Disclaimer: Any characters and places associated with the Harry Potter books and movies do not bleong to me. All rights and ownership belong to J.K. Rowling.
Author's Note: It has been brought to my attention, by one of my faithful reviewers, that I tried to marry Harry and Ginny twice in the same story (I guess I need to pay more attention to my own writing). I have gone back and changed a couple of sentences in chapter one, and now Harry and Ginny are not married, but engaged in the story. Sorry for any confusion I may have caused. Also, the piece of music that Hermione listens to in the last chapter is called Adagio in G Minor, by Albinoni. It is one of my favorite classical pieces. Thank you for waiting throughout this week, I have been insanely busy at work and unable to write (the holidays are really starting to creep up on me).
Chapter Eight – An Old Friend Saves the Day
Hermione stood in the Entrance Hall to Hogwarts, waiting impatiently for Ginny to arrive. She could not wait to see her old friend again. Until she received Ginny's letter, she did not realize how much she needed someone to talk to. She missed her comfort and help in any type of problem. Hermione was running through all of the things she wanted to tell Ginny, and in what order to tell her, when the main doors opened to reveal a beaming Ginny.
Ginny ran up to Hermione and hugged her tightly. Hermione smiled as she received Ginny's arms and a small tear ran down her cheek.
"It is so good to see you! I cannot believe how much I missed you."
Ginny looked at her old friend and noticed the small tear. "Oh, Hermione, are you okay? You act like we have not seen each other in years. I just saw you two weeks ago."
"It feels like it has been so much longer. So many things have happened, and I just do not know how to explain it all to you."
"Well, I'm sure we will have plenty of time to talk tonight after dinner. We will have a good old girl gab session in Gryffindor tower. It will be just like old times." Ginny smiled at Hermione and wrapped her arm around her waist. They walked together to Gryffindor tower and Ginny got settled into her room.
********
Later that evening, Hermione and Ginny met up in the Great Hall to have dinner. Ginny had spent the afternoon with Minerva, and learned about all of the newest research concerning transfiguration. Hermione had been busy researching in Snape's office, while he taught his afternoon classes.
The two of them sat at the faculty table together. Hermione sat in her usual spot next Severus and Ginny sat on her other side. Ginny talked about her upcoming wedding, and all of the plans that she wanted help on. It was towards the middle of the meal when Ginny started to watch Hermione and Severus. She noticed the icy wall between the two, and the way Hermione refused to look in his direction. She knew what was going on, and would have to question Hermione about it tonight. She had a feeling that their gab session was going to be very interesting.
********
That night, Hermione and Ginny were in Ginny's room talking about the upcoming wedding. They had brought up a tray of sweets and drinks to keep them fueled for the long night ahead of them. The two of them laughed hysterically like the used to do, and went through magazines to get ideas for the wedding.
Hermione noticed that Ginny was starting to feel the pressure of marrying the famous 'Boy-Who-Lived'. She was expected to have the picture perfect wedding, and she did not know where to start.
Hermione found a beautiful cake in on of the last magazines she was going through and held it up for scrutiny. "What do you think of this one?"
"It's gorgeous! Do you think something like that would work? I am not sure of how many tiers I should have, since there are so many people expected to come."
"Well, I thought you agreed to have a traditional wizard wedding. Which means the reception is only for the guest. You and Harry will be long gone at that point. If anyone wants to complain, they can speak to me."
"It's good to know that my maid of honor will always be at my side defending me." Ginny held up her hands in a mock boxing pose, and the two started laughing.
Ginny sat back against the wall on her bed and started to stare off into the fireplace. "So, when are you going to tell me about you and Severus?"
Hermione looked at her with surprise. "There's nothing to tell. He is his usual rude, arrogant self."
"Oh come on Hermione. I know something's up. The two of you won't even look at each other. And you are never rude to anyone. What happened?"
Hermione looked at her old friend and started to tell her about all that had happened since she arrived at Hogwarts. She told her about the letter from Lucius, the nightmares, Severus comforting her, and was about to tell her about the kiss when she suddenly stopped and looked down in her lap.
Ginny knew she was not finished telling her the important parts that were causing her emotions to be so close to the surface. She scooted over towards Hermione and grabbed one of her hands in her own, squeezing it in comfort. "What did he do?"
"Nothing. It's my fault. I overstepped my bounds." Hermione continued to look into her lap as she listened to Ginny.
"Hermione, I know you well and there's something you're not telling me. I have a feeling that you are falling for him."
Hermione looked up towards Ginny at this time and tears were streaming down her face. "I don't know what to feel. He infuriates me, and then he shows kindness to me, and then goes back to usual cold self. I can't get through to him, and he hits me to the core. There are times when my whole body is electrified by his nearness and touch. But then there are the times when he makes me so mad it takes everything within me not to hex him into the next century."
Ginny gave a knowing grin as she hugged Hermione. "It sounds like you're in love. And you have got it bad girl."
"Why him? Why can't I fall for someone that treats me like a princess."
"Oh, 'Mione, we all want that. But even I had to follow Harry around like a lost puppy for the longest time to get him to notice me." Ginny wiped the tears from Hermione face and they both layed down next to each other on her bed. The stared up at the ceiling while they talked. "I always knew that you and Severus would make a perfect match. The two of you love the same things, and you are each other's intellectual equals. It was just a matter of time for the two of you to realize it."
"Ginny, what am I going to do? He doesn't want to have anything to do with me. He made that quite clear when I kissed him."
"You kissed him! Wow, girl! What was it like? I've always wondered if Snape was a good kisser."
Hermione busted out laughing at Ginny's enthusiasm. "I loved it. I could feel his kiss all the way down to my toes, and it was just a little kiss. Too bad he had to ruin it by saying, 'I hope I never gave you the wrong impression about my intentions'." Hermione did a bad impression of Severus as she said the last part.
"I'm so sorry Hermione. But believe me, he wants to be with you. He's just a stubborn person. Just like you. You just have to make him want you so bad that he can't deny it any longer. It will be very frustrating, but I know he's worth it."
Hermione thought about what Ginny was saying and tried to figure out how to go about making Severus want her. She crinkled her brow in thought as she went through many options.
Ginny saw the confused look on Hermione's face and decided to help her out. "I will help you get his attention. You just have to be fearless like the old Hermione that I knew in school. You've lost some of your backbone since you came back to Hogwarts. Remember, he's just a man, and has the same kind of desires like all other men. You have to bring that out of him, and help remember that he's a man. He's been a spy for so long, he probably forgot that part of himself."
The two girls continued to talk for a couple of hours into to night. Once Hermione realized what time it was she gathered her robe and hugged Ginny goodnight. Ginny reminded her of the plan of action that they had come up with and sent her off to the dungeons.
Hermione thought about the plan that Ginny had prepared and was afraid that she wouldn't be able to be that bold next to Severus. She would have to remember what it felt like to be fearless again.
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The next day Ginny and Hermione walked around the old castle and grounds of Hogwarts. They reminisced about their school days and all of the mischief that they got into. Hermione had taken the day off from her research and stayed away from Severus. Ginny was acting giddy, knowing that Hermione would start their plan tonight at dinner.
Hemione went back to her quarters before the dinner that night in the Great Hall. She pulled out her black robes that her parents had gotten her when she graduated from Hogwarts. They were slinky and hugged her womanly form in all the right places. The top opened up to reveal the dress she wore below. She wore a dark green dress that was rather casual, but had a sweeping neckline that showed off her bosom in a discreet way.
She looked at herself in the mirror and was surprised to see how much she had grown up over the years. She had never taken the time to put that extra bit of preparation in her appearance. She was always to busy with her studies and research to recognize that she had grown into a beautiful and desirable woman.
Hermione was starting to lose her confidence in her ability to be bold and sat on the edge of her bed. She nonchalantly flipped open the music box on the nightstand next to her, hoping to find comfort in the music. She was surprised to hear a muggle singer named Madonna sing out a seductive and powerful song. The lyrics started to give her confidence, and she knew what she had to do. Listening to the words, she finished getting ready for dinner.
I want you, the right way. I want you.
But I want you to want me too.
Want you to want me baby.
Just like I want you.
The unusual song stopped when she closed the lid to the music box and waltzed out of her quarters to make her way to the Great Hall.
*******
At dinner Hermione ate in silence and would look over at Severus out of the corner of her eye to see what he was doing. She noticed him looking at her in an indescribable way, and wondered if he noticed the way she dressed tonight. They were getting closer to finishing the meal when Hermione felt an elbow in her side coming from Ginny.
Ginny leaned over to Hermione's ear and whispered one demand. "Do it!"
Hermione acknowledged Ginny with a look of wide eyes and turned towards Severus. She continued to eat like nothing was happening and put her hand under that table. Before she could lose her confidence she placed her hand on the top of his thigh. She felt Severus tense up at the touch, and hoped that he wouldn't make a huge scene. Severus turned to look at Hermione and eyed her in shock.
"Miss Granger, what do you think you are doing?" Severus used a low tone, so that only the two of them could hear.
Hermione smiled seductively and moved her hand to the inside of his thigh. She began to stroke his leg, when she felt his hand on top of hers. Severus took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a split second. Finally, he removed her hand from his thigh and placed it on her own. Hermione started to feel a little disappointed; but was quickly shocked when she felt the back of his hand brush up against the inside of her thigh as he removed his hand.
Hermione took in a sharp breath and reveled in the tingle that shot through her body in that instant. Severus leaned over to ear and began to whisper to her in that deep voice of his. "If you are so determined to play, then we will play. But I warn you now, you are playing with fire, and you will get burned."
Hermione closed her eyes in delight as she listened to his every word drip off his tongue. Thoughts flashed through her mind of a time when he would use that voice to pronounce his love for her. But she had a long way to go.
Ginny watched the two interact, knowing what was going on. She smiled at the two and knew that it wouldn't be long before Severus couldn't stand it anymore.
********
Hermione walked back to her quarters in a daze. She was thinking about her next move to get Severus. When she entered her quarters she felt a cold wind rush through the door. She shivered at the instant chill and went in to investigate its origin. When she did not find any reason for the wind, she went to sit on the couch in front of her fireplace. She was about to sit down, when she noticed a small rolled up parchment on top of the mantle. Not remembering putting anything up there, she grabbed the parchment. Hermione sat in the couch and opened the parchment to find out it was a letter. Her mouth dropped open in shock when she saw who it was from.
Hermione Granger,
I hope you have liked your stay at Hogwarts. Has Severus kept you company on those cold nights, or do you need someone to fill in that position.
I wanted to ask you how you have been enjoying the dreams I sent you. A little appetizer to wet your appetite. I must admit, even in your dreams, you have a temper to reckon with. But believe me, when it is real, you will be less likely to fight back.
Until we meet, sweet dreams mudblood.
Lucius Malfoy
Hermione felt unsafe all of a sudden, and burst out of her door heading to Dumbledore's office. She had to tell someone about this letter. She felt stange about going to Snape after her display at dinner, but he would know soon enough. But at least Albus would be able to calm her down first. This was the last thing she needed.
TBC
Author's Note: The song by Madonna that Hermione listens to in this chapter is called I Want You (Orchestral Version). It is the last song on the "Something to Remember" Madonna cd.