Disclaimer: All of the characters belong to J. K. Rowling.
Warning: I am not an English native speaker, so I apologize for any grammar or vocabulary mistake you may find.
Chapter 5:
It was a beautiful Saturday morning, perfect to spend it with your loved one in a long waited date, reason why both; Hermione and Ron had visited Hogsmeade to have something nice to eat and take some time away from all of the academic work which Ron suspected was driving Hermione nuts. Not like it was really that the reason behind her odd behavior.
The young couple had gone there in company of Harry and Ginny but once they had stepped on Hogsmeade they took different paths, looking for a more intimate and maybe romantic panorama.
So far, they had decided for two different and almost opposites places to visit; while Hermione was actually targeting to spend some time in Tomes and Scrolls, looking for some specific volumes dedicated to enhance her performance in classes, Ron had in mind other shops, such as Spintwitches Sporting Needs. It was not that Hermione didn't enjoy a quidditch match from time to time, but it was not her idea of a perfect date. However, she understood that love implied a compromise from both parts, and if Ron was willing to spend half an hour looking for a dusty book for her, then she would gladly keep him company while admiring sporting goods and so.
After spending their morning with their different interests, they had finally decided to visit this rather 'corky' place as a couple; Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop. The place held no real or particular interest for any of them, but it woke up their curiosity and so they planned to visit it to check out just why all of the happy couples always ended up in there. And the answer was clear; once inside they realized basically all of the tables were full of hormonal teenagers making out. Hermione was unsure if to laugh or frown as she was positive many of them were first or second year Gryffindors who she was supposed to look after.
"It is a bit crowded in here, ain't it?" Ron squeezed the girl's hand to call for her attention. He was right; half Hogwarts seemed to be in there.
"Yes, you are right… well, we already saw it, we should go to The Three broomsticks as always." Hermione was about to turn around when Ron stopped her, so she inquired him with her eyes.
"Wait, Mione. Actually… George told me there is a second option in here. A more-" he cleared his throat "private one?"
"Oh…" Hermione looked around the place and then back to Ron, she was most definitely not staying in there surrounded by all of those younger classmates, and both prefects were already getting some undesired attention. "I think we definitely need more privacy." Ron gave her a smile and walked all the way through the room till the exact opposite where there was a small hallway, just at the end of it there was a stair, from which a young woman was coming down.
"Well, well, if it ain't Mister Weasley and Miss Granger, lookin' for a room?" the question set some alarms on Hermione's brain, a room? No, they were looking for a place to have lunch. But before she could say anything, Ron had already nodded, for which the woman had just answered with a key "Room #6, have fun." Then she left back to the main room, not without first winking an eye to Hermione.
The brunette followed the boy absent mindedly up the stairs with her attention still present in the older girl, and was brought back to Ron once he signaled her a door while opening it with the previously handed key.
"Ron, what did she mean by a room? I thought-" Then, the door was opened, and everything made sense; it was most definitely a more private scenario, since there was nobody else inside the beautifully decorated, though small bedroom. She froze in the door, totally not expecting this to happen in their innocent visit to the pink tea shop.
The boy went inside, acting a bit nervous, which Hermione suspected was because of her clear confusion. "Hermione?"
Suddenly, she heard a door opening near them and she hurried inside the bedroom, closing the door behind her; Reputation was something important for a Head girl, she could not embarrass her whole house (In spite of all of the Gryffindors kissing on the first floor).
"Ron, what is this place?" She had a clear idea of it, but refused to believe her boyfriend to have dragged her there without her consent. "This is-"
"We've been in Hogwarts for like three months, 'Mione, and we have not kissed in like forever, and since you are so obsessed with rules, I thought-"
"You thought bringing me to a-" she couldn't say it out loud. "You thought bringing me here would make me feel more comfortable?" She was unsure if to be angry, outraged or both.
"Please, Hermione, calm down, that is why I asked you downstairs, I… I don't want to pressure you, all right? I just want to spend some time with my girlfriend, like a real couple, and not just a friend."
The Gryffindor embraced herself still pressed against the closed door. The boy had a point, she had turned him down for almost three months already and when brought to her attention… she was kind of treating him like a friend, wasn't she?
"We can leave if you want. You just say-"
"You are right." She relaxed her posture, letting her arms fall loose to her sides. "But… let's just take it slow, all right? I was not really mentally prepared for… well, this."
Ron smiled at her and approached her, relieved by her soft eyes. "Sure, we can take things slow." The boy curled his hands around her cheeks and pulled her face up to kiss her. It was a strange feeling for the girl; she remembered previous kisses with the boy, especially the first one, explosive and full of adrenaline, but this…? This was not even the half of it, while they both made out in what could be described as a rather sloppy way, she couldn't shrug off the thought of their encounters decreasing in not just quantity, but quality… and then, when his hands gripped her waist, she had the powerful glimpse of a flashback.
'Nothing like Professor Snape'.
She had managed to spend most of her day without thinking in the man. Ron and the crowds had managed to keep her mind busy with other tasks, but right here, right now, it was the one thing –or person- she could truly think of. While still in the kiss the brunette couldn't help but compare almost out of instinct both of her… lovers? Would she dare call Snape her lover? Irrelevant now. Ron seemed awfully unsure of where or how to touch her, with his hands in off places, such as her navel, and then around her waist but in a ridiculous clumsy way, almost hurting her. Nothing like Professor Snape's grip; firm and secure. It was not only the intensity, but the speed, meanwhile Ron's was almost frantic and too eager, the older man's was slow in all of the right moments, like enjoying the perfect pitch of every movement of his tongue. Then, the feeling of an intrusive hand grasping one of her breasts got her to step back, inhaling.
"Maybe we should stop."
"But we just-"
"I still have some work to do, and also-"
"Did I do something wrong?" Everything. She was positive Ron was doing his best, and that her lack of any 'animosity' was not his fault, but both of their poor experience in such a matter, together with the feeling of it not being neither like the right place nor the time.
"No, it's just…" her eyes inspected the room, trying to transmit him her thoughts. "… not now, not yet."
"And not here." She looked up at him, he got it. Hermione thanked Merlin for having an understanding boyfriend such as Ron, since she had feared her cautious attitude may had ruined his interest a long time ago. "Then… should we go?" the boy shrugged, even if he understood the girl's feelings, he clearly disagreed, with his hormones totally invested in the mood.
"Please." It was all it took for the boy to open the door and guide the girl down the stairs. She noticed how the redhead gestured to the woman still attending tables on the first floor; perhaps they had arranged the room in advance? She didn't feel like giving it much thought and felt amazingly relieved once they were out.
"Thank you." She muttered, while taking his hand.
"It's all right… we can always comeback whenever you feel ready." The brunette squeezed his hand slightly and started walking the way back to Hogwarts, when one of the shops called her attention.
"Wait, Ron. I'll be right back." The redhead doubted if to follow his girlfriend inside the candy shop or not, since her tone had kind of implied for him to wait outside, and before he could make up his mind and go in, the brunette was already back holding a small bag and looking beamingly happy. So, he didn't give it much thought.
"What do you have in there, Hermione?"
"Oh, it's nothing, I just fancied some chocolates."
"May I have some?" The boy was already reaching for the bag, when the girl smacked his hand.
"Sorry, Ron! But these are mine only." Somehow she knew she was lying, they were not really intended nor for herself, nor Ron.
Back at Hogwarts, they had decided to go and have lunch at the Great Hall, it was rather that or eat nothing at all. Hermione looked around, Harry and Ginny were not back yet, and half her house either, 'of course not, they are all in Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop'. The feeling of the heat crawling up her cheeks brought her back to reality, together with Ron's voice, mumbling something about quidditch she didn't really care much for, her eyes had drifted up to the High Table, where Professor Snape was missing (as usual during weekends), and from that very minute, her thoughts were booked only for the how and the when, she wanted to share the chocolates with him, that is why she had bought them, but she had promised herself not to trick him again… and so, if she were to give them, it had to be as his students; Hermione Granger.
Sunday went by, and when it was finally her time to face him for the very first time since their last encounter; her presence went completely ignored by the man. She had anxiously waited for his class, thinking in the words she would say, the possible answers he could give, would he be surprised? Mad? Shocked? Upset? So many options, he was, after all, a box full of surprises when handed correctly. But none of that happened, as it woul've been impossible for her to offer him chocolates while being surrounded by classmates, the Gryffindor had patiently waited for the class to finish, excused herself with her friends and remained standing on her place while Professor Snape analyzed some cauldrons still present in the room. But it was like she wasn't even there, he couldn't care less.
"Sir?" If the man heard her, she couldn't tell. He just continued with his evaluation on the cauldrons conditions. "Professor Snape?" A sigh escaped the man, indicating not just he had heard her in fact, but also that he was in no mood to listen to her.
"Yes, Miss Granger?"He didn't even attempt to look up, his eyes still on the job.
"I…" Second thoughts were always present when it came to Professor Snape, but now…? She always knew she was nothing but a student to him, so it made perfect sense for him to treat her this way. Suddenly, the idea of offering some chocolates was simply absurd, and so she backed off. "I just wanted to thank you for –hum- today's class." That was the best she could come out with, completely out of the blue.
This, however, seemed to move Professor Snape for once, causing him to pay her his whole attention with one eyebrow up in suspicion.
"Miss Granger, is there something you want? Because I have no time to sit around waiting for you to speak." The girl felt baffled, she didn't want anything from him, but quite the opposite, to give him something.
"No, I- I really mean it, sir, today's class was really enlightening." Professor Snape didn't believe a word, judging by his expression, and so he remained with his eyes lock in hers, awaiting for her real purpose to remain in the classroom. "I should get going…" the girl turned around, completely embarrassed and regretting the mere idea she had had.
"Miss Granger!" His voice came out demanding and imposing, impossible to ignore, and so she stopped half her way out. She was unsure how, but the man was suddenly behind her, with his unique ability to silently move at double pace, dangerously whispering to her. "I hope for the best of us to find none of my ingredients missing in any near future… or shall I take this conversation as a silent confession." With him being so close, her heart couldn't help but to flutter, with her brain fighting to process the meaning of his words.
"W… wait, what?" that was all she could say, feeling the anger growing within her with every passing second. Sadly, for the moment she was ready to confront him, he had already returned to the inspection of the remaining cauldrons, dismissing her. "I-" She stomped the floor, swallowing her frustrations and left the classroom. He was unbelievable, she couldn't believe she had thought about giving him something, about visiting him again, about kissing him or-
No. She couldn't believe it.
Once the day was over, and she was back to her room, the simple memory of him made her shiver, though not like previous nights. Just how dare he accuse her of something she hadn't even thought of?! Oh no, no, no, and she had just stood there, saying nothing, because she was just a simple and defenseless student against the all-mighty Professor Snape… oh, she closed her fists while walking in circles and trying to collect herself. The young witch was sure this was not the first time the potions master acted so unfairly towards her, not after seven years as a filthy know-it-all, but… this was the first time since she learned about his other self. She had no word against Professor Snape, but there was someone who certainly did, someone who could've talked back and stood for what she believed was fair without fearing to lose a bunch of points to her house or any real repercussion.
There was one woman.
And right now, she wanted to be that woman.
Hi! I'm back after some time gone; hope there is still someone out there interested in reading this.