Warning

This story is not suitable for readers under the age of sixteen. It contains sexual content, including some non-consensual, and may offend some readers. If this subject is offensive to you, please do not read this story.

Chapter 38 – Valentine

Snape stood, angrily. "Quidditch?" he fumed. "Do you have no sense of house pride? It is one thing to use this situation for your own ends, but another when your selfishness drags the house down!"

"I wouldn't be dragging the house down," Baddock responded, defensively. "I should be on the team. I'm good."

The teacher sneered. "Who are you trying to fool?" he demanded. "I saw you try out for the team, and there was no possibility of your representing Slytherin. Even the Hufflepuffs would fly circles around us with you on the team!" His face portrayed a mixture of anger and amusement as he jeered.

Baddock's eyes narrowed with hatred for the teacher, and his face grew red with fury. "Look," he half shouted, "I want to be on the team, and I'll prove to you that I'm worth it. If you don't like it, I can always go and have a little chat with Dumbledore!"

With a carefully controlled glance at the boy, Snape expertly conveyed both fear and defeat, making his words seem like a failing attempt to persuade his blackmailer. "It's not that easy!" he muttered, a hint of desperation in his voice. "I can't just take another Chaser off the team without good reason."

Baddock managed a passable imitation of his involuntary mentor's sneer. "I'd say you have a very good reason!"

"I'll have to call in a lot of favors in order to get any of the other team members to stand down!" he snarled. "And Cole will not give up a superior player easily, if you are the alternative!"

Baddock seemed convinced now that Snape would agree, and turned to the door. "Then you'd better come up with a good argument for it!"

He left the classroom, leaving his words hanging in the air, and the door wide open. Snape watched him leave, then calmly stood to close the door and return to his work. There was no rush to deal with Baddock's request. Thanks to his careful preparation, everything was already set. Cole was well prepared to argue loudly against including Baddock in the team, in order, as far as the Captain was concerned, to increase their new Chaser's desire to work hard to prove himself. Baddock would be led to believe that Snape's interference alone, against much opposition, had got him his place on the team, thereby demonstrating that this latest demand had been a big payout for the blackmailer. And the elder brother had been convinced to reduce the boy's confidence in his abilities, making him feel that he could not have earned his place on his own merits, and encouraging him to benefit the house by working hard for the team. Things could not have been better.

Of course, this would not last indefinitely. The more the boy was convinced that this was a big demand, requiring a lot of effort on Snape's part, the longer the effect would last, but eventually there would be further ultimatums. This game would simply have to be played one move at a time.

Because of the necessity of making this task seem as arduous as possible, it was almost Valentine's Day before Baddock was finally admitted to the team. Cole played his part extremely well, convincing the new player that he was not up to the standard required, and that the captain had admitted him to the team only under duress. The captain, of course, knew nothing of Severus' real motives for treating the new Chaser like this. As far as he was concerned, it was simply a tactic to ensure the boys' commitment to the team, and make him work hard, but, for Severus' ends, it worked perfectly.

The real element of luck, from Snape's point of view, was when Findlay, attempting a particularly difficult maneuver, in an endeavor to improve his poor standing in the team, fell from his broom and broke his leg. The teacher had been supervising the practice, and seen the fall. Striding out to help the injured player, he had caught the eye of Baddock, who had been convinced that the teacher had planned the 'accident'. Snape saw no reason to disillusion him about this, and the result was that Baddock developed a healthy respect for – and, more importantly, fear of – his victim. If he was willing to break bones to meet his ends, what would he do to someone who was blackmailing him, if he ever got the chance? Findlay had been infuriated by the fact that he had been replaced so quickly, when Madam Pomfrey had banned him from flying for only a few days, but it was too good an opportunity to miss. Baddock had, therefore, replaced the fallen Chaser, and was on the team.

- - -

Early on the morning of Valentine's Day, Hermione slipped quietly out of Severus' room, stifling a giggle. Checking all around as she left through the Potions classroom, she hurried up the stairs to the main school, towards the Gryffindor Tower. She had had her share of run-ins with Peeves by now, and knew the routes that were the least likely to cause her problems. Clutching the rose that she had found next to her upon waking, she made her way through the empty corridors, and was back in her room well before anyone else awoke.

She tried to picture the scene in the dungeon about now. Severus had been still wrapped in his black bathrobe as she had left his rooms, but about now he would be discovering the little 'gift' she had left for him. In her mind, she visualized his face as he opened the closet door – reaching in for his robes to find ... pink. Everything! She could see the fury on his face, turning to amusement, then to puzzlement and frustration as he tried to figure out how she had done it. Finally, he would break the charm she had put round them, and vow to repay her for it. Little would he know at that point that the joke was not yet over!

As Hermione headed down to the common room, meeting up with Harry and Ron, and continuing on to the Great Hall, she could barely suppress her smile, either at the joke, the thought of the rose she had left in her room, or the memory of being in Severus' arms that morning. So far, it had been the perfect start to Valentine's Day!

There was something a little odd about the way Harry and Ron were behaving, though, that puzzled her. They were being so – polite – almost as though they were not quite sure how to behave, and were afraid of offending each other. It was only when the three reached Breakfast, and Harry's face turned red as his eyes met those of the youngest Weasley, then glanced quickly at Ron, that she realized the cause of their discomfort. Thankfully, Ron looked happy enough about the situation – she didn't know what would happen if he decided to be over-protective of his little sister.

The covert glances between the two continued until the owl-post arrived. It was a special delivery, and the Great Hall was filled with the sound of wings. Wave after wave of birds flew through the hall, dropping envelopes to their recipients, and swooping away, to allow for the next flight. Two envelopes dropped to Hermione's plate, one to Ron's, two to Ginny's and more than a dozen to Harry's.

Ron laughed, good-naturedly. "Half the first year girls still have a crush on the famous Harry Potter, then?" he teased. Harry turned red once again, as he turned with an apologetic look to Ginny, but she was laughing with her brother. Harry quickly searched through the pile of envelopes in front of him, looking for the writing he was clearly hoping for, and, finding it, glanced at the girl opposite him. Ginny's blush confirmed his hope, and he opened it, happily embarrassed. As for Ginny's cards, she seemed perplexed as to the identity of the first sender, but returned Harry's smile as she opened the second envelope.

Hermione was surprised to see Ron's reaction to his card. Of her two friends, he was the one she would have expected to be more nervous and embarrassed by the exchange of Valentines, but he met Parvati's eyes with confidence, and both smiled. Was there more going on there than she had thought? She began to reflect on this, but Ginny's voice interrupted her ponderings.

"So, who are your Valentines from, Hermione?" the younger girl asked.

How could she explain this? Delicately, she opened the two envelopes and read the cards. The first was from Severus. In tiny dots of ink, at the very corner of the card, was the outline of a potion bottle shape, matching her pendant. It would not be noticed unless someone was studying the card very carefully, but Hermione had been looking for some clue like that. The second card was more of a mystery, but a glance towards a nervous face at the Slytherin table told her enough. She read the words inside. "I know that you're not interested, but I wanted you to know I still feel the same way. I won't mention it again, but if ever you need me, I'll be here." Hermione smiled at the sentiment, but felt nothing for Alistair beyond friendship. She slid the card back into its envelope, and picked up the preferred one, once again.

Ginny was still waiting for an answer, and Hermione managed to look perplexed. "I've no idea," she said, "they're anonymous!" The young Weasley did not look convinced, but Ron and Harry were suddenly very interested in their breakfasts, and nothing more was said about them.

It was only after what seemed like a suitable interval had passed, that Hermione risked a glance towards Severus. She had spared him the embarrassment of receiving a Valentine's Card during breakfast, having had it delivered by special owl to the dungeon, but the effects of her earlier charm were still causing him many problems. He was studiously avoiding her eyes, but she could see his patience wearing thin as he reached out for the milk jug on the teachers' table, which suddenly turned pink at his touch. It was exactly the same shade that his robes had been, and he could be in no doubt as to the responsible party. The milk jug returned to its former colour as soon as he released it, but random objects about him were behaving in exactly the same way. Hermione had been very careful not to make the spell too obvious, and he could go for several minutes without a problem, only to find it happening again, unexpectedly. None of the students had noticed the subtle joke, but Professor McGonagall was wearing an unusual smile. A glance at Professor Dumbledore told her that he, too, was aware of the events, and he gave her a smile. Since the night of the fight in the dungeon, when Dumbledore had confronted Severus about their relationship, this was the first time the headmaster had expressed anything but disapproval of their association. She could not fool herself into believing that he had changed his mind about them, but it was a relief to know that he could see some little good in it. She returned the smile, then looked away from the staff table. The spell was carefully cast to wear off before the start of classes – Hermione knew that embarrassing him in front of the students would be unforgivable – and by the end of breakfast, he was back to normal, with everything remaining its appropriate colour when touched.

For one moment, as Hermione left the Great Hall after breakfast, she caught her lover's eye and saw the long-suffering roll of his eyes at her unusually childish prank – but there was a twinkle there also, and she laughed inwardly as she headed to her first class.

- - -

Spending Valentine's Day apart from Hermione was tough for Snape. This was the first time he could remember wanting to be a part of what he would usually term 'sickening sentimentality', and he felt an incredible urge to shout out to the world that he was in love with Hermione Granger. The idea of being able to walk hand-in-hand in public the way that so many pairs of students were doing was enticing, and he longed to be able to hold her in his arms without having to hide away from the world.

You've changed, Severus, he told himself quietly, as he watched his second- year class making a mess of their memory-enhancing potions. She has changed you – all this sentimentality ... love ... it is most certainly not like the old Severus Snape! Even the students seemed to have noticed a slight mellowing of his mood, he noticed, as a Slytherin student dared to make a joke about brewing love potions on Valentine's Day.

"Love potion, Dennon?" he sneered. "Can't get a Valentine on your own merits?" The Slytherin recoiled at the put-down and the class laughed. Gryffindors laughing at his jokes, at the expense of a Slytherin? Things had definitely changed!

It was a long day for the Potions Master, measured in hours and minutes until their predetermined meeting time at eight o'clock. How could he survive until then? It was torture, surrounded by so many young lovers, whose passion and depth of feeling could be nothing compared to his own, yet they were able to express themselves almost openly. Why should they be able to show their feelings, while he was forced to count the seconds until he saw his beloved, and then hide his love for fear of discovery?

Ten hours and fifty-three minutes. It was an eternity – how could he live so long without her?

Seven hours and twelve minutes. A glimpse of her across a corridor could not sustain him for long!

Three hours and twenty-two minutes. He wanted her here now!

One hour and four minutes. Control yourself, Severus! You're being ridiculous!

Twenty minutes.

Ten minutes.

As his love arrived, he drew her silently into his arms and did not let her go for a very long time. He had waited the whole day for her, and saw no reason why he should let her go now that he had her in his arms. This moment was worth every minute he had spent waiting for her, and he did not intend to relinquish his hold easily. Love enveloped him and her warmth reached out to his soul. This was Heaven.

Eventually, Hermione whispered into his chest, "So, am I forgiven for my little Valentine gift?"

He kissed her, in response. "Of course!" he rumbled. "Just don't make a habit of it. Pink is not my colour." He drew back from her a little, holding her at arms length as he studied her face. "Let's go for that walk we planned!" he whispered. "I want to see you in the moonlight." He wrapped her thick robe about her, and reached for his own, then, taking her hand in his, he murmured the words that would enable them to walk unseen, and they headed out of the dungeon.

- - -

The couple by the edge of the forest was so quiet and still that Snape and Hermione almost walked right into them as they skirted the edge of the lake. Standing silently in the dark, Hermione wondered if their approaching footsteps had been heard, but there was no indication of this. More to the point, the shadowed forms were clearly thinking of other things. The smaller figure's head was resting on the shoulder of the taller, and they stood in this embrace, looking out across the water.

Reluctant to disturb the scene, Hermione and Severus began softly to move away, but stopped at the sound of the rustling leaves beneath their feet, for fear of being heard. When the unknown girl spoke in the silence, they both heard and recognized the speaker clearly.

"Harry," whispered Ginny's unmistakable voice, "I'm so glad we're here."

The boy's voice responded equally softly. "Me too." There was a moment's pause, then the words, "Ginny – may I kiss you?"

Severus and Hermione heard no reply, but could see the outline of the couple as they experienced their first kiss. The onlookers turned as quietly as possible, knowing that the unsuspecting couple were busy with other things, and moved away quickly, into the darkness. They said nothing until they were well away from the castle – out of reach of the rest of the world, and especially the rest of the school.

Hermione felt herself being drawn into her lover's arms, as he whispered, "Hermione – may I kiss you?" She smiled at the echo of Harry's words, and answered by reaching up to touch her lips to his. His kiss was so tender and gentle – it was beautiful, and Hermione felt herself melting into his arms. She loved him so much, and the touch of his lips affected her entire body on a level she adored.

The teacher's hands slipped inside her cloak, and onto her back, smoothing over her body with tender pressure, and causing her to move, instinctively, closer, to press against him. His firm chest felt wonderfully solid and warm, and she wrapped her arms around him, lovingly.

"You are so beautiful, Hermione," he whispered, as his lips left hers for a moment. "I love you so much!" Whatever reply she was about to whisper was lost as his lips once again took hers, and their tongues met in tender caresses.

Beneath her cloak, his hands reached for her robes, and began to push them aside. The feeling of his hands on her skin never failed to excite her, and this evening was no exception. Her body responded with quivers and deep sighs, to which he replied by pulling her closer towards him, and holding her tightly.

His lips moved from her mouth to the side of her neck, teasing her with gentle kisses, and reminding her of just how easily he could affect her body. With a sweep of his arm to place his cloak on the ground, and another to cast a warming spell around them, he guided the girl to the ground. Her robes were still in place, but lay loosely open, exposing her soft skin to his touch. His eyes studied her body in the moonlight, then he bent to kiss her – not on her lips, this time – but on the smooth skin of her stomach.

The tingles on her skin increased as his fingers lightly pushed aside the fabric covering her breasts. Closing her eyes, she tilted her head back, and held her breath as she felt his gentle lips brush her nipple. His tongue flicked playfully at her for a moment, then his kisses became more intense. Severus' breathing became heavier, as the passion and arousal between them grew. She felt his hand slide out from underneath her back, to move slowly down her body as his mouth caressed her breasts. He reached to her thigh, and stroked it, lovingly, first firmly, on the outside of her hips, then moving to tease her with lightly touching fingers on the tender area on the inside of her thighs.

Working their way almost imperceptibly up the soft skin of her thigh, his fingers reached the spot that she so desperately wanted him to touch, but paused, making her wait for a heart-stopping moment, before granting her unspoken wish. His touch was delicate and unhurried, and at the first tiny contact of his skin, she felt her whole body jump as though caught by surprise when the longed-for moment finally arrived.

A finger probed lightly into her wetness, and she smiled in the darkness. Her body was so ready for him, and his touch was the most exquisite feeling she could imagine. Everything about this was perfect – almost. Reaching to wrap her fingers in his hair, she whispered his name, and firmly began to guide his head downwards. His lips left a trail of kisses over her body, finally reaching their goal, where he blew a warm breath over her excited and moist skin.

The moments until his tongue flicked out to touch her were an eternity of anticipation, but worth it, beyond doubt. Severus knew exactly how to touch her to drive her wild with passion and love for him, and his tongue knew every spot that could draw soft moans of pleasure from her.

She was soon panting in excitement, and moaning his name softly into the night. He was bringing her to a frenzied climax under his tongue, and she wanted it to carry on forever. It seemed that he wanted the same thing, as his persistent caresses refused to allow her to come down from her high until she was exhausted from her own pleasure. Even then, his tongue teased her again, with playful flicks at her, as she tried to slow her breathing.

His kisses moved upwards, first to her abdomen, then her breasts, before continuing up her body until he had reached the same level as her. His body was on top of hers, and she could feel his hardness at her entrance.

"I love you, Severus!" she whispered into his ear, her hands on his back, holding him tightly. She barely heard his words, as he told her how much the feeling was reciprocated – her whole mind was taken over by the indescribable pleasure of the thrust of his hardness into her body. The feeling consumed her totally, and she knew nothing else at that moment.

Their bodies moved in rhythm as he brought her to a final climax to match his own. Laying beneath the night sky with the man she loved so deeply, she could not imagine ever feeling more happy than she was now, here in his arms.