AN/: Hello readers! A big thank you to smithback, Lunajen323, CrazySlytherin, and purplehedgehog13 for reviewing, this chapter is dedicated to you! Much love to those of you who favourited and followed! Enjoy :)
Chapter 3: Toxic Fumes.
Hermione took her seat opposite Harry. He hadn't touched a drop of alcohol since last night, and she saw it as a good sign. However, his eyes were bloodshot, and his skin was a ghostly white shade. She'd given him a hangover potion and filled him up with food every hour.
They were now tucking into their dinner before heading out for the night. Maybe he'll cause another fight so we can leave early. Hermione's stomach flipped when she recalled the dream she'd had last night. It involved me being tied up to a certain professors bed, she shivered.
Also, while she had been busy nursing Harry's hangover, she read over some of her books to compare her symptoms with that of a love potion. Snape might be right, but it certainly isn't me slipping us a potion. She drew the conclusion that somebody must've done it at the whorehouse. She was taking phials with her so she could take a sample of her tea and the firewhisky he drinks.
However, Hermione couldn't figure out why they were both dreaming about the same things. It's like Harry and Draco. She glanced at him, watching him shovel food into his mouth.
"Yes, 'Mione?" He asked with his mouth open.
"Harry…" She needed to choose her words carefully. "Do you still dream about Draco?" He paused mid chew. His left eye twitched, and he swallowed hard.
He nodded. "Not as often as I used to though."
The amount he drinks every day affected whether he passed out into a dreamless sleep. He thinks that the more he consumes, the less he'll dream; that's correct, even if it's the unhealthy option. She took a sip of her water and offered him a sympathetic smile.
"Why do you ask?" Harry put his fork down and leant forward slightly.
"No reason other than wanting to check up on you," She cut up her bacon, and the topic was quickly forgotten.
She had to admit that her first and second meeting with Snape had been different. The first time they'd kissed it had happened abruptly; it was out of character for both of them, yet it triggered off the events of the second time they kissed. What if we were slipped a love potion on the first night we met but not the second. It would explain why it felt slightly different.
She hadn't desired him any less; it just wasn't as brutal and aggressive as the first time. Could it be possible that somebody is playing matchmaker? She shook her head. I shouldn't throw thoughts around; I just need to take samples of our drinks.
Two hours later, Hermione watched Harry race up the brothel stairs in search of a vacant room. He's never normally this eager. Madam Annette ran over with a warm smile.
"Evening, love. How is he?" She asked, walking over to the bar with her.
"He hasn't had a drink all day," She said. "I'll take that as progress. Thank you for not banning him after last night."
"Believe me I would've banned him if it wasn't for you," Annette placed a cup of tea in front of her. "I would miss you."
Hermione's cheeks flushed. "I'd miss you too."
"Evening Hermione," Jenny took the seat next to her and picked up the drink Annette offered. "How are you?" She raised her eyebrows knowingly with a smug smile on her face. Oh, Merlin, I forgot she walked in on us kissing.
"Fine," She muttered taking a sip of her tea.
"I bet you are," She chuckled. "Is your mystery man coming today?"
"What are you implying?" Hermione was trying to act serious, but her flustered face and eyes betrayed her.
"Nothing," Jenny shrugged. "What I walked in on was pretty intense...old lover?" The way she said it sounded like she already knew the answer.
"He's my old professor," She whispered.
"Wow," Annette took the rag from her waist and used it to rest her elbows on as she leant closer to Hermione. "Did you have a crush on him at school?"
"N-No!" She exclaimed looking back and forth between them. Why do I feel like I'm being ganged up on?
"You did!" Annette pinched her cheek, and she swatted her hand away. "You look good together."
"There is no together," She looked down at her tea. "It was just a kiss."
"That should be plural," Jenny snickered flicking some of her blonde hair behind her shoulder. "I saw you yesterday, sweetie."
Hermione bit her bottom lip. "OK, it was just two kisses."
"I'd bet Galleons on you kissing again tonight," She retorted, and Annette took some coins from her pocket, placing them on the wooden bar.
"How much do you want to bet?" She asked Jenny and Hermione widened her eyes.
"You can't be serious? Stop!" With a sweep of her arm, she brought the coins towards her. "You aren't betting on anything to do with Severus and me."
"Severus?" Annette smirked.
"I mean Snape!" She glared at them both. "Why're you so interested anyway?"
"Well, you both come to a whorehouse and make no use of my girls," Annette collected up her coins. "And you sit in the foyer all night drinking and reading. You're perfect for each other."
Hermione sighed. "He was my teacher."
"So?" Jenny finished off her drink. "He likes you, and you like him. What's the problem with that?"
"I...I don't know," She finished off her cup of tea, then got to her feet. "I'm going upstairs."
"Have fun reading!" Jenny called out when she got to the stairs.
Hermione clutched the strap of her bag and pulled out a muggle book. There is nothing wrong with me liking to read, and just because Snape does as well doesn't mean we're compatible.
You still want to snog his face off though; her snarky inner voice was going to be the death of her. Yes, I like kissing Snape...he's a good kisser, way better than Ron.
She hated that she didn't miss Ron. She hated many things about him; her hate wasn't down to him cheating on her, it was because he'd abandoned Harry. You'd think it would be the male friend dragged to whorehouse's, not the female one. Ron cut Harry off the moment they moved in together.
She stepped into the foyer and looked around. No Snape. Excellent! She took the phials from her bag and grabbed the bottle of firewhisky from the table, pouring some of it into the glass container. I'll test it in the lab at work. Her tray of tea popped into existence, and she deposited some of the steaming brew into her second phial, then slipped them back into her bag.
Hermione sat on the comfy sofa, settling her book into her lap. Time to relax-
Smoke started to fill the corridor from underneath one of the doors. It wasn't thick smoke, more like a misty smog. What the heck? She got to her feet and trod carefully down the hall.
"This is s-so...cool…" It was Harry, but his voice sounded miles away. What's he doing now? She knocked on the door and tapped her foot while she waited for him to answer.
"Go away!" Another male voice thundered.
"Harry, open this door right now!" She snapped, ignoring the other man. The door then opened, and a hand pulled her into the foggy room. Her chest constricted for fresh air, but soon adjusted to her new environment. A tingling sensation filled her nostrils, and her eyes began to throb. The room smelled like herbs, and she soon spotted something that resembled an incense, burning on the table.
"Embrace it, Hermione," She stared into his bloodshot eyes. He can hardly stand, but that didn't stop the huge grin on his face. "Feel...the...pleasure…" He flopped onto the bed next to a woman who was equally disorientated.
"Let the smoke enter your lungs," The unknown man sat at the table with a smile on his face, and she could see that his body was completely relaxed; almost lifeless.
Oh, my Merlin! Are they all high!? Hermione, you're breathing it in! She moved towards the door, holding her hands over her nose and mouth, but her lungs suddenly felt airless - in a great way. I feel good. Her eyes slowly closed as she inhaled more of the smoke.
"Do you...feel...it?" Harry turned his head leisurely. "Go to your happy place...join me…" Hermione stumbled over to the bed; it felt like she was walking on air.
She landed next to Harry with a thud, and they both laughed at each other. He rested his forehead against hers, and she took hold of his arm.
"This is so much better than drinking," He whispered, and his eyes fluttered closed. "A dragon...I see a pink dragon…" He rolled onto his back and giggled.
"I see...a three-headed horse…" The woman mused from the other side of Harry. "It's pretty...I can almost touch it…"
Hermione closed her eyes welcoming the feeling of her heavy chest. She felt like she was resting on a bed of clouds. The mattress is soft...my mind seems at ease...I can see a meadow...and a purple donkey. She giggled childishly. It looks funny...I want to touch it…
"I've never felt this good..." The man said from his chair. "This is better than shagging."
"I wouldn't go that far," Harry sighed. "But, it's close."
"It's better than sex for me," Hermione mused, and Harry brushed his hand up her arm. "That tickles..."
"I'm glad you're here...'Mione..." His voice trailed off into a low grumble.
"I see grass...it's blue..." The woman whispered, nuzzling her face against Harry's shoulder.
She sighed blissfully, closing her eyes again to zone out the loud voices beyond the door. I'm sleepy...so very sleepy. Her body shook violently, she didn't open her eyes, but she could hear the angry voice that continued to shake her.
"Hermione!"
"Fuckin' hell! Open your eyes!"
"Open your eyes, Hermione!" Somebody shook her again, and she steadily opened her eyes.
Severus...He was kneeling next to her on the bed. Where did the smoke go? She glanced around the clear room and caught sight of Harry violently throwing up on the floor. Instantly, her lungs flared up causing her eyes to sting painfully, and aggressive coughs to slice the back of her throat.
Snape moved her onto her side as coughs spasmed through her body. She couldn't see properly, yet she managed to spot the blood she had coughed out on the white bedsheet. Razor sharp coughs continued to throttle her lungs as strong arms wrapped around her and lifted her body off the bed.
She clamped her eyes shut hoping to ease the pain; she felt the moment they stepped out of the room. Fresh air filled her lungs making her moan in relief. Her back connected with the soft sofa in the foyer.
"Deep breath in…" Snape's voice sounded distant, but she did as he instructed. "And out…"
Hermione continued this process for a few minutes. The ringing in her ears and the severe coughs subsided as she gained control of her body again. Her eyes still throbbed. However, it was bearable to open her eyes.
She saw Snape looking down at her from where he sat on the edge of the sofa. His hand was on her wrist and the other pressed against her forehead. She regained her senses fast.
"W-What happened?" Her throat was tender from all the coughing making her voice raspy.
"You inhaled highly toxic fumes," Anger flashed in his eyes. "What the hell were you thinking?"
"I-I...Harry pulled me into the room...it took effect before I could leave," She pieced everything together in her mind, and her eyes began to water. Snape visibly stiffened at the sight of her tears. "Is Harry OK?"
"Potter is getting what he deserves," He growled. She moved to sit up, but he placed his hands on her shoulders to stop her. "You need to lay down for awhile."
"I feel fine."
"You won't when you stand up, Hermione," She bit her bottom lip when he said her name. I like the way he says my name. His eyes travelled down to the plump lip trapped beneath her teeth, and she felt her core throb with need. Now is not the time to be turned on!
He reached out and tucked a fallen curl behind her ear. It was such a tender moment that she forgot to breathe for a few seconds. His eyes had darkened with need, and she wanted him to kiss her. A love potion wouldn't make me feel this way. Yes, her heart was thundering in her chest, but it wasn't in uncontrollable lust. If she were under the influence of a love potion, she would've jumped on him the moment she regained her senses.
"Stop thinking so hard," He whispered huskily.
"Sorry," She sniffled, glad that she didn't shed any of the tears that had built up in her eyes.
Slowly, his mouth moved down to hers, but he stopped a mere whisper away. If Hermione spoke, their lips would brush against each other, oh how badly I want that.
His hooked nose touched hers, and she revelled in the feel of him so close to her face. She could still sense his warm gaze on her, and it brought her comfort.
"Kiss me."
"You stupid man!" Hermione heard Annette's shrill voice which was followed by the sound of her hitting the man in question, hard. "I told you to stop buying from that dodgy tradesman! You could've killed everyone in that room!"
Snape pulled away from her quickly and straightened his back. She almost poked her bottom lip out due to the loss of his warmth.
"What was it?" She asked.
"I'm assuming he thought that the incense would create a high for anyone who inhaled it - Muggles frequently use drugs to conjure such a sensation. However, he bought it from an unreliable source who used the wrong proportion of ingredients; he probably added some that don't belong, and this resulted in a toxic high instead of a good one."
"Oh…" She breathed out. "I can't believe Harry pulled me into the room."
"As much as I despise Potter..." Merlin, it sounded painful to hear I can't imagine how hard that was for him to say. "He wouldn't have been aware of what he was doing."
She laughed. "I've never gotten drunk before, but somehow I managed to get high. That is the most outrageous thing I've done."
"I'm sure that's not true," His smooth voice made her body relax more into the sofa. Merlin, I would pay him just to talk me to sleep. "Didn't you set my robes on fire?"
Her eyes widened. "You know about that!"
"It was easy to figure out, Hermione," He conjured up a glass of water. "Drink this," He placed the glass on her lips, and she let the cold liquid flow down her sore throat. He hasn't called me Miss Granger yet...should I call him Severus?
"How are you feeling?" Annette walked into the foyer. "I'm sorry, love. You shouldn't have got caught up in that."
"It's all right," She flashed her a friendly smile. "I was just at the wrong place at the wrong time."
"I gave Marco a black eye and broken nose. Also, I've banned him from ever coming here again," Hermione guessed Marco was the strange man who'd been in the room with them. "I warned him not to bring stuff like that into my home."
Hermione tried to sit up, but Snape stopped her again, and she resisted the urge to growl at him. His hands lingered on her body; I love the feel of his hands on me...Last night's dream flashed in her mind, and an involuntary moan came from her lips.
"You OK, love?" She glanced into Annette's amused eyes, and she realised what she'd done. Snape's eyes burned into her face, begging her to look at him.
"Yes," Hermione whispered. "I'm just tired."
"Sure," She chuckled. "Thank you for your help Severus."
He shrugged her praise off; it had made him uncomfortable. He looks cute when he's flustered...cute? She shuddered. He'd kill me if he heard me call him cute.
"You're welcome to sleep here tonight," Annette leant down and kissed her forehead. "Harry's already sleeping it off in one of the rooms."
"Thank you," She moved to sit up again, and this time he let her. She moved her legs around causing her head to spin.
"Maybe you should sleep on the sofa," Annette offered, and Hermione nodded her head.
"That sounds good," She lay back down then Snape draped a blanket over her, and she smiled. "Can you stay with me until I fall asleep?"
"Yes," He drawled just as Annette left the foyer. "Close your eyes."
"I thought you wanted me to keep my eyes open…"
"Don't act like a know-it-all, Hermione."
"Goodnight, Severus."
