Chapter 14: Love is in the air

Life is all about pain; nobody will ever buy a book based on happiness. Is sadness what makes life interesting; is it the contradictions that make books so bloody brilliant? Furthermore the aching feelings that only love provides are the only emotions in the world that can manage to educate us. And in a world where materialism is tattooed on our skin, that is saying something.

They walked towards the castle for about thirty minutes; the courtyard was large indeed and it took them quite a while to reach the enormous oak doors of Snape's Manor. That troubled neither Severus nor Hermione; they were enjoying a beautiful stroll on a land that was of their property, on a honeymoon they had earned by right the day they had agreed on getting married. It mattered not if their hands were wet because of the heat their bodies radiated; they were together, they were in love and even though they were sure that the joy they were feeling was not going to last, they fancied each other's company more than anything in the world.

And from that moment they knew that life without the other would be hell. Were they blinded by the passion that burned their souls? Perhaps; but that was no sin.

They were still hand in hand when their feet met the stone floor of the reception hall, next to which the stairs were situated.

The weather outside had been lovely all day, but now the grey clouds that had watched the romantic scene our lovers had shared were about to shake hands with Snape's Manor, and thus a terrible storm was to take place.

"Hermione," he whispered into her ear, as if nothing else mattered, as if time had frozen, "may I walk you to your room?" he asked; his intentions as clear as water for it was only midday.

"Yes," she clearly answered with her eyes closed, as he was now breathing heavily next to her ear, murmuring words I only dare think. How could she refuse such an amazing proposition even if her knees were trembling? Yes, she was nervous. How could she not be if the game was over? This was the real thing and real emotions were blossoming in her heart. This was not a game indeed.

Was he the black master he had alleged to be the day before? Would he invite himself into her room when they reached the door?

They paced up the steps covered in red velvet, thinking about what was to come. When they stepped on the first landing, Hermione knew that all her questions were seconds from being dissipated. And even though her insides were upside down something in her heart told her that his actions would be of her liking.

They patiently walked through the narrow corridor that led to her personal chamber, Hermione leading the way. The hem of Snape's robes was softly caressing her calf and she was trying to remember hard why that situation sounded too bloody familiar.

It took them more than five minutes to travel all the way through her door- a journey of only nine meters- but finally they achieved their goal; they were standing at the very gate of paradise.

"Well…" she hesitantly tried to say, avoiding any kind of giggle. She was a schoolgirl after all, even though she was Mrs. Snape now.

He smiled at her doubtfulness; "She is as innocent as an angel," he thought to himself while rubbing his chin fondly.

A man on his late thirties is not usually the one walking a teenage girl to her room but, he kept reminding himself, their relationship was not a normal one. They were married and he was standing in front of a woman, who would be forever his; who would eternally be his wife. And that made her even more attractive and even more innocent.

The whole situation made him feel like a corruptor; a bloody rapist. That was all he was, after all, that was all he had ever been.

"Miss Granger, I…" he was about to speak his mind about the whole thing, about why he thought their relationship had no future, about why he thought they ought not to stay together, when she interrupted him with the one thing that would managed to change his mind; an astounding kiss.

And so she kissed him with her lips wide open and her heart wide open. She kissed him like she had never kissed him before, like she had never opened up before. She took the lead when her hands travelled all the way towards his hands and with one quick move she deposited them on her breasts, using his hands to massage her nipples.

"You are not a rapist," she said between breaths, as if she would have been able to read his previous thoughts.

And with those very words, he removed one hand from her chest and turning the doorknob to the right, he opened the doors that lead to her personal area at Snape's Manor.

They danced all the way towards the bed even though no music could be heard. The raindrops and the heavy breathing were the only noise that could be heard.

They were still kissing when Hermione's head hit the wooden headboard. It hurt, yes. But what he was doing between her legs made everything worthwhile, even the pain in her head. He had already unbuttoned her robes, which lay now motionless on the floor and with quick movements he had managed to access Hermione's most intimate place. But make no mistake; Severus was no stranger there.

He licked her rosy flesh and devoured her juices, which tasted even sweeter now than it had before. She moaned with pleasure; she was completely wet and near climaxing but when Severus thrust his fingers into her soaked cavity, nothing could be done to prevent her from screaming. And it had only taken him minutes, can you imagine the possibilities?

It was her turn to please him; it was her turn to make him climax. She wanted to; she wanted to do it so much. But he couldn't do that to her; he had done it in the past, sure, but she was his wife now and it was not the time to corrupt her sweet mouth with his own sperm.

He took her jaw on his hands and with a sweet kiss he pushed his member inside and as he did so a little scream escaped from her mouth.

His strokes were gentle at first; he even took to the time to caress her breasts, lubricating her nipples with his saliva. But when he first heard her moans, when her breathing accelerated to a degree unknown to him, nothing could be done to prevent him from coming. He sped up his movements, thrusting even deeper and it only took Hermione minutes to experience her second orgasm of the day. Severus came shortly next, inside of her as he usually did.

Hermione felt that warm feeling within her that always managed to relax her and resting her head on his hairy chest, she yawned loudly and felt asleep.

But Severus did not. When he was completely sure that Hermione would not wake, he got up from her bed and walked towards the green sofa where he had shaved her curls. He was naked so he put on his black robes, but refused to button them.

He had fought the darkness within him; he had thought it… the dark master had not raped that sweet child that was Hermione Granger. That could only mean love. The question remained still on Severus head, "Would she love me back?"

It was strange for him to speak those words; he had never cared for another person's opinion. He was in her hands, however, and his destiny rested entirely on her feelings.

He was worried indeed.

Little did Severus know that all his doubts were soon to be dissipated by Hermione Granger herself and that love would prevail, even if books based on happiness make no money.