Chapter Three – Time:
Hermione stood in the narrow room, which was supposed to be a corridor; she then hung her coat up on the rack and looked up at the high ceiling. She had always believed this house to feel enclosed, all its narrowness and darkness feeling there was no space for her at all. Hermione looked up at the silk-grey walls coated in cobwebs and an eerie breeze ran up her spine: she really did not like it here. Using her lioness courage (what Gryffindors were renowned for) she ran up the several flights of stairs to find her two best friends: Harry and Ron. Harry and Ron were in the bedroom that they were currently sharing. Luckily, for Hermione, she was sharing a room with Ginny. When Hermione entered the bedroom, the boys leaped at her into a group hug.
"Mione!" They both greeted her, as if it was all in sync.
"Hey, guys!" Hermione exclaimed in a happy tone. She was very glad to see her two best friends, whom were more like her own brothers than anything. She gave them both a large squeeze back before pulling away and placing her thin form onto one of their beds.
"How are you doing?" Hermione questioned.
"Good – yeah!" Harry replied in a happy tone.
"So, where have you been?" Ron asked both him and Harry looking curious.
"With my family, we are spending time together..." Hermione answered fictionally, she was not sure what to say, so said the first thing which she conjured up in her intelligent mind. Thankfully enough the two boys weren't the brightest and bought her lie. They soon caught up with what had been going on and how the war was progressing.
Harry had told Hermione about how he and Dumbledore had been finding horcruxes and Ron told her about him and Lavender.
They were interrupted by Molly; calling them down for dinner and sat at the table eating the mountains of food that appeared in front of them. Hermione scoffed her food down as fast as it appeared on her plate; this demonstrating how ravenous she had been. She then went up re creaky stairs to her and Ginny's bedroom to read; she spent several hours there.
She pondered on the news she had discovered today - Ron and Lavender an item? She scowled - a rather Severus-like scowl - and questioned how she felt on the matter, for years she had seem to seek Ron's attention; but she did not even feel envious of him and Lavender. Was there someone else she had admiration for?
All of a sudden she was wrenched from her thoughts, as Harry walked into her room...
"Hey," Harry said with a small smile as he sat beside her. He looked down awkwardly at the floor, clearly something bothering him and playing on his mind. Hermione donned her quizzical look: one eyebrow slightly raised and her eyes piercing through him.
"Is everything swell, Harry? You seem, well, you look rather worried," Hermione said in her soft tone. Harry looked up to face her, his lip twitching as he swallowed the nerves and spoke.
"Ginny. I'm mad about Ginny," he bursted out, quite shocked at how he had done so. Hermione smiled fondly at Harry.
"I knew it! You two are the perfect match, have you told her?" Hermione queried softly.
"Er... well no... that's the problem you see. I er... I can't," he shrugged at her then buried his head in his hands as he sighed.
"It's awkward, with Ron..."
Hermione continued to smile at him, "Oh, Harry! Ron would be happy that someone whom can look after his sister would take care of her. Also, the Baboon is too loved up with his 'Lav-Lav'," Hermione laughed softly, mimicking Ron's voice when she had said "Lav-Lav" - Ron had called Lavender Brown that earlier that night.
"Go and tell her, Harry!"
"Alright, I'll do it later when Ron's not with her though," Harry agreed, sounding a little more hopeful now.
"How do you feel, you know with Ron seeing Lavander?" he asked her sounding concerned for Hermione. Hermione watched as Harry's small frame plonked onto her narrow, wooden bed; he seemed to have relaxed more now he had got the 'Ginny Situation' off his chest.
"In all honesty, Harry, I could not careless. I feel as if I should, but I do not feel anything... I thought I would, but I do not." Hermione replied. "Maybe there's someone else in my heart? I do not know." Hermione then shrugged.
"Like who?" Harry asked in an intrigued feeling better now that the subject had changed. Hermione tensed up slightly, her hands becoming sweaty: she was nervous.
"Harry, I have not been entirely honest with you... I have not been staying with my parents; they are in danger, as am I and Severus. I've been staying with Severus – erm – Professor Snape... And, I just... His company, he's so lovely, Harry! He took me to see my parents; he ensured they would know I was safe; he gave them a Bloodstone - and a letter. His smell... It's enrapturing..." Hermione confessed her true feelings.
Harry turned his head slowly as he frowned at her, and then slowly backed away from her as he took in everything she was saying.
"Whoa... you... Snape? Nice? Severus!? I... Where has all this come from? I appreciate your honesty but Hermione I was asking you who else you could possibly have feelings for and you mention S-" Harry's eyes widened in shock as something sank in.
"No..." he said, more in shock rather than anything else. His confused look changed into a grin. "You. Fancy. Snape." He whispered across the room at her. Hermione's eyes widened to, she had not thought of it like this, not at all. She stared Harry straight in the face and nodded.
"I guess I do, Harry... I had not thought of it like that! Gosh! I fancy Severus Snape - and he would kill me if he ever heard that!" Hermione spoke loudly; she then burst into a fit of giggles.
"Harry, how would I tell him - what can I do?"
Harry laughed with her and came to sit beside her again.
"And there was me thinking I had it tough in trying to tell Ginny!" He laughed.
"Well, you're alone with him, I'm sure you'll have a few chances and if the two of you are getting on so well, maybe he feels the same?". Hermione gave another small laugh, the said: "so, what are you saying? I, me, Hermione Granger, make a move on one Potions Master, whom will probably Avada Kadrva me for touching him somewhere if I tried?" Hermione continued to laugh.
"And plus, I do not have the confidence to be so extrovert - my main emotion is introversion: I am not as confident as you may perceive." Hermione looked down at her left palm; the one Severus had touched to make the incision for the Bloodstone, a gentle smile crept on her small face."I'm sure you'll think of something," Harry told her as he tried to give her some confidence.
All of a sudden, the bedroom door burst open and a rather out of breath ,and tired looking, Albus Dumbledore stood in front of them.
"Miss Granger, come with me if you please. A terrible thing has happened," he told her breathlessly in a painful tone. Without questioning - for a change - Hermione immediately stood up and rushed to Dumbledore's side; within a second he had placed his hand on her shoulder, then Hermione felt the sickening turning of Apparition.
Albus had Apparated Hermione to Severus' and hers Safe House; the place looked a mess. Everything was trashed within the kitchen, blood was stained on a few work surfaces and it dribbled onto the floor. Hermione's eyes followed the trail of crimson splatter, which soon met a lifeless bundle of black.
Hermione quickly dived on her knees screaming: "Severus?! God, no!"
Her pale hands clutched onto his form, and dragged him over to rest his head on her chest; the rest of his body stretched out over her knees and on the floor. She quickly removed his outer coat and under-jacket, before undoing his shirt – she had seen the blood's source had been his lower abdomen. She - without hesitation – used her wand to seal the several wounds gushing blood out.
"Sir, please could you get me some Potions, right now we must ensure he can live! I will find out what has...who had done this to him after." Hermione spoke a little shaky and feeling in 'flight' mode from the adrenaline rush; she then whispered an Incantation that ran a diagnostic all over Severus' body: it conformed he was not dead - but very close. He had multiple injuries, some internal... And it was clear that his rear-end had seen some unwanted abuse from her Diagnostic Charm; it made Hermione feel sick.
"Oh, Severus! What have they done to you?"
Albus had disappeared for a while whilst he gathered the necessary potions.
Severus had started to stir before he came back. He slowly moved his head; one of his eyes was beaten shut, but the other was squinting, while he looked at her very briefly.
"Her-mi-one," he mumbled, barely audibly and passed out in her arms. Hermione's heart leapt, he had said her name.
Moments later, Albus returned holding the potions and started to hand them to her.
"Should I call Madam Pomfrey?" He asked her, clearly the old man knew nothing about healing to know that Severus would now live, thanks to Hermione. There was nothing more to be done, other than clear up the blood off him and allow him to rest and take the potions.
"He is gravely ill, Sir. I have been taught by Madame Pomfrey, over the duration of months' worth of training; I do believe Severus will be fine without her assistance. All that is needed is: those few potions to be taken, Apparate to another Safe House, and then he needs plenty of rest!" Hermione informed her benightedness Headmaster. Hermione was answered simply by a swift nod and a handing of the potions.
Hermione swiftly inserted the variety of healing potions into Severus' mouth; she also assisted him with swallowing them, by rubbing his throat to ease the potion down. Before long he had digested all six of the potions.
"Right, Miss Granger, we need to evacuate Severus and yourself into a safer location; I do believe Severus' home is a good place to take you." Albus informed his Gryffindor Student. Hermione nodded in response; Then, Hermione used Severus' own spell, Levicorpus, to lift Severus' large (but wiry) body into the air, just after she held his hand to enable him to Apparate with her and Albus.
XXX
It had taken moments to land inside Severus' home; it was pitch black that nothing could be seen. Albus quietly whispered: "Lumos," and the tip if his wand light up the dreary living area.
Hermione did not spend to long looking at her new surroundings, she quoted the spell (that was levitating Severus) and caught him, before settling on the small sofa with him in her arms.
"I see you have everything covered here? And you will not mind if I return to headquarters?" Dumbledore broke the silence, watching how Hermione was holding Severus as his eyes creased at the corners; he was smiling at her for an unknown reason. Hermione returned a soft gaze at him, and nodded.
"No, I do not mind. Severus will be fine with me, Sir." Hermione replied, her hand linking into Severus' nodded politely:
"Very well. Goodnight, Hermione," he replied and after a loud crack he was gone. Hermione watch her Head-teacher evaporate into thin air; she then looked at Severus' corpse-like form and a tear came to her eyes; it then dropped onto his delicate cheek. Severus lay lifelessly in her arms, his breathing incredibly slow. The room was so quiet that she could hear him breathing, heavily but slowly, sounding as if he was sobbing. Hermione's heart leapt into her chest.
Oh, the poor, poor man. She thought to herself, she then stretched her legs out to the end of the couch, twisted her body delicately around; so now, her and Severus were embraced in a face-to-face cuddle. She kissed his forehead lightly and pulled him close to her chest; she then place a blanket of their bodies.
XXX
It was early hours in the morning when Severus finally woke up. His eyes fluttering open as the first few seconds of confusion starting to fade.
He could smell an annoyingly familiar sweet shampoo scent in the air and it soon sank in.
Hermione, he thought to himself, looking at the arms that he was cradled in and then his eyes wondered up to her face as he watched her sleep peacefully. Hermione's breathing altered; it became more shallow and flowing - she was awake. Her eyes fluttered gracefully open.
"Hey..." She whispered, her eyes staring straight through his dark ones. Severus gave her a small smile in response before lifting himself up out of her embrace to sit beside her, wincing as he moved slowly.
"Thank you," he whispered to her. Hermione smiled at Severus very softly and dropped her hand to her side.
"What for?" Hermione asked looking into his eyes.
He cleared his throat: "when I closed my eyes, I was sure I wouldn't be opening them again. I'm not sure what you did, but you saved my life," that silky voice purred as his dark eyes glittered. Hermione reached for Severus' hand and stroked her thumb across his knuckles.
"I did what any human would have done, you deserved to be saved - how did you end up in that state, Severus?" She asked softly, she loved hearing his voice purring again.
"Not 'any human' would do that for me," he admitted in a soft tone.
He narrowed his eyes for a moment as he recalled what had happened after Hermione had left, it was all a blur now, it had happened so fast.
"I...The Dark Lord," he replied suppressing a shiver and shifting awkwardly on the sofa, feeling internal pain around his abdomen. Severus' hand flinched away from Hermione's soft one; it was a reaction he did autonomously, with him being a spy. His eyes flicked over where her hand had been; warmth spread throughout his body, what was happening to him?
"Gosh, Severus, I am so sorry. Everything's will be okay. I am here now... You are not alone." Hermione's voice sounded panicky and nervous. She then clasped her hands together on her lap. Severus shot her a look full of guilt and sorrow. He hadn't meant to panic her or upset her and clearly felt guilty for doing so.
"I apologise about the old safe house not being very... Well...safe," he quickly changed the subject.
"This is...was... The house I grew up in as a child. Again you're free to choose whichever room you like. And, although, I utterly despise this place; it is in fact safer than the Headquarters of the Order," Severus tried to make her feel more safe. Hermione allowed an audible sigh and relaxed, her head sagged against the back of the sofa.
"It is pleasant enough, I feel safe with you." She whispered her true thoughts. Severus suppressed a small smile before leaving the lounge and heading upstairs to start clearing out the old rubbish.
XXX
After exploring Severus' bookcase, Hermione decided to check that Severus was alright and approached the room where the cluttering was coming from. She was snapped out of her lingering thoughts of what exactly had happened to Severus with the internal damage around his abdomen, when there was a smash against the wall of the room Severus was in.
Plucking up her Gryffindor courage she bust open the door and looked around the small room. Severus' wiry, thin frame was hunched on the floor as he grabbed items from under the single bed and threw them aside, taking more care now as he had heard Hermione enter the Hermione's feet was a small photo frame which was cracked and pieces of glass surrounded it, 'I wonder why he threw this?' Hermione wondered.
As she leant down to pick up the photo, Severus stopped rummaging around and got to his feet, making his way over to her. Inside the frame was a photo of what was most definitely a young Severus, holding hands with a girl who looked around the same age as him. The girl has long red hair and annoyingly familiar green eyes.
Something inside Hermione's brain ticked as she saw the piece of parchment that was in the frame with the photo which read: 'Lily'. Hermione's eyes widened with shock, not an unpleasant way; but an I-cannot-believe-this look.
"Severus... Is...?" Hermione gazed at the picture knowing exactly whom it was.
Severus and Harry's Mother? Oh... God! She panicked a little and dropped the picture.
"That's Harry's Mum, isn't it? What...?" Hermione's voice mumbled in shock. Severus closed his eyes in shame, 'oh shit.'
"I...yes, it is. I forgot that I still had it, I was meant to throw it out a long time ago," Severus answered truthfully, his whole body tense. Hermione noticed his whole body become tense, her eyes roamed over his whole demeanour and she instantly felt so sorry for him. Being the affectionate person she was; she reached her hand out and placed it on his lower left arm, where the Dark Mark had been, and said: "Do not be ashamed, Severus. I am not here to judge you on your history. I should not have spoke out of term - I am in your home; I do apologise for speaking out of turn. I promise you I will not ask questions, or tell anyone about this." Hermione's voice had been guilt ridden.
Severus nodded and started to relax, slowly pulling his arm away from her hand.
"Especially Potter?" He asked, spacing the two words out slowly as if it hurt him to say them.
"You are free to roam around the house and look at things, just don't break anything I don't want you to," Severus sighed, and shrugged past her.
The front door opened and closed, presumably Severus had gone outside for a cigarette. She appreciated how thoughtful he was of her, she was sure if she hadn't been around that he would've smoked anywhere. Yet he always respected her and went to smoke outside, he had even done so with her family.
XXX
Hermione kept her distance from Severus for the next few hours: she devised a small letter for her parents, explaining how she had moved into Severus' home, and asking how they were finding things. She believed staying out of his way would allow distance to be created; it was clear - to her - that if she carried on touching Severus in an affectionate way he would discover the way she felt about him... And she did not want that... The repercussions it would have... So, she then decided to browse Severus' small library; it was a lovely room - walls stacked high with bookcases and filled to bursting point with books. Each book was a different colour, had a different binding on it; some leather, paper-binding and others were hardback books.
Hermione had found a British Classic: Pride and Prejudice. She was sucked into the ninetieth century world Jane Austen had devised. After several hours' worth of reading, Hermione had fallen fast asleep on the black leather chair; the book, which she had been reading, had fallen onto her chest.
Having spent the last several hours sat hiding away and containing the sheer embarrassment of what Hermione had discovered, Severus decided to make himself seen and entered the living room.
His eyes were immediately attracted to Hermione who was laid happily sleeping in his usual comfy leather seat. He felt his lips tug into a small smile at how similar they were turning out to be.
As it was becoming late, he quietly approached her and gently took the book off her chest then pulled the furry blanket off the sofa and placed it over her before heading upstairs to get into bed.
As he prodded past the broken glass on the floor, he recalled the incident that had happened. He'd never even thought about that photo, and as soon as he'd seen it, after all those years of grieving and mourning the woman he thought he loved; he felt nothing at all.
Everything was starting to become a headache, so Severus occluded his mind and drifted into a sleep.
XXX
Hermione awoke in the early hours of the next day, her mind was racing with thoughts of yesterday's incident: What would Harry have thought, if he had seen it? What did it all mean? If Severus had truly cared about the women, Lily, why would he throw it?
Hermione's facial expressions formed a scowl. She twisted her body from the sofa and decided to take her clothes off; she was uncomfortably warm, she was now stood in her underwear and walked into the kitchen. Hermione approached the sink and grabbed a glass, soon filling it up with water. She was trying to distract her mind from thinking any longer. Hermione was distracted out of her thoughts, when she turned around to see Severus who gasped and turned his back to her.
"Granger!" He scolded her, knowing it was just as much his fault as it was hers. Hermione dropped her glass to the floor, and it went shattering onto the diamond black and white flooring; the water pooled over the flooring looking as if it was a rippling wave of the sea.
"Shit! God!" Hermione gasped mortified, her whole body was a heated Ferness, and just as red as a flicking flame in a fire. Her hands try to cover her exposed flesh - but they failed to cover much.
"I was too warm... God, I just..." Hermione really could not collect her thoughts, she felt so embarrassed. Severus kept his back to her and closed his eyes shut tightly.
"Retrieve your clothes, I will not look," he told her, trying to hold back the laughter. He had no idea why he was reacting like this, he should have been furious, if it was anyone else he would've completely snapped, but it wasn't anyone else; it was Hermione. And all of a sudden, the smile faded as that confused feeling dawned over him again.
Hermione's bare feet padded against the kitchen floor with sheer speed. She 'retrieved' her clothes and scrabbled them on in a hurry.
"I'm dressed." Her voice squeaked, she was curious to why Severus ha not snapped at her about it all.
"God! I am so sorry, I made a fool of myself." Tears erupted from her hazel eyes and she curled into a small ball. Severus slowly approached her and gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
"You didn't, you have nothing to be embarrassed about," Severus told her in a soft manner. Hermione gazed up into his eyes softly, it had been the first time he had voluntary gave her compassion.
"Severus, you have not got any clue - have you? God. It isn't okay; nothing of this is okay - you are my Professor, I am in your home, you have seen me near-naked, you harbour feelings for Harry's fucking mother and I... My feelings for you are inappropriate!" She snapped, then suddenly regretted her outburst. She curled into his his arm and sobbed her heart out.
The sudden outburst had stunned him and he only responded by allowing his arm to snake around her and hold her into his chest.
This was as far as Severus and hugs had ever been for a long time. After the shock of everything that was going on, Severus settled spoke:
"I am no longer your Professor, I am here to protect you and your family and help us win this war. You will see me in my weakest conditions and you will probably uncover a lot of my past; I am not saying that I particularly like the idea but as we are sharing a house together, these things will happen. I promise you that whatever I see or hear will never leave the two of us," Severus said calmly, hoping to calm her down. Hermione rested her head onto his upper chest, she was finally calming and her breathing altered to no-longer be hesitant.
"Thank you, Severus. You really are a wonderful man. I think you have already seen enough of my private life and me; in contrast to what I know about you - but I will not pry, you have my word. But... I want you to know something..."
Severus arched an eyebrow, "go on..." He replied, wondering what it was she was about to say; his anxiety starting to kick in as he felt his body tense.
"Use Legilimens, Severus, I know you can. I think it is only you understand how my feelings are for you - I do not think you will like this, but... You deserve to know." Hermione muttered shamelessly.
Severus scowled for a moment, he had a really bad feeling about this...
"Are-Are you sure?" He asked her, not wanting to upset her or make her feel as if he had to know everything about her. God, what if she thought he was a control freak? He didn't want her to have that impression of him.
"I cannot express this in words... I would be to embarrassed; at least this way I can demonstrate the magnitude of - the situation." She replied softly with slight hesitancy.
"Very well, please do not undermine the effects of the Legilimens spell," he warned and quickly pulled out his wand and whispered the spell and those glittery black eyes fell into her honey-Brown ones.
The scene unfolded into Severus' mind: Potter was there and Hermione. Hermione was laid across her bed, then Harry sat on the edge of it; he looked incredibly awkward sitting there, and flushed.
Hermione then spoke to him: "Harry, I have not been entirely honest with you... I have not been staying with my parents; they are in danger, as am I and Severus. I've been staying with Severus - erm - Professor Snape... And, I just... His company, he's so lovely, Harry! He took me to see my parents; he ensured they would know I was safe; he gave them a Bloodstone - and a letter. His smell... It's enrapturing..."
Harry then turned his head very slowly as he frowned at her, then slowly backed away from her as he took in everything she was saying.
He then spoke up: "Whoa... you... Snape? Nice? Severus!? I... Where has all this come from? I appreciate your honesty but Hermione I was asking you who else you could possibly have feelings for and you mention S-" Harry's eyes widened with sheer shock; he clearly had not been expecting her to say that.
"No..." he said, a grin appeared over his face as if he had just found a new broomstick. His voice spoke again: "You. Fancy. Snape." Hermione's eyes widened to, she had not thought of it like this, not at all. She stared Harry straight in the face and nodded.
"I guess I do, Harry... I had not thought of it like that! Gosh! I fancy Severus Snape - and he would kill me if he ever heard that!" Hermione spoke loudly; she then burst into a fit of giggles. Then the vision ended, Hermione gazed into Severus' eyes with the hope of positivity.
Severus stood looking as if he had just seen a ghost. His skin was pale and his mouth wide open as he struggled for words. Hermione gulped, a large lump now present within her throat; it was clear she had made a large mistake one she was going to regret. Hermione got up off the sofa and exited into the large, shabby kitchen. She opened a bottle of wine, she then poured into the glad and began to drink it; she was not sure what else to do...
Severus was struggling for his breath, he gasped and clutched his chest and exited out the front door.
Once he was outside, he collapsed to sit on the front step, holding his head in his hands as he thought everything through.
Stupid Gryffindor, foolish Gryffindor! He cursed her in his thoughts.
Just when things couldn't get more awkward, more difficult and more annoying!
Oh he was angry, but deep down, underneath all that anger; there was a very confused and fragile Severus Snape whom was petrified - scared to death of becoming close to anyone else.
Why me? She thinks I'm in love with Lily! I'm her bastard of a potions master, an ugly, pale, greasy bastard.
He recalled every name that children had said about him, all of the nicknames they'd given him and foolishly believed he'd never pick up on. It may have only been school children, but it still hurt, every single one hurt.
Not knowing what to do or where to go, or what to even say to the poor girl in his home, Severus nervously re-entered Spinner's End, quietly shutting the door behind him and slouching in his comfy leather seat, staring into oblivion as he thought this through some more.
Hermione heard him creak back into the living-room - how could she face him now? Sure, the glass of wine had replenished her well-known Gryffindor Courage, but even she did not wan to face the wrath of Severus Snape. So, she simply poured another glass and downed it, before going out into the small court yard. Her eyes gazed up at the stars; she knew Severus could see her from the living-room window, so she simply allowed her mind to be absorbed by the shinning fireballs within the sky.
"Rather amazing isn't it?" Severus' velvet voice spoke quietly from behind her, his breath warm against her neck. Hermione's whole body shook: with shock and pleasure; it was like the see rippling over her whole demeanour. She softly shook her head in agreement:
"It is. Absolutely breathtaking..." She whispered in a sultry voice. Severus swiftly moved to stand beside her and looked at her with a small smile.
"I'm...I'm sorry. It was a shock, that's all. A rather...nice shock though," he admitted. Hermione absently leaned into Severus' side, while staring into his onyx oval eyes. Was he indicating he was flattered and was not interested, or had he been paying her a genuine complement?
"I can gather it was... I could imagine it on the other foot; large shock, massive." She laughed softly and then said, "I understand you cannot feel the same - I accept that. Your heart belongs to someone, whom I cannot compete with. My feelings will fade away with time, there's no need for awkwardness." Hermione said in a polite tone, thinking of his evident love for Lily - but why would he smash the picture? - her mind began to taunt her.
Severus took a large, deep breath and signed.
"There is no one for you to compete with and there hasn't been for quite some time. However, I am not the most stable person right now," he looked down at the floor.
"I need time," he added, then fished out a cigarette and his lighter. Hermione smiled softly, all the tension eased from her youthful face and it converted into joy; she allowed soft giggles to escape her lips.
"Really? You mean..." Hermione ran over to him and grasped him into her embrace, her breasts pressing against him and her whole body squishing into him. Her eyes closed tightly to take his words in.
"Yes, Hermione," he sighed softly.
"How could I not?" He whispered. Hermione's smile would have reached the roof-top, if it were possible.
"I do not know what's acceptable, so if I make a move, and it is not acceptable... Please tell me." She whispered ever-so-softy. Her lips pouted into a kissing motion, so she leaned up to kiss his cheek.
Severus closed his eyes as her lips touched his cheek, he too was smiling rather broadly.
"I do want this, I just need time, it's been a while since I've been in this much contact with anyone... And I've certainly never felt anything this strong before," he replied, clearing her worries out of her mind. Hermione continued to smile at Severus, her fingers came to place over his.
"You have all the time you require; I really like you." She whispered and then looked up at the stars. Swallowing hard for courage, Severus leaned in to kiss her cheek, his rough lips caressing her soft skin. Hermione allowed a small moan to escape her lips, she really has not been expecting that from him.