Chapter 30

Is wallowing in lust such a problem? You decide.

Friday February 1st

Could time go by any slower? I swear it has come to a screeching halt.

Hermione thought irritably as she broke for lunch. Everything was irritating her today. Even potions class. The day had started out fine, seeing Severus at breakfast, giving him the familiar wink and getting the head nod in return. She had given up the suggestive food-play, as it was driving Severus crazy. He sent an owl asking her to please stop after about a week of it.

Hermione, even Dumbledore was wondering what you were doing with that banana! was the owl message he sent.

It didn't matter what alluring clothes she wore when class was not in session, he had seen her in nothing, after all. He had floo-ed in often, the two talking and limiting intimacy to kissing and fondling. After those visits, it was cold shower or taking matters into their own hands. Back to the morning at hand, potions class had went fine the first hour. They did written work, then brewed a potion. Snape observed how Hermione concentrated on her work, biting her bottom lip, and resting her forehead on her hand. The "fun" started when Hermione left her seat to retrieve the potion ingredients. Unknown to her, her robe that was draping the floor had caught under Harry's chair leg when he shifted the chair. Snape saw that she got up, took a step, then was jerked back suddenly knocking her chair aside and knocking heads with Harry. It took every single ounce Severus had not to laugh out loud.

"Harry!" she whispered fiercely, rubbing her head snatching her robe away.

"Sorry. " Harry muttered, also rubbing his head.

"Mr. Potter, Miss Granger, is there a problem?" Severus drawled.

"No professor." Harry replied.

Hermione stalked to the cubby to gather the potion ingredients. She glanced at Severus on the way back to her table, frowning.

Now what was that all about?

Hermione also seemed a little clumsy at brewing today as well. She knocked over a container of acorns, some spilling on the floor. Her and Harry knocked heads again while trying to pick up the nuts. Now other students were snickering. Harry added too much of another ingredient, and the potion brewed to a dull orange instead of the red it was supposed to be. She plunked down in her chair, shaking her head. When class concluded, Harry and Hermione brought a vial of the ruined potion to Snape's desk.

"Mr. Potter, Miss Granger, this potion is ruined. You receive a failing grade for today. That is all, dismissed."

As much as he hated to do it, he had no choice. They had brewed the potion incorrectly, and he couldn't favor Hermione. As Hermione and Harry left the potions room, she was glaring at Harry. The rest of her classes until lunch, she had the hardest time focusing on her work. This aggravated her more.

Well, someone hit me with a stupid stick today. she thought as she made her way to lunch.

Snape was already at the staff table, noticing that Hermione didn't wink as she came to her table. Again she plunked down in her place, pouring herself a glass of juice. She stared at the wall as her friends came to the table. Harry had warned everyone about what had happened in potions that morning. She was snippy with Harry and Ron in transfiguration and charms class, and threatened to "hex their dangly bits off" in DADA class later if they didn't stop snickering at her. They moved to another part of the classroom. So at the Gryffindor table, the two didn't say a word her way. They liked their dangly bits where they were. Ginny would say something, of course. The food appeared.

"And the hits just keep on coming. Ginger chicken." Hermione hated ginger on anything.

"So, Hermione, nice day we're having today, isn't it?" Ginny stated.

Hermione snorted. Ginny knew what was wrong. She passed Hermione a note:

You need to talk. Me first, then him. Is seven pm alright? That's after your first year tutoring, isn't it?

Hermione looked at Ginny amazed. Was she telepathic? She nodded her head yes at Ginny.

That evening, Hermione took a nice long bubble bath to try and relax.

This bath would be perfect if Severus was here to join me.

A knock on her door startled her out of her thoughts. She looked to a clock. It was a little after seven.

Shit! Ginny, I completely forgot.

"Come in!" she shouted.

"Herms?" Ginny asked.

"I'll be out in a bit."

She got out and dried off. Putting on a sexy, sheer, black satin bathrobe Severus got her, she joined Ginny in their usual place by the bay window. Severus too joined them, unnoticed, face peering through the a fire.

You look beautiful in that robe Hermione. he thought.

"Rotten day, huh?" Ginny started.

"You could say that."

"Harry told me what happened in potions. Sorry."

"Don't be. We certainly lived up to being dunderheads today."

"That bad?"

"Gin, I failed a potion. The last time I failed a potion was fourth year. It was supposed to be one of the "cheerfulness potions. How ironic."

"You sounded like Prof. Snape just now."

Hermione smiled. "Thank you."

"Gift from an admirer?" Ginny asked pointing to the robe.

"Something like that."

Ginny decided to take the bull by the horns.

"Why don't you just ask him to drop by and shag yourselves silly?" Hermione's jaw dropped. So did Snape's.

"Wha- huh? Wait… how?" Hermione asked.

Yes, how? he thought.

"Hermione, you are suffering from unresolved sexual tension," she said trying to sound important and serious.

Gin, you have no idea!

"Ginny, I don't know how you seem to know things all the time, but it's starting to freak me out a little bit."

"Oh that, well, it seems that I'm a bit empathic."

What? "Excuse me?"

"Yeah, I found out in the hospital after that last death eater attack."

"Why didn't you tell anyone?"

"I didn't want people to look at me differently."

I know what you mean. Hermione thought.

"Now, back to you Herms. Have you two talked about it?"

"Yes."

"And?"

"We are being prudent," Hermione replied looking as if she bit into a lemon.

"So just the once?" Ginny asked. Hermione hesitated.

She knows! Hermione thought anxiously.

"Oh Herms, for pete's sake, you secret is safe with me."

"Yes, Gin, just the once. That was two weeks ago. Gods, I wish it was every night. I'm getting sick and tired of taking care of it myself. He should be."

Yes, I should be, my dear! Snape thought. Hermione got up and flopped down on he bed.

"It wonder if it's making him nuts too," Hermione mused.

Believe me, it is. Severus thought.

"He drops by a few times a week and we snog quite a bit, but no sex. It's maddening. I want him so much," Hermione whined.

"Herms, you're whining."

"Am I?"

"Mmmhmm." Ginny smiled. Hermione smiled back. Ginny's good nature was contagious.

"I have an idea." Ginny stated.

Uh oh.i

"You remember that you filled the time after Victor died? Thinking of something else to do?"

"Yes…."

"Don't just sit here moping Herms. Get off your horny ass and do something," Ginny said.

She certainly gets to the point, doesn't she? Snape thought. Hermione yawned.

"And with, I'll be heading back to my dorm. I hope this little talk helped."

"Yes Gin, it did. Thanks a bunch. Night."

Snape watched her leave her bed for a second, and she returned with a hairbrush and stroked her hair with it. She sighed as she felt the robe on her.

"Severus, I don't know how much more of this I can take. I'm in love with you so much," she said softly to herself. Laying the brush down on the night table, she laid down on the bed. She hated not being with him.

That's enough! he thought.

Hermione heard the fire pop and crackle, and as if Severus had heard her, stepped out of the fireplace. She bolted up and smiled.

"That robe looks good on you."

"Thank you."

"I'm sorry about your day."

"You? I botched a simple potion and bit my best friends heads off."

"Anything I can do?"

Hermione raised an eyebrow at him. "I have an idea."

She slipped the robe from her body. She was nude underneath. The way she looked at him, like that, made all prudence fly out the window. He practically jumped to her bed in one leap. When he started running his hands through her hair and nibbled on her neck, she stopped,

"Wait! Just a second!" she took her wand from the nightstand and cast spells on her fireplace and her door. "So we won't be disturbed."

Her robe was lying loosely around her, granting unfettered access to her body. She flicked her wand removing his clothes as well. Minutes later, their cries of passion and joyful relief echoed off her walls.

Panting, pleased, and sated, the two lovers laid on their sides looking at each other.

"Sorry that was so quick Severus."

"Do I seem upset?"

"I don't think so."

"Don't bother about me. I will floo back to my room a happy man."

"Do you have to go back?"

"Hermione, you know."

"Yes, I know. I had to try."

They shared a kiss before he left the bed, put his clothes back on and stepped into the fire. Hermione buried her head in the pillow he had been laying on and breathed deep. It smelled of the musk he often wore. Finally feeling at peace, she drifted off to sleep.