Thank you so much for all your reviews. Very much enjoy reading them. Glad you liked the previous chapter. Please note, this next chapter is the penultimate one. Thought you might like to be warned.

Chapter Nine

One way or another

3am-4am:

She was beautiful. She was wondrous. She was unbelievable.

The feel of her body tensing and shuddering in the throws of her climax was intoxicating.

She was writhing beneath him, her nails digging into his back, crying out loudly and then sighing deeply as she began to come down.

He was trembling as he lifted his head to kiss her, her face very pink, their bodies glistening with sweat.

"Bravo! Bravo! Tell me, Severus, what do you do for an encore?"

Hermione screamed and he leapt up as fast as humanly possible under the circumstances, turning to face the voice.

No! No, this couldn't be!

Lucius Malfoy stood, tall and menacing at the door, his wand pointing directly at them. Behind him, stood Nott and Crabbe, grinning letcherously at the sight that had met their eyes.

Lucius walked into the cell, careful to take a wide arc around the bed, still pointing his wand.

"So, you've discovered ways to pass the time whilst you've been skulking away in here." He moved his head to glance past Severus, who was shielding Hermione. "I do hope she was worth it - your final encounter."

"It can't be you!" spluttered Hermione with a catch to her voice. "It can't be! Where's Harry?"

"Potter is dead, along with all your other pathetic companions. The Dark Lord is triumphant - and is now anxious to settle old scores."

He motioned to Nott and Crabbe. They marched in and grabbed Severus by the arms, pulling him roughly, towards the door. He struggled against them, but they had the advantage.

"Nnnooo!" Hermione howled behind him.

He turned his head to see her leap from the bed towards him.

"Hermione!" he cried, as one of his captors put out a hand and pushed her in the face.

"Stop!"

At the sound of Malfoy's voice, both Death Eaters pulled up and looked at him.

"I think we can take a little time over these two." He walked to the door and slammed it shut. "Put him over there," he indicated the far corner with his wand.

Severus was dragged to the other side of the cell, the two Death Eaters holding his arms in iron grips behind his back, Nott's wand at his throat.

Lucius' wand was pointed at Hermione.

"You stay right where you are, or I shall kill him instantly."

He turned to Severus, his lip curling in amusement, his eyes travelling disdainfully over his naked body.

"Really, Severus, is that all you could offer her? The poor thing must be frantic with frustration...I said stay where you are!" Without looking at her he pointed his wand again at Hermione as she began to move towards them.

Lucius swivelled slowly on his heels to face her and Severus felt his insides shudder as he recognised the intent on Malfoy's face.

"Lucius..." he said, his voice hoarse with the panic he was feeling for Hermione.

Lucius moved towards Hermione and grabbed her hair, yanking her head up to face him.

"I think we'll let your friend watch, hmmm? Oh, he might protest," he hissed to her ear, but looking at him. "but secretly, he'll enjoy it. He always used to."

Severus struggled to release himself from his captors, putting all his strength into it, but he was no match for two.

Lucius pulled Hermione back towards the bed.

He could feel his panic rising, the desperate helplessness that he could do nothing to protect her.

Then she looked at him, straight into his eyes.

"It doesn't matter," she soothed, her face strong and brave. "It doesn't matter. Not now. Not after...us. He doesn't scare me."

Oh, Gods! She really didn't understand what was happening...

"Leave her, Lucius, please...leave her, and I shall...I shall..." he let out a defeated sigh. "I shall answer to you..."

"Answer to me?" Lucius looked up as though for a moment interested, regarded him for a moment, but then smirked. "Not really a viable proposition, considering the Dark Lord's plans for you. Now, shall we break-in your little mare?"

He pulled at Hermione again. She spun her head round and spat in his face,

"Too late, you bastard. Severus has all ready been there."

Lucius just laughed.

"Lucius!" Severus was frantic. He couldn't let this happen, he couldn't. Wildly he struggled, giving his guards great difficulty in holding him as he watched Lucius push Hermione face down over the bedstead.

"You think I want Severus Snape's leftovers?" He held her down as his fingers sliced between her buttocks. "You have other unexplored places, poppet..."

She screamed.

"Severus! Severus, help me, please..."

"HERMIONE!" He yelled, as he struggled with all his being, his heart torn apart by her cries. "HERMIONE..."

"It's OK. It's OK..."

His head was spinning, pure panic assailed him, confusion reigned. Arms were around him, but they were no longer the thick, restraining arms of his captors; they were soft, feminine arms, and when he opened his eyes, her face was above his, close, concerned, beautiful...

"Uhhhh...?"

"It's OK," she whispered, stroking his face and looking deep into his eyes. "You were dreaming. It's OK."

Dreaming?

All of it? Surely not all?

She was looking at him, her eyes soft and shining, and her expression...he'd never been on the receiving end of such tenderness.

He looked back into her eyes, overwhelmed by the sense of relief that she was safe; that a victor hadn't yet emerged; and...he closed his eyes against it, but could not suppress the warmth of emotion that flooded his very being at the sight of her, so close and soft and still his.

She held him to her, his head resting on her breast, and his arms wrapped around her waist, holding her gently but firmly, not wanting ever to let go. He'd been so scared for her; so scared of losing her. The emotions she evoked blinded him, causing him actually to draw breath to say something; but he drew back at the last moment.

4am-5am:

What ever the dream had been, it hadn't been good. It has started with him murmuring and then tossing his head from side to side as though struggling against something; and then he'd called her name, pure panic in his voice...

When eventually he awoke his eyes had a wild, frightened expression, waking from the nightmare like a small child. Her heart swelled at being the one allowed to hold him, rock him, comfort him until the bogie man was forgotten.

She hadn't slept at all. How could she? Her mind had replayed over and over again what had happened between them. The way he had touched her; kissed her; brought her to such mind-blowing emotions - passion she'd never dreamed of.

She'd watched him as he slept. Never had she dared to believe she would ever see him in this state. Her Potions Master; asleep and naked in bed with her; her first lover.

Mmmmmmmm!

Not a virgin any more. She'd lost it - and how! He had been wonderful. It hadn't hurt - well, not as much as she'd been led to believe it would.

All the girls in her year knew that Lisa Turpin had been the first of them to lose her virginity - way back in the third year; in the Astronomy Tower with Leonard Flax, a fourth-year boy. Rumour had spread like wildfire and, as with Chinese whispers, the details had become more and more gory until poor Lisa it seemed, had been all but torn in half whilst writhing in agony.

Then there had been a quick succession of girls falling for the charms of the Beauxbatons and Durmstrang boys during the Tri-Wizard Tournament...

...and so many girls talked about Draco Malfoy and his wandering hands that it had become almost an insult if he hadn't tried it on. She hadn't felt insulted though. She knew why he left her alone - he was scared of her.

All in all, she hadn't heard one good word about how it felt, the first time. No wonder the nerves had built up.

Now it was over; the shock had worn off, but she still felt breathless that the impossible had happened; he was here, cradled in her arms, and it had been lovely.

She turned her face a little, kissed the top of his head and swallowed as a tear trickled from her eye.

Soon it would be over and he would leave her;

one way or another.

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Thousandl: I didn't dare leave it too long!

JessiokaFroka - Wow to you, too. What praise!

June - Mmmmm. That's given me an idea for a 'dirty weekend' story!

Intelligent Witch - hope your cold is better.

Kairi The Iced Rose - I can't remember if Sev's a virgin, but there's an extremely good story on Schnoogle called 'Lost' by Venus DeMilo, where Hermione goes back (via timeturner) to when Sev's 17 and they fall in love. It's well worth a read.

Grill - I mean, Meryl, Darling. Shucks! Your reviews mean a lot to me.

Alexandria - I'm glad you enjoyed the humour.

The-Sexy-Flower - I forgot to slash? That is SO unlike me! Sorry!

Breziebear - My writing made you take a shower? God, I'm so PROUD!

Junella - clever you for guessing ahead!

FemmeLoki - What are you THINKING woman? I said Hermione used the phallus for practicing TOUCH, not....ewwww! I need tea now....

Helena Oe - strokes Helena's brow soothingly there, there. You'll find out soon.

Irish Man - absolutely.

Kerichi - yes, she'll probably get an 'O'

Aries1 - Thank you. I'm walking on sunshine!

and thank you also:Kbluesmom ShadowVixen90 Melted-Icicle Qmouse Oasis Blackmore Lee74 Joy Crux Cdkobasiuk Vickie211 lollipop Mystical fairy-05 Phantom-Blue-Ink Becca - lots of love, Severusgirl xxxxx