Chapter 2

"Mum! Dad! Severus should be here any minute, he's going to pop into the den!" Hermione called out.

As if on cue, Severus strolled into the kitchen.

"Good morning, my dear," Severus said giving her kiss on her cheek. He didn't want to make her parents feel uncomfortable by planting her with a big wet sloppy kiss right there in their kitchen.

"Have a seat, Severus. These pancakes should be ready shortly," Hermione said.

Mrs. Granger walked into the kitchen.

"Ahh, morning Severus. How does this morning find you?" she asked.

"Good, thank you. Mr. Granger will not be joining us?" Severus asked.

"No, Tuesdays are the days he has indigent cases, so he goes in early," Mrs. Granger said.

"I see," Severus said. He needed a moment to figure out what she was talking about. Hermione noticed his confusion.

"Severus, the poor and homeless need dental care too," Hermione said. Severus nodded his head in understanding. Severus watched Hermione finish the pancake batter. She was as focused with pancake batter as she was with a a potion. She tested the griddle with a drop of water and poured the batter on it.

"So Severus, what do you when you are not teaching?" Diane asked.

"Take trips, go to conferences, catch up on potions developments, not much really," Severus said.

When I'm not summoned to dark revels. he thought grimly.

Hermione put a small stack of pancakes on a plate and handed them to Severus. She summoned a jar of maple syrup to the table from the counter and said,

"Enjoy," with a smile.

"You're getting good at that, Hermione," Severus said referring to the wandless magic.

"Do you think so? It's getting to the point that I do it without thinking, like it's natural," Hermione said.

"That's how it's supposed to progress," Severus said.

Hermione set a stack in front of her mother, then another on her own plate. Hermione sat down and started eating.

"So I hear that you two will be looking for a flat today?" Diane said.

"Mum! I will be looking, Severus will come along to help, plus I want to spend the day with day with him," Hermione laughed. "I want to be settled in by the time I start my new job next Monday."

Just when I thought I couldn't love the girl anymore, she had to go and say that she wanted to spend the day with me! Severus thought.

When breakfast had concluded, Hermione cast a few spells to clean the kitchen.

"Sometimes I wish I could do that," Diane said with sigh.

Later at Diagon Alley, Severus and Hermione were walking along the street, Hermione looking at the paper to see what was for sale or lease. Severus stopped in front of an inn.

"Hermione, why don't we get a room here for a day or two?" Severus asked.

"Great idea! I've been wanting some alone time with you anyway," she said softly wiggling her eyebrows.

Little did they know that Harry and Ron were watching them from a cafe window across the street. They observed the couple walking together, Hermione reading a paper, Severus glancing at it from time to time. They talked for a minute then hurried into the inn.

"They seem so normal, like any couple out for a stroll," Harry commented.

"Let's see how long they stay there," Ron said looking at his watch.

"Ron, we really need to get a grip on ourselves. This, whatever between them is going to happen whether we like it or not. Hermione's happy about it, that has to count for something," Harry said.

"I know, I know, but Harry, it's Snape!" Ron said.

Their clothes were already halfway off by the time the door to the room shut behind them. Hermione, eager and impatient in her current lust-filled state pushed Severus onto the nearest piece of furniture, it being a sofa. Severus let her have her way with him. He loved her like this, frantic in her lust. She kissed him all over, whispered loving but naughty things to him then moved to lavish his cock with her mouth. Hermione brought him to the tortured, pleasurable edge of orgasm then stopped. Severus was breathing heavily and aching with need when she moved to the bed. She didn't need to say a word as Severus moved quickly to the bed and plunged into her in a single movement. She wrapped her legs around him, and brought her hips to meet his thrusts. He became more aroused as he marveled at her passion for him, the motions she went through to please him, her moans of joy as she savored each and every thrust. Hermione could tell he was about to come when he took hold of her hips started plunging in deeper.

"Harder, I need more of you," she gasped. At that, Severus obliged then came with a shout, Hermione following seconds later.

Severus fell to the bed beside her exhausted.

"Woman, you're going to be the death of me," Severus said.

"I should make pancakes more often," Hermione said breathlessly.

An hour had passed since Harry and Ron had seen the couple hurry into the inn. Harry and Ron looked at their watches, then saw Hermione and Severus emerge from the inn.

Severus was smiling and Hermione was flushed and her hair was a bit messy. She had forgotten to cast her hair-smoothing charm and Severus had skipped a button on his robes. Hermione resumed reading a paper. Harry and Ron laughed.

"So they've been in there shagging for an hour?" Ron asked.

"Apparently so," Harry quipped.

"No bloke can keep it up for an hour," Ron joked.

"True, but you know how diligent our Hermione is," Harry said trying to keep a straight face.

"Yes, we both know how diligent she is about work, so can you imagine how diligent she is in..." Ron began.

"Uh, no Ron, I don't want to imagine it, so let's just go finish shopping," Harry said.

That evening at Wandwavers for dinner, Hermione sighed as she tossed aside the paper.

"Now my dear, surely you didn't expect to find something the first day out," Severus said.

Hermione shrugged her shoulders.

"You're pouting," Severus teased. "We will just have to look again tomorrow."

The couple finished their dinner and apparated back to the room at the inn. They didn't make love that night, they were content to just hold each other until they fell asleep.

The next morning after breakfast at Wandwavers, Hermione was unfolded the paper to read it when she said suddenly,

"Severus, oh my giddy aunt, look at this!" pointing to a picture. It was a picture of Severus dipping Hermione in a kiss, diploma clutched in hand, Draco clapping in the background.

"I was wondering why everyone here was looking at us," Severus said waving around the restaurant.

She shrugged. "I love you and I don't care if the whole world knows," Hermione stated taking a bite of eggs. With that statement, Severus knew his heart was in her hands. "Now turn to the real estate section, I plan on finding something today," she declared.

An hour later, the couple stopped at a four story building in magical London that was about a mile's walk from the ministry of magic. The flat for sale was on the first floor.

They went to the door of the flat and saw the notice on the door:

To view this apartment, please contact Matthias Longley at the Ministry of Magic.

"That's my new boss!" Hermione exclaimed. "Let's go!"

At the department reception area, Hermione chatted with the receptionist she had met earlier and was admitted to the department. Hermione walked to Matthias' office and greeted him.

"Well Miss Granger. I wasn't expecting you until next week. What brings you here today?" he asked Hermione.

"To see an apartment," Hermione said. "The notice on the door says to contact you."

"That's wonderful. My daughter is eager to sell, she moved to France with her new husband and asked me to take care of the matter," Matthias exclaimed.

Hermione and Matthias left the office and joined Severus in the waiting area.

"Ahh, Professor Snape. Good to see you, and if you don't mind my saying, what you did at Hogwarts yesterday will be talked about for a while," Matthias said. "My wife took one look at that picture in the paper and asked, "Henry how come you never kiss me like that?" Matthias said laughing.

Back at the apartment, Henry tapped 3 times on the doorknob with his wand. He opened the door for Hermione to follow. They stood in a modest-sized living room that had a large window facing the street. Hermione stood in the middle of the room and scanned the room corner to corner. She saw that the room opened to the kitchen and dining room and inspected it as well. Nodding in approval, she walked down the short hall to the three rooms. There were three to inspect, a large room and two smaller ones. At last she appraised the bathroom that was between large room and smaller room. Severus and Matthias waited in silence as she finished the appraisal.

"I like it, it's not too big yet not too small, and there's plenty of room in here for a piano," Hermione said returning to the living room. "I'll take it."

"Fine, let's get the paperwork work started. Gringott's then lunch?' Matthias suggested.

At Gringotts, Hermione checked her account then took the statement to a sideroom where Matthias and Severus were waiting. A goblin was waiting to oversee the transaction. Hermione studied the deed, made sure of the price, (a cool 60,000 galleons!) then signed her name. Copies were made of the deed and a rolled copy was presented to Hermione.

"It's yours now Hermione. Congratulations, I hope you enjoy the place," Matthias said.

Hermione and Severus spent the night at inn, due to lack of furniture at her new flat. Severus retrieved his "special potion" (as Hermione called it) and the two tortured each other for two delicious hours with massages and various oral techniques. Hermione was enchanted at what Severus could do with his hands and grateful beyond words (literally) at what he could do with his tongue. It was amazing what he could do with it besides scare students. When they could finally take no more, Hermione pushed Severus onto his back, and quite literally started fucking him senseless. He was void of thought when her breasts brushed his face as she climbed on top of him. His growled when Hermione impaled herself on him. She was half out of her mind from the lust the potion incited, and all Severus could do was focus at the sensation on his cock as Hermione rode him like a horse at the races. It didn't last long. They didn't care if it took three minutes or three hours, they just aimed on pleasing each other.

"Quality, not quantity," Hermione had told him many times.

Hermione leaned forward and grasped his shoulders and closed her eyes, her signal that she was close to climax. She shifted her hips and repeatedly came down on him as hard as she could. She was whimpering in pleasure and sweaty from exertion. As she was coming, Severus grasped her hips and brought his hips up to meet hers. He gasped and moaned as he came. She came with a shout, moaning and riding him slowly until the spasms from her climax subsided.

"Severus, we are so good at this," Hermione said nibbling on his ears and kissing his neck.

"I was just thinking the same thing," Severus said running his hands through her hair then running his fingertips down her sides.

She removed herself from him and crawled under the covers.

"I love you," she said with a kiss settling into the bed.

"I love you too," Severus said. Hermione snuggled closer to him, putting her arm across his chest. She smiled when she closed her eyes. He kissed the top of her head. That was the first time he said it. She knew he loved her, but after all, a girl likes to hear it from time to time. He chuckled when he heard a soft snore.

The next morning, Hermione was awakend by Severus giving her a pleasing tongue-lashing. She giggled as his head bobbed up and down under the covers, then she hissed in suprise and moaned as he sucked on her clit suddenly. This was no laughing matter! After her hips quit bucking from orgasm, he emerged smiling from under the covers.

"That should get your day started nicely," he said.

"What about you?" she asked.

"I need to conserve my energy for a mission today, sweet," he said.

He had Order business to attend to, so Hermione enlisted the help of Harry, Ron, Ginny and Draco to help her furnish her apartment and get settled. They were only too happy to help. Hermione wanted to treat them to breakfast before work started. After the quick pleasing tongue-lashing from Severus, she was hungry. She met her four friends at Wandwavers.

"We'll eat then get started. How does that sound?" Hermione said happily.

The other four nodded in agreement and smiled at Hermione. Her good mood was infectious. At Wandwavers, they ordered and Hermione went to the loo.

"Gosh, she certainly is happy," Ginny said.

"I'm happy for her. What's she's been through, she deserves it," Draco said.

"That, and of course, shagging every day," Ron said.

"Ron, we've been through this already," Harry said.

"What?" Ginny asked.

Harry explained what he and Ron saw yesterday. They burst out laughing when Ron described what the two looked like coming out of the inn after the morning shag-and-run session. They were grinning when Hermione returned causing her to look at them curiously, asking

"What did I miss?"

"A joke Ginny told," Harry lied.

They saw faint bruises on her neck and were sure that they caught the lingering fragrance of men's cologne on Hermione. They looked at each other knowingly. Hermione was humming and reading the paper while waiting for the food to arrive.

"Oh Hermione, did you hear about Ron?" Ginny asked.

"No, what?" Hermione asked.

"I've changed my mind about quidditch. The aurors saw how I did on my DADA newt and recommended me to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. I didn't get enough owls or newts for auror training, but the MLE will do just fine," Ron said proudly. "I start in two weeks."

"Mum was so proud when she heard," Ginny said.

"Ron, that's great. I knew you were cut out for more than quidditch. As much as I love quidditch, I knew you could do something more substantial. I'll be seeing you for lunch then at the ministry?" Hermione joked.

"What about me?" Draco said with mock hurt.

"What about you?" Hermione said.

"The MLE asked me to join too and I accepted," Draco said. Ginny was beaming at him.

Now that's a girl in love! Hermione thought looking at Ginny.

The food arrived. Ron ate with his usual enthusiasm and they noticed that Hermione also ate with enthusiasm.

"Hungry much, Herms?" Ginny asked.

"Busy morning," Hermione replied blushing.

"Apparently." Ginny quipped.

Just before lunchtime, the friends stood in Hermione's living room to look at the progress made. They flopped down on the two sofas that Hermione decided to have. She left enough room for a piano. It would be arriving later.

"Have you decided on what to do with the rooms?" Harry asked.

"Yes. The big one will be our, well, my bedroom, one will be my workspace slash library and the other will be a guestroom," Hermione stated. "I need to stock the kitchen, so you lot go to lunch while I go to the market. Scratch that, no more work today. I'll work on the rooms tomorrow."

"Come with us to lunch Herms?" Ginny asked.

"No, I need to get some things, I plan on cooking a nice dinner for Severus tonight in my very own kitchen," Hermione said.

That night as Hermione was putting the salad on the table, there was a knock at the door. She thought it was the people delivering the piano. It was Severus. She pulled him in.

"Silly man, knocking on my door, as if. You are one of the people the wards are set to accept. The password is pancake. The floo is also set to accept you," Hermione said. She noticed that his robe had rips and some scorch marks. He looked exhuasted.

"What happened?" she asked him.

"Things got exiting today on an Order mission," Severus said.

At the look on her face, he said, "Hermione my dear, you know I can't tell you."

"I know, I know, I'll find out soon enough," she said.

Severus looked around he room. "You've had a busy day," he said kissing her, changing the subject. He sniffed the air. "Is that spaghetti cooking?" he asked. "I'll just take a quick shower then join you for dinner," Severus said.

After dinner, in the absence of a bed in the bedroom, Hermione revealed that the sofas had beds that folded out of them.

"Clever," remarked Severus.

"Muggle invention," Hermione said.

They lay there cuddling and talking. Hermione was trying to get him to sleep because he was so tired. After a while she heard his steady breathing. She propped up on an elbow and watched him sleep. She ran her fingers over some new bruises on his ribs and a cut just above his right hip. She looked to the empty spot in the room. The piano. She would a have word with the music shop owner tomorrow. She shelled out a lot of money for her new upright mahogany model.

Where the hell is my piano?