Courting Magic - chapter 6

The next chapter you've all been waiting for! Sorry it took awhile, I kept rewriting it.

There was something running along her inner thigh. A set of fingers moving steadily up, leaving her skin tingling in their wake. She shifted, trying to get them to press harder against her but they remained feather light all the way up her leg, slipping up to her waist before trailing back down her other leg in a similar manner. A murmur broke past her lips, a sort of beg, for them to go back up again. They did.

She squirmed against the touch, desperately trying to get closer. To get even just the fingertips to linger at her core rather than entirely skip over it. "Pl-" A gasp escaped her, cutting off her plea before it could even begin.

The fingers had moved up above her waist and were currently skimming along her stomach, making circles around her breasts as her body practically hummed with delight.

"Oh."

One of the hands had gone momentarily but then she felt those fingers wrapping around her thigh, raising her leg in the air to feel a brush of lips on her skin. They pressed once, twice, continuing slowly up her thigh. She pressed herself further into the touch that sent her skin ablaze.

It was addicting, just feeling those lips travel up one thigh and down the next, leaving a kiss at the center of her waist whenever they changed which thigh to focus it's attention on. Her own lips parted as she let out a breathy moan and rocked her hips forward once, trying to tell him where she wanted it. Needed it. Opening her mouth-intending to call his name she was interupted by her own,

"Hermione," Hands gripped at her shoulders and shook her, hard. "wake up." She just groaned in response, raising her own hands to push Ginny's away. "Come on, you can't stay in bed all day. Classes, remember?" She finally managed to bat her hands away to which she could hear her friend laugh above her as Hermione still refused to open her eyes. Trying to hold onto the dream she had been having. "If you don't get up soon and come with me down to the Great Hall, Ron's going to eat all the food and you'll be a zombie today."

Finally opening her eyes and feeling the last traces of the dream fall away into oblivion she scowled. "Even Ron's stomach has it's limits."

"Not from what I've seen." Ginny said with a smirk before she arched her eyebrow down at her friend. "By the way, what were you dreaming about? You were rolling around in your bed moaning as if you were in some nightmare."

She just let out a heavy sigh, "No. It wasn't a nightmare." Thinking back on it Hermione could feel a blush creeping up her face. "It... was about Severus." She bit at her lip suddenly wishing the one in her dreams had touched her there as well.

"No offense, but ew." Ginny shivered as if a cold draft of air had come through the open window. Judging from the light coming in from outside there wasn't a cloud in the sky which would suggest it wasn't cold today. Besides that, it was rather warm in the room, or maybe she just thought that cause she was still currently huddled under the covers. "I didn't need that imagery."

Hermione just laughed. "Well I didn't tell you that you had to picture me and him together now did I? That imagery is completely your own fault." At Ginny's frown she laughed again before pushing herself up from the bed to swiftly change from her pajamas to school robes. "So, Great Hall?" She grabbed Ginny from where she had stood waiting for her, glancing over the room empty of any other dorm mates. Apparently she really had been sleeping late.

Ginny quickly grabbed for her school bag just before they got out the door and started down the stairs to the commons. "What's got you excited all of the sudden?" Ginny asked while trying to keep up with the pace Hermione has set as they slipped from Gryfindor Tower and started down the moving staircases.

"Well; there's food at the Great Hall, my lovely friends," She noticed Ginny look at her like she was crazy out of the corner of her eye, "and people. I like to see people. Don't you like to see people?" The words rushed out of her mouth as she took two steps at a time.

"Okay." Ginny said slowly, drawing the word out while giving Hermione an incredulous look. "You're either on caffeine, pumped up with muggle drugs, or too happy about seeing a certain someone. Which is it?"

"All of them." Hermione stated before glancing to Ginny with a smile. "Just the latter. Come on. You're the one that told me to hurry up. Why are you suddenly moving like a turtle? Get a move on slow poke." She laughed again, it felt good, nice after being all sickly just last night.

"Hold up. Got a question for you."

Hermione turned around to face Ginny who was still a few steps behind her. "Yeah?"

Ginny came to a stop when she got to the step just before the one Hermione was on. "Where were you last night?" Hermione made a small 'hmm' sound in response as if asking for more details. "I got up in the middle of the night to go and get a drink and you weren't in bed. Where did you go?"

"Astronomy Tower." Hermione replied while she started to bounce on the bottom of her heels. Gosh, she hadn't felt this alive in days. "I couldn't sleep so I took a walk and ended up there. Ran into the Headmistress," she paused for a moment, her bouncing subsiding for that single second. "Well, not literally. She came up the steps though and then I left. I did manage to evade Filch the whole night." she added quickly. For a second she bit at her lip, hoping Ginny was getting the hints.

From her eyes widening she must have finally pieced it together. "You ran into him? When? Where? How?" Hermione just laughed as Ginny fired off a series of questions at her and spun on her heel to jump down the steps. "Hey! Rabbit! Get back here and answer me!" She could hear the thundering of a pair of feet behind her.

Once her own touched the last landing she turned and started at a run down the hall. If they kept up with this talking they really were going to be late for breakfast.

She skidded to a stop just before coming to the large doors to quickly compose herself. Not wanting to appear too up and crazy infront of the whole school. Or just crazy. "Hermione," Ginny hissed from behind her. "why are you standing here now?"

She glanced to the side at her friend. "Why do you ask so many questions?"

"Because I'm curious about what went on." She gave Ginny a funny look. "Okay, and you always have the answers to every question. I would think the ones about your life wouldn't be so difficult to explain."

"Later. Food now." Hermione said the words like a robot though the effect was probably lost on Ginny, being a pureblood witch and not ever having seen one of those old robot movies. She tugged her towards the door, letting go before they actually passed over the threshold to walk down the aisle and sit down beside her friends.

"You're both late." Ron commented just before sticking a bun in his mouth.

Hermione glanced over to him. "Very observant." she said before grabbing a piece of toast and hastily coating it with jam before taking a bite.

"It took awhile for sleeping beauty here to get up." Ginny slid into the seat next to her, giving her a look that clearly stated that she wanted to hear the full story later. Hermione just nodded absently while reaching forward for a glass of juice.

The table went quite after that as there was only two minutes left of breakfast before they had to get to classes. When Hermione got up to go to class Ginny quickly followed.

"Okay, so when?" At Hermion's confused glance Ginny was quick to elaborate. "When are you going to tell me all the details?"

She had to pause and think about it. Besides the usual of classes being to public, as well as the library, there were few places they could speak about it without needing to cast a muffliato spell. Which she didn't want to fully depend on when hiding the secret that she was a Veela. It all just seemed too delicate a matter incase someone counteracted it or somehow overheard through another spell. "How about the Room of Requirement in the evening."

"We'll meet outside first right?" Ginny asked as they entered their first class for the day, Transfiguration.

"Yeah." Hermione replied before they went and sit down in their seats.

The class passed by in a pleasant blur. She didn't feel to tired to participate like most days and had raised her hand eagerly to answer any questions McGonagall asked the class that another student couldn't answer within the first five seconds. Though, she may not have given them much time in the first place. She just loved that she wasn't fallig over in her chair right then and knew she probably wouldn't be able to be like this again for a few days and wanted to do the most that she could with it.

As the class left though McGonagall called from the front, "Miss Granger, could you stay after class for a moment?"

Hermione skidded to a halt, muttering a quick, "If I'm not at class when it starts just tell the Professor that I'm speaking with McGonagall." to Ginny. Her friend nodded before walking out the door with Harry and Ron.

Turning around she picked up her bag as she passed by the desk, walking up to the front of the room where McGonagall motioned for her to follow her into her office attached to the classroom at the back. She hurried through the door, hearing it shut behind her when the Professor went through after her Hermione went to a seat across from the desk and sat down. "What is it you wanted to talk to me about Professor?"

McGonagall was silent as she made her way to the desk and sat in the chair before speaking, "I noticed that you were acting like your old self in class. Raising your hand and answering the questions without giving the other students much of a chance." If the Professor wasn't smiling she would have thought she was being reprimanded for her actions. "I'm guessing your found your mate?" McGonagal inquired.

"Yes. I did find him." Hermione said quickly, though she paused in giving any more information.

"Which house is he in? I'll have to make arrangements with the other Head of House."

Opening her mouth she was about to say Slytherin but stopped abruptly. Severus was the Head of House, he would then know she was a Veela. "Well, I don't think I need arrangements right away." At her Professors questioning look she continued on, "I just found him a few days ago and I kindof need to work on developing a relationship first. Dating and other stuff until I suddenly ask him to live in the same quarters, that might scare him off. I also haven't told him that I'm a Veela yet because of that seven day thing, and I'm pretty sure I'm going to need more than seven days to make him fall in love with me and vice versa."

McGonagal slowly nodded her head. "That makes sense. If you need any help though or-for whatever reason-it gets toward the end of the time frame for you just ask. Especially when it's toward the end of the months you have. I'm not going to lose a student over her mate not saying yes after you survived a war."

She bit at her lip, slightly flustered of how much she was being looked out and cared for. "If it comes to that, sure. But for now I think this is the best approach. Once I know he's not going to say no I'll tell him I'm a Veela and-"

There was a small, "hmm" sound and she glanced back towards the Professor as her gaze had started to wander to the wall behind her.

"What?"

"Well, Miss Granger, I agree that you don't need to ask them to live with you right away but, you should tell them you're a Veela outright rather than keep it hidden as you seem to be planning. Relationships are built on truth and honesty. I think it would be best you're honest from the get go," Hermione went to open her mouth but McGonagal just raised a hand to stop her from interrupting, "telling him that you're a Veela will not put your life in danger. As long as you don't ask him if he loves you after the first date, which I don't expect you would do."

There was a slight pause and Hermione took the moment to process the information. "I suppose that would work better, it's just..." she frowned for a moment trying to figure out a way to word this without saying exactly who it was. "Me and him have this history from back when I started school, and I'm not quite sure how to bring it up because of that. He wasn't necessarily mean to me but, he wasn't nice either so it's going to take a bit more than just asking him out-which I'm honestly struggling with. It just makes it more complicated."

"Well then make sure old those feelings aren't there anymore. A lot of people have changed after the war," That was true. Malfoy had helped her back at the Quidditch game when she passed out. "it shouldn't hinder you by too much. I still highly suggest you tell him about the Veela thing beforehand though. It'll give your mate sometime to atleast come to terms with that aspect. Of course," McGonagal sighed. "if there's a problem I'll do what I can to help. You friends know who it is right?"

"Just Ginny knows. He wasn't very nice to Ron or Harry either so I'm putting off telling them. They'll just over react, and Ron would try and punch him."

At this small confession McGonagal frowned. "That's unfortunate. You'll tell me who your mate is when you're ready right? And the House they belong to so I can make arrangements for while you're still at school."

She bit her lip lightly. She doubted arrangements would need to be made. Surely she could just use his quarters? "I'll tell you the House when I'm ready, but, I would rather we make our own arrangements if it's possible."

"Yes, that's possible." The Professor glanced at a clock on the side of the desk and Hermione watched her eyes widen slightly before turning back to her student. "I'm afraid I've kept you longer here than I had planned. You should go to class. If anything comes up or you need something just ask, Hermione."

She nodded, giving a smile as she got up from the chair to pick up her book bag and swing it over her shoulder. "I'll do that Professor." Turning to leave she was stopped when McGonagall called after her,

"You can call me Minerva."

Glancing back toward the Professor she gave a nod. "Okay. Thanks for everything Minerva." she said before leaving the office and then classroom to get to the hall and head off to her next class.

She felt as if the day passed like a gentle breeze, nice and warm. No classes seemed to go on forever or end to quickly. The only thing she didn't like was that she didn't have Potions for today and therefore wouldn't see Severus. Though he was going to send her a letter later, which she was looking forward to even if it was just to select a time to meet for making the draughts she would need to get through days when she couldn't touch him.

Hopefully there was any early time slot available on school days so she could feel like this for a few of the days out of the week. It made concentrating on classes easier since she wasn't falling over all the time, attempting to sleep with her eyes open, things the Professors didn't like to have happen in their classrooms. Plus, it surprised them that Hermione had been doing those sort of things. Though one glance at her seemed to explain it really well, tired. Usually.

Today she was up and bouncing whenever she was just standing around. It surprised her Professors but they didn't seem to mind her raising her hand as much. Of course if this went on for days-like she wanted it to-they would go back to trying giving other students a chance to answer.

For now though Hermione just skipped down the hall before she came to a stop at a familiar wall and waited for her friend to show up. Already she began pacing infront of it until a door appeared indicating that the Room of Requirement was open and not in use currently.

In a few minutes Ginny appeared, mouth opening to speak but Hermione just shushed her and opened the door, entering the Romm of Requirement.

"Okay, so? Now are you going to tell me?" Ginny asked after the door had firmly shut behind her.

Hermione plopped onto one of the couches in the room. "Yes. Now, I will." She proceeded to tell her friend an indepth overview of last nights events. Well, early morning really but who cared about the time when they got to be with their mate?

"That's great for you!" Ginny exploded when Hermione had finally finished, having barely taken a breath between each word. "You'll be able to spend time with him, get your little zaps of energy, and when you can't you'll have the draughts you'll be making when he's supervising. Sounds like a perfect plan to me."

Hermione gave a quick nod of her head. "It is. I can barely wait for the letter to arrive so I can pick the time for the lessons and the days as well. It would best if we're alone, which would make it easier for me to get close and not have rumors flying around while I develop the relationship with him."

"Right." Ginny said before she took on a more serious look. "So how will you be going about that? You going to tell him outright that you're a Veela or get him to notice you as a woman rather than a student then tell him, or something else entirely?"

Hermione frowned, biting at her lip. She had had this same discussion with McGonagall before. "Well, I don't want to say it right away because I don't want to scare him off or make him feel obligated to say that he loves me right away just so I won't die. I want him to mean it when he tells me that, and for both of us to be ready for the words, you know?" Ginny gave an understanding nod at her words. "So I'm not really sure yet as to when, I guess I'll just say it when we come to that bridge." That was the truth. She wouldn't know how to go about it until she got to that point. Whenever it felt right, that she was ready to divulge the information. "Anyway," she began while standing up from the couch. "we both have homework and need to start on it so come on, before curfew passes and we'll have to sneak back to the dorms."

Ginny sighed slightly as she was getting up after Hermione. "Right when I was comfortable."

With a little laugh she opened the door so the two could walk back out into the hall and make their way to the Gryfindor Tower. Once inside Hermione went straight up the stairs into her own room to see a letter on the side table. A smile quickly formed on her face and she jumped onto her bed before reaching for it and opening it up, taking a slight notice of the open window that the owl that had left the letter must have flown through.

Miss Granger,

Since you insisted on having me supervise choose what days and times would be best for you from the table below.

Monday - 7pm to 9pm

Thursday - 3pm to 5pm, 8pm to 9pm

Friday - 4pm to 5pm, 8pm to 10pm

Saturday - 9am to 10 am, 1pm to 3pm, 4pm to 5pm, 7pm to 9pm

Just circle what works for you and send the letter back.

Severus Snape

Her smile grew as she looked over the script in his writing. It just seemed to echo his personality right onto the paper. She could almost hear his voice in her head, speaking the contents of the letter to her. Taking a quil from the table she dipped it into a inkwell before circling the one time set for Monday, along with the latest times for Friday and Saturday. This way she could be with him privately for six hours every week.

Folding it back up she started to get up when she heard a hoot from above her. Craning her neck she spotted an owl sitting on the upper frame of the bed and motioned for it to come down. It flew down onto the desk and she tied the letter to it's leg to watch it disappear through the window a moment later.

Settling back on her bed she grinned wondering what the first private lesson would be like.