The Makeover

by Ms-Figg

25 year old Hermione Granger wins a free makeover. She is also working on a way to stop the Phantom Summons left over after Voldemort's death. Professor Snape is her lab niffler but willing to do more experimentation outside the Mark. AU, M/F, Lemons

13. Picking Up Supplies

Chapter 13 ~ Picking Up Supplies

Miles didn't contact Hermione until the following Wednesday when he showed up at Hogwarts with a huge bouquet of roses and an apology for not contacting her sooner. The wizard had been to several healers to find out what was wrong with him. Every healer found nothing wrong with him physically, and suggested that he simply might have been suffering from performance anxiety, particularly if the witch was very attractive to him and he hadn't had sex in a long time.

"I didn't feel anxious. Everything was fine until we were at the point of actually having sex, then nothing," Miles told one of the healers, a white-haired grandfatherly type in a white lab coat who was looking over his clipboard. He looked at the wizard with kindly blue eyes.

"Well, I don't believe it is anything serious, Mr. Davenport. All your tests come back fine," the medi-wizard assured him. "But if you are worried, I can give you something magical to sustain an erection."

The healer went to a cabinet and took out several blue pills with a golden glow around them. He showed them to Miles, who looked at the pills curiously.

"All you have to do is swallow one of these. It will go into effect immediately," the wizard said, winking at the Spells Master.

Miles looked thoughtful. Well, he could accept the pills and if he needed extra help, then he would use them. But he preferred not to. He'd like to think he was virile enough to satisfy Hermione on his own. But he didn't want another situation like last Friday.

"All right. I'll take them," he said to the healer, who put a few in a bottle and handed it to the wizard.

So now, Miles was willing to give it another go. He had a very erotic dream about Hermione the night before, and it had been quite hot and satisfying. He'd love to experience the real thing with the witch.

He talked to her candidly about what the healers had said.

"It could be you just made me a bit over-excited," the wizard said, "you are very beautiful, Hermione. Just the idea of making love to you makes me…gods I can't describe how it makes me feel. I just know I want you more than I've ever wanted any witch in my life."

The witch blushed. It was a little flattering to think she could affect the wizard so strongly he couldn't perform. Flattering but frustrating. She took a sniff of the lovely roses he brought her. She didn't know what to say to Mile's passionate declaration so she didn't say anything.

"Are we on for night Friday?" Miles asked her with a pleading note in his voice. He wanted to make up last Friday to the witch very badly.

"Yes, we are Miles," Hermione replied softly.

The wizard kissed her soundly.

"Thank you, Hermione. I won't disappoint you this time," he said, his gray eyes serious.

"I know you won't, Miles," she replied, caressing his cheek.

The wizard beamed at her, then looked at his watch.

"I've got to get back to work, but I will pick you up at seven on Friday evening. Up for a little more dancing?" he asked her.

"Certainly," the witch replied.

"Good," Miles said, giving her one more quick peck. "I'll see you Friday then."

He exited the lab.

Severus was walking down the dungeon corridor when Miles emerged from Hermione's lab with a broad smile on his face. He greeted Severus, who sneered down his nose at him and billowed by, scowling.

"Friendly bloke," Miles said to himself, shaking his head. He continued up the hall.

Severus let himself into his office.

"He's determined," Severus said to himself.

He let himself into his study and walked over to his writing desk, taking out the address of Love Bites Beauty Shop. He was miffed because he tried to order some shampoo and conditioner by owl using his accounts, and hadn't received an answer yet.

He didn't have to wait long.

At supper, while Severus was eating his dinner which consisted of steak, potatoes and string beans along with a glass of pumpkin juice, a very frightening pale owl swooped in and delivered a large pink envelope to the Potions Master. Hermione looked up, her brow furrowed. She recognized the bird as Adam's.

Severus looked at the pale-eyed owl, offering it a piece of steak. The owl wouldn't take it, but took a snap at the wizard's finger. Severus had quick reflexes and jerked his hand out of the way before the sharp beak bit into it.

"You bloody bird," he hissed at it.

The owl hissed back, then took to the air, flapping strongly and disappeared among the rafters.

Severus winced at the pink envelope and opened it up.

Dear Mr. Snape,

All first time customers wishing to start an account with our establishment must come down to the shop personally to sign paperwork. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Adam Sweetmeats
Proprietor of Love Bites Beauty Shop

Severus scowled. Damn. He'd have to go down there. The Potions Master put the parchment back in the envelope and deposited it into his robes pocket. He then returned to his meal.

Hermione was looking at the wizard curiously. What did he know about Love Bites Beauty Shop? She couldn't imagine the wizard interacting with Adam. Good gods. She sped up eating, hoping to catch Severus on the way back to the dungeons and ask him about the Beauty Shop.

After about ten minutes, the Potions Master finished his meal and exited the Great Hall. Hermione pushed away her plate and followed after him.

"Severus?" she called to the billowing figure in front of her. The Potions Master stopped and looked at her with an irritated expression.

"What is it, Hermione?" he asked snarkily as the witch walked up.

"I didn't know you had dealings with the Love Bites Beauty Shop," she said, fishing.

Severus started walking.

"And who says I do?" he shot back at her.

Damn, he didn't want to tip the witch off. Blast that owl.

"I know that owl. It delivered the letter that said I won the Makeover contest. Adam Sweetmeats is the owner and worked on me personally. Have you met him?" she asked curiously.

"No," Severus replied.

Hermione looked at his lank hair and smirked as she thought about how horrified Adam would be if the Potions Master walked into his shop.

"He's quite a character. Are you planning on making an appointment for a treatment?" Hermione asked the wizard.

Severus whirled on her.

"A treatment? Are you mad? I don't need any blasted treatment. Just because you were dissatisfied with your looks doesn't mean I am. Yes, my hair is lank, my teeth are crooked, my nose is large and my skin is pale, but this is how I am…how nature made me. I am satisfied with my looks even if others think me hideous," the wizard said darkly starting to walk again, glowering. "There is nothing I would change about myself."

Hermione caught up with the wizard

"You aren't hideous, Severus. Your face has a lot of character. You aren't classically handsome, but you have a presence, a look all your own. Your eyes are beautiful and so is your voice. You move so fluidly too…like…like a big cat. There's nothing wrong with your nose either. It fits you. In fact, you could be considered rather attractive in a dark, snarky way. I just asked if you were going to see Adam for a treatment. I didn't mean you needed to," she said. "You'd look strange if you changed anything about yourself."

Severus drank in what the witch said. So, she didn't think he was ugly. She liked his eyes, his voice, the way he moved. He might even go as far as to think she found him attractive. He didn't know what to make of this. No witch had ever said these things to him before. All he ever heard was that he was ugly. Hermione wasn't the kind of witch who would say such a thing if she didn't mean it. He looked at her soberly.

"If you must know, I contacted the Beauty Shop to purchase a gift certificate for a treatment for an associate of mine as a gift," he lied.

"A gift for an associate?" Hermione asked, disbelief in her voice. Tightwad Severus Snape sending someone a gift? The clouds were going to fall from the sky.

"Yes. An older woman…a friend of my late mother. We keep in contact. Her birthday is coming up and I know how you witches like this kind of thing," the Potions Master said, keeping the lie up. "After seeing how well they cleaned you up, I figured that they were a fairly decent establishment."

"Yes, Adam is very good," Hermione said, her curiosity satisfied. "Are you going down there?"

They were approaching their rooms.

"I haven't decided," the wizard said shortly. He stopped at his office door.

"Well, if you do, tell Adam I said hello," Hermione said, walking to her own rooms.

Severus didn't reply. He just let himself in the office and closed the door behind him. Once inside, he let out a huge sigh. Why were all witches so blasted nosy? He hoped he had sated Hermione's curiosity. The wizard did intend to go down to the Beauty Shop and purchase more shampoo and conditioner. But he didn't need her knowing that.

He'd pay Adam a visit tomorrow.

---

Thursday evening found Severus standing in front of a shop with heavily tinted windows, looking up at a sign that read:

Love Bites Beauty Shop

A red heart with a couple of chunks bitten out of it seemed to be the logo. Strange. He started to enter the shop when a tall, blonde pale wizard stepped in front of the entrance.

"This is a beauty shop," Victor said, his eyes flicking over Severus.

At first, the vampire thought Severus was one of the undead as he stood outside, but adjusted his sight and saw the wizard's heart beating strongly and rich red blood circulating through his veins. What was clear however, was that Victor disliked him on sight.

"So I read," Severus replied evenly. "I would like to come in."

The wizard seemed to bristle. Severus thought this man was too unfriendly to run an establishment like this.

"For a treatment? You need one," the vampire said bluntly.

Now it was Severus' turn to bristle. What was with this wizard? Was he trying to drive away his business?

"What I need," Severus said evenly, "Is to purchase an item particular to this shop. If not for that, I would definitely leave and not look back. Now step aside."

"We're closing," Victor said gripping the door and about to slam it in the Potions Master's face when an effeminate voice rang out.

"Victor? Victor, who is it?" Adam called, walking toward the front of the shop.

Victor sighed and rolled his eyes. Damn.

"Someone wanting to buy something. I told him we are closing, my Queen. He can come back tomorrow," the vampire replied, looking at Severus distastefully.

Adam bustled up in a flaming pink robe with blue stars and a tall pointed matching wizard's hat.

"He will do no such thing, Victor. We don't turn away customers or galleons," the Queen said, then he looked at Severus and his jaw dropped.

"Oh my bloody ribbons. Come in, darling, come in here now," he gushed.

Victor growled. He knew Adam would have this reaction to the wizard.

Severus hesitated for a moment, then swept into the shop, purposely brushing against Victor as he did so. The vampire let out a little snarl, flashing his fangs at the wizard. Severus' eyes widened, and he looked from one vampire to the other. Quickly he pulled out his wand defensively.

"You're vampires," he said, scowling.

A Solaris spell ought to give him enough time to escape.

Adam fluttered his blue eyes at him.

"Right in one, honey, but we are domesticated. As delicious as you are, I won't be giving you a hickey…unless you ask me nicely," the Queen replied. "We wouldn't do much business if we went about turning our customers. You are perfectly safe, tall, pale and yummy."

Victor was scowling blackly at Severus as Adam flirted with him. Suddenly the Potions Master understood that Victor must be this gay vampire's lover and was protecting his territory. He needn't have worried. The Potions Master certainly wasn't going to fuck someone cold, dead and male. He put his wand away.

"You carry a certain jasmine-scent shampoo and conditioner. I am interested in purchasing two bottles of each. I received a letter saying I couldn't put it on my account since I was not a customer," Severus said to the vampire.

Adam looked at Severus' lank hair. He certainly didn't use those items. He looked at the wizard curiously a moment.

"Oh certainly, sweetness. We have plenty. Just follow me," the Queen said, flouncing off into the shop proper. Severus followed, Victor close on his heels.

Adam reached in a drawer and pulled out a form on parchment and a muggle ink pen. He handed both to Severus. Their hands touched for a moment and the Potions Master fought back a shudder. The vampire's hand was freezing cold. But Severus had experience with repressing reactions from his time with the Dark Lord. Voldemort's touch had caused a similar reaction, and you didn't shudder in the despot's presence if you wanted to continue breathing.

"Please fill that out. Just some customer information for our records," Adam said, sashaying over to the shampoo rack and collecting two bottles each of the jasmine shampoo and conditioner. Severus walked up to the counter and quickly filled out the form. It was basic. Name, age and address.

Adam handed the items to Victor and took the parchment out of Severus' hand, reading it.

"Ah Hogwarts. I take it you are a Professor," the Queen said walking to the checkout counter, followed by Severus and Victor, who set the items on the counter.

"Yes I am," Severus replied, wishing the vampire would just tally up his purchase so he could get out of there. Victor was practically breathing down his neck, and he didn't like him so close.

"I take it the shampoo isn't for you?" Adam said nosily.

"No. For someone else," Severus said obliquely.

Adam immediately knew who that someone else was. He had several clients at Hogwarts, and the only one who used this shampoo and conditioner was Hermione Granger. Obviously the pale wizard didn't want to tell who it was for, so the vampire just stored the knowledge up. He tallied up the items.

"Three galleons and two knuts," Adam said, holding out his hand rather limply. His eyes washed over Severus again. He surreptiously adjusted his sight and took a look at what the wizard was working with while Severus dug in his robes pocket for the coin.

"Merlin's bobbling baubles!" the Queen hissed, clutching his heart as both Victor and Severus looked at him in surprise.

"Are you all right my Queen?" Victor asked, concern on his pale face.

"I'm fine, just fine Victor," Adam said, fanning himself with his hand.

The wizard had one hell of a cock even flaccid. Pity he was straight. It was hard for Adam to use his sexual powers on straight men, not that Victor would have stood for it. He would tear the Potions Master into little bloody pieces before he'd let Adam get fucked by him. The chubby wizard was his Queen and very good to him. He wouldn't let anyone touch him.

Adam collected the money from Severus and bagged his items, looking at the wizard coquettishly the entire time. Severus was more than uncomfortable. He felt absolutely nauseous as the vampire Queen gave him hot looks. He was never so glad to leave a shop in all his life.

Adam walked to the front of the shop and watched Severus billow away.

Was Hermione fucking him? She must be. Adam could tell that there was no way a wizard like that would set foot in a beauty shop to pick up supplies for a witch unless there was something in it for him.

If Hermione was fucking that strapped wizard, then the gods help her.

The vampire smirked as he thought about how lonely the witch had been. That wizard would more than make up for her years of solitude.

Maybe the gods had helped her after all.

---

Miles and Hermione's date went wonderfully, with the wizard passionately whispering slightly naughty suggestions in the witch's ear. Once again they went to the park and snogged and petted until they were wild for each other. They returned to Hogwarts, once again eyed by the vigilant Potions Master as they kissed their way into Hermione's room. Once again, things got hot and heavy, both Miles and Hermione getting completely naked…and once again Miles cock failed him. He popped one of the blue pills, but still nothing happened. He took three more to no avail.

The wizard was at a loss. Here he had a beautiful, willing witch who wanted him as badly as he wanted her, and he couldn't perform. He left, completely out of sorts, Hermione trying to comfort him as he stormed off.

As he walked across the Hogwarts grounds, the pills kicked in, giving him a very painful erection. The wizard had to go to St. Mungo's to be treated. He threatened to sue the healer who gave him the pills but was told he had taken too many.

Miles was desperate. What the fuck was wrong with him? Or was it him?

The wizard was so upset that he did something completely out of character. He went to the brothel in Knockturn alley. He had never been there before, but told the Madam he wanted two clean, pristine girls and paid quite a few galleons for them. Miles still used protection however, and found that his cock operated just fine and several times on both witches. At least his faith in his own virility was restored. The wizard was sated and thoughtful after he left the brothel.

If it wasn't him, it had to be Hermione. Something about the witch turned him off. He had surreptiously checked her for an impotence charm but the witch was clean. Obviously, the two of them were incompatible, and Miles, as good a man as he was, wasn't willing to subject himself to failed tryst after failed tryst. The next day he sent Hermione a dozen roses thanking her for dating him, but informing her that he didn't think it would work out between them.

Hermione cried for a little while. She had really liked Miles and believed they could have been good together. She hadn't even got the chance to fuck him. He must have given up. The witch decided to go down to the Ministry on her lunch break and have a talk with the wizard. She did so.

Miles wasn't happy to see Hermione. It meant he would have to tell her what he'd done to find out that he wasn't impotent with other witches…just with her. Hermione's eyes widened, then teared up as he told her the truth.

"I'm sorry, Hermione. I really am. I didn't go to the brothel to hurt you, but I had to find out if I was impotent completely. It was driving me insane. It's obvious that we aren't compatible, and to be around you and not able to make love to you would be too painful for me. I hope you can understand," the wizard said sincerely, taking her hand. He felt awful.

"I do, Miles. Thank you for trying to let me down easy," she said, her eyes blinking rapidly.

"I wish it wasn't this way…I really do, Hermione. My heart aches every time I look at you," the Spells Master said, "But there is nothing for it."

Hermione left the Ministry, feeling more alone than she ever had in her life. She returned to Hogwarts and walked down the dungeon corridor to her rooms. She didn't return to her lab for the rest of the day, but sat curled up in an armchair, thinking about her situation. Did she turn men off?

Severus had been walking down the main stairwell from the infirmary when he saw Hermione entered. She looked like a whipped hippogriff. Her head was hanging and her shoulders were slumped. The witch looked utterly dejected.

He didn't accost her this time. She simply looked too beaten up or broken down rather. He found he didn't like her like that. It was as if all spirit had left her. The wizard found himself hoping that whatever was bothering her she would throw it off.

---

Severus was finishing his rounds and descending the main stairwell. It was eleven o'clock at night. He paused as he saw a small, cloaked figure dart out the main doors. Even cloaked, he knew it was Hermione. Where was she going this time of night wrapped up as she was? A walk on the school grounds perhaps?

The wizard hesitated, then disillusioned himself and followed her.

Hermione hurried across the grounds, Severus behind her. It was clear she was going to the main gates. She was leaving Hogwarts. Severus cast a quick tracking charm on her so he could follow her when she apparated. She never felt it strike her billowing cloak.

The witch unwarded the gate, closed it back, cast a silencing spell around herself and disapparated.

The Potions Master ran, unwarded the gate and waited a few seconds before saying the invocation that would allow him to follow her, casting a silencing spell around himself and disapparating after the witch.

Where the hell was she going?

Severus was startled to find himself in front of Knockturn Alley, and removed the disillusionment spell. Hermione had illegally apparated in front of the dangerous area. Following the pull of the tracking charm, Severus walked down the alley, which was lined with all manner of unsavory individuals. Hermione must have kept her hood drawn and her wand at the ready to keep from being accosted. Eyes shifted toward the tall pale wizard, but no one dared accost Severus Snape. That was a good way to meet a sticky end.

Severus followed the pulse of the spell, which sped up when he was moving in the right direction and slowed when he was going the wrong way. He was very adept at using it. He had plenty of experience with tracking spells from when he was a spy. He stopped in front of a building, staring up at it in disbelief as the spell pulsed steadily.

Madame Myrtle's House of Pleasure

Great Merlin's Beard. What the hell was the witch doing here?

The Potions Master entered the brothel, pushing aside the gaudy beads that hung in the doorway and squinted against the smoke and glaring red lights. Women sat spread legged in chairs lining the walls, all looking at him. He walked past them to the main counter. He spied Hermione, still cloaked, talking to the Madam. He slipped closer, leaned against the wall and listened.

"You want a man?" the Madam said, both of her eyebrows raised. She could see Hermione's face and the witch wasn't ugly. She could easily find plenty of wizards who'd want to lay wand to her.

Hermione nodded.

"Yes. How much?" she asked nervously. She couldn't believe she was doing this. Neither could Severus.

Myrtle looked at Hermione for a moment.

"Sweetie, you're gorgeous. Why would you buy cock when you can easily get it for free?" the witch asked her, waving off a patron who was trying to get a look at Hermione. "She's not a hooker, George. Get out of here!"

Hermione hesitated, then decided to tell the witch the truth.

"I think I turn men off," the Spells Mistress said.

It took five minutes for Myrtle to stop laughing long enough to find out Hermione was serious. Severus was scowling blackly. Leave it to the witch to decide to find out if she was every wizard's nightmare. Good gods.

"Maybe something was wrong with him, dearie," Myrtle said.

It wasn't that the Madam was against making a few galleons off of Hermione, but it seemed…well…wrong to take advantage of the young woman. The shrewd Madam could tell the witch had hardly been touched. Hermione would have brought a pretty penny if she worked at the brothel. Top galleon.

"No. He came here and bought two girls for the night. He was able to handle them both," Hermione said, her voice trembling.

Severus cursed under his breath. Why did the idiot tell her that? Oh this situation was bad. But then again…even the most talented gigolo wouldn't be able to maintain an erection with her.

Severus' wicked side came to the fore quickly.

"Oh. I see," Myrtle said, looking at Hermione sympathetically. "But my dear, if one of my boys is able to get it up for you, are you willing to go through with it?

Hermione looked shocked for a moment, then her brow crinkled.

"Are they any good?" she asked in a low voice, looking around as she did so, embarrassed.

Myrtle smiled lasciviously.

"They are all very good, though I have a certain one in mind for you. He is very kind, very gentle…unless you don't want him to be. His name is Georgio. Tall, blonde, well-built with the most amazing blue eyes. He's a favorite with the witches. He seems more of a lover than a paid wizard. I think you'd like him. I know he'd like you. Most of the witches he deals with are a bit over the hill, another testament to his virility," Myrtle said, "But he's expensive. Twenty galleons for an hour."

Severus let out a low whistle. Georgio must be some stud. Most witches here only cost three galleons to fuck. Severus knew the price list.

"Can I get my money back if he doesn't perform?" Hermione asked.

Myrtle shook her head.

"You are paying for his time. No refunds on that, Missy. I'm sorry. I'd be refunding every prematurely ejaculating wizard in the place if I gave returns on unsatisfactory performances," the Madame said.

Hermione nodded then hesitated. She realized she was randy as hell after all the disappointments with Miles. No one would know. What could it hurt to have casual sex with an expert lover? She'd done it before with Severus after all, though she wasn't sure he was an expert. She had no one to compare him to.

"Is he clean? No STDs?" Hermione asked.

"Yes he is, though he will use protection. It is virtually undetectable however. Georgio can afford the best in magical condoms. He will pass an STD wand over himself and you as well as cast a contraceptive spell on you before you get started. That way you will both know if you are clean, and will be covered should the condom break. He will know immediately and replace it however. His cock will heat up uncomfortably," Madame Myrtle said reassuringly.

The Madame had instituted the wand examination rule since the outbreak of STD's that hit her brothel a few months ago. She was almost ruined and sprung for several hundred STD detecting wands. She sent them in periodically for updates as well. Her employees were clean.

Hermione looked indecisive for a moment, twisting her hands a little.

"Ok," she said in a small voice, "I'll try Georgio."

"Good choice. Now, put the galleons in that box right there," Myrtle said, pointing to a decorative box with a slot in the top resting on the counter.

Hermione dug in her purse and dropped the galleons in one at a time. Numbers appeared on top of the box, counting the coins and dinging when she reached twenty.

Severus shook his head. Hermione Granger paying for cock. What a scandal this could be…might even be good blackmail fodder. He'd have to think about that.

Myrtle handed Hermione a key. A large number fourteen dangled on a heart shaped piece of wood.

"Just go up those stairs, and let yourself in the room. Georgio will join you momentarily. Good luck," Myrtle said to the witch.

Hermione looked up the stairs and at all the people milling around the base of it. Many were quite unsavory looking.

"Oh, don't worry about being harassed dearie. Only those with keys can go up those stairs. You are fine," Myrtle said, shooing her.

Hermione hesitated, then took a deep breath and picked her way through the crowd and walked quickly up the stairs. It almost looked like she was running. Myrtle chuckled.

"Such an innocent," she thought. "Well, Georgio will be good to her at any rate. Imagine, thinking she turns wizards off. If she were one of my girls she'd make me a fortune."

"Hello Myrtle," a silky voice said to her. She recognized it immediately.

"Professor Snape! I haven't seen you in ages," she said to the wizard, smiling.

"I've been busy," he said shortly. "I feel like watching tonight."

Myrtle's green eyes glittered. Watching usually cost more than actual fucking. Every room was equipped with a two-way mirror which was accessible by corridors located between the rooms. This was meant to protect the employees, but was used by the occasional voyeur that came through.

"That could be arranged, Professor," the witch said.

"Yes, I imagine it can. I want to watch the witch that just went up the stairs," the Potions Master said.

"She's practically a virgin. It's going to cost you to watch Georgio giving her a thorough breaking in. Seventy-five galleons," the witch said.

If the freaky wizard wanted to see the witch get fucked badly enough, he'd pay it…after bickering. Severus was known for haggling…but so was Myrtle. But to the Madame's surprise he simply said, "Put it on my account."

Myrtle checked her records to see if Severus' account was still open. It was. She made a magical pass over the piece of parchment and the fee was charged. She waved him behind the counter.

"Come with me," she said, leading Severus into her private office and pressing on a panel. The wall slid open on a corridor.

"Take the stairs on the left to the first floor. There are signs telling what room is located where. Your young lady is in room fourteen. There is a chair and a bucket. Please scourgify the bucket if you use it," Myrtle said.

Severus wrinkled his nose at her. He was not about to wank off into a bucket.

"Thank you," he said tersely, walking into the opening. Myrtle hit the panel again and closed it back.

The wizard walked down the corridor a bit and turned left towards the stairs and mounted them. At the top there were three corridors, one in front, one on the left and one on the right. There were signs on each. He walked down the one that read: Rooms ten through twenty.

As he walked he passed rooms whose inhabitants were engaged in all manner of sex. One room had a goat in it, and a girl with a riding crop, and a fat wizard eating out of what looked like a muggle dog dish. Whatever he was eating, Severus didn't want to know. He hurried past. Finally he reached room fourteen and looked in.

Hermione was seated on a king-sized four-poster bed. The room was quite nice, tastefully done up in blue and white satin. A pitcher of ice water and two glasses sat on the night stand. The witch had lowered her hood and looked very scared. She was twisting her hands together and looking around the room. Gods, she looked delicious sitting there, frightened, waiting to be fucked.

Severus would be in a very foul mood if he didn't know the wizard wouldn't be able to fuck her. Most likely he would have dragged the witch out of there, brought her back to Hogwarts, put her in the shower with him so he could wash her hair, then fucked the shit out of her himself. As it stood, he was in for a show. What kind of show, he wasn't sure. Most likely one that would leave the witch quite distressed. Hermione was bound to think something was wrong with her. Hell, this might work out in his favor. She would probably come to him next and ask how he was able to get it up for her. He could imagine his answer.

"Like this."

Severus sat down in the little wooden chair provided and kicked the bucket away without looking in it. Hermione nervously stood up and poured herself a glass of water. Her hands were shaking badly. Suddenly the door opened and Hermione spun.

A very tall, tanned, well-built blonde wizard with long braided hair and blue eyes entered. He was dressed in a brown suede vest with tassles hanging from it. It was open and he wore no shirt underneath, his muscles rippling. He wore loose-fitting white cotton trousers, had an eight-pack and looked as hard as stone. The gigolo looked at Hermione rather surprised for a moment, then gave her a very pleasant, reassuring smile.

"Well, hello," Georgio said, his blue eyes twinkling at the witch. He didn't approach her. He could see she was scared to death. It was easy to tell the witch was fresh out the box.

"Hello," Hermione said nervously as her amber eyes washed over the wizard. He was certainly handsome. Gorgeous actually.

"My, aren't you a pleasant surprise. I usually have to brush the cobwebs off the witches I normally get. Old, rich and randy as all get out," he said to Hermione, who blushed.

Georgio hadn't ever seen any witch blush at Madame Myrtle's. He looked Hermione over without seeming to do so, noting she was very curvaceous under her cloak. Yes, he was going to enjoy this.

"Is this your first time?" he asked her.

"No, I've had sex before," Hermione replied, then reddened even more as the wizard chuckled.

"I meant is this your first time with a wizard in this manner?" he asked her, drawing a small wand out of his back pocket.

"Oh. Oh, yes," Hermione said, watching as the wizard passed the wand over his loins, the tip of the wand a bright green.

"I'm showing you I don't have any STDs," the wizard said, "The tip would turn red if I wasn't clean. Now I have to do you. Don't worry, I don't have to touch you," he said gently, approaching Hermione carefully. She looked ready to run.

Georgio slowly passed the wand over her pelvic area at a respectable distance.

"Clean too," he said smiling at her, before flicking the wand at her navel and whispering a spell. Hermione felt a whirling movement inside and realized he had cast a contraceptive spell on her. The wizard set the wand on the nightstand and looked at the witch. He only had an hour with her. He would have liked to have taken more time with the witch, but he had a deadline to meet.

He sat down on the edge of the bed and smiled at her.

"Nervous?" he asked Hermione.

"Yes," she said in a small voice.

Georgia and Severus both felt a throb in their trousers at the witch's hesitance and shyness. For Georgio, bedding such a witch wouldn't be work at all.

"There's no need to be nervous. What's your name?" he asked her.

"Lisa," Hermione lied.

Both Georgio and Severus smirked. The gigolo knew she was lying. She wasn't very good at it. But that was to be expected. No one ever gave the employees their real names unless they were regulars. He didn't know why the witch had to resort to a brothel, but he wasn't supposed to ask personal questions.

"Well Lisa, we only have an hour together. We can talk or we can…enjoy each other," the wizard said. "Please. Sit down. I won't bite you…if you don't want me to."

Georgio gave her a sexy smirk, and Hermione felt a little reaction to him. He really was a fine specimen of a wizard. Oh, that body. He looked as if he'd been lightly oiled. She sat down on the bed, her hands on her lap as if they didn't know where to go.

Severus scowled. That wasn't the language he would have used. He would have said, "Are you ready to be fucked?"

Ah well, everyone had their own approach to these matters.

"Um…I didn't come here to talk," Hermione said, her voice cracking a little as she reddened again.

Georgio smiled.

"You have beautiful hair. May I touch it?" he asked her softly.

Hermione nodded.

Georgio reached over and lifted her curls appreciatively, then let his hand slowly slide down the witch's cheek.

"Absolutely lovely. It smells of jasmine," he said as Hermione looked up at him. He was very handsome, and not frightening at all. She relaxed a little.

"That's right. You're in good hands, Lisa. Very good hands," the wizard purred.

Georgia leaned in and kissed Hermione's forehead lightly. She closed her eyes at the softness of his lips and trembled a little as she felt warmth beginning to spread. Her randiness was returning. Georgio could feel her warming and slid closer. He kissed her closed eyes next, then her nose, then her mouth with a soft, sensual kiss that made the witch let out a little moan and scoot closer to him.

Severus watched, feeling a stab of jealousy in his belly as the witch responded to the gigolo's gentle kisses. Is that what she wanted?

Georgio continued to kiss Hermione, his hands untying her cloak and letting it drop to the bed. She wore jeans and a white t-shirt underneath.

"I want to hold you," the wizard said against her lips, wrapping his strong arms around Hermione and pulling her against his hard body, deepening the kiss as he did so, flicking his tongue against her lips and slipping it into her mouth. She was quaking, and the gigolo loved it.

Severus, on the other hand hated it. He didn't do much foreplay and had pretty much forgotten about it. The wizard might not be able to fuck her, but he could give her pleasure. Severus hoped he didn't eat the witch out. The draught couldn't protect her from that. Shit.

He watched as Georgio slipped off his vest and took Hermione's hands and placed them against his chest, moving them slowly until the witch started exploring him on her own. Severus couldn't help but remember the witch's hands running over his body. The Potions Master began to drift off on his own tangent when there was a sound and he looked to see Georgio had the witch down, kissing her passionately, his hands sweeping up and down her thighs.

Shit he was moving fast. His lips were moving over Hermione's throat now, and the witch was beginning to arch up, her desire growing and inhibitions dropping. Severus watched as the wizard swept one hand up the witch's waist and around the curve of her breast. Hermione groaned, her knickers becoming wet.

"You're a passionate little witch," Georgio said, his voice muffled against her throat. Suddenly he sat up and pulled Hermione up with him. He pulled her t-shirt out of her jeans.

"Lift your arms, Lisa," he breathed at her, his gentle blue eyes hot and hungry. Hermione gave him a half-lidded look and obeyed, Severus' nostrils flaring as she did so. Gods he wished it were him in number fourteen rather than a paid cock. What was so bad was the wizard was acting more like a lover than a stud. Shit. Hermione might want to come back here.

No. No she wouldn't…not with what was going to happen when the wizard tried to fuck her. She'd think something was wrong with her for certain.

Severus watched as Georgio undid her bra, the witch's lovely breasts tumbling out, puckered and suckable. The wizard wasted no time kissing and licking them, Hermione in a total state of meltdown. So what if she was paying for this? Georgio was definitely worth it. Who knew? Maybe she'd become a regular.

Georgio was moving faster than he normally would have. He wanted to fuck this witch for as long as possible. He sat up, Hermione reaching for him as he removed her trainers and socks, then he stood, leaning over the undulating witch, undoing her jeans and pulling them down, along with her knickers. His trousers instantly tented as he looked down on her chestnut bush.

Severus' cock was straining against his trousers also as he looked at Hermione naked again. He felt like breaking through the glass and claiming her himself. But that would never work. Plus he'd have one hell of a fight getting out of the brothel if he did that. Myrtle had hired goons as well, just for disorderly patrons.

Georgio kicked off his shoes and quickly removed his trousers and boxers, Hermione staring up at his gorgeous body. Damn, he had an equally gorgeous cock, pink, erect, thick and long, rising from a nest of curly blonde hair. He wasn't as big as the Potions Master, but he was very well hung. Severus nearly snarled as he saw the wizard's goods. He was hard as a rock and dripping. That damn draught better work.

"Move up into the bed," Georgio said to Hermione as he cast the spell for the magical condom. The sex-starved witch complied as if under the Imperious curse. Hermione cocked her legs and held out her arms to the wizard, her amber eyes smoldering. Severus hissed as the wizard climbed on top of her.

Georgio nestled his cock between her legs.

"Gentle or not so gentle, Lisa?" he whispered to her.

"Just do it," the witch hissed back hungrily. "Any way you can."

Georgio smirked. Yes, she was ready and randy all right. This was going to be good.

The wizard moved down a bit to position himself at her entrance, gripped his organ, then hesitated.

Severus smiled broadly at the perplexed look on the wizard's face. Take that Mr. Gigolo.

Georgio shifted sideways and fingered his now flaccid cock.

"What's going on here?" he asked, looking down at Hermione as her face took on a tormented look.

"Oh no. Not again," she groaned.

---

A shadowed figured watched as a small witch departed Madam Myrtle's brothel. The witch was walking quickly, apparently distracted. She didn't look as if she belonged in Knockturn Alley. Probably a new whore. Hm.

Hermione walked quickly toward the exit of Knockturn Alley. She was so out of sorts, she forgot to raise her hood. Suddenly a hand shot out of a dark doorway and grabbed her strongly by the arm, jerking her around.

"Leaving work, eh witch. How about a freebie for old Maurice? Been a little short on galleons, but I'm long on cock," the wizard breathed. His face was pale and pockmarked, and he had cruel brown eyes. His fetid breath washed over Hermione, who looked up at him her eyes alight with wrath and misplaced aggression. Other figures began moving out of the shadows toward the witch. Severus was leaving the brothel and saw the witch's predicament.

"Shit!" he breathed, taking out his wand. He was going to have to help her and expose himself. Fuck. He began to run.

He needn't have bothered.

"A freebie? Here's a freebie for you!" Hermione snarled pulling out her wand so fast her hand was a blur as she stupefied the brute right between the eyes, ripping her arm out of his grasp as he fell.

"You're fucking lucky I don't Crucio you, you bloody bastard!" she screamed at the fallen masher, kicking him hard in the head a couple of times.

The approaching figures quickly melted back into the shadows. Whoever this pretty little outsider was, she was not to be fucked with. The witch was vicious.

Severus skidded to a stop, his black eyes wide with shock as he watched the witch drop and assault her attacker before storming away down the alley, hair streaming. No one made a move to stop her. Severus stopped by the wizard, recognizing him as a former deatheater. He had a very nasty bruise around his eye, courtesy of the little spitfire that dropped him. Severus shook his head.

Damn, Hermione was in a right temper.

The wizard hurried after her and heard the crack of apparition. Hermione hadn't even bothered to place a silencing spell around herself. She could get quite a fine for that if caught. But it was late, and Knockturn Alley. Auror response was lax in this area at this time of night. She probably got away with it. Still, Severus placed a silencing spell on himself before he disapparated after the witch.

He arrived at Hogwarts to see Hermione walking quickly across the grounds. He unwarded the gates and followed her. Instead of going through the main doors, he turned and used the secret dungeon corridor entrance, and made it to his rooms before Hermione made it to her own.

Severus walked out of his bedroom and straight to the liquor cabinet, pouring himself a good stiff drink. He sat down in one of the armchairs and took a long swallow of the fiery liquid. He could only have one. It was a school night after all.

When Georgio failed to fuck Hermione, she hurriedly pushed him off her, got dressed, and fled the brothel, leaving the stunned wizard behind. But Georgio was no Miles. He knew nothing was wrong with him, but that there was probably some kind of spell on the witch. He had no idea Hermione was a Spells Mistress and had tested herself for spells to no avail. But the gigolo quickly moved on to his next customer, a regular of about ninety years of age, who he ravaged the moment he walked into the room (much to her delight)…just to make sure everything was in working order. It was.

The witch was definitely troubled now. Severus hoped she would cease looking for sexual partners and come to him. It was the most logical move after all. As far as Hermione knew, Severus was the only wizard able to complete the sex act with her. She'd want to know why, and since he hadn't been actively pursuing her, the witch had no reason to think that he had anything to do with her situation. So technically he was in the clear.

The best thing he could suggest was that they see if he could still have sex with her. It would be better if she suggested it however. It would have to happen in her rooms this time, so he could go into the bathroom and switch the shampoo and conditioner. It would be an easy thing to get Hermione into the shower after the switch, wash her hair with the regular shampoo and conditioner and then…fuck her within an inch of her life.

It was the perfect plan.

Severus smirked as he finished his firewhiskey. It seemed his plan had worked perfectly. The witch would be his again.

---

Hermione let herself into her rooms, walked into her study and sunk down into the armchair facing the fireplace and stared at the flames for several minutes. First Miles, then Georgi. Neither wizard was able to complete the sex act with her. Miles could have been dysfunctional, but Georgio made a living fucking witches. Neither looks nor age affected him. Maybe there was something she did subconsciously that turned men off. To date, the only one who had managed to give her a satisfactory sexual experience was Severus. And Hermione had found that exciting as the snarky wizard had been, he was sadly lacking in technique as far as foreplay went. Both Miles and Georgio has been very ardent and passionate, working her up gently to her need. Severus just plowed through, meeting his own desires, Hermione simply hanging on, her responses torn from her. Not that Severus wasn't passionate…he was extremely passionate, but he was selfish and looked primarily toward his own pleasure. He asked her if she liked what he was doing, but that was to stoke his own ego.

But he was able to stay excited long enough to fuck her when the others failed. She needed to know how he managed it. Was there something he thought of to stay aroused, or had they done something different in some way. Maybe only truly selfish wizards could fuck her.

Hermione sighed.

She had to get to the bottom of this and soon. She was randy enough to bite chunks of stone out of the castle walls. There was no way around this. She would have to talk to Severus.

Hermione hissed as a powerful pulse of desire shot between her thighs. Her eyes glistened as need thrummed through her body. The close encounters of the past couple of weeks had increased her libido. She needed male contact badly. She almost wished she had remained a virgin…then she wouldn't know what she was missing, what she was craving.

Hermione sighed.

Damn. She might have to do more than talk to the Potions Master.

---

Hermione saw Severus exiting his rooms at the same time she did. He glanced at her, but didn't say anything…his usual morning acknowledgement. He billowed up the hall. Hermione looked after him, but made no move to talk to him yet. She would have to get up her courage. She knew the Potions Master would get a real kick out of her telling him he was the only wizard who managed to penetrate her, much less fuck her, and would probably draw out the conversation unbearably long.

The worst part was that the witch was randy and most likely…gods, she didn't want to think about it. Severus had said what happened between them was only a one-time tryst. Would he treat her like he did Sybil if she hinted at wanting to have sex with him? Tell her in no uncertain terms that he didn't want her in his bed again?

A cold feeling washed across Hermione's gut at the possibility of the wizard's rejection. No doubt it would bring him great pleasure to turn her away. The Potions Master was perverse like that. She'd be regulated to the place of all the other witches he'd fucked then forgotten.

She entered the Great Hall with a somber look on her face, her eyes cutting toward the Professor as she walked behind him on her way to her seat. Minerva, Aurora and Rolanda were seated already. Pomona hadn't yet arrived. She went out on a mid-week date with Harold the night before. Maybe she had gotten lucky.

Hermione took her seat and gave the others a half-hearted greeting, ordering some porridge, toast and orange juice. A light meal. This meant she was troubled. In fact, the witch had been looking quite out of sorts the past couple of weeks, but try as they might, the other staff members couldn't get anything out of her…not even the details of her dates with Miles.

"He hasn't checked her depth yet," Rolanda said to the others after Hermione declined to give any details, "And she's upset about it. I know the signs, believe me. Nothing like a hot, dissatisfied twat to put a witch on edge, let me tell you."

The Flying teacher had Hermione pegged all right, and suspected that was still the case. The witch was sexually frustrated. The witches all thought she wanted to lose her virginity. They had no idea the Professor had already completed the harvest. Hermione couldn't bring herself to tell them, thinking they would be horrified. But after Poppy laid it on the line that night, the witches just would have been happy for her. But there was no way Hermione knew that.

Severus ate his breakfast with gusto. He could practically feel Hermione, though she was showing no outward signs of any interest in him. But the wizard had known the witch for years, since she was a child. The Potions Master despite his coldness was quite perceptive and attuned to those he worked in close contact with, which was why he was so adept in divining what students were up to even when they appeared innocent…and always why he was such a good spy when he worked for the Order. In Hermione's case, he had been closer to her than most and that subtle connection affected him, though he either couldn't or didn't want to admit it. Or admit that he was going out of his way to keep the witch for himself.

When Hermione had told him that he didn't need to change anything about himself and described what she found attractive about him, there had been a subtle appreciative shift in the wizard. Hermione had expressed something positive about him as a man other than his sexual prowess. Up to this point, Severus believed all witches appreciated about him was his cock and how he used it. Hermione was the first to say otherwise. He believed her to be sincere.

When the wizard took her again, despite his wicked intentions to turn her into a quivering lump of flesh, her perception of him would be in the back of his mind and as a result, he was bound to be more mindful of Hermione when he took her, whether he realized this or not.

The cold, disciplined and solitary Severus Snape was starting to break down.

It was a shame he couldn't see the signs of his own collapse or feel the beginnings of his own internal makeover.

---

It was after lunch when Hermione finally found the courage to approach the Potions Master. She carefully timed her meal to end when his did, and when the pale wizard left the Great Hall, she followed him…her heart pounding. She waited for him to turn down the dungeon corridor before she hailed the wizard. Severus turned, his dark eyes resting on the witch soberly.

At last.

Hermione walked up to him. She couldn't address the situation in the corridor.

"Um, Severus…I wonder if you might come by my rooms tonight so we can talk. I have a situation and am hoping you can give me some answers," the witch said, her voice quavering.

Severus let his gaze slowly wash over the witch, making her feel very vulnerable and uncomfortable.

"Are you propositioning me, Hermione? Inviting me to your rooms under the guise of having a talk, then attempting to have your wicked way with me?" he purred at her silkily. "Tell me, are the answers you are looking for…physical?"

"Yes…no…well…I don't know really. It's just some very odd things have been happening with wizards that…that didn't happen with you and I need to try and find out what the differences are with you and other wizards," she said, feeling as if she couldn't explain herself properly.

Severus arched an eyebrow.

"Well I am one-of-a-kind, Hermione," he said in a low voice. "Few wizards can compare to me."

Pompous git.

"Be that as it may Severus…will you come talk to me?" she asked him, looking at him with wide amber eyes.

Severus felt a throb in his trousers and was glad he had on his robes as he began to swell. Hell yes, he'd come, but talking was the last thing on his mind.

"I'll have to think about it," he said evenly, "if I decide to come…what time?" the Potions Master asked. He wanted to keep the witch off-balance.

"Is eight too late?" she asked him.

"No, IF I decide to come," he replied, implying that he might not.

Severus walked up to his office door and Hermione continued to her own rooms. Severus looked down the corridor at her.

"Hermione, I hope you aren't trying to pull a Sybil on me," he said with a growl. "We both know how that turned out."

He let himself into his office with a wicked smirk. That would definitely keep the witch from thinking he had ulterior motives.

Hermione scowled at the wizard's disappearing robes and let herself into her rooms. Severus was so insufferable. Why oh why did she have to be so randy for him? She did have questions for the Potions Master, but she also wanted what he could give her. Relief.

Damn. Life just wasn't fair.

---

Severus entered the Great Hall for supper about six. He noticed immediately that Hermione wasn't there. The wizard had been thinking how he would get the witch's hair washed. He had no idea how often she washed it. For all he knew she had done it as recently as this morning. As the hour grew later, Severus realized that Hermione was probably in her lab working, oblivious of the time. He needed to get her out.

He picked at his peas, then a small light bulb appeared over his head. All the staff looked at him and he scowled blackly, causing them to quickly return to their meals. Damn those random idea manifestations. Muggle light bulbs no less. But the wizard had his idea.

Severus quickly finished off his food. It was twenty after six. When he entered the main hall, instead of heading down the dungeon corridor, he walked to the bottom of the main stairwell, cupped his hands around his mouth and bellowed:

"Peeves!"

---

Hermione was in her lab absorbed in her latest research concerning the Killing Curse. She was attempting to break it down into its magical components which was quite risky work. She had managed to capture the active spell in a reflective stasis orb, a creation of her own that she had not yet made public. The orb held whatever it contained in an almost timeless state, but the reflective properties did not let energy dissipate. It had been quite tricky to capture the spell in the orb. If Albus had known the danger the witch had put herself in, he would have made her cease her experiments.

Hermione had coated a mirror with the reflective coating she developed, then calculated the safest distance to capture a rebounding spell using stunner blasts. She then utilized two wands…one in her left hand and one in her right. She then fired a stunner blast at the mirror with her left hand, then practiced casting the orb with her right, to capture the rebounding spell. She stunned herself quite a few times before she became proficient.

Then, she did it with the Killing Curse. Thank the gods she captured it on the rebound, securing the deadly green light actively in the orb. She could have quite possibly been the first person to kill herself with the Avada Kedavra curse.

Hermione sealed the orb with her signature so no one else could release the spell, and kept it in a disillusioned and very securely warded wall cabinet. The witch was quite involved in the spell and as usual, unaware of the passage of time.

Suddenly Peeves shot through the wall of her lab.

"Busy witchy gets twitchy and bitchy if she doesn't fatten her jelly belly!" he cackled, bouncing off the ceiling and walls, the little bells on his hat ringing merrily as Hermione looked up at him in irritation.

"Peeves get out of my lab!" she yelled at the poltergeist, who jeered at her, his orange bowtie spinning annoyingly.

"Peeves get out of my lab," the poltergeist mimicked, then zipped through a wall as Hermione shot a blast at him with a wand. Unlike a ghost, Peeves was solid and could get hexed if he wasn't careful. But he could still pass through solid objects or phase out when hexes were thrown at him. Usually he dodged them however.

He poked his head back through the wall and stuck a horribly long pustuled tongue at the witch, almost licking her with it. Hermione let out a little scream of disgust and fired another blast at him…this time singing his tongue, which he couldn't retract fast enough. Peeves let out a rather garbled string of obscenities because of his swollen tongue and left the premises.

But he had done his job. Hermione's concentration was broken. She looked at the time and called it quits, hastily putting everything away, warding her lab and heading for the Great Hall. She passed Severus but didn't see him. He was hiding in a niche in the dungeon corridor. Peeves had done the first half of his assignment.

Normally the poltergeist didn't do anything for anyone, but Severus was the Head of Slytherin House and had access to the Bloody Baron, the resident ghost who Peeves greatly feared for some unknown reason. The Potions Master threatened the poltergeist with a visit from the Baron if he didn't do as he asked. Coward that he was, Peeves had no choice but to comply.

Hermione ate alone, the witches having come and gone already. She rushed through her salad and pumpkin juice and headed back toward her rooms at five to seven. She wasn't sure if Severus was going to show, but she needed to be there. The wizard was quite punctual. As she neared her room, she heard a nasty cackle from above and behind her. She spun…

…and was covered with soot. Hermione spluttered and coughed, wiping the black dust from her eyes as Peeves, small shovel in hand, zoomed down the corridor, cackling hysterically.

"Gods damn you Peeves! You're going to pay for this!" Hermione yelled after him, shaking her fist angrily. She looked down at herself. She was filthy. The witch dropped her hands in disgust. To make things worse, Severus exited his rooms. The wizard paused as he looked at her.

"Casting call for a minstrel show, Hermione?" he purred at her with a smirk.

"No. Peeves!" she said, the poltergeist's name sounding like a curse as she said it.

Miffed, she walked toward her door and opened it. She looked at Severus.

"Are you coming?" she asked him sharply.

Severus looked at her a moment.

"Yes, I am," he replied.

Hermione held the door open as the wizard billowed in. She was too mad to be worried at this point.

"May I use your loo?" the Potions Master inquired.

"Go ahead. In the bedroom," the agitated witch said, shaking off her robes and pulling out her wand. She scourgified herself as best she could, but her hair was a mess, the fine soot working its way into her roots. She smelled like she had been standing in a smokehouse for hours.

Severus walked into Hermione's bedroom. He looked around. She had a king-sized four poster bed. It would have been perfect if not for the Gryffindor colored bed linen. He walked into the bathroom, closed the doo, opened the shower stall, leaned in and removed the tainted shampoo and conditioner from the shower caddy. Setting the bottles on the vanity counter, he shrunk them down to size, then stuck them in his left robes pocket. He then removed two other untainted bottles from his right pocket and restored them to their original size. The Potions Master opened the tops and poured a bit of the contents down the drain so they appeared used, then placed them on the caddy and closed the stall. Severus then flushed the loo and ran water in the basin.

He exited the bathroom and walked back into the study, where Hermione stood, still looking furious.

"Severus, would you mind waiting until I took a quick shower?" the witch asked him. "I have firewhiskey, wine and other libations in the liquor cabinet. You can have a drink while you wait. I won't be long," the witch said.

Severus noticed the latest edition of Spells Weekly rested on the small table between the armchairs facing the fireplace.

"I'll wait," he said, picking up the magazine and settling himself in the armchair.

"Thank you," Hermione said, walking into her bedroom.

Severus smirked as he turned the first page of the magazine.

Perfect.

---

The first thing Hermione did was securely ward her bedroom door. Having the Potions Master so close while she was naked was unsettling, though part of her wanted to leave the damned door cracked in hopes that he would creep in and have his way with her in the shower. But he probably wouldn't. She sighed, and divestoed her clothing and walked into the bathroom.

It had been years since Peeves had played a prank on Hermione. Maybe the poltergeist felt she was overdue. But he was going to pay for this, so help her. She opened the shower stall and turned on the spigot, mixing the water to a suitable temperature and stepping in, letting it run over her body and through her hair. Black streaks colored her skin for a moment then ran clear. She grabbed her shampoo, poured a bit in her hand, then began to wash her hair.

---

Ten minutes later Hermione emerged from her bedroom, her hair magnificent and curling, dressed in a t-shirt and loose-fitting blue cotton pants. She was barefoot and smelled of jasmine. Severus looked up at her.

"Squeaky clean," he thought lasciviously as he closed the magazine and returned it to the end table.

Hermione noticed that he hadn't prepared himself a drink.

"Would you like a drink?" she asked him.

The wizard's dark eyes washed over her, then he nodded slowly, watching the witch walk over to the liquor cabinet, his eyes resting on her curvaceous little ass. He felt a small throb as once again memories of taking her from behind returned. Hermione removed a tumbler and the bottle of firewhiskey and poured Severus a generous amount…secretly hoping it would put the wizard in a cooperative, less snarky mood.

She brought it over to him, her nervousness returning as she set the glass down. Suddenly Severus clasped his hand around hers and the glass. It was warm and calloused. Hermione felt electricity shoot up her arm, her eyes going hot and soft for a moment as the wizard looked at her.

"Ah, excuse me," he said, slowly removing his hand from hers, sliding his palm over her knuckles as he did so.

"No problem," Hermione replied, sitting down in the armchair next to his, a bit shaken at the power of her reaction to the wizard.

Severus picked up the glass and took a sip of his drink, Hermione's eyes resting on his Adam's apple as it bobbed. She wanted to press her lips against it and feel it move.

"Damn. Down girl," she thought to herself. Severus looked directly at her.

"So, Hermione. What was so important that you had to bring me to your private quarters to discuss it?" the wizard asked silkily. "I imagine it has something to do with your sex life, though I can't imagine what that has to do with me. I've come…and gone."

Hermione swallowed.

"That's just it," the witch said, drawing her legs up into the chair.

"What's just it?" the wizard pressed.

"No…no one else has been able to…to 'come and go' since you," Hermione said, coloring.

"Is that so?" the wizard replied, sipping the firewhiskey and staring into the fire for a moment before sliding his dark eyes toward her. "And what does that have to do with me, Hermione?"

Damn, he wasn't going to make this easy was he?

"Well, I want to know…I just…well…how did you do it? How did you manage to stay hard with me?" she asked him.

Severus looked at her.

"Hermione, you are a very attractive witch, with a very attractive body. I didn't 'do' anything to fuck you. I just did. It was nature and if I must say so myself, skill," he purred at her.

Hermione felt a gush roll down. Damn it! He was doing it to her again.

"Perhaps your partner or partners were too excited," he suggested.

"No. That's not it. I checked," she said, her belly tightening.

Severus' eyebrows rose in supposed surprise.

"Checked? How in the world would you 'check' such a thing, witch?" he asked her, fighting back a smirk. She was going to have to tell him she bought a cock.

"I…I went to an expert," she replied, trying to put a perfectly natural spin on what was for her, a completely unnatural act.

"An expert?" Severus asked as if he didn't understand.

"A gigolo," she whispered.

Severus' lips quirked as Hermione turned an even deeper shade of red.

"You paid someone to fuck you?" he said, amazement in his voice.

"I paid someone to try to fuck me. He couldn't," the witch responded. "And neither could Miles. He tried a couple of times. He finally broke it off with me."

"I see," Severus said shortly.

Hermione stared at him, waiting for the wizard to say something, anything that would be helpful. He didn't. He just sat there silently, staring into the fire. Hermione began to get angry.

"Severus, say something," she said to the wizard, who looked at her coolly.

"What do you expect me to say?" he responded.

Hermione stared at him for a moment, then burst into tears.

"I want you to tell me what's wrong with me!" she sobbed, "Why no one wants to touch me!"

Severus looked at the sobbing witch and felt a slight pang. Just a slight one.

"There's nothing wrong with you, Hermione," he said."The fault was with the wizards…not you."

She blinked at him.

"How do you know that?" she asked the Potions Master through her tears.

"I know it because I've fucked you…and trust me witch…there is not a thing undesirable about you," the wizard said. "At least not sexually. Did you talk shop to them before you engaged them? Drone on and on about your work? Turn on that brilliant mind and emasculate them mentally? Not every man can deal with such an intelligent witch, Hermione."

"No…no I didn't do that. I didn't do anything wrong, Severus. Miles and I kissed, touched and came here to my rooms. We tried to make love and couldn't do it," she said, breathing shakily as she tried to calm herself.

"Show me," the wizard said, leaning forward.

"Show you?" Hermione said, surprise on her face.

"Yes. Show me what you did prior to trying to fuck. Maybe I will see something that you did not," the wizard said.

Actually Severus wanted to see what Miles did to heat the witch up to the point she wanted him. Not that the Potions Master needed any pointers, but it was obvious the witch still had feelings of desire for the wizard…feelings he needed to put to rest. In order to do that, he needed to know what Miles did to make such an impression.

"All right," Hermione said, opening her thoughts to the Potions Master.

"Legilimens," the wizard breathed, his dark eyes meeting hers.

---

Severus watched as Miles and Hermione met at the Three Broomsticks and talked about Spell Making. The intelligent conversation served to stimulate the witch greatly, though the wizard's good looks and warm smile affected her as well. Hm. The Potions Master could do nothing about his looks, but he was quite capable of intelligent conversation.

He forwarded and saw them dining and dancing. The wizard held her gently and firmly and the contact of his hands and body caused a physical reaction in the witch. Then they were walking in a park, and stopped by a fountain. The wizard had kissed Hermione…soft, teasing kisses at first, but he soon became more ardent, drawing her need out of her slowly, working the witch until desire flowed through her. He was much gentler than the Potions Master, but effective. It seemed Hermione responded to the wizard's easy passion. Kisses and caresses were what moved her most.

Severus witnessed their frenzied undressing, still a lot of kissing and caressing, Hermione's desire washing over him as he viewed her memories. Gods the witch looked delicious on the couch entwined with the wizard, hungry, passionate and needy as she returned the wizard's kisses and touches. Then came the letdown. That had to have been frustrating…then he witnessed Hermione masturbating afterwards. She came, but didn't look very satisfied.

He then forwarded to the next week and their second failed attempt. Miles was much angrier this time and Hermione again left hanging, doubt in her mind. Then came the flowers and the break-up. He felt Hermione's pain when the wizard told her he had satisfactorily fucked two prostitutes at the brothel and there was nothing wrong with him and other witches. Only with her. Miles was quite kind and sincere with Hermione. It was easy to see the wizard hated parting with her.

Then he came to Georgio. Severus had witnessed Hermione with the gigolo, but this time he could see their tryst from her point of view. Again, it was the gentle, passionate contact that brought the witch to her pinnacle of need. The wizard withdrew from her mind.

"You have very…romantic leanings, Hermione," he said, looking at her. "Although your almost-lover's technique is in my opinion, a rather infantile approach to sex…it seemed adequate enough to start your juices flowing," the wizard said.

Hermione scowled.

"Miles was wonderful. He didn't ravage and overpower me but was gentle, coaxing…easy," she said, her eyes misting over for a moment. "I wanted to feel his tenderness intimately. I know he would have been good. The sex would have been good."

Hermione looked down at her hands.

Severus felt his belly tighten, and he scowled down into his firewhiskey

"So, am I right in thinking that you believe your tryst with Miles, if it had been completed, would have been better than what you experienced with me?" the Potions Master asked, forcing his voice to remain steady.

"You were strong, thorough and passionate, Severus…but I felt more like a vessel for you. As if it didn't matter if I received pleasure or not….though I did. I think I am a masochist to have liked how rough you were with me…I researched it…" she said to the wizard.

Severus rolled his eyes.

"Of course," he replied sarcastically.

"But Miles made me feel more wanted, more complete than you did, even though we never got to make love. I really wanted him too," the witch sighed.

"You wanted me," Severus said, sounding a bit like a petulant child. Hermione was picking apart his sexual technique. It bothered him. Every witch he had fucked before her was satisfied with his performance.

"Yes, but it was more of an animal response, Severus. When I reacted to you…it was like I had no choice, my own body betrayed me. You knew how to manipulate me, how to make my libido soar off the charts. You were like a muggle steamroller. On top of it, you made it clear it was only physical for you, that you didn't want anything more to do with me. I was so randy for you I accepted that. But I want more. Miles would have given me more than you could," the witch said.

"That wizard could never compare to me sexually," the Potions Master declared, his eyes glittering. "I saw what he was working with."

"I'm not just talking about sexually, Severus. I'm not a wizard. I'm a witch. I'm sure there are times when just sex will do," she said while thinking "Like now for example," then continued. "But for the most part a witch needs connection, to feel that the wizard has some feeling for her as well when he takes her. Miles was better than you because he had feelings for me. He thought me intelligent and beautiful and worth returning to. If he could have made love to me, we would be together right now…and I would be happy."

"Make love," Severus snorted, "A kinder, sweeter way to say 'fuck.'

He leveled his dark eyes on her.

"So you think he would have been better than me?" he asked the witch.

"Yes, and that's why I can't understand why he couldn't 'fuck' me. His motivations were deeper than yours and I was more ready for him than for you emotionally," Hermione replied. "Severus, was there any point you hesitated with me…even for a moment?"

"Yes, when I was breaking through your hymen, witch," the wizard growled. "It held me back momentarily. That was the extent of my 'hesitation.'"

Hermione shook her head, feeling defeated.

"I just don't understand," she said. "With Georgio, although he had no true feelings for me, he still had desire…that's his job after all. He sleeps with all kinds of witches. Even he couldn't take me."

Hermione wrapped her arms around her knees and rocked slightly.

"I don't know what to do," she said softly, her eyes glistening, "I changed myself outwardly to be more attractive, and it doesn't seem to matter. I draw wizards to me, but can't be intimate with them. It's not fair."

She dropped her head to her knees for a moment.

"I wish I never had sex with you, Severus" she whispered, "Now I am suffering for it. I had urges before while I was a virgin, but I didn't know what it was I really needed, and now I do. I have no recourse. No one to meet my needs. No one of my own. It's almost unbearable."

Severus looked at the witch and felt a twinge in his chest.

"I know what it's like to have no one of my own, Hermione. You don't have the market cornered in that regard," the wizard said.

"Yes, but with you…it is a choice. You don't want a witch in your life permanently. It's not that way for me. I want someone special in my life. Someone just for me…" Hermione said sadly. "Someone who wants me for me."

Severus looked at the witch and hesitated. He was about to say something he had never told anyone…not even himself.

"Hermione, yes I am alone by choice…but it is a rather cowardly choice. The truth of the matter is I believe that no decent woman would put up with me, with my past and my nature," the wizard said honestly.

"But…you turn witches away, Severus. I've seen you," the witch replied.

"I said 'decent' witches, Hermione. Not status whores or cockmongers," he said bitterly. "I don't think I've ever been with a decent witch until…"

Hermione looked at Severus as he faltered. Her heart began to pound.

"Until?" she urged.

"Until…you," he said softly, staring into the fireplace. "And then out of habit I pushed you away as well, when you are…bearable."

Hermione blinked at him. Was Severus Snape saying he liked her? Oh, if ever a statement needed clarification, this was it.

"Bearable?" she asked.

Severus scowled at her.

"Yes. Bearable. Don't try to get me to say anything other than that! You still have many insufferable qualities…such as your independence," he snapped at her. "You don't listen, you are argumentive, stubborn, mouthy…the list goes on and on. A completely infuriating woman outside of the bed."

"Severus, I didn't even know you noticed those things about me," Hermione said, "You don't seem to pay attention to anyone here at Hogwarts."

"I pay attention to everything," he replied, frowning at her.

Hermione considered what Severus said about pushing her away 'out of habit.' She cocked her head at him.

"When you said you pushed me away 'out of habit' when I was bearable, are you saying you made a mistake?" the witch inquired.

Severus reddened.

"No! Of course I didn't make a mistake," he seethed, then said in a quieter voice, "Though I might have been a bit…hasty."

Hermione's eyebrows rose with realization.

"Severus Snape! You want me!" she accused him. "You want me to be your witch, don't you?"

Severus jumped up out of the armchair and started pacing agitatedly in front of the fireplace.

"You're mad," he said, sipping his firewhiskey and scowling down at the floor.

Hermione watched him, her amber eyes full of mirth.

"Saying I'm mad isn't saying no, Severus," she replied.

This was the first time the witch had ever seen Severus out of sorts and not in control of a situation. It felt good to pin him against the ropes, the snarky bastard. If he did want her, it had to be something hard for him to admit, even to himself. Oh, this was too good. Severus Snape was a human being after all.

Severus stopped and looked at Hermione for a moment, then started pacing again, his robes billowing. This was not going at all the way he envisioned. How did it get to this point? He was supposed to have used her randiness to have at her again. Not get into a discussion about starting a relationship. He shuddered at the very word.

But he realized Hermione had pegged him. He did want her, gods curse the witch. He wanted her exclusively. All he had done, all the deceptions and plots were simply because he didn't want anyone else fucking her but him. It was time he admitted it to himself. The Potions Master didn't know if his desire for Hermione was because he had taken her virginity or for some other reason. All Severus knew was the thought of another wizard putting his cock in her made him furious.

A downside to his attraction to Hermione was that despite his skill at manipulation, this was a situation where the witch had him at a disadvantage. She could reject him as he initially rejected her. Although Severus did rejection well since he had to deal with it all his life…in this instance being rejected…

How could he put this without perceiving himself as weak?

There was no way. If the witch rejected him, he would be hurt. He would feel it.

"I didn't say I wanted you witch," Severus said, trying to regain control of the situation, "But in lieu of your situation…I might be willing to accommodate you from time to time, since I am also without a source of steady release. It would be very convenient to have an available witch to fuck when I'm inclined."

Hermione looked at him incredulously.

"How magnanimous of you," Hermione said sarcastically.

Severus scowled at her.

"You called me in your rooms because you had a problem you believed I could help you with. In return I have come up with a viable solution to your problem since apparently I am the only wizard capable of meeting your needs," Severus said.

"And I suppose you are doing this out of the kindness of your heart," Hermione replied, the thread of sarcasm turning into a veritable river.

"No. I have very selfish reasons for doing this. I would like to continue to fuck you," the Potions Master admitted.

Hermione felt a powerful pulse at the wizard's words, but she felt something else as well.

"Severus, you aren't the kind of wizard I'm looking for. Sex with you was awesome…earth-shaking, but now that I experienced Miles, I realize I want more in a wizard than just the ability to make me orgasm. I want a feeling of connection. Some tenderness. Gentleness. Also I want to know that I am appreciated outside of the bedroom," she said.

Severus looked at her.

"So I imagine you want to be…coddled," he said looking down his nose at her. "Petted and caressed. Receive chaste little kisses, things of that nature."

"Something along those lines…but I don't want it to be an effort. It would be an effort for you to be kind, Severus. It's just not your nature. I need a lover, Severus. And let's face it…love is part of lover," the witch said.

Severus stared at Hermione quietly for a few moments.

"So you think me incapable of kindness, Hermione? If you gave me pleasure…me alone and no other wizard…I would treat you kindly. How could I not?" he said with some effort. "Contrary to popular belief, witch…I am not a monster. I do have feelings. I just don't wear them on the sleeve of my robes like most."

Severus was very uncomfortable opening up to the witch like this. He had never opened up to anyone before. It made him too vulnerable. But he wanted the witch to accept him.

"I'm no Miles. You won't be receiving roses from me. But I could show you tenderness if that is what you need, at least part of the time. I have a very demanding sexual nature…I can't change that. But I can also offer you intelligent conversation and companionship when you need it. I believe if you agree to this arrangement you'll find I can be what you need Hermione, if not exactly what you want at this moment in time."

There. He had said all he could say as far as he was concerned.

Hermione looked at the pale wizard thoughtfully. Severus was offering her a relationship. She thought perhaps he felt more than he was admitting towards her. But this was the Potions Master. He probably had never opened up his heart to anyone before. And although she knew he was a very cold, disciplined man in most areas of his life, she didn't believe he would be that way with her if she accepted him as a lover. Maybe at first, because it was new…but even Severus had a heart. Maybe it could be accessed if he were exposed to tenderness and love directed specifically at him. It would be a challenge and most likely a lengthy process. Hermione enjoyed being challenged as well as being successful. Severus would be one of her projects if she agreed to see him exclusively.

Oh but he was an irritating bastard. It didn't take him long to piss her off, although she usually could control her reactions. But she kind of liked the dark wizard's snarkiness, sarcasm and biting wit. He could always be trusted to be brutally honest in his observations if not his methods. He was a Slytherin after all and as a Slytherin…quite devious and resourceful. Hermione found she liked that too. Then again, most witches had a secret attraction to 'bad boys.'

Hermione looked at Severus appraisingly. He straightened under her scrutinizing gaze, almost posing. Hermione smirked. He really was a piece of work. She was very attracted to the wizard on a rather animal level, and she did respect his mind and brilliance. But could he be kind and tender? That was the big question. Hermione didn't want to lock herself into a relationship with the wizard and find he could not meet all her needs.

"I suppose we could have a trial run of about a month," the witch said to the Potions Master. "During that time we won't seek anyone else out. In my case, it doesn't make sense to anyway. But at the end of the month we'll decide whether or not we want to continue. That way there is an out for both of us."

Severus felt a little leap inside, but hid it. So the witch was willing to try. Good deal.

"That sounds...acceptable," the wizard said silkily, his eyes beginning to smolder.

Hermione looked up at him rather tremulously.

"But, it is a possibility Severus, that my 'problem' with wizards might extend to you now," she said in a low voice.

Severus looked down at the witch, his black eyes drifting over her. Suddenly his hand shot out and grabbed Hermione by the wrist, yanking the witch out of the chair and against his body. He wrapped his arms around her.

"Let's find out, witch" he purred, lowering his head, giving her a searing kiss and backing her toward her bedroom.

"Dear gods," Hermione breathed as the wizard's lips slid down her throat. She went immediately boneless.

Severus smirked against her skin.

Come to Daddy, witch.

"If any gods are listening," Hermione thought, her body aflame as the wizard backed her into the bedroom, "Please, oh please don't let this be another letdown."

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A/N: Severus capitulated. Finally, you thick sod. Lol. Well, looks like we are very close to the orchards here. Please review this chapter.