Here's a nice, lemony good chapter for you all, to make up for the lack in the last one ;) Enjoy!
The weeks went by with a slow, pleasant quietness. Hermione started working again at the Apothecary, and life returned to a normal routine. It was three weeks to the day that Severus had rescued her from Ron, and Hermione couldn't be happier with where she was.
"Severus!"
"Witch, I'm standing not even ten feet away from you. There's really no need to shriek like a banshee," came the sardonic response.
Hermione smirked. "Where's the Pepper Up?"
Severus appeared from behind the shelf, and moved to where Hermione was standing and looking at the shelf in front of her quizzically. "It should be there. I stocked it a week ago, and we most certainly have not sold all ten vials since."
"Oh!" Hermione laughed as she realised what she had missed. "A lady came in the other day and bought seven flasks. That's why. Is there any more in the back?"
"No, I will have to brew some more."
"It's all right," Hermione replied cheerfully as she finished dusting off the shelf. "I'll brew it. You can watch the store."
Severus nodded before he twisted quickly, grabbing Hermione's hips and pressing himself against her provocatively. He leaned down, gently grasping her bottom lip between his teeth before he kissed her fiercely. "Do not take too long, Miss Granger. We have a store to close, and a bed that needs warming. Or perhaps a couch. I'm not terribly picky."
"We also have a back room," Hermione said suggestively, arching an eyebrow before she stood up on her tiptoes and pecked him on the lips. She ducked quickly and sidled out of his grasp, much to his dismay. Hermione heard his growl of annoyance as she sauntered off. "Work before play, Professor!"
Cheeky witch. Severus smirked to himself as he straightened out the bottles of dittany on the shelves. He quite enjoyed her bantering, it kept him on his toes and he liked that. He loved everything about Hermione, if he were being honest. He couldn't imagine his life any other way, and it didn't matter to him that it had happened in so short a span of time. He was past caring about things like that; if it happened, it happened and he would be just fine with it.
He finished with the stocking in an hour, and he made his way to the laboratory after a final round of the shop. He arrived to find Hermione bending over a cauldron, her face shiny from the steam and screwed up in concentration. Her hair had become a giant mass of frizz, and Severus smirked as he watched it bounce with her every movement. "Almost finished?"
Hermione jerked up at the sound of his mellifluous voice, and flashed him a smile. "Almost, I just need to add the bicorn horn, and then it'll be left to brew overnight."
Severus nodded, and moved to the counter where Hermione, in her normally neat and efficient style of potion making, already had the horn crushed and in a small bowl according to the proper measurement. He picked it up and took it to where she was standing and stirring, counting in hurried whispers under her breath. She stopped suddenly, the potion had turned a dark red colour, and was emitting the faint scent of mint. Hermione opened her mouth to tell Severus to pour in the last ingredient, but she was too slow; he had already emptied the bowl into the cauldron as soon as she had stopped the stirring.
They finished the potion in good time, and they completed the final inventory together. Severus locked the door to the apothecary, and Hermione looked at him expectantly. They usually apparated together, so she stood patiently waiting for his cue.
"I have something I must do," Severus said in response to her questioning look. "Apparate or walk, just leave the front door locked. I have the key, and although this should not take me too long, it is better to be cautious."
Hermione nodded at his words, and said, "Where are you going?"
"Just on an errand. It won't take long. Do not worry."
"I don't think I'll ever have a real cause for worry with you, Severus, I was just curious," Hermione said with amusement. "I'll see you at home."
Severus nodded and stooped down to press his lips against hers briefly before he stepped back and spun, the loud crack of apparation echoing around the cobbled street. Hermione glanced both ways to make sure no one was coming, before closing her eyes. A second later, a white fox stood in her place. She loved being in her animagus form, and she wasn't too worried about walking around as a white fox in the streets of London. She would walk quickly, and a fox was close enough to a dog to be mistaken for one, especially with the way she charmed her coat to be dirty.
On her walk, Hermione started to wonder about where Severus had gone off to. It wasn't a huge issue, she more than welcomed him keeping his privacy, and she hers. But it was still a curiosity to her. She'd have to wait until he came home and ask him again. If he decided not to tell her, she'd leave it alone. The wizard was entitled to his secrets, and she was entitled to hers. In fact, she rather thought Severus would enjoy the secret she was revealing that night.
She arrived home without a problem,and she transformed back to her normal self on the door step, after checking to make sure no one walked by. She honestly didn't know why she worried though, Severus lived on a back street that hardly anyone used. It was very private, and suited the both of them just fine.
She spent the two hours that he was gone getting ready. She had been out shopping with Ginny the previous day, and the redhead, after much cajoling, managed to persuade Hermione to buy some items of clothing of a more promiscuous nature. She knew Severus didn't particularly care what she wore, but that added to the excitement. He would be pleasantly surprised, or at least she hoped he would. She pulled her hair back into a low, loose ponytail, and left a few strands hanging out because she knew he loved the unkempt look of her curls.
Hesitantly, she opened the bag, and stared at the black and red lacy garment. "Ginny, you devil," she said to her reflection. She hadn't actually picked out the items, she had left that to Ginny as she had no idea what to even look for. It appeared that the redhead had volumes more experience than her, though. She lifted the scrap of cloth out of the bag, and eyed it warily. It was a babydoll sort of thing, with a short lacy dress part that hung just high enough that it wouldn't cover all of her butt. Peering back into the bag, she sighed in relief. It came with a matching pair of undies, which suited her just fine.
Hurriedly, she put the dress thing on, and giggled when she saw just how strongly it accentuated her breasts, and her curves. The lacy bottom landed just over the round of her arse, as she had suspected. She pulled the lacy bottoms on quickly, and twisted to look in the mirror. The bottoms weren't quite a thong, but they showed an alarming amount of skin on her behind. Oh well, she thought with a shrug. It's coming off anyways.
She started the shaving spell on the she missed on her legs when she heard the front door shut. Excitedly, she finished up and waited behind the bathroom door for him to come up. She heard the stairs creak, and she pulled the babydoll down nervously.
"Hermione?"
His deep baritone came through the door perfectly, and she opened it slowly. He had sat down on the bed, and was in the process of removing his shoes when he looked up. "Oh,there you–" he stopped when he realised what Hermione was dressed in. Holy Merlin. He stared at her in open amazement. The garment she was wearing showed just enough to pique his interest, and it was quite flattering on her. He noticed she left a few strands of hair framing her face, and all other thoughts were driven from his mind when she turned around, and shut the bathroom door behind her.
"Oh, will you stop staring? It was Ginny's idea, alright? There's no need to look like you just got struck in the face by a flying car," Hermione huffed as she climbed onto the bed.
She had almost made it to the pillows when two strong hands grasped at her waist, easily flipping her over. Severus ignored the squeak of protest, and ran his gaze up and down her body. "Miss Weasley has excellent taste," he said in a purr, his fingers leaving her hip to toy with the hem of the dress.
Hermione gazed up at him. "You like it?"
"Well that is a matter of opinion, Miss Granger," he said before leaning down to nip at her collarbone. "I like it enough to restrain myself from tearing it off so it can be used again. Unless you have spares, in which case I will happily give in to the temptation that is rather trying to resist."
"Well I spent good money on this, I don't think I want it torn up," Hermione replied archly, lifting her thigh to rub it along his and up his hip before she hooked it around his waist.
"Ah, I think we are forgetting something."
"And that is?"
"Repairing spells," he replied in a growl as he bent down and grasped the hem in his teeth and tugged. Hermione heard a slight rip, and then the flimsy strap gave way.
"Severus!"
"What? We're wizards, I can have my fun," came the petulant reply as he repeated the action, pausing to lave his tongue across her navel. He kissed his way up her body again, the mesh texture of the fabric causing goosebumps to appear over her body as her nerves reacted. He reached her chest, which was still covered by the bra part of the garment. He lifted his head to meet her gaze.
"The clasp is in the back," Hermione said pointedly.
"Oh?" he asked airily, before giving her a wicked grin. Seconds later, the ripping off fabric was heard, and Severus chuckled in satisfaction. "Much simpler."
"You Slytherins and your air for dramatics," Hermione said with a laugh, but it quickly turned into a gasp as his teeth grazed her nipple.
"Dramatics? No. Efficiency," came the silky response. Hermione rolled her eyes but quickly gave in to the sensations his touch elicited.
Severus made his way down her body, kissing and caressing every inch he could touch. He finally got fed up with the babydoll though, and smoothly rolled Hermione over.
"Oi! What are you doing?"
"Removing this encumbrance," he replied. He undid the clasp, and yanked, the last of the flimsy fabric giving way before it came off and he tossed it to the side. He looked down the smooth expanse of her back, focusing especially where her pert bottom met her lower back, clad in the smooth black lace. He kissed between her shoulder blades, and moved down her spine, smirking when her back arched, and presented an even more attractive view of her bottom. He dipped his tongue into the dimples on her lower back, his hands running down her thighs, reveling in the smoothness of her skin.
He kissed the top of her arse, and bit down lightly before he used his hands to roll her over again. Hermione propped herself up on her elbows, and felt herself blush at the look of raw arousal and admiration in his gaze as he looked down at her spread thighs, and her lace-clad mound.
"You're over-dressed," she pointed out.
Severus nodded, his tongue slipping out to wet his lips as he took in the sight before him. "That can be taken care of shortly. I have business to attend to first," he said before he kissed his way down her thigh, pausing to press a firm kiss against her folds before his lips trailed up the other thigh. "You are delectable," he said in a purr as he hooked his fingers in the waistband and slid the panties down.
Hermione grinned at his words, perhaps she should wear provocative clothes for him more often, she thought. All thoughts, however, were soon driven from her mind when his lips found her clit. A harsh moan escaped her at the contact, and she shuddered as his tongue laved around it, slowing building the peak that she desperately wanted to reach.
Severus couldn't help the smirk that appeared on his face as Hermione dissolved beneath him. He didn't think it would ever get old, watching her unravel at his touch. He ran a finger through her wet folds, never ceasing the swirling of his tongue as he slid a finger into her. She moaned loudly and clutched at his hair, and the tugging at his scalp served to egg him on, so he moved his finger faster, and increased the pressure on her clit as he felt her body tense up.
She stiffened, and he added a second finger, and she fell over the edge with his name on her lips. He lessened his tongue movements, but kept his fingers pumping in and out of her steadily as she writhed under him, her hips jerking sporadically as she came down. Severus looked up, and was gratified to see her chest heaving rapidly as she tried to gather the threads of herself back together.
"Merlin, Severus," she panted as he kissed his way back up her body.
"What? Forgive me, I was driven quite mad by the illustrious garments you wore."
"Which are now in shreds."
"No," Severus objected as he kissed her. "The bottoms survived quite fine."
"You're ridiculous," Hermione laughed. She nudged him firmly until her rolled over, and she took the opportunity to climb atop him. She looked down, surprised. She was completely undressed and he still had his robes on. "You're still dressed!"
"Well I didn't exactly have the mental power to undress myself with you running about in naught but a bit of lace, now did I?"
"Don't blame that on me, it's you who forgot to take your clothes off!"
"It's your fault for that, though," Severus said with a chuckle. He shifted his hips, and Hermione gasped as his erection pressed against her crotch.
"They need to come off now."
"Be my guest," he said silkily. Hermione growled softly and moved to start undoing the buttons of his shirt, when she noticed Severus had his eyebrow raised at her.
"What?"
"You're really going to test the patience of both of us, when you have a wand resting on the nightstand?"
"Oh, buggar off," Hermione said as she reached across to grab her wand. The man was right, of course, but she felt rather silly because if he hadn't spoken, she would have proceeded to undo the dozens of buttons and take his clothes off herself. There was certainly fun in undressing someone, but at that moment, she couldn't find the necessary fortitude to go through with the entire process.
Wand in hand, she sat back up, and felt herself blush when she met Severus' gaze, and saw the heated arousal in their depths. She flicked her wand, and his clothes disappeared off his body and reappeared across the room, landing neatly in the laundry basket. "There," she said.
Severus flexed his hips again, and felt his desire increase at the look of surprised pleasure on Hermione's face. He repeated the action, and her eyelids fluttered closed, her mouth forming a perfect "o" shape. He loved her facial expressions during their lovemaking. They were so erotic, he couldn't help but stare at her face as much as he could.
Hermione rolled her hips, and was gratified when Severus emitted a low groan. Leaning forward, she kissed his jawline til she came to his ear, where she bit his lobe gently before whispering, "my turn."
Severus shuddered, and watched as the fluffy haired witch began to slowly slid down his body, her mouth kissing across his chest and down his stomach all the while. The hot-then-cold sensations of her mouth and the air drove him wild, and by the time she reached her destination, his cock was aching for her touch.
She wrapped a hand around the base, and gave him a small smile before lowing her mouth. He soon lost all ability to focus on anything, save what her tongue, lips, and hands were doing to him. His muscles shook with the effort of restraining himself, he knew quite well that Hermione did not appreciate his hips thrusting erratically when she pleasured him this way.
Hermione worked her mouth on his length as fast as she could manage. She didn't go deep, instead using her hands to work the places her mouth couldn't reach. She had found out early on that she had no taste for the art of going as deep as possible, and instead had focused on finding a technique that suited her comfortability and what felt good for him.
His legs started to tremble, and Hermione knew that was a sign of his rapidly approaching release. He ran his fingers through her hair, fisting them around the curly strands as he gently pulled her off. Hermione wouldn't have stopped, but when Severus pulled her up almost violently, rolled her over and entered her in one smooth motion, she found she didn't mind that she had stopped.
Severus rolled his hips in and out of Hermione, his pelvic bone brushed against her clit with every thrust, and she rose higher and higher, her moans increasing in volume with his every movement. Severus felt his climax threatening to crash over him, but he willed himself to hold on until he started to feel her tight walls flex and contract around him, and he bit down on the junction between her neck and shoulder, and she shuddered.
Her nails scraped down his back as she writhed beneath him, the waves of her orgasm quickly bringing his own about. He stilled as he spilled himself inside her, and he growled her name as her walls clamped down around him.
"Oh my gods," Hermione breathed as Severus lowered himself, and buried his face in her neck, his back heaving with the force of his release. She felt the pleasant tingling in her limbs, and smiled, before she realised she couldn't quite breathe with his weight crushing her into the mattress. She pushed him gently, and he rolled off, opening his arm to invite her to lay against him.
"Witch, you're going to bring me to an early grave."
"Somehow," Hermione said, "I don't think you mind all that much."
"I'll enjoy it as long as possible. I can accept my fate, though."
"Oh, I'm sure you could."
The two lay quietly for a minute, before Severus spoke again. "Don't go into the shop tomorrow."
"Why?"
"I have someplace I want to take you. It will most likely be an entire day, so there's just no point in trying to open the shop if we will have to close it."
Hermione looked up at him, her interest piqued. "Where are we going?" she asked. Severus wasn't one for dates, and going out, and she wasn't either. The fact that he randomly was deciding to take her somewhere was definitely suspicious, and she wanted to know why.
Severus opened his mouth to reply, but he was interrupted by a tapping on the window. "Merlin," Severus huffed as he nudged Hermione off him so he could sit up. "What time is it?"
Hermione glanced at the clock on the wall, and found herself mildly surprised. "It's only a quarter to seven."
"Damn. It's still too late for blasted birds to be scratching up my window panes," he muttered as he rose to let the bird in. A grey owl flew in, looking quite rumpled and more than a little run down. Severus held out his hand for the note, but the bird ignored him, and instead hopped its way over to where Hermione sat on the bed.
"Oh, for me? It must Harry or Luna, I haven't gotten back to them about next weekend," Hermione said as she took the note. Severus held the window open for the bird to fly back out, but it stayed perched on the edge of the bed, glaring at Hermione while she read the note.
Hermione reread the note three times to make sure she read it correctly, her expression growing more and more apprehensive as she realised what it said.
Severus noticed the look on Hermione's face and stepped forward. "Hermione, who was it from?"
She looked up at him, and gestured helplessly at the note. "Mrs. Weasley."
They just can't get away from the drama, can they?
***So there's something I wish to ask of you all, if you wouldn't mind taking the time to review, or PM me. This story is ending soon, but I have soooo many more plotbunnies running around that you will soon hear from me, I promise! The question I want to ask you is this - would you all enjoy it if I made a continuation story of this one? I must admit, I am quite enamored with Fergus and Aurelia; I'd hate to see them go, and one of the vague plotbunnies that have been running around includes them. I would love to hear your input! (I'll be writing something either way, but it is still quite nice to know what my readers think and would like to see.)
Thank you!