Chapter 25

Friday night after a particularly tiring quidditch practice, Hermione took a shower and decided to play some music. Grabbing some new music she had received, she made her way there. Her thoughts drifted to Severus, as they had been doing a lot lately. The lingering looks in potions class along with the nods and grins during meals was making her a little nuts. Music would help clear her mind. Walking into the music room, she sighed as she sat down on the bench. Warming up with some Vivaldi, she stopped suddenly sensing and smelled someone watching her. She turned around wand at the ready. There was no one there.

"I know someone is there. I can smell you. You might as well come out. I can make you, you know," she said.

Severus stepped slowly from the doorway smiling. "You'll make me?" he asked.

"Oh." she said softly standing up dropping her wand arm.

"May I?" Severus said indicating the room.

"Certainly. You are a professor, you may go wherever you please."

"You jest, Granger."

He strolled slowly towards her. As he passed in front of her, he reached out and tucked some stray hair behind her ear. The soft tickling sensation sent shivers through her body.

Oh my! she thought.

He stood next to the piano. Waving to it, he asked softly,

"Would you play something for me?"

"What would you like?" she said making no attempt to hide the sultry tone.

Would you really like to know? he thought with a raised eyebrow.

"I am sure that I will enjoy whatever you choose."

Hermione flipped through the folder, scanning the various selections. Tossing it aside, she picked up her own folder, looked through it, picked out a sheet and grinned. Popping her knuckles, taking a sip of water, clearing her throat, with a last lick of her lips she started:

It's not the pale moon that excites me

That thrills and delights me, oh no

It's just the nearness of you

It isn't your sweet conversation

That brings this sensation, oh no

It's just the nearness of you

When you're in my arms and I feel you so close to me

All my wildest dreams come true

I need no soft lights to enchant me

If you'll only grant me the right

To hold you ever so tight

And to feel in the night the nearness of you

Severus would remember that moment forever. The passion in her eyes as she finished the song. The pout of her lips as she sang. The scent of her hair. The sensual sound of her voice. He felt as if he was in sensory overload. When the last note echoed slightly off the walls, Severus, softly-almost whispering, asked,

"Hermione, what are you doing to me?"

"I should ask you the same thing, Severus," she replied in the same manner.

She was shivering as he moved closer. She was froze to the seat, gazing up at him.

"Hermione, are you afraid?"

"Absolutely not."

He held his breath as he did something that his hands had been aching to do. He slowly reached down to her and ran his hands through her hair. She closed her eyes and sighed deeply. Bending down he placed both hands behind her head and softly put his lips to hers. He was elated when she submitted to the kiss, taking in his bottom lip and then running her tongue along both lips. Pulling her closer, their mouths came together fully as their tongues explored one another's. The tender moment was broken when Hermione accidentally hit a key on the piano and they both jumped.

"Sorry," she said.

Can I be any more buggering stupid? she thought.

"You have nothing to be sorry for. As much as I hate to break this up, it's almost ten pm, my dear, and you have a match tomorrow. May I escort you to your room?"

He held out his hand. She took it and they left the room. Arriving at the head's common room entrance, he said,

"Thank you Hermione. Good evening." With a kiss on her cheek, he left.

Watching him leave, she thought,

No, thank you.

At breakfast the next morning, there was exited chatter about the match. Snape observed Hermione's exited smile and bright eyes and waving hands as she animatedly talked about the pending match. A very observant Ginny said nothing and narrowed her eyes at her. She had inherited her mother's empathic nature and used it often.

What's going on? Herms is never this lively in the morning. Wait, hold on.

She turned and looked over her shoulder at Snape. He too was talking, not scowling and muttering to the staff, but talking to them. She turned back to Hermione, whose gaze was now directed to the staff table towards the potions professor. Ginny again looked to the professor. When he nodded at her, she looked back to Hermione who was biting her bottom lip.

Wow, when she's biting her bottom lip, she doing some heavy thinking!

Hermione flashed a smile to Snape then returned to her conversation with Harry and Ron.

Hermione worked through the pre-match jitters with some yoga and whistling "Chasers Do It Better." Her parents had come to the match too, insisting to be there since she insisted on playing. They were sitting in the Gryffindor visitors seats with the Weasley family. They were not happy to hear that she was playing again. Mrs. Weasley was trying her best to re-assure Mrs. Granger that Hermione would be fine.

I can't believe I'm whistling this stupid song!

The whole staff had thoroughly warded the pitch to ensure that no rogue bludger or anything untoward would disrupt the match or cause injury. With cheers and applause, the teams flew onto the field. The teams took their starting places. Hermione waved to her parents and scanned the stands to the staff section. Severus was there and she raised her wrap-around sunglasses in salute. Madame Hooch started the match. Foster took the initiative and snatched the quaffle first. Racing towards the goals, Hermione and Ginny flanked him. They passed the quaffle back and forth then Foster launched his patented strong hook shot through the goal. The Gryffindors went wild. The Hufflepuff chasers scored just as quick. After just a half-hour, the score was 90-80 in favor of Hufflepuff. Ron called a time out.

"Okay team, the Huffs are on their game today. Ayden's keeping like it's no ones business. If we lose this, we lose the cup. Do you want that? I sure don't. I want to go out a winner. So let's play like I know you can play."

Giving each other high-fives, the game continued. The game got faster and rougher. Neither team was malicious by nature, but the will to win propelled both teams to play harder. Both teams dodged many bludgers and swinging bats. Hermione's mother had her eyes covered by that point, unable to watch. Her dad was up and screaming with the rest of Gryffindors, cheering the team on. Henry Granger couldn't get over how fast Hermione flew and how gracefully she handled the quaffle. After two hours, the game was tied. Snape stood and was startled a bit when Hermione and a Hufflepuff chaser raced close to the stadium wall, the two of them almost slamming into it.

For Merlin's sake, Hermione be careful. he pleaded silently.

McGonagall put her hand on his arm and said, "Don't worry Severus, she can take care of herself." He nodded.

"Oh the poor dear, look at Mrs. Granger. At least Mr. Granger is enjoying himself."

Snape looked over to the Grangers. Mrs. Granger was still sitting with her hands over her face, and Mr. Granger was on his feet, jumping and shouting with the rest of the crowd.

"THAT'S MY GIRL! GO HERMS GO!" Mr. Granger yelled. Severus smiled at the exuberant pride of her father. Could you blame him?

What happened next made Ginny and Hermione laugh for years afterward. It all happened in a time frame of about ten seconds. A bludger caught Foster fast and hard to the shoulder, which in turn knocked him suddenly to the left into Ginny, who had just flown to him. He caught the front of her broom, sending her flipping head-over-ass to Hermione who had just dodged a bludger. She did not see Ginny's collision below her, but did notice the loose quaffle coming at her. Not hearing the shouts of "Hermione, look out!" and intent on catching the quaffle, she was startled by a tumbling mass of red hair, and Ginny flipped into Hermione with a "WHOA! OOF! OWW!"

Losing her balance, with Ginny's foot tagging her in the mouth, Hermione fell from the broom, dangling with one arm. She saw Ginny lose her grip on her broom and fall off. They were about 30 feet off the ground.

Ginny! Shit! I don't have my wand! I hope this works!

Dangling from her broom, Hermione extended her free arm to Ginny and shouted,

"ARRESTO MEMENTUM!"

A shocked Ginny slowed to a stop in mid-air upside down.

I did it! WANDLESS on a person! Hermione thought with glee until she looked up realizing she was about to lose her grip and plummet to the ground herself.

Why does this keep happening to me? Mum has probably fainted!

Harry flew in and finished lowering a shaking Ginny to the ground. Snape was on his feet again watching his struggling Hermione, wand at the ready. While she was trying kick up and reach up with her other arm to hold on, Foster flew under Hermione, gathered her in his arms, and deposited her back on her broom. Snape slumped his shoulders and relaxed.

"Thanks Matt, I was losing my grip."

"No problem Hermione."

"Game on!" Madame Hooch shouted.

Harry must have spotted the snitch because he took off like a bullet towards the far corner of the pitch. The Hufflepuff seeker followed. The teams flew towards their seekers to clear the path of beaters, bats, and bludgers. The shouting crowd went into a frenzy as Harry and the Hufflepuff seeker raced neck and neck towards the snitch. Harry leaned over his broom and flattened out as much as humanly possible while stretching for the snitch. He felt the fluttering wings tickle his fingertips and held his breath as his hand closed around the snitch. They gathered around Harry and celebrated. The teams landed on the ground and shook hands. Hermione took off her sunglasses, put her head back and sighed in relief. Dabbing her kerchief to her bleeding lip, she looked to her parents and laughed. Her dad was jumping up and down hugging the nearest Weasley, her mother was fanning her face shaking her head. Then what she saw in the staff box made her laugh even harder. She looked to McGonagall's grinning face, joyfully accepting the winnings from her wagers. Dumbledore was shooting confetti from the tip of his wand! The icing on the cake was seeing Slytherin extraordinaire Severus Snape waving a small Gryffindor flag. Wiping tears away tears of laughter, Hermione was hugged by Ginny said,

"Ouch! That lip must hurt. Thanks for the save Hermione, you're a real pal!"