The Heiress

Chapter 11


Authors note: Don't yell. Don't be mean. I procrastinated and now I'm writing. Extra special thanks to my beta distempered who rocks my socks. She's also Ginny in platform934 a role-playing game I've put together on Livejournal. I play Hermione and Draco, and there is a very nice Hermione/Snape storyline going on. Join if it strikes your fancy! …please?

Hermione stood in the middle of the dance floor, looking absolutely flabbergasted. He…was he expressing…no.

'Oh, that's jealousy if ever I saw it,' her inner-voice piped in conversationally. Hermione mentally shook herself off, and headed…in the direction that he had walked off in.

'Whoa…what are you doing?'

Hermione stopped herself. She was just about to go and talk to him about what he had just said! She was possibly going to tell him that she had been jealous as well.

'Just step away from the Snape, Hermione. Go home.'

Hermione nodded. Yes, maybe the wine was making her feel a bit silly. Maybe it would be best if she just…left. Yes, she should leave.

Hélène stopped her at the door.

"Where are you going, Hermione?" she asked, with a mischievous smirk on her face.

"Home…I'm very tired you see."

Hélène placed her hands on Hermione's shoulders and looked closely at her.

"You don't look tired. Darling, you look flustered!"

Hermione shook her head. "No, Hélène, I'm just really, really tired."

She looked unconvinced. "Alright, I will give Severus your love."

Hermione gave a start at this.

"What?"

"Well, it's only polite, darling." With that, Hélène pressed a kiss on Hermione's forehead.

"Goodnight, Hélène."

"Goodnight, Hermione."


Hermione was almost on her own lawn when she remembered the feel of Severus's hand on her waist, taking her around the dance floor. A secretive smile came unbidden to her lips, and she sighed.

'Stop it, Hermione!'

"No," Hermione replied cheekily to her inner voice.

For reasons unknown to her, she slept very well that night.


Over the next few weeks, Hermione found herself observing her employer at times where she knew he was oblivious.

He was not a handsome man – that much she would admit. But, he did have something about him…if she had been Jane Eyre, she might've sketched his profile as faithfully and as truthfully as Jane had of her Mr. Rochester.

He did have ridiculously long eyelashes, she discovered. A fact that had escaped her during her seven years of toil in the dungeons of Hogwarts. His cheekbones were high and severe, like the clothing he wore, and his nose was what one would call hooked. Although his skin was smooth and unblemished, it could've done with a day in the sun, or even a year. He was an impressive man, not a handsome one. For some reason, that appealed to Hermione so much more.

Justine had been faithfully completing her arithmetic lesson, when she noticed Hermione out on the balcony of the classroom, staring down into the courtyard. She set down her quill, and stealthily made her way to her governess's side. Hermione was looking down at her papa!

"Maybe he likes you like I like Ron," Justine commented, jerking Hermione out of her reverie.

"You sneaky little thing! I didn't even notice you…"

Justine shrugged at this. "Well, I'm just telling you. Maybe you and Papa should talk to each other. Maybe he'll kiss you. You'd like that, right?"

Hermione blushed fiercely. "Justine, you shouldn't talk of such things."

"Why not? It's true."

"Go back to your lessons, Justine, or you won't get to see Ron today."

The discussion was decidedly over with.


Hermione was about to retire for the day, when Severus caught her in the hallway.

"Hermione, I would like to apologize for my conduct at my sister's wedding."

'He's apologizing? Him?'

"There's nothing to forgive, Severus."

Severus took a moment to observe his daughter's governess. She wasn't beautiful in the least…she was almost plain. Well, not to him, but he could see where other people would reach this conclusion. Her hair really was unfortunate…frizzy and an uninspiring brown color. Her eyes were quite extraordinary, he'd never noticed how honeyed they looked, or the fact that there was a small constellation of black flecks in her right eye that ran from the bottom edge of her pupil, to the bottom edge of her iris.

Her chest was regrettable, rather flat and uninspiring. Apparently all the fullness that could've been on her chest was wasted on her rather rounded bottom. Which was fine, he wasn't a breast man anyway, and her waist was rather small before it swelled out into a pair of very fine hips and…WHAT?

'Lusting after the governess, Severus?' his inner voice inquired nastily. He mentally shook himself off, and narrowed his eyes at her.

"Very well…I still apologize," he muttered before walking off.

"Severus, wait!"

He paused and turned to her.

"Yes?"

"Do you ever unwind?"

He quirked an eyebrow at her.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

Hermione felt a blush run from her scalp to her collarbone. 'Are you asking him out?'

"Well, I was just wondering if perhaps someday when I am done working…we could sit down for a drink and a discussion. Is that not what friends do?"

Severus smiled. Wait…he smiled? Yes, that was a genuine smile…from Severus.

"I suppose that would be quite nice. Sometime."

"Perhaps now?"

His smile grew considerably.

"There's no better time than the present."


Hermione was ushered into Severus's study. She was so relieved to find that there were no chains hanging from the walls…

It was actually not too different from what she would want in a study – comfortable, softly lit, and absolutely cluttered with books. She took a seat at a brown leather armchair near his desk. He sat at the desk and poured her a small glass of fire whiskey.

"I've never tried this before," Hermione informed him, sniffing the strong drink.

"Pity, I thought for certain the Weasley twins were behind my missing supply a few years back. They would've undoubtedly shared with their brother's girlfriend." Hermione took a sip, and choked.

"Ron wasn't my boyfriend," she managed to tell him, in between wracking coughs.

"Ah."

"And had I caught Fred and George with alcohol, I would've reported them immediately."

"That's not very noble of you. Not very Gryffindor-like at all."

"Rules are rules, Severus."

He smirked at her.

"Indeed."


"Severus?"

"Mmm?"

"How many of these have I had?"

"That's two, dear."

"Oh."

"Lightweight."

"Prat."


"Severus?"

"You've had a lot."

"Can I have some more?"

"Of course."


Some time later, Hermione's cheeks were blazing red with alcohol, and she had scooted the armchair to be next to where Severus was sitting, rather than across from.

"Severus?"

"Yes?" There was also some color in his pale cheeks as well.

"Do you love Justine?"

Severus finished his drink, set down his glass, and folded his hands on top of his desk before answering this. He looked very stern.

"Yes."

Hermione's eyebrows nearly shot past her hairline before she busted into giggles, covering her mouth with the hand that wasn't holding her drink. He frowned at this.

"What?"

"N-nothing…You're just…you're just so serious!" She snorted, and he rolled his eyes at her.

"Are you quite done?"

She schooled her features to appear stoic.

"Yes, sir, I'm done…now pour me another."

"I think you've had enough."

"You'll know when I've had enough, sir."

He looked amused.

"Indeed? And how would I know that?"

Hermione shrugged.


Hermione was now sitting on Severus's knee, swaying slightly. He placed one hand on the small of her back, and one on her lower thigh, anchoring her so she would not fall backwards.

"I'm almost certain you've had enough now," he slurred slightly.

"Nooo…"

"Alright, Hermione, when will I know your limit?" He asked, exasperatedly.

"When the drink has given me enough courage to do this."

She leaned forward and pressed a chaste kiss on his lips, pulling away with a little start.

"Oh dear…"