Well here's the long awaited next chapter! I apologise if some of the words are still stuck together, but it's the site not me! I've tried to get them all but some may have eluded me. Enjoy!
P.S. Thankyou to all those who continue to send me encouraging emails for my story, you are all wonderful. As for those who send not so encouraging ones - you know what they say - "if you haven't got anything nice to say..."
Waking up to the sound of birdsong, Hermione felt the sudden rush of knowing that she was free to be with her lover at last, without the worry of being caught and she grinned happily to her self.
She turned to look at Severus and just watched him sleep for a while, but eventually, she couldn't resist reaching out to stroke a stray strand of hair from his cheek. Then her hand trailed down his neck to his chest - momentarily feeling his steady heartbeat under her fingers. She followed down the line of his left arm - which was bent up and resting on his belly – being careful to avoid his mark - then, biting her lip, she slowly and carefully lifted back the sheet that hid his manhood from view. She slid down the bed a little, so she could study it more closely and smiled naughtily to herself as she reached out to touch the semi-erect member with one finger. Looking up for any sign that he was aware of what she was doing, but seeing none - she did it again. She stroked the smooth skin on the shaft for a while, marveling at how the thing suddenly began springing to life with only a little coaxing. She became completely engrossed in making it grow to its full erect height under her gentle and persuasive hands.
"Well! I must say - that is a very nice way to be woken up – but are you actually going to do anything with it now?" Her lover suddenly drawled sleepily and he looked down at her with an expectant expression.
The sound of his voice caught Hermione by surprise, and she jumped back slightly, catching her breath in her throat.
He stretched lazily and smiled.
"Maybe!" she smiled back, trying to regain her composure, but her heart was still pounding.
"How about you do something with that mouth.. aside from talking for a change?" He asked, raising his eyebrows and indicating downwards, in a tone she knew was designed specifically to provoke her.
Hermione formed an 'O' with her lips, then pouted at him with narrowed eyes, but she was determined not to let him get her riled.
"Oh.. are you too scared?" he questioned cheekily - knowing full well that he had, indeed, got her riled
"Scared?...Of course not!" she huffed "I just.."
"You mean you've ...just never done it before?" He interjected
"No! Of course I have...I" she rolled her eyes, blushing a little, then sighed resignedly.
"Go on ... it won't bite!" he teased, holding it out to her
"Oh all right.." She agreed at last and with a little reluctance at first, she lowered her mouth down and took him as far as she could. Even though she was a little inexperienced at giving oral pleasure, he seemed to enjoy it anyway - as he came quite quickly and gave her a contented smile and "thankyou"afterwards.
She crawled back up the bed and lay her head on the crook of his shoulder.
"It's my pleasure.." she replied quietly, as she snuggled into him, smiling and sliding her arm over his chest.
Hermione didn't ask him to return the favour - neither did he offer - they just lay together in comfortable silence. Hermione felt so relaxed and content that after a while she began to drift back off to sleep again. So when she felt Severus slide out from under her arm to sit on the edge of the bed, she didn't take muchnotice and just carried on drowsing.
Then she began to hear the sounds of him getting dressed and her eyes shot open.
"Why are you in such a hurry to get dressed?" Hermione queried, propping her self up on her elbows.
"I'm going out for a while" he answered vaguely, not looking round
Hermione creased her brow and asked inevitably
"Where?"
"Just out – I won't be long." He answered simply, putting on his shoes
Hermione creased her brow again and sat up into a kneeling position
"Where though? Why won't you tell me?" she asked, looking at him anxiously.
Severus sighed deeply and at last stopped what he was doing to look round.
"It's just..somewhere I know.. it's nothing for you to worry about" He stated rather reluctantly - then continued tying his laces.
Hermione slipped on his black satin robe and got off the bed to stand in front of him
"What is it? Order business? Or ..something else?" she prompted, indicating his arm with her head
"No!" He retorted irritably, then sighed again. "I just like to go for a little.. exercise in the morning that is all" he revealed at last, more calmly, but still with a slight edge.
Hermione remained unfazed - she was used to his reluctance to tell her anything and was just relieved it wasn't anything bad. Now her insatiable curiosity got the better of her.
"What sort? Jogging? Running?..Or what?" she persisted
"No!... Look - why are you interrogating me like this? I've told you I won't be long!" He snapped sharply.
Hermione was taken aback by this response, she wasn't expecting him to get this angry – only maybe a little annoyed and her gaze dropped to the floor.
"I just thought..I thought we were spending this week together that's all!" She replied, with a hurt expression and she flopped sadly onto the bed next to him, her hands clasped in her lap.
He sighed again
"I apologise for my rather .. testydemenour... I am unused to reporting my every movement to another..." His voice was soft, but he still put an emphasis on the word 'every'.
There was a few moments silence before Hermione replied
"Well.. when you're in a relationship.. it is usual that you tell each other where you're going you know - I'm not being unreasonable!" She explained rather resentfully.
He was quiet for a moment then
"Very well..if you really must know.. I'm... going swimming!" He revealed awkwardly at last.
Now.. can I go?" He asked then, with more than a little sarcasm, as he moved towards the door
"Swimming! Oh I love swimming! I haven't been for ages" Hermione suddenly announced with great enthusiasm, jumping up excitedly.
He sighed yet again"Would you like to come?"
"Well.. only if you want me to.."
"I really don't mind"
"Look, I don't want to intrude.."
He made a grumbling noise in his throat
"Just hurry up and get dressed, I like to be gone early.." he shot back gruffly
Hermione smiled, she knew he didn't mind half as much as he was making out. He was just unused to letting anyone in to his private world, that was all and was probably a little embarrassed too.
She quickly pulled on some shorts, a vest top and sandals out of her trunk
"Wait Severus..I haven't got a costume!" She called after him, while dressing
"You won't need one where we're going!" he called back, as he sauntered down the stairs, "Just a towel.."
"Where are we going?" she asked rather breathlessly, as she reached him at the bottom of the stairs. She was imagining some kind of private wizarding swimming pool somewhere.
"Just somewhere I know, out of the way of prying eyes" he replied mysteriously and turned towards the door.
Hermione held judgement and decided to trust him for now, after all she could always change her mind when they got there.
Once at the gateway, they stepped outside into the non-descript lane once more.
After looking left and right Severus grabbed her hand and announced
"Lobalug Lake!"
They appeared on a most beautiful sight; a lake surrounded by tightly knotted trees, fed by a waterfall at one end and disappearing into bushes at the other. The morning sun shone down on it's gently rippling surface, with an almost blinding, sparkling brightness.
"Are you sure this is safe? I mean.. no one else comes here do they?" She asked, glancingnervously around. She'd had a sudden flashback to a certain other lake.
"No, it has muggle protection spells on it and not many wizards I know are up and about at this time in the morning for exercise." He replied, with a hint of a smile, maybe understanding.
"How did you find it?" she asked curiously, feeling reassured.
"I'd heard that there were many rare magical creatures and plants here, which is what first attracted me. The creatures here have never bothered me yet, but nevertheless, keep your wand with you." He replied, starting to undress. He seemed much more relaxed now. She thought that maybe now she knew his secret - he felt there was no more point to being guarded. Or maybe revealing something he normally kept to himself hadn't been as bad as he'd previously thought.
Hermione smiled and looked around, taking in her new surroundings with great satisfaction.
By the time she had finished admiring the view, Severus had already started to do an athletic forward crawl back and forth across the length of the lake.
She sat back on the soft sand at the water's edge, to watch him and enjoy the sunshine for a while.
"So that's how he keeps himself looking so good!" She thought admiringly and smiled to herself.
The water looked so inviting that, eventually, she kicked off her shoes and walked forward, daring to dip in a foot, but the water was cold andshe quickly drew back. Not wishing to just sit on the shore and chicken out though, she conjured a warming spell around herself, then undressed and quickly waded in.
Very soon she was floating around contentedly on her back, looking up at the cloudless, bright blue sky and day dreaming. She still kept a look out now and then, though - just in case - for anything that might decide to creep up on her!
After a time of listening to Severus splashing past her, she decided she should probably do a little swimming her self. Once she found, however, that she couldn't keep up with her lover's powerful strokes - she soon gave up and waded out exhausted to sit on the beach again, wrapped up in her towel.
Not long after, Severus joined her and sat for a while, catching his breath. She leaned into him and rested her head on his damp shoulder, making a soft, breathy sound of satisfaction in her throat. He put his arm around her, then slid his hand under her chin, pushing her face up to meet his and kissed her.
Hermione returned the kiss and as she slid her arms around his neck, he pushed her back onto the sand.
"Not here!" Hermione whispered anxiously, as she felt him begin to un-wrap the towel from her body.
"What if someone comes?"
"That is my intention!" He replied dryly, throwing off his own towel
She tutted and sighed "You know what I mean!"
"I assure you that no one will see us – most of the plants and herbs that grow here can only be harvested at night, so we are quite safe"
Hermione looked at her lover for a moment, the sun was warm on her bare skin andthe gentle breeze that was blowing,tickled it sensually.Severus smelt of the lake and his damp ruffled hair made him look rough and ready, so different to his normal immaculate appearance. She began to feel aroused and suddenly couldn't imagine anything she'd rather be doing more than making love to him, there and then on that beach. She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately, letting him know for certain that she wanted it too. It was cathartic; from now on beaches would only have good memories for her.
Later on, when they were eating breakfast in the kitchen, (much to Stinky's disgust, who obviously thought they would contaminate it, as he kept wiping up every crumb with a tut and a mutter - until Severus ordered him away) Hermione's thoughts turned to investigating the rest of the house. She went off to explore, leaving Severus to drink his coffee and read his "Potions Journal" magazine. Upstairs she discovered there were 5 more bedrooms besides her own – all with their own bathroom, another large seperate bathroom - with a bath big enough to fit four people in - and a large, airy study. Downstairs - besides the kitchen - there were two sitting rooms and a huge dining room leading off onto a conservatory.
As she was coming out of the dining room, she spotted another door half hidden behind the staircase and an enormous bushy pot plant. Unlike all the other doors - which were quite plain - this one was richly carved all over with magical creatures and plants. Filled with curiosity, she pushed it open. Once inside, her mouth opened in gleeful surprise - it was a library.
Books lined the walls from floor to ceiling and where they couldn't be fitted on shelves they were piled up on tables. She gave a little squeal of excitement and became like a child at Christmas - pulling out titles and exclaiming them out loud.
She was standing, happilyengrossed in a copy of "Herbological cures for magical maladies" - by Grobe Stickweed, when a voice suddenly said, "boo!" quietly in her ear. Jumping in fright, she turned quickly, expecting to see Severus, but instead she saw the grinning, semi-transparent face of a male ghost, lying on his side in mid-air, with his head propped up on one elbow. He looked rather Cavalier'esc with a pointy moustache and beard and wavy, shoulder length hair.
"Well, well, well..you're a turn up for the books!" he drawled, grinning and snickering at his own joke. "What's a pretty little thing like you doing in a place like this?" he questioned tritely, twiddling his moustache and looking her up and down.
Hermione rolled her eyes in irritation; though sensibly wary of strange ghosts, she pursed her lips at him defiantly.
"I'm here with a friend," she said curtly, not liking the way he was looking at her.
"Lucky friend!" he drawled, seemingly lost in thought and leering at her chest dreamily
"Excuse me!" Hermione prompted, waiting expectantly for him to react, buthe just carried on staring.
So she repeated - more loudly this time -"EXCUSE ME!" She exclaimed sharply, slapping her book shut at the same time, then pulling it tightly up against her chest. This at last snapped him out of his reverie and he smiled, moving from his side to an upright position
"Oh how rude of me! I should introduce myself shouldn't I? I just got so lost in your extraordinary beauty I quite forgot my manners!" He announced, bowing theatrically.
Hermione rolled her eyes impatiently; he seemed rather full of himself and was beginning to annoy her.
"The name's Alfredo – but you can call me Alf if you like" he informed her, grinning
"Well..nice to meet you Alf, I'm sure, but if you don't mind.." she said politely but firmly, indicating her book and beginning to turn away from him.
"Oh those..he said, waving his hand dismissively, then he shuddered, "Urgh! I hate the things myself"
"Then what are you doing in a library?" she asked, incredulously eyebrows raised, hoping that he would go away
"Well that's the problem isn't' it? I'm stuck here - someone's idea of a joke!" He sighed sadly
"It was the last place I would be in life.. though, I did sometimes use poetry..you know - in my work"
"Oh?" Hermione asked dismissivelyandbegan to read herbook again.
"Oh yes" he said, smiling lecherously "In life, my hobby - my profession you could say - was a seducer of women. Ohh.. I was very good at it too - but alas..I was struck down before my time!" He announced, closing his eyes and putting his hand to his forehead
"A nasty venereal disease probably!" Hermione muttered under her breath, flicking though the pages to try and find the one she'd left up on.
He hadn't seemed to have heard her and floated up onto his back with his head resting on his hands, a dreamy expression on his face.
She rolled her eyes and shook her head.
"Oh yes.. I was quite the lover you know, when I was a..a livvie(he struggled a little with the word as if it was painful to him) Oh those days! What times I had! I couldn't help it - women just fell over themselves to fall into bed with me! (he snickered again) They just couldn't resist me! Ohh.. some of them tried - but they soon gave up..!" he sighed again with a smile - lost in reverie once again
"I'm sure this is all very interesting but.." She began, but he ignored her and continued, his expression changing to a sulky pout
"Huh! My other self is still up there you know having lots of fun" He reflected bitterly, "I'm sure you must have seen the tapestry – I'm the handsome one by the way!" He said, leaning up momentarily to raise his eyebrows suggestively, "oh yes.. not like me - stuck in here for all eternity all alone, with these dusty old books!" He spat, then he turned round to face her
"You don't fancy a bit of fun do you?" He asked, with a pleading expression, "I get sooo.. bored in here I can't tell you"
"No thanks! Now if you don't mind, I really would like to continue with mybook!" she answered irritably, hoping he would get the message and get lost.
"Oh if you must, but .. couldn't you just see your way clear to ..maybe..you know -taking off a few items of clothing or something while you do it?" He persisted, tentatively putting out an icy finger to touch her bare shoulder, "I mean that wouldn't be so much to ask would it?"
"Urgh! No!" she recoiled,shivering and she jumped away from him, grimacing.
Shetook the book and stomped away towards the doors.
"Oh you're lovely when you're angry you know ..and you look just as good from the back.." he called, then quickly catching up with her, "..as from the front" he continued, standing – or rather floating – in her way. She glared at him and tried to side step around him, but he moved with her.
"Breast's just like firm, ripe apples.." he leered, reaching out to touch her dreamily
"Get out of the way..you pervert!" she snapped holding her wand up threateningly at him
On seeing the wand he backed off
"Oh very well!" he sighed sadly "I understand" and as he floated miserably away, she almost felt sorry for him. He looked as if he would have been quite good looking when he was alive and also not very old when he died either, but nevertheless she shut the door on him quite gladly. How annoying! - She was looking forward to spending some time in there, but that would mean having to put up with him!
"Did you meet Alfredo?" Severus asked casually as she stomped back into the kitchen.
"Yes!" she snapped, slamming the book down on the kitchen counter. "You neglected to tell me about him didn't you? Very funny!"
"He's quite harmless I assure you, just a little... annoying" Severus answered calmly, seeming a little surprised at her sudden ill-humoured disposition
"Harmless? He's a pervert! He asked me to take my clothes off!" she retorted incredulously
"Really? He has never asked me to do that, but then - maybe I'm just not his type!" He answered, seemingly unperturbed and returned calmly to his magazine.
Hermione couldn't help but smile at her lover's dry humour, but she grimaced at the memory of that cold hand floating through her shoulder and decided that next time, she'd ask Severus to come with her - or find a good ghost dispelling spell!