Disclaimer – I still do not own anything in this story from 'Potterverse' (I'm still working on the letter to J.K. begging for my favorite couple), nor do I make any money (I still don't care).
As always, thank you to my fantastic boyfriend/beta reader for sharing me with my own little world in Sermioneville. I love you. (And Happy Birthday baby!!!!)
The last 2,000 or so words of this chapter are for Irritable-Grizzly69… go give the hubby a reason not to complain. ;) (I was going to wait, but I couldn't help it. Tee-hee.)
To everyone who has reviewed: Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!! Ya'll are the ones that keep this story going and the silly smile on my face. Even though I have fallen completely in love with it, it's the reviews that keep it really going. Everybody's reviews are so helpful, so sweet, encouraging, and inspiring. Keep it up! (Please?)
Warning – This story is for mature audiences. 18 and over only. Sexual scenes. Once again, not work-safe… unless you don't mind your coworkers knowing you're reading this, then more power to you (tell them they can review too!)!!
"What would you do if, in two months, I told you I was pregnant?"
Hermione hid her smile as she watched Severus' face turn from amusement at the game to shock at the question.
"Well," he started slowly, "I'd say it had better be twins." His face was composed as he met her eyes.
Hermione sat, looking at him with an odd expression. "Repeat that please."
Severus smiled, causing her heart to flutter. "Twins. It had better be twins."
"Expound," she said, trying to keep away from asking another question.
Severus did his best to hide his smile. "I would not want to have just one child. Satisfied?"
"No," she replied, slightly confused.
He laughed. "Like I said, I wouldn't want any of that 'only child' nonsense. And who is to say you wouldn't go running away from me when you found out you were pregnant with the spawn of the evil Potions professor…?" he joked. "Is that good enough for you?"
Hermione couldn't help but smile. "I suppose. Your turn."
Severus couldn't help himself. "What would you do if, in two months from now, you found out you were pregnant?"
She thought for a long while, weighing out every different option and angle in her head. "Tell you," she said decisively.
He laughed, causing Hermione's heart to swell. "Obviously. I would hope it would be mine."
She stared at him in slight shock from hearing the word 'hope,' but composed herself quickly. "I'm not sleeping with anyone other than you, Severus. I haven't in a very long time," she supplied.
"Good," he said quickly. "Neither am I. You didn't go into anything other than 'tell you.'"
She smiled, knowing he was doing the same thing she had done. "Well, like I said, I would tell you first. If I even thought something like that, I'd tell you before I did any tests. To correct you, I would not go running at all. You know that I don't think that you are evil. Oh, and I would probably get a larger place. Mine is okay, but not really 'baby ready.' I'm sure there would be quite a lot of long conversations between the two of us as to how we would handle the situation."
Severus pondered this for a moment. "You didn't say anything on your emotional state," he pointed out.
She laughed. "Hypothetically, I'll tell you what my emotional state is in two months."
"Good enough," he sighed.
"Maybe we should keep tallies of the questions, Severus," she suggested. "That way neither of us will be able to cheat. I keep a tally of yours, you of mine."
"That sounds agreeable," he said, handing her a blank piece of parchment and a quill. "Your turn, love."
"I'm thinking," she said. "Give me a moment."
"Better make it good, you only have 19 left," he teased.
She rolled her beautiful chocolate-caramel eyes at him and went back to thinking. While she pondered, Severus scooted his chair a bit closer to her and reached down, grabbed her pant leg and swung her foot up into his lap. Hermione watched him in wonder as he laughed.
"You forgot your shoes," he pointed out.
Hermione blushed. "I was in a hurry," she mumbled. "Now quiet down so I can think."
"I think you look very sexy in that outfit, by the way," he informed her, his eyes raking over her body. "Those jeans do wonders to your thighs… and that shirt," he growled, gripping her foot. "That shirt is sexy as hell." He chuckled as her cheeks turned redder.
He smiled as she chewed on the inside of her cheek. He shook his head as he pulled off her simple white ankle sock that was covered in soot, and began massaging her foot. She made a noise of definite approval.
"When did you become such a sweet man?" Hermione asked, smiling at him.
"Is that really one of your questions?" he laughed as he wiggled her toes around in circles.
"It wasn't intentional," she admitted, "but now I am curious. So I suppose I will use it as one of my questions." She leaned her head back in her chair comfortably as his skilled hands kneaded her foot, and listened to the sexy sound of his deep voice.
"Well," he started, "I've always portrayed this 'big mean professor' so as to force students to see me as impersonal. I decided that when Dumbledore forced me here. Don't look so shocked," he added at the look on her face, her eyes still closed but her mouth was turned into a frown. "When I turned spy I did not want the job. However, I took it nonetheless. When I did, I reasoned that, when I studied here, the rudest teachers were the ones I paid attention to the most because I was too afraid to not listen. I may have a bit of a temper outside of my act, and I am very protective of people I care for, but I am not a heartless bastard.
"On the contrary," he continued, still rubbing Hermione's foot absentmindedly, "I have quite a few things I hold very dear to me, such as my students. I don't let it show, but I do care very deeply about making sure they acquire as much knowledge as they can in my classes. Even though it has not even been twenty-four hours since it became abundantly clear exactly how I felt about you, I hold you very close to my heart, Hermione. We may not know each other completely, but that's what love is… that's what a relationship is. It's getting to know someone. It's admitting that you care for someone so much that you want to know everything about them. And I can guarantee that if we're still together twenty years from now, we may not know everything about each other, and that's a good thing to me.
"Not because we're keeping secrets," he plowed on, his eyebrows coming together thoughtfully, "but it's because people constantly change and grow. I like the sound of having an opportunity like that, especially when it's pertaining to you. There's something that's in your beautiful eyes, or your striking smile, or buried deep in your heart, that makes me want these things… makes me want to be… myself." He sighed deeply. "I go from satanic dungeon bat to a cliché filled sap," he huffed.
Hermione's eyes were open, staring at him talking to her foot, his face lined with thought. "Severus, I… I don't even know what to say to that." He looked up to her with worried eyes. "I think that was beautiful," she told him, smiling widely.
He brought her foot up and kissed her toe, causing her to giggle. "I mean it," he said seriously. "I meant everything I said, I want you to know that."
"I know," she whispered, not looking away from his stunning black eyes. "I know you did, Severus. It makes me happy to hear you say those things."
"Good," he said, smiling his stunning smile, "that's all I want, Hermione. Your happiness, I mean."
"And all I want is your happiness, Severus," she told him honestly, gazing into his deep eyes. "It's your turn."
Severus pursed his lips together, thinking. "What exactly about me do you find attractive?" he asked seriously. "I know in your letters you said you weren't exactly sure, but maybe now that you are … sober… you'd be more able to explain."
Hermione smiled and closed her eyes again, reveling in the softness of his hand massaging her foot. "First of all, I find you physically and mentally attractive. Mentally, I've always thought you were brilliant. The first day you taught me, I knew you were brilliant. Cruel, but probably one of the smartest people I will ever have the pleasure of knowing. I think part of it was the way you had such a passion for potions… I know everyone talked behind your back about you truly desiring the Defense Against the Dark Arts position, but I could tell in your eyes that Potions was your true love.
"Physically, I think you're just downright handsome. I know you always got crap about your hair, or your nose, but I find that none of it is true. Your hair is fine and silky, not greasy… your nose is not overly large or beak like, it has character, and that's a good thing, it makes you unique. You're tall and built, even though I didn't really know it then, I do now, and tell you what, I love it. Not to mention your voice," she moaned. "Lord knows I just love your voice. It's smooth like velvet and almost tangible.
"I always knew you were the good guy, Severus," she continued, opening her eyes to meet his, which were wide and surprised. "I just knew in my heart that you couldn't be this… monster… that everyone said you were. I could tell by the pain in your eyes every time someone called you a Death Eater…. I've always felt like if someone were brave enough to stare you in the eyes long enough, they would know better. I can tell you still don't see yourself as a hero, but you are. To me you'll always be the hero, no matter the things in your past because you've done more than enough to make up for it."
"Thank you," Severus whispered, blinking quickly. "Just something in my eye," he muttered at her questioning look. She knew better, but decided to let him have his illusions. "Your turn."
Hermione didn't look away from him as she said, "What I want to ask is very personal, Severus, and I want to remind you that you can turn down answering it and I would think no less of you."
Severus smiled timidly. "Thank you for giving me the option in advance, but I assure you I have no reason to not answer, no matter the question." He reached down and grabbed her other pant leg, setting her first foot on the ground, and removed the sock before he restarted the rubbing.
Hermione still hesitated. "Are you still in love with Lily?"
Severus' hand stopped moving on her foot, and Hermione thought she crossed the line. He closed his eyes and sighed. "Hermione, there is no reason… none at all… to be ashamed of wanting to ask that question." He restarted the massage on her foot, but kept his eyes shut. "Lily Evans was a very long time ago for me. I did love her, yes… but as time grew on, and she was still dead, it turned into regret, and guilt, and anger. To this day I still feel guilt about what I did to her and her family, but I do not feel the kind of love I once did. Somewhere in my heart, there will always be a place for Lily, but it's now more of a healed over wound, not an open sore. I've learned to deal with letting her go, but it's the feelings of what I did to all of the Potters. It's the decisions I made that caused such a thing that haunt me, not that of a lost love. I will never be able to fully forgive myself for causing Lily and James' deaths, but I have let go of the feelings I once harbored…. Does that answer your question?" he asked lightly.
Hermione stared at him with watery eyes. "Yes," she whispered. He opened his eyes, which were swimming with unmistakable tears. "Severus… what you did –"
"What I did," he interrupted, his voice mock-calm, "is something that no one can comfort me on. I know what I did, Hermione. I know what my actions caused, and I am horrified with myself. Do not tell me that it was a simple mistake, that Voldemort was the one who actually killed them, or that I made up for it by coming to Dumbledore, it matters not. What is done is done, and I wish for no one to try to take that and warp it into something it is not." He sighed. "Love, I do not wish to be harsh with you, and I know by the look in your eyes that you understand where I'm coming from and that helps, it does… I just don't wish to discuss it any further because I want to be able to handle it my way."
Hermione blinked a few times, trying not to let her tears for him fall. "Okay," she said simply. "Consider it dropped."
Severus smiled at her as best he could. "Thank you." He kissed her toe again, receiving a slight smile. "You're too good for me."
"No," she said, "I disagree. It's your turn."
"Well… since we're on the subject of personal things… why didn't you end up with Mr. Weasley? It seemed like the obvious answer."
Hermione sighed, frustrated. "I hate it when people say that," she said, her jaw clenching unintentionally. "Ron and I are polar opposites. All he needs is food and a Quidditch game to be happy. Maybe it was just because there was a war or maybe it was because it was the obvious choice, I did have feelings for him for awhile, but after just one kiss with him, I felt… nothing. Nothing more than friendship, that is. Even to this day, he still feels cheated, I can see it in his face and it doesn't make me sad… it just kind of pisses me off."
Severus chuckled.
"But after Harry brought down Voldemort," she continued, "Ron and I tried to make it work, but I just couldn't put my heart into it. It failed very quickly, and Ron went straight back to Lavender, which I didn't mind like I did in my sixth year." Hermione sighed thoughtfully. "How many women have you been with?"
Severus nearly choked. "Well that's one way to get to the point," he chuckled. Hermione shrugged. "Three," he answered honestly.
Her eyes widened. "Uh… well… huh…."
Severus laughed, causing Hermione's heart to do it's pitter-pattering. "Yes… I've only been with three women. One of those women happens to be you." According to the look he was receiving, she didn't believe a word of it. He sighed. "I dated a woman named Elaine many, many years back, and she was my first; the second was a woman a few years after her, named Zaria, and you are my third. Contrary to popular belief, Voldemort did not force anyone to rape… he simply gave the option, and most took it… I however, did not. Also to contrary belief, I do not visit any type of whore-houses or brothels or anything of the sort."
Hermione couldn't help but smile. "I'm impressed, Severus, I really am."
He smiled back and kissed her toe again. "Same question to you. It was quite apparent that I was not your first, love."
She blushed. "No. You were my second."
His eyebrows came together slightly. "I give you a long-winded answer and you give me that. That's just rude."
Hermione laughed. "Okay, okay, keep your trousers on… or off… I like both." She winked. "Most people automatically assume that Ron was my first."
Severus waited, holding his breath. By the sound of her statement, it apparently was not Ron, and if he was going to be honest with himself, he did not like the image of that idiot panting and grunting above her. He shuttered.
"Exactly," Hermione laughed, noticing his reaction. "No, it wasn't Ron…." She hesitated. "But… it was a Weasley."
His eyes widened, making a quick mental list of all the men in the family. "So that leaves Charlie, George, or Fred," he supplied, urging her to continue.
"Yes," she sighed. "It was Charlie. He was on vacation the summer before I started my seventh year over, and I was at the Burrow for the summer. He was visiting from Romania… and we were both going through a lot and it just sort of happened."
He knew he shouldn't be angry, but he felt his temper flare. 'Just sort of happened'? he thought. He huffed a bit, knowing that Hermione deserved everything and anything and 'just sort of happened' isn't the way it should have been.
"Severus," she sighed, shaking her head. "It was stupid, I know. I was young and intoxicated and we had grown to like each other, and it's not like it's a big deal anymore."
He nodded and concentrated on her foot, not sure if he could speak. He gestured for her to ask her question.
"Why are you attracted to me?" she asked, tilting her head in interest.
Severus smiled. "Hermione," he whispered, looking back up to her eyes. "I don't even know how to answer that. You are, to be put simply, perfect to me. There isn't one thing in your appearance I would change. You are beautiful, sexy, adorable, every good word to explain someone's appearance. Mentally, I see you as an equal. You are brilliant whether you think so or not. You crave knowledge and that's a huge turn on for me. In a way it means that you admit to not knowing everything, but would like to, and that is a very admiral quality."
He was rewarded with her 100 watt smile.
"What do you do, Hermione?" he asked. "For a living?"
"I work at the Ministry in the Magical Beings department, as well as helping with the Muggle departments, seeing as there still aren't too many Muggles working at the Ministry, they call on me often. I've always wanted to teach, and I have a degree in most of the subjects taught in wizarding schools, I took advanced courses, but I would only want to teach at Hogwarts, and no positions are open yet. I actually applied for an apprenticeship here, but I was denied."
"I will personally take care of the teacher who turned down your apprenticeship and make a personal request for Minerva to hire you in their place," he growled.
"It was you," she said, bursting into laughter.
Severus was stunned into silence. The sound of her laughter filled his heart, expanding it to the extreme. When her laughter died down, she looked to him with amused eyes.
"I recall getting the papers," he mumbled, suddenly remembering, "but they never put the person's name on them. Had I known it was you…," he trailed off, hundreds of thoughts of how things might have already been in the making two years ago.
"I know, Sev, I know," she chuckled, waving a hand in the air dismissively. "What is your greatest ambition?"
"I like that nickname, by the way… Sev. And that's a very good question. I'm not completely sure, as certain things can change," he admitted thoughtfully. "Maybe to settle down one day, have children. I am getting older and I'd actually wish to see my children grow up. I'd like to continue to work here for as long as they'll have me, possibly one day take Minerva's position when she's had enough."
"You aren't that old, for one. For two, those sound like great ambitions. I share the same," she supplied. "Well, almost… I don't think I'd like the responsibility that comes with being a headmistress."
"It's stressful, but worth it. I'd like a second chance to make a difference." He smiled at her expression of understanding.
"Your turn. You only have," she said, glancing at the parchment, "15 left."
"Fifteen?" he asked, surprised. "I thought it was less than that. But okay, what is your favorite book?"
Hermione scoffed. "That's probably the most difficult question you could have asked… I have them sorted by subject, then by author, then by length, and then in alphabetical order… I have hundreds." She shook her head, smiling at the bemused smile on his face. "Maybe Hogwarts: A History would be my favorite."
Severus smiled and shook his head. "Leave it to you to have a textbook as a favorite book."
"Oh hush," she said playfully. "What's one of the dreams you've had about me?"
"That depends on what kind of dream you'd like to hear about… there are quite a few different types," he said seriously.
Hermione smirked. "One of the more," she started, rubbing her foot along his crotch, "interesting ones."
Severus closed his eyes involuntarily as her heel dragged along his quickly growing member through his pants. "Meet me in the classroom in two minutes," he said hoarsely. Hermione quickly stood and was almost to the door to the classroom when Severus spoke again. "And having been such a good student, I assume you know how to transform your clothing into the standard Hogwarts uniform?"
She turned and nodded. Severus looked at her lustfully. "Yes," she said breathlessly, already feeling the wetness building between her thighs.
"I would recommend doing so if you would like to receive the full effect… Miss Granger," he drawled. She whimpered. "Now go and wait for me. And sit at your usual desk."
"Yes, sir," she said quickly, and then ran out the door, closing it behind her. She waved her wand carelessly, barely thinking and was surprised she actual managed to get the outfit down perfectly. She sat for almost five minutes in the same desk as she had since her first year, shifting her weight in anticipation. She had daydreamed so many times of him taking her right on top of her desk, and was hoping that it was his fantasy too.
Hermione jumped slightly as Severus came barreling through the door, dressed not in the white t-shirt and black pants she loved so much, but his usual long, billowing, teaching robes. The bottoms flew out gracefully behind him and she bit back a moan. His face was set into his usual harsh scowl and he trooped up to his usual place on the platform in the front of the classroom. He whipped around quickly and stared daggers at Hermione. She felt the moisture in her knickers growing.
"Good afternoon, sir," she whispered.
"Miss… Granger," he drawled, cutting her off, his velvet voice full of mock-anger, "how many times have I told you not to speak without your hand in the air?"
Hermione bit back another groan. "Many, sir."
"Come here, Miss Granger," he ordered, his eyes narrowing.
Hermione stood quickly, almost toppling over her chair, and walked hastily to his desk. Severus strode around the desk to stand before her, his black eyes boring into hers. "I'm sorry, Professor."
"Sometimes, Miss Granger, sorry does not work, am I correct?" he purred.
"Yes, sir," she said, her voice raised a few octaves.
"I believe," he said waspishly, "that a hundred point deduction and a months worth of detention will quiet your tongue."
"But sir!" she exclaimed with mock-surprise, catching on to his fantasy quickly. "That's utterly unfair!"
Severus glared at her murderously, causing a wave of pleasure to course through her. "Class dismissed!" he called to the empty classroom. He waited a few minutes to make it seem slightly more real before speaking again. "I will not, I repeat, not tolerate your constant interruptions, or back talking in my classroom anymore, Miss Granger."
"Is that so, Professor?" she asked harshly, glaring back at him.
He seemed taken aback by that slightly. "Miss Granger, you are infuriating!" he yelled, and the slight jump from Hermione seemed genuine. They were both breathing hard and staring each other down.
"Well, sir, I may be infuriating, but you are a complete ass!" she spat at him and turned on her heel. She made it about half a step when she felt his long fingers wrap around her wrist, stopping her. "What?" she screamed.
He hesitated for only a second before yanking her arm a bit harshly, forcing her to turn back to him. Before Hermione could get out another rude remark, she found herself slammed against Severus, her heaving chest to his, both of them breathing heavily.
She raised her other arm, placing her hand to his chest, and made to push him away from her when he grabbed that wrist too, pinning both her hands to her sides. They glared at each other for another moment before Severus crushed his mouth to hers.
Hermione couldn't help but moan as his tongue took her mouth, forcing its way in roughly and claiming what was his. Severus groaned as Hermione's tongue began battling with his. He shoved her back, breaking the kiss. She felt her bottom hit the desk and realization dawned on her… he did want what she wanted. She whimpered.
Severus glared at her again. "Granger, I am going to show you just what happens when you misbehave in my classroom," he growled before releasing her hands and lifted her onto the desk.
He stepped in between her legs and kissed her again fiercely. She moaned, unabashed, into his mouth as he wasted no time and put his hands beneath her skirt, running them up and down her thighs roughly. His hand cupped her mound and ran his hand up and down it, feeling her wetness through her panties, causing him to groan. He broke the kiss again and put his fingers into the band of her knickers, and yanked them off.
Hermione threw her head back and cried out as he slid two fingers into her dampness, thrusting them in and out of her with no mercy. She reached for his pants but he swatted her hand away.
"You will do what I say, Miss Granger, understood?" he asked, thrusting his fingers into her again.
"Yes, sir!" she cried.
Severus couldn't help but give her what she wanted, though. He pulled his fingers out of her and undid his pants quickly, pulling them down along with his boxers to his ankles, not caring to remove them completely. He grasped her hips and jerked her forward. He looked into her eyes and couldn't keep the same expressions as before.
When he looked into her eyes, she could see his softening immensely, forcing her should-be-anger to fade also. He brought a hand to her face and ran it gently down her cheek before remembering he was supposed to be the 'cruel professor.'
Severus positioned himself at her entrance and thrust himself into her. They both moaned loudly as he took her deeply, his hips banging into her thighs. Hermione brought her hands to her blouse and ripped it open, revealing her stomach and white bra covered breasts. He moaned in approval.
Severus tried to clear his head while pounding into her as she moaned and bucked against him. He could feel her walls pulsing around him, felt her starting to fall apart. He smirked to himself and pulled out of her completely, stepping back from her.
"Severus!" she moaned loudly.
He didn't say a word to her. Instead he grasped her by the shoulders and pulled her off the desk, turning her around roughly. He moved one hand to her hip and put the other in between her shoulders. He held her hip tightly and pressed against her back, forcing her to bend over. She gasped, but grabbed the desk in front of her for support.
"Let me remind you, Miss Granger, I am the professor, you the student, and you will obey me," he purred, causing Hermione to moan loudly.
He lifted her skirt just enough and positioned his swollen cock at her soaked core again and plunged into her tight heat. They both cried out again at the new angle, the new depth. He paused, buried deeply inside her, trying to quickly remember how to breathe. He listened as Hermione panted and whimpered. He gripped her hips tightly, pulled almost completely out of her, and slowly pushed himself back in.
"Sir," she begged, "please."
"Do" – thrust – "not" – thrust – "speak" – thrust – "unless" – thrust – "spoken" – thrust – "to!"
Severus felt her clamping around him and thought he was going to lose it. He released one of his hands from the death grip on her hip and slinked it around to her front, finding her clit and rubbed it in quick circles. Hermione cried out loudly as her orgasm surged through her body, running through her very veins, clouding her head, coursing through every inch of her. Severus picked up the pace to an extreme, feeling her juices flowing around his arousal, and made one last slam into her, filling her with his own release.
They stayed there, unmoving, both panting for a moment before Severus stepped back slightly, allowing himself to be removed from her warmth. He put both hands gently to her ribs and helped her to stand up straight. He took a step to her and wrapped his arms securely around her, allowing her to lean against him. She turned in his arms and buried her face into his chest, throwing her arms around him.
"Hermione," he whispered into her hair. "Are you okay?"
She pulled back and looked into his eyes, smiling. "I am beyond okay." She stood on her tip toes and kissed him soundly. "Does that count as one of your questions?"
"Does that count as one of yours?" he retorted teasingly.
"No," she chuckled. She shivered slightly.
"I'm sorry," he said, stepping away from her and quickly removed one layer of his teaching robes and threw it around her before bending down to pull back up his pants. "I forget you Gryffindors aren't used to the cold." He smiled as she rolled her eyes.
"I wish I could ask if I lived up to your dream girl expectations," she hinted.
"You can't be serious," he said, brushing his fingertips along her jaw line. "You are real, and amazing, and… and…." He sighed. "You more than lived up to my expectations."
His heart swelled as her eyes lit up and her mouth turned into his favorite 100 watt smile.
"Okay, I'm ready for more questions," she informed him. "But I think we should go back to your office, it's much warmer there."
He chuckled. "That's fine by me, love. Shall we?" He held out his hand to her, which she accepted. He did the last thing she expected to see him do; he brought her hand to his lips and placed a whispering kiss on it before lacing his fingers through hers and led her back to the office.
"Would you be okay with me telling Minerva that we are seeing each other? That we're in a relationship, I mean… monogamously, that is," he asked, stuttering slightly, as they were sitting down. Hermione looked into his nervous eyes and replied.
A/N: Don't worry, don't worry!!! I do have more questions that I will post very, very soon! I wouldn't promise all 20 questions and answers apiece and not give them. I'd still like to hear some more ideas on questions ya'll want to read. The chapter just seemed to fly by and I realized that it would probably make 10,000 words… that and I gotta keep ya'll interested, right? Please don't hate me! :) Please review!