Hermione couldn't sleep. She kept thinking about her interaction with Snape hours before. He had been his usual snide self, but it certainly had seemed like he was glancing down at her dress a lot. Obviously, the skilled Occlumens didn't show any reaction to the low neckline and snug fit of her ensemble, yet still the thought of his dark eyes raking her body as they had made her skin burn with need.

They had been carrying on a right nice conversation, too. Hermione swore he had actually been teasing her. And then McLaggen had ruined it all with his overeager lips. Just the thought made her want to kick him in the balls in the hopes that he lost feeling down there. What would have happened if Cormac had never come along? She did register that the arrival of the Gryffindor had angered her professor. Was it just the rudeness on Cormac's part? Or was he upset that I had a date? Hermione could kick herself for that thought. Don't be ridiculous Hermione! He's your professor!

And yet… those eyes had traveled down to the split in her dress a few times while they were talking. Perhaps he was just admiring the green. But that was such a ridiculous thought that she found herself beaming. He was looking at me! And if McLaggen hadn't shown up, he wouldn't have been nearly so mad when he discovered that we were under the mistletoe! Hermione had realized it long before her professor. Throughout their little conversation she had been waiting for him to see it too. Hermione closed her eyes.

Perhaps he would have tried to step away. Then he would look at her helplessly and maybe even explain the situation to her, as if she hadn't known. She would have looked at him in innocent shock, but told him that they were mature enough not to make it a big deal. Liar! He would have agreed hesitantly and stepped closer to her. She could just imagine the way she would be pressed against the table behind her. He would smoothly set his hands on her waist and lean down toward her mouth.

At the last moment, he would freeze and bring his hand up to cup her face, then slide into her hair and hold her still for him. His lips would brush hers so slightly that she could barely feel it, and though they could feel the magic lifting, he would press them against hers once more, this time with more pressure. She would react by leaning into him and opening her lips just so. He would moan from the surprise of her acquiescence and press harder against her. His tongue would slyly dart between her lips, begging entrance and she would moan her response. When he did it again she would meet it with the tip of her own.

At that his arms would tighten around her, running one over her hip and lightly squeezing as he plunged his tongue into her mouth. She would cry out in pleasure and pain as he crushed her to him. When he broke away, it would only be to taste the side of her jaw, the bit of skin beneath her ear, and her neck down to her collar bone.

Panting, Hermione imagined that they would slip away back to his quarters where he would press her against a wall. Finally, his wandering hands would seek out her breasts and he would moan in pleasure to finally hold them in his palms. She would slide her hands up and down his chest and start removing his many layers.

Hermione was pulsing with need. She slipped a hand under the covers and between her legs. Her professor would slide his hands up her thighs, under her flouncy skirt, first traveling around to cup her buttocks. Then sliding between her legs to touch her there. She would moan and reach for his face to kiss him again and he would take her in his arms and toss her onto his bed. With magic he would undress them further, too impatient to do it by hand, and finally he would bury his face in her breasts and lie between her legs.

She would run her hands through his hair, pulling him down to her as he took her nipples into his mouth. Then she would press against him, begging him to come to her; to take her. Thrusting his tongue into her mouth, he would rub against her in erotic simulation of the act to come. Then he would pull away and look at her, asking a silent question, which she would answer with a moaned "Please!" And he would plunge into her. It would hurt, she knew, but he would hold her gently and wait for her to relax. Then he would press inside her with growing urgency and force. She would wrap her legs around him as he look into her eyes as the pleasure mounted and he would come.

Hermione cried out as an amazing pleasure washed over her in waves. Her body throbbed with release as she slowly relaxed into the pillows once more. She had never wanted anyone more than she wanted Severus Snape.

The following day, Harry took his two best friends aside to tell them what he had overheard after Slughorn's party the night before. "What is it, Harry? Why are you being so secretive?" Hermione asked as he made sure they were alone.

"I have to tell you something important. Last night, I followed Malfoy and Snape when they left the party…"

"Professor Snape, Harry," Hermione reminded him. She could feel her cheeks grow warm to remember her fantasy from the night before.

"Yeah and I hid in the hallway as they were talking in one of the classrooms. It was really weird and I don't know what it means, but Malfoy's apparently got something he's been told to do and Snape is supposed to help him. He said he made an unbreakable vow." At that Hermione and Ron both gasped.

"Are you sure that's what he said, mate?" Ron inquired.

"Yeah. What exactly is an unbreakable vow?" Harry responded.

"Well… I mean… you can't break and unbreakable vow."

"That's very helpful, Ron. So what happens if you break it, then?"

"You die." Hermione's heart was thumping in her chest. Snape would die if he was not able to fulfill the requirements of his vow and Malfoy was making it nearly impossible to do so. Not for an instant did she even stop to wonder what horrible thing Snape was going to have to do. She only hoped he was successful.

Before leaving for the Christmas holiday, Hermione decided to take a trip to the library. Her mission was twofold: find out more about Unbreakable Vows, and take out every book that covered the subject of Occlumency. With all the dreams she had been having involving Professor Snape, and the fact that he was a skilled Legilimens, she was taking no chances that he discovered her secret.

No. She would spend the holidays teaching herself to occlude and finding some way around the Unbreakable Vow.

Christmas in the castle was a boring affair. Severus usually enjoyed having a break from the students, but this time it was different. No one was brewing in his lab when he went in. No one was leaving interesting essays for him to read. No one was teasing him with her sweet little body and inviting mouth or glancing at him with admiration showing clearly in her soft, cinnamon eyes. He groaned.

It was apparent that Severus's attempt to put space between himself and the Granger girl had had the opposite effect. Rather than push her away from him, it had only made him want her more. The extended separation of the holidays was just more proof of that. He couldn't seem to close his eyes without seeing her once again in that green dress.

And then there was Draco. He was certainly a more pressing issue. The boy was doing everything in his power to keep Severus from knowing his plans. Didn't he understand that his professor was trying to help? If he could just keep the boy from doing anything foolish, he might be able to save him in the end. After all, as Albus had so prudently pointed out, he himself was already damned, so it wouldn't make any difference if he did it. Severus was fed up with the Headmaster's attitude on the subject.

Christmas day came and went without much notice from the Potions Master. At least there were no big Death Eater plans this year. Strangely, he found himself counting the days until Hermione Granger returned.

This was definitely a pressing issue. She was far too entwined in his pathetic life now. He should have been pushing her away, but instead was clinging to her existence as if hope in the world depended on it. Yet, he knew that very soon she would hate him forever. If only there was some way to tell her. As much as his waking thoughts revolved around how happy he was when he was with her, his dreams were filled with nightmares of what could happen to her because of him. It had taken these dreams to make Severus realize that he didn't just lust after the girl; he cared about her. And that was something he was definitely loath to admit.

And yet, Granger played an important strategic role as well. There was a very good chance he would be Headmaster next year, and more distanced from the Order than he had ever been. Which meant that they were going to be short a lot of potions. But, if he could firmly establish Granger as the potions provider, he could find a way to keep them supplied.

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