Becoming Familiar with a Man of Misery

by Ms-Figg

A reluctant Severus Snape is ardently pursued by Hermione. A few tantrums, hexes, nasty spells and wellplaced knees later an understanding is reached...sort of: RemusOFC too. Yummy. Alternate Universe, Humor, Lemons, Oral, Anal, More.

5. Becoming Familiar with a Man of Misery 5

Becoming Familiar with a Man of Misery Part 5

The next few days showed a cessation in snarky activity between Severus, Raucous and Hermione. Crookshanks however was still on the prowl, waiting in dark hallways for the Professor to pass, sprinting out and rubbing against his robes, leaving an amazing amount of cat hair. He also left moist gifts for him in various places in his potions classroom, such as his chair, his parchment drawer and under his desk. Severus showed a surprising amount of restraint. He took the cat's actions as a kind of penance and stayed true to his word. He didn't hex the cat and was very careful where he stepped, sat or what he slipped his hand into.

Raucous had ceased attacking Hermione. His master's emotional condition naturally affected the bird, and although Raucous felt no guilt, he did know that his continued attacks on the witch had somehow come back to hurt his master. He didn't want to make Severus' situation worse. So when an unsuspecting Hermione passed by him, her shining chestnut hair begging for decoration, Raucous resisted his urge to plant one on her, and let her pass unscathed.

Hermione went about her duties as usual. Potions class was difficult. Severus called on her to assist him, but no longer gave her horrible duties to piss her off, choosing to handle the grossest jobs himself. He caught himself watching her marking papers, her amber eyes lowered in concentration as she did so. Every now and then her eyes would lift and meet his, but only for a moment…then return to whatever she was doing.

The Potions Master tried approaching her to talk, but she always told him, "I'm not ready, Severus," and walked away.

Severus was frustrated, but he had no one to blame but himself. Not only did he miss sleeping with the witch, but also found that he missed her conversations and the intellectual arguments they engaged in. She was brilliant and challenging. He had to come with strong logic in order to win any concession from her that he was right. The Potions Master also missed her warm silences. Sometimes after he engaged her, she wouldn't fall directly to sleep, but would lay beside him quietly, twirling her finger in his hair, facing him as he lay on his back, satisfied, his eyes closed and listening to her breathing. He could feel her love wash over him at those times, and it comforted him.

The Potions Master had returned to his old solitary ways of spending the evenings, grading papers, showering, dressing for bed and sitting in front of the fire. His thoughts would turn to Hermione, and he thought that if he could get hold to her, he'd like to take her slow and easy, face to face, tasting her lips and feeling her shudder in his arms as she orgasmed. Watch those amber eyes heat up and soften as she looked up at him while he buried himself inside her, getting as close to the witch as was humanly possible.

Severus was sorry for what he had said to her. For how he had made her feel. He wondered if it was because he hurt her or because he missed her that he felt so badly. Was it true remorse or selfishness again? Were they finished? Would she ever look at him with love again?

It was equally hard for Hermione, if not more so. She was hurt, but she still loved the Potions Master. She knew in her heart that he had not meant to hurt her, that he had said something to her that wizards had been saying to witches from the beginning of time in order to get under their robes. But it didn't hurt any less.

Maybe it had been unreasonable for her to demand that he not hex Crookshanks when she blasted Raucous ever chance she had when he attacked her in some way. Maybe she was trying to control the wizard to some extent, attempting to force him make a real concession for her and show her what she felt mattered. Maybe that's what she had been reaching for, hoping to happen, rather than talk to him directly about how he felt about her. She was afraid of driving him away if she did.

But now, they were apart anyway. And she missed him. Missed his passion, his manipulative ways…the hunger in his eyes when he took her. But he had questioned her love, tried to use it against her to get his own ends. But…wasn't that what he did anyway? He didn't love her, but shagged her because she loved him.

But no…it was more than that. Maybe initially he decided to take advantage of her feelings for him. She had wanted him so badly and he was a man after all. To be honest, she had worked on him until she seduced him to do exactly what he was doing to her. Hermione had put no conditions on Severus…she was just thankful to be with the dark wizard, that he let her into his life to that extent. Yet there was a difference in him now when he took her. He was still very dominating, demanding and rough with her, but there were more moments of connection, when she could feel him drawing her close with something other than lust. She could see it in his eyes sometimes when he felt her slipping towards orgasm beneath him, a kind of tenderness beneath the rage of his possession. It mattered to him how he made her feel. It mattered to him that she wanted him. She was sure of this.

Her body craved him as well. Some nights she ached for him and was tempted to knock on his door, asking for admittance to his rooms and to his bed. Wanting to feel his hands on her body, his lips on her skin, his body beating out an age-old rhythm inside her. Why wouldn't she talk to him? Hermione asked herself this question thousands of times. She could tell he missed her and wanted her back in his bed. It could be that despite her acceptance of the wizard as he was, she really wanted more. Her love for him wanted an answering love, and had asserted itself. But that wasn't part of the deal.

---

One evening Hermione walked behind Severus as he headed for the dungeons. The Potions Master was so deep in his thoughts, he had no idea she was behind him. There was a small high ledge against one wall in hallway. The witch witnessed Crookshanks leap from this ledge, land on the Potions Master's back and shred his robes straight down to the floor, fleeing down the hall before the dark wizard.

Hermione watched as Severus drew his wand, pointed it at the cat, then faltered, lowering it then returning it to his pocket. His pale hand reached around his back and felt the torn fabric and he sighed loud enough for her to hear, then continued on to his rooms. It was when he stopped to let himself in that he noticed her, his dark eyes leveled at her for a moment, then turning back toward the door as he let himself in wordlessly, closing the door behind him. He had given up approaching her. She always turned him away. If he had tried this time, she would have talked to him.

Hermione scowled as she let herself in her rooms. If Raucous had done even a quarter of the damage to her that Crookshanks had done to Severus, the raven would have lost some tail feathers at least. She had noticed the raven didn't bother her any more. It was as if the bird also honored the split between them. Only Crookshanks continued, harassing the Potions Master at every turn. But the cat got his due from Raucous one morning as he slunk across the grounds.

Raucous had swiped a water balloon from some students and dropped it on the unsuspecting cat after he had shit just outside the Potions Master's door, and Severus, running late, stepped on it and slipped, falling painfully against the office door, hitting his head. He had been forced to return to his rooms and tend to his cracked head and smeared robes before he could continue with his day. Crookshanks deserved more than a soaking.

Hermione began to watch her pet more closely and saw exactly how much the cat troubled the Potions Master. Hermione would have turned him into a furry cap if he did half as much to her as he did to Severus.

She made a decision.

---

Severus noticed that he hadn't stepped in cat shit for nearly two days, nor had he been covered in cat fur, or pounced on.

He saw Hermione leaving her rooms one morning, steeled himself for rejection and called out to her.

"Hermione, a short word please? Nothing personal, just a question," he said, preparing for her to walk away. But she didn't. She stood in front of her doorway looking at him.

"What is it, Severus?" she asked him.

The Potions Master's heart leaped in his chest. She wasn't avoiding him. He walked up to her quickly, forcing himself not to intrude on her personal space.

"Are you heading for breakfast?" he asked her, "If you are we can walk."

Hermione nodded and started walking, the Professor at her side.

"I've noticed my doorway devoid of cat shit the past couple of days. I was wondering if Crookshanks was all right," he said.

"Crookshanks is fine," she replied, "I took him back to my parents' flat. I liked his company but it really wasn't working out."

"I see," Severus said, inwardly relieved the aggravating cat was gone. The creature had been getting on his last nerve and he had seriously been considering making it disappear.

The couple continued walking in silence.

"How is Raucous?" Hermione ventured, "I've also noticed a lack of bird shit in my hair."

"Raucous is fine. I imagine he decided to give you space because of the situation between us," the Potions Master said, "Raucous really isn't all bad."

Hermione said nothing, but thought Severus might be right. Crookshanks continued in his harassment of the Professor, but Raucous had given her a break.

"You know, he does it for me," the Potions Master said quietly.

"Does what?" Hermione asked, not understanding.

The Professor looked at her. The witch felt her belly warm at his dark gaze. She had missed those eyes. She swallowed and looked straight ahead.

"Raucous harasses you because he knows I like to see your dark, vindictive side come out. It appeals to the Slytherin in me. That's also why I never stopped him. I liked seeing you enraged and on the hunt," he confessed. "Raucous brings out the Slytherin in you, for me. He helped me see there was more to you beneath your Pollyanna surface."

"Pollyanna? I was never a Pollyanna!" Hermione said, outraged.

Severus' eyes glinted a bit.

"I see that now. I just didn't see it then. There were a few instances when you were a student that made you appear to have a backbone, but it might have been a collective fluke. You were always so pleasant, so willing to please …" he said.

"What do you mean? I argued with you about my grades constantly," she snapped at him, "and took you to task about taking house points from me more times than I care to remember."

"I took your bravado as a combination of impertinence, coddling by other teachers and youthful stupidity. You lost more points than you won back whenever you confronted me…though I have to admit, you had an admirable temper, though were quite easily cowed," he said.

Hermione was becoming quite animated

"Easily cowed? I was not 'easily' cowed! I had to back down then, you were a teacher," Hermione seethed, "I would have hexed you on several occasions if I wasn't worried about being expelled for it."

"Really?" he said silkily, as if he didn't believe her.

"Yes, really," she retorted, her brows forming an angry border above her eyes. "I hex the hell out of you now when you piss me off, don't I?"

He looked at her for a moment. Then stopped walking and turned to face her. Hermione stopped and looked at him.

Severus put his hands up, his black eyes focused on her.

"I wish you would hex me now Hermione," he said softly, pointing to the space between his eyes, "hit me right here with a blast. Two blasts. Three. It's less than I deserve, but hopefully it would satisfy you enough to give me at least a chance to try and fix what's wrong between us. It would certainly be less painful than what you are doing to me now."

Hermione stared at the wizard offering himself up for punishment.

"I don't want to hex you, Severus," she said softly, starting to walk again.

Severus caught up with her.

"What can I do, Hermione? To make this right? To make you come back to me? I am willing to do just about anything. You have no idea how you haunt me, no idea how the emptiness inside me swallows me down every night. How the darkness inside me tries to force my hand to come to your rooms in the dead of night and abduct you against your will just so I can feel you around me again, hear my name dripping off your lips, sweeter than honey. I miss you, Hermione. I realize I hurt you, and I am so very, very sorry I stupidly questioned your love. I didn't want you to deny me. Not even for one night. It was an idiotic thing to do, but…but…strong emotion will make one say things they don't mean to say," the Potions Master said.

Hermione looked at him.

"What kind of strong emotions, Severus?" she asked him.

Severus blinked at the witch several times, and swallowed, running his finger around his collar. It was getting hot in the corridor.

"Emotions, Hermione. Strong feelings," he said, nervously.

Hermione sensed that he was hedging.

"What kind of feelings are you talking about, Severus?" she pressed, her heart beginning to pound.

"Desire. Need. Fondness!" he said with relief. "Yes, a deep abiding fondness."

"So, you have a deep, abiding fondness for me?" she asked, a bit skeptically.

"Yes. Very deep. Very abiding," Severus agreed, his heart feeling hopeful. He could feel sweat on his brow.

Hermione lifted one eyebrow at the perspiring wizard. Then she stopped walking, put her hands on her hips and faced him.

"Severus, I have NEVER heard of a deep, abiding fondness in my life! What is that?" she asked.

"It's what I feel," he replied, "a strong preference for you, a powerful inclination, a liking for you, a great regard."

"You sound as if you are reciting from a dictionary. You haven't said the right word yet, Severus," she replied.

The wizard paled. He looked scared to death.

Hermione had never seen him look like that, and gave him a small smile.

"Don't worry. It's not 'Love." she told him, though she felt a tiny ache inside.

"Not yet anyway," she thought.

Severus visibly relaxed. Love. That was a big, big word. One he still couldn't wrap his lips around. His brow furrowed as he looked at her, trying to figure out the word, thinking if he did, maybe they could begin again.

They started walking again, the Potions Master deep in thought. Hermione was waiting expectantly…hopefully as she walked beside him. She hoped he would figure it out. She missed him. She just needed this one admission.

They turned into the Great Hall in silence, then down the corridor that led to the staff entrance.

"Affection," Severus said.

Hermione looked at him, her eyes wide.

"What?" she asked him, her heart swelling.

"I feel affection for you, Hermione. A strong affection that puts you before all other women," he said, hoping, almost praying that was the word that would loosen her resolve. "I haven't felt anything for a woman in many, many years."

He looked at the witch, and his eyes softened.

"I'm sorry it's not a stronger word," he said gently, "but it is all I have at present, Hermione, and much more than I began with when you came to me. I began with lust. Only lust. It is significantly different now. Can you accept my affection, Hermione? Will you?"

Hermione looked at him. Looked at the intense, sincere look in his dark eyes.

"Affection is good," she said quietly, giving him a wan smile and opening the staff entrance and stepping through.

Severus stood there a moment, the door swinging closed.

What did that mean? Her reply sounded good, but was it acceptance? Had she taken him back? Why were women so fucking oblique?

He walked into the Great Hall and had his breakfast.

---

Severus didn't see Hermione for the rest of the day, and decided that maybe affection wasn't enough for her. He could have said he loved her, but it would have been a lie. He didn't want to lead her on with a lie, no matter how badly he wanted her back in his bed.

The end of the day found him sitting in front of the fireplace, dressed for bed and sipping a firewhiskey. It was still early, only about eight o'clock, but he had nothing left to do. He had marked all the student parchments, and did lesson plans for the next month. He had no more filler left. So he stared into the flames, sitting side by side with his loneliness.

There was a knock on his office door. He scowled. It wasn't nine yet, and probably some pain-in-the-ass student wanted a word and waited until the last minute.

He set his glass down, stood up and made sure his robe was tied securely, then walked to his study wall, opened it and stalked into the office. Whoever the student was, he'd be sure to give him or her a good dressing down for waiting so late to come to his office. He pulled the door open, his face black.

Hermione stood there, in her night robe, her wand in her hand.

"Affection is good," she said quietly, looking up at him.

Severus blinked at her a moment, as if he didn't believe what he was seeing. Then his pale hand shot out, caught her by the arm and yanked the witch into his office before she could get away.

Then he closed, locked and securely warded the door.

It wouldn't open until morning.

---

Severus looked down at Hermione, his black eyes sweeping over her. Suddenly he swept her up into his arms and carried her into his study, closing the wall behind him. Instead of heading directly for the bedroom, he carried her over to his desk, set her down and opened a drawer.

From the rafters above, Raucous watched his master and the witch. He could feel the heaviness that weighed on Severus' heart lift, and let out a quiet squawk of happiness. Now maybe things could return to normal.

Hermione watched Severus, her heart pounding as he took out a piece of what appeared to be ribbon. The Potions Master pulled his hair back and wrapped the ribbon around it, making a ponytail. He strode back around the desk, picked her up and carried her to his bedroom, where he deposited her directly in his bed. He picked his wand up off the nightstand and turned up all the torches so the room was flooded with light.

"What are you doing, Severus?" Hermione asked the wizard as he turned to her.

"I want nothing obstructing my view of you," he breathed, climbing into the bed still dressed in his nightclothes.

The wizard rose to his knees, parted her legs, positioned himself between them, untied his sash, parted his robe and lowered his boxers. He roughly pulled Hermione towards him, lifting her thighs and pushing her nightgown up around her waist. Then he pulled her closer still and entered her, his black eyes blazing down at her as she arched up moaning in reaction to his hardness stretching and filling her. Merlin she had missed this. Missed him.

Severus echoed the witch's feelings.

"Gods, I missed you, Hermione," the Potions Master hissed as he felt her wet, tight warmth slide around him. "I missed this."

He fell forward on his arms, his hands gripping Hermione's wrists and started possessing the witch strongly, jerking her body with the force of his penetration as he reacquainted himself with every delicious inch of her. He held her pinned, staring at her as if he thought she might suddenly disappear, listening to her voice rising as he increased his speed and depth, quickly bringing her to the edge, then dropping on her, releasing her wrists, wrapping his arms around her and locking his lips to hers as she orgasmed, shrieking into his mouth.

Severus pistoned into her shuddering body greedily, groaning as her powerful climax washed over his shaft wetting him thoroughly, his tongue claiming hers around her cries. The Potions Master quickly fell over the edge himself, not even attempting to hold back, thrusting into Hermione as deep as he could, stiffening and firing into the witch's clutching warmth with a deep, feral growl. He held Hermione tightly as he released, breathing "yes, yes, yes" over and over against her hair until he was spent. He lay flush to her body, panting and feeling whole again.

After several minutes, Severus rolled off of Hermione, kissed her and pulled up his boxers. Then, for the first time since they became intimate, the wizard slipped an arm under the witch, pulled her into his chest and held her there in a firm embrace as he drifted off to a sated, peaceful sleep. He hadn't slept well for days, and now that he had her back in his bed, sleep came quickly and easily.

Hermione lay there, curled into the Potions Master, her head resting against his chest, listening to his strong heartbeat. His possession had been quick and powerful, but she had a feeling it wasn't over yet. That had been a desperate "I missed you" shag. He hadn't had Hermione in so long he didn't try to hold back once she climaxed. He wanted immediate gratification, consummation, reassurance and release. When those needs were met, he knew she had truly returned to him.

But the wizard had been good and she was satisfied…more than satisfied really as he held her for the first time after sex. His arms were strong and sure. Comforting. She felt safe and protected. It was as if the wizard felt his admission of affection for the witch gave him permission to enfold her in his embrace afterwards. He was allowed to show her some modicum of tenderness now. Hermione shifted, and Severus' arms tightened around her possessively although he remained asleep.

The witch giggled as she realized she still had her wand in her hand. He hadn't given her the chance to put it down, depositing her directly into the bed and mounting her immediately. She had it locked in her fist the entire time.

Hermione flicked her wand toward the torches, dimming their bright light. Severus wanted to see her when he took her, even tying back his hair so it wouldn't obstruct his view. Hermione shook her head slightly at this, which resulted in another tightening of the Potions Master's arms around her. Even in his sleep he had no intentions of letting her go again.

Hermione yawned and snuggled against Severus. She closed her eyes and followed him into the land of Nod.

---

Severus awoke aware of his arms being filled with soft, sleeping witch. He turned his head slightly and looked at the woman curled against him and half smiled. She felt good, close to him like this, particularly after her absence. He pressed his nose into her hair and sniffed deeply, drinking in the scent of jasmine. Her arm was wrapped around him, but he had no feeling of constriction at all. Her closeness and warmth felt wonderful after his lonely nights.

His mind drifted back to the morning before their split, and her hexing of him. His nostrils flared a bit. He was happy she was back, but still felt he owed her big for that indignity. She had actually turned him upside down buck naked and dropped him on his head into the armchair, then fled before he could do anything about it. The Potions Master looked down at the witch again, thinking hard. No, it wouldn't do to exact his revenge tonight, though the thought of it made him rock hard.

Hermione stirred as she felt him pressing against her belly. Severus pulled his hips back a bit, and her breathing returned to the easy, rhythmic flow of sleep. He felt desire for the witch, but wasn't ready to take her again yet. He was enjoying her sleeping against him. He even felt a bit protective, though he didn't understand why exactly. She was in no danger that he knew of, except from him, of course. And in his case, it wasn't mortal danger.

Now he had time to think of how he would pull his revenge off. He wanted her in a position of helplessness, he knew that…so she couldn't struggle too much. If she did, she could be hurt, and he didn't really want to hurt her any more than was necessary. He lay there thinking. Hm. Hermione was a bit of a freak and liked being dominated, though she never admitted to it. But that was why their sex was so good. They fed each other's needs perfectly.

He could suggest a game…a little role-play. He had let her tie him up after all. It wasn't unreasonable to ask that she submit to the same treatment. He had a feeling she would be game for it, so long as she didn't suspect his ulterior motive. He had never tried this with her before, though he thought about it often. Dreamed about it actually. He didn't try it because if she protested, the act would be taken out of the loop. He wanted nothing out of the loop. Severus wanted to possess the witch totally, and this was the final act that would make her totally his.

A game. Yes, that was the way to go. He would tell her he had a fantasy but fudge the details of it. She would be willing to fulfill it for him. Hermione was good that way.

Severus smiled lasciviously down at the sleeping witch. It was so good to have her back in his clut…arms. He rolled over on top of her.

Wakey, wakey.

---

After several bouts of intense make-up sex, Hermione lay perspiring and panting against Severus' arm. He had just finished getting his morning "sleep tax" sex, though not much sleeping went on after he mounted her the second time, waking her by sliding inside her with a grunt. They had managed to get out of their clothes in the course of their activity. Now Hermione lay in the crook of Severus' arm, comfortably stretched and sore, and still feeling the leftover ache from the Potions Master's ardent reclamation.

Severus lay next to her, feeling the world had fallen back on course. He had taken the witch thoroughly in a number of positions, and he was a bit sore from all the friction. Good thing it was Saturday. He could sleep in. He wanted Hermione to spend the day with him, but doubted she would. He'd be on her for most of the day if she did.

Hermione sat up on her elbows.

"I have to go, Severus," she said, "You know the Headmaster has arranged the reunion of my class tonight, and I have to help with the decorations."

Oh shit. He had forgotten about that. Who else but Albus would have a three and a half year class reunion? Severus suspected the old coot was simply feeling nostalgic for his favorite class, which meant he would have to attend, and be subjected to Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley and the rest of the motley crew that made up that graduating year. Great Merlin, that included Neville Longbottom. Severus pinched his nose. What a night this would be. Thank the gods there would be liquor.

Still, he scowled at Hermione out of habit. He always did when she said she had to leave. She had given him his morning dose of her, so he had no choice but to let her go. But now he could at least broach the subject of his fantasy.

"Before you go Hermione, I'd like to ask you something," he said, curling his arm about her a bit tighter. Hermione lay back in the bed.

"What, Severus?" she asked.

"I want you to do something for me. Something that would make me very happy," he said, his dark eyes glittering down at her.

Hermione's forehead creased.

"And what is it you want me to do?" she asked him.

"Fulfill a fantasy I have about you," he replied. "In it you're tied up, and I have my wicked way with you. Standard sex, except you can't move too much."

Hermione looked at Severus. Hell, when he took her, she could never move too much anyway. She felt a little throb inside at the idea of being tied up then taken by him.

"When do you want me to do this, Severus? I'm too sore for it to be today," she replied.

Severus' heart leaped. She was going to do it, just not today.

"How about tomorrow night? I am going to give you some potions for your ache," he said, releasing her and sitting up in the bed.

"No. I don't want any potions," she said softly.

Severus looked down at her. So, she wanted to feel his ache when she left him. A sweet, if painful gesture. Yes, she was a masochist all right.

"I guess Tuesday then," Severus said. It was going to take a couple of days for Hermione to recover. He had reamed her well. "Is that all right with you?"

"Yes, Severus, that's fine," she replied, giving him a small smile. Then she looked curious. "What is the fantasy?" she asked him.

He looked at her.

"A naughty little witch needs to be taught a lesson by her vengeful lover. Spanking will figure in," he said, hoping to throw her off, "Not to mention several possessions of varying intensity, and lots of browbeating."

"Browbeating?" Hermione repeated, almost creaming herself.

She loved when Severus took her to task for her actions during sex, which was why she enjoyed his retributive sex so well. It took her back to when he was her Professor and she was his student and he would take her to task in class.

"It sounds very erotic," she said.

Severus noticed the purr in her voice, which told him the idea aroused her very much. He almost rubbed his hands together in the way villains did, but resisted the urge.

"It will be," he said silkily.

He felt himself hardening. Oh, if the witch only knew what he intended to do. She wouldn't let him anywhere near her. Hermione felt him throbbing against her and sat up again.

"Somebody's knocking," the Potions Master said to her.

"But they can't come in," Hermione replied, climbing over him, wincing as she did so. He had put it on her but good. The witch picked up her wand and scourgified herself, and freshened her breath until she could get to her toothbrush.

Severus watched her hips shift invitingly as she walked over to the chair her nightgown rested on.

"Damn," he breathed, stroking his organ in an attempt to calm the throbbing.

Hermione wasn't going to give him anymore trim this morning. He couldn't blame her. He had been at top arousal every time he took her, which meant his huge member was even huger. Hermione could take it, but she was a small witch…and he had given her a pounding to be sure.

Hermione slipped on her nightgown and her house robe then turned to him. The wizard rolled out of bed, picked up his wand, scourgified himself and also did a breath-freshening spell. Hermione walked over to his night table and picked up her wand. Severus grabbed the witch and lifted her up against his nude body and gave her a deep, passionate kiss, one that almost made her melt in his arms. The wizard had never kissed her goodbye before, just watched her go.

Severus set her back down, and looked at the witch closely. She looked a bit dazed. He tried to take advantage of it.

"Are you sure you don't want to stay just a few more minutes?" he asked her in a low, sexy voice. If she did, she could count on one more thorough shagging for the road.

She blinked up at him, her head clearing somewhat.

"No, Severus. I'm going to go," she replied.

Drat. Ah well, he'd given it the old Slytherin try.

Severus pulled on his boxers and escorted her to the study. As Hermione passed under the rafters, a large dollop of birdshit fell directly in front of her, missing her completely. She looked up and saw Raucous looking down at her, his black beady eyes glinting and his beak held open in challenge.

Severus scowled up at his familiar and scourgified the dropping.

Suddenly, Hermione shot a blast at the bird which would have caught him if she had been aiming directly at him. As it was, the blast hit the wood of the rafter just below him, covering it with sticky tar. Raucous looked down at it, then at Hermione, his beak snapping shut. That hex would have been nasty if it had hit him.

"Now aren't you glad you didn't shit on me?" Hermione called up at the bird, who squawked and turned around, showing the witch his back.

Raucous really was glad he hadn't shit on her. But he hadn't intended to. He was just testing the waters. Things seemed as if they were back to normal. If they were, he could indulge himself in his favorite hobby again. Hermione-baiting. Well, he could if it wasn't for that damn cat, Crookshanks. The feline had plucked so many feathers from him in the past two weeks, at one point it looked as if the raven was molting. And the worse thing was, Raucous had not been bothering the cat's mistress at all. But Crookshanks was paying the bird back for all the time he had bothered her. His current good behavior hadn't mattered.

"You think Raucous is going to start back in again?" Hermione asked Severus as he walked her to the study wall.

"More than likely," the wizard replied. He hesitated. Hermione had gotten rid of Crookshanks, and he suspected it was because of the cat's constant harassment of him. She didn't say that, but he had the distinct impression that was the real reason the cat was gone. He looked at Hermione.

"I could talk to Raucous," he offered, "Order him to stop."

Severus had promised the bird he wouldn't interfere with his and Hermione's interactions, but after losing the witch for two weeks, he didn't want to risk another falling out.

Hermione looked up at the Potions Master thoughtfully.

"No. He might think he won some kind of victory by default if you forced him to stop. He'd think I had you do it. I'm going to make him stop myself, eventually," she replied, scowling up at the raven. "He'll respect me more that way."

Severus nodded. If she felt she could deal with Raucous, then he'd let her. She was right too. Raucous would respect her more if she handled him herself. The Potions Master opened the study wall and walked her through his office to the door. He lifted her hand and kissed it debonairly. Hermione's hand rose to her breast in reaction to his gallantry. The wizard was full of surprises. Wonderful surprises.

"Goodbye, Hermione," Severus purred, his black eyes leveled at her as he opened the door.

"Goodbye Severus," she replied, still a bit disoriented by the wizard's new way of responding to her.

Hermione walked out the door and to her rooms. Severus stuck his head out and watched to make sure she made it inside. When she did, he withdrew, closing the potions office door. Now he did rub his pale hands together. She had agreed to do the fantasy. He hadn't lied to her when he described the scenario. He was a vengeful lover, and she was a naughty witch who needed a lesson. He would spank her, browbeat her and take her like he said. It's just one of the engagements would be quite different. Quite different indeed.

He walked back to the study, and started to scowl as he thought of the blasted reunion. Merlin, he hated these kinds of functions. Everyone trying to find out the latest gossip and bulking up their boring lives to sound exciting and meaningful. Then he brightened.

Maybe Hermione would 'confess' she was sleeping with him to Potter and Weasley. Their reactions alone would make the function worth attending. Maybe he would suggest it to her, to make sure it was percolating in her mind when she saw them. Maybe then he'd dance with her, to a slow song. Severus was quite a good dancer. He could slip and dip with the best of them. That ought to raise a few eyebrows.

He was starting to warm to the idea of attending the reunion.

It could be quite interesting.

---

The Great Hall was decorated in a mixture of house colors. Tables were arranged alongside the walls, leaving a great open area in the center. Food was set up for self-serving on long buffet tables and kept magically warm or cold depending on the item. A huge table of wine, beer and liquor was set up in the far corner and served by house elves, who had a surprising knowledge of mixed drinks. No golden arrow shooting cherubs were present this time. Possibly Hermione had talked Albus out of using them as he did at every function he threw.

Not everyone in attendance was part of Hermione's graduating class. Fred and George Weasley had crashed the party. Merlin only knew what that pair would be up to this evening, but it was highly unlikely that the reunion would be unscathed. To the Weasley twins, a party wasn't a party without some kind of joke or prank being pulled. Minerva McGonagall had a sharp eye on the pair, and would be watching for them to do anything untoward. Of course, the twins knew this and had a couple of dopplegangers ready to run interference when they made their move.

Harry and Ron were there with their girlfriends Hannah and Gretchen. They were sisters, blonde-haired, blue-eyed and quite curvaceous. They worked as secretaries in the Ministry where both wizards worked as Aurors. All had been dating seriously for over a year, and Molly Weasley was pressuring Ron to pop the question, hoping to be a grandmother soon. Bill, Charlie, Percy and the twins were still playing the field, and despite Molly Weasley's harping, weren't ready to settle down and increase the Weasley tribe as of yet. Ron was the only one in an established relationship so his mother targeted him with a vengeance.

Ginny Weasley was there also, looking delicious in a clinging green evening gown, with a daring split up the side. She was surrounded by young wizards vying for her attention and working it for all she was worth.

Those in attendance from Gryffindor House were, Lavender Brown, Seamus Finnigan, Hermione Granger, Neville Longbottom, Parvati Patil, Harry Potter, Dean Thomas, and Ronald Weasley.

Millicent Bulstrode, Tracey Davis, Daphne Greengrass, Draco Malfoy, Pansy Parkinson and Blaise Zabini represented Slytherin House.

In attendance from Ravenclaw were Terry Boot, Mandy Brocklehurst, Michael Corner, Stephen Cornfoot, Kevin Entwhistle, Anthony Goldstein, Su Li, Morag McDougal and Padma Patil.

And Hufflepuff House was represented by Hannah Abbott, Susan Bones, Justin Finch-Fletchley, Wayne Hopkins, Megan Jones and Ernie Macmillan.

All of Hogwarts staff was in attendance as well, and Albus Dumbledore couldn't be happier.

Draco Malfoy walked through the Great Hall, eyeing his classmates, smiling and greeting everyone, pureblood and muggle-borns alike. His father was grooming him for the political arena, and had managed to keep him from taking the Dark Mark by telling Voldemort the boy would be a great asset in the Ministry, but his chances would be marred if he had the mark. So the Dark Lord had taken his fealty but not marked him. Since he was not marked, he could not be summoned and had escaped Voldemort's last hurrah because he was not in attendance. The loss of his mother had affected him greatly however, and he despaired that his family ever became wrapped up in following the despot.

Draco was a natural. He was handsome, rich, had a dazzling smile and could command attention just by appearing in a room. He learned to hide his dislike for muggle-borns admirably and even went as far to say they could contribute to the betterment of the wizarding world as well as purebloods. What he didn't say was that contribution could be best served in lesser more menial capacities as blue-collar wizards and witches.

Pansy Parkinson saw the blonde wizard and zeroed in on him immediate. In her sixth and seventh year, Pansy had been Draco's main sex partner. Actually she indulged herself with several Slytherin wizards, but after graduation she had lost contact with him, basically because Draco had no desire to continue with her. Pansy wasn't a pretty woman…she had a hard face, and looked a bit like a pug. As far as Draco was concerned she was a whore, fine for shagging but not for a girlfriend. She was too ugly. And now that he was moving into politics, he needed to find a trophy wife. Pansy did not fit the bill.

Pansy sidled up to Draco as he received a firewhiskey from a house elf.

"Hello Draco, long time no orgasm," she said in a low, sexy voice.

Draco smiled as he turned, then his face became decidedly sober as he saw who it was who addressed him.

"Hello Pansy," he said, looking past her to see if there was anyone who he could excuse himself to go speak too.

"What have you been up to?" the witch asked him, moving into his personal space, making the wizard uncomfortable. He stepped back and leveled a cool gaze at the young woman.

"Pursuing a political career, and working in the Ministry," he responded politely, "And you?"

"Oh I have a private business. Magical Massage Therapy," she replied, "You should stop by sometime. I'll give you the 'Special'"

Draco could imagine what the focus of that massage would be. It figured Pansy would be in that line of business. No doubt she provided extra services rivaled only by the brothels of Knockturn Alley. He wouldn't touch the witch with a fifty-foot broomstick now.

"I'll keep that in mind, Pansy," Draco replied, "Now if you'll excuse me…"

Pansy caught him by the arm.

"Draco, how about a quick shag for old times sakes?" she whispered to him. "We could go to our old spot, behind the hunchbacked witch statue."

Draco looked at the witch coldly. He removed her hand from his arm.

"No, Pansy. I've moved on. I have no desire to shag you. That was the past. I don't wish to relive it, thank you," he said.

Pansy frowned at him.

"Oh…now that you're into kissing political ass you're too good for me," she seethed.

Draco let his gray eyes sweep over the witch distastefully.

"Pansy, I was always too good for you," he said coldly, "you were always a bit of fluff to me. Ugly fluff at that. My eyes weren't closed in pleasure when I shagged you, they were closed because I couldn't stand to look at that doggish face of yours. Now, I wouldn't even let you suck my wand."

He stepped around her. "If you'll excuse me," he said, walking off in the direction of the buffet table.

Pansy looked after the blonde wizard red-faced, her hands clenched at her sides. She felt like going for her wand and hexing the bastard, but instead she turned to the house elf behind the table.

"A firewhiskey. Make it a double," she said.

Severus was sitting alone at a side table, scowling at everyone as he usually did. He had a healthy glass of firewhiskey in front of him. A few ex-students had stopped by his table to speak. He kept it short and sour. He wasn't the least interested in what they had been up to. If it weren't for Hermione's presence, he would have ditched out by now. His black eyes focused on the table where she was sitting with Ron, Harry and their girlfriends, talking animatedly. He noticed Ron kept looking over at him, and the Potions Master fixed him with a beautiful sneer.

"Look at that greasy git," Ron said to Hermione, who turned and looked at Severus, who arched an eyebrow at her, and smirked.

She quickly turned back around, hoping Ron didn't notice, but the redheaded wizard had.

"What's he looking at you like that for, Hermione? He almost smiled," Ron said, his brow furrowing.

"Well, I work with him as an assistant, Ron. He isn't as near unpleasant to me as he used to be," she responded.

"Plus he's shagging me regularly," she thought.

"That must be loads of fun, working with Snape," Harry said to the witch as he scowled at Severus, who scowled right back.

"It's not bad," Hermione said.

Both wizards looked at her incredulously.

"Oh come on Hermione, even I can see he hasn't changed. He probably has you doing all kinds of horrible things, like digging in dragon dung or gutting live nifflers," Ron said.

Hermione wondered if Ron had some kind of spying spell on her.

"Well, that goes with being an assistant," Hermione said lamely.

Harry's eyes widened.

"Don't look now, but he's coming over here," he hissed at his classmates.

Hermione's heart dropped like a stone to the pit of her stomach.

Severus certainly was on his way to their table. He had decided to liven things up a bit. He glided across the Great Hall like a wraith, his expression set, stopping directly behind Hermione, his eyes shifting as he looked at the wizards.

"Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley. How nice of you to shirk your Auror duties to attend this little function," he said silkily. He then nodded to their girlfriends, who stared at him as if he had just materialized out of thin air.

Both wizards scowled at him. Hermione felt like hiding her face in her hands. Severus stepped around her, lifted her hand and kissed it, lingering over it a bit longer than necessary.

"You look absolutely edible, Hermione. Quite delicious," he said with a purr, giving her an exaggeratedly heated look.

"Um, thank you, Severus," she replied, her voice squeaking a bit.

"I am expecting to have a dance with you later on. A nice, slow, close one," he said in a low, sexy voice, "You will dance with me, won't you Hermione?" he asked, being sure to use her given name.

"Yes, Severus, I will dance with you," she replied, her heart pounding as both Ron and Harry looked at her with horrified expressions on their faces.

"I look forward to it, my sweet," Severus purred, kissing her hand again, and looking over at the wizards.

"Enjoy yourselves, Mr. Potter. Mr. Weasley. Ladies," he said, bowing slightly, then gliding back across the room to his table with a smirk. Let Hermione explain that.

Ron looked at Hermione.

"That was bloody frightening," he said, frowning at the witch.

"He seemed awfully familiar with you Hermione," Harry said, leveling his green eyes at her.

"Very familiar," Ron added, a dark scowl on his face, "Too familiar in fact. What's going on Hermione? Are you shagging him?"

Trust Ron to just dive right in with no regard for her feelings or her privacy. It made her mad.

"And what if I am?" she retorted.

"You are!" Ron gasped, pointing an accusing finger at her, and turning a bright shade of red.

Hannah and Gretchen excused themselves from the table. They were well aware Hermione was good friends with their boyfriends, like a sister to them in fact. And when brothers got upset about whom their sister was shagging, spells might start to fly. They didn't want to be caught in the crossfire.

"We'll be back," Gretchen said, catching her sister by the arm and disappearing across the Great Hall.

"You're shagging Snape, Hermione? Please say it isn't so," Harry pleaded with her, looking over at the dark wizard, who was leering at him now.

Obviously the pussy was out of the bag…and in his bed. Heh, heh.

"Harry, I've been in love with Severus since my seventh year. There was no other wizard I wanted but him. So yes, I'm involved with him," she said.

Ron turned green.

"But Hermione, he's Snape…Snape! The snarky, sarcastic, sadistic git of the dungeons. How could you let him shag you? Or even touch you?" he asked her, imaging all kinds of terrible acts the wizard performed on the witch. He really wasn't that far off the mark.

"He's a hero and a good man, Ron! Or have you forgotten all he did for the wizarding world when he spied for the Order and served Voldemort. How much he suffered for everyone, including you? And no one appreciated what he did for us. No one. Well, I did. And I appreciate him now. He's brilliant and he knows how to treat me. I'm very happy with him, Ron," she said, slapping the table.

Severus watched his lover slap the table as she addressed Ron. She was heating up nicely.

Harry looked at her.

"All right, Hermione. You love him. Does he love you?" the green-eyed wizard asked, watching her intently.

"He has affection for me," she replied, "Love is a big step for a man like him."

"So he gets to do you because you love him. Gods, Hermione. What's happened to you?" Ron asked her. "You used to be so good…so pure. You wouldn't let anyone touch you."

"I grew up, Ron. Do you think you're the only one who has sexual feelings? I have them too, you know. I was just waiting to let the Professor know how I felt about him. I wanted him to touch me," she replied, exasperated, "you make me sound as if I'm 'spoiled' now."

"You are," he said sullenly, "doing him."

"Ronald Weasley! "I'm sure you're sticking your wand in Gretchen. You don't consider her 'spoiled' do you?" she seethed, "why am I any different?"

"Because I have feelings for Gretchen. She's not just something to stick my wand in, like you are for Snape. He's using you, Hermione. Can't you see that?" Ron shot back at her. "He's ruining you for any decent wizard."

"He is a decent wizard, Ron, and he does have feelings for me. I am happy with him. Can't you just be happy for me?" she said, her eyes narrowed at her friend.

"No, I can't," Ron said, his eyes hard, "He has you under some kind of spell or something."

Harry watched the exchange. He wasn't thrilled at Hermione sleeping with Snape. But he had to admit that he probably met her needs on a number of levels. Hermione had always been more mature than the rest of them, and her parents had a large age difference between them and were happy. Snape was dark, but he was intelligent, strong and courageous. If Harry put aside all the hard times the wizard gave him while he was a student, Snape wasn't that bad a choice for the witch. He would keep her challenged, and probably focused as well.

Hermione stood up and put her hands on her hips.

"He does not have me under any spell, Ron Weasley. I approached him and he turned me down flat. He wanted nothing to do with me, nothing. He went out of his way to make me hate him, but it didn't work. Finally I convinced him to accept me. He wasn't the pursuer in this relationship, I was. It took a lot of convincing to make him accept me in his bed. And you aren't going to take me out of it, Ronald. You are such an asshole!" she said, stalking off from the table and heading to where Severus sat. If she stayed with Ron a moment longer, she was going to hex the wizard.

"Look at her. Going over to the enemy," Ron seethed, watching as Hermione took a seat next to the wizard.

"Ron, Hermione is a grown witch. She knows what she wants. All you're going to do is mess up your friendship with her. You can't tell her who to love," Harry said to him.

"But Harry, she's making the biggest mistake of her life being with him," Ron said sincerely. "He's not capable of loving her. He's going to use her then throw her aside."

Harry looked over at the witch.

"Well Ron, if that happens, she's going to have to deal with it. But predicting doom for her when she is obviously happy will only drive a wedge between you two. You need to accept her decision. I do," Harry said to his friend.

"You do?" Ron asked him, incredulous.

"Yes, I do. We hate Snape because of how he was when we were students. But we need to look at him as a wizard. He really did sacrifice a lot for the wizarding world. Anyone who did that can't be all bad, Ron. As for his attitude, that's just the way he is. He has a right to be that way. If Hermione can deal with it, we have to let her do just that. She says she loves him, Ron. If she does, nothing you can do or say will change her mind or her heart. You need to realize that and just be there for her if something does go wrong. Otherwise, you won't be there at all. Love will make her choose him over you, and you will force her to make that decision. Do you want to lose Hermione's friendship Ron?" Harry asked him.

"No," Ron said quietly.

"Then I suggest you apologize to her before this reunion is over," Harry said earnestly. "You've done a lot of damage."

Ron looked over at Hermione. She really had grown up. He noticed Snape leaning toward her a bit protectively, although the wizard appeared to just be taking in the scene around him. As an Auror he was trained to read body language. Hermione was leaning slightly in his direction too. When one shifted, the other did as well. That was a sign of a deeper connection.

"Yeah, you're right, Harry," he said, still looking at the couple. "I'll catch up to her later."

Gretchen and Hannah approached the table.

"Is everything settled?" Hannah asked.

She looked over toward the table where the dark wizard sat, and saw Hermione sitting beside him. Obviously everything had been settled, but not in a good way.

"Everything's all right, Hannah," Harry said, standing and pulling out the witch's chair. Hannah smiled and sat down. Ron didn't move, and Gretchen settled in beside him. She was used to it.

Suddenly music started and people began to move on to the dance floor, gyrating wildly.

Harry looked at Hannah.

"Feel like dancing?" he asked her.

"I certainly do," she replied.

Harry stood up and pulled the witch's chair out for her and took her hand, leading her to the dance floor. Gretchen looked at Ron, who was still looking over at Hermione.

"It really bothers you she's with him, doesn't it Ron?" she asked him softly.

Ron nodded.

"Sometimes people are drawn to people that no one else understands, and it seems strange and wrong. But everyone deserves a chance at love, Ron. Everyone," Gretchen said softly, placing her hand on the wizard's arm.

He looked at her, and she gave him a small smile. He smiled back at her.

"Let's dance," he said, rising and pulling her out of the chair a bit roughly. She giggled. Ron was rough around the edges, but she liked him like that. He was all wizard.

---

Severus looked at Hermione with an amused look on his face as she dropped into the chair next to him looking furious.

"Something wrong in Gryffindor paradise?" he asked her, a small grin playing across his pale face.

"Ron is just…insufferable," she seethed.

"Yes. I've known that since he was a student," Severus agreed, his black eyes sweeping over her.

He hadn't exaggerated when he said she looked delicious. She was dressed in a form-fitting blue sequined gown, and blue three-inch heels that made his mouth water. He never had a foot fetish, but felt as if he could suck on her toes for days. Her hair was piled on her head, held in place by two sparkling blue combs, two tendrils hanging down on each side of her face, and she wore sapphire earrings set in silver. Her neck was exposed, and Severus longed to run his lips over the pulsing artery. She wore just a touch of makeup. He looked at her lipstick and had a very erotic vision of it being smeared on his organ as she pleasured him. He hissed, willing it away.

Hermione looked at him sharply.

"Are you all right?" she asked him.

"Yesss," he replied a bit hoarsely.

Hermione's eyes narrowed.

"Severus, you caused that scene by coming over there and drawing attention to our relationship. I wasn't ready to tell them yet," she said, scowling at him.

"I did you a favor, Hermione," he replied silkily, "You would have let the night pass without telling them at all, then felt guilty about hiding the truth from them. Now it is out in the open. It will all work out, though I could see they were less than thrilled with your sleeping with 'the bastard from below'."

"No, especially Ron. He has this image of me as a perpetual virgin," she said.

"That's definitely an image that needs updating," Severus purred at her, his black eyes sparkling.

Hermione scowled at him.

"I think he would raise hell no matter who I slept with," she mused.

"Not as much as with me," Severus said, looking over at the wizard dancing with his girlfriend. "He knows that I probably have you tied up in sexual knots. The very idea drives him crazy. I believe that he holds a torch for you still."

Hermione looked thoughtful.

"He used to, but he's moved on. Gretchen seems very nice, very attuned to him," she responded.

"Some people never get over their first love," Severus replied. He knew his first love haunted him, but not for good reasons.

"So that means I may never get over you if something happens between us," she said softly looking at him intensely.

Suddenly a slow song began to play. Severus was relieved. He didn't want to respond to her. He stood up and pulled her chair out, offering his hand.

"May I have this dance?" he asked her, looking at her imperiously. He wasn't going to take no for an answer.

"Certainly," Hermione replied, almost shyly. She had never danced with him before and was a bit nervous as she placed her hand in his.

He escorted her to the dance floor and pulled her against him firmly, one large hand on the small of her back, the other entwined in her small fingers. He began to move with her, in perfect time to the music, gliding with her around the floor before stopping and swaying against her body sensuously. Hermione could feel eyes on them, but if Severus didn't care, she didn't either.

The Potions Master suddenly dipped her, leaning his long body over hers and looking down at her hungrily before he brought her up again, pulling her close. She could feel a slight erection pressing against her, and gasped as he smirked down at her.

Suddenly a smooth voice asked, "May I cut in?"

Hermione looked in the direction of the voice and into the gray eyes of Draco Malfoy.

---

Severus scowled at the handsome blonde wizard. Draco was as tall as he was now, and wore his hair in a fashion very similar to his father's, long and sweeping over his broad shoulders. He was quite a good-looking young man. Hermione was bound to the Potions Master, he knew this, but it still didn't make it any easier to let her move into the arms of another wizard.

Draco gave him a smile.

"Oh come now, Professor…surely you won't begrudge me a dance with Miss Granger," he said.

Severus scowled harder. It would be bad form to deny the wizard. He released Hermione.

"Be my guest, Mr. Malfoy," he said coldly and watched as Draco placed his hand on Hermione's waist and whirled away with her. He was livid. How dare Draco cut in? The Potions Master stalked back over to his table and told a passing house elf to bring him a firewhiskey, a double.

Draco looked down at Hermione as they danced.

"How have you been, Granger?" he drawled, taking her in.

She certainly had prettied up and filled out. He'd do her, that was for certain. There was something about Hermione that always brought out the villain in the young wizard. When he had seen her on the dance floor looking so delicious, he just had to get his hands on her. Now if SHE suggested a quick shag behind the humpbacked witch, he'd gladly oblige her.

Pansy Parkinson watched them from the sidelines, scowling as the wizard looked down at the witch. She recognized the glint in his eyes. He'd like to shag that mudblood.

"I've been fine, Draco. Working on my Magical Liberal Arts degree," Hermione responded.

She was surprised the wizard asked to dance with her. Draco was smart waiting for Severus to take her to the floor and cutting in. If he had asked her directly, she probably would have declined because of their history.

"Always enlarging that brain of yours, eh Granger? Probably neglecting your body in the process. All work, no play makes you a dull witch. No one wants to be a dull witch, Granger," he said suggestively.

"I play enough," she responded stiffly, pulling back as Draco tried to pull her closer.

Suddenly the wizard flung her out, then gracefully spun her back into him so her back was pressed against his front. He took full advantage and pressed himself against her. Hermione quickly pulled away from him, resuming the dance, scowling.

"You're taking liberties, Draco. I don't appreciate it," she said to him.

The blonde wizard smiled down at her.

"Not as many liberties as I'd like to Granger. You've turned into quite an appetizing little dish. Beautiful, smart and muggle-born. You'd make the perfect wife for me. I have a promising future in politics," he said to her, "You should think about your future as well."

Hermione looked at the wizard as if he had lost his mind.

"What? As a trophy wife?" she asked him.

"Certainly. There would be benefits. Me, for example. As well as plenty of galleons to spend. You wouldn't have to lift a finger to work. All you would have to do would be take up a few good causes. You were always into causes," he said, grinning at her.

"I can't believe your gall, Draco. You haven't seen me in years, then you have the nerve to stroll up to me and ask me to consider being your wife? Your good looks have gone to your head. I wouldn't marry you if you were the last wizard on earth," she said.

Draco's eyes darkened.

"It would be a sight better than what you've got in store for you. Stuck in some laboratory working on spells and potions for the rest of your life, alone with your books and experiments. You'll end up a dried up spinster the way you're going," he said nastily. "I bet you haven't even been popped yet."

Hermione was about to reply when suddenly a pale hand reached between them.

"I believe this dance is over, Mr. Malfoy. I'll take my witch now, if you don't mind," Severus said coldly.

"Your witch?" Draco repeated, looking from the Potions Master to Hermione and back to the Potions Master again.

"Yes. MY witch," Severus said rather snarkily, taking Hermione out of the blonde wizard's arms and pulling her to him territorially. "And I assure you, she has been 'popped.' Repeatedly."

Hermione blushed furiously at the Potions Master's words. Telling Draco was a sure-fire way of making sure the entire wizarding world would know about their relationship.

Draco's mouth dropped open as he watched the dark wizard dance away with the witch. Snape was shagging Hermione Granger? He would have never believed it if he hadn't heard it from the Potions Master himself. He always believed the Potions Master was celibate, and that Hermione made love to her books and studies.

He looked around and saw Harry at the buffet table, putting some food on a plate. He walked over to him.

"Hey Potter," he said, picking up a plate himself and looking over the offerings.

"Hi Draco," Harry responded.

They had come to an understanding since they both worked for the Ministry. Their relationship was almost friendly.

"Were you aware that Hermione is shagging Snape?" Draco asked him as he put several chicken wings on his plate.

Harry looked at him.

"As a matter of fact, I am," Harry said, looking at the wizard, frowning slightly, "Why?"

Draco shrugged.

"I just wondered, knowing how you feel about Snape," he responded.

"Hermione's the one sleeping with him not me. If he makes her happy, I have nothing to say about it," Harry said evenly.

"Yes, but it's still a bit…creepy. I wonder how long they've been at it? You think he was doing her when she was a student?" he asked the boy who lived.

Harry's eyes darkened.

"No!" he said vehemently. "Hermione wasn't involved with him when she was a student."

"Are you sure? You weren't with her twenty-four hours a day," Draco insinuated.

Harry scowled at the wizard openly now, setting his plate down and turning to face him.

"I am positive. Hermione went straight to university and wasn't involved with anyone. I visited her often. She would have told me if she were seeing Snape," he seethed, his fists balling. Draco was pissing him off.

"Calm down, Potter," Draco said smoothly, "I was just asking."

Harry frowned at him.

"I don't want you dragging Hermione's name through the mud, Draco. She's a good witch and hasn't done anything wrong. She's an adult and has a right to be with whomever she wants to be with. Even if it is Snape," he seethed.

"Don't worry Potter. I'm not going to say anything against Granger or Snape. I want to move forward. I may need Snape's endorsement in the future, he is a respected hero after all or Hermione's if she becomes as famous as I think she will. I'm not burning any bridges, believe me," Draco said, "I was just curious."

Harry relaxed. Draco was too concerned with his own future to risk having either Snape or Hermione against him.

"Well, I hope your curiosity's been fed," the Auror replied.

"I think as well as it's ever going to be," Draco replied, looking over at the dancing couple. Snape was holding the witch very tightly and scowling down at her. Hermione must be some kind of masochist or something. That wizard was dark, very dark. Draco had no doubt he was into dominating the petite witch. He knew he would be. Ah well. One trophy wife down.

Draco took his plate and found an empty table.

"Snape took away your little toy I see," said a slightly slurred voice.

Draco looked up and saw Pansy standing there, swaying slightly and glowering at him.

"Go away, Pansy," he said dismissively, biting into a chicken wing.

"I loved you, Draco," she said drunkenly.

He scowled up at her.

"Yeah, that's why you shagged almost every wizard in Slytherin house," Draco responded.

"They meant nothing, Draco. Nothing at all. That was…was…recreational sex. Not like with you," she said.

"Pansy, get the fuck away from me," Draco snarled. Now she was getting on his nerves.

Pansy drew her wand.

"I loved you," she said, pointing the wand at Draco. Luckily he saw it.

"Avada Ked…" Pansy began hatefully before Draco leapt up and snatched the wand out of her hand.

"Are you fucking crazy?" he bellowed, causing everyone to turn and look at them.

Albus hurried over to them.

"Draco, what's going on here?" the Headmaster asked him, his blue eyes switching from the blonde wizard to the now sobbing witch.

"This crazy witch tried to cast the Killing Curse on me," he said, pointing at Pansy. Everyone gasped. The Headmaster looked startled.

"Is this true, Miss Parkinson?" Albus asked him.

"He doesn't love me," she sobbed.

Albus' eyes darkened. The witch was drunk, but still cognizant enough to try and cast the killing curse on Draco. This was serious.

The Headmaster took her firmly by the arm. Draco handed him Pansy's wand.

"Come with me, Miss Parkinson," the Headmaster said sternly.

Pansy went with him and together they exited the Great Hall. Albus had to report her actions to the Ministry. Obviously the witch had issues she needed to deal with. She hadn't killed Draco, but drunk or not, she made the attempt.

Draco's close call with death was the talk of the reunion for the rest of the night. But Severus and Hermione were unaware of what had happened, they were so wrapped up in their own situation, which was quite heated. In fact, they weren't even in the Great Hall.

Severus had danced away with Hermione, holding her quite close. Actually he had a rather iron grip on the witch and Hermione had to press her hands against his chest to make him relax.

"Thank you for rescuing me, Severus," she said to the wizard.

Severus didn't respond, his black eyes just swept over her. They were hard. He continued dancing with her, taking her across the Great Hall. Hermione felt as if he were angry with her for some reason. But she hadn't done anything.

"Severus? Are you all right?" she asked him.

The dark wizard continued dancing with her in silence. They were moving off the dance floor now, but he didn't release her. Suddenly he pushed open a door and pulled her out with him into the back corridor behind the Great Hall. Further down was the staff exit.

Taking her hand he half dragged her down the hallway and turned off into a little used corridor that turned left and ended.

"Severus, what are we doing?" she asked him.

The Potions Master stared down at her, his eyes glittering. Then suddenly he pressed the startled witch into the wall.

"I want you," he breathed, lowering his mouth to Hermione's throat. "Right here, right now, in that dress with those shoes."

"No, Severus. I'm still sore. It will hurt," Hermione protested as he ran his hands over her body.

"You can take it," he breathed, "I want you."

His pale hands were on her breasts now, his thumbs brushing over her nipples which were hard beneath the fabric.

"No, Severus," Hermione said again, trying to move his hands, but he seemed to have as many hands as the Giant Squid had arms. She was heating up despite herself.

"Draco was holding you. I saw him press up against you. Against what's mine," Severus hissed, sliding his hand down her thigh. "It made me crazy, him touching you."

"I told him to stop, Severus," she responded, beginning to pant now.

"He wanted to do you. I could see it clearly, Hermione. He wanted to do something only I can do," he said, his voice raw.

"Severus, I'm bound to you. No one else can have me but you," Hermione said, "You don't have to be jealous."

"But I am jealous," Severus said.

Then he kissed her hungrily, his tongue encircling hers and drawing it into his own mouth as his hands continued to fondle her body. He felt her beginning to shake. Hermione pulled away from his mouth. He was overpowering her. Severus continued to pressure her.

"I need you, Hermione. I want the memory of Draco touching you wiped from your body," he said. "My body."

"It didn't mean anything Severus. His touch disgusted me. I don't feel anything for Draco," she whispered, her voice quavering as she felt wetness rolling down and soaking her knickers.

"It meant something to me. I need to re-establish my territory. He infringed on it. On you. Let me have you, witch. It will be fast but good. I can smell you. You're wet for me. It won't hurt as much as you think it will," he hissed, "I need you, Hermione. Don't deny me."

"Severus," Hermione gasped as he pressed into her again, his erection hard against her pelvis. Her shoes made her taller, and the dark wizard was taking advantage of it.

"Don't deny me," he commanded, moving against her sensually, trying to make her break. She was almost there, beginning to move against him helplessly as fire shot through her body. The witch let out a sob of surrender. She couldn't fight him…not when he was like this.

"Yes," Severus said, spinning the witch to face the wall and pulling her gown up, gathering it at her waist.

He could smell her arousal strongly as he lowered her blue knickers. Severus quickly cast a silencing spell around them, and unbuttoned his robes, one hand caressing the back of the gasping witch as he did so. He quickly unfastened his pants and pulled his swollen member out. He bent his knees and slid into Hermione's warmth, groaning. Then he started to take her wildly, pistoning into the shrieking witch hard, deep and fast, holding on to her breasts as he pounded into her, reclaiming her body as he reassured himself all her sweetness was for him and him alone. He released her breasts and straightened, watching his glistening organ slip in and out of her body, growling the entire time. Then he began to talk to her, punctuating his words with deep hard strokes.

"You belong to me. /thrust/ Me alone. /thrust/ You understand that? /thrust, thrust, thrust/ Answer me! /thrust, thrust, thrust, thrust/

"Yes!" Hermione cried out brokenly.

Then the Potions Master really tore into her, wrapping his arms around her waist, driving into her until she climaxed with a scream, her flow gushing around him, hot and thick, coating him with her essence as he hunched into her as hard as he could, then exploded himself, groaning loudly as the bliss of release raced through his shaft, shooting his load into the witch powerfully, his arms like a vise around her body, almost crushing her.

The Potions Master rested his forehead against the back of her head, panting as he recovered. He felt all right again, the image of Hermione in Draco's arms driven from him with his release into the shuddering witch. He withdrew from her and scourgified himself, then her, pulling her knickers back up and lowering her gown again. He smoothed the wrinkles with a quick steaming spell. Then he attended himself.

The Potions Master turned the witch around and looked at her. Hermione's lipstick was smeared from his ardent kiss, and she looked like she had just been shagged, her amber eyes heavily-lidded. He liked the look.

"Your lipstick is smeared," he said to her gently, pulling a handkerchief from his pocket and gently wiping her mouth with it.

Hermione just panted up at him. He was going to have to give her a minute or two to recover.

"Severus, you are horrible," she gasped at him.

The wizard cocked his head at her.

"Horrible? I was horrible? Maybe I should try again," he purred, pressing against her.

"No, no. I don't mean that kind of horrible. You are so seductive. You don't give a witch a chance," she breathed.

"You need no chances, Hermione. You're with me. Getting reamed is a sure thing," he replied silkily. Her breathing was getting back to normal. He pulled her from the wall.

"Come on. We need to get back before your friends notice us missing," he said, tucking his arm in hers and leading her back to the reunion.

Hermione looked up at him, wondering if he would always be this possessive. But his possessiveness was good, wasn't it? It showed he had strong emotions concerning her. He had told Draco she was his witch. And he told her the same thing as he took her, made her acknowledge his claim on her. It seemed he was coming around.

And that was definitely a good thing.

---

The couple slipped back into the Great Hall and found their table occupied. Severus scouted the hall and located an empty table on the other side of the room.

He took Hermione over to it, seated her, arched an eyebrow and said silkily, "I am going to get you a pumpkin juice. After our little workout, I'm sure you must be thirsty."

Hermione was parched.

"Thank you," she said as Severus glided off.

Suddenly Hermione found a tube of lipstick thrust in front of her face. She looked up into the brown, knowing eyes of Ginny Weasley.

"You need a touch up," the redheaded witch grinned at her. "I believe it's close to the shade you were wearing."

The witch offered Hermione a compact as well. Hermione thanked her and quickly applied the lipstick.

Ginny looked at her appraisingly.

"Well, that takes care of your lips, but not the rest of you. You look thoroughly shagged," Ginny said, smirking. "I saw the Professor drag you out of here after you danced with Draco. He looked pretty intense. Not hard to tell something is going on between you two. Especially looking at you now."

Hermione blushed furiously.

Ginny grinned evilly.

"I might have followed you two to watch the action if it wasn't for Pansy trying to kill Draco. I bet you and Snape are exciting, but somebody almost getting snuffed in the middle of the reunion is a one-time occurrence," she said, her brown eyes full of mirth.

"Ginny!" Hermione gasped at her for even suggesting she'd watch her and Severus shag.

"What? I like to watch sometimes. Snape is hot. He always has been. I bet he's awesome," she said whispering. Then she saw the dark wizard gliding back with a tall glass of pumpkin juice and a firewhiskey.

"Whoops, here comes tall, dark and randy now. Got to go. See you, Hermione," she said, plucking the lipstick and compact out of Hermione's hands and beating a hasty retreat.

Severus returned to the table, set the pumpkin juice in front of Hermione and looked off into the crowd.

"Was that Miss Weasley I saw scurrying away like a rabbit?" he asked Hermione.

Hermione nodded.

"Yes. She noticed I needed some lipstick," Hermione said blushing as the dark wizard sat down and studied her. Her mouth was made up again.

"By the way you're blushing, I take it that's not all she noticed," he purred.

"Ginny doesn't miss much," Hermione replied.

Severus leveled his eyes at her. The witch still looked flushed from her wild ride.

"She didn't have to look hard. You're definitely sex-tousled," he said in a low voice. "Personally I like the look."

"You would," Hermione snorted.

Severus smirked at her. He certainly did like her sex-tousled look, particularly since he was the sex-tousler. Then he abruptly changed the subject.

"Mr. Malfoy apparently had a close call," he said diffidently, "It seems Pansy Parkinson wanted to remove him from the land of the living. Something about being a woman scorned. She tried to cast the Killing Curse on him as he ate some chicken wings."

"What stopped her?" Hermione asked curiously.

"Mr. Malfoy did. He snatched the wand out of her hand before she completed the curse," Severus replied, "He was quite fortunate. Most people freeze up when they hear the curse being cast."

Hermione snorted.

"Not Draco. He is very into self-promotion and self-preservation. The consummate Slytherin," she said.

Severus arched an eyebrow at her, then took a sip of his firewhiskey.

"In this case, Mr. Malfoy's Slytherin characteristics saved his ass," he responded.

Hermione was about to respond when Ron walked up to their table. He looked at her, then at Severus, who scowled at him.

"Hi Hermione, Professor," Ron said, his hands shoved into his robes pocket.

"What do you want, Ron?" Hermione asked, still mad.

The wizard kicked at the floor a little before answering her.

"I just wanted to tell you I'm sorry for blowing up at you," he said sincerely. He glanced at Severus, whose black eyes were fixed on him. Then he looked back at Hermione, "Though you can understand it came as a bit of a shock. But you're a grown witch now Hermione, and you don't need protecting anymore. You can make your own decisions, and if this is what you want and like, then I have to accept it. I'm really sorry for the things I said to you. Forgive me?"

Hermione looked at Ron. It usually took him forever to realize he was wrong about something. He must really be sorry to come to her and apologize in front of Severus. She looked at the red-haired wizard. He had a pleading look on his face. Hermione stood up.

"Of course I forgive you, Ron, but really, you need to learn to get a handle on that mouth of yours," she said, hugging him.

"More like a muzzle," Severus interjected. Hermione scowled at him.

"Thanks Hermione," Ron said, a relieved look on his face.

He really didn't want to lose her friendship. She'd need all the friends she could get when Snape turned on her like a rabid hippogriff and broke her heart.

"Listen, I'm getting ready to go. Harry and I have an early day tomorrow," Ron said, "So I'll see you Hermione."

The wizard looked at Severus.

"Treat her good, Professor," he said to the dark wizard, his eyes clouding a bit in warning. He'd hex Snape into bits if he hurt her.

"I will treat her as I see fit, Mr. Weasley," Severus snarked at the wizard, "Don't attempt to intimidate me with thinly veiled threats. If she needs protecting, I will be protecting her…since I am the 'closest' male in her life now. And I do mean closest. Now go catch some crooks or something, Mr. Weasley. Your welcome here is quite worn out."

Talk about rubbing salt into the wound.

Ron colored and he clenched his fists and stalked away from the table.

Hermione turned on the Potions Master.

"You didn't have to talk to him like that Severus," she said angrily. "He came to apologize."

Severus looked at her coolly.

"He came to apologize to you, Hermione, but he came to try and intimidate me. You may not be able to smell the testosterone, but I assure you, I can. He still feels a responsibility toward you, a responsibility that is mine now," he said in a low voice.

"Of course he feels responsible for me, Severus. He's my friend, he worries about me. He's worried you're going to hurt me," Hermione said, scowling at him a little.

Severus didn't really have friends, so he didn't know how much was invested in another when you cared about them.

"If I hurt you, Hermione, it will be while I'm in the throes of passion, and you've already proven yourself quite capable of handling that kind of ache," he said, his eyes heating up.

"Not that kind of hurt, Severus. He's worried you're going to break my heart when you abandon me," Hermione said shortly.

"I have no plans on abandoning you, so he needn't worry, nor should you," Severus said, scowling. "I am quite satisfied with you, in and out of my bedroom."

Hermione looked at the Potions Master. It was the first time he implied that she mattered to him beyond sex. She smiled at him.

Severus looked at the smiling witch, and felt rather good about himself that he had said something to make her happy. He found he liked to see her happy almost as much as he liked her snarky and on the warpath.

The Great Hall was clearing out.

"It seems the party is over," Severus said, finishing his firewhiskey and looking at Hermione, "May I escort you to your rooms?"

Hermione looked around. Harry, Ron and Ginny were gone.

"Yes, I think I'm ready for bed now," she said.

Severus arched a lusty eyebrow at her.

"My bed," she amended taking his hand as he helped her from her seat.

Severus tucked her arm in his and together they exited the Great Hall. This was something new as well. Normally they walked side by side, but not arm in arm. Maybe he felt since he was escorting her from a function, it was acceptable to take her arm publicly.

Departing guests looked at them for a moment, the tall pale Potions Master arm in arm with the Intern, but didn't overreact. No one seemed to find them untoward.

Severus walked with his eyes straight ahead, though he was busily calculating. If he seduced the witch to his rooms tonight then he would have to set the date of his revenge back to give her body time to recover. He sighed. He'd have to let her go to her own rooms.

They stopped in front of Hermione's rooms. The Potions Master released her and looked down at the witch. She still looked absolutely edible. His nostrils flared.

"Thank you for walking me to my rooms, Severus," Hermione said softly as she unlocked her door, hoping to make it in before the Potions Master made a move on her. She really was sore.

"How could I do any less?" Severus said smoothly, "May I come in for a moment?"

Hermione hesitated. They had never had sex in her rooms before, and she wasn't up for another round with him.

Before she said no, the Potions Master said, "I don't want to have sex with you, Hermione, don't worry."

She looked up at him suspiciously. He gave her his most innocent look. It was still rather wolfish, but he did his best.

"All right, Severus. Ten minutes tops," she said opening the door and walking in, the Potions Master close behind her.

"Ten minutes is all I need," he purred.

He shut the door, warded it and immediately gave her a predatory look.

"Severus! You lied to me!" Hermione accused, backing up as he advanced on her.

"I did not lie, Hermione. I have no intentions of shagging you," he said, grabbing her by her shoulders and pushing her into the armchair. "In fact, what I have in mind you may find quite soothing."

Hermione watched as he knelt on the floor and started hiking up her gown.

"Severus," she protested.

"Shhhh," he replied, pushing the gown up under her buttocks. He looked at her knickers. They were damp again. He licked his lips. His black eyes leveled at her.

"Remember how I told you that you looked absolutely edible tonight? Well, I have a taste for you," he said, hooking his fingers into her knickers and pulling them down.

"Consider yourself my late night snack."

Hermione gasped as Severus removed her knickers and pushed her thighs upward, opening her core to him. He fell on her pussy, licking, nibbling and sucking as Hermione squealed in pleasure. He was right. It felt good, but was soothing too. Gods he was magnificent with his tongue.

Severus flicked his tongue over the witch's nub several times, loving her squeals and struggles as he held her in place. She was so responsive, so easy to take to the edge, and she was delicious as she looked. He made small, appreciative noises as he drank her in, then gently thrust his tongue inside her, soothing the sting she felt.

"Severuuuuus," the witch sighed, her hands locked in his hair, pulling lightly as he took his fill.

They were fast approaching the ten minute mark, so the Potions Master stepped up his attentions, his mouth working magic on the witch, who's voice took on the timbre of approaching orgasm. Severus nibbled her luscious flesh, taking her over and Hermione shrieked, coming powerfully. Severus drank her in like wine, consuming every bit of her nectar until he was satisfied. He wanted her dreaming of him tonight.

When the witch ceased pulsing, Severus drew back and studied her. She was flushed and panting, her hair falling out of the combs from being rubbed against the back of the armchair when she struggled. She looked very shaggable, but he restrained himself and rose. He licked his lips as he looked down at her.

"The perfect nightcap," he purred, leaning down and kissing her, passing her own taste as he did so. Then he straightened.

"Good night, Hermione. I'll show myself out," he said, striding to the door and looking back at her once then exiting, locking and closing the door behind him.

Still panting, Hermione stared at the door.

"Damn," she whispered, "What a wizard."

---

The next day Hermione spent the morning assisting Professor McGonagall, and most of the afternoon in Professor Flitwick's Charms office, sorting files for the diminutive teacher. She didn't have an assignment with Severus' class at all. As she was sorting through the horribly ill-kept files, she found one encased in a black folder marked "Private". Of course she snooped.

"Hm, the 'Angel Love' charm," she mused.

Unlike the other spells, this one had no instructions on how to cast it. Hermione was curious so put it aside to ask the Professor about it when he finished class.

An hour later Professor Flitwick walked into the office, twirling his mustache. He smiled at Hermione.

"So, did you get much sorting done?" the tiny wizard asked.

"Yes sir. But these files were atrocious. How did you ever find anything?" Hermione responded.

"Well, since I was the one who filed them, I knew where most of the files I needed were. There are some I use quite frequently, so it wasn't a problem. Now I will have to train myself to look for them in the places they actually belong," Flitwick said, his brow furrowed.

Hermione picked up the black folder. The Professor immediately turned red as a beet.

"Where did you find that?" he asked her, his little chest heaving.

"In the file cabinet. I was hoping you could tell me what the charm does," she said, opening the file.

Filius blustered a bit.

"Well, it's not the kind of thing I normally discuss in mixed company," he said hesitatingly, "You see…it's a sex charm."

"Really?" Hermione said, interested. "What does it do?"

The Professor cleared his throat. He was highly embarrassed to be discussing such a spell with a beautiful young witch…although it was a tad titillating.

"It…it makes sex heavenly," he said shortly.

Hermione's eyebrows rose.

"Heavenly?" she asked him, "What do you mean by 'heavenly'?"

"It makes the act of sex almost unbearably good for the person who is the user's partner. If you were to use this charm, it would make your partner have a heavenly sexual experience. It is almost the opposite of Deatheater rape magic, that causes the victim unbearable pain. It's been used to treat women who were traumatized by Deatheater rape to restore them to normalcy. I keep it locked away because it can be quite addictive," Flitwick said.

Hermione processed this. A spell that made sex for your partner heavenly. Severus seemed as if he was already in heaven any time he possessed her. She wondered how the Potions Master would react to her under this charm.

"Will you show me how to cast it, Professor?" Hermione asked the wizard, who looked absolutely shocked. He had believed Hermione was as pure as rain.

"Whatever for, Hermione?" he asked her.

"Um…well I know someone who might like to try it," she said evasively.

Flitwick raised one bushy eyebrow at her. Well, she was an adult witch, albeit a young one.

"Very well," he said, taking out his wand. The incantation is "Angelo Amante."

"That doesn't sound like Latin, Professor," Hermione said, frowning slightly, "It sounds like the name of a gigolo."

"It's Italian," he replied, "Not all incantations are in Latin, you know."

Hermione nodded, then repeated the incantation a few times to cement it in her mind.

"Now, the wand movements are as follows," Flitwick said, performing several movements slowly.

Hermione followed him move for move, then grabbed a quill and parchment and made a diagram of the motions.

"Thank you, Professor," she beamed at him. She had a use for this spell.

"You're welcome, Hermione. But use it sparingly. If the Angel Love spell is used too often, it ruins the act of intercourse," he warned.

"Yes sir, I'll be sure to tell my friend," Hermione said, exiting the Charms office.

"Hmph, friend indeed. The witch must think I was born yesterday," Flitwick muttered, pushing a chair over to the file cabinet and inspecting what Hermione had done. All the charms were perfectly alphabetized. The Professor groaned.

"It's going to take me weeks to get used to this system," he said, scowling.

---

Hermione spent about an hour with Severus that evening, discussing an article in Potions Weekly rather heatedly. She barely made it out of his rooms unscathed. The Potions Master wanted a kiss before she left, and of course made it searing enough to want to take her despite his plans for the following day. Hermione escaped after a few well-placed gropes and rather intimate fondling that left her breathless. But she was quite heated when she climbed into bed that night, and was looking forward to Severus' fantasy. She had been a baaaad witch.

Hermione decided she would save the Angel Love spell for another time or a special occasion. She was sure Severus would enjoy his fantasy just as well without it. A pool of heat gathered in her belly at the thought of being tied up by the sexy wizard. What would he do? Well, she knew what he'd do, but still…it was exciting and arousing to think of. She was glad that others thought the Potions Master was a cold, unfeeling man, particularly other women. If they had any idea how good a lover he was, Hermione was sure she'd have to throw some hexes.

But then again, Severus never seemed interested in any women other than her, no matter how much more beautiful or curvaceous they were. He didn't give them a first look, much less a second. But then again, this was how he had been ever since she knew him. His demeanor concerning the outside world hadn't changed at all, despite the changes in his private life. He was as disciplined, sarcastic and snarky as ever when dealing with others. Hermione was the only one who saw and experienced his passionate side, his raw hunger, his dark, powerful sexuality. She was sure the Potions Master was the focus of a few young witches' fantasies…but he wouldn't engage them, just like he wouldn't engage her when he knew of her attraction to him her entire sixth and seventh year.

"I have no plans on abandoning you…" he had told her.

Was that a veiled admission of commitment to her? She'd like to think it was. And he was certainly acting more affectionate. His wanting to kiss her more often was something new…but he usually tried to make the kisses lead to more intimate acts, so she only kissed him when she was leaving and halfway out the door to boot. He was too seductive to trust. But she was noticing changes in him…good changes. Changes that made her heart hopeful that his affection for her might change to love.

Hermione fell asleep with this thought, and her dreams were full of nothing but Severus.

---

Severus really had to focus in Potions class the following morning. Hermione was assisting him, and all he could think of was him riding the shit out of her. So he scowled almost the entire class. Especially when he looked at her.

Hermione was quite conscious of his constant glaring. What the hell was wrong with him? Was he getting into character for tonight? He yelled at her several times during the course of the class for the stupidest reasons. She was examining a Zubernut root, and he nearly bit her head off, telling her to put it away. He also quite vocally stopped her from assisting needy students several times. By the time class was over, Hermione was scowling at the Potions Master as hard as he was scowling at her. She hurried out to avoid talking to him. It was just as well. He would have started in on how he couldn't wait to get his hands on her and probably would have mauled her.

Lunch was the same way. Severus seemed to be in a horrible mood, his black eyes glinting at her every time she looked at him. The Potions Master wasn't used to being so distracted, and it was making him uncomfortable. He took pride in his ability to focus, pushing all other stimuli out of his mind. But yet, the little witch was wreaking havoc with his concentration, just by being present. This was another issue he would take her to task for, though she was innocent of any complicity. Hermione wasn't purposely trying to distract him when she bent over, or licked her lips or got a faraway look in her amber eyes. She was just being herself. And it was turning him on.

This morning in class, she was handling a Zubernut, a large cucumber-shaped root with a fluted head used in various potions, and Severus got a raging erection. He had to sit down at his desk for ten minutes before it went down. He yelled at her to put the root away, startling her and making her fumble about with it which made his erection even worse as her small hands clutched at and gripped the very phallic root.

And it seemed every time he lifted his eyes, her bottom was up in the air as she bent to assist some student. Of course her robes covered it, but the Professor had seen it enough to imagine it vividly with him slapping his loins against it. Then she yawned and stretched, her full breasts pushing against her robes. The Professor was in hell until class ended. Hermione seemed furious with him, but she had no idea what she was putting him through.

Finally the end of the day came and Severus was free to set up his bedroom for the night. He originally was going to use ropes to hold Hermione immobile, but while leafing through one of his historical tomes the night before he saw something much, much better. Entering his bedroom he looked around then transformed his wooden chair into an exact duplicate of the object. The Potions Master walked around it appraisingly and decided that in its basic form it was too disconcerting, so he added some color and soft, crinkled velvet. He walked to the front and with a flick of his wand, attached a little sign that read: "I've Been A Naughty, Naughty Witch."

"Indeed you have, Hermione. A very naughty witch indeed," the Potions Master breathed. He adjusted the object so it faced the bedroom door and would be the first thing Hermione saw when she entered the bedroom. He would quickly ward the door behind her in case she got cold feet. She wouldn't get away from him. Tonight was the night.

He saw Hermione at supper. She was still mad at him and had half a mind not to go to him tonight. He had treated her horribly this morning in class, yelling at her constantly. She scowled at him openly as she ate her fish and chips. Severus even thought her chewing was arousing. The Potions Master had it bad, but knew she was angry with him. He had to explain why he had been so snarky towards her if he wanted to be certain Hermione would come to him tonight. He watched her carefully, eating his own meal at a pace that matched hers, so he was finished when she was. When she exited the Great Hall, he rose and followed her out.

Hermione was aware he had finished his food, and would probably follow her, so when she exited the Hall, she ran to put some distance between them. So when Severus opened the staff door, Hermione was already in the Main Hall. The Potions Master scowled. Where was the little minx? How did she disappear so fast?

He put on his best stride and headed for the Main Hall quickly. He caught a glimpse of her darting into the dungeon corridor. She was trying to make it to her rooms before he could talk to her. Severus' eyes narrowed. He could still apparate within Hogwarts. There were a few students about so he walked to the beginning of the dungeon hallway, disillusioned himself, put a silencing charm around him and apparated down the dungeon corridor, reappearing before Hermione's rooms silently. He removed the silencing charm and the disillusionment, and leaned back against her door, checking his nails and waiting for the witch.

Hermione was walking as fast as she could, looking behind her to see if Severus was catching up to her. If he wanted her to come tonight, he'd have to come to her rooms and apologize for his treatment of her in his class. She was almost at her rooms when she saw him, leaning against her door and waiting for her. How did he do that?

"You were in quite a hurry, Hermione," Severus said as the witch walked up to him, amazement on her face.

"How did you get here before me? I left you in the Great Hall," she said, frowning.

"I have my ways. It seemed you were purposely avoiding me, Hermione…you wouldn't do that, would you? Especially tonight," he asked her, his black eyes looking at her heatedly.

"I certainly was avoiding you, Severus. You treated me horribly today in front of the class. It was like you reverted to your old self. I'm thinking about just staying in my rooms tonight," she said, starting to open her door.

Severus frowned down at her.

"You will do no such thing. I've been waiting to do this," he seethed at her.

"Well, you'll just have to wait a bit longer then," she retorted.

Severus grabbed her by the arm, but not too roughly. He just meant to restrain her from entering her rooms before he could talk to her. But he was angry.

"Do you want me to stun you and throw you over my shoulder? I'll damn well do it. I ache for you, witch," he hissed. "At least allow me to explain my actions before you try to cut me off."

Hermione folded her arms and looked up at him.

"Explain then," she said.

Severus told her about the Zubernut Root's effect on him, as well as her constantly bending over, and how everything she did made him think of sex and broke his concentration and he just couldn't take it. She had tortured him with her presence the whole day. Hermione laughed.

"So you were mean to me because you were randy?" she asked him, smiling.

Severus did not find this a bit funny. He had been thrown completely off his game because of the witch.

"Extremely randy," he said soberly. He had an erection right now that wouldn't quit.

"Why didn't you just tell me?" she asked him, still grinning at his discomfort.

"What good would that have done? A quickie would never have sufficed," he replied.

"I didn't have time for a quickie anyway," Hermione said.

Severus looked at her. With him, there was always time for a quickie. But that wasn't the issue now.

"I have my bedroom all set up for you," he said in a low voice, "You could come over right now, and we could get started."

Hermione's stomach flipped at the sudden hunger in the Potions Master's face. She swallowed.

"I'll be over in a little while," she responded. "I want to shower first. It's been a long day."

"How little?" Severus pressed. He wanted her right now.

"When I'm finished, Severus. Why do you always pressure me? You are so wolfish," she said, frowning at him.

Severus let out a low, rather lusty imitation of a wolf howl.

"Because I'm always on the prowl for pussy," he responded, smirking at her. "Specifically yours. That's worth a little pressure, don't you think?"

Hermione let out a sigh. He was incorrigible.

"I'll be there as soon as I can," she said, knowing it wouldn't be very soon. She wanted to take a soak in a warm bath.

"Very well, I will be waiting. Give me a kiss to tide me over," he said, leaning in toward her.

Students were coming down the corridor.

"Students are coming, Severus," she said.

"I don't care, he responded, swinging in an planting a slow, lingering kiss on her lips.

It was nothing compared to the way he would have kissed her if they had been alone in the corridor, but it still startled Hermione. He had kissed her publicly.

The Slytherin students stopped in their tracks, shocked and amazed they had witnessed their Head of House kissing the witch. They stood there open-mouthed. Severus turned to them.

"What are you all gaping at? Haven't you seen a kiss before? Now off to your house before I start taking points," he snarled at them.

The Slytherin students scurried by quickly, not saying a word, but looking back as they passed. No doubt there would be a great amount of discussion about this in Slytherin house tonight. The Professor kissing someone? Anyone? Wow.

Severus turned back to Hermione, who was staring at him in disbelief.

"You kissed me in front of your students," she whispered.

"So I did," he responded, his dark eyes softening.

"But why?" she asked him.

"Because I will not have my actions controlled by outside influences," he replied, "if I feel like kissing you, then I will kiss you. I will not let a ragtag group of students or anyone else dictate what I can and cannot do with you."

"But they'll talk," Hermione protested.

Severus stared at her a moment.

"Let them. Worse has been said about me than I'm snogging you in the dungeon corridors," he said, "Now go get ready. I can't wait much longer."

The Potions Master turned and walked to his office door and let himself in, disappearing in a billow of robes.

Hermione stared after him.

What the hell was going on?

---

Severus checked the two bottles of potent wine he had sitting in a large bowl of never-ending ice. He decided to take his time with Hermione, and get her 'loosened up' in a manner of speaking. The witch would need all the loosening she could get.

The Potions Master was dressed in black silk pajamas and slippers, his hair tied back in a ponytail. His shirt was open, revealing his pale, muscular chest. A small wizarding wireless radio set to a classical station played quietly in the background and a few appetizers rested on a silver platter on the small table between the armchairs before the fireplace, next to the wine.

Severus figured they would sit in front of the fire and enjoy a couple of glasses of the libations he provided. Two glasses should get Hermione good and blasted, then he could get her to take the potion she needed to enable him to proceed without asking too many questions. Yes, he knew it was rather underhanded to get the witch inebriated, but hell, she'd be fine. It wasn't as if he was taking unfair advantage of her after all. She had already agreed to participate. His pajama bottoms tented slightly.

Severus looked at the clock and scowled. An hour and a half had passed. Was the witch intentionally making him wait? A low growl issued from him as he thought how he'd end up showing his displeasure. He had a number of acts he wanted to perform on the witch while she was restrained. The idea of having Hermione completely helpless and at his mercy had him wound up like a coil. He was ready to spring.

The Potions Master started pacing.

From the rafters Raucous watched his master, intrigued by his odd dress and behavior. The raven had peered into his mind and saw what he had planned for Hermione. It was quite noisy and looked quite painful, at least initially for the witch. The raven approved. He wouldn't disrupt his master's plan.

There was a knock on the Potions office door. Severus already had the study wall up and strode through it. He paused a moment before opening the door. He didn't want his displeasure at her lateness to show. He opened the door. Hermione stood there, in her silk white night robe, hair brushed and falling gently over her shoulders and smelling of jasmine.

"Come in," Severus said gesturing to the witch.

Hermione entered and looked him over.

"You look very nice, Severus. I've never seen you in pajamas before." Her eyes drifted to his lean, muscular chest, "They suit you."

"Why thank you," he said, taking her by the arm and escorting her into the study. He lowered the wall behind them and warded it. Then he walked her over to the armchairs. She looked at the wine and food. Music played softly.

"What is all this?" she asked him.

Severus gestured toward the armchair and she sat down.

"This," he said, taking a bottle of wine from the bowl and artfully opening it, letting it breathe, "is our time to relax a bit. I thought it might be nice to indulge in a couple of glasses of wine before we begin. You aren't opposed to that are you?"

"Why no. I think it's a lovely idea," Hermione said, smiling at him.

Normally when she arrived it was straight to the bedroom and down to business. She thought it was wonderful he wanted to spend some quality time beforehand. The Potions Master poured her a large glass of wine, then one for himself. Hermione tasted it.

"Mmm. Delicious. Fruity," she said appreciatively, taking another sip. A rather large one.

"Yes. It has quite a little punch as well," he said, sitting in the armchair next to her, his black eyes resting on her body for a moment before he looked up at her.

"Really?" Hermione asked. "It seems so smooth."

"It's much like I am, Hermione," Severus replied, "I am also smooth, but pack quite a punch."

His eyes glittered at her.

"Well, it doesn't taste that strong to me," she said stubbornly, taking another sip.

Two glasses of wine later, Hermione was up, swaying to the classical music, Severus watching her body dip and twist quietly. She was certainly loosened up. Severus decided to see what she had to say about hexing him that morning.

"Hermione, do you remember the last hex you cast on me?" he asked her.

Hermione stopped dancing and looked at him soberly a moment, then burst out laughing.

"I sure do. It was hilarious," she laughed.

"Really?" Severus said, a brow lifted.

"One for the books. You hanging upside down, your hair and everything else dangling…oh gods," she held her stomach. "I only wish I could have seen you drop into the chair on your head."

Severus fought back a frown. So, she thought it had been funny did she?

"I bet you fell right on your ass," she guffawed.

"Something like that," he said quietly.

Hermione fell into the chair, throwing her legs up laughing.

"The dignified Severus Snape, falling on his ass. Too funny. Almost as funny as when I booby-trapped your chair to collapse in Potions class," she giggled.

Now she was bringing up old atrocities. Keep talking witch. Juuust keep talking.

And Hermione did. She laughed about every trick and hex she had thrown his way. And the Potions Master quietly listened to each and every snicker, guffaw and giggle. He didn't say anything as Hermione laughed herself to tears.

"It's funny now, isn't it?" she gasped at him.

He leveled his eyes at her. They had a dark fire in them. If she had been sober, she might have felt a little twinge of fear at the way they smoldered at her.

"Hilarious," he responded, his expression bland.

Severus was sober. He hadn't finished his first glass of wine but nursed it.

Hermione looked at him.

"Severus, you have the most beautiful dark eyes I've ever seen," she said, "They're so intense…especially when you're…you know…"

"Fucking you?" he said helpfully.

"Yes," she sighed.

Severus studied her. Yes, she was ready now…or she thought she was.

"Wait here," he said darkly. He rose and walked into his bedroom. He came back with a bottle.

"Drink this," he said, holding it out to her.

"What is it?" she asked him.

"It's for the fantasy," he said shortly.

Hermione smiled.

"Oh, if it's for that, it must be all right," she said, uncorking the bottle and drinking it down.

Severus smirked. Hermione had to be pretty ripped. She'd never just consume a potion without finding out the name of it and what it was supposed to do. She handed him the bottle back. Suddenly she started writhing around.

"Ooh! Ooh!" she cried, "It tickles."

"Yes, it does," Severus agreed, watching her movements with satisfaction.

Finally Hermione stilled.

"Wow, that felt kind of good," she said, giving the Potions Master a sexy grin.

Severus smirked at her. He knew something that was going to feel a whole lot better. He had a bottle of sober up potion in the bedroom, a very special brew he had developed. It cleared a person's head but allowed him or her to remember everything that was said while inebriated. He would administer it to the witch after he had her secured. Then the fun would begin. She would be horrified she had laughed about the things she had done to him. Of course, secretly she did find them funny, but she would have never told him that because he was so vengeful. By dredging up the old atrocities, she had in effect, renewed them…so Severus added those back to his list of offenses.

Severus caught Hermione by the arm securely.

"Come witch, you have a fantasy to fulfill," he said, pulling her towards his bedroom.

"I can't wait," Hermione breathed.

The Potions Master looked down at her.

"Neither can I, Hermione, neither can I," he responded.

He led the witch into the room, warded the door and plucked her wand from her robe pocket. Hermione didn't notice. Her eyes were focused on the object in the center of the room. She walked closer to it and read the words on the sign.

"Severus, what is this?" she asked him, running her hand across the crinkled velvet upholstery. It was in Slytherin green.

"It is your restraint," he replied, "Quite imaginative, don't you think? You will be completely at my mercy. The original design was designed for punishment, but this one, although technically the same, is designed to keep you comfortable."

Hermione looked at it, fascinated.

It was an old-fashioned pillory that consisted of two hinged fabric covered wooden boards that had three holes through which the head and wrists were inserted. There was a latch that would lock the wood together, holding her securely. It was quite low to the floor, and a fabric covered ottoman and thick floor cushion lay behind it, presumably for her belly and knees to rest upon. It seemed Severus designed it to suit her size. The holes were lined with soft velvet.

"This is soooo kinky," she breathed.

"Indeed," Severus said moving behind her, untying her robe and slipping it from her shoulders. She was wearing her short white silk nightie. He looked at her.

"This will never do," he said, then flicked his wand at her short nightie, and it turned into a drab, gray, tattered peasant tunic whose ragged hem fell just above her knees.

"Much better," he breathed, taking her in.

Ragged though the tunic was, it managed to show off her charms anyway. She looked like a curvaceous slave girl.

"Ready to experience my fantasy?" he asked her, leaning over her and letting his breath waft across her ear.

Hermione shuddered. She was soaked between. Her masochistic side kicked into high the moment she saw the pillory.

"Yes," she said breathlessly.

Severus walked her behind the pillory and bent her over the small upholstered ottoman so it supported her. Her knees rested neatly on the cushion. The Potions Master opened the top part of the pillory and rested Hermione's neck and wrists in the velvet half-holes. The pillory was quite thin, maybe an inch and a half thick, but made of strong wood beneath the fabric. The Potions Master closed the wood, and latched it. He looked at her bent over the ottoman and growled, before walking around the front of it.

"Comfortable?" he asked her.

"Actually I am," she breathed up at him.

"Good," Severus said with a nod, walking over to the nightstand and retrieving another small bottle. He walked back over to Hermione and knelt, opening the bottle.

"I need you to drink this. It's sober-up potion," he said, tilting the bottle to her mouth and letting her drink slowly.

Hermione's head began to clear, but she was still very turned on. Severus sat down in front of her, just looking at her.

"So what are you going to do to me?" she asked him.

Severus looked at her a little while.

"Still think hexing me all those times is funny?" he asked her in a dangerous voice.

Hermione got a cold feeling in her stomach as the memory of her laughing about the hexes came back to mind. She realized that Severus had not been laughing with her. In fact, he looked quite annoyed. This wasn't good.

"Severus, those hexes were something that happened in the heat of the moment," Hermione said desperately, trying to repair the damage.

The Potions Master was a proud wizard after all, and she had laughed and gloated in his face, and now he had her restrained and helpless.

"This will also be something that happens in the heat of the moment," he replied, looking at her mouth. "A few moments ago you had a lot of laughter falling out of that mouth of yours. I think its time I put something in it."

The Potions Master rose to his knees and sidled up to her, pulling down the front of his pajamas and taking out his swollen organ. Hermione looked at it cross-eyed as he shuffled closer.

"Say ah," he said, pushing his hips forward and sliding between her lips with a growl. He caught hold of the top of the pillory and began thrusting.

"Suck me, and make it good," he growled down at Hermione as he watched and felt his thick head and shaft pump in and out of her soft, warm mouth, "You've got a lot to make up for, witch, and be assured...you will make up for it all tonight."

She couldn't help but comply.

---

Hermione was helpless before the Potions Master, who was thoroughly reaming her mouth, his eyes hard as stone.

"You don't have much to say about hexing me now," he breathed, releasing the pillory and gripping both sides of Hermione's head, pushing deeper, his mouth going slack as her mouth caressed him.

Hermione gagged and he hesitated a moment…then resumed. She couldn't take much of him in, but that wasn't the point. He had her where he wanted her and would take his pleasure fully. He gagged her again, purposely.

"You are a naughty, naughty witch," he hissed, "You know you deserve to be punished, don't you? How dare you laugh at the offenses you performed against me? Just because I sleep with you doesn't give you the right to act in such a way. But it does give me the right to do this to you. And you like it. I can see it in your eyes, Hermione. You're a twisted little piece of baggage, aren't you?"

He sped up.

Hermione was creaming herself at his browbeating and his possession of her mouth. She was twisted and she knew it, otherwise why would she be dripping at such treatment? This was the Potions Master from her fantasies, the dark wizard who would do delicious, terrible, sexy things to her behind closed doors all for his own pleasure.

"You think it funny to turn me upside down and dangle me like some type of human yoyo?" he asked her as he pistoned into her mouth faster, guiding her head around him, "By the time I'm done with you, you will think twice about hexing me in the future, no matter how pissed off I make you. You have no idea what I'm going to put your hot little body through, Hermione. I'm taking every part of you tonight."

The Potions Master threw his head back and shuddered as pleasure shot down his spine, into his balls and he exploded into the witch's mouth.

"Swallow every drop!" he hissed, tapping Hermione lightly on the back of her head with his hand as a bit of come dribbled from the side of her stretched mouth.

The witch did her best, not wanting to displease him any more than he was. His little tap caused a gush reaction. No doubt when Severus moved to her other end, he'd find the sexual equivalent of a waterfall waiting for him.

The Potions Master withdrew from her mouth. His glistening organ had some release left on it. He pushed it back toward Hermione's mouth.

"Lick me clean, witch," he breathed.

He watched Hermione's pink tongue move over his softening organ, and growled as he adjusted his position so she could clean him thoroughly. Then he ran his finger up her chin, collecting his spillage on his fingertip and inserting it into her mouth. Hermione sucked it clean.

Severus tucked his deflated organ back in his pants and sat down in front of her again.

"This is how I like you. Nice and submissive," he purred, stroking her hair.

"I'm not submissive," Hermione said to him, frowning.

Severus smirked at her, continuing to caress her hair.

"I know," he said, "That's why I like you like this. I know it rankles you on some level, even as you submit to it…even enjoy it. A beautiful conflict is reflected in your eyes. Do you want me to release you?"

Hermione looked up.

"Are you done with your fantasy?" she asked him, returning a question to a question.

"I haven't even begun to fulfill it," he replied, his dark eyes glinting at her hungrily.

"Then why are you asking me if I want to be released when you know you aren't going to release me?" she asked him a bit bitterly.

He leaned in and kissed her hand.

"It's called 'torment' my dear," he said. "Not all punishment is physical. There is an art to breaking a person down. Though I have no desire to break you permanently. Just tonight. I like your fire and your courage concerning me. But I am a Slytherin. Every act has its consequence. If you are going to engage a Slytherin, Hermione, then you will be subject to his beliefs. I am teaching you to accept the consequences of your acts, while getting my pleasure from you. Admit it. Knowing I will eventually punish you sexually for the things you do to me, deserved or not arouses you, doesn't it?"

Hermione didn't even have to consider this. It was a sort of secret shame for her, but his sexual retribution thrilled her. Every time he ed her hard and told her why as he did so, it sent tremors of pleasure through her and made her orgasms more intense and satisfying, particularly when he looked at her with satisfaction and victory in his dark eyes.

"Yes," she said.

The Potions Master's eyes darkened and he rose to his feet, walking behind her. Hermione felt her belly tighten. She could hear him opening and closing a drawer. He walked back to her, and set a jar in front of her, then walked away, behind her again. She looked at the jar.

"Severus?" she called, "What is that?"

He didn't answer her.

When Severus returned, she saw he had removed his shirt, his slippers and released his hair from the ponytail. But what drew her attention was the black leather belt in his pale hand, hanging by his side as he looked down at her. It was a muggle belt.

He slapped the belt sharply in his other hand, making Hermione jerk in reaction.

"You're a naughty, naughty witch," he breathed, "and you know what happens to naughty witches, don't you?" He slapped the belt into his palm again.

Oh gods. He was going to beat her.

Severus noted the fear in her eyes and he throbbed. Not much frightened the witch, but the idea of that leather belt falling on her flesh and the pain it would cause terrified her.

"Look at this belt, Hermione. It's a good, strong one. Quarter inch thick leather," he said, stretching it double between his hands and popping it with a large crack that made Hermione jump again. Then he ran his hand over the length of it, his eyes on her the entire time, gauging her reactions.

"This will cause quite a sting, don't you think?" he asked her, "Answer me."

"Yes," Hermione said on the verge of tears, "It looks like it will hurt very much, Severus."

He stared down at her.

"Do you want me to beat you with it?' he asked her.

"No," Hermione said, her eyes glistening, "You'll really hurt me. I don't want to be hurt, Severus. Not like that."

Severus knelt in front of her and pressed the belt to her skin. She felt the cold, suppleness of it, and quivered. But this wasn't sexual, she really was afraid. The wizard studied her.

"Not like that, eh? Is there another way you'd prefer to be hurt, Hermione? Because be assured, I am going to cause you some pain. It can't be helped. What kind of pain would you rather I give you than with this belt?" he asked her silkily.

"Your hand. I can take your hand spanking me. I don't want the belt. Your hand is more intimate, more you. I can take that…I don't want to be whipped like an animal," she whispered, tears starting to roll down her face.

"Only spanking?" he asked her softly, "Surely there are other ways you'd prefer to be hurt, Hermione."

"Shag me," she said in a low voice, "You could shag me royally this way."

Severus caressed her face gently.

"Yes, there is that," he agreed, "but the question is, would it cause you enough pain to soothe my need for vindication? You like when I ride you hard, Hermione. You're a twisted little bit."

"Yes, but it still aches inside Severus," she said, "Please don't beat me with that belt. Please."

Severus smirked at the begging witch. He had no intentions on beating her with the belt. He only wanted to frighten her and hear her beg.

"Convince me not to use the belt on you, Hermione. Ask me for mercy," he breathed, feeling himself hardening at having the witch in this condition.

"For the next ten minutes, Hermione did her best to convince him not to beat her with the belt, the Potions Master stroking her hair and her face as she did so, his black eyes focused on her. She even promised never to hex him again.

"That is no incentive. Then you would be a doormat, someone I could walk all over. I don't want that," he said coldly, "I like you volatile, dangerous, someone to reckon with."

She amended it to say she would never gloat about hexing him ever again. After this, she wouldn't.

Severus was rock hard now. Her begging had met that dark need to subjugate her quite satisfactorily. He could feel his power over the witch, and knew she could feel it as well. It was time to take Hermione and establish who was in charge in a very physical way. He rose without a word. Hermione didn't know if she convinced him. He still had the belt in his hand.

Severus walked behind her, staring down at the tattered dress that draped her buttocks. He took a deep breath at her helplessness. He let the strap drop and slide across her back, and the witch quivered, still frightened and unsure. He did it again letting it drape across her buttocks this time. She wriggled a bit.

"Still worried, aren't you?" Sever asked her as he removed his pajama bottoms.

"Yes," Hermione replied, "Please Severus, don't hurt me."

Oh gods, that shot right to his loins.

The Potions Master was completely naked now, his lean, pale body tense with lust as he looked down at the witch's restrained body.

Hermione's eyes rolled wildly as she waited for the wizard to give some kind of sign as to what he was going to do to her next. She flexed in the pillory. Severus watched her struggle then knelt behind her, and ran his hand over her back before slipping his fingers under the dress, sliding them between her labia. She was slick and dripping. He hissed as the witch gasped.

"My, my, Hermione. It seems begging turns you on too," he breathed, bringing his fingers to his mouth and licking her essence. "Ooh, it makes you sweeter, too. I'll have to remember that."

He returned his fingers to her pussy and began to rub, listening to her groan and moans as he mercilessly stimulated her, pinching and mashing her peak, then sliding two fingers into her. With his other hand he slowly pulled the dress up around her waist, so her round buttocks were visible. He put the belt down and ran his hand over her globes appreciatively as he continued to thrust his fingers inside her, manipulating her hard peak with his thumb, listening to her voice shoot up an octave.

"Gods," Hermione gasped. It was so erotic being restrained while Severus played in her pussy. She was still afraid he would beat her, but his touch still drove her wild with pleasure and need. He picked the belt back up, holding it in the middle so only a few inches of strap showed. Suddenly he brought the belt down on her bottom. She jerked and cried out sharply. He hadn't hit her too hard with it, just enough to sting a bit. His hand would have elicited the same response. He felt her gush over his hand.

"I thought you didn't want me to beat you," Severus said to her, bringing the belt down on her other buttock, still thrusting his long digits inside her. "Your sweet little twat says otherwise."

Hermione sobbed. Gods she was so turned on. She didn't want him to whip her with the belt, but this…Merlin…she could take this.

Severus began to beat her with the strap, alternating it side to side, reddening her milky globes as he brought the stinging leather down over and over while teasing and thrilling her core with his hand. The Potions Master caught the quavering note that signaled an approaching orgasm for the witch and increased his ministrations.

"You like this, don't you?" he growled, his nostrils flared as he worked the belt and his hand, which was covered in her lubrication.

The witch was writhing, and he bit his lip when she howled and climaxed, then dropped the belt, grabbed his organ and drove it deep inside her pulsing canal, hissing as she throbbed and gushed around him. He started slamming into Hermione, burying himself in her wetness with a vengeance, jerking her body against the ottoman, using it to drive himself deeper as the witch screamed. He parted her cheeks with his hands as he pummeled her, staring down at her little puckerhole hungrily, his organ swelling even larger inside of the witch at the thought of piercing that tight, untouched little bum.

The witch was lost under his pummeling, loving the feel of his hands clutching her, his huge hardness driving through her so roughly, the delicious friction of his flesh rubbing intimately against and inside hers, the sting of his slapping loins and the aching ecstasy of his powerful penetration as he claimed every inch of her. Gods, he was so good…so perfect, grunting behind her, taking all he wanted from her and giving her all she wanted in the process. She knew she was odd and twisted, but damn it, she loved being the focus of his dark desires. She loved him.

Severus' black eyes were closed in bliss as he plowed into the witch, his fingers digging into her reddened cheeks, his thickness being sucked and massaged by her tightness, her broken voice caressing his ears…and this was just the beginning. He allowed himself to be taken to the brink, then slowed, letting his body ease back from the pleasure, trembling slightly. Suddenly he pulled out of Hermione, and the witch let out a cry of protest. He stood up, his chest heaving, his pale skin shining with perspiration, his organ swollen to an immense size, throbbing for more.

He walked back around to the front of the pillory, and Hermione looked up at him, her eyes glowing with passion as he leaned down and picked up the mysterious jar. She watched him as he unscrewed the top and scooped out a large handful of a greasy substance. He looked at her as he coated his shaft with it, and her eyes widened as she realized what he was preparing to do.

"Severus!" she cried out in shock.

The Potions Master didn't say a word as he scooped out a bit more, then closed the jar and set it back on the floor, then disappeared behind the pillory.

"Oh my gods," Hermione whispered as she felt him kneel behind her, then with one hand pull her buttock and smear something cold between her cheeks.

"Severus, no!" she cried out. But it was as if he didn't hear her.

He pressed a finger into her bunghole and she writhed at the intrusion. It wasn't painful, but felt strange as he began to thrust it in and out of her, spreading the lubrication inside her. Then he put in another finger and Hermione gasped at the stretching pressure.

The Potions Master watched his fingers penetrate her, hissing a little at how tight she was around his fingers. She was going to feel exquisite.He gave her a few more thrusts then couldn't hold back any longer.

"Ready Hermione?" he asked her as he pressed his swollen head against the tiny entrance.

"No!" Hermione cried.

"I'll take that as a yes," he breathed, gripping his organ and pressing it between her cheeks, groaning in delight as her sphincter muscles clenched around his erection in a desperate attempt to expel him. Hermione cried out brokenly.

"Oh, fuck yes," Severus breathed, pressing deeper, sliding into the witch a bit more, "Oh yes…shit."

Hermione shrieked as as the Potions Master slowly pressed inside her inch by aching inch.

"You can take it, Hermione," he breathed, "Relax"

But he didn't really want her to relax…he had never felt such intense pressure as he slid his shaft into her determinedly. Gods, this was delightful.

"You have such a tight little bum," he groaned, sinking in deeper, then beginning to give her short thrusts as he tried to get every inch inside her. "Mmm…gods witch. So tight."

Hermione didn't register his praise as he stretched her over him. Tears streamed down her face as he continued his penetration unaffected by her cries. It was too good to him.

"Yes," Severus hissed as his loins came to rest against her buttocks. He had gotten his entire tool inside her. The witch had to feel as if she were impaled on a Quidditch bat.

"I've got you now, Hermione. Every part of you has been claimed by me," he said, his normally silky voice made gravelly by lust.

"Take it out, Severus!" Hermione managed to choke out.

"After working so hard to get it in? I'm afraid not, Hermione. I intend to bugger you thoroughly…my final act of vindication. Every time you are moved to hex me, I want you to remember tonight," he breathed as he began to stroke her with long, aching strokes. Hermione letting out small cries as he penetrated her, burying his entire length in and out of her. He wasn't rough, she was too new at this, but he took all he could of her tight tunnel.

"Relax," he hissed at her. "It will get good if you just let me control this. Stop fighting."

Hermione's body was clutching and squeezing his member in an effort to lock him out, but he drove through her resistance, his lower lip trapped between his teeth as he did so. This was pure bliss. He found a steady rhythm of penetration and rode her gently, wanting her to feel pleasure now. That would make the act complete. He stroked her back and coaxed her to relax. Her shrieks began to quiet, and her cries slowly turned to moans as the pain eased and she relaxed around his thrusting member.

"Yes, Hermione, that's it," he crooned, rubbing her back and buttocks, "It's starting to feel good now, isn't it, witch?"

Hermione groaned, unable to speak. Yes it was feeling good, but strange, not like when he took her the normal way. There was a growing pleasure though, not as intense as when she was being taken towards orgasm, but moving her forward anyway.

Severus watched himself dip in and out of Hermione, savoring every tight, pulsing inch of his possession of her. His chest tightened, knowing he had the witch firmly in his control …she had no more secrets from him. She belonged to him. Her surrender was complete.

"Yes…yes…yes," he kept repeating as he stroked her, as if his words were stuck and skipping, as he lost himself in pleasure.

Hermione was beginning to feel the familiar ball of need swelling in her belly as she listened to Severus whispering and hissing his delight behind her. Her voice started to rise and she called out the Potions Master's name. Severus began to stroke her faster and deeper, but fought his desire to pummel her, knowing he could do damage. He gasped as she clutched around him, grasping her waist and pulling into her, feeling himself drawing close to climax. He had to take her over before he blew.

"Come for me," he hissed, slapping her on her buttocks, the sting making the witch gasp in reaction, then reaching down and manipulating her hard little button.

Hermione cried out and buckled, her back arching over the ottoman as he drove himself into her repeatedly, slipping two fingers inside her core he mashed her sensitive button with his thumb, trying to trigger her release before his own. Hermione buckled again and began shuddering, stimulating him. Severus felt himself tightening.

"Come, damn you!" he roared, sliding deep into her and ejaculating as Hermione orgasmed, screaming her release.

Severus pulled out of her, pressing the head of his spurting member against the curve of her buttocks, hissing and groaning as his creamy release dripped between her cheeks.

"Yesssss," he sighed, draping his lean body over her back as his pulsing stopped, his chest heaving as he softened against her.

The Potions Master lay atop Hermione's trembling body for several minutes before forcing himself to his feet, unlocking the pillory and pulling her to her feet. He led her to the bed and practically threw her in, climbing in behind her and pulling the witch into him, encircling her with his arm. Hermione was silent against him.

Gods, what he had done to her.

"Naughty, naughty witch," Severus sighed, pleasure evident in his silken voice. He tightened his hold on her, completely sated. He kissed her damp temple then fell back, closing his eyes.

"Randy, randy wizard," Hermione whispered back, looking over at the pillory for a moment, then closing her eyes as the need for sleep washed over her.

Soon, the couple was asleep, both their needs satisfactorily met.

For the time being.

---

Severus didn't take Hermione again that night. Instead he kept her close, content with embraces, kisses and caresses that she found wonderful and soothing. Severus' heart was softened toward Hermione, because of what she went through for him.

The next morning the witch felt the repercussions of his 'fantasy' and the Potions Master provided her with potions and elixirs to ease her discomfort. It was a weekday, so both had to go about their daily business, reluctantly separating. He returned the pillory to its normal state of a small wooden chair and placed it back against the wall. They shared breakfast in his rooms, then Hermione returned to her own, showering and preparing for her day. The potions he gave her helped immensely, but she still felt him.

The dynamics of their sexual relationship had changed after Severus' "fantasy" was fulfilled. He did not insist on repeatedly having anal sex with her. It appeared he was satisfied to have claimed her that way once. He seemed to prefer straight sex. He also became more intimate with the witch, taking time for foreplay, delighting in extended contact with her body before sex, and what's more, her contact with him. Severus now allowed Hermione to take her pleasure of him without groaning, flipping her to her back and plunging into her as he used to do. If she felt like kissing him all over, he suffered through it. He did enjoy it, but it took time for him to tone down his 'fuck' response. He became quite a considerate lover in the weeks to come.

The weeks passed quickly, and soon it was nearing the end of Hermione's internship. All of the Professors she worked with signed off on her hours and gave her letters of recommendation to bring back to university with her.

Hermione noticed Severus had been growing more distant as the time of her departure approached, though the sex between them had taken on an almost ferocious mien, with the Potions Master claiming her as if he would never touch her again, and although he embraced her tenderly afterwards, he didn't speak much, but was sullen and silent.

Their last night together before Hermione was to return to London for the summer, and to university in the fall, the witch told Severus she wanted to do something special. They were both lying in the bed naked, Severus' arm around her. They had not yet engaged in sex, though it was obvious Severus was more than ready. He had an erection of varying degrees for the past forty-five minutes

"What is it, Hermione?" he asked her, his black eyes intense. This was his last night with Hermione, and already he felt the emptiness her absence would mean.

"I have a charm called the 'Angel Love' charm, that is supposed to make sex with me heavenly," she said.

Severus arched an eyebrow at her.

"Hermione, taking you is always heavenly," he replied, his eyes smoldering.

Hermione blushed.

"Be that as it may, Severus…this charm is supposed to make it even more so," she said, "I want to make tonight special for you. Will you let me cast it?" she asked him, reaching for her wand on the nightstand. Severus caught her hand and brought it to his mouth.

"No," he said, kissing her hand. "As interesting as it sounds, Hermione, I just want you as you. No enhancements. You are and will always be enough for me, witch."

Severus pushed her gently to her back and rolled over on top of her.

"You're leaving me tomorrow," he said quietly

"I know," she said softly, looking up at him. His expression was sober.

"I'm going to miss you, Hermione."

"I know. No more nightly visitations," she said, giving him a small smile.

He frowned at her slightly.

"Do you really think the only reason I will miss you is because you will not be in my bed?" he asked her, scowling.

Hermione didn't answer him.

"I should ride you like a bucking hippogriff for thinking such a thing," he growled down at her, tempted to do just that, but catching himself. He had improved in his treatment of Hermione over the past few months, but still was wont to show her his displeasure by riding her unmercifully.

"I've been a lonely man for many years, Hermione. But I didn't know how lonely I was until you convinced me to accept you and your love. I simply thought I preferred solitude, when the reality was I didn't want to extend my heart to anyone. I had become comfortable with my misery, and enjoyed the bed of pain I made for myself. Then here you come, an irritating little Gryffindor, catching hold of my heartstrings and pulling, yanking it into the open. And you did it so sneakily, Hermione. You didn't go for my heart directly, you started at my tool."

Here, Hermione's mouth formed an "o" at his assessment. But…it was true. She had established a sexual relationship with him first, hoping that the saying " Women give Sex for Love, and men give Love for Sex," would hold true

"A very Slytherin-like approach. Many believe that it is the heart that should be touched first, and in many cases that approach is effective, provided the heart is open to be touched. In my case, it wasn't. Obviously, my wand was," he said with a smirk as he looked down at Hermione.

"How was I to continually invest my body without investing anything else, witch? Perhaps if you had not been a virgin when you came to me, had not saved yourself expressly for me, I would have been able to remain detached, knowing other men had done to you what I have. It would have helped me to keep my low opinion of the 'fairer sex'. Perhaps if you had not taken the Oath to be faithful to me, I could have remained aloof, thinking you would find someone else to attend you after I was done with you. Perhaps if you hadn't given yourself to me without reserve, if you were frightened, prudish, afraid to go where I wanted to take you, I would easily have tossed you over as being incompatible, unable to meet my darker needs. But you've been willing to please me from the very beginning, when you had no idea what my needs would be, and have pleased me beyond any other woman I've ever known," Severus said softly, shifting his body upward and entering Hermione with a groan, watching her arch as he slid inside her.

"Severus," Hermione hissed as his length and girth filled her.

Severus kissed Hermione deeply as he began to gently possess her, slow, easy, enjoying the feel of her body wrapped around him, caressing his organ, reveling in her soft sighs of pleasure against his lips. Then he stopped his motions, embedded inside her.

"What will I do when you are gone?" he asked her.

"I'll come visit you, Severus, or you can come visit me," Hermione whispered.

"And give your university dorm mates a show as I ream you in your twin bed?" he snorted, thrusting into her for emphasis. Hermione gasped.

He stared down at her.

"Hermione, I have a house in Little Hangelton. A small, three-bedroom home with a yard and a small stream out back. It is well kept by my house elf Eli. I rarely go there since I have rooms here at Hogwarts," he said softly.

"I didn't know that, Severus," Hermione said.

"I want you to stay there during your last year of university," he said, his black eyes staring down at her. "You can save money that way. It has quite a library, and a separate study. You could have your own room. You could focus on your studies without disturbance."

"Is that the only reason you want me to stay there, Severus? To save me money?" she asked him softly, then sighing as he moved inside her gently. He was trying to persuade her to accept his offer by using sex. Devil.

"I think you know better than that, witch," he said, hitting her hard and making her cry out, before easing up. "I want you there so I can see you when I wish."

Hermione furrowed her brow.

"How much for room rental?" she asked him.

Severus gave her a series of deep hard thrusts for that question. Then he eased again, feeling her heart pounding against his chest in reaction.

"We'll work it out in trade," he whispered silkily, kissing her again, rocking her body rhythmically under him with his strokes as he tasted her thoroughly. Gods, he loved this. Summer would seem to go on forever without the witch.

Hermione pulled her mouth away from his and said breathlessly, "Let me on top, Severus."

He looked down at her a moment, then gave her a final hard thrust before withdrawing and rolling to his back. This was something else he'd learned, to give her some control. She was a sweet lover, and just a little selfish. He loved to watch her ride him and to feel it more.

He helped Hermione straddle him and gripped her waist as she held him aloft and eased herself down, sheathing it inside her warmth, rolling her hips as she did so, making both of them gasp with pleasure. She began to rise and fall on him, her hair flung around her shoulders, her amber eyes half-lidded, her mouth slack. Severus held on to her waist, occasionally caressing her breasts and playing in her hair.

"You're beautiful," he breathed at the witch, urging her to move faster, and thrusting upward.

Hermione cried out and started riding him harder, falling forward and placing her small hands on his shoulders for leverage as she worked her hips, swallowing him over and over, twisting and rolling over him, adjusting the angle with every stroke.

"Gods…sweet Merlin," he groaned as the witch rode him, taking him deeper, her movements become more frenzied as she approached orgasm. Severus reached down and rubbed her core, making her shriek with pleasure. Hermione slammed down on him, shuddering and falling forward, her body clutching at him as her climax poured over the wizard.

Severus wrapped his arms around Hermione to hold her in place and began stroking her as fast and hard as he could, driving through her orgasm, racing towards his own climax, his mouth locked to hers, pistoning into the witch wildly as she pulsated around him deliciously. He felt the tightening and tensed, then rammed into Hermione, pressing her down so she was as close to him as humanly possible, then shot into her powerfully, groaning into the witch's mouth and clutching her to him tightly as jet after jet of come filled her sweet orifice.

He rolled Hermione over, and continued kissing her, still embedded inside her as his ejaculation slowed, then stopped. He pulled his mouth away from hers and kissed her forehead tenderly, brushing back her hair.

"So, when can I move you in?" the Potions Master asked her, smirking a little.

---

Severus didn't see Hermione the entire summer. He sent owls to her parent's house in London, but the replies were quite short, and devoid of any of the endearments he was used to.

Dear Severus,

I am doing fine. I hope you are too.

Hermione

The Potions Master didn't know what to make of this. Was the witch losing her feelings for him now that they were apart? Maybe he needed to visit her at her parent's house. He wasn't sure how he would be received though. He wrote Hermione to ask if he could come see her, and when she replied she told him it wouldn't be a good idea.

So he stayed away. But when the time rolled around for her to return to university, he showed up at the school and demanded to know where her dorm was. A nervous administrative assistant looked it up and told the scowling wizard, watching him stalk off with relief.

Students who lived on campus usually arrived about a week early to get their rooms in order. Hermione was paired with a rather Goth looking young witch who was into Dark Magic. This didn't sit with her well, though she didn't say anything. Maybe she could find another dorm room. The dark witch was sitting on her bed, playing with her snake and Hermione was making up her bed when there was a knock on the door.

"Who is it?" she called.

The door was flung open and Severus stalked in. The Goth's eyes widened, then narrowed appreciatively as she took the Potions Master in. Wow, he was right up her alley. Tall, dark, pale and scowling.

Hermione's eyes widened. She was still turned toward the bed, looking over her shoulder.

"Severus!" she gasped surprised.

The Potions Master folded his arms and glared at her. She was dressed in a loose-fitting blue shirt, jeans and white trainers.

"Yes, Severus," he replied snarkily. "I've come to collect you."

The other witch nearly swooned. What a wizard.

"But…but…" Hermione tried to protest.

"No buts," Severus said stalking toward the witch, catching her arm and spinning her towards him. He looked her over, then froze as his black eyes dropped toward her belly. Beneath the shirt it was protruding slightly.

His brow furrowed as he looked up to her face. Hermione's eyes filled with tears.

"I'm…I'm sorry Severus," she cried, pulling her arm out of his hand and fleeing the room.

He stood there, stunned.

Hermione's roommate looked at him.

"Surprise," she said, grinning at him. Then her eyes narrowed.

"You know, she's going to be out of commission for a few months…if you need a back-up…" she said suggestively.

Severus' eyes raked over the witch. She wore pancake makeup, heavy mascara and liner, and wore black lipstick. Her black hair was long and lank.

"I assure you, Miss, I need no backup," he snarled at her, exiting the room after Hermione.

He strode up the hall and found the witch, sitting in the recreation room in a small chair, bent over and crying. He walked over to her and knelt.

"Hermione…stop crying," he said, placing his hand on hers.

Hermione looked up at him, tears streaming down her face.

"My…my contraceptive patch…I forgot to replace it the last week of my internship. So much was going on. I'm pregnant, Severus. I'm so sorry," she said brokenly.

Severus looked at her for a long moment. Then he stood up, took her hand and pulled her to her feet.

"Come on. We're getting your things," he said, locking his arm in hers and walking back to the dorm.

As the witches watched, Severus transformed a piece of parchment into a box, and began reducing all Hermione's things and placing them inside. When he was finished, he reduced the box itself and placed it in his pocket. He caught Hermione by her hand.

"Come witch," he said imperiously, practically dragging her out the door.

Hermione's roommate looked after them.

"How the fuck did a witch like that land a wizard like him?" she muttered. Then she walked over to the mirror and looked at herself appraisingly. "Maybe I'm trying too hard."

---

Severus took Hermione to administration and put in a change of address for her, not allowing her to say one word. He then apparated with her to Hogsmeade.

"Why are we here?" she asked him.

"Come on," he said, still scowling.

Hermione walked quietly beside him, not knowing what to think. He hadn't said one word about her being pregnant. He was scowling, but she didn't know if it was because she was pregnant or because she didn't tell him she was pregnant. She wanted to, but was afraid of his reaction. He might have thought she was trying to trap him into marriage. She wasn't. It really had been a mistake. She didn't know what to do, so didn't do anything. But she knew he would show up sooner or later. It ended up sooner.

They entered a clothing store. A clerk walked up to them.

"May I help you?" she asked, looking at the scowling wizard and the pretty, but nervous witch on his arm.

"Maternity," Severus growled at the clerk.

She quickly led the way.

Severus released Hermione and told the clerk, "She needs maternity clothing. Make sure she gets everything she needs. Price doesn't matter."

The clerk smiled broadly, and practically rubbed her hands together. She was going to clean up on commissions today.

"Certainly sir," she said, taking the stunned Hermione by the arm and leading her into the clothing area.

About an hour and a half later, they were at the checkout counter, a huge pile of clothing in front of them. Severus paid for the clothing and gave them the address he wanted them delivered to. Then he caught Hermione's arm again.

"Come witch," he said, leading her out of the store, down the street and into a furniture store. Another clerk walked up to the couple.

"I need to furnish a nursery," Severus said, giving the clerk the dimensions of the room. "I want everything a nursing mother and baby needs. Go with him, Hermione. Pick out what designs and colors you want. No hedging. Get everything you need. I'll be back for you shortly."

Severus left the witch standing with the clerk who said, "Shall we get started, Mrs.?"

Hermione looked at him.

"I'm afraid that's Miss," she corrected him.

The clerk gave her a measuring glance. Another unwed mother. Pity. But still, she was going to be well provided for. A sale was a sale.

"Come then, Miss," he said, guiding her to the baby furniture.

---

Severus walked up the street toward the jewelers. His head was spinning. Hermione pregnant? Why did she hide that from him? This was definitely a fuckable offense if there ever was one, but her condition was too delicate for rough riding now. He'd have to wait for her to have the baby. Baby? His baby? His child? He knew there was no question of fatherhood. She had been with no one other than him.

A baby. A son or a daughter. His blood. His seed. The Potions Master felt his chest tighten. He was going to be a father. A father. Severus Snape…a daddy. Good gods.

He wasn't angry. He was stunned, but fell right into work mode. A mother and child needed things, so he did what he thought was right to do, provide them…immediately. Hermione would lack for nothing. He would hook up the floo directly to the university so she could get back and forth to classes, and Eli would take care of the baby while she was in class. Eli had helped raise him and was quite adept at childcare, though he did have a tendency to spoil children.

He turned into the jewelry shop. The clerk approached him.

"Rings," Severus said, "I need an engagement ring and two wedding rings."

"Yes sir, they are right over here," the clerk said, smiling.

---

A/N: Thanks for reading. More to come.