He watched as she walked into the hall that morning for breakfast, a small smile tugged at her lips and she perhaps looked the happiest he had seen her since she had returned to the school to finish her education. She almost skipped to the table that morning and piled her plate with enough food that it would have put even Ron to shame. It was safe to say that perhaps he was healing Hermione Granger, or was Hermione Granger healing him? Perhaps, they were healing each other.
She looked up, their gazes meeting for a moment, he raised a brow in acknowledgment even though they had only parted ways a forty minutes before when she sprung from his bed proclaiming she needed to shower and put on fresh clothes. He had protested and wanted to take a sick day and lay there with her all day but she logically pointed out that had they both been missing at dinner and they had both been missing the entire next day that someone would notice and people would come looking, then the secret would be out and shit would get real. Ok, so she put it much more eloquently than that, but that was the gist of it.
He finally did tell her that Minerva had hauled him into her office and basically tore shreds off of him chastising him and telling him to keep his hands off of the girl or he would lose his job to which she just scoffed, rolled her eyes and told him she would sort her out if need be and he had no doubt that she would. She was a little spitfire when need be and she wasn't scared to back down from anyone, especially not Minerva. The little Gryffindor Lioness wasn't scared to stand up for what she wanted to and she wasn't one to back down from a fight and protect those who she cared about.
"Where did you wander off to last night, Severus? Your absence at dinner was noticed." Minerva cast a sideward glance at him to which he offered her a sneer and tried to ignore her.
"And where was Miss Granger? I'm sure you know the answer to that one too," She pressed which just angered him.
"Why don't you fucking ask her, Minerva? I'm not her keeper and I don't have a tracker on her, if you wish to know where she was I suggest you go and ask her yourself and I daresay you will get an answer with just as much animosity off her because she is a grown woman at nineteen years old, heading on twenty and she doesn't need you to be keeping track of her," His voice a low hissed angry whisper as he threw the toast down he had in his hand on the plate. Suddenly his appetite was gone, he stood up and walked away, anger radiating off of him. Way to fucking sour his mood.
Hermione knew they must have exchanged a few heated words over her because they had both looked at her during the short but angry conversation and she knew Minerva must have had something to say to him about them being missing from dinner last night, not that is was any of her business.
Draco Malfoy sauntered up to her and dropped into the seat beside her. She closed her eyes, prayed for Merlin to give her strength, plastered on a smile and turned to him.
"Yes, Malfoy?" She said in a faux cheery tone.
"How's one-third of the golden trio this morning?" He practically purred in her ear as he slid closer to her.
"Better than you could ever imagine." She smirked and raised a brow.
"What's that meant to mean?" He cocked his head to the side wonder about the amusement tangled in her tone.
"Nothing." She could hardly contain a Cheshire cat grin that was forcing its way onto her face.
"It doesn't sound like nothing." He looked at her with an accusing eye.
"It has something to do with Snape, doesn't it?" It was now his turn to smirk as her face fell and her heart dropped into the pit of her stomach. She took in a deep breath as she tried to compose herself, put on the most passive expression she could and let out a snort of derision. "I have no idea what you are talking about, Malfoy, now are you here for a reason, or did you come over here to interrogate me?"
"Why not both?"
"I don't have time for this, Malfoy, we both have Potions in twenty minutes."
"Ok, fine. Will you come to the ball with me? And if you say no, I will keep asking in any ways or means possible, each proposal getting more public and more embarrassing until you are so mortified you have no choice but to say yes."
"Yes."
"And- what?" He asked with an upward inflection, surprise ebbing into his every word.
"Yes, I will go to the ball with you, Malfoy. It's already embarrassing and mortifying having you sitting here next to me, I guess your plan worked. "
He sneered, what a cheeky bitch. "Draco," he offered, if they were going to go to the ball together the lead she could do was call him by his given name instead of being so formal all of the time.
"Malfoy," She repeated.
"You are only going with me to rub Potter and Weasley up the wrong way, aren't you."
"Of course I am. Am I that transparent?"
"You are."
"I want to see them squirm."
"Then squirm they shall do." He stood and walked back to the Slytherin table, a small smile playing on his lips. It would give him great pleasure in watching Potter and Weasel squirm.
-o-o-o-o-
At potions that morning Draco had walked in to see Hermione already sitting in the classroom, her things unpacked and ordered neatly on the desk as usual. Nothing was ever out of place. Snape sat at his own desk at the front of the room, barely registering that Draco had entered and Neville sat silently in the back corner minding his own business.
He flung his bag onto the table and sat beside her. She cast him a glance, their gazes catching for a moment before she tore hers from his harshly.
"Do you have somewhere else to be?" She asked him, scratching her arm absentmindedly.
"Nope."
She turned to face him looking him up and down biting her lip, she leaned in close to him.
"I'd love to do bad things to you Draco Malfoy," Her voice a low, husky whisper, undertones of seduction laced into them for good measure. This caught Severus's attention, as he turned his head just slightly to watch them without being too conspicuous.
"Like…Like what," he stammered, his voice catching in his throat at the seductive glimmer in her eye as he pink tongue swiped sexily at her bottom lip.
"Like break your fucking neck, now leave me to do my work, please," Her tone bordering on amusement and anger.
He looked offended and then he looked just plain amused and barked out a fit of laughter, which caused Severus to look up from his desk.
"Mister Malfoy there are twenty other chairs in this classroom and yet you seem to almost be sitting in Miss Granger's lap, remove yourself at once and find your own table. She doesn't need you hanging off of her like a needy puppy and if you cannot bear to remove yourself from her person I am more than happy to give you both detention together. Now, start your Draught of Peace, the instructions are on the board."
He grumbled as he grabbed his things and relocated to the back of the room on his own. Although… Detention with her might not have been so bad.
"Excuse me, Professor?" Hermione asked in an almost sing-song voice.
"Yes, Miss Granger?"
"I was wondering if I could brew the draught of the living dead for my final potion to be assessed for my newts?"
"It is an extremely difficult potion, Miss Granger and one wrong move could see you end up in the hospital wing permanently incapacitated."
"I'm willing to take that risk, sir." She raised a brow as if willing him to deny her the chance to make it. She knew he wouldn't because he knew that later on when they were all alone once again she would have to qualms in setting him straight.
He couldn't resist the little chit, he was going to let her brew whatever the fuck she wanted and he would stand by her watching over her protectively should he need to intervene but he knew with her greatness she would manage just fine. But he couldn't just bow over without an argument in front of Draco and Neville because then that would raise suspicions.
"Do what you want, Miss Granger I have given you my warning and if you wish not to heed it there is little I can do to stop you. I do advise you to do all of the research that you can so you don't kill yourself and you are well prepared on the if's and what's that can do wrong brewing such a potion. You really are a glutton for punishment, Miss Granger. Potions like that are usually reserved for advanced Potion Makers who have undergone further training than what Hogwarts has to offer."
"So you are saying I am not smart enough to make it?"
"No, I am saying it's not something usually brewed by someone who has not yet finished his or her secondary magical education, Miss Granger. It's not something I myself brewed until well into my third year Potions Apprenticeship and even I failed it the first time around."
"Well perhaps I am smarter than you," She quirked a brow and a taunting smile spread across her pinks lips. Almost beckoning him to come and press his to hers.
The fucking brazen little bitch dares to question his intellect? And do it in such a way that he left wanting to both fuck her and reprimand her at the same time. "Detention, Miss Granger after dinner."
She had to bite her bottom lip to stop herself from laughing. With pleasure, she thought to herself. Detention might be quite good tonight if she did say so herself.
"And I suggest you get a move on with brewing your Draught of Peace, Merlin knows you will need them by the time your newts roll around. The potion takes two months to cure so you will be well on your way to preparing for newts then."
The time ticked by at a glacial speed as she mixed and added and simmered her potion. Severus walking around the room from Hermione to Draco and back to Neville who since gaining confidence within himself after the war had actually excelled in most of his classes, potions included.
She felt him walk up behind her and he grabbed her around the wrist to stop her dropping in the powdered unicorn horn. "The potion isn't yet ready for that, Miss Granger." He leaned down breathing each word into her ear.
"Should you proceed to do that the potion will either be totally ineffective or it will put you into an irreversible sleep and you will become the living dead."
"Sorry, Professor, my mind was…" she turned her head grabbing his gaze with her own, "elsewhere," she breathed.
"Best to bring yourself back to reality Miss Granger before you make a fatal mistake."
"Yes, Professor." Teeth gnawed hard on her lower lip as she bit her tongue to stop herself from saying or doing something that they both might regret doing in front of other people who shouldn't know about them.
His body pressed against her as she melted back against him relishing in the touch of his body against her own. He wanted to tangle his fingers through her hair and run his hands over the flesh of her ample breast. He snapped back to reality and took a step back putting some distance between them but not before Draco had seen how close they had been and his interest piqued. He knew there was something going on between them but he didn't know how deep the affections lie.
Severus was fast starting to realize where muddying the line between student and teacher wasn't the smartest thing to do. She no longer feared or respected him as a teacher and he could hardly keep his hands to himself. This was probably one of the stupidest things he had ever done in his life, but in contrast, it was probably also the best thing he had done in his life. He certainly didn't regret his decision to befriend the girl and he didn't regret allowing her to seduce him.
-o-o-o-o-
Her heart hammered hard in her chest like a jackhammer hitting pavement, sweat dripping off her brow in anticipation as her feet led her the usual route to his chambers. Thoughts floating in her mind clouding her thoughts like a heavy fog. She gulped hard and loud as she neared his chambers. Palms sweaty she wiped them on her skirt before reaching out to push the large, wooden door open but she stopped.
Why was she feeling this confused and nervous? This was stupid. She felt like a teenager sneaking out of bed behind her parents back to meet the boyfriend that they so very much detested. She was much happier last night not knowing that Minerva, a woman she respected and looked up to had threatened him with the loss of his job should he decided to see her in a romantic capacity, and that didn't sit right with her.
If he did lose his job, it would be because of her and she didn't know if she could shoulder the blame of that along with the blame of so many other things in her life that she felt the need to take on. He had reassured her that it wouldn't matter anyway if he was fired because he had always had a dream of opening his own shop and working for himself. Who knew, maybe this was the push that he so desperately needed to pull himself from the monotony of his job that he so clearly despised was stayed there because of the comfort it afforded him.
The door slowly opened, creaking on its old wearing hinges pulling her deep from within her thoughts. She wouldn't let her thoughts get her down and she would worry about the implications of her actions later if they arose. Right now, she needed to see him and she needed to touch him. She needed to feel their lips tangling together and his tongue brushing against her. She shuddered at the thought walking into his classroom the door snapped shut behind her making her jump an inch or two and her heart to hammer even faster against her rib cage.
"Miss Granger, how nice of you to show up," his voice a low whisper as he strode towards her with purpose grabbing her around her hips hard with his hands he lifted her off the ground with ease. He didn't look strong by any stretch of the imagination but he could pick her up off the ground with ease and no trouble. She squealed in surprise as he lifted her off the ground, she wrapped her legs tight around his waist and all of a sudden her mood changed and all of the worries and reservations she had were being washed away like a shower of rain washing over her.
Intertwining her fingers through his ink black hair till they were almost lost he landed his lips hard on hers showing her all of the desire and all of the want he had for her. She responded by showing him equally how much she desired him and how she felt for him. Her tongue pushed its way into his wet cavernous mouth seeking his tongue to tangle with. They found one another, touching as if they needed each other to live. He moaned loudly against her mouth his hands straying from her hips to the curve of her ass cheeks propping her up against him.
Her long tangled mass of curls tickled his cheeks as she kissed him hungrily causing him to shudder hard against her body. The kiss deepened with more urgency and more need before she pulled away breathless, breasts rising and falling with every heaving breath she took.
Their eyes searching deep within the others, desire and longing for one another's touch flickered just beneath the surface.
She reached out and stroked his cheek gently, a gesture of love and adoration and the softest and most heartfelt touch her had ever been on the receiving end of.
He gently lowered her to the ground, her feet touching the stone floor soundlessly, eyes staring into his waiting for him to make the next move and dictate to her what she should do.
A slender white hand reached out to touch her flushed red cheek, returning the kind gesture she had shown him, cold hand brushing across warm flesh, moving to tuck a stray curl behind her ear ever so gently, as genuine and warm smile wormed its way onto his lips. She smiled back, looking to the ground, yesterday things had come to natural to her but now that reality had set in and the gravity of the situation had come to light she was acting like a frigid schoolgirl.
Gently a long finger tucked itself below her chin, tipping her head back to look at him. He wasn't sure what it was about the girl but she was sweet, and she was kind, she was beautiful and his heart skipped a beat as his eyes searched hers once again. Fuck, was this love? Surely this wasn't love. Maybe he was ill and that was why he was suddenly hot and his stomach churned rapidly and he couldn't help but smile like a fool.
"We don't have to do anything if you aren't comfortable…Hermione," he trailed off. Holy shit, this had to be love because never in his life had he spoken to a woman with such gentleness.
"No, its okay, I want to," her voice was so low he was sure he had almost dreamed her sweet voice passing his ears.
He dropped her chin and groaned hard biting his bottom lip; he really, really wanted to take her over his desk, to watch her writhe in pleasure. To change the entire way he looked at that desk ever again. He had always wanted to fuck a student over the desk, it was a long-running fantasy of his locked up tight in the deepest depth of his soul.
"Please, Severus," she breathed huskily. She needed to feel him inside of her she gnawed hard at her bottom lip with enough force to almost make it bleed, a terrible habit he had come to notice she had and one he would try to gently break her from.
"Her, or?" He questioned, a look of uncertainty on his face.
Her eyes darted nervously to the door, still rolling her lip between her teeth. "What if someone comes in?" She protested worriedly. He fished into his robes, flicked his wand and she could feel the instant humming of the wards protecting the room. She sighed, relieved and her body relaxed ever so slightly.
He pushed his body hard against her own, guiding her backward until the back of her legs caught his desk and she sat with a hard thud. He leaned down his hot breath on warm skin ghosting over her body ever so softly causing a chill to run up and down her spine, lids fluttered shut enjoying the moment.
And then, he kissed her again. But this time it was soft and it was sensual and it was full of the love he was currently feeling for her. There was no rush in their kiss. Slowly lips moved on lips, one hand playing with her curls, another hand gently running an index finger up and down her bare thigh beneath her skirt.
He broke the kiss; slowly pulling her to her feet he spun her around and bent her over just so, her forearms resting on the desk. He ran a hand up the back of her leg, searching for the elastic of her panties he pulled them down slowly, she spread her legs to let them pass her knee's, they pooled around her leather clad feet.
He closed his eyes for a moment giving a silent nod to the gods for the delights he was about to partake in. For the gods aligning their worlds together so she basically fell within his life. For the gods that realized she needed him and for the gods that were alerted to the fact that he also needed her just as much. Of all the time over all of the years he had seen her face, he never once thought that they would be here, in this capacity. That he would be balls deep within her, fucking her and making her scream and that after all this time, she was all he needed to take his mind off all of the trial and tribulations that had befallen him and perhaps he needed her now as much as he needed the oxygen around him to breath.
In one quick fluid motion he exposed his hardened cock from its cloth prison, he almost groaned at the thought of fucking her again. Cock in hand he guided himself to her tight, wet center and entered slowly. He gripped her hips gently, slowly sheathing his entire length within her hot core. She relaxed against him just a touch as he pulled back and slowly pushed himself into her once more.
How the fuck did he get so lucky? How the fuck did he get a beautiful witch to want to willingly take him and feel him and hold him and be in his life.
He let one of his hands know in her curls as he kept the pace steady. She let out a long, loud breath and he assumed she had probably forgotten to breathe for a little while.
Her legs began to shake softly the more he fucked her, she closed her eyes leaning most of her weight on the desk because she was certain her legs were going to give out as they were turning to jelly.
He groaned loudly in appreciation as he felt himself getting closer to the height of pleasure where he would spill his seed within her appreciatively.
Her breath became heavy and forced as her legs shook violently like a leaf on a tree in a tornado. His breath caught in his throat and his breath stopped as he worked his way to pleasure.
"Severus, don't stop," her voice was a deathly low forced whisper as she shuddered against him, reaching her climax almost silently, only the tightening of her velvet walls around his cock alerted him to the fact that she had come.
He wasn't far behind; the grip on her hair intensifying of her spilled his seed deep within her core with a groan and a growl.
The grip on her hair and her hip relaxed, relaxing his head against her back, inhaling her sweet scent.
"I better get back," she broke the sex-induced stupor between the two of them. He stepped back, she fixed herself up while he fixed himself up. They just stared at one another for a moment. He wanted to drag her off to his bed and watch her as she slept, watching the rise and fall of her breath and her sweet face twitch in her slip but he knew he probably shouldn't. He was already in deeper than he could get out and only be digging the hole deeper and deeper by the day.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Hermione." He placed a zealous kiss against her forehead before she turned and left. His heart clenched sadly in his chest. And it was at that moment when she left and he felt his heart sink and the loneliness instantly creep in that he was in love and she was perhaps the one he wanted to spend the rest of his damned life with. He was in love with Hermione Granger. Well, fuck.
A/N: Another one done and dusted. A few more to go I think. I get a feeling I might go over the estimated 15. I am guessing between 15 and 20 chapters. This story was never meant to be a long one, just a short, sweet little ficlet of two broken people finding love and becoming whole.
-Aliasmel1