Of Lies and Men

Chapter 2

A/N: Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! You are all amazing and I soooo appreciate all the reviews! It definitely makes me want to write more, and try to update as quick as possible for y'all!

Hermione drained the Jacuzzi and stepped out onto her newly conjured fluffy bath mat and wrapped herself in a thick luxe towel. She picked up her wand and cast a tempus charm and discovered she still had a little more than an hour before breakfast. Lots of time to get ready she thought to herself as she reached for her favourite muggle skin cream. It smelled like chocolate covered strawberries and made her skin as soft as velvet. She had tried similar potions from the wizarding world but had never found one that came close to this one. Once she was finished, she applied a generous amount of sleekeazy's hair potion and cast a drying spell over her hair. Ron preferred her hair straight even though she never felt like it suited her, so she decided to style it into loose and manageable curls instead. Hanging her towel on the rack beside the oversized shower, she walked stark naked from the bathroom, into her bedroom walk-in closet. It felt freeing to be able to do whatever she wanted and she relished in the feeling of freedom and tranquility that washed over her as she gently fingered the fabrics of various items in her closet. Her eye was drawn to a silk blouse she had bought ages ago but never worn. Hermione had picked it up in a little muggle shop in London, and when Ron had seen it he scoffed and told her he didn't want his wife sporting a "Slytherin coloured" shirt, so she had put it in her closet and forgotten about it. She hadn't even realized she had packed it. Hermione smirked to herself as she pulled it out of her closet and set it aside. Next she selected a black pinstripe high waisted pencil skirt and thigh high stockings to go with it. Finally she picked out her new, and very sexy, lace bra and panty set that she had bought for a weekend away she was supposed to go on with Ron before she left for her Headmistress post. These too were never worn as Ron had cancelled that weekend due to Quidditch practice. Hermione chewed her lip as she looked down at the clothing selection in front of her. She wasn't sure why she had chosen such fancy, not to mention sexy, clothing and told herself it was because she wanted to make a good first impression. Deep down a niggling voice told her it might have had a little something more to do with one co-worker in particular but she told the voice to shut up and went about getting ready as Crookshanks watched her from his basket.

Hermione stood in front of her full length mirror perusing her appearance before she faced her new peers. The emerald blouse was undone just enough to reveal a peek of her ample cleavage while still remaining classy and was tucked into the high waisted skirt that amplified her curvaceous hips and the bottom she had done thousands of squats to perfect. She wore pinstripe and patent leather 3 inch heels and her makeup was subtle. Mascara darkened and curled her long eyelashes and paired with a neutral shimmer shadow combined to give her an almost doe eyed look. Satisfied, she slicked a tiny bit of peach gloss over her lips and whispered the sealing spell written on the bottle. This was a gloss created by a professional makeup artist in the wizarding world that would withstand eating, drinking, even kissing without smudging or transferring. It was definitely a favourite among young witches. She looked herself over one more time while casting a final tempus to check the time. 9:50am. Just enough time to make it to the staffroom for breakfast. Not looking where she was going, she exited her quarters and immediately found herself flattened against a rather chiseled feeling chest.

"My, my Miss Granger, it would appear you can't keep from throwing yourself at me!" Severus Snape chuckled as he righted the very embarrassed witch. It didn't help that he had used her maiden name and addressed her as Miss, just like he had done when she was in his classes, as suddenly the dream came flooding back to her and she almost had to squeeze her thighs together. She could feel the blush creeping up her chest, across her cheeks, and even, she was pretty certain, the tips of her ears! Hermione groaned and playfully swatted the hard chest in front of her.

"It's your own fault for standing in my doorway like that! I didn't know you were there!" She heard the mortification in her voice and tried to steel herself against it.

Severus was still laughing. "It's okay Hermione, I came down to see if you would like an escort to breakfast. I wasn't sure you would know where the staff room was and wanted to make sure you were able to eat." He stopped and looked her over, clearly he hadn't got a good look at her while she was falling into him. "You look beautiful by the way." He winked. "I like the colour." Had Hermione not already been blushing she would have been now. She quickly scanned him and noticed he was dressed somewhat similarly to how he was yesterday, except the jeans were swapped out for tailored black slacks and he had a tight fitting, dark grey sweater on.

"Thank you Severus. That was nice of you." He proffered his bent elbow to her and she linked her arm through it, more than happy to allow him to lead her.

"Did you sleep well, Hermione?" Severus asked as they walked the hallways. She was still having a hard time getting used to this new version of the professor. Especially his use of her first name.

"Yes, I did. How about you?" She was glad he had told her he wouldn't use legilimency against her since the dream was once again playing in her mind.

"I did. Though I think perhaps that may have had something to do with the wine we drank." Hermione felt him laughing against her and couldn't get over how pleasant and normal this felt, walking with him like this.

"Indeed. That may have had something to do with how I slept as well."

Severus stopped in front of a heavy, gilded door and untwined himself from Hermione's arm.

"Doctores artis magicae." He said to a suit of armor standing just beside the door. The door opened and Hermione was instantly greeted by the smell of sausages, bacon and toast and felt, more than heard, her stomach growl. There was light chatter throughout the room, but it all but stopped completely as the two entered. "I come baring our new Headmistress as appointed by myself and Minerva before her passing." He guided Hermione out in front of him and everyone turned to stare at her. "Mrs. Hermione Granger-Weasley has graciously agreed to fill the post of Transfiguration professor as well as Deputy Headmistress."

Hermione nervously smiled at everyone around her. "Hello everyone, I very much look forward to working with all of you. Some of you are familiar, and some are not, but I am sure we will all get along famously." The room erupted with sound again, this time however it was welcomes and hellos from the other staff in the room. She heard various congratulations and positive exclamations from around the room as the chatter returned and felt herself relax. That was, until she felt a hand gently touch the small of her back and breath against her ear.

"I told you everyone would be happy to see you." Severus whispered. Hermione only nodded. His small gesture had ignited something and she was waging a war in her head about it. "Come, let's get some breakfast." The hand pressed against her spine gently guided her to one of the many 4 person tables set up around the room. An empty table. Severus held out a chair for her and tucked it in as she sat. Hermione had to admit she wasn't used to being treated like this. Ron was nice enough and had taken her to nice restaurants while they were dating, but he was never this old-world-gentlemanly and she was dismayed to find she was really enjoying it. Severus took the seat opposite her, and instantly plates appeared in front of them. She watched him as he settled down and leaned close to the plate. "I would like sausage, scrambled eggs, toast, and a carafe of coffee for the table." He said to the empty piece of dishware. Seconds later everything he stated appeared, including the biggest coffee service she had ever seen. Following his lead, Hermione leaned towards her plate as well.

"Egg white omelette with spinach and light cheese and brown toast please." And just like Severus', her meal appeared on her plate. She knew it was the house elves in the Hogwarts kitchen that prepared the meals, but she was used to the buffet style of the great hall and had never placed an order like this.

"No wonder you have the figure you do." Severus said raising an eyebrow at her healthy breakfast. "Coffee?"

"Thank you, and yes please." She silently made a mental note that he had just complimented her figure.

"How do you take it?" Severus asked as he poured them both coffee.

"Black please." He handed her the mug and she couldn't help but notice he left his own black as well. "I see you have good taste in coffee." She smirked.

"Yes well, I must keep up the appearance of the scary professor don't I? Even my coffee has to be black." He winked again and she laughed aloud. Suddenly there was the sound of wings as a few owls swept in the open windows across the room. Hermione searched for the owl her and Ron shared, hoping that her husband would have thought to send her a message asking her how her first night in the castle went. Owls dropped newspapers at every table and a few letters but nothing for her. Her shoulders slumped and she went back to quietly eating her omelette. "Were you waiting for post?" Severus asked her. He was eyeing her and she knew he had noticed her disappointment.

"I just thought perhaps Ronald would have sent me a note since today is my first full day back at Hogwarts." Hermione could even hear the sadness in her own voice as she said it.

Severus reached across the table and stroked a thumb across the top of the hand she had rested around her coffee cup. "Perhaps he did and it hasn't arrived? Or possibly he is waiting til the end of the day and will reach you by floo? You do have a fireplace in your quarters as well as in our office. The castle would direct him to the right one."

"Perhaps you are right Severus." Hermione replied trying to turn the corners of her lips up into a smile. "I'll just have to keep an eye on the floo tonight." He removed his hand from hers and they finished their meals in quiet companionship, though Hermione's mind was anything but.

After breakfast Severus offered to take Hermione on a guided tour of the castle from a staff perspective. All disappointment in Ron left her as she eagerly allowed him to take her by the arm again and guide her through the castle. She had read Hogwarts: A History so many times she could recite it word for word, and had spent quite a bit of time exploring, but seeing everything from a staff member perspective would be a completely different experience and she couldn't hide her excitement.

"I figured this might appeal to that mind of yours." Severus chuckled at her eagerness.

"Of course you would. You once called me, what was it again?" She teased

"I do believe the term I used was 'insufferable know-it-all'" He answered laughing. Severus showed her all of the secret passageways that allowed staff to make it from place to place within the castle easier, showed her where the various other staff quarters were in case she ever needed to locate any of them, and concluded the tour with a walk through the grounds together.

"My goodness Severus, there was so much you showed me that I didn't know! How did none of those passages ever appear on the Maurauder's Map?"

"Because students, no matter how advanced they may be, don't always know more than professors. They're warded so they can't be plotted on any map."

"That is bloody brilliant! Thank you Severus for showing me all of this."

"You're welcome Hermione. Watching your eyes light up at every new thing was a rare treat. There isn't much you don't know I suspect." He chuckled. Hermione couldn't get over this new version of Snape, or how much she enjoyed spending time with him. She stopped walking when they reached a tree near the black lake and took a deep breath of the air and a huge smile crossed her face.

"Do you think we could stop and just sit here for a while? It's such a nice day out." She smiled and conjured a blanket for them to sit on. Severus nodded and helped her get situated. Once they were seated he conjured a patronus and sent it up to the school. "What was that for?"

"You'll see." He said smiling. Moments later a picnic basket appeared before them.

"Well, well Severus. How did you know I was feeling a bit hungry?"

"We did a lot of walking and I thought it would be nice since we are sitting here to have our lunch al fresco." He began unpacking the basket and Hermione just watched him. The movement of his hands indicated trained wandmanship as well as the fine movements and skills required for potion making. She never admitted it but she used to watch his hands all the time in classes.

I wonder how skilled those hands are in other ways besides potion making and spellcraft…he probably makes an entirely different kind of magic. She noticed him smirking at her and suddenly wondered if he could have accidentally used legilimency. Her face instantly reddened to the colour of a Christmas poinsettia and she searched her brain for words to say. Any words. "I uh…this is…oh is that more wine?" She spluttered as she looked over the contents taken out of the basket.

Severus laughed openly. "Are you flustered for some reason Miss Granger?" There it was again. His use of her maiden name. She realized he had never actually referred to her by her married name except for in his introduction to the staff. She wondered if there was something to that.

"Why would you think I'm flustered Professor Snape?" She emphasized his title teasingly.

"That's Headmaster Snape, Miss Granger." He winked. "And I ask if you're flustered because your thoughts are scrambled and literally throwing themselves at me. I swear I'm not even trying to use legilimency, but for some reason it's like your thoughts are forcing their way into my head." Hermione's mouth gaped open. "I'm not getting clear thoughts necessarily, but something about my hands?" He was full on smirking now.

"I uh…uh…I was just…admiring how…oh for Merlin's sake…I was thinking that your hands move like a well-crafted potioneer that's all. It's a compliment. You really shouldn't be listening in on my thoughts you know." She mock pouted and crossed her arms.

"Believe me, Hermione I wasn't trying. Like I said your thoughts were throwing themselves at me like they knew I would be able to hear them. So my hands move like a well-crafted potioneer do they?" He poured them each a small glass of white elf made wine. His face turned more serious suddenly and Hermione quirked an eyebrow. "I'm sorry Hermione I shouldn't be teasing like this. I know how I must be coming across and we are not only colleagues but it's been years since we last saw each other. Not to mention the fact that you are a married woman. I apologize if I have been…less than appropriate."

Hermione almost spit out her wine. If he only knew what SHE had been thinking and how less than appropriate HER thoughts were. She coughed and spluttered a little before gathering herself to respond. "I don't think you've been inappropriate in any way Severus." She covered his hand that was resting on the blanket with her own. "You've been nothing but hospitable, welcoming and kind to me. I wasn't taking any of it as you being inappropriate. If anything, it is me who should apologize."

Severus' eyebrows shot up into his hairline. "Why would you need to apologize?"

"Because. It is I that is married and I have been…flirtatious with you. I suppose it's just rare for me to receive any kind of attention these days, especially male attention." She clasped her hand over her mouth. She hadn't meant to say that last part.

"How could someone like you not be used to attention from men? Do you not know how you look? What about Ronald?"

"Ron is…busy. He is gone a lot with Quidditch and when he is home he isn't the most romantic of men. Don't get me wrong he's a good man and I love my husband but sometimes I wonder if this is what a marriage is supposed to be." She paused. "I don't know why I am spilling all this to you. I'm sorry Severus."

"No need to apologize. I would like to get to know you as the adult woman that you are now. We are co-running this school, we should be friends. I am sorry to hear that things aren't how you would like them. As for how a marriage should be, I have no idea having never seen a happy one. My parents hated each other and the only love I ever knew loved someone else. I have since made my peace with Lily and now I am finally able to be happy and I just haven't found anyone with whom I click. So many witches are only interested in my war hero status and it turns out they are just vapid celebrity seekers." Hermione realized she was still holding the older man's hand, and she squeezed it reassuringly.

"The right woman is out there for you. You just need someone who is as smart as you are and can hold a proper conversation. I will say that is the one thing I almost wish I had held out for. Some days all Ron will talk about is Quidditch. He isn't very interested in a lot of the things I am, such as the politics of the wizarding world as a whole and how it affects other magical creatures outside of the wizarding community." Hermione paused for a moment. It was true. Her and Ron barely even talked about anything besides shallow conversation. It wasn't until now, conversing with someone of the same intellectual status that she realized just how lonely she had been feeling. She felt dark eyes focused on her and she looked up and met them.

"Are you okay Hermione? You look rather pale all of a sudden. I could escort you inside if you would like, or perhaps a change of subject?" Suddenly his thumb was caressing her face and wiping a tear she didn't realize she had shed.

"Oh my goodness, this is ridiculous! Sitting out here and crying! I am so sorry Severus you planned a lovely day and this picnic is lovely and I'm ruining it."

"You are most definitely not ruining anything. I feel for you that you are so unhappy. A woman like you deserves better than that." He continued stroking her cheek. They were less than a foot apart and Hermione couldn't help noticing the quickening of her pulse at his touch. If she was honest with herself she had never once felt that with Ron and she suddenly realized she married him because it was what was expected after the war and all she had wanted was comfort and familiarity. She had no parents, Harry had Ginny, and she just didn't want to be alone. It shocked her that all it took was 24 hours away from Ron for her to realize all of this. "Hermione? Are you sure you're okay?"

"I-I'm alright I just…realized a few things and they hit me rather suddenly is all and I don't really know what to do about it all."

"Do you mind if I ask what you realized?"

"That my relationship with Ron has mostly been a lie. I love him but I don't think I have ever truly been in love with him. He makes fun of me for my love of books, teases me about how much room they take up on the shelves, how he could put up more of his Quidditch trophies if I didn't own so many. He never takes an interest in my work or anything. I-I don't know what I'm going to do." She put her head down and sobbed. Severus leaned her into him and held her close as she cried, stroking her back.

"Hermione, love, it happens. People drift apart. I'm just sorry this all hit you at once. Were you not feeling this way before you came here?"

"I-I-I was….but I thought maybe it was just a season our marriage was going through. Then here I am talking with you, and flirting and I'm finding myself happier than I have ever been and it's not even been 48 hours! I'm a horrible person!" She was sobbing into Severus' shoulder and her grief caused his heart to break for her. He tilted her chin to make her look at him.

"Love, I think this has been coming for a long time and I don't think it is about me. I think it is about you realizing that you deserve more than what he has been giving you. I really am sorry for my part in this. I shouldn't have started a flirtation in the first place, like I said earlier. You're a beautiful, incredibly talented witch, and I'll admit I find you very attractive both mentally and physically, but you are married and I should be respecting that. I am sincerely sorry Hermione." Hermione stopped crying and took a deep breath. His face was so close to hers that she could feel his breath on her lips as he spoke.

This is crazy! She thought to herself. You've been married to Ron for eight years, together for ten and one day with another man has you ready to bolt? What is it about THIS man? She felt herself leaning in towards Severus, her chin still in his grasp. He wasn't moving away and before she could think through it any further, her lips were on his and his arms were wrapped around her pulling her closer. Her tongue darted out, tasting his lips and parting them. It felt like electricity coursing through her and she wanted more. Hermione clutched at Severus' shoulders as they kissed, soft moans and sighs escaping her as his expert hands roamed her back through the silk of her shirt and suddenly they were apart, his arms holding her away from him. Oh no. What have I done? She thought as they stared at each other for what felt like forever, neither one speaking.

"Hermione, I-I…shouldn't have….this is wrong…I'm so sorry."

"You didn't do anything. I kissed you Severus. It is I who should be sorry."

"I should have stopped it as soon as it happened. You're upset and…" Hermione silenced him with a finger to his lips.

"Please. I am a grown woman. I made the choice to kiss you, and yes it was wrong. I am married to someone else and though I find myself immensely attracted to you, that doesn't undo 10 years." She picked herself up off the ground and smoothed her skirt.

"Let me walk you back to your quarters at least."

"I think it is best that I walk there alone Severus. I need to think and I think it is best that I do that alone. Besides, Ron may call on the floo and I should probably be there for that." Severus didn't argue. Just nodded and waived away their picnic with a flick of his wand. "And I think it's best we don't spend more time together right now. I need to sort myself out and I need to speak to my husband. I will see you tomorrow."

Hermione all but ran back to the castle, not daring herself to look back. Her lips still tingled from where his tongue had caressed them, her skin still felt flushed from his touch, and she felt a throbbing in her centre that she had never really experienced before. She reached her quarters and all but yelled the password as she threw herself through the passageway. Crookshanks eyed her wearily as she kicked her shoes off and rushed over to the fireplace. Throwing floo powder into it, she knealt and stuck her head in the fire. "Ronald Weasley!" She said clearly into the flames. Hermione felt the uneasy feeling of her head travelling through space while her body was still firmly planted on the floor and as suddenly as it started, it stopped and she was looking out on her flat. Ron was sprawled on the couch with a beer watching Quidditch on their wizarding telescreen. "Ron!" He jumped up and ran to the fireplace.

"'Mione?" He questioned wide eyed as he looked at his wife's head in the flames. "Is everything okay?"

"Yes, it's fine I just…wait…were you supposed to have practice today?" She questioned.

"I was but I decided to blow it off so I could relax. What's up love?" Hermione felt her blood boil.

"Did you just say you blew off a practice so you could relax? Yet all those times I asked you to do that you said you couldn't because it would cause you to lose games?" She felt her body tensing in anger and indignation.

"Relax babe, I'm sorry I didn't go on your date weekend or whatever, but that was an important practice!"

"So you didn't go to practice and yet you still didn't think to send me an owl to see how my first night away from you and back at Hogwarts was?"

"Again, babe just relax you haven't even been gone 2 days yet. Let a guy miss ya first before you freak out that he isn't checking in enough yeah?"

Hermione felt the tears pricking her eyes again and she blinked them away. "I'll have you know everyone was very excited for me to be here and made me feel very welcome. Especially Severus." That got Ron's attention.

"Severus? You're on a first name with Snape? The old bat? You sure you haven't been confunded?" He laughed and Hermione realized she felt not love but distaste for the man she called her husband.

"Yes. I am on a first name with the man that almost died for all wizard kind and whose life I saved after he had his throat ripped out by Nagini. Merlin's beard Ronald do you have to be so crass? You know what? I regret making this call already. I'm going to go. Enjoy your relaxation." And with that she pulled her head from the fire leaving behind a bewildered Ron, mouth wide open. She waited the obligatory 30 seconds to see if he would call back and apologize but he never did. Crookshanks meowed and climbed into her lap as she sat in front of the fireplace and sobbed. "Oh Crooks, how did I never realize? How did I never see this before? Ronald and I are just so incredibly different!" The half-kneazle nuzzled her and allowed her to sob into his soft fur until she fell asleep in front of the fire.

"Hermione?" She woke up to the sound of her name, blurry eyed at first and then suddenly instantly aware of a presence in her quarters. Wand raised she sprung to her feet.

"Who's there? Show yourself!" Severus stepped into the light more with his hands up in a defensive position. Hermione lowered her wand. "Severus? What in Merlin's name are you doing in my quarters?"

"I was concerned about you. After you ran away from me this afternoon I couldn't stop thinking about everything you said, not to mention what we did."

"Are you here to apologize again? That could have waited til morning and definitely didn't require this kind of invasion of privacy Severus." She didn't mean to sound so harsh, especially when it wasn't him she was mad at.

"No, Hermione that isn't why I was here. I was going to say I was concerned and when you never came down to the staff room for dinner, I thought perhaps you had the house elves send something to your room, but when I went down to the kitchens they said they had no order from you."

"Did it not occur to you that perhaps I just wasn't hungry?" She said even-toned. She still didn't want to be rude, but entering her private chambers without consent, especially when she was as much of a mess as she was, was crossing a very thick line.

"I did think that yes. I waited another two hours and checked again and they still hadn't heard from you and no one had seen you. I called you by floo and saw you crumpled on the floor and I thought something bad had happened to you. I would never have invaded your privacy otherwise. Please forgive my intrusion. Now that I know you're okay I'll just go." Severus turned around and began to walk towards the exit.

"Severus, wait." Hermione called out. "I'm sorry I was being so harsh, you were only checking on me. I should be thankful you cared enough to do that. Please, come back, have a seat. I'll make us some tea." He nodded and took a seat on the couch while Hermione conjured a tea service for them both.

"I like what you've done with these chambers Hermione. You have a gift for design."

"Thank you Severus. Do you take anything in your tea? Or black like coffee?"

"Black thank you." Hermione settled down beside him and set their teas on the coffee table. "I was very concerned when I saw you laying there like that. Are you okay? Did something happen?"

Hermione sighed. "I flooed Ronald." Severus set his tea down and turned to focus on her. "He was just laying on our couch watching Quidditch and drinking beer. He skipped practice for that. He wouldn't even skip practice to spend a weekend away with me in a bed and breakfast the weekend before I came here."

"Oh, Hermione that must have been hurtful, I'm so sorry."

"Yes, well that's not all. When I asked him why he hadn't thought to send an owl to see how my first night was, he told me I have to give him a chance to miss me. I hadn't been gone long enough apparently. Then he was more interested in the fact that I was on a first name basis with you than the fact everyone welcomed me with open arms. He couldn't have cared less." Hermione stared into her tea.

Severus moved closer and put his arm around Hermione's shoulders. "He doesn't know what he is missing out on by not paying attention to you Hermione. How he ever landed a woman like you for this long in the first place…not the point…how are you feeling now? You must be sore from falling asleep on the floor like that. How did that even happen Love?"

"I came out of the floo and broke down. I realized I am not in love with my husband and that in that moment I didn't even like him. I just sobbed and cuddled with Crooks and I must have fallen asleep there. Come to think of it, I am quite sore." Hermione rolled her neck back and forth trying to relieve the kinks. Suddenly she felt herself being scooped up and placed between Severus' legs and his strong hands were massaging her shoulders as Crookshanks eyed them both from his basket.

"Can I be honest with you about something Hermione?" Severus asked and she could hear a hint of nervousness in his tone. She turned her head to look up at him.

"Of course. What is it Severus?"

"Since we walked up to the castle together yesterday I have felt this inexplicable pull towards you. I honestly thought it may have been because of a bond that formed when you saved my life. I paid it no mind at first. Then we had dinner together, and imbibed together and I saw a laid back, albeit drunk, side of you that was just…beautiful. Your laugh, your smile, your presence. I think I started to feel something for you right then and there. Then today, talking with you, getting to know you, hearing the sadness in your voice when you talked about your marriage, I knew it wasn't just a magical bond. There was more than that there. There was something about you that made me want to know more and when the thing with your thoughts entering my mind without my using legilimency happened….Hermione that has never before happened to me." Severus paused and Hermione turned around so she was facing him completely. He rested his hands back on her shoulders. "And then, you kissed me. It was like nothing I have ever experienced with anyone before. I have spent time with women over the years, been intimate with them, and not a single one has sent an electrical charge through me like that with just a kiss. It threw me off and scared me at the same time, especially because I know you are married."

Hermione brought her hands up to either side of his face and rested her forehead against his. "What if there was no Ronald?" She whispered barely an inch from his lips.

"Then I wouldn't have stopped you from continuing to kiss me under that tree and we would be having a very different conversation right now."

"What conversation would we be having Severus?" She was still whispering and could feel the heat radiating between them from the proximity.

"One that wouldn't be including a whole lot of talking, Hermione." She flushed and squeezed her legs together. Severus sighed. "But there is a Ronald. And I don't want to come between anyone's marriage."

"Do I not get a say? Am I not allowed to do what I want?" She was peering right into his eyes now, their noses practically touching. "And what if I told you that what I want, is you?"

"How can you know that after only 2 days when you've been married for almost a decade? How do you know this isn't just lust and then you will see Weasley and forget all about me? You forget how much I stand to get hurt here. I don't want to live through another Lily and James in my lifetime."

"If you don't want this, why are you still in my chambers? You came to find out if I was okay. I clearly am fine and yet, you are still here."

Severus closed his eyes and smoothed his hands down Hermione's back, stopping at the hemline of her shirt. He used his thumbs to dip just under the edge of the fabric and she shivered. "I never said I don't want this Hermione. I'm just trying to do the right thing."

"Are you Slytherin or Gryffindor Headmaster?" She teased, arching her back slightly, enjoying the barely there touch of his thumbs on her skin.

"Fuck it, you're right. I'm a Slytherin and we go after what we want." Severus scooped her up and placed her on his lap, straddling him with his hands holding her bottom. "What about you? Gryffindor's princess?"

"I never told anyone this, but the hat wanted to put me in Slytherin but given my blood status felt I would be safer in Gryffindor."

"Mmm, so you were a snake in the lion's den were you?" His voice was almost a purr and it made her skin cover in gooseflesh.

"Yes." She threw her head back exposing the length of her neck. "And I know what I want. I want you Severus Snape."