Chapter 14 - Teo Torriatte

In a matter of seconds Hermione found herself being launched head first out of the intended fireplace. She landed, face down, on the hard wooden floor of what seemed to be an abandoned cottage. Snape sauntered to her side with a smirk on his face. "Very graceful." Hermione snorted into the ground before Severus helped her to her feet. She hurriedly cast a cleansing charm on herself to abolish the soot that had accumulated on her skin and clothing. Her companion wrapped a firm hand around her slender upper arm and led her to the door.

The moment the two of them stepped outside, the warm European sun lit up Hermione's face and her jaw dropped. She felt as if she had stepped into early 19th century France. The stone paved street that they were standing on was lined with scores of cosy cottages and tiny boutiques. After quickly surveying a nearby outside café, Hermione looked to Severus' face who had been watching her tentatively.

"This is a muggle town." Snape raised his left eyebrow. "I am aware of that. In fact, this is one of the few communities in Europe that has been void of magical influence for at least two centuries." Hermione frowned. "But I thought you hated muggles and their methods." It was Snape's turn to frown. "I have never once stated that I feel any substance of hate towards muggles. I merely find wizarding culture to be far superior. Besides, this little rendezvous to France is my attempt to do something for you. You constantly speak of your attachment to muggle society, so I just thought I'd…" He trailed off. Hermione smiled appreciatively. "Thankyou. It seems that you really have thought this trip through." She paused. "For a change." This taunt earned an uncommon laugh from the potions master.

As the pair proceeded along the street, Severus kept his firm and commandeering fingers laced around his companion's arm. Hermione could feel the warmth radiating from his close body and was thankful for his unusual forceful nature. He was obviously a man on a mission. "So where are you taking me?" Severus gestured towards a line of large green hills on the nearby horizon. "We will be having an early lunch at the peak of one of those. I am currently taking us to a safe place for apparation, away from muggle eyes."

Hermione nodded silently as her companion led her into a dark alley between two stone cottages. "Have you experienced side-along apparation before, Hermione?" She shivered slightly at the last spoken word of his enquiry. He rarely said her name aloud but when he did, Hermione couldn't believe what his lips were able to do to the word. She hurriedly gained her composure before replying. "No, I haven't." Snape nodded. "You had better prepare yourself. For one as inexperienced as yourself, apparation can be extremely uncomfortable." He took an even stronger hold upon her upper arm before turning on the spot. Hermione felt the unfamiliar sensation of being squeezed through an extraordinarily minute tube. Her lungs were being flattened. Everything had gone pitch black. She could hardly breathe.

Suddenly Hermione emerged into blinding sunlight and had to blink a few times before she was able to absorb any of her surroundings. She and Snape were standing on tope of a rather high hill, surrounded by clear blue skies. To her left was a picturesque view of the quaint town of Cassel. To her right a picnic rug was spread across perfectly green grass. A small wicker basket sat atop the rug. Severus lowered himself onto the rug and motioned for Hermione to follow suit. "This is lovely." She uttered softly. Her companion smiled once again. "We shouldn't be disturbed here."

Severus opened the picnic basket and with a wave of his wand had summoned its contents from within and situated them in front of himself and Hermione. As they consumed a lunch of simple yet delicious sandwiches, they spoke animatedly about a varied number of topics, ranging from Hermione's progress with her NEWT course work to the differences between muggle and magical society.

After finishing their sandwiches the plates disappeared in true Hogwarts style, only to be replaced by bowls full of chocolate fudge and strawberries. Severus looked to Hermione's face to gage her reaction to this romantic gesture. What met his eyes was a surprise, to say the least. Hermione was silently crying. As tears fell down her face she looked to her companion. "Hermione…" Snape's voice was full of emotion. Hermione gave a sad smile. "I'm so sorry. I'm just being silly. It's just, you've done so much for me since Harry and Ron died and I don't know where I'd be or what I might be doing to myself if it hadn't been for your intervention. It's amazing. You're… amazing." She paused. "That and Ron's favourite desert used to be chocolate fudge." Hermione smiled again. "Pathetic thing to cry about isn't it?"

Severus frowned before moving closer to the young woman. He lay down and gently placed Hermione's head upon his chest. He watched it rise and fall slowly as he breathed. He reached towards her and began running his calloused fingers through her hair. Hermione contentedly closed her eyes. "No, I don't believe that your current feelings are a pathetic reason to cry, by any definition of the word. You deserve every ounce of comfort I give to you. In my opinion, you have handled your situation unbelievably well. I commend you for that."

He paused for a small moment. "I think that we had better go back to Hogwarts." Hermione's eyes flickered open as she nodded. They both stood slowly and having made the picnic disappear and given Hermione a lingering kiss on the cheek, Severus grasped her upper arm and Hermione felt herself being pulled away from the place where she had been able to escape from the World, if only for a moment.

After having disapparated back to the alley in Cassel, Severus and Hermione used the fireplace in the abandoned cottage to Floo back to Hogwarts. They both stood facing each other after returning to Snape's quarters. An uncomfortable silence settled between them. After a few moments Hermione spoke. "Thankyou for that… date. I had a lovely time." After saying this she stepped forward to embrace him. Before she could do so Hermione felt his lips on hers. He began timidly but before being given a chance to react, Hermione felt herself being kissed as she had never been before.

Severus was pouring all of his emotion into the moment and suddenly Hermione was steered roughly into a stone wall of the dungeon room. But she wasn't about to start complaining. Severus pushed his body against hers as his talented fingers roamed across her bare shoulders with ease. Hermione was now kissing back with equal fervour and her mind began spinning with impure thoughts. Her hands were buried in his hair. Severus suddenly stopped his ministrations upon Hermione's mouth and pulled his head back a little. She looked into his eyes and saw something that she had never seen in their grey depths before. His eyes were clouded over with lust.

Before she knew what was happening, Hermione found herself on Severus' bed with the man in question leaning over her. He was slowly running his hands up her legs as she unbuttoned his white shirt. Every few seconds he stopped his movements to lean forward and grant her a gentle kiss on her swollen lips. Severus' shirt soon lay forgotten on the floor and Hermione was stroking his thin, yet slightly toned chest.

As his movements reached the edge of her underwear and he bit down gently on her lower lip, reality came crashing down upon Hermione. She hurriedly jumped off the bed and pulled the hem of her dress down. "No." She said simply. Severus frowned "No? What do you mean?" Hermione felt tears gathering in her eyes. "I can't do this." Her companion looked incredulously up at her from the bed. "But Hermione, surely-" He was quickly interrupted. "Look, I'm just not ready for any of this. I have to go." And with that, Hermione turned on her heel and ran out of the room. Severus was left shirtless and wondering why he had let his normally controlled emotions override his common sense.

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Oh dear, Severus.

This is probably the longest chapter in the story so far. And I think it's safe to say that it is my favourite. I thoroughly enjoyed writing it and I hope you enjoy reading it as well. In case any of you were wondering, 'Teo Torriatte' is a Japanese phrase, that when loosely translated reads 'let us cling together'. It is also, obviously, the title of a Queen song.

It would be lovely to receive some reviews regarding your thoughts on this chapter.