It's What's Inside That Counts
Chapter 17
June 14
Severus sat in a corner away from the gathering, listening to Hermione entertain her friends with descriptions of the manor and farm. He felt the ache in his stomach, a side effect from the reverse transformation to occur shortly. Hermione shot him a quick questioning glance, which he replied with a quick nod. She gave McGonagall a quick hug when she arrived and another Order of the Phoenix meeting was called to order.
"Since the last meeting, we lost two more of our Order members," she said. "On that note, I propose the induction of four new members."
Four? Hermione wondered.
"Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, Miss Granger and Mr. Malfoy," she said.
"Malfoy?" Harry asked.
"Yes Mr. Potter, Malfoy. He's gone through considerable risk trying to-" McGonagall started but was interrupted when Draco and Narcissa Malfoy arrived by floo.
"Please excuse our late arrival," Narcissa said calmly although her chest was heaving. "We had to ensure the mansion was completely engulfed before leaving."
Draco pulled out a chair for his mother and took her elbow as she sat down.
"Engulfed?" Ron asked.
"Yes Mr. Weasley, engulfed," Narcissa answered matter-of-factly.
"As in fire, moron," Draco said evenly.
Before the perplexed group could ask more questions, McGonagall spoke again, giving Harry, Ron, Hermione and Draco a brief history of the Order of the Phoenix.
"I assume you know that inclusion into the Order is voluntary and comes at great personal risk?" she asked.
"We do," they answered.
They took a Wizard's Oath, vowing absolute secrecy about the Order of the Phoenix and other Order members.
"Very well, as the senior member, I welcome you to the Order of the Phoenix. Now, let's get to work," McGonagall said. "The first bit of news is the success of Professor Snape's new Polyjuice potion, which will be of great help in the future."
"How do you know that?" Ron asked.
"For the past year, Mr. Weasley, you have been looking at the primary test subject for the potion," McGonagall said.
"I have?" Ron asked.
"Yes, Professor Anderson," McGonagall answered and gestured toward the pProfessor.
"..bloody hell...I don't believe it..." Draco mumbled and peered at Professor Anderson, then Hermione. "You knew?"
"Yes," Hermione answered.
"So did I," Harry added.
"Knew what?" Ron asked.
There was a groan from Professor Anderson. Hermione rose, put a glass of water in front of him and started rubbing his back. He rose, leaned on the table and shuddered.
"It's a side effect from reverse transformation," Hermione explained.
For the next minute, everyone watched in curious amazement as Professor Anderson transformed to Severus Snape.
"That looks painful," Draco commented.
"It's quite...uncomfortable," Severus said.
"Bloody hell..." Ron exclaimed. "Hey! Hermione, you knew who he really was all this time? And you two...you and he..." he stopped talking and paled.
He couldn't believe it. He thought back to Christmas. He wasn't just dreaming when he saw those two snogging in the parlor! Then New Year's morning... then DADA class and what he overheard in the infirmary. That's why Madam Pomfrey called him Severus! I almost cursed one of the most dangerous wizards alive! He took a step back, falling over a chair. Hermione choked back her laughter.
"Ron, my goodness!" Molly exclaimed and helped him to his feet.
Severus took a sip of water, cleared his throat and spoke. "For the past 13 years, I have been a double agent for the Order against Voldemort. I have been, and will remain a loyal member of this Order."
"As soon as he has recovered from the transformation, feel free to ask him whatever questions you may have," McGonagall said.
"Whether you believe me or not is of no consequence, my actions speak for themselves. One person believes me in me, that is enough," Severus said, squeezing Hermione's hand.
When the Order meeting was dismissed, dinner was served and it was time for socializing. It wasn't long before Ron noticed that people had paired up, with the notable exception of him. Harry and Ginny cuddled in a plush chair, Hermione and Severus sat together at the bay window, even McGonagall was chatting quietly with a wizard at the dining room table.
"Exploding snap anyone?" Ron called out.
"Sounds fun," Ginny said. Hermione and Harry joined in the game.
"My eyebrows can always grow back," Hermione said with a shrug.
Severus and Minerva chatted quietly as the young people played their game. Hermione jumped when her cards exploded, singing her bangs. They all laughed.
"You took quite a risk this evening, Severus," Minerva said. "You know we have a leak, and this will probably get back to Voldemort. Your betrayal to him will make you number two on the hit list."
"You insult me Minerva! Here I was under the impression that I was first," Severus said wryly, taking a sip of firewhiskey.
Minerva chuckled. "No, that dubious honor goes to young Harry."
"No child should have an honor like that," he said.
"He's not afraid," she said.
"Well, if he had any sense, he would be," he said.
"And what of Hermione? What of her sense?" Minerva asked.
"She's not afraid for herself, but for everyone else. She's confident in her abilities, but not arrogantly so," he said. "She has a stubborn hope that evil cannot possibly win, not against all that's good,--that's right."
"That's why she's going to be an outstanding Auror," she said proudly.
"That's what I'm afraid of," he said. "I just want her safe, Minerva, to make it home every night to feed her rabbits."
After leaving Hogwarts, Ron happily accepted Harry's offer to live at Grimmauld Place and chose a bigger room than the usual guest room he stayed in. After the meeting, dinner and socializing, he went to his room and settled in a comfortable chair to study the brochures from the Hit Wizard training division. He brushed some hair from his forehead and felt some that had been singed from the exploding snap game. He went to the mirror to look at his burnt bangs. He noticed dozens of little painted flowers along the edges of the large mirror in his room. One of the flowers was a different color. He lightly scraped the flower and a blurry image filled the mirror.
What kind of wonky mirror is this?
The image cleared to reveal none other than Hermione, sitting at the mirror, with only a towel wrapped around her, combing through her wet hair. He knew he should have looked for a way to turn the image off, but felt compelled to leave it be. The door to her room opened and Severus walked in, stopping to kiss her neck and toss a towel on the bed. She turned in the chair and said something to him. Why was there no sound? He scraped the mismatched flower again and heard them talking.
"Did you see Ron's face? He didn't throw a wobbly like I thought he would," Hermione said.
"Falling over that chair was amusing enough, sweet," he said lightly.
Standing there bare-chested, clad in black silk sleeping pants, Severus looked surprisingly fit, in Ron's opinion. Just at six feet, his torso was all muscle without an ounce of bulge. Ron winced when Severus turned around. His back was covered with scars.
"I can't wait for the Ministry to get the manor floo connected," Hermione said. "I still don't know why we couldn't Apparate home. I don't like intruding on Harry and the idea of us together gives Ron the creeps."
"We've both been drinking, do you want to risk splinching somewhere as far as Bristol?" he asked."I certainly want that beautiful body of yours to stay in one piece. As for Weasley, let the whelp deal with his insecurities, they're no longer your concern."
Hermione frowned at Severus calling him a "whelp." "Do you have to call him names?" she asked.
"After his behavior this year? Whelp is a kindness compared to what I really think," he said wryly.
Hermione stood up, grabbed a pillow and headed for the door. "What I really think is that I want to sleep elsewhere," she said with a flip of her hair and turned back to the door. He flicked his wand at the door. She tried to open it, kicked it and sighed.
"Open.the.door," she said evenly, still facing the door.
Now this is entertainment! Ron thought, especially when she readjusted the towel that almost fell.
"Do you really want to leave this room because of a silly comment?" he asked. "Clad only in a towel?" he asked, amusement lingering in his voice.
"Why do you rile me so?" she asked.
He rose from the bed and stood behind her, slowly rubbing her arms and inhaling the fragrance of her hair. "You're especially beautiful when riled, I suppose," he whispered.
"I hurt my toe," she said.
"You did kick the door rather hard," he said. "Here, come to the chair, let me tend to it," he said smoothly.
She rolled her eyes as she was led to the chair. Only Severus would try to turn a quarrel into seduction. Ron thought the same thing. Isn't she smarter than this? Ron would soon see that her smarts had no chance against her lust. Severus made a show of examining her toes, slowly massaging her feet and declaring her toes injury free but still in need of attention. Next, Ron saw something that no one would believe, but would give a hundred galleons to see. He slowly brought her "injured" foot to his mouth and kissed each toe, lightly sucking on each. Hermione squirmed in her seat.
That's turning her on! Ron thought. Charlie was right, that does work on them!
"Hmm, are there any other parts that need attention?" he asked.
Hermione nodded and pointed to her knee. Severus kissed it. She pointed to her wrists. Severus kissed them too. Ron forgot to breathe when she dropped her towel. Her body looked better than he ever thought. She pointed to a breast, and Severus leaned forward to suckle each luscious breast. Her sultry moan caused his pants to become tighter in front.
Snape, you lucky bastard! Ron thought.
Deep down, he knew that playing peeping Ron on Hermione was wrong, very wrong, but he couldn't tear his eyes away from the sight. His fantasies were playing out in front of his eyes and there was no way he was leaving now!
Severus drew her head down for a kiss and started massaging her sex, Ron's jaw dropped. She whispered something he couldn't hear and let her head fall back, moving her hips in time to the strokes of his hand. Ron had to unzip his pants and let his raging erection free at the sight of Hermione coming undone there in the chair. Severus buried his face between her legs, causing her to cry out and press against his face. Ron was enchanted at the sight of Hermione writhing in the chair as she was being pleasured with Severus' mouth. He suddenly had a new respect for the man; he certainly knew what he was doing. She gripped the arms of the chair and gasped that she was coming. Severus slipped her thighs over his shoulders and rose on his knees, elevating her as he eagerly lapped and sucked at her, growling when she shrieked and bucked, crying out his name and begging him to make her come again.
Oh-my-giddy-aunt, she's begging for it again! Ron thought.
"Yes witch, you'll get more," Severus hissed and drew her to her feet. He led her to the bed and gently urged her on all fours. She likes it this way?? Severus dropped his sleeping pants to reveal the biggest cock that Ron had ever seen.
Not that I've seen a lot mind you, just in the locker room and showers, but damn!
With a groan, he sank deep into her, grunting when he slid to the hilt. Ron groaned too and was now stroking himself in time to the two he was watching.
"Is this what you want witch?" Severus asked, accentuating the question with a deeper thrust.
"Yes..yes" she gasped and pressed against him.
He took hold of her hips and pounded into her fast and deep. "Yes sweet...so good.." Severus groaned.
Hermione was crying out her appreciation of his cock and other expletives that caused Ron to blush and stroke himself even harder. This passionate, erotic side of Hermione was a sight to behold. It was the most beautiful thing he had seen in his life. Severus' head was back, his eyes tightly closed as he neared his peak, pumping erratically thenand bellowed as he came, giving a hard, decisive thrust with each wave of pleasure. Ron cried out as he came as well.
Ron was panting when he saw Severus slide out of her. She whimpered at the sudden loss. He leaned over her, tenderly kissing her shoulders and massaging the hips he had been gripping. Hermione was shuddering from the pleasure, Severus exhausted from the efforts of pleasing someone twenty-two years younger. He pulled the duvet and sheets back and waited for her to scoot under them. He joined her and cuddled from behind.
"I love you, my sweet," he said and kissed her cheek.
She snuggled closer to him and said "Me too."
Severus extinguished the lights with a flick of his wand. Ron touched the flower and was looking at himself again.
Show's over, Ron thought. But what a show it was!
A large part of him felt guilt, prying at such a personal and private experience, but another part of him was grateful for the education he just received and a fantasy that had played out before his very eyes. Hermione was everything he thought she was; she was a dedicated lover as much as she was a dedicated academic. The rub was that someone else was the lucky recipient of her dedication.