And so the days went, busy for both. By day, teachers prepared for year-end, students frantically crammed for exams. The wee hours of the morning were their hiatus, they're small private sensual island, and though both avoided talking about it, they hungrily looked forward to the end of the school year and the time they could be truly flesh to flesh.
At first, they battled over who would appear where, until the inevitable night both appeared simultaneously in the others rooms and spent a lonely and frustrating two hours apart. Severus spent the time snooping through her clothing, pressing silky knickers to his face, sniffing various perfumes and lotions, puzzling himself to no end over the array of cosmetics.
Hermione, on the other hand, short-sheeted his bed, slightly annoyed that she wouldn't be here to see him try to climb in – before discovering his bookcase full of classic wizard literature. She received her payback the following night, however, via a quick trip over his knee.
By unspoken agreement, they stayed away from each other the evenings before N.E.W.T. exams. Lack of sleep from studying was one thing. Lack of sleep from playing "doctor" was quite another.
They're last evening prior to graduation was spent completely wearing each other out. Resting beside each other, they made plans for the following night, after the graduation party – their first "real" time together. Hermione had turned 18 the week before, and celebrated by eating an ice cream sundae off of a tied up and mildly, irritated man.
Breathing heavily after their evening aerobics, Hermione ran her nails lightly over his chest and uttered, "You are amazing."
"Maybe I'm just trying to make you forget anyone who came before me." Tapping her lightly on the nose, he added, "Although, I think I may have something up on your average fumbling, teenage boy."
Smiling uncertainly, Hermione quickly dipped her head and rested it on his shoulder.
"So … are you going to tell me?" His voice, so seductive, so thrilling, gave her goose bumps.
"Tell you what?"
""How I compare?" he asked her, half joking.
"Oh!" Waving a hand at him, she replied vaguely, "Stop being silly."
Raising up on his arm, he looked down on her lovely face, noticing the rising color in her cheeks.
"Am I." He murmured, speculatively.
Leaning over, he kissed her softly, skimming a hand over her breast. Lightly tweaking one nipple, he caught her quick intake of breath in his mouth.
Deepening his kiss, he moved his hand lower inch by inch. "Did they garner this type of response from you?" and finding her, caressed her until her breathing came in short pants.
"Did they, my pet?"
Keeping up his sensual assault, he moved his lips to her neck and nipped her lightly with his teeth, delighting in her quick gasp.
"Um ….ohhhhhh …um," Moaning, she had difficulty thinking of an answer.
Moving warm lips to her ear, he growled softly, "Did they?" as his long fingers delved deeper and he increased the pressure of his hand.
Nearly keening with pleasure, she rose up swiftly and reached her peak, crying out unintentionally, "There was no…one…else."
Coming slowly back to her senses, she realized he'd pulled away from her.
Breathing deeply, despite the rushing in his ears, he stared at her in shock and mild horror.
In a voice she hardly recognized, he asked, "What did you say?"
Trepidation grew, as she bit her lip and searched for an answer.
Grasping her chin, he turned her face to him, and glared uselessly into her eyes. Pressing his nose directly up to hers, he repeated his question softly and slowly. "What did you just say to me?"
Feeling trapped, she whispered shakily, "There was no one else."
The long silence was punctuated by his harsh breathing as he closed his eyes and leaned his forehead against hers.
"That first night, you came to me a virgin? I don't remember. How can I not remember?" He asked in a hoarse whisper.
Sighing, she reluctantly told him, "You weren't exactly awake." And proceeded to describe their first evening together.
Sitting up in bed, he hung his head in his hands when she finished, and fought for control of his rising anger.
Placing a tentative hand on his back, Hermione tried to speak when he turned to her.
"I can't even apologize. Technically, you raped me. You rotten child!" Gripping her painfully by the shoulders, he shook her. "How could you do that? Without asking me! Without my permission! Without any kind of consideration!"
"I tried asking! You pushed me away!" she cried.
Shoving her away from him in disgust, he added, "I didn't ask for your virginity. You left me no choice."
"You wouldn't come to me willingly. What was I suppose to do." She spoke in desperation.
"Why? Why, Hermione? Why me?" He scowled fiercely, watching every muscle on her face.
"Because I loved you." And shouting the words, she stunned herself with the truth. "Because I love you."
Moving slowly to the door, he stated flatly, "You honestly have no idea how serious this is, do you?" Pausing, he added in threatening tones, "If you dare come to me tomorrow night, it will be a night you'll never forget."