Hey guys! Sorry I haven't updated for a couple of days. I've been pretty busy dealing with life and stuff… but I hope to make up for it! I hope you like it and if you do, please review!

Hermione read and reread Harry's writing.

We got the horcrux! It was a cup of Helga Hufflepuff's. We think the other two may be from Ravenclaw and Gryffindor. Oh and there's bad news. We lost the sword… Don't get mad! It was really tricky getting out of there and we were lucky we even made it out alive, but it does present a problem. Now we have to figure out another way to destroy them… I don't think we're going to get the sword back. Also, Voldemort knows that we're hunting horcruxes. I saw it in my mind. Anyway, I think he may have hidden a horcrux at Hogwarts, so you should look there.

She looked up at her professor who looked to be equal parts confused and worried. "Professor," she began, "I really, really need to look through your books." Snape seemed to be at war with himself, torn between worry for her and not wanting to allow her access to the books. "We need to find another way to destroy horcruxes," she admitted. Snape gaped at her in surprise. "We were using the Sword of Gryffindor, but… Harry and Ron have just lost it…"

"They what!?"

"Yes, well apparently they broke into Gringotts to find another horcrux…"

"Granger, why the hell are you telling me this?" At that she gave him a look of withering scorn, but did not deign to answer.

"Also, Harry believes that Vol—"

"Don't say his name!"

"Sorry. Harry believes that You-Know-Who is now aware that we are hunting horcruxes."

"Bloody hell." Snape murmured. Then he suddenly seemed to realize something. "Horcruxes?" snape asked. "Plural?"

"Oh, yes. We believe there are six of them in all. Riddle's diary, which Harry destroyed in his second year, the ring Dumbledore destroyed, Slytherin's locket which Ron destroyed with the sword, and apparently they have the fourth, so that leaves two more."

"Merlin," was all the dark wizard could say.

"Yes and Harry believes they may have something to do with Ravenclaw and Gryffindor because there's one for Slytherin and one for Hufflepuff. And he thinks one of them might be here at Hogwarts. He wants me to look for it. Of course, even if we find it, it won't do us any good if we can't destroy it. Which is why I need to use your books!" Snape didn't hesitate, but headed straight to the bookshelf and began searching for a particular title. She hurried over to his side.

After hours of pouring over books together, Hermione had fallen asleep on the couch. Severus decided to pick up where they left off tomorrow and went for a shower. Under the hot steam, he allowed his thoughts to turn back to the dream he had seen in the girl's mind. She wanted him. His heart sang with that realization. And his body heated. Were she not already asleep on his couch, he would take her tonight. He would demonstrate his affection for her in physical form. He would make love to her.

Before he could reign in his thoughts, he was hard and throbbing, wanting her with every fiber of his being. He could just picture her sweet, soft body naked between his sheets. How he would love to press her into them. How he longed to hold her; touch her; kiss her. He picked up her bar of soap, allowing the sweet scent of it to fill his nostrils—her scent. Severus moaned, lathering his hands with the soap and snaking them down to relieve his mounting desire.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. Severus was torn between biting back a groan of irritation that the chit had interrupted him again with her appalling timing, and inviting her to join him.

"Professor?" she called through the door. "Are you hungry?" Hungry? How could he think of eating right now?

"No," he growled impatiently.

"Have you eaten?" she pressed stubbornly. He didn't answer. Her sigh of frustration brought a sneer to his face. "Professor, you need to eat. I'll send Dobby for something." Severus groaned and switched the tap to cold.

Snape eventually joined her for dinner, fully dressed. She wasn't sure what she had expected, but the fact that he had taken the time to button all those buttons when he was going to bed soon just floored her. Was he just that modest? They ate in silence, but she kept glancing up at him, looking for something to say. Everything sounded far too stupid in her head to say aloud, so she remained quiet. And yet, he stubbornly refused to look her way at all. When they had finally finished, she cleaned up their mess and left him there for her own shower. This would give him the opportunity to undress and get comfortable without the awkwardness of having to decide what to wear with her standing right there.

The bathroom was still steamy from his shower, and that made her blush inexplicably. She could smell the scent of her own soap in the air and wasn't sure what to make of that. A fire was being kindled inside of her at the thought that he had been in here not long ago, naked, bathing. She stepped under the hot water and savored the sensation of the heat soaking her skin. She picked up the soap, noting that it was already slick with suds, and stifled a groan at the image of him lathering her soap all over his body. Hermione lathered her own body thoroughly, enjoying the feel of her tight skin under the slippery suds. Her breasts were aching and heavy and the fire between her legs was not extinguished with the water. She needed him.

Forcing herself to stop the sweet torture, Hermione stepped out of the scalding shower and dried off. Tonight she chose a silky black pajama set. The spaghetti straps left her shoulders exposed and the loose shorts showed off her thighs. She sent a drying charm through her hair, but left it frizzy and wild before stepping out of the bathroom. Severus was not in bed, she was surprised to see. Rather, he was standing in front of his wardrobe with his back to her. The only article of clothing he seemed to have discarded was his heavy, black frock coat. Thus he remained in a long-sleeved, white button-up shirt over his trousers and thick boots.

As Hermione stepped closer to him, she noticed that he seemed to be staring down at his exposed left arm. The sleeve had been unbuttoned and slipped aside and he was considering it thoughtfully. Another step closer and she noticed the deep furrow in his brow. He looked anguished. Hermione hesitated only a moment before stepping next to him and reaching for his left hand with hers. He did not pull away, but turned toward her hesitantly, keeping his eyes on his arm, almost in shame. With her right hand, Hermione pulled out her wand and used it to lift the glamor she had on her left arm. Immediately, the word 'Mudblood' appeared in the form of a dark scar.

Severus immediately thrust out his right hand to grip her arm painfully, examining it with a look of fury on his face. She could sense he was about to speak and cut him off with a finger to his lips, which she immediately withdrew when she realized the effect that touching his lips had on her. "Bellatrix," she said simply, as if that would soothe him.

"She did this to you?" he hissed. The protective tone in his voice made her heart warm.

"At Malfoy Manor," she admitted, "before Dobby brought us here." He blinked at her in shock and she shook her head. "But I don't want to talk about that now." The softening in his expression told her that he understood. Then, surprisingly, he began unbuttoning his shirt. She froze in shocked anticipation as he pulled the garment open and pointed to one particularly painful-looking scar cutting around his side. She longed to reach out and touch it.

"The dark lord, himself, did this to me," he remarked, almost casually. Hermione lifted her right hand and traced the scar with the tip of her finger. He shivered at her touch. Then she pulled one spaghetti strap off of her shoulder, allowing the top to dip lower, and removed the glamor covering the long scar that traced across her collarbone and between her breasts.

"Dolohov," She said simply. "At the Ministry that night." To her delighted surprise, he lifted his own graceful hand to her skin and ran his knuckles over the scar, starting at her shoulder, sweeping slowly over her collarbone, and boldly traveling down to where the edge of the scar disappeared beneath her top, between her breasts. Then, both of his hands came to her shoulders and he stepped a little closer. One hand slowly teased the remaining spaghetti strap toward the edge of her shoulder. When she didn't stop him, he removed it and watched as the black satin floated to the floor and pooled around her feet.

Hermione felt her skin heating as he looked down at her bare breasts appreciatively. The fire between her legs continued to grow hotter and more unbearable. A tightness low in her belly was starting to drive her mad with desire. Then, slowly, he leaned down until his face was only breaths from hers. He teased her nose with the end of his and she opened her mouth just so, inviting him to close the gap. His lips came down on hers with a soft, needy pressure. Once, twice he kissed her in that soft way, before letting his tongue trail across her lip, then draw it between his teeth. She moaned into his mouth and he wrapped his arms around her waist, pulled her against him. Their bare chests were pressed together and Hermione ached from the contact.

The feeling of her soft breasts against his chest was enough to drive Severus wild. He slipped his tongue between her lips, tasting her sweet mouth. Her own timid tongue rubbed against his and he thought he might burst with need. Sweeping her into his arms, he took her to the bed.

Hermione did not protest when Severus set her in the middle of his bed and climbed over her. For a long moment he met her eyes, savoring the image of her below him; hair spread across his pillow; her skin bare to the waist. Her sweet, cinnamon gaze was inviting him back down to her.

Pressing one sweet kiss to her lips, Severus pulled away. Her eyes clouded with disappointment before he leaned down and softly brushed her shoulder where the scar began with a gentle kiss. He then started a slow, torturous path down the length of the scar until he reached the part that trailed between her breasts. He looked up at her with a mischievous grin and slowly lowered his face back down to her soft body. As he brushed his lips against the smooth skin there, his hand came up to cup her bare breast. She moaned in pleasure, then squirmed beneath him as he took a nipple into his mouth, gently sucking it and rubbing his tongue across it.

Hermione reached up and pulled him down on top of her, seeking his lips with her own. Her small, soft body was crushed beneath his, but she didn't seem to mind it. He had never felt anything more glorious. Her tongue slipped into his mouth and he groaned, reaching a hand into her hair to hold her tight against him. He brought his other hand up to cup her breast and she bit down on his lip lightly, teasing him. He couldn't stand it anymore.

Hermione became very aware of Severus's hard erection as he began to rub against her in a slow, torturous way. She wanted very much for him to stop teasing her and take her right then and there. But she knew he wouldn't. Soon enough he would pull away and she would be disappointed and hurt.

But his movements against her were only getting more and more needy and passionate as the time went by. Boldly, she slipped a hand down to his trousers and began the process of unbuttoning them. It was harder to do than she thought it would be and he laughed lightly, pulling away only long enough to remove them for her. When he returned in only his underwear, she could feel him so painfully close to her that she cried out with need, lifting her body to meet his.

She brought a hand between them and grasped his hard length through the fabric of his shorts, rubbing her palm up and down him. He moaned and quickened the pace. The surge of power that gave her fed the fire between her legs. Suddenly, he pulled away from her so violently that she thought she had hurt him. "Continue like that," he growled in a low, dangerous voice, "and I will finish before we begin." The words sent a pang of throbbing need to her core. She reached out to him, trying to coax him back, but he shook his head.

A mischievous grin spread across the Potion Master's face as he hooked his elegant fingers into the waistband of her shorts and slowly began to pull them down her legs. Hermione blushed hotly at the sensation of the cool air and his eyes on her most private parts. She clenched her legs together in a belated effort at modesty. But he was having none of that. Tossing the rest of her clothing to the floor, he allowed his gaze to roam over her beautiful body before gently prying her legs apart. "Trust me, Hermione," he said silkily as he brought his lips to the flesh just above her knee. She moaned, partially from the contact and partially from the sound of her name on his lips.

Severus slowly made his way up her thigh, savoring the taste of her sweet skin. It was all he could do to keep from pressing inside of her and thrusting her into the mattress until he found release. He managed to open her thighs by the time his trail of kisses brought him to his destination. She moaned with pleasure as he nibbled on her inner thigh, rubbing his tongue against her soft skin. Then, he hesitated, building her anticipation, as she had to know what he had planned.

She could feel his hot breath between her legs and thought she might explode. Looking down at him, she met his eyes as he slowly brought his mouth to her, brushing his lips against the little nub hidden beneath her curls. She cried out in ecstasy as he slipped his tongue out to brush against her there, then allowed it to slip down lower, thrusting between her folds gently to taste the warm sweetness of her. Merlin she's wet, he thought.

The sensation was so wonderful that Hermione began to move against him, coming up to meet his tongue as he rubbed it against her. She needed him so badly. He waited until she was practically bucking beneath him before pulling away and crushing her body beneath his own once more. Her arms wrapped around him, pushing his shorts down and it took every bit of his willpower not to simply thrust inside of her right then. He tossed the last garment to the floor and stilled her with a hand in her hair, looking down into her eyes. Slowly, he brought his mouth back to hers.

The kiss was slow and gentle and full of tenderness. She could feel his trembling need in his touch, but he would not hurt her. As his lips moved over hers, he brought a hand between them and slipped his fingers between her legs, prodding her entrance gently. He slowly, carefully slipped one finger inside and she moaned against him, moving against the contact, begging for release from this magical spell. When he slipped a second inside, she cried out with need, bucking against him and biting down on his lip. Her message was clear: I'm ready.

Lifting himself up, Severus met her eyes once more. They didn't need to say a word. It was understood between them. Slowly, Severus positioned himself at her entrance and began to push inside. He had never felt anything so amazing. She was so tight and wet and beautiful. But he knew she was a virgin and she needed time to adjust to his size.

Hermione bit her lip against the pain. Severus Snape was a rather large man. As he began to press inside, she was hit with the realization that this was it. He was actually going to make love to her. Then the pain momentarily blurred her other thoughts and she cried out as he nestled inside her warm body. For a moment, he was still, panting, allowing her time to relax from the pain it had caused. Then, the sharpness dissolved and she could feel him inside of her. The mere thought brought with it such a well of emotions that she pulled him down to her and kissed him passionately.

Her kiss was all the encouragement he needed. Slowly, carefully, Severus began to move inside of her. She felt wonderful! It took all of his self-control to keep from hammering into her forcefully. Soon, however, she was rising to meet his thrusts with as much need and enthusiasm as he felt.

Hermione had never felt anything more amazing. The two of them were completely connected now. A fire burned inside of her and she knew that he felt the same flame. They were moving together in a perfect rhythm that they both seemed to know instinctually. A glorious pressure was building inside of her, teasing her, making her crazy. He was going too slow. "Please, Severus!" she cried out.

At the sound of his name on her lips, Severus lost control. Hammering into her sweet body, he slipped a hand between their legs, teasing the little nub.

Hermione was practically bursting with the pleasure he was bringing to her. She could feel herself getting closer to the breaking point, unable to imagine holding on any longer. Suddenly, she broke apart in his arms, crying out his name as wave after wave of intense pleasure washed over her.

The image of Hermione crying out beneath him, naked against his sheets, was enough to send him over the edge. His head dropped into her bushy hair as he came inside of her, groaning from the intensity of the pleasure.

For a moment they were silent and still. The poignancy of the moment seemed to crash over Hermione in sweet waves like a light shower after a storm, and she found herself crying into his lank, black hair. Her arms were around his neck, holding him down against her, keeping him from seeing her tears. He would not understand. Severus only moved to turn them on their sides, still holding one another. He had never felt more perfectly content in all his life.

Tears were glittering in Hermione's eyes when he looked down at her and he was immediately afraid that he had hurt her. "Are you alright?" he asked gently, concern heavy in his voice.

"I'm perfect," she answered without hesitation, though her voice trembled with emotion. He kissed her forehead, holding her against him. For a few precious moments, all was right with the world, and the two of them slowly drifted off to peaceful sleep.

Well now? Did I come through?