Chapter 12. Glory
Soon after the brunette stormed into his office, Snape's dark mark stung, and he was incredibly frustrated at the sudden onslaught of demand on his presence. He had been sitting alone, eating his breakfast in peace, and thinking about all the future tutoring sessions he would set up for her. Their field trip to the room of requirements had yet to prove consequential, so he was pondering giving her more defence practice. He felt it was one of the more exciting lessons he'd given in his career at Hogwarts and was anxious to repeat the experience. He didn't have to look up to know she was obviously upset, pacing around his office, and complaining about some rumour he knew he would hear about shortly. He allowed himself to remain in his thoughts as she continued her interlude. The occurrence of the summoning and Hermione's appearance in his office during breakfast was hardly a coincidence, but it was something he would have to address once he had spoken to the Dark Lord. He knew he would have to be rid of her as to not keep his master waiting, and at least this time he had prepared a story that would allow his memories of Hermione to be seen.
When she seemed to stop to catch a breath, Severus deemed it to be the right time to interject, "Miss Granger, you cannot simply storm into my office without so much as an invitation or a knock on the door," He attempted to keep his composure, but a sting of pain shot up his arm once more as the Dark Lord hastened him. "If there is a rumour, of which this is the first I am hearing, there is no need to put any stock in the situation if it is simply just a rumour." He knew he was hurting her with his tone, but he simply did not have the time to hold her hand through this. "Furthermore, I expect to see you tonight in my office for another lesson. We'll be learning healing charms and potions. There is a war coming up, Miss Granger, you best prepare for that instead of wasting your time on meaningless gossip." Severus attempted to redeem himself, hoping that a lesson would allow them to reconnect, allow him to explain even some of what was going on, and avoid her crumbling from embarrassment. Secretly he was thrilled that she had decided to trust him with her anger, and he was not about to let that go.
From his spot at his desk, he motioned for her to leave, while holding back a wince as he was summoned for the third time. When he finally allowed himself to glance at her, she was gone. A sigh of relief escaped his lips and he got up, rushing to his floo, and disappearing into the green flame. Upon his entry into the Malfoy Manor, he was greeted by a familiar grin that sent a chill down his back.
"So kind of you to join us, Severus," Voldemort hissed, as Bellatrix grumbled something in spite from behind him. "Quiet witch," the Dark Lord commanded returning his grin to Severus. "I hear there is some good news from Hogwarts, something exciting for my dear old servant." Severus felt his knees collapse beneath him and he was silently commanded to bow before his master. The cold of the wood floor seeped up through his slacks and sent a shiver over his skin.
"I do not know what you are speaking of, my Lord." Severus seethed through the pain of being forced on his knees. He genuinely didn't know what Voldemort was referring to although he had his suspicions, he just prayed he was wrong.
"One little mudblood from Hogwarts, a girl that our young Draco once fancied himself, seems to have been caught snogging her professor, one Professor Severus Snape." Voldemort teased, making Snape's eyes flash open. Was that the rumour? Oh bloody fuck, the younger wizard began to panic, his heart racing in his ears as he attempted to think back over his encounter with Miss Granger. Can you imagine? Me snogging a teacher? It's barbaric, Hermione's voice rang in his mind. Given he hadn't been paying full attention at that moment, he was certainly focused now. I suppose the expedition was more consequential than I thought, Severus winced as he came to the realisation that his career at Hogwarts would likely be questioned upon his return to the school if this were in fact believed by the student body.
"I assure you, my Lord, that is nothing but a rumour. I would never be caught dead snogging a student, let alone a mudblood," Severus spat, holding in a wave of nausea that was boiling in his stomach at the slur that he loathed to let sit in his mouth. The image of Draco's dream where Hermione was tortured flashed behind his eyes as he attempted to keep composed. Her continued survival his current motivation for passivity. Thankfully he was able to centre his train of thought, hardening his expression as he waited for the Dark Lord to reveal his intentions.
"I would suggest it be confirmed, Severus, that she is dating a Slytherin. I have great plans for that little mudblood," the Dark Lord released Severus from his curse and began laughing heartedly as he stepped back from his servant. "I need her under my thumb so I may crush her at just the right moment," his addition made Bellatrix, ever the sadist, giggle with joy. Snape stood up slowly, his knees cracking as he reached his full height. A part of him knew that whatever his master might possibly be planning could be far worse than the torture she might have endured otherwise. Severus could hardly listen as his Master divulged his plan, hoping that she might be spared in the dark wizard's crusade against Dumbledore, against Muggle-borns, against the wizarding world. He knew it was fruitless to hope such things, that it would only result in his disappointment, but he couldn't help the optimism the girl had instilled in him.
Voldemort spoke of using Hermione as bait, as a spy, as leverage. Every suggestion made it harder for the spy to keep his breakfast down as the images of hypothetical torture continued to play behind his eyes lids. He knew it would not end well for either of them, and the thought seemed to tear away at any sort of happiness he had imagined with the witch.
By the time he was able to return to his chambers, it was five minutes past the beginning of his first class. Without a moment to think over what he had just been privy to, Severus launched himself into the lesson and hoped he would be able to make it through the day. Thankfully, it was a first-year lesson, so he could easily muddle through a few charms and spell that would help them protect themselves in the event of a war. He felt the burden weigh heavier on his shoulders as he was one of the few who truly knew how close the poor students of Hogwarts were to transforming into soldiers in a war between two impossibly strong-willed wizards. Fortunately for them, he thought, they were part of the winning combatants.
-x-
Dumbledore found him at lunch, which Severus had opted to take in his office once again. He struggled to get a handle on what exactly the Dark Lord had asked him to do and thought a little quiet and some reading would do him some good. He had hungrily torn through the gothic romance novel Hermione had lent him and was nearly halfway through. He saw himself and Hermione in the characters, which allowed him to delve far too deeply into his imagination. The setting of Wuthering Heights was bleak, but it mirrored his own life and he wished he and Hermione would not suffer the same fate of Catherine and Heathcliff. Upon finishing the chapter in which Catherine meets her untimely demise, he was interrupted by the sound of a knock on his door. In walked Professor Dumbledore, with no trace of a twinkle in his eye.
"There is a bit of gossip circulating these halls, Severus, and I wish to discuss them with you to determine the appropriate reaction," Dumbledore declared, striding over to the seat that Severus had come to associate with the brunette he had been fretting over all morning. "I assume you've been made aware of this particular issue since you left the school so abruptly this morning?" He coaxed, sitting down opposite the dark-haired professor.
"Unfortunately, I have, and the Dark Lord has taken it upon himself to award me with a mission regarding it, yes," Severus confided, determining that if anyone could help him out of this mess, it was the Headmaster. He had little faith, though, that he could remove himself from the situation, and he would have to go along with the Dark Lord's plan. It sickened him to think of it, but if he had to choose between that and being alive to keep Hermione safe, he would certainly make that sacrifice. He couldn't fault the Dark Lord, Draco had brought Hermione to the front of his attention and Severus had allowed himself to be seen puttering about with the girl. There was not a moment since he returned from his meeting with Voldemort, that he did not wish he could take back his decision to bring her to the room of requirements.
"What is it that Tom is planning this time, Severus? How does Miss Granger fit in?" Dumbledore implored, raising an eyebrow at his staff. The younger wizard inhaled deeply, adjusting himself in his seat as he debated how he would break the news to his other master.
"The Dark Lord wishes me to use her, to gain information. He suspects that she is the root of these rumours and that it would be best for me to confirm them of sorts. He wishes me to ensure that she and Draco get together. He must court her sir," he offered, avoiding eye contact with his superior. It was hard enough for him to think of abusing his relationship like that, but to confess that he was demanded to do so made him ill. How could he knowingly send her into the arms of his Godson, when he knew full well the torture it would put them both through? Severus suspected that the girl had been developing feelings for him, but to shut her down only to feed her to the Malfoy heir? He couldn't fathom how he would push through his feelings for the witch to make that happen.
"Well, I don't see how that is quite impossible. Draco has the mission of killing me, she might be the love he needs to give him some room in his conscious to allow you to do the honours. I worry he may be getting too keen on the idea of killing me that he may succeed before the term is through," Dumbledore reasoned. The suggestion made Severus look up hastily and watch the headmaster look around over the brim of his half-moon spectacles. How can be so smug to assume I would be comfortable pushing this? While he attempted to mask his love for Hermione, the headmaster was known for his keen ability to see past walls and know the truth behind every action, and somehow he doubted Dumbledore missed this.
"So I must..." The younger wizard let his voice trail off as he came to terms with his mission, "encourage this?"
"Yes, Severus, and I would start this evening," Dumbledore confirmed with a bow of his head. Snape's stomach dropped, making him sit back in his chair as his posture collapsed. "I will join you in your lesson tonight, and I will inform Miss Granger that you will no longer be allowed to continue given the status of the rumours." Severus wanted to protest, to plead his side and beg the headmaster to allow him the freedom to fall in love with his student, but he knew better, keeping his mouth shut and nodding curtly as his only response. His entire happiness revolved around his little book club with Hermione and their continued banter over tutoring lessons, and this too was being pulled out from under him, as everything else that he loved had been before.
The older wizard left Severus to brood in his dimly lit office. How can I possibly force my heart into the arms of another?
-x-
He wasn't sure what he expected to come of the rest of the day, but he certainly didn't think that Draco would come knocking on his door. Although, he mused upon the boy's forceful entrance to his office, with the state of the gossip, it was perfectly reasonable he would demand to see his mentor. The young wizard was enraged, his hair practically standing on end as he paced in the same spot Hermione had done before. "You greasy, greedy prat!" He finally accused, turning to face Severus who had let a look of surprise betray his normal composed expression. "You tell me to hide my feelings for Granger and this whole time you're fucking her? I can't believe you! I trusted you!" The Malfoy heir admonished, glaring Severus down in a way only Lucius had managed previously. If he wasn't slightly frightened for his nose, he would be impressed by the power the blond was exuding.
"I am sure you are mistaken, Malfoy, for I have not been fucking Hermione Granger," Severus spat, making Draco seeth even more. "Now if you would please take a bloody seat, we might be able to discuss this." Draco begrudgingly obliged, taking Hermione's seat and fuming in his spot. It was almost comical how quickly the boy was to upset over the idle gossip, especially considering the hours of work they had devoted to the boy learning to control his emotions and master Occlumency. However, Severus could not muster the breath to laugh at the situation he was pushed into. "There is no truth to these absurd rumours, I know you are not ignorant enough to allow yourself to believe them," Severus challenged, gathering his sense of confidence and rebuilding his facade.
"I- I- well you know exactly how I feel about her," Draco rebuffed, his voice wavering as he likely thought back to his budding crush. The older wizard sighed at the boy's weakness. He was well aware of the boy's sentiments towards the muggle-born, from his adventures in the boy's mental recesses, however, he also knew how fleeting yet powerful young love was. What Severus was experiencing was far deeper than young love, and he felt it slipping from his grasp for the second time in his life. He was desperate to share his predicament with the only other person who knew, but McGonagall was always busiest on Fridays.
"Exactly why it is all the more absurd that you believe that shit," Severus maintained. "I do believe, however, that you are skilled enough in the practice of Occlumency that you may be able to hide your relationship with the girl if you were still determined to pursue one," Severus fibbed, knowing that however he chose to begin encouraging a romance between the two would seem forced and fake. He hoped, however, that this attempt would catch the boy in such a distracted state that he would not begin to dissect the intentions of his professor.
"You do?" The hope in Draco's voice only added to the building nausea in Snape's gut, but he held strong and nodded, making Draco's eyes light up in a way he had never actually witness in the young Malfoy. "I've been practising, and I can break it off with Pansy, I don't think she likes me much anyway, just my money," the boy began to ramble in excitement. Severus decided to interrupt by slamming his fist down on the hardwood in front of him, releasing a bout of anger he was holding down.
"You must be discrete, rumours at Hogwarts get about far too quickly and if anyone were to find out about you and the mudblood, it would mean my head, yours, and the girl's. Don't let your hysteria get the better of you," his calculated command froze the student in front of him. It almost felt as though he were chastising himself as he watched Draco return to his mind. He had half the inclination to delve into the boy's thoughts to see if he could, in fact, keep Severus from seeing the current frenzy puttering about Malfoy's ideas, but he resigned himself to watch from the outside. He couldn't genuinely bear to witness the kind of puppy love that was likely leading his reflections.
In his eternal thrill, Draco left Snape's office in a flurry. It was exactly how Severus imagined he would act had he been granted the joy of wooing Hermione. The silence helped Severus to return to his own thoughts, sighing as he sunk deeper into the seat he felt he hadn't left all day. The wizard wiped his face harshly as he recalled exactly what his new mission was. Facilitate a romance between the princess of Gryffindor and the villain of Slytherin. The task seemed impossible, but it was likely only from his guarded perception. Perhaps he was hoping that the task was impossible, that Hermione couldn't possibly be swayed to fall in love with the boy who had caused them nothing but torment during their formative years. I suppose, he considered, we'll have to see.
-x-
He wasn't sure what it was that came over him the moment Dumbledore apparated from his office and left him alone with Hermione Granger. Perhaps it was the build-up of plots he was concocting to make the girl fall in love with his godson or the fact that everything in his world was telling him it was the worst thing he could possibly do at that very moment. Whatever it was made Hermione's lips catch the moonlight that was streaming through his window, her eyes glimmer under the floating candles set up about his office. Whatever it was made Severus capture the girl's lips with his own in a passionate kiss. All the promises he had made, to himself, to Draco, to the Headmaster, to Voldemort, melted away with his will to live as soon as she relaxed into his embrace. He felt as though he must have been dreaming as she pulled him closer to her. In his haze, he lifted her into his arms, never severing their connection, and stole her away into his chambers.
A moan escaped her lips as he set her down on the bed. Not wanting to lose the momentum, he wordlessly cast charms on his dorm: silencing spells, locking spells, invisibility spells, deterring spells. He wanted nothing to come in between this moment he had been hoping for from the moment he begrudgingly accepted her as his pupil for the semester. It shocked him to consider that it had been less than a week since her presence made his heart flutter, that her intelligence had captured his thoughts, that her beauty had enraptured his dreams. He took a moment to look down at the girl beneath him. Her hair was a mess, as usual, and was sprawled out around her head. Her brown eyes were glossy with a lust he hadn't seen before, and her chest rose and fell with shallow breaths.
Her lips parted as if she were about to speak, but her forehead crinkled as though she were attempting to focus her thoughts. He placed a finger on her lips, stopping her from speaking as the mirage began to crumble around him. He was suddenly acutely aware of the situation and the complete stupidity of his actions that led him to this point. "Miss Granger, I- if you don't want to do this- I'm sorry, I let myself get overwhelmed," Severus moved to back away from her, but she grabbed his arm and pulled him back, lifting herself from the bed in the process. This time it was her to catch his lips, pressing herself into him, as he let himself tumble back into the illusion.
"Call me Hermione, please," she whispered breathlessly against his lips, looking up at him through her eyelashes. "And I desperately want this." Her consent sent him over the edge, securing her face in his hands as he closed the gap between them. She began working at the many buttons of his robe, making him crack a grin against her mouth. Reaching for his wand, he cast away everything but his trousers and her knickers. Hermione gasped at the sudden bite of the cold air, so Severus gathered her in his arms, placing her once more on the bed. The girl trailed her fingertips along the bumps and scars of his skin, and for once he didn't feel self-conscious about the proximity. He felt safe with her.
He kissed a trail down her neck, pausing to gain her consent. Eagerly, she gripped his hair and he took it as encouragement before he unhooked and rid her of her brassiere. A moan escaped her lips followed by a hissing noise, he suspected was supposed to be his name. "You may call me Severus, Hermione," he granted making her sigh happily as he breathed on her breast. He captured her pert nipple in his mouth and sucked playfully, watching her writhe beneath him. He moved to her other breast, toying with it as he had the other, propping himself up with one hand as the other travelled down to her knickers. He played with fabric, causing her to roll her hips against his palm. He enjoyed the impact he had on the girl and was easily caught up in the confidence it afforded him, sucking and nipping his way down to her sex. Slowly, he slid her pants from her hips, kissing the skin that was exposed by the removal of the violet cotton. She squirmed, and he rushed to place his mouth on top of her nub, letting his tongue slide down her labia.
His actions elicited a guttural moan from the girl that only encouraged him to continued, her reactions to every thrust of his finger and flick of his tongue kept him going until she came undone beneath him. He returned to her mouth, kissing her sensually. Her fingers entwined once more in his hair, and he silently thanked Merlin he had showered that morning. "S-S-Severus," she stammered, as she twitched from her orgasm. His name on her tongue sent a shudder through his abdomen and down to his member which was throbbing in his trousers. Somehow her hands reached the waistband of his slacks, pushing them down along with his pants, and revealing his hardened cock. A shiver slivered up his spine and he pulled away from the kiss to look down at the girl. There was not a shred of fear or regret in her eyes, which he had been fearing since the beginning of their encounter. "Fuck me." She demanded. He swallowed hard, positioning himself at her channel, and eyeing her once more before thrusting into her heartily.
Hermione matched his thrusts as she ground against his pelvis, raising her hips to give him leverage. She reached between them and found her nub, playing with it as he had been previously, helping herself to a second undoing. Her pulsing channel around his cock sent him into his own climax, spilling himself into her hot sex and groaning loudly. His eyes were tightly shut, as he thrust three more times. Upon looking down, he saw Hermione smiling up at him widely, and suddenly he knew what a mistake it all was.
A/N I hope this clears up the cliffhanger I left you with from the last chapter!