Chapter 37
Severus looked over the mass of the chatting student body at dinner. His gaze came to rest on Hermione. By the way she was talking and laughing, it was apparent her day went well. He saw her wandlessly summon a plate of green beans to her waiting hand and put some on her plate.
She's getting good at that! he thought.
An owl swooped in and dropped a letter on Severus' plate. Wiping the potatoes of the letter ruddy bird! he read the contents.
Can you pop in for a bit tonight? I have so much to tell you! H.
He looked to the Gryffindor table to find Hermione looking over her shoulder at him. He nodded and she mouthed "I love you!" to him. He heard Dumbledore clear his throat and say to the staff table,
"Professors, there will be a brief staff meeting shortly after dinner. Don't worry Severus, we won't be long. I know you have other things to attend to." Dumbledore said.
Meddling old wizard! Severus thought.
Dinner was winding down and the group of Gryffindors left to get ready for Friday quidditch practice. Hermione gave Severus one last wink before she left the hall.
At the staff meeting, it was announced that plans had been made to resume the student's weekend trips to Hogsmeade with modifications. In the interest of safety, the students would go in groups of five accompanied by a professor and an auror. They would depart Hogwarts unannounced, at different intervals for an hour at a time. This method was deemed necessary in case someone was taking too keen an interest in the goings-on of the students. Dumbledore brought the meeting to a close and asked Severus to stay for a moment longer.
"I assume you've heard of Miss Granger's successful interview today?" Dumbledore inquired.
"Yes I have," Severus responded. "I am pleased for her."
"Have you thought about your futures?" Dumbledore asked.
"Yes Albus, I have thought quite a bit about our futures," Severus said.
"Ahh, I see. Well, good evening then Severus. Please give my congratulations to Miss Granger on her interview." Dumbledore
said.
Severus quickly left the room. Meddling old wizard!
Severus knew that Hermione was still at quidditch practice, so he went to his chambers to shower and prepare for his visit to Hermione's room. At eight o'clock after a long soak in a hot tub, he floo-ed to Hermione's room. He was greeted with the sound of Hermione's sensual jazz music playing. He took in the fragrance of Hermione's roses-and-honey bubblebath and heard her humming. He tiptoed to the bathroom door and supressed a laugh. Hermione was laying back in the tub, some kind of minty green cream on her face complete with cucumber slices on her eyes. He watched her for a minute.
"So you've taken to wearing your food now?" Severus called out, strolling into the bathroom.
Hermione jumped up in surprise cucumbers falling from her eyes. Her breasts bobbed enticingly in the water.
"Severus, you have got to quit doing that!" Hermione scolded.
"I apologize my dear but you looked so peaceful I didn't want to disturb you." Severus grinned.
She waved to he tub.
"Care to join me Severus?" she asked with a wink.
"No my dear. I'll wait for you. I prefer to eat salad, not wear it," he teased.
He moved his head aside when she tossed a cucumber slice at him. He watched Hermione get out of the tub and wrap herself in the towel Severus was holding out to her. The two left the bathroom. She sat on the bed while he looked for the black robe he had given her. He found it and gave it to her. She took it and tossed it on the bed. She cocked her head to the side and looked at him.
"What is it?" he asked.
"Do you have any idea how far we've come?" Hermione asked.
"Enlighten me," Severus said.
"I started out disliking you very much, to the point of hexing you inside out. Then came along a reluctant respect for you and now I realize how much I love you," Hermione mused. She dropped the towel. She held out her brush to Severus indicating that she wanted him to brush her hair.
"I know what you mean my dear. I would have never thought in a hundred lifetimes we two would end up like this," Severus said. He sat behind her and kissed her neck. She sighed as he brushed her hair.
"By the way, our illustrious headmaster relays his congratulations on your successful interview today," Severus said.
"Would you like to hear about it?" she asked.
"By all means, " he returned running his haqnds through her hair.
"Okay here goes. At nine this morning a wizard who was my escort was waiting in Dumbledores office. He seemed surprised to see me and stared at me a lot. I started to wonder if I had something on my face. We took a port key to the ministry where he flirted with me and practically sashayed me into the department offices," she said.
"He flirted and sashayed?" Severus asked.
"Don't worry Severus. I only have eyes for you," she teased kissing him on the cheek.
"Why thank you." he said.
"Anyway, Mr. Longley came through the main office doors and started the tour of the department. We first went into the labs and I was astounded. Severus, you should have seen it!" Hermione eyes were shining as she pictured the lab.
"I know, I've seen it," he said chuckling. He reached around and ran his fingertips over her breasts. Hermione shivered.
"Continue," he said.
"We talked for a bit and entered the library. I thought I had died and went to heaven. We went to his office and talked until he was called away to the lab for something. He asked if I wouldn't mind waiting in the library. As if I would mind!" she said. She snuggled closer to him. He fondly looked on her as she talked. He couldn't get over the way Hermione was sitting there naked as the day she was born talking with him as if it were the most natural thing in the world. He started to unbutton his shirt. Hermione turned and helped him.
"Continue the tale," he said tossing his shirt aside.
"We ate lunch in the ministry cafeteria and met up with Mr. Weasley. We had a nice conversation, and oh they had the best chocolate covered rasberries. Anyway, some young wizard who claimed to be a Hufflepuff alumni from 4 years ago walked up to me, handed me last month's Quidditch Monthly and asked me for my autograph," she frowned.
"Pardon? Your autograph?" Severus asked.
"Then you haven't seen last month's issue. There's a picture of me in the last match accompanied by a silly caption," she declared slightly agitated, tugging at the buttons on his pants.
"Can I see this picture? I must admit that I would have given 100 galleons to see someone ask for your autograph," Severus laughed.
She slapped his chest. "It's not funny, it's embarassing!" she exclaimed.
"Do you know how sexy you are when you are vexed?" he asked fondling her breasts.
"And on that note, I'll end this story. I was offered a class three appreticeship and accepted. I start a week after graduation." Hermione smiled.
Good, she opened that door.
"Hermione, do you think much about us? Our future I mean?" he asked.
"I think about us together all the time Severus. I've gone so far as seeing your things mingled with mine in my own flat," she said leaning forward kissing his neck.
"Do you now," he stated letting her slide his pants all the way off.
"Severus, I'm in love with you. I want to be with you. Never doubt that." she said taking his face in her hands and caressed his lips with hers.
"Hermione, do you know what you do to me?" he whispered.
"Mmm, I have a good idea," she said sliding off his boxers to reveal a pulsing erection.
She pushed him down onto the bed and kissed her way down his body, diligently paying loving attention to every part. He shivered when she suckled then blew lightly on his nipples then raked her nails across them. She ran her fingertips slowly down his sides sending him shivers again.
"Like that?" she whispered.
"Oh Yes."
"Then you'll love this," she murmured.
She touched the head of his cock with the tip of her tongue a few times. Then she ran the tip of her tongue up and down it a few times. Severus moaned and writhed with closed eyes. She suckled on the head now, causing his hips to rise.
"Hermi...puh..please.." Severus groaned.
That was all she needed. She bobbed up and down on him, sucking his cock in a slow, steady rhythm. She kept him on the edge, in sweet torture. Without warning she hopped up and impaled herself on his already rigid, throbbing cock. He jumped in surprise.
"Are you trying to kill me, you little minx?" he asked through his panting breath.
"No, just trying to please you," she whispered.
She moved fast and hard up and down his cock. Their moans mixed in ecstacy, and she felt the need to buck harder for him. He grabbed her hips and brought her even harder down on him. She arched her back, gasped his name and gave an impassioned shout as she rode out her climax. A second later he raised his hips to meet hers and came with a shout. He opened his eyes and looked to her sitting on top of him. Her eyes were closed and she was smiling. He sat up and withdrew from her causing her to whimper. He put his hand under her chin and asked,
"Hermione, what are you thinking about?" he asked softly.
"Remembering this moment," she replied. She opened her eyes and was face to face with him. They shared a deep kiss this time, tongues exploring each other's, coming up for air minutes later.
"Severus, do you have any idea what you do to me?" she asked.
They got under the blankets and lay there contemplating each other.
"I love you," she said to him.
"Hermione Granger, would you ever consider marrying me?" Severus asked.
She was speechless. She blinked hard a few times and opened her mouth to say something, but nothing came out.
He grinned. "Well, this is a first. A speechless Hermione Granger."
A single tear fell from her eye.
"Yes," she said.
Severus didn't go back to his room that night.