Disclaimer: 'Harry Potter' and everything related to it belongs to their respective owners, not me. There's no money made of any of my writing!
+ + + Chapter 3 – "The First Step Is Always The Hardest" + + +
Hermione listened to the echo of her steps as she hurried through the gaunt and gloomy corridors of the dungeons, hoping she would remain undetected. Poring over several pertinent books in the restricted area of the library for over an hour, Hermione was disappointed with not having found any appropriate do-it-yourself-tutorial on fighting her urge to gag. Rats! Snape was probably right in that only practice would do…Well, at least her research hadn't been a total waste of time, since Hermione had found some other interesting information that might come in handy sometime... Preparation is everything!
Feeling that damn knot in her stomach again, Hermione passed the last dark corner, then stood before the door of Snape's quarters. She sighed.
No matter how randy I am, I must be completely out of my freaking mind to willingly hand myself over to the mercy of Professor Snape!
Hermione knocked. "Come in." She heard Snape's dark voice from inside the room. Hermione stepped in, carefully shutting the squeaking door behind her. She stood frozen a few feet away from the door, waiting for the professor to finish whatever he was reading as he sat behind his desk, seemingly ignoring her completely. Remembering her latest physical contact with that desk, her eyes glazed over.
Since Hermione wasn't sure about how to start this conversation, she simply said. "Um, it's nine o'clock...sir."
Looking up, he gave her an angry look. "I'm perfectly aware of the time, Miss Granger." Snape rose from his chair, robes billowing impressively as he walked past his desk towards her.
"I...I'm sorry, Sir. I didn't mean to..." Hermione spluttered, yet immediately became silent as he arched a brow at her.
"Now then." He said icily and started pacing the floor in front of Hermione, arms crossed behind his back like giving a lecture. "First of all...some basic rules." He turned around, looking Hermione straight in the eye. "While 'teaching' you, I'll expect you to not disturb or disobey any of my instructions, acting like the insufferable know-it-all you are in class." Hermione nodded silently.
"The basis of this..." He continued. "...will be me talking, you listening and…complying. No interposed questions. You'll be given time for that later." Again, Hermione nodded, lowering her eyes. She swallowed hard. Blimey. Bowing to his every will without even calling it into question was like giving him a free ticket to do with her whatever he wanted...
Sensing her concern, Snape added. "Furthermore...I expect you to start accepting your urges as a part of your adolescent personality. Fighting it is counter-productive to relishing the experience of practice fully. This is neither the time nor the place to show signs of reluctance or shyness."
Hermione started shifting from one foot to the other. Pfft. If only she could abandon all her morals and complexes that easily. Apart from that, Snape still scared the wits out of her. His sinister demeanor had always been thrilling for Hermione while she was fantasizing. However, she had been in control of everything then. Now, facing the reality, it was utterly daunting...
Professor Snape suddenly reached for her chin, tilting it. Hermione cringed. "You really are afraid of me, are you not, Miss Granger?" He asked smugly.
"Um...a little, maybe." Hermione understated her case reluctantly, mesmerized like a rabbit before the snake.
"Good." Snape purred ominously, flashing his eyes at her.
Changing back to topic, he grabbed Hermione by her upper arm, dragging her towards the front of his desk. "Now for the continuation of your earlier lesson..." Hermione's heart sank as the potion's master pointed to the floor, indicating for her to take up her kneeling position. Feeling her heartbeat increase, Hermione complied excitedly. At least he hadn't ordered her to get undressed already which left her a little bit of self-respect that she could cling to.
"First of all, it is crucial..." He explained, almost casually. "...for you to solely breathe through your nose; this will help prevent you from choking." He gave her a knowing look and Hermione cringed at the thought that he might have witnesses her earlier banana-incident.
(censored part…)
Hermione had listened attentively, and with a flushed face. Nevertheless, there was one thing she desperately wanted to know about, that he hadn't told her. She wasn't supposed to interrupt his explication by speaking unasked, though maybe he wouldn't mind if she…
Hermione put her hand up. Snape glanced down at her speechless. She couldn't be serious, could she?
(censored part…)
There she was, Hermione Granger, kneeling at his feet, with her hand up, just like in class! The absurdity of this scenario was unbelievable.
"What is it, Miss Granger?" He hissed, outright peeved. "I told you not to interfere!"
Hermione shrunk as his voice dropped dangerously in register. "Um…I'm sorry, but I do have a question that needs to be answered in advance." Professor Snape massaged his temples. That girl was really starting to give him a terrible headache.
"And what would that be?" He asked her.
"Even if I breathed through my nose, my gag reflex will engage at the back of my throat."
"How would you know so precisely?" He interrupted her; alluding to her dry run during dinner in the Great Hall.
"I…It's a theoretical question, Sir." Hermione tried to evade his question. "Moreover…I felt that reflex this afternoon. After potions class, you know?"
Sly little minx! She didn't lie, yet she didn't tell the truth. This is going to have consequences.
"And again, you're being overhasty." Snape finally stated, trying to not lose his temper. "First things first! You'll be given your answer soon enough."
Hermione frowned. "But I-"
"Silence! You listen. I talk!" His hand darted forward and for a split second Hermione feared that he would actually slap her face and winced. However, he didn't. He didn't need to instill respect like this. Instead of slapping her face, he grabbed a fistful of Hermione's bushy hair, dragging her closer…
(censored part…)
Hermione's train of thought ended right there when she felt another sharp tug on her hair. She looked up. Being sure that Hermione was giving him his undivided attention now, he told her to turn her palms upwards, dispensing a good amount of the lotion-like content from a tube that sat on the desk upon her palms.
"What's that?" Hermione asked, sniffling at it curiously. It didn't have any scent.
(censored part…)
Closing her eyes, Hermione relished the situation way more than she had ever expected. For the moment, her arousal and eagerness to learn even outweighed her fear.
(censored part…)
"Alright," Snape said, putting back the usual sternness in his voice. "well done, Miss Granger. This brings us to the second step of your first lesson."
Hermione was all ears. Maybe her former question would finally be answered.
"Since you so urgently and repeatedly…wanted to learn about the secret of successfully overcoming your gag reflex, you might be surprised by the fact that the answer to this is rather simple." Snape started his explanation. "The secret word is desensitization."
Ha! I knew it!
Hermione tilted her head, waiting for further information.
(censored part…)
One could almost hear the wheels in Hermione's mind turning.
(censored part…)
Hermione inhaled sharply, many wanton thoughts popping up before her inner eye, responding to his demand as he wished.
(censored part…)
It took some time until Hermione had found the right rhythm of correct breathing and manipulating her body just enough to regain at least some control over its reflexes. She even felt herself starting to relax as she realised that Snape granted her admirable forbearance, in stark contrast to how he usually treated her in potions class.
Peering up, she sensed an unknown and somehow lustrous glint in her professor's eyes as he kept staring down at her dirty little doings. Hermione abruptly became aware of the fact that restraining himself to not lose the last vestiges of self-control must cost him enormous effort. Nevertheless, he hid it well so far.
Impressive! What a remarkable self-control…
All of a sudden, Hermione heard Snape hiss through clenched teeth. "Now that you have the basic knowledge, Miss Granger…" His eyes flashed darkly. "use it!"
(censored part…)
Suddenly, Hermione remembered that certain piece of information she had read about in the restricted area of the library.
(censored part…)
"I read." She said proudly.
Rolling his eyes, Snape frowned. "Of course you do." Then he smirked devilishly and Hermione felt her relaxation spiraling away at an instant, fear and excitement replacing it. She swallowed hard.
What the hell is he up to?
"As I can see you didn't regard it necessary to remove your make-up, did you?"
Oh, shit shit shit! How could I forget about that?
Indeed Hermione had completely forgotten about that condition as time had flown by her whilst researching in the library. Crap. With all those tears running earlier she just had to look completely hideous!
"You didn't want to listen, so you have to learn the hard way…"
(censored part…)
Hermione gasped in shock over the kinky removal of her make-up. Gods, this was so damn embarrassing, so outright humiliating, and yet it felt so good and stimulating. Phew, that newly discovered inclination of hers proved to be pretty weird, yet so enjoyable.
"I'm sure next time you will take specific precautionary measures, Miss Granger."
(censored part…)
Hermione now sat on her bum, panting heavily and overwhelmed by the experience, not sure if she should regard the finale disgusting or arousing. She decided in favor of the latter. With some things these two emotions seemed to be two sides of the same coin. Snape was right; it was time for Hermione to embrace that part of her instead of denying it.
"Class dismissed." Snape stated with an exhausted growl. "You've done well." He looked at Hermione, jerking his head towards a nearby door. "Now go, clean yourself. You look awful."
Pfft. As though it was my fault…
The Professor helped Hermione to her feet and she headed for the door which obviously led to his bath room. Stopping at the threshold, she turned around.
"Professor, I have another question."
"Ask then."
"Why no make-up?" Hermione had a theory but she wanted to hear her assumption confirmed.
"Because I told you so." Snape replied disdainfully. Hermione considered his words for a moment.
"That's no sufficient answer." The Professor inwardly smirked. Hermione always wanted to get to the bottom of everything. That was a characteristic he appreciated; inquisitiveness. "Because," He drawled. "I knew it would only run terribly. It's natural that you can't suppress your flood of tears. Well, not yet."
Alright, that is a sufficient answer.
"I can learn that?" She asked with curiosity.
"Yes. But not today. Now go. You'll find fresh towels on the dresser next to the shower." He turned his back on her and Hermione silently closed the door of the bath room after her.
Entering the small room, Hermione was aghast at her reflection in the mirror. She looked like a circus clown! She quickly tried to clean her face and hair thoroughly.
(censored part...)
Blimey. This will never come off.
With a sigh, Hermione additionally realised that the lesson she had learned, as exciting as it had been, had only worsened her state of unfulfilled longing. Hermione had the strong feeling that she wouldn't be sleeping much that night.
Her whole body was on fire, like some kind of thirst that oh so desperately needed to be quenched. And soon.
Hmmm. Maybe tomorrow…
Stepping out of the bath room, she slowly headed for the front door. "Good night, Professor. That lesson was…extraordinary. Thanks for…" She was interrupted immediately.
"Where do you think you're going, Miss Granger?" Professor Snape asked, standing next to one of his many bookshelves. Hermione glanced towards him, bewildered.
"Um, Gryffindor Tower. It's almost curfew and I thought…"
"That is exactly your problem, Miss Granger. You think too much." He interrupted her again. "Think carefully. What does your brain tell you?"
To go. Class is dismissed for today…
"And what do parts other than your brain tell you?" Professor Snape asked challengingly.
To stay and hope for release…
Sensing her inner struggle, Snape took the decision from her. Opening another door, he made an inviting gesture. "Double lesson tonight. Are you coming, Miss Granger?"
You bet!
A/N: Phew... It's a bit difficult to read with all the censored parts, I know that guys, but what am I supposed to do? I have to stick to the rules… Anyway, what do you think?^^ Reviews appreciated more than ever... Thanks!^^