A/N Obviously one of the readers stumbled into this M rated fiction and was outraged by my scene in the last chapter which was in her words "fucking disgusting", well if you can't handle it and you know who you are, go read a K+ fiction, I am sure it will be more to your taste, because later on *gasp, shock* and I hesitate to say this to your virginal eyes...Snape and Hermione will eventually have intercourse of more than a verbal nature. Everyone else, thank you for reading. This is exactly why I hesitated posting this story to my regular account. Ron-age is to the barest minimum as possible.
An Unexpected Gift – Chapter 6
The Headmaster's Office
It had been thirteen days since he had last seen Miss Hermione Granger, but he wasn't counting. Severus fastened the last button and smoothed down his teaching robes, regarding himself critically in the mirror. He left the living quarters of the DADA classroom and took a long slow walk up to the seventh floor corridor. He had been avoiding this moment since early morning, like a lot of things on his mind. It was now evening and he felt quite satisfied with himself that he had been able to put Minerva off all day. He finally turned the corner and saw a very impatient Professor McGonagall waiting for him by the stone Gargoyle, guarding the access to his office.
Minerva eyed him critically. He was every bit as slippery as he had always been. It had taken the entire day to pin him down, but as usual he was never found unless he wanted to be, which she had to admit was part of what had made him such a successful spy all of these years, even if she had not been aware of it. With most of the superficial work completed on the castle there were still a few things she needed to resolve, which only he could assist with. She sighed inwardly, it was going to be difficult, but it had to be done.
"Severus, I was about to come looking for you. It is not like you to be unpunctual. Unless, of course you count all those excuses you sent about not being able to meet me earlier..."
Snape glided up to Minerva, his black robes billowing out behind him. "I considered the school to be in capable hands."
Minerva eyed her colleague looking for signs of irony but was surprised to find none. "Yes, well, are you sure you feel well enough to take over again as headmaster?"
Severus looked at her dourly. "Healer Fletcher said due to the nerve damage I sustained in my hands, I might never be able to brew the more complicated potions ever...again. However, being the DADA teacher I will not need to. We have Slughorn for that." He added, flippantly.
Minerva wasn't so easily fooled by his outward bluster. Yes, he loved the Dark Arts, as well as the idea of teaching students to defend themselves against them, but he loved to craft potions even more. It had to be a hard blow for him. There was bleakness to his expression as he looked back at her that he had not wholly managed to conceal. She felt a surge of pity squeeze at her heart, but hid it behind a kindly smile. He did not ask for her pity, nor would he welcome it.
"I have removed my belongings from your office and I am ready to move back into my own quarters. You will need to set up a new password for the office. I currently have it set to Pontefract cakes."
Snape allowed the corners of his mouth to lift a little. "Carrying on Albus's tradition of passwords named after muggle sweets?" His expression grew serious once again and his gaze lowered to the floor as if studying the very stones. "You don't have to leave the headmaster's quarters just yet Minerva. The rooms in the DADA classroom are more than adequate."
She looked at him sharply. He was definitely trying to avoid something. Being a Gryffindor to the core, she was not one to run away from things and she was not about to let the headmaster get away so easily, either. Minerva pushed up her glasses and pursed her lips.
"Severus, I have no idea what you are trying to avoid in the Headmaster's office, but I recommend you face it head on. I have the sense that it might be some unresolved matters between yourself and Albus. He has been in his portrait every day since the battle ended. I believe he wishes to talk to you too."
Snape sighed. "That can wait." Everyone wanted to talk to him and he was not of a mind to obey. Mr Potter had not forgotten his promise to "talk to him" either, if the frequent letters he had received by owl were anything to go by.
Minerva folded her arms across her chest. "Very well, but you must be aware that Miss Granger will be returning to Hogwarts in the morning. That is another good reason for vacating the DADA accommodations, unless you wish to cohabit with her?" She replied, tartly.
His eyes flew to meet the older witch's bland expression. Twin flags of colour suffused his pale face. He wondered what had prompted her to add the last remark. He had not spoken Miss Granger's name once since her visit to Hogwarts, except to tell Minerva that he would support the decision to have her teach here. The idea of sharing a close living space with the young Witch was filling his mind with thoughts he would rather not have. After that kiss, he had spent several uncomfortable nights replaying the encounter with her, which had forced him to beg a supply of Dreamless Sleep Potion off of Poppy to save his sanity. With everything that had been going on he had indeed forgotten that Hermione was to have the DADA apartments until Septima left.
"Don't be absurd! I will have my things moved to the Headmaster's residence within the hour." He took a calming breath.
"I thought that might move matters along nicely." Minerva said with some satisfaction.
"The note you sent me this morning said there were issues to deal with regarding a first floor classroom?"
"Indeed, this might not be easy or comfortable for you Severus, but it has to be taken care of and preferably before the start of the new school year. There is still one more staff replacement to be found."
They began walking down the many staircases, pausing as they changed to link them to a different floor. They journeyed in silence, neither in the mood to pass pleasantries. Minerva was lost in thought. Where they were going was another place which Severus had pointedly stayed away from, even before the battle, the classroom for Muggle Studies, once the domain of Charity Burbage, and more recently the quarters of one Alecto Carrow.
Finally, reaching the first floor, they walked down the gloomy passage way. Their footsteps echoed in the emptiness. They came to the door of the classroom for Muggle Studies and Minerva turned her head as she heard a sharp intake of breath behind her. Severus was very pale, even for him; and the yellow light of the torch that burned outside the room did little to give him colour. He put a hand out on the cool stone wall to steady himself.
"What is it Severus?" She had heard the rumours that the Death Eaters had been responsible for Professor Burbage's disappearance, although she had never dared to approach the subject with him until now.
"I cannot go in...there." He hissed.
Minerva placed a hand on his sleeve. His hesitancy said it all. "It is time to do the decent thing Severus. Let Charity's ghost lie. Give her family a chance to heal." She said gently.
Snape turned on her harshly. "You know nothing of the matter. You did not have to witness...sometimes it is better to not know."
Minerva turned the handle to the door and led him in by the arm into the dark classroom. She pointed her wand at the torches, which flared into life and illuminated the room. She looked at her companion; he swallowed visibly as his gaze went around the walls, studying the various posters and images put up by Professor Carrow. He sat down at the nearest desk before his legs gave way.
Minerva walked to the front of the classroom. Neither the anti-Muggle/Muggle-born propaganda nor graphic pictures that covered the walls shocked Professor McGonagall. She had been a frequent visitor to this classroom since the Carrow siblings had been appointed Professors at Hogwarts. It had saved more than a few students' lives over the course of time.
"You are right Severus; I know nothing of the matter. Why don't you tell me?" She encouraged.
Molly handed Hermione the last of her laundry, fresh from the clothesline. "There, I think that is everything."
Hermione stuffed them into her beaded bag and drew up the drawstring tightly. "Thank you Molly, for everything."
Molly touched her face. "Call me mum, after all you will be family soon enough." The matriarch of the Weasley family walked off into the kitchen to check on the dinner, leaving Hermione to her thoughts.
The last two weeks had been a bit of a strain for her. She was very confused, with a huge side order of guilt on top and she did not like it. Hermione sat down on the sofa and thought back to her conversation with Ginny a few days ago...
"August eleventh can't come soon enough for me. Harry and I are waiting until I am seventeen to you know...besides he says that he respects me too much to take things any further." Ginny threw a pillow onto her bed and lay back against it. "But it is so frustrating sometimes. At least you and Ron don't have that problem."
Hermione blushed. "Actually, Ron and I have decided to wait too." She didn't add that it had been more her decision than Ron's. After what had happened between herself and Severus in the hospital ward it did not feel right to progress with Ron. She had to sort out what was going on between herself and Severus before she could think clearly.
"Wait for what exactly?" Ginny asked in confusion. "If I was already of age, Harry wouldn't stand a chance!" she grinned.
"I just don't think now is the right time that is all." Hermione replied, a slightly defensive tone creeping into her voice.
Hermione had turned over in her bed to face the wall. She wanted to scream in frustration. Damn Severus Snape for coming back from the dead and making everything seem so complicated! Not that she wished him dead again, but...
"Hermione, you were miles away, where were you?" Ron came up behind her and leaned over the top of the sofa and put his arms around her.
"Nowhere important." She sighed.
"Big day tomorrow huh?" He asked.
Hermione patted his hand. "Well, you could say that. It was nice of Septima to invite me to dinner tonight. I know I am not expected at Hogwarts until the morning, but she said it would be fine to come a few hours early."
"Where will you sleep?" He moved from behind the sofa to sit next to her.
"Minerva said that the DADA quarters would be mine until Septima leaves."
Ron eyed the fresh batch of cakes that his mother was carrying out from the kitchen, his stomach rumbled. Hermione elbowed him in the ribs. "Can you ever think of anything else but your stomach?"
Molly put the plate down on the coffee table and disappeared back into the kitchen.
"Of course I can, but you said we have to see how things go with that." He looked at her a bit sulkily before flushing a deep crimson as only redheads can. "But I am happy to do whatever makes you happy." He reached for a cake and stuffed it in his mouth.
"You should try chewing sometimes, and then you might actually taste it!" She grinned.
While he was distracted by the food, she looked away. Unshed tears pricked Hermione's eyes and she fought an inner battle with her conscience. Perhaps, it was not too late to tell Minerva this had all been a big mistake, she could just get a nice cosy ministry job and live the life she had always thought she wanted. If that kiss had never happened then she might not be having this conflict right now. Yes, you would. Her inner voice mocked. Admit it Hermione Jean Granger, you haven't stopped thinking about him since you saw his life in the Pensieve.
"No!" She almost shouted. Hermione covered her mouth in shock at her startling outburst.
Molly poked her head around the kitchen wall, Ron stopped demolishing the cakes for a moment and both looked at her in confusion.
"Are you feeling all right dear? My son hasn't been bothering you, has he?" Mrs Weasley asked sympathetically.
"Sorry, I was just thinking aloud about things." Hermione noticed the time it was a bit early, but she needed to get away. She got up from the sofa and picked up her bag. "I feel it is about time I left, I don't want to make a bad impression on Septima and be late before I have even started there!"
Ron got up off of his seat and brushed away the crumbs from his jeans. "I am going to miss you Hermione."
He was pulling his puppy dog expression and Hermione felt a rush of guilt. If he knew Severus had dared to kiss her, and touch her, he would have no compunction in hexing off the bits that made Severus Snape a man. They walked over to the fireplace and held hands for a moment. Ron leaned down to kiss her on the lips and at the last moment she averted her head, and the kiss landed on her cheek instead. They both laughed, although Hermione's laughter sounded forced, even to her ears.
"Now, you will write Ronald?" Hermione asked.
"Me? Haven't you learned by now that I am the worst person to keep in contact?" He asked self depreciatingly.
"At least once a week then?" She pleaded. "I know you will be very busy training and trying to prove yourself as the new man on the team, but a little news would be nice."
Ron smiled. "Yeah I can do that. This is going to be the longest month of my life."
"I know, me too, but Seve...Professor Snape does not encourage visitors."
"That sour faced git wouldn't encourage the sun to shine if he thought it would work." Ron mumbled.
Hermione frowned at his harsh observation of Severus, practically everyone in their world might know of what Snape had done for the "good side" but many were still judging him anyway. A lot went by the adage, once a Death Eater always a Death Eater. She was determined to see the good in Severus, no matter if he did try and hold her off with caustic language and scathing glances. She was also going to show him that she could be a good teacher, not that she expected any praise from that area. That would be too hopeful when it came to him.
Hermione focused back on Ron. "Well, the weekends are mine. If you want to meet up at the Three Broomsticks on Saturday for lunch? One O'clock?"
"Yeah if the coach lets me off for the afternoon. I will Owl you if I can't go."
Hermione grinned. "You'd better. I don't take kindly to being stood up."
They shared another awkward kiss as Molly re-entered the living room. Hermione took a handful of Floo Powder and stepped into the fireplace. "Professor Vector's office, Arithmancy classroom, Hogwarts."
"Love you Hermione."
Green flames blazed in the fireplace and she was gone before he had even finished his sentence.
"She...Charity begged me to help her and I watched as Voldemort killed her, I didn't look away for a heartbeat...even when the Dark Lord offered her to Nagini... to consume her. I just sat and watched with the others." Severus studied the surface of the student's desk as if his life depended on it.
Minerva took a deep breath to damp down the rising gorge in her throat. She removed her glasses and sat down at the teacher's desk. Snape dared a glance at her face, seeing exactly what he expected, horror.
"Severus, I don't know what to say." She had no illusions to what Voldemort was capable of, but even this was appalling to her. Charity had been just like her name, a sweet and gentle Witch, who only desired harmony between Muggles and their kind, or at best a better understanding. She knew that she had always been generous towards Severus and had been a friend to him that many of them had not.
"You wanted to pick at the wound Minerva. Some things are best left alone." He said grimly. She couldn't bear to look at him, it was written clearly across her heavily lined face. "I would have done the same if it were you, or any of you. We are all expendable, we always were." Severus looked at his damaged hands as they shook. "I killed Albus fucking Dumbledore with these very hands. Rather poetic justice, don't you think? Now they are almost bloody useless in my title as a Potions Master."
"No, no, you did right to tell me. I just regret there will be no remains to give to the family or a grave."
Professor McGonagall was finally able to bring herself to look at the Headmaster. His dark eyes were filled with pain and inner torment. She watched in shocked fascination as his expression crumpled, just before he thrust his head in his hands. Deep sobs wracked the classroom, echoing around its walls. Without a moment's hesitation she left her chair and was at his side. Minerva hesitatingly placed her hands on his shoulders, expecting them to be brushed away, but he accepted the contact much to her surprise.
"Severus, you are not to blame for Charity's death. You are going to have to let some of this pain go. If you had tried to help her in a room full of Death Eaters, you would have been killed too. I think I can understand some of your anger towards Albus. He should have told me about his curse and what had been decided between you both. I could have helped you. It was a heavy burden for you to carry alone."
"Albus cared little of the damage to my soul in all this Minerva. He would have considered an outside confidence, excessive. If I had failed, it would have made more sense to have an alternative plan. I think Albus assumed a lot."
"I think Albus had absolute faith in you Severus, is what it was." She replied quietly.
His shoulders continued to shake with a rush of feelings. Minerva fumbled about in her robes for a handkerchief, on locating it; she thrust it into his reluctant hands. He wiped at his eyes and composed himself with difficulty. The floodgates, now that they were opened, strained to close once more.
He got up from the chair. "Enough..." He said shakily. "Enough of this!" He repeated more firmly as he took out his wand and cast a silent Evanesco over all the books, pictures and pamphlets that littered the walls and the desks, leaving the room bare. "Contact Charity's family Minerva. I have not the heart to do it."
"Of course."
Snape touched his wand to the crumpled scrap of linen in his other hand. He muttered "Scourgify," and handed it back to the witch. "I think that perhaps you need this more than I at the moment."
He nodded to his colleague as he walked from the classroom to make his way back upstairs to pack his things for removal to the headmaster's office. Minerva stood in the empty classroom, her fingertips touched her face and she was surprised to find tears upon it. She sat down at the desk that Severus had just vacated, feeling even older than her years, pressing her handkerchief to her eyes.
Hermione looked around Professor Vector's office. She was at least an hour early and not surprisingly, there was no sign of Septima. With time to kill, she decided she might as well take a look at her rooms in the DADA classroom; perhaps even unpack a few things. She exited the office. The school felt so deserted without children and the sparse torches shed little light, making the dark corners seem sinister to her in a way they never had when she had been a student. It was amazing how quickly the school was being put back together. By Muggle methods it would take years. The smell of new timber and plaster dust was strong in the air, masking the musty ancient smell of the old stones that she was used to.
The portraits were gradually starting to fill up again by the occupants that had fled during the battle. One or two of them greeted her on the way to her destination. Hermione was finally on the third floor, not far from the DADA classroom when she was almost frightened out of her skin as she turned a corner. She bumped into something solid and foul smelling. She looked straight into the malicious eyes of Filch. He sneered at her, stroking his cat and holding Mrs Norris close to his chest as if he expected Hermione to do something horrible to her.
"I heard you were coming back." He said gruffly. "Mrs Norris and I will be watching you, make sure you don't step out of line Granger."
Hermione rolled her eyes at him. "I would have thought you had better things to do with the rebuilding of the school. Perhaps you have also heard that I am coming back in a teacher capacity, so curfew will no longer apply to me...just in case you forget."
He screwed his eyes up tighter. "I can still..."
"Filch, what is going on here?" A drawling voice that neither of them could fail to recognise came from behind them.
"Caught this one wandering the corridors Headmaster," He smiled obsequiously at Snape. "Thought she might be up to something."
Severus was surprised to see her here a day early, but had more time to mask his reaction than she had. He had taken full advantage of being unnoticed by the pair, to study her as she had battled with the indomitable caretaker. Dressed in tight fitting jeans that hung low on her hips, her pale blue jumper rested just above them to expose a little skin, his eyes had unconsciously lingered on it before looking at her face. Her cheeked were flushed with anger as she looked at Filch as if he were a specimen in the potions classroom.
Hermione's eyes widened in surprise, she had not even heard him approach, but he was a master at swooping almost noiselessly along the corridors and classrooms. It was not the first time he had caught her unawares. She had not been ready to see him and had trouble closing her mouth; finally her brain complied and she pressed her lips together.
"Miss Granger." He nodded to her. His eyes slid back to Filch and looked at him with contempt. "Argus, you would do well to remember that Miss Granger is now staff and is to be treated as such...at all times."
Filch sniffed through his curtain of oily hair and shuffled off, muttering under his breath. Severus turned back to Hermione and watched her through hooded lids. She felt an increasing discomfort as the silence stretched out between them.
"I...er...thank you Severus." She said a little breathlessly.
"Think nothing of it Miss Granger. I never did understand why Albus tolerated him." Snape turned on his heel, about to continue up the corridor.
Hermione considered the matter for a moment. "Dumbledore was the collector of lost things, I think. Filch being a Squib had little employment opportunities, as did Hagrid." She was surprised she actually felt pity for the old git.
He stopped mid-step to brood over her statement. "Hmmm, perhaps you are right. One might include me in that category, even Potter and the Dark Lord."
His dark eyes drew her in as he looked at her. They might as well have been the only two people in the castle for all she noticed, but him. Severus seemed as unwilling to break the eye contact as her.
"Why do you still call him that? I mean he is dead now..." Seeing him looking at her so intently with that unfathomable expression on his face was playing havoc with her insides. It took all her willpower to focus.
"Force of habit Miss Granger." He said smoothly. "To address him incorrectly at any time could mean the Crucio or even worse."
Hermione absorbed his words, frowning; she did not doubt the truth behind them for a moment. She had seen what he had done to Snape, whom he had thought the most loyal of his Death Eaters. It was a miracle that the man who stood before her had come out of this battle with his sanity, a weaker man would not have.
"Talking of force of habit, you could call me Hermione you know." She said, softly.
Snape frowned at her, not replying, he instead fixed her with the same glower he had used on Filch only moments earlier. "I do not think that would be appropriate."
He began to walk away. Hermione felt anger rise in her like a tidal wave. She caught up with him, almost having to run to keep in step with long stride.
"We have gone beyond appropriate, don't you think?" She demanded.
"I will tell you what I think is...inappropriate," He wrapped his fingers around her wrist. "Discussing such things in a corridor full of paintings with nothing better to do than gossip all day." He propelled her none too gently towards the DADA classroom and shut the door with a resounding bang.
Snape continued to lead her to the end of the classroom and up the stone steps to the living quarters. He led her through the heavy oak door and closed that with equal vigour. "Sit down!" He snarled, pointing to one of the vacant armchairs.
Hermione folded her arms in stubborn refusal. Snape ran a hand through his hair, before tucking his hands into his pockets to stop himself from propelling her into the chair by brute force.
"Please?" He asked. It almost sounded like a plea.
"That's better." She gave him a beatific smile, hoping to confuse him as she sat down and tucked her legs under her.
Snape turned his back for a moment and reached for a crystal decanter, taking two tumblers, he filled them both with a generous amount of Firewhiskey. He handed one to her and took a large gulp of the contents of his own glass. He leaned back against the leather covered desk and watched as Hermione warily sipped at her drink. He finished off his and poured himself another measure.
He contemplated her for a few moments longer, trying to not notice the beat of her pulse at the base of her neck, or how a few stray tendrils that had escaped her hairclip, framed her face. Instead he concentrated on her fingers which held her glass, at her ring. The evidence of her belonging to another caused a rise of emotion in him he had not felt since he had heard that Lily was with James. He recognised its intensity though, no matter how hard he tried to deny it. He finished off his second glass of Firewhiskey and slammed it down on the desk, making her jump.
"Miss Granger, I agree that I might have taken certain liberties with your person the last time we met, which may have led you to believe we share a greater intimacy than we do."
Lord, he was getting hard just thinking of that encounter. Severus pulled his robes around him and went to sit behind the desk, feeling more secure with several feet of wood between them.
"But the truth of the matter is...that I have not had a woman for some time, and you are an attractive...young lady. It was not hard to get carried away in the moment, which I might have done had any presentable female goaded me in such a way."
Hermione took a sip of her drink as she thought over his words. She placed the glass on the arm of the chair and looked him directly in the eyes. "It was very hard from where I was standing at the time, I should know, I felt it."
She felt a satisfying sense of victory as his cheeks stained with shame at her words. He was killing her with his own tongue, telling her she could have been anyone reasonably pretty and he would have reacted the same way. Hermione refused to buy it for one second. There had been many girls pass through the walls of Hogwarts, that could claim more beauty and wit than her, but he had never shown one iota of interest in them. Severus Snape was not a man to be easily turned by a bit of skirt.
"An unfortunate incidence...I assure you it is not one that will be repeated."
She got up slowly from her chair and smoothed down her clothing, noticing his eyes following her hands on her body. "Do you promise?" She asked.
"What?" He replied harshly.
"To never touch me again?"
He swallowed hard. "I promise." The pledge was wrung from him.
"Good, then I can go and unpack some of my belongings. Which way is the bedroom?"
He did not know what he had been expecting, but it had not been her seeming lack of interest in his reply. However, he had the feeling she had asked for his promise, only to see how quickly he would go back on it.
"Miss Granger, I have not had my things removed yet." He whispered in a strangulated voice.
Hermione ignored him and walked to the other door at the far side of the room. It opened into the inner living area, which led off to a bathroom and a bedroom. Both doors were open so she was easily able to identify their purpose. She slipped her bag from her shoulder and walked into the bedroom. A traditional four poster bed with scarlet curtains dominated the room, a little ostentatious for Snape in her opinion and probably the legacy of a previous occupant. As far as she was aware he had not followed her. She put her bag down on the neatly made bed and looked around her.
A fragment of an aged photograph, resting on the bedside table caught her eye. She picked it up, wishing she hadn't as she felt the cruel knife of jealousy as she looked at a picture of Harry's mother. Underneath it laid a worn piece of parchment with the words Love Lily scrawled across it, a few strokes of unreadable writing were above it, obviously torn from some letter, but to whom she had no idea. Hermione hastily replaced them on the bedside table, but not quickly enough.
"Have you quite finished interfering with my personal possessions?" He sneered.
It was her turn to redden with shame. Hermione looked at him, before she knew it a tear trickled down her face and she wiped it away angrily. "I have battled against Voldemort, I have fought Death Eaters, but you Severus Snape are something different. I don't know how to handle you. You defeat me entirely." She admitted.
Hermione got off of the bed and turned to face him square on.
"Miss Granger...I,"
She put her hand up. "No, I have listened to you deny this thing between us, now it is my turn. I think it is best to go back to the beginning, don't you?"
Snape remained silent, knowing her question did not require a response from him. He folded his arms as he looked down at her, waiting for her to continue. She paced the room uneasily. The sight of the bed was not helping matters. He could see it over her shoulder and it was giving him uncomfortable thoughts.
"Perhaps this conversation is best continued in the living room?" He suggested.
"Here will do just fine." She snapped.
The young Witch stuck her chin out in a determined manner that he had witnessed many times when teaching her. "Very well." He had had enough emotional scenes with Minerva today to last a while, and it was hard to pitch his wits against this woman who like himself, rarely missed anything. He was glad of the liquid courage running through his veins from the Firewhiskey, even if it did have the effect of lowering his guard a little. He braced himself for whatever it was she wanted to say.
"Severus, there is something between us. I don't know exactly what it is just yet, but it makes me want to throw all caution to the wind. I am usually the voice of reason in most situations."
Snape made a sound of derision. "With friends such as Potter and Weasley, I can well imagine."
She continued. "But of late I find myself acting in ways that I would never normally consider."
"Facing death and war has a way of doing that to a person." He observed coldly.
Hermione sat back down on the bed again, a look of defeat crossing her face as she looked up at him.
"I have the love of a boy who wants to marry me, but all I can think about is you. Ron is my best friend, I don't want to hurt him, but ever since I saw your memories in the Pensieve and Dumbledore sent me to that bloody Shrieking Shack it's been all about you. I want it to stop; I don't want to feel this way!" She cried.
"And you think I do?" He snarled. "You are barely above a pupil. I have never so much as looked at a student of this school as anything but a child, but all I can see is a woman before me. I don't want to want you, but I do. You dare to challenge me in ways that no one has ever dared and instead of repulsing me..." He shook his head to clear his thoughts. "You asked me to promise to never touch you again Miss Granger and I intend to keep to that promise as strongly as if it were an Unbreakable Vow."
His final words barely registered in her brain, only focusing on his statement before. He wanted her, her. Another glance at his implacable face told her that she would get no closer to finding a solution to this, today. He was resolute in his stance. What was it about him, that when he was at his coldest, she felt the need to chip at that wall?
"Yes, you did, but you forget one thing." She replied.
"And what is that?" He drawled, arching an eyebrow at her.
"I never promised to do the same."
He swallowed hard. The bedroom seemed to shrink in size at her words. Snape stood as still as a statue as she got up from the bed and circled around him like he was her prey.
"Miss Granger." The growing agitation was evident on his face.
"Hermione." She tiptoed closer and breathed the word in his ear, her breath tickling his hair. She walked around until she was facing him again, noticing the slight sheen of perspiration that had broken out on his forehead. She enjoyed watching that cool facade drop from his features, the hands clenched at his sides showing the restraint he was exerting. When did she become such a tease? She wondered. "Calm down Severus, I only wish to give you a kiss, a greeting from one colleague to another."
"I never kiss anyone..."
"But we know that is a lie. You kissed me and from my limited experience of kisses, it was a very good one." She admitted, honestly.
"Get it over with then." He growled. "I have things I need to be doing this evening."
"Thank you for the permission."
Hermione leaned up towards him, having to stand on tiptoe again. He flinched when she put her arms around his neck, but otherwise remained rooted to the spot. She moved closer, until her body was pushed flush up against his and she pressed her lips against his tightly closed ones. It was hardly a passionate kiss as kisses went, but it moved him more deeply than he cared to show and unhappily it was over before it had barely begun.
She pulled away from him, unlinking her hands from around his neck and resting one of them on his shoulder, while she gently cupped his face with the other. There was such a need and longing in his countenance that it took her breath away. He was so starved for affectionate human contact and yet trying to repel it at the same time. She detected the slightest flicker of fear behind those black eyes as he looked back at her, desperately trying to appear nonchalant.
"You know, you really are a very extraordinary man." She said thoughtfully.
"That is a new label for me, Hermione. I have been called many things in my time, but..."
She gasped. Hearing her name on his lips was like a sensual caress to the ears. The shutters came down on his face once more as he realised he had slipped and used her first name. Hermione wanted to kiss him again, but she sensed that to beset him further might cause a total withdrawal on his part. Instead she would take the knowledge that he wanted her, and had called her by her first name and hold them close to her.
"I have to go. I am supposed to dine with Septima." She said regretfully. "I will leave my bag here and be back later."
The little chit was turning his carefully ordered world upside down and she was worried about a dinner appointment? At least he had discovered why she had been wandering around the corridors a day earlier than expected.
"Very well. I will be gone by then." Severus replied shortly. If he were honest at this moment, he craved solitude and perhaps a little more Firewhiskey before the night was out. "Your presence is required in the Great Hall tomorrow at breakfast. Do not be late...and Miss Granger..."
She rolled her eyes; he was back to that again. "Hermione."
"As a member of the teaching faculty, it might do well to rethink your dress habits and wear something more seemly. When the students arrive in September, it would not do to have them lusting after one of their teachers."
"Oh, you mean like you do?" She asked airily as she almost skipped from the room. "See you for breakfast Severus."
Hermione closed the door behind him. Snape let out a huge breath as he slumped down on the bed. He glanced at the picture of Lily and his other mementoes and in a moment of firm decision he scooped them up and pressed them between the pages of one of his least favourite books. It was time to put away such things and concentrate on the task at hand, governing Hogwarts and surviving Miss Granger.
TBC