Chapter Three
Most of the others hardly said a word to her for the next few days. Ron looked like he didn't know whether to thump her for her 'betrayal', or fall at her feet and beg her to reconsider. Harry was still friendly to her - more so when Ron wasn't around - but at least he was civil the rest of the time. She did feel a little sorry for him, stuck in the middle between his two best friends. And his obvious history with Snape undoubtedly made things even more awkward, but he was a kind person, and Hermione was glad he could at least sort of see her side of things rather than just having a knee-jerk reaction like pretty much everyone else. She hadn't seen Severus since after the Order meeting that afternoon, although he had sent her an owl to say he would try and visit Grimmauld Place in the next couple of days. As it happened, the Weasleys were about to all return to the Burrow that week. There wasn't much going on at that moment in terms of Order of the Phoenix activities, and Hermione thought Mrs Weasley was probably fed up of sifting her way through Sirius's dusty inheritance and missing her own homely kitchen. Harry was debating whether to go with Ron or stay in London with Sirius, although his godfather was still moping around with Buckbeak mostly - put out at being hidden away instead of being able to join in the fight.
Just as they were all saying their goodbyes in the entrance hall, the door swung open and a stiff breeze blew down the corridor, flapping the curtains concealing Walburga Black's portrait. A chorus of "Mudbloods! Filth! Traitors!" filled the cramped hallway, and Fred tripped over Ginny's trunk lunging towards the painting to prod at it with his wand. "Stupefy!"
Mrs Black went silent, and everybody looked towards the front door to see the new arrival.
Severus Snape remained motionless on the doormat for a heartbeat, then strode into the house past them all, his long legs effortlessly navigating the mountains of baggage strewn across the floor.
"Severus, dear!" Molly Weasley was probably one of the only ones that wasn't looking at him in revulsion. "We're just about to go back to the Burrow, do excuse the mess! Lupin's away at the moment too, although I think he and Tonks will be back here tomorrow sometime. Did you want to speak to Arthur? I'm afraid he's working overtime at the Ministry tonight, he'll be getting a Port-Key straight from there back to Ottery St Catchpole so he told me. Kingsley's with him - they're looking into something for Dumbledore I think, although neither of them would say what it was exactly."
Snape had now safely traversed the hallway and its hazards and was about to disappear through the far door to the library. Turning back to the plump redhead, he spoke, ignoring everyone else as if they were the only two people there. "I'm just passing through. I've been quite busy myself lately, although I don't have anything concrete to inform Shacklebolt of yet. I'll drop in at the Ministry tomorrow I think, thank you."
As he made to turn away again, Molly called out to him. "Oh, Severus-?! Hang on children, you all go on and take your stuff out onto the steps..." She trotted down the hall towards him, lowering her voice slightly. "Hermione's staying here after we go. I tried to convince her to come but she insisted, I presume you're aware of that?" Snape merely returned her questioning expression with an inscrutable look. "Now look, Severus. Sirius lets you in here because you're working for the Order, but if I were you I wouldn't push him. I'm sure he'd take a pretty dim view of you behaving in a less-than-impeccable manner towards Hermione, so don't antagonise him."
"I highly doubt that I shall even see Black, given how rarely I hear he manages to venture out away from that old nag of his. However... as I mentioned before, you need not worry about my comportment with regards Miss Granger. I do find it laughable though - given my rather dubious past - that people seem more concerned about me being alone with a Muggle-born witch in case I might be too affectionate towards her! It seems it would be infinitely more acceptable to most, for me to Curse her rather than embrace her, but no matter."
"Good. I'm glad you've taken my advice to heart." Mrs Weasley patted him on the arm reassuringly. "I don't want to interfere with you two - like Hermione said, you're both adults and capable of making your own decisions. I'm sure she'll be pleased to see you dear, even if it is just a fleeting visit." Her eyes suddenly narrowing, she wagged a finger at him. "You're not to take her to Spinner's End with you though Severus, do you understand me? I may not be her mother, but in her parents' absence I feel the need to treat her as if she were my daughter. Sirius may not make you welcome enough to stay here for any length of time, but Merlin be damned if I let you whisk her away from the safe house just to circumvent him."
Tired of constantly treading the tightrope between being given people's blessings, and being warned to toe some arbitrary line, Snape put his hands on his hips, spreading out his cloak and filling the doorway imposingly. "Molly... What exactly are you so frightened that I'm going to do to the girl? Hex her? Have sex with her?" He stared at her bluntly, hoping to make her back down with direct confrontation by putting all his cards on the table, so to speak.
"Well, I... Just behave yourself Severus, that's all!" Mrs Weasley decided she'd done her best to lay down the law, so far as she could, and conceded finally. "Right, we're off then. Bye Hermione!" She called up the staircase. A door banged open, and a head of frizzy hazelnut curls appeared over the bannister.
"Oh, are you all off already?! Bye Mrs Weasley! I said goodbye to Ginny already. Has she got Arnold?"
"Yes dear, I think I saw him poke his nose out of her handbag a minute ago. Take care of yourself my dear, we'll see you soon." She looked pointedly back at Snape, who cleared his throat and sniffed slightly indignantly.
"Severus?!" The muted noise had clearly reached her at the top of the stairs. "Is Severus here?" She flew down the stairs two at a time, shot Molly a hurried smile as she passed, and raced down the hallway towards the tall, dark figure framed by the entrance to the library. She flung herself at him, wrapping her arms around him and pressing her face into his chest. "I missed you. Hope you've been okay?"
Mrs Weasley threw them a final glance, then bustled out of the doorway to regroup with her offspring, who were all pushing and shoving each other with bags as they waited on the steps outside. Once the door closed, Hermione released Snape from her grip, and groped around inside his voluminous cloak sleeve until she found his hand. Squeezing it affectionately, they turned and made their way into the library. He drew out his wand with his free hand, and with a flick in the direction of the fireplace, the log pile roared into life, orange flames licking at the surround in an instant.
Shrugging off his cloak and sinking down onto the sofa, he held an arm outstretched to his side. "Sit." Hermione curled up on the seat next to him, leaning into his embrace. His hand reached up to twiddle idly with her hair, twisting the curls round and round his calloused fingers.
After what seemed like forever he spoke again, in a voice so low she could have been forgiven for imagining it as he murmured, "I missed you too..."
Hermione craned her face up towards him, and stretching slightly, placed a gentle kiss on his neck. She felt him shiver involuntarily under her touch. "Sorry!"
"No, it's not... Your hair tickles." He lowered his chin to look her in the eye now. "It's been so long since I've allowed someone close enough to touch me. It's an unfamiliar feeling, that's all. I daresay I'll get accustomed to it!"
"You'd better!" she smiled broadly at him. "I plan on doing a lot more of it!" Laughing lightly, she dotted a trail of quick kisses up from his neck and along his jaw. He leaned into her ministrations, his nose buried in her hair. When she finished, he brought his legs up onto the seat beside him, stretching them out across the cushions to lie down. Hermione scooted over to lie in front of him, her back pressed up against his chest. The sofa was a long one but Snape was longer, and he had to shuffle himself up and prop his head onto the armrest so that his feet didn't hang off the other end. He wrapped an arm over Hermione, tucking it back underneath her ribs, between her and the upholstery; holding her tight.
"I'd like that." He kissed the top of her head; his own long hair falling forward and merging with hers. They lay together, just listening to the sound of the other's breathing for an age, until Kreacher came in to draw the curtains closed. "Filthy Mudblood, consorting with blood-traitors... Diluting his noble blood..." Snape didn't even open an eye, but pointed his wand up and over the back of the couch in the direction of the croaky tirade. Hermione heard a zap, and a strangled yelp, and then the library door thumped closed and they were alone once more.
"You should be nicer to him you know - he can't help being raised by a bunch of Death Eaters and pure-blood supremacists. No offence." She rolled over to lie facing him, and brought her hand up to trace a path up and down between the many small buttons on the front of his tunic.
"None taken. He insulted you though - implying you're not good enough to be with me, when in fact it is I who is not good enough for you."
Hermione's hand halted on his buttons, before snaking it up to his chin and tilting his head down to look him in the eye. "Severus Snape. Stop putting yourself down! You're the bravest man I've ever known. You're smart, you're handsome, you're-" She was cut off as he dipped his face further towards hers, pressing his mouth to her lips firmly. "Mmmmph!" Her hand moved to cup his cheek as she reciprocated, before letting her fingers carry on round to rake through his hair. Snape brought his own free hand up to the back of her head and deepened the kiss, opening his mouth slightly and flicking his tongue lightly across her bottom lip. Hermione braced herself on her elbow for a second and shifted herself further onto the sofa, until her hips were pressed right up against his. Moving against him, she noticed suddenly that he had stopped kissing her, and opened her eyes to see him staring at her with one eye open, an expression of wry amusement on his dark features.
"I'm not that brave, Hermione. If Black or anyone else were to walk in and discover us- How did Molly put it...? 'Behaving less-than-impeccably'? I fear we might be on the receiving end of a few nasty hexes. And I have no desire to see them spoil your beautiful features. My fault for encouraging you of course, but you can't blame a wizard for getting carried away with a witch like you." He planted one final chaste kiss on her lips, then sat up from behind her with a great effort, scooting backwards to sit up into the corner of the chair. Hermione remained outstretched, but lifted her head to lay it in his lap. He draped an arm over her shoulders. "I know what Molly thinks, you know. That I will corrupt you, lead you astray. Oh, not in the sense of the Dark Arts. As keen to learn as you are, I'm certain that there are some lines you would never contemplate to cross. Yet another way in which you are my better. But she fears for my... professional... influence over you. As if you - any of you - have ever treated me as a rightful figure of authority(!)" He chuckled wryly; an unfamiliar sound, deep and rumbly. Stroking her hair lightly, he continued. "Little does she know that I am in fact the voice of reason in this relationship. You will insist on tempting me, Hermione. It is fortunate indeed that I am as strong-willed as I've been required to become over the years, or else Mrs Weasley would have good reason to fear my being with you!"
Hermione sat up now, scrambling to sit back in line with Snape, while trying to avoid tumbling off the edge of the sofa. She nestled into his side and draped her legs over the top of his. "You're such a goody-two-shoes Severus. I know your friendship with some of the other Order members is a little strained..." 'Understatement of the Year', she thought to herself, "...but I'm a grown witch now; I think I'm entitled to behave entirely how I like. Within the law of course! Unless..." she trailed off.
"Unless...?" She could feel his voice reverberate through his chest, her ear pressed up against his heart.
"Unless... you don't want to... you know? Take things further. With me." Hermione let her words hang in the air for a long moment. She could feel him shifting slightly underneath her; in awkwardness, she assumed. Perhaps he really didn't feel the same way about her. Perhaps he just wasn't so keen on following impulses with regards the physical side of their relationship. She hoped he did feel the same way about her, but was just having difficulties expressing it.
"Hermione." She could tell he was looking at her now, even though the top of her head was facing towards his black gaze. His hand had stopped caressing her hair. She tried not to swallow nervously. "You are a singly beautiful witch, both inside and out. I have no wish to taint you with my actions. I... Whilst I very much enjoy your company and ah, your affections, I have no wish to spoil what we have by doing anything rash."
"Rash?! For Merlin's sake, Severus - do you think that if I didn't want to be with you, that I'd be here now, snuggled into your armpit?!" She twisted to look him in the eye, a mix of incredulity and amusement in her eyes. "Wizards can be so thick sometimes!" Bringing both her legs back over from laying across his, she raised herself up and swung one leg back over his thighs again, so that this time she was straddling his legs, facing him. Leaning forward, supporting herself with her hands on his chest, she planted a string of kisses across his nose and face, which punctuated her words as she spoke. "I... like... you... Severus...! I think... you're... incredibly... sexy..." She saw his Adam's apple bob slightly at the top of his high collar as he swallowed. She brought one of her hands up to his face and brushed his long black hair away from his eyes, meeting his gaze steadily. "If you want to take our relationship further, then believe me - nothing would give me more pleasure. I'd love to get closer to you, if you'll let me. And not just for the, um, physical, benefits."
Snape, who had been watching in silence while rapidly cycling through a huge variety of conflicting emotions in his head, stared intently at her after she stopped speaking. For a second, Hermione thought he was just unsure as to what to say, but then she realised that he had possibly done something a little more Slytherin.
"You just used Legilimency on me, didn't you?"
"I, ah... my apologies, Hermione..." His pale cheeks flushed ever so faintly. He dipped his gaze, hoping he hadn't betrayed her trust. Her next words surprised him somewhat.
"Good! Now you know exactly how I feel about you - that I'm genuine! And exactly what I want to do to you, although I hope you haven't spoiled the surprise too much(!)" She grinned at him, slightly embarrassed at what he might have seen running through her mind. He was apparently totally unaware of just how intoxicating he was, and the thoughts he induced in her. He looked up again and saw her smile. He cleared his throat, trying to desperately come up with the appropriate response so as to not ruin things either way. For all his years' experience manipulating people, he had very little practice in the way of maintaining and developing equal, reciprocating, personal relationships. Fortunately she didn't take offence at his momentary silence and he was surprised when she started to fiddle with the buttons at the top of his tunic. He let her unfasten three or four before he brought up his hands to encompass hers, and spoke to her, not unkindly.
"Hermione? I thought I said..."
"Right - Sirius. Well I don't know about you, but I'm not going to let a depressed felon spoil things for us?" She leaned forward again and kissed him on the lips, chin and down his neck, to the soft, pale skin revealed beneath his collar. He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, taking in the smell of her hair. Sweet and flowery, but with a hint of something more powerful underneath. He thought it reminded him of some Potions ingredient, although he couldn't pinpoint exactly what. The teasing girl on top of him was now wiggling her hips from side to side slowly, her digital explorations momentarily foiled. Fortunately she was placed far enough down his lanky body that it wasn't causing him an immediate problem, but if she continued, he wasn't quite sure how long he could resist. Studying Occlumency had afforded him a great deal of personal self-control, but it only worked so long as you wanted it to work.
She whispered into his ear conspiratorially. For dramatic effect, he presumed, as they were still alone in the room. "If you're not comfortable here, my room's upstairs?"
He licked his lips in nerves and anticipation. "On the third floor?"
"Second. To the right of the stairs."
Severus wrapped his arms around her body, bringing her close to him and holding her tightly. Closing his eyes again in extreme concentration, they Disapparated with a soft 'pop'.