Before I Knew
Chapter 9(At-freaking-last, right?)
By Poet
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Waking for the second time beneath black silk, Hermione found herself more comfortable then even her own bed had ever provided. Stretching as far as she could under the safety of bedding, she sighed and smiled against her pillow. Inhaling the scent lacing the fabric, her eyes opened as she searched for the owner. Severus's side of the bed was empty, closer inspection told her it had been for some time. While her fingertips traced across the now chilled silk, Hermione reconciled herself with rising. A harsh sigh escaped as she sat up and swung her legs out from the warmth. Looking down to find only a thin dressing gown wrapped securely around her body, she smiled. Severus must have retrieved some of her things in the night, looking around she did indeed see several familiar pieces of her clothing folded on a chair. Rising, Hermione padded softly to the chair and collected the items before turning and looking around the room. In the far left corner, a door stood just slightly ajar and even with the sunlight drifting past the window drapes, she could see candlelight flickering. Crossing the room, Hermione pushed the door open fully and paused at the sight before her.
Severus stood in front of a heavy wooden counter, bare chested and bent over a sink that looked made of jade. In his hand he held a straight razor and on his face Hermione could see soap lather. As the door swung fully open, a quiet squeak alerted the man to her presence and he looked at her in the mirror. He smirked as she openly stared before clearing his throat pointedly. Knowing he'd caught her staring, she blushed and shuffled.
"I didn't know you were in here. I didn't mean to bother you." Even as she spoke, the words sounded untrue to her ears. His smirk widened as he resumed shaving.
"I was wondering when you were going to get up. You slept long enough." His voice was gravel against her sleep-muddled head. Shivering softly, she rolled her eyes.
"One has to make allowances for the company kept in bed Severus. Or at least for the sheets and warmth. It was starting to get chilly, silk doesn't hold heat as well as other things." Stepping fully into the room, Hermione dropped her clothes into a pile on the floor. Severus watched her warily in the mirror but still retained the pretense of shaving. She just smiled her sweetest smile and sat on the counter next to him.
"Other things eh? Dare I play the fool and ask what you could possibly mean?" Setting the razor on the counter, he reached for a bar of soap and looked sidelong at Hermione. His smirk had turned to a grin at the mock-thoughtful expression on her face. With a thorough lather, he raised his hands to his face, but before he could reapply the soap, her hands on his forearm stopped him.
"Let me?" Even as she asked, he stepped towards her and settled just beyond her knees. Lifting his chin, he jerked as her hands came in contact with the sensitive skin there.
"You're hands are freezing!" He hissed, and Hermione only laughed.
"Next time don't leave." But before continuing, she turned slightly and dipped her hands underneath the faucet, which immediately ran warm. Her hands thoroughly de-chilled, she gathered some of the lather from Severus's hands and spread it on his face. Covering the last area, she met his eyes as she reached over for the razor. Offering a smile, she reached to begin, but his hands gently gripping her wrists stopped her. "Trust me."
"I do." With that he tilted his chin up and allowed her access once more. Her strokes were sure and quick. Within minutes the traces of stubble were gone from Severus's face. Her fingertips ran gentle paths over the skin, up his neck, across his chin and then lighting across his cheek. Abandoning the razor in favor of both hands, it didn't take long before she was touching him gently all across his shoulders and neck.
As her fingers touched his lips again, Severus leaned forward and swiftly claimed hers in a kiss. Sighing softly, Hermione wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him as close as she could. Settling himself between her knees, Severus was nearly flush against her. Growling softly, he tore his lips away and began a path down her jaw. As his lips touched her earlobe and then closed over it, she uttered an inaudible curse and bit her lip. Satisfied with her reaction, he continued his trail down until he reached her shoulder. Without pause, he pushed the thing fabric from her shoulders and it fell away.
Hermione arched into him as his bare chest brushed against hers teasingly. Her hands lifted and tangled in his hair as his hands joined his lips on her exposed flesh. Tentative, he allowed his fingertips to trace the outline of her left breast while his lips tasted the skin just above the right. Inhaling sharply, he could feel her nails biting into the skin of his back, encouraging his ministrations. Grinning against her now flushed skin, he covered her breast fully and dragged his palm across the sensitive surface. Hermione moaned softly, unable to articulate the word 'more', instead her breathy sounds burned his ears. With a gentle nip, he freed his hands and quickly went to work on their remaining clothing. Pulling her arms free of her robe, she met with his hands at his hips pushed insistently at the pants secured there. Grinning, he captured her face with his hands and drew her in for a gentle, slow kiss. After a very long moment he withdrew, pleased as her words came out breathless.
"Severus. What are you doing to me?" Before answering, Severus pressed himself fully against her and wrapped her tightly against his chest. His words were spoken in a whisper, teasing and soft.
"I assure you, no more then you are doing to me. You have bewitched me Hermione." Nudging her hips ever so gently, he indicated just how affected he was by her.
"Severus.." practically pleading now, she tried to pull him to her.
"Not yet Hermione. There are too many things in the way of this for now." Sighing softly, he kissed her neck gently. Her whimper sounded like music in his ears. "But be assured, I always get what I want. Remember that." Smirking, he gathered the strength to withdraw from her. When he did, he found her glaring at him.
"Bloody tease." Muttering, she made a playful grab for him. Surprised he stepped back, pressing against the glass of the shower stall. Hermione, glaring still, took several deep breaths as she collected herself. Slipping from the counter, she stood in fron of Severus and took a long, pointed look of him from his toes all the way to his face again. Now a smirk was on her face, and he became painfully aware that they were both in similar states of undress. Though his own state of arousal was much more evident then just the flush of her skin. Not one for modesty, he took the same pointed look of her figure and met her gaze. Hermione stepped forward until she was nearly pressing against him again. He waited for her to move, prepared for anything. Her tongue darted out, wetting her lower lip and suddenly she pulled open the door of the shower stall and disappeared behind the opaque glass. He heard the pipes squeal as she ran water through them. Still leaning against the stall, he counted to ten before slipping through the still open shower door. Closing it, he allowed the warm steam to envelop them and took her in his arms.
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The shattering of glass made the few people scattered about the room start. Risking a glance, they quickly looked away from the angry man, obviously drunk, and went back to their own drinks. Ron Weasely paced across the dingy pub floor. In the back, where the dirt collected the most, he wouldn't be bothered by any customers. The few curious glances he did get, were quickly averted as the redheaded man leveled furious gazes around the room. Muttering, he stopped pacing long enough to swallow a shot of a viscous amber liquid before starting again.
"Goddamn her! She's mine. Hiding in that bloody castle." He was furious. He was drunk. All in all, the combination was volatile to say the least. Taking a huge swig from a bottle of the same liquid, Ron didn't even bother with wiping away what leaked down his chin. "Where the hell is he."
He was in this particular pub, waiting for someone. His meeting places had become quite a bit less clandestine then they had in year prior. But with alcohol and a temper, there was little to do for it. Resorting once to accosting his contact on the street, the brawl had nearly gotten him arrested and quite possibly caught. Rather then Azkaban, Ron named the man as a death eater informant and had him carted away. The deed done, he'd received a nice congratulations from Order members, and the ire of the few followers that remained in service to a dark lord now vanquished. With no real reason for many to claim allegiance anymore. A good number of Death Eaters rotting in jail or in ditches, the few who remained free either gathered indiscreetly or remained anonymous altogether. Ron would have been able to leave years before. But the thing he had been promised had escaped him over and over.
The night his brother had stunned and dragged him into a Dark Revel, a bargain had been struck between Ron and the Dark Lord. If he were to join and to spy and to betray his comrades, he could have whatever spoils he wanted when the war ended. He wanted one thing. Hermione Granger. Desperate for her, even after their short relationship had ended, he had entered into servitude with the promise that he would own her.
"BLOODY WELL LOT O' GOOD THAT FUCKING DID, EH!" He screamed at no one in particular. Lately he felt like he was going mad, anger consumed him. And it was her fault. If she had been his, he wouldn't have joined the Dark. If she had just stayed with him, none of their friends had to die. He was interrupted when a dirty looking man entered. Wiry bit of hair stood out in odd places on his head, his robes were torn and filthy. Ron grimaced as the man's smell hit him full on.
"Merlin Nathan, couldn't even afford a fucking shower eh mate?" Snorting disdainfully, his words were rewarded with a glare.
"Ye shut yer trap Weasel. Or I'll be off, and you can go piss off, without yer information too!" Before the dirty wizard could enjoy his brash words, he was struck by a crippling wave of pain. As Ron withdrew the crucio from the man, who now lay prone on the floor, he offered a swift kick.
"Give me the bloody information and get out." Weezing, Nathan rose slowly.
"She's stayin' at 'Ogwarts yea. Haven't seen so much as one 'air o her outside except for when she was going back from yer folks. Looked hurt then. But it's been a few days and I aint seen her. Word says she's gonna ba teaching there too, Charms of something like that. Might not see much of her, especially now that.." He stopped abruptly, as if remembering who's company he was in. Another crippling wave sent him to his knees and Ron advanced on him.
"Guess I'll have to go and see her then eh?" Kicking the man, he turned to his bottle and took a large drink. Behind him, Nathan staggered to his feet. "Get out of here. And watch your mouth next time. You better mind who you're speaking with, you piece of troll shite." Turning now, he fixed the man with a maniacal stare. As Nathan turned, nearly to the door, Ron called out to him.
"Nathan, I don't take kindly to being insulted. And I don't enjoy paying pieces of trash for information I already had." Raising his wand, he spoke one last time before the man could even raise his hands. "Avada Kedavra!"
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AN- take that book six Hermione/Ron romantic implications! Take that! Anywho..I still love the books and the author, fortunately I have selective memory so I get to block out the horrible parts.
After long last, I finally got a chapter up! WOOT! For all of the fans, th six of you reading this and reviewing! Thanks guys but I want more! More, I'm greedy! I need to know if this is being read people! Plus it's the holidays so..yea. Anywho...Happy ChristmaChaunaKwanzaKa!
Lurve - POet!