled tightly.
"Listen here, you insufferable know-it-all, one more word to Trelawny and you will wish you never returned to Hogwarts!"
"You started it, you great greasy git! I had hoped you'd have grown up enough to treat me with some sense of equality by now, but no! And to try and use my daughter to get to me is inexcusable! Honestly, Severus, your mother is right! You will never get a wife!"
"Rather that than be part of a marriage as pathetic as yours!" Snape shot back, cringing at having to stoop so low to retaliate.
"Fuck you!" Hermione spat, trying to shove past him and escape from the truth.
Snape grasped hold of her shoulders roughly and spun her back towards him. Hermione stared up fearfully, knowing that she had pushed him too far this time. Terrible thoughts of the things he would do to her raced through her mind…
One of Snape's hands released her shoulder from it's vice like grip and roughly raised her chin. He bent down and captured her lips, in a bruising, desperate kiss. Her lips hesitantly parted, allowing him in. Hermione moaned as his tongue possessed her mouth, tangling with her own. She tasted vaguely of the liquor she'd consumed earlier, but there was also the delicious taste of Hermione herself there. He moved closer, trapping her with his body against the still closed door, his painfully hard manhood pressed tightly against her belly, eliciting yet another moan from Hermione. Merlin, Hermione was moaning into his mouth, because of him. Snape's desire tripled, unable to help himself his hands slid down to take hold of her hips, and ground himself against her, reveling in the delicious friction. His lips dropped to her neck, taking several nips at the soft flesh before soothing it with his tongue, her ragged breaths thrusting her chest against him, the sharp exhales tickling the side of his face, overloading his already frail control. He thrust forward again and Hermione gasped. It wasn't enough – he needed her, all of her. Snape pulled away for a moment, planning on leading her back to his rooms, but his retreat allowed Hermione's brain to begin functioning again. She froze on the spot, staring at Snape like a possum caught in the headlights of an oncoming care.
"Hermione?" Snape's voice faltered a little, his hand reaching out to softly touch her cheek.
Hermione found her legs, and giving Snape one last shocked look, fled from the room.
Big bear hugs to:
Hpgirl55 – she will soon! Promise! Thank you.
Rachel – Hermione is just so good at winding Snape up! Thanks for your review!
Jennifer – I'm so happy I made you laugh! Thanks :)
DragonRose4 – Justin will get what's coming to him – promise!
SammieTonks – Thank you! And your right, I don't believe good old Sevvie was too pleased at all with Herm's suggestion!
Aurora Magician – Will be updating every couple of days, promise :) Albuse doesn't play a huge part in this fic – I think perhaps he considers it none of his business (after all, he's not much of a meddler, and Hermione sorts it out for herself in the end). And yep, it is Justin Finch-Fletchley. Thanks for your review! I really do appreciate them.
Deb – Ah, my faithful reviewer from AFF.net? Thank you so much!
Me – cheers :D
Pseudonym – I wouldn't say Charlotte hasn't noticed, more this is what she has come to expect and so doesn't consider it out of place (poor girl!) Thank you!
Minerva7 – Thanks :D
K DarkMaiden – I made your day better? Wow! I am flattered!
Kittykat52788 – I'm super duper pleased you enjoyed it!
Lisa aka Lord Snapes Lady – yay, I made more smiles! Thanks!
Evil Crazy Willow – I really am flattered that I've made everyone laugh! Yay! Thank you for your review!
Hermione stood at Snape's classroom door, biding her time. She watched on as her old Potions Professor sat marking papers, cringing at the large red marks he was making on each and every page.
"Writing love letters to Sybil?" Hermione finally said innocently.
Snape's head snapped up, a nasty sneer on his lips. "Hardly. And you'd do well to keep your nose out of my personal affairs!"
"Oh, come on now, Sev, I was just having a little fun…and Merlin knows you could do with some!" Hermione scorned, leaning back against the doorway.
"You will address me as Professor Snape! And from what I've heard you can hardly comment on the state of my personal life," Snape growled, but the moment the words left his lips he regretted them.
Hermione's face fell, and she looked at the floor. "What do you know about my life?" she snapped, her face tinged red with embarrassment.
"Never mind. Did you come here for something other than to harass me because I have more important things to do than listen to silly little…" Snape stopped short. She most certainly wasn't a silly little girl anymore.
"Actually," Hermione replied, relieved that her marriage was no longer in question, "I wanted to borrow some ingredients from your stock. Charlotte seems to be coming down with a cold, and Poppy only has full strength communis algesco syrup."
Snape would have loved to have told Hermione his potions supplies were for school use only, but the thought of her poor daughter suffering through a cold wasn't something Snape wanted to be responsible for.
"Very well." Snape rose from his chair, and headed for the walk in storage cupboard at the front of the class. He removed the wards, and Hermione followed him in. Snape began to search the shelves for the appropriate herbs and minerals, yet once again he was distracted. Hermione was standing just inches from him, the confined space of the storage cupboard suddenly shrunk even further.
"It's quite all right, *Professor*," Hermione said irritably, having already spied several of the required bottles, while Snape continued to stare blankly at the shelves. "I can get the ingredients myself."
Hermione began removing jars and flasks from the shelves, placing each one on the tiny counter below as she went. Snape, though he tried not to, couldn't help but notice the way her body moved, it's luscious curves as she stretched for those ingredients on the upper shelves. It wasn't long (and too soon for Snape's liking) before she had everything all lined up except one key ingredient. Hermione desperately searched the shelves before her, not wanting to have to ask for help. Finally, she had to give in. Snape watched on amused, knowing precisely what she was doing.
"All right, where's the lavender?" Hermione finally snapped, glaring at the shelves.
Snape stepped forward, stretching his lean body up to pull the jar of dried purple flowers from the top shelf. He would've said something snarkey, given that Hermione would never have been able to reach them anyway, but the process had brought his front up against her back, sending sparks to all the most inappropriate places. Snape lingered there a little more than what he knew was appropriate, and was about to pull away went he felt Hermione shiver against him. *No, she couldn't possibly find this arousing,* Snape lectured himself, *just back away now, before there's any harm done*. Though his mind was set to get out of there as quickly as possible, his body tried desperately to defy him. As he felt a familiar tingle building in his pants, the panic allowed his brain to finally take control.
"All you had to do was ask," Snape growled against her ear, before turning on his heels and sauntering from the closet back to his desk.
Hermione grasped hold of the edge of the bench, trying to calm herself down. *What the hell was that,* she thought angrily. *You are a married woman, Hermione Granger! You should not be having nasty thoughts about your co-worker!*
Hermione spent much of the rest of the day running those few moments in Snape's Potions cupboard over and over in her mind. The thoughts she was having about Snape were disturbing her on so many levels. First of all, despite what a sham her marriage was, she was nonetheless still married, though she was fairly sure Justin was anything but faithful to her, Hermione refused to sink to his level. Then there was the fact that Snape was a good twenty years older than she, if not more. And he was SNAPE!
With a sigh of relief Hermione dismissed her last class for the day, and picked up her quill. Sending a note to Ursula to say she would be a little late back, she soon received a reply.
Hermione, dear, take your time – you could do with a little break. Ursula.
Hermione grabbed up her bag and headed for Hogsmeade – what she needed right now was a good, stiff drink!
The Three Broomsticks was packed. Hermione sighed – right now she want some peace, time to think. She was about to leave when she heard her name bellowed over the din.
"Hermione! Do come and join us!"
Hermione turned in the direction of Dumbledore's voice and saw him and several of the Hogwart's teachers around a table on the far side of the room, most of them looking at her expectantly.
With another sigh, Hermione made her way through the crowd, taking up the empty chair between Hagrid and Sybil Trelawny. She saw Snape looking at her from the other side of the table and gave him a sharp look, before regretting it. It wasn't his entire fault she'd spent the entire day fantasizing about him, she supposed.
"May I get you a drink?" Dumbledore asked, interrupting the blatantly nasty silent exchange between his Potions and Astronomy Professors.
Hermione gratefully accepted, and the old wizard, after taking several orders, departed for the bar.
"So, Hermione, I hear Severus' mother is your new nanny," Minerva broke the silence. "That's quite a coincidence."
Hermione smiled, wondering really how much of a coincidence it was. "Yes. And she is surprisingly very good." Snape glared at her once more, before unfolding his newspaper and purposefully blocking her out of his line of sight.
The mindless chatter continued for another good half an hour, during which time Hermione downed more than her fair share of drinks, and given the amount of time since she'd last touched anything even vaguely resembling alcohol, she was feeling quite daring and talkative. Snape, meanwhile, had barely glanced away from his paper, and was still nursing the firewhiskey he'd had when Hermione arrived. Not that Hermione was watching, of course...
"Sybil," Hermione asked politely. "Had any more visions lately?" Hermione caught Snape's scowl over the top of his paper, and a giggling fit escaped from her lips. Sybil didn't seem to notice, however.
"Funny you should ask," Trelawny twitted, looking at Snape like a lovesick puppy. "I had a vision about myself and darling Severus."
Hermione laughed, but she wasn't the only one. Minerva seemed to be having trouble swallowing her wine.
Snape threw his paper down onto the table, and gave Hermione his best sneer.
"Do tell," Hermione pressed, trying to look interested in what Sybil had to say.
"Well, I don't really think it is appropriate for present company," Sybil said, her cheeks staining pink.
"Oh, come on now, we're all adults!"
Minerva had given up trying to hide her giggling, and was now holding on to the table for dear life.
"No, I'd better not. Of course, Severus," Sybil drawled, her hand clasping over the top of his. "I'd be more than happy to share it with you." She topped the comment off by licking her lips.
Snape yanked his hand away so quickly anyone not knowing better would have thought he'd been burnt. He leapt to his feet and spat at Hermione "I shall see you in my office immediately!"
Hermione snorted. "You're not my bloody Professor anymore Sevykins."
"And you've made that quite clear, Miss Granger. However, you are a member of the staff at Hogwarts, and I, being a head of house, am your superior!"
"Ooooh," Hermione grinned, "bet that makes you feel like a big boy doesn't it?"
"MY OFFICE NOW!"
Hermione stopped in her tracks – that tone was not one to be messed with. The whole bar had fallen gravely silent, everyone patron turned to towards their table. She gave Albus a questioning look, sobering up somewhat.
"Severus is correct Hermione. And I do believe you've had quite enough to drink for one evening…"
Hermione blushed with shame. "Sorry," she muttered, getting to her feet, knowing that she would have a difficult time facing those present the next morning, and not solely due to the hangover she would undoubtedly have.
"Quite all right, Hermione. We're all entitled to let our hair down once in a while," Dumbledore replied softly. "Severus, make sure Hermione reaches her rooms safely."
Snape grunted in reply, and marched out of the crowded inn, it's occupants all following his departure. Hermione followed slowly behind, feeling like she was a first year again.
They walked back to the castle in silence, not a single word exchanged until Snape slammed the office door shut behind them.
"I don't know what you are playing at, Miss Granger, but I suggest for your own wellbeing that you cease immediately!" Snape growled, glaring at the witch standing before his desk.
"Me?! You're the one who embarrassed me! My bloody superior indeed!" she yelled back, her fists balled tightly.
"Listen here, you insufferable know-it-all, one more word to Trelawny and you will wish you never returned to Hogwarts!"
"You started it, you great greasy git! I had hoped you'd have grown up enough to treat me with some sense of equality by now, but no! And to try and use my daughter to get to me is inexcusable! Honestly, Severus, your mother is right! You will never get a wife!"
"Rather that than be part of a marriage as pathetic as yours!" Snape shot back, cringing at having to stoop so low to retaliate.
"Fuck you!" Hermione spat, trying to shove past him and escape from the truth.
Snape grasped hold of her shoulders roughly and spun her back towards him. Hermione stared up fearfully, knowing that she had pushed him too far this time. Terrible thoughts of the things he would do to her raced through her mind…
One of Snape's hands released her shoulder from it's vice like grip and roughly raised her chin. He bent down and captured her lips, in a bruising, desperate kiss. Her lips hesitantly parted, allowing him in. Hermione moaned as his tongue possessed her mouth, tangling with her own. She tasted vaguely of the liquor she'd consumed earlier, but there was also the delicious taste of Hermione herself there. He moved closer, trapping her with his body against the still closed door, his painfully hard manhood pressed tightly against her belly, eliciting yet another moan from Hermione. Merlin, Hermione was moaning into his mouth, because of him. Snape's desire tripled, unable to help himself his hands slid down to take hold of her hips, and ground himself against her, reveling in the delicious friction. His lips dropped to her neck, taking several nips at the soft flesh before soothing it with his tongue, her ragged breaths thrusting her chest against him, the sharp exhales tickling the side of his face, overloading his already frail control. He thrust forward again and Hermione gasped. It wasn't enough – he needed her, all of her. Snape pulled away for a moment, planning on leading her back to his rooms, but his retreat allowed Hermione's brain to begin functioning again. She froze on the spot, staring at Snape like a possum caught in the headlights of an oncoming care.
"Hermione?" Snape's voice faltered a little, his hand reaching out to softly touch her cheek.
Hermione found her legs, and giving Snape one last shocked look, fled from the room.
Big bear hugs to:
Hpgirl55 – she will soon! Promise! Thank you.
Rachel – Hermione is just so good at winding Snape up! Thanks for your review!
Jennifer – I'm so happy I made you laugh! Thanks :)
DragonRose4 – Justin will get what's coming to him – promise!
SammieTonks – Thank you! And your right, I don't believe good old Sevvie was too pleased at all with Herm's suggestion!
Aurora Magician – Will be updating every couple of days, promise :) Albuse doesn't play a huge part in this fic – I think perhaps he considers it none of his business (after all, he's not much of a meddler, and Hermione sorts it out for herself in the end). And yep, it is Justin Finch-Fletchley. Thanks for your review! I really do appreciate them.
Deb – Ah, my faithful reviewer from AFF.net? Thank you so much!
Me – cheers :D
Pseudonym – I wouldn't say Charlotte hasn't noticed, more this is what she has come to expect and so doesn't consider it out of place (poor girl!) Thank you!
Minerva7 – Thanks :D
K DarkMaiden – I made your day better? Wow! I am flattered!
Kittykat52788 – I'm super duper pleased you enjoyed it!
Lisa aka Lord Snapes Lady – yay, I made more smiles! Thanks!
Evil Crazy Willow – I really am flattered that I've made everyone laugh! Yay! Thank you for your review!