Chapter Four

Severus watched and listened as the young woman stood to take his former spot by the hearth. She seemed to be arguing with herself as how best to proceed in telling him her supposed caveat. What she hadn't noticed however was that Severus had already dipped a mental toe into her thoughts. He'd seen the swirling mists of hidden desires as well as her secreted fantasies and fetishes. Miss Granger was a veritable Pandora's Box of pent up sexual frustration. He ran an elegant finger across his lips to hide the smile threatening to give him away, and chose instead to focus on the girl. Surely she'd grown since her days as his student, but the frumpy clothes she wore did nothing to accentuate any figure at all she might have. Severus really couldn't tell, no matter how much he turned his head from side to side to look at her. He had to admit that her face was pleasant and if pressed he'd admit he could do worse if that was what she wanted besides the paltry gold. Merlin knew he had money to burn, why not enjoy himself as well?

She'd begun speaking, but he'd tuned her out some, as he used his Legilimency to see what she was thinking. Her thoughts painted such a decadent picture of adolescent fantasy, that if Severus had known about it as a teacher he would have certainly sent her to detention…and often. It was painful to listen to her try to voice such salacious thoughts, yet Severus sat quietly, doing nothing to quell her nerves. The war may have ended but he was and would always be a bastard, so he decided to let her suffer a bit. Everything hard earned, is worth it in the end.

By the time she'd finished her stammering speech; her cheeks were a lovely shade of rouge that Severus found very pleasing. He imagined this was what she would look like after one of her suggested "sessions". He felt himself hardened and moved to stand in front of her, attempting to cover up his physical discomfort.

"Surely, Miss Granger, you must have had ample opportunity to engage in these juvenile activities while a student, did you not?" She looked everywhere but at him, his presence still made her nervous and that made Severus extremely pleased. He stood closer to her, his front almost touching her but not quite.

He knew she hadn't broken the rules for her own sake. She'd only broken rules to help Potter, never just for fun. Severus hadn't lied when he said that old habits die hard. In the week leading up to tonight, he'd had the witch thoroughly vetted. He had spared no expense and left no stone unturned. If the press was to believe they were a legitimate couple, Severus couldn't risk Skeeter discovering skeletons in his former student's closet. Come to think of it, both private investigators, muggle and magical, had turned up nothing since her breakup with Ronald Weasley shortly after the final battle.

"N-no Professor," she answered.

"Look at me," he demanded. Her eyes coming up to almost meet his, her face an even darker shade of red, her breathing was short and Severus reveled in the effect he was having on her.

If Severus was honest with himself, what she was asking of him was no burden. It wasn't often; hell, it wasn't ever, that a young woman propositioned him. Fortune or not, Severus was not a man that decent women cued up to take to bed. It had been years and Severus welcomed the challenge.

"I accept, Miss Granger."

He watched the thoughts play out on her face. She flushed again and her eyes widened at the declaration and its implications. He smirked. Even after so many years, she still was so easy to read.

"However, I will dictate the terms of these 'trysts'. They will, as you said, not be of a romantic nature. They are a means to an end. I will find you, I will engage you. Do you understand Miss Granger?"

She nodded and drained the glass in her hand. Severus held out his hand and she did the same, sealing their deal the muggle way; a clasping of hands which seemed far too intimate to Hermione. Severus smiled as he felt her pulse increase beneath his long fingers at her wrist.

"Tero…" Severus called out to his house elf, his eyes never leaving Hermione's.

The small elf appeared in front of them and bowed.

"Tero, please escort Miss Granger home and make sure she is tucked in safe and sound," Severus watched as a small smile appeared on the young woman's face and was pleased to see she enjoyed him taking the initiative.

"Yes Master, is the missus ready to leave?"

"Yes Tero, thank you."

Severus stepped forward and took her hand, bringing it up to his lips, "I will see you soon Miss Granger."

Had he known that was all he needed to do to quiet her, he might have employed the tactic sooner? Then again, he'd never fraternize with a student.

He never took his eyes off her as she popped out of sight. Moving to sit once again by the fire he contemplated the task before him. He smiled smugly at the opportunity that had presented itself, the chance to teach Miss Granger something she'd never soon forget.

Hermione watched dumbstruck as Tero turned down her modest bed, prepared her tea and puttered around her small flat. She hadn't spoken anything more than a quick goodbye since feeling her former professor's lips on her hand. She could not believe she'd had the audacity to ask her former professor to indulge in her most hidden fantasies. What must he think of her?

What had amazed her most was that he had accepted!

Hermione didn't know what had possessed her to speak to him the way she had, confessing adolescent fantasies of being snogged senseless against stone walls in the castle. Fantasies of hidden trysts, the excitement of almost being caught, even of being seen or watched by someone passing by. She was mortified to think what he must think of her. Did he think her silly to still engage in these thought at 23? It wasn't her fault really. The war had changed them all and had robbed them of the opportunity to do what many of her classmates had done.

After a moment, she found she couldn't be bothered to care what he might think. He had agreed and regardless of what her brain was trying to convince her otherwise, she had to remain true to her course.

A faint pop alerted Hermione that Tero had gone. She'd almost forgotten the small creature was still in her presence. She changed for bed and turned in trying to ignore the giddiness that had come over her.

Sleep that night had been littered with dreams, one more erotic than the next. Before that night, her mystery dream man had been a faceless, nameless voice, a dark robed man bent on seducing and devouring her. Now however, the man had a face and Hermione wondered if Severus had slipped a potion into her wine. Shaking away the silly notion she thought back on her pending limited partnership with the man, wondering when and if he would contact her soon.

As part of her duties to the ministry, Hermione had been volunteered to man the ticket tent at the wizarding autumn carnival that weekend. She'd done it a few times before and had hated it each time. While couples, families and every manner of creature cavorted and had fun, she was stuck behind a chest high table and ensconced in a tent that was very reminiscent to a muggle toll booth. From outside, patrons could see only her face. Hermione would have liked a big window so that she could admire the carnival. The lights from the numerous rides and the smell of food always seem to brighten her otherwise dismal experience working the tent. After a few hours of the mundane task, Hermione was bored senseless. She watched happy carnival goers prance all around like magical pixie horses and it sickened her. She propped her elbows on the small table and dropped her face to her hands. As the evening drew closer the crowds got busier and so did Hermione's ticket tent. She busied herself with the mind-numbing task of greeting the person, ripping the tickets and taking the galleons. As she handed a ticket to a large blond haired witch she felt something behind her.

"Don't turn around," the voice whispered, the breath hot on her ear.

She'd know that dark, chocolate covered voice anywhere. She tried in vain to calm herself as the blonde woman barked at Hermione to hurry. Hermione continued even as more people cued up to her tent and she felt Severus move closer pinning her between his hard form and the small table.

"N-next," she called out, her nervousness evident in her voice. She felt his hands come up to her waist. She felt his hands tighten as his face hovered close to her ear. Hermione felt his foot move hers to spread her legs to him as he stood closer behind her.

"Miss Granger…"

Hermione thought at that moment that it should be illegal for someone's voice to sound that smooth. Each syllable was bathed in a smoky, almost ethereal resonance aimed directly at the center of her. Hermione's body reacted to it almost instantly, feeling her body sway towards his.

"S-someone will see us…"

"Isn't that what you wanted? What you desired?" Each word was purred, caressing the shell of her ear as his hands moved up her sides and around, cupping her breasts through her robes. Hermione, thankful momentarily for the high table, sighed with pleasure. He pulled her against the hard plane of his torso as she felt the evidence of his arousal against her bum. Her hands gripped his thighs pulling him closer to her, shamelessly rubbing herself against him. She heard a growl from deep in his throat.

"There's a good girl, you like that? You like feeling me against you?"

She nodded, afraid of the words that would tumble from her mouth if she did open it.

The queue had abated and they were momentarily alone. His hands ripped open her robes exposing her breasts to the cool autumn air, her nipples hardening even more. She tilted her head to one side and felt his hot mouth and teeth at the flesh of her exposed neck as his fingers pulled and tugged at her hard nipples, each one getting the same attention.

"Oh you are a responsive one Miss Granger, tell me, does it soak your knickers to think of what all those dunderheads out there would say if they saw you now, writhing against the dark potions' master like a common whore?"

Hermione felt a gush of wetness soak her knickers. She'd never experienced anything quite like this.

"Answer me girl!" His voice was rough and insistent as he tugged harder at her nipples, his mouth suckling at the juncture of her neck and shoulder.

"Y-yes…oh gods yes…"

Rubbing his growing hardness against her, he reached one hand into her jeans, he didn't bother undoing the button instead tucking his hand against her to gain access. His fingers met the moist evidence of her arousal and she moaned loudly.

"Such a naughty girl you are Miss Granger, you've ruined your knickers."

He still hadn't put his hand inside her knickers but to Hermione it was as if he had set fire to her sex. His caresses to her mound coupled with the fabric of her knickers pushed her over the edge and she shuddered in his arms. One hand held her across her chest as the other cupped her knicker-clad sex.

Withdrawing his hand he stood and before she could even turn, or even formulate a response, he was gone. Hermione was left alone to pant against the small booth table.

"Dear Merlin, what have I gotten myself into?"