A/N: Hey! So sorry for the late update! It's been a busy couple of weeks, I had my birthday and finally got my acceptance letter to the university I want to go to! Anyways thanks so so much for the reviews and favorites/follows, they give me a huge smile and make me feel warm fuzzies :) As always please review!
Disclaimer: Belongs to Rowling, I'm just playing with her characters :)
Hermione woke up looking around herself in confusion for a moment, before the previous nights events came back to her. She blushed and then smiled widely as she lay back down. She looked over, frowning when she realized that Severus was not in bed with her. Had she misread him? Did he not have feelings for her? But he kissed me!
Hermione was starting to freak out when Severus walked into the room. He smiled at her but seemed apprehensive. She gave him a small smile which relaxed him visibly and he walked over to the bed. "I've got breakfast in the other room if you're hungry," Severus informed her.
"I am hungry. But do you mind if I use the loo first?" Hermione asked blushing.
"Of course. It's right there." He pointed to the small room adjoining the bedroom. "I shall be in the other room when you are done," he called back to her as he walked out of the room.
Hermione quickly got up and walked into the bathroom, groaning when she saw the tangled mess her hair had become. Thanking the heavens for the spell Ginny had taught her to help with untangling hair, she managed to pull it into a loose bun. After brushing her teeth with a tooth brush she had transfigured, Hermione quickly muttered a cleansing spell over herself and left the bathroom.
Walking into the sitting room, Hermione found Severus sitting on the couch with two plates of food on the coffee table in front of him. He looked up when she came in and his face softened at the sight of her.
Sitting next to him Hermione hesitantly spoke, "Severus, should we... I would like to talk about this."
Severus looked at her in surprise and sighing he nodded. "I'm not entirely sure what 'this' is Hermione."
"I... I care for you Severus. I would like to get to know you... as more than friends." Hermione blushed slightly but still held his gaze.
Severus ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. "Hermione, I am not someone you should care for. I'm not a good man. I'm too old for you... too old, too callous, and too cruel." Severus had stood up and had walked around the room in agitation as he spoke.
Hermione quickly stood up as he finished and walked over to him. Taking his hands in hers she explained, "Severus, regardless of what other people think, regardless of what you believe of yourself, you are a good person. You've done great things, you saved us all so many times. And your age makes no difference to me, I care for you Severus no matter how old you are. As for you being callous and cruel, you are not that way to me. You're kind. You are a good man but you hide it because you have been hurt." Hermione paused her impassioned speech, taking a deep breath as Severus stared at her in shock. Before he could say anything she went on, "I care for you Severus, deeply. I believe you care for me as well. Please don't stop this before it has a chance to start." Hermione looked up into his eyes praying that she had gotten through to him.
Severus sighed and lifted his hand to cup her face. "Stubborn little witch," he muttered, but his eyes looked at her with affection. "Very well, you are right, I shall not deny it. I do care for you, deeply. But I fear the reactions from everyone else will not be... Favorable." He grimaced slightly at this last statement, but as Hermione opened her mouth to protest he held up a hand to stave off an argument. "But, that will not stop me from seeing you. I would wish however to keep this secret, at least until you graduate in a few months," Severus finished.
Hermione smiled up at him and, wrapping her arms around his waist, hugged him. "Thank you Severus," she whispered, pressing her head to his chest.
Severus smiled softly and held her close, pressing a kiss to the top of her head before finally pulling away. "Come, you should eat. I'm sure you're hungry."
After eating, Hermione extracted a promise from Severus to meet her in Hogsmeade after lunch and then stood up to leave. Before she could talk herself out of it she leaned forward swiftly, placing a kiss on Severus' cheek and then quickly left.
Severus stared at the door with his fingers touching the spot where she had kissed him, for many moments before finally breaking into a smile. He stood up to put on his robes when out of the corner of his eye he noticed the research he had left on his desk. Severus quickly walked over and sat down to go back over his notes. He quickly became absorbed in making notations and diagrams once more. After what seemed like minutes he stretched and looked at the time, his eyes widening when he realized it was already 1:00 and he would be late to meet Hermione if he didn't hurry. Jumping up he threw on his robes and quickly left the dungeons.
Walking through the halls quickly, he almost made it out of the castle when he heard his name called. Stifling a groan, he turned to see McGonagall waving him over. "Is there something I can help you with, Minerva." Severus bit out.
"I wished to invite you to the staff Christmas party tomorrow Severus. I know you prefer to be alone, but I thought this year you might like to join us," Minerva invited.
Severus held back a sigh. "I will consider it Minerva... Thank you for your... kind offer," Severus responded, and without waiting for a reply he spun on his heel and stalked off, robes billowing behind him.
He soon made it to Hogsmeade and found Hermione waiting for him inside Flourish and Blotts browsing through the books. He came up behind her. "Find anything that interests you?" Severus questioned.
Hermione shrieked and spun around pressing a hand to her chest "Merlin Severus, you nearly gave me a heart attack!" Hermione scolded.
Severus just smirked and after glancing around to make sure no one was around he put a hand on either side of her waist and pulled her close to him. Bending his head down, his eyes fixed on her mouth.
Hermione licked her lips and tilted her head upwards, her eyes closing. Finally Severus' lips touched hers hesitantly. Hermione opened her lips to his and wrapping her arms around his neck. She let her tongue slip out to swipe at his bottom lip, and she moaned softly as Severus' tongue darted out to meet hers.
The kiss became more passionate. Severus slid his hands around to Hermione's back. They slid lower till he was cupping her bum, pulling her flush against the hard bulge in his trousers. Hermione was finally pulled back to reality when his hands started to slide under her shirt, and she pulled away from his lips. "Severus, Severus! We're in public!" Hermione whispered desperately as he moved his lips to her neck.
Severus froze and quickly pulled away, scanning the vicinity to ensure that they were still alone, before leaning his forehead against hers breathing heavily. "I apologize. I should not have done that," Severus said quietly.
Hermione pulled back and looked him in the eye. "I'm glad you kissed me. I hope you don't regret it, because I don't," Hermione stated.
Severus' lips twitched slightly in a smile. "I do not regret kissing you little witch. I just think it might have been unwise to do it in such a public place, right after agreeing to keep our relationship quiet," Severus reminded her.
Hermione nodded and smiled at him "I thought you might like to get some new books. I have to pick up a few presents as well," Hermione informed him, already distracted by another book. Severus' eyes softened as he watched her before finally turning to look for a few books he had been interested in buying.
An hour later they walked out of the shop with several purchases and Severus waited while Hermione ran into Honeydukes to pick up some chocolate and sweets for when Neville came back. They walked back to the castle together, but parted before reaching it so that no one would see them arrive together. Hermione left after confirming with Severus that she would meet him back in his chambers that night after dinner.