Disclaimer- Disclaimer: I don't own the Harry Potter Universe, only my ideas.

Date Modified-July 22, 2010

Kindling

Tenterhooks

"Aberforth tell me, how was I suppose to focus on the batches of potions that are needed for Poppy if I'm running around trying to figure out what she is saying? She doesn't say much of anything. And there are all these contradictions- like here where she says she's returning, and there where she says she'll be here for a few days." The parchment was tatty and smeared in Snape's grasp. "What am I suppose to make out of that?"

"Listen Snape, if I've told you once, I've told you a half-dozen times ask her when she gets here. Speaking of which, shouldn't you go to the station to wait for her. She'll be here soon I expect."

"Right." Severus paid the barman for the coffee. "Here, thanks."

Walking up the high street in Hogsmeade was a quiet affair, as most of the foot traffic had moved into the Three Broomsticks. It had been a balmy June night when he last saw her. That night years ago imprinted itself in his mind; closing his eyes Severus allowed the scent memory to permeate his brain. Tantalizingly close he could almost feel and smell some of the balminess and the fragrant pollen of that summer day. Severus folded the letter more carefully than it's shabbiness would suggest, and tucked it into an inner pocket of his dress coat.

Without his robes, he felt naked and wondered if having them on would possibly make him feel any better. No, not likely. His footsteps on the plank platform at Hogsmeade Station sounded ominous to his ears. Severus heard the whistle of the Hogsmeade Express as it entered the village. Snape's stomach jumped madly as the train ground to a halt. The screeching squeals of the brakes wasn't helping to relax him. Standing on the platform alone made him feel vulnerable. The conductor hit the switch to allow the passengers to depart. Witches and Wizards streamed from the myriad doors. Severus didn't see her, knots in his stomach twisted and wrenched at his guts.

"Hey there," Hermione pulled at his hand. She didn't look the same. Severus couldn't speak, he took in her tailored jacket and blue jeans, multi-coloured scarf and barret, and the simple ladies' dress gloves. Her hair was shorter, it curled delicately from under the handmade barret. She smiled tentatively, but found her voice. "The glasses look good."

Severus gave a start. "Yes, ah thank you. Someone told me if I needed them, then I'd be a fool not to wear them. I don't fancy myself a fool." Remembering himself, Severus offered her an arm. "Do you have bags Ms. Granger?"

Blushing furiously, "please call me Hermione, and no, my trunk is shrunk and in my pocket. Thank you for asking." Taking his proffered arm felt unmistakably intimate.

Snape played with the word, Hermione. Her name rolled around his head like a loose marble on a magic carpet, so far to fall. "How was your trip so far Hermione?" Saying her name made his tongue feel sort of numb and strange.

"It was very pleasant. I enjoyed a compartment to myself and a nice cup of tea while watching the countryside roll by." She looked up into his face.

"Lovely." Severus was startled as the train departed with noisy whistling. "I'm sure we should move along."

The man and woman both struggled with unexpected shyness. The walk up to the castle was dotted with pleasant if impersonal conversation. "I received your letter," Severus inanely pat his breast pocket in illustration. "We have several hours before dinner, would you like to take tea with me in the herb garden?"

"Yes, that will be just fine." Hermione took in the scenery, "strange how everything changes but somehow stays the same."

"I'm not sure I follow you." Snape admitted.

"Looking around me, at the castle and the grounds, everything is exactly the way I remember it." She stopped to peer closely at him. "You as well, you are just as I remember you. Somehow, I see everything differently."

Severus felt slightly nervous under her scrutiny. "I expect I'm just a creature of habit, disinclined to change just for the sake of it." Wanting to deflect her attention from him. "You, on the other hand have changed a great deal." He recounted all the changes that he had noted since collecting her from the train station.

"Yes, I think it was time for me to change. Now that I have you here, I should thank you. Your letters were a great comfort to me, especially in the beginning. It made the transition easier." She ended simply.

They settled down at the little table in the herb garden. The heady sweet and pungent scents filled their nostrils and invaded their brains pleasantly. While they drank their tea Hermione broke the quiet. "I missed you Severus. I didn't want to be too forward, but it think I should tell you that I've thought of you often; more perhaps than I let on in our correspondence."

It was Severus' turn to blush, "you are very kind Hermione."

Rather serious Hermione clarified, "Severus, it's not my intent to be 'kind, for what difference it may make.'" She tugged off her gloves and lay a hand on his. "I want you to know how I feel." She gripped his hand, hoping that he understood.

Severus shifted in his chair slightly, "I don't know what to say." Truly unable to respond further, he pulled her hand close to plant a lingering kiss on her pale soft skin.

Reacting more boldly than she felt, Hermione combed the fingers of her free hand though his hair. "Say, kiss me." She bit her lip nervously. Hermione was a stomach jump away from giggling.

Sensing that the tension needed to be broken he smirked a bit. "Misplaced your Gryffindor? Last time I saw you, you hadn't hesitated to climb into my lap." Severus was the recipient of a world class indignant look.

"Why you! Severus Snape," she tilted her nose up a bit. "You've done some feet shuffling too, since I stepped off the train." Summing up the rest of her feelings in a heart-felt, "hurrumphh."

"That's much better. Proud and bold and the lot." Snape stood pulling her with him. "I'm a Slytherin, I'm allowed to remain discreet until the coast is clear." He kissed Hermione, fire licked up his thighs. "Yes, I'm glad I'm a Slytherin."

Looking curiously interested, "since when is the Slytherin mascot a chicken?" Snape's mouth formed a perfect 'O' at the challenge.

Snape grinned deviously and kissed her again. Humming with pleasure against her warm soft lips. "I missed you as well."

"In a couple of days I'm scheduled to visit my parents. Hopefully, they won't turn me away. I have my doubts but it's something I have to do." A little embarrassed, "Severus can you do me a favour?"

"If it's in my power." Snape acquiesced.

"If your not busy, would you please go with me. For moral support, I don't know if I can handle that kind of rejection alone." Scrutinizing Severus for his truth in action.

"You won't feel strange taking such an old man to visit your parents? I should think your parents would take a dim view of it, and they would certainly think something is going on between us."

"Well to answer your question, I will not feel strange at all taking you with me. And don't say you're old, it's utterly ridiculous considering you could live to be two hundred years old. And as far as I have anything to say on the matter, there is something going on between us. You took my life, as wretched as it was, and helped me fix it. You supported me the best way you could, and every time I took a dive you had me use my strengths to get myself back up. I have great respect, trust...and affection for you. Severus..." But she couldn't say anything else, choked up with emotion.

"Hermione of course I'll go. Can I hex them if they upset you?" Hermione gurgled with tear-stained laughter. Severus caressed the woman in his arms. Such a strange feeling, Hermione wasn't a kid any more, that much was obvious. She certainly didn't seem fragile any more, her confidence was reassuring. A pop-up thunder shower rolled in, soaking them in short order. They took shelter under the eaves. There out of the warm summer rain, they exchanged touch for touch, kiss for kiss, giving license to the feelings held at bay for so long.

In the aftermath of the rain, the surrounding verdant world wrapped them in a sultry embrace. The sun evaporating the rain in steamy plumes. Their hair and clothes dishevelled, as much from rain as shared passion. They both looked bedraggled, "let's get you inside. You can fill in all the blanks from your latest letter." Content with that idea, they made their way to Severus' chambers. "About dinner, what would you like to do?"

Hermione settling onto the divan, "we can eat here. I'm not fussed about it. Nothing fancy, at least not tonight."

Pouring them each a brandy, "not a problem. I'll just tell them to bring us two of what they're making shall I?" Hermione approved, pleased. "In your letter you said you'd be going onto another learning institution?" Handing her the brandy.

"That is actually the best part of my news. I will be taking Flitwick's post at the beginning of the term. I'll be seeing a lot of you." Playfully she ran her hand up his leg to the juncture where thigh meets groin.

"Ms. Granger!" Severus chided playfully. "Unhand me before I'm forced to take action." Setting her brandy down and taking his to join it, Hermione fisted his shirt-front pulling him to her. Thrilled at her bravado Severus exclaimed,"Gryffindors, never take 'no' for an answer." Thank Merlin. Hermione's hair fanned out in wavy wisps against the seat of the divan. He couldn't say anything for a long moment. Gazing down at the amazingly brilliant, and attractive woman with arrant hands. "You aren't playing fair."

"I don't know what you're talking about." Hermione teased and toyed. "It was you who reminded me to live up to my Gryffindor heritage." In an impossibly swift movement his trousers where unbuttoned. Severus gasped as she took hold of him. Hissing on an intake of air, his eyes closed soaking up her touch. As if Hermione could become one with him for willing it. She pulled him to her with her free hand. She spoke his name huskily against his lips. "I want you Severus. I won't be put off any longer."

His eyes shot open. "Hermione, are you sure?" She was, he could see that clearly enough. "Let's go to my room, we will be more comfortable." She extracted her naughty hand from beneath his clothes. Severus kissed her with great affection.

He hadn't bothered buttoning his trousers. Severus stiffened slightly as they entered his bedroom chamber, no one else had been in here for a long time. Hermione noted the change in his demeanour. Straight forward she turns to him, "Severus, you and I are going to make love. You have nothing to worry about. I've already applied a contraception charm. I'm ready for you." Severus and Hermione undressed one another placing licks and nips and kisses on newly revealed skin. For several long moments they explored one another, taking a leisurely pace to the bed. She was as pleased to find that Severus wasn't as underfed as he looked; as Severus was to see Hermione in his bed.

Snuggled under the down duvet, their warm moist skin pressed as they held one another. "Severus, I always knew there was more to you than meets the eye, but you really are the whole package."

"Yes, about that. Hermione as you may know I've only ever loved two women. The first was never meant to be mine. I can't play games Hermione. I'm not made that way." With her head resting on his chest, she could feel his heart keep time. "I would like to keep my second love always. But can you feel that way for me?"

"Severus, I've never loved anyone else, beyond friendship and brotherly affection. You should know too, that I don't give myself away wantonly, quite the opposite actually. I hung on to something you said to me once about the difference between virginity and virtue. At the time I think I was too surprised by your words to really take them in, but when I came to you I brought my virtue with me. Severus I do want more, I need more. I need the kind of love and care that you gave me early on. At the time I hadn't really seen it for what it was, but I understand now."

Her hair softly clung to his fingers as he combed neat paths through. "That sounds serious." Severus said mildly. "Are you sure?"

"I am sure, and since I'll be living in the castle, we'll have plenty of time to find out what it would mean for both of us." Turning her head slightly, popping one of his nipples into her mouth, humming her delight.