CHAPTER 13

"What would you like, Severus? Hermione? Or Mrs. Snape?" she asked in a dangerously low voice, her peppermint breath against his mouth.

She took a step forward.

He took a step backward.

"Wh...What are you doing?"

She smirked seeing her Professor stammer for words, still taking a step forward.

By now, Snape was caged against a cupboard of books.

"What do you think you are doing?"

She didn't answer, instead took her finger of her free hand to his forehead as she trailed it down to his nose. His eyes snapped shut, with his forehead creased together.

The thought on both their minds, What the hell was she doing?

Her finger trailed down his nose to his lips. She felt his breathing lose rythm.

She smirked before pinching his lips. He gasped.

"Good night dear!" she said, huskily.

He opened his eyes slowly as she patted his cheeks with satisfaction.

He gritted his teeth at being unable to handle the situation.

He pushed her away before pulling her along with him to the bedroom.

She may have used a spell to be stronger, but in no way was she a match to Snape. For some reason, Hermione found it endearing.

MASTER BEDROOM

Once she hit the pillow, she drifted off to sleep.

But, here was Snape, staring at the ceiling, sleep far away.

Momentarily, his gaze went to their bound hands. At least, his arm didn't have a punishment that night.

He hated feeling weak and that was exactly how he felt at the library. What was she even thinking? Well, she had tried to be civil and he had been a jerk. Then, there was Dumbledore who had insisted he take off for his honeymoon. That bloody bastard! He had been unsuccessful in setting him up with Trewalney. But, he had been successful in getting him married, nevertheless. And then there was this Rita Skeeter, a pathetic excuse for a woman. She had the guts to actually print utter nonsense on the paper.

Seeing his parent's fail in marriage, he never believed in relationships. Seeing Lily Potter fail their friendship, he never believed in women.

If he had the option to end his life himself, he would have but damn the wizarding world, it was not possible. He had lived almost 10+ years for protecting the child of whom, he considered his best friend. And when it was all over, he had expected to die in the shack. But Dumbledore had to save him that day, he thought bitterly. If only, he had died that all this would not have happened.

He rolled on his side to face his wife. As if on an impulse, she also turned towards the center of the bed, her left hand beneath her right cheek and that strand of hair fluttering over her eyelids. He stared at her. She looked so peaceful. He frowned how was that even possible? Did she forget who she was sleeping next to?

He didn't know what got into him, as he brushed her left cheek with the back of his hand. She stirred like a baby, but didn't wake up. He saw a small smile form in her face. He wondered what she was dreaming of and immediately drifted of the memory of the first night when she had murmured, "I love you" in her sleep. Now that he thought about it, she might be having a man in her life. Then why was she hell bound on making his life miserable? Deciding that he needed to know the man who plundered her dreams, so that he could force her to sleep with that man and end this madness, he slowly placed his forefinger on her temple and muttered, Legilimens.

He felt himself swirl into her dreams.

NO WHERE

He recognized the peach gown at once though the dream was hazy.

He looked around to find himself in his library.

Why was she dreaming something in his library?

"Where are you?" he heard her soft voice.

He turned to look at her. She was at the coach.

She had an emerald green satin blindfold over her eyes.

"I'm waiting," she whispered, nibbling her lower lip.

Severus looked around murmuring, "Even I am waiting."

"When are you going to stop this hide n' seek?" she asked, getting up and walking towards him. He stopped breathing. Could she sense him?

As she got closer, he glided aside and waited. He turned to see her walk past the place he had stood in, her hands outstretched in an attempt to hold on to someone, missing him by inches.

He slowly resumed breathing.

"Why are you doing this? I want to see you. What is your name?"

Crap! She didn't have a secret lover. This was getting pointless.

He willed himself out of the dream, not seeing a dream version of him appear in front of her to tease her into a very much more pleasurable dream.

MASTER BEDROOM

He looked at her sleeping even more peacefully, irritating him even more.

Contemplating on his revenge attack, he decided on a way to render her sleepless the next day. Smirking at his, what he thought was a brilliant idea, he dozed off.

MORNING

She squinted her eyes as she woke up. Feeling the absence of warmth on her side, she knew her husband was already up.

Just then, the bathroom door flung open and her husband stepped out. He was only in his pyjama bottoms and a towel over his shoulders, shirtless.

Her gaze traveled the length of his body, her eyes wide open in surprise.

He caught her staring at him.

Her gaze met his.

Blushing, she pushed the quilt away, as she got up, totally expecting his usual, "Stop staring, Miss. Granger!"

Just as she passed him, she felt a tug at her hand as she twirled and fell directly into his arms.

He had his hand in her back, as she clutched both ends of the towel, her eyes tight shut.

Even with her eyes closed, she could feel him smirk at her.

She sensed his face getting closer and involuntarily parted her lips.

A torturous shiver ran down her spine, when he whispered huskily, "Good morning, Mione!"

Her eyes snapped open, to find his lips close to her ear.

She tilted her head to look at him properly. He decided on the exact moment to turn to look at her.

Both their lips brushing in the process.

Both their eyes grew wide.

Both their breathing stilled.

Both their heartbeats raced.

Time stood still awaiting their next move.

If not for the clock chime, both of them might not have pushed away.

Hermione almost stumbled as she strode into the bathroom.

She closed the door, before leaning on it.

Did that actually happen?

She put her hands on her chest to calm herself.

Knowing that it was going to be a long day, she headed out to the shower.

When she was out, he was already gone.

MINISTRY OF MAGIC - DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT

HERMIONE'S OFFICE

"Are you kidding? I'm too young for that award!" said Hermione, open mouthed.

"I know. That makes you the youngest recipient of the award," said Kingsley, handing out a manual.

"It is such a honor!" she exclaimed, skimming through the manual.

"And you are entitled to a promotion."

"The function is at night?" she frowned.

"Yes. It starts at 6:30."

"And I have to go to the dais to receive the award?"

"Yes."

"I have to go alone to the dais to receive the award?" she asked again, not believing the cruelty of her fate.

"Yes, Mrs. Snape. You can bring your husband along"

"I'm thinking of a way not to bring him." she said to herself.

(TO BE CONTINUED)