By


Disclaimer: All items relating or pertaining to the Harry Potter Universe belong to J.K. Rowling, Scholastic Inc., and the Warner Brothers Co. Please don't sue me, I have no money.

Author: Joy

Title: Black Cadillac

Rating: PG-13

Summary: In answer to the 'Snape's Wheels' plotbunny on WIKTT. The year is 1999, and the war rages on. But for two of wizarding kind's brightest minds, the time has come where survival is priority. Can they find escape together? Will they find it in one another? SS/HG.

AN: The title is inspired by Jordan Avenue's song 'Blue Cadillac'. A great song to listen to while reading this fic! Check out the artist at jordanave.com


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"Miss Granger." His voice was soft and carressed the air like a lovers' passionate embrace. It was nothing like the former Gryffindor remembered. His voice no longer bespoke of malice or anger. It was not the voice of a man who belittled everyone in his presence. No... it was the voice of an angel. A sinful angel. Enough to lure and taunt; yet never anything more. It was seductive, in every sense of the word.

Needless to say, Hermione was taken aback. This couldn't be the same man who had taught her for 6 years! Looking at him now - really looking - changed everything she ever knew about the menacing Potions Master of her school days. Gone was the sallow skin; greasy hair and yellow teeth. In it's place was a healthier, cleaner looking man. His face was fuller, his teeth straight and gleaming white. His raven black locks were cut to just below his ears, and appeared silky smooth. Granted, he still had a hooked nose; yet it only added mystery to his appearance. Was it the effect of a teenage tiff; or something more? Something...evil?

Hermione blinked rapidly, drawing herself away from that line of thought. It was best not to dwell on such things for the time being. Instead, she lowered her gaze to examine the rest of his body. And what a body it was! Who knew that the stern Slytherin was more than just skin and bones underneath those layers of robes? Certainly not she! Hermione was surprised to find that Snape was wearing something other than his infamous, chin-high robes. Something other than black! He was wearing crisp, grey, dress slacks and a white, collared, dress shirt that was unbuttoned at the neck and revealed a hint of white t-shirt. Her gaze fell into the dark, where one foot rested on the gas pedel, the other on the floor; both of which were clad in shiny, black dress shoes.

"You're staring, Miss Granger." He spoke with a hint of amusement in his voicel; yet when Hermione's head popped up, she saw that his gaze remained steadfast on the open road before him.

"I'm sorry." She murmured quietly, averting her own gaze to the endless expanse of gravel. "It's just... You look so..."

"Different?" He supplied knowingly.

"Well, yes. But I was going to say something more like handsome." In the dark of night, it was hard to notice the pink tinge that rose upon the young witch's cheeks, but it was there none-the-less. She heard a soft, deep rumbling and began looking wildly about her. It was only when he broke out into full, gruff guffaws that she realized her former Professor had been laughing.

"Shocking, isn't it?" He said at last, finally glancing away from the road to flash her a dazzling smile.

"A bit..." She replied, hesitantly. Embarressed, she lowered her head and watched her own fingers fidget in her lap.

"Miss Granger, Yo -"

"Hermione." He was cut off by her soft, yet insisting voice.

"I beg your pardon?" Snape furrowed his eyebrows in question.

"My name is Hermione. If we are going to be spending a great deal of time in one another's presence, I'd prefer that you say Hermione, instead of Miss Granger."

"I see. Since we are on a first name basis, then, you may call me Severus."

"All right." Hermione offered a hesitant smile, but Severus' gaze was firmly on the road and did not see it. For which she was eternally greatful. She felt like a fool; openly oogling him, and then admitting that he was handsome to his face. Yet she couldn't help herself! The change was so shocking that she had found the words just slipping out. For all she knew, he could still be the hardass that she had grown used to.

"As I was saying, Hermione." He started again, not bothering to stop for a red light. Something told Hermione that the little camera's attached to the sensors would get a picture of thin air. She shrugged it off and looked at Severus expectantly. "You probably have a lot of questions that need answering. I suppose I'll start with the most obvious. Voldemort knows that I was the traitor. I have no idea how he figured that out; but when we recieved your letter, we began to assume the same as you. There has to be a traitor in our own midst."

"I just can't seem to figure out who!" Hermione cut in, sighing heavily and dropping her head to rest against the seat.

"None of us can, Hermione."

"It's just so frustrating." She whispered, closing her eyes. There was an akward silence while the two contemplated what to say next. It was Hermione who spoke first; her voice soft and unsure. "Why did you leave Hogwarts?"

"I..." Severus paused, mulling over the question carefully. "I was called into full Service."

"Oh..." Hermione knew that the service he spoke of was not for the Order; but for Voldemort's ranks. The Death Eaters. "It must have been hard to get away..."

"Indeed." There was another lapse in conversation as the Cadillac sped down the highway. Hermione found the silence deafening.

"I suppose you'd like to know how I came to be in danger?" She inquired, quirking an eyebrow.

"I am curious, yes." Severus admitted without hesitation. She still couldn't get over the change in this man.

"I am the creator of the Anti-Killing Curse." Severus' dark eyebrows shot into his hairline at that statement; but his driving did not falter.

"You!?"

"Yes. It's surprising that such a young mind - muggleborn mind - could do what witches and wizards tried to accomplish for centuries, without success." Hermione smirked with satisfaction. She still got a kick out of that fact. The elder members of the Order had leared not to underestimate the 19 year old.

"And why wasn't I informed?" He snapped, giving Hermione a glimpse of the man she once knew. She visably shrank away at the animosity laced through the words.

"It was thought, by some, that Voldemort may question some of his Death Eaters. With veratiserum." She needn't explain anymore, for the older man knew exactly what she meant. His shoulders slumped as he relaxed his grip on the steering wheel.

"I see. I appologize for my... anger." He sighed, taking one hand off the wheel to run through his hair. Hermione was mesmerized by the action. "I've always been quick to temper."

"I see that."

"Well, I suppose you want to know the rest of the plan?" Severus arched an eyebrow and shot a quick glance at the amazing young witch beside him. The changes wraught in her own demeanor and physique had startled him as well. No longer was there a bossy know-it-all; she'd been replaced by a hardened woman, who held a sort of quiet confidance about herself. Gone was the bushy brown hair and pudgy body. In it's place was, in every aspect, a woman. She had sprouted up at least four inches, to stand at a proud height. Her pudge had shifted into womanly curves; hair into a wavy mass of golden and honey locks. Her face was softer; yet more feminine than the blocky features of her youth. She was breathtaking, to say the least. Severus felt a stirring in his groin; caused by the many years of celibacy that teaching and spying incurred.

"Severus?" Hermione placed a soft hand on his arm, breaking him from his reverie.

"Yes?"

"You drifted off for a second there. I said that I was quite curious as to the 'plan'." She used her fingers to create quotes in the air as she spoke the word with a roll of her eyes.

"Oh. Yes. The plan." Severus willed his heartbeat to slow down as he wracked his brain for all the information he could remember from the brief conversation with Albus. "It's quite simple. We-"

"Severus! Watch out!"


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Yes, another evil cliffie! :cackles: I bet you're just DYING to know what's going to happen! Well, if you are, tell me in a review!

Thanks to my scarce reviewers:

Aegina
Serpens Potio - I'm glad I've kept you on your toes! Whee!
marajade179 - Yes, I have decided! But that won't come until later.