Chapter Six

It was another three days before she heard from Severus again. He sent her an owl with instructions for them to meet for lunch at a new café in Diagon Alley. He advised her she was free to use Tero for whatever preparations she needed, and told her to spare no expense if she needed anything in the way of clothing or adornments. Hermione voted against that but thought for a moment she might want to dress differently for their meeting. It seemed their deception of the press was to begin so she might as well make an effort. Deciding against just wearing her normal frumpy work clothes, she dressed in her best work robes, her hair pinned neatly at the base of her neck, allowing for just some of it to fall loose across her shoulders and back. She wore her nicest black heels. They did nothing for her feet but made her arse look "bloody fantastic"; at least that was how George Weasley had put it last time he'd seen her in them.

Hermione set Amanda to sort out the new equipment that had arrived anonymously at the orphanage that morning and left for lunch. She had a slight spring in her step regardless of the overcast sky; it was grey and dreary heralding rain on the horizon. She was excited however not only at seeing Severus but at the thought of all the good the new equipment would do for the children in the orphanage. She made a mental note to thank Severus. Hermione was sure he'd been the one that had sent them. No one else had ever been that generous to the orphanage, not even the Malfoys in their bid to secure a favorable public opinion of themselves after the war. She knew it was just because of their arrangement that he had behaved so generously but it showed her what the man was truly capable of and it made her smile widely at the idea of working with him on his project. She secretly hoped it was because of their recent sessions that Severus had set this lunch.

Hermione turned the corner and could see him sitting alone at an outside patio table. His long legs crossed, he sat reading a small book. He cradled it gently in his large hands, his long finger turning the page with great care. She idly wondered if he demonstrated such great care with everything he did. Hermione watched him for a moment longer and her breath caught at the realization that her attraction to him had grown exponentially. Severus wore small reading glasses that sat precariously on the bridge of his nose and his longer than normal dark hair hung loose around his face. She became suddenly nervous remembering their earlier meeting and what had transpired afterwards. She neared the café and he rose to greet her, taking her hand she felt the warm breath of his mouth as his lips lightly pressed to her knuckles, just before he turned her hand and discreetly ran his tongue up her palm. The gesture was so quick, so intimate; she almost thought she'd imagined it. Grasping her hand firmly he pulled her to him. Their bodies pressed close together, she put her hands on his solid chest, her fingers idly stroking the carved runes on the buttons of his coat. Placing his strong hands on her waist, he leaned in and spoke directly in her ear, his mouth caressing the shell of her ear.

"Smile for the camera dearie," his tone was full of sarcastic humor and she knew they were being watched.

Hermione couldn't help but smile as she noticed Skeeter's cameraman standing across the street, the lens of the camera pointed directly at them. She bought her hand up to his shoulder, pulling him closer to kiss his cheek then laughing airily as if he'd told a great joke. She stepped back, her hand still in his, he guided her to the chair and held it out for her, before planting a soft kiss on her head. Hermione knew this was all business but that small gesture seemed so natural it put a genuine smile on her face.

He motioned with his hand for the waiter to come over and ordered a couple of glasses of fruit juice as they finished hearing the lunch specials for the day. They ordered and sipped their drinks in silence until they were served. Severus reached out and took her hand in his, the gesture one of intimacy and familiarity. He aimed to give Skeeter a good show and Hermione relaxed into his touch. She realized it wasn't hard to do so. Severus cocked his eyebrow at feeling her squeeze his hand in return, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

Reverting to his classroom voice he spoke, "As you can tell we are being watched." This voice still had the ability to make her sit at attention. She nodded because at the moment with his hand in hers she found it difficult to talk. Memories of what they'd done flooded her mind and she could feel the warmth rise in her cheeks. She lowered her face to look at the interesting pattern on the tablecloth.

"Come now Miss Granger, we're both adults."

"How long have they been following you?" She spoke, feeling somewhat abashed by his words.

"On and off for over five years," Severus answered as he lightly fingered the rim of his glass. Hermione couldn't help but imagine what they would feel like fingering something else.

"S-same here, well before the final battle as well, but being a student afforded one a sort of protection. That does not, however, carry over to when one is an adult in the wizarding world. They are pariahs; then again I am sure Skeeter is still mad at me about the whole jar thing."

The waiter had bought out their food while Hermione had been speaking and at hearing Hermione's declaration, Severus placed his spoon down and raised a questioning eyebrow.

"Do tell Miss Granger."

"During my time at school I discovered she was an unregistered animagus. I caught her in a jar and kept her there for over a month. I am sure she still carries a grudge over that," Hermione's tone was very matter of fact which showed in the change in Severus' expression.

Before Hermione could figure out what he was thinking, Severus threw his head back and laughed loudly. It was a strong booming laugh that echoed against the stone walls surrounding the outside courtyard. He was full of mirth at the idea and asked her to elaborate further. She did so as they ate they each took turns discussion their various run-ins with the press as well as the ministry alike. At the end, Hermione and Severus had decided that they each had had their fair share of shite from both agencies and had grown tired of dealing with them all together. During the course of their meal, Severus had moved nearer to Hermione, shifting his chair closer to her she felt his hand on her knee. His face came up close to her ear, his breath on her neck.

"Just keep smiling, this will serve your purposes as well as mine."

"Oh and here I thought you only wanted me for my sparkling conversation."

"I am finding that I am quite drawn to you for both," he said.

Severus chuckled at her shocked expression and it delighted her to hear the sound against her skin. His hand teased higher along her stocking clad leg until reaching the bare skin of her thigh.

"Garters, Miss Granger… How positively devious, who would have thought?"

From the angle in which they sat no one could see his movements beneath the table and Hermione was left facing the cameraman who was none the wiser as to what Severus was actually doing. His hand moved along the soft skin of her warm inner thigh until his long fingers reached the soft lace of her knickers. He caressed her mound thru the moist material, his touch was both light and gentle, the same touch he'd shown his precious book.

His face moved closer to her, his mouth at her ear again. "So warm Miss Granger, is this for me?"

His hand closed over her mound and she bit hard on her bottom lip. She struggled to school her features but it was fruitless, the pleasure of that simple touch had her eyes closing in ecstasy. A crack of thunder frightened her and his hand pulled away. A deluge of rain quickly followed and he helped her to her feet and out of sight from the reporter. The fat drops of water pelted them both soaking their clothes as he pulled her into a dark alley between buildings. Hermione could hear the chaos of people seeking shelter and laughed at the disheveled state they were both in. Severus laughed along with her but just as quickly it was replaced with another expression. With his left hand on the wall behind her head he pushed himself closer to her, grabbing her waist with his right hand.

"W-what are you doing, the reporters is…"

His mouth was on her neck cutting off any protest. This was for her not for him. Her back arched against the rough stone wall as he ground his body into hers.

"Isn't this what you wanted?" he hissed.

"Uh-huh…" She nodded slightly, his mouth once again possessing the sensitive spot on her neck. She leaned into his suckling mouth, his questing tongue. She moaned loudly, caring little if she was heard.

"You smell and taste divine. I wonder Miss Granger if the rest of you, tastes as good."

"I don't know, you'll just have to find out," she whispered wantonly.

He pulled back and looked at her, a small smirk on his lips at the evident deviousness in her eyes. He pondered her response before providing one of his own.

"Oh I intend to, Miss Granger."

Hermione bit her lip. It was the only way to keep from moaning loudly when she felt his hardness against her stomach. She wanted to touch it, to reach out her hand and grab it, to squeeze it and make him moan.

He watched as the rain soaked Hermione's hair, face and clothes. He was riveted as skin began to show through the thin cloth of her blouse. Severus pulled her hair loose from what remained of her plait and dug his long fingers in her wet curls. She mewled in pleasure. He watched as she moved against him, her body seeking contact, anything to dull the ache.

"Tell me what you want," his voice rough at her ear.

She shook her head wildly, "Anything…I don't know…just anything…" She didn't know, Hermione was at a loss.

"So eloquent Miss Granger, not much of a wordsmith when there are no books present," he teased darkly.

His hands were on her, their relentless quest to discover every part of her currently found him clutching the fabric of her skirt and lifting it up, pulling up her thigh along with it. He wrapped her leg around his, opening her to him he felt again for the small scrap of lace that covered her sex. Severus ripped away her moist knickers, tucking them into his trouser pocket before kneeling on the rain soaked ground in front of her, her thigh on his shoulder. The scent of her desire was intoxicating and Severus could feel his mouth water at the feast that awaited him.

"Look at me Miss Granger."

Hermione couldn't, she just couldn't look at him. No one had ever seen her like this. She was a wanton slut. She couldn't believe she found herself opening her legs further as an invitation to the dark man at his knees before her.

"Look. At. Me."

When she did, she was lost in his dark eyes and then his mouth was on her. His arms tucked behind her thighs he lifted her to his mouth. All her weight supported on his shoulders, her back dug into the hard stone of the wall. His tongue moved over her like waves against the surf. The rain soaked them both and the claps of thunder drowned out her moans of pleasure and the sounds of his enthusiastic tongue on her cunt. She put one hand up against the back wall, the other dug into his hair pulling him closer to her. His hands reached up and ripped open her blouse exposing her bare stomach and lace covered breasts to the rain. Her breasts heaved in their confines, begging to be released, the nipples hard and erect, searching for his touch.

"Touch yourself," he commanded before resuming his feast.

Hermione obeyed; she pulled at her nipples in a poor imitation of his touch. She cupped and squeezed her breasts in tandem with his tongue on her cunt. She was so close. His mouth began to suck the small bundle of nerves of her sex. He had her calling out to the heavens but she couldn't come, not yet.

"Come for me Miss Granger."

And she did.