Early morning sunlight streamed through the windows of Hogwarts casting a ray of light against the curtain surrounding their bed. Snape had already awakened and was trying to form the words to express to Hermione, how he felt. Hermione slowly became aware that she was not in her own bed, and it wasn't an unpleasant feeling. It reminded her of the morning she woke up in Severus' arms, in St Mungo's. Sensing that she was awake, Severus kissed her on top of her head and wished her "Good Morning" in his deep, sexy voice that she loved so much. He had a way of speaking slowly, in his deep sensual voice – while trying to make a point – that almost made it sound like he was making love to every word. She moaned and kissed him on his shoulder, where her head was currently resting. She felt him smile against her hair.
Spotting her bag on the bedside table, she reached in and grabbed her mints popping one in her mouth. He indicated he would like one as well. She slipped one in his mouth and put the mints back into her bag, shivering with anticipation. Surely asking for a mint implied that he intended to kiss her. Gripping his shoulders, she slid herself up higher onto his body so she could look down into his face, enjoying the feel of his hospital gown on her bare skin. She looked down at him smiling and leaned down to plant a kiss on his lips when she froze...bare skin? Snape couldn't understand her change in demeanor until she said, "Severus, why am I naked?"
"You don't remember, Hermione?" Snape asked, slightly alarmed.
Suddenly, Hermione groaned and pressed her face next to his. "That son of a dragon tried to rape me. Damn I was so stupid…I had no right to go off alone with him…I didn't think…."
Snape quickly rolled Hermione over in one swift movement, resulting in him being on top of her, resting his weight on his elbows straddling her shoulders.
"No Hermione." He chastised her sharply, and then softened his voice. "Do not blame yourself. He had no right to touch you. There was no way you could have known what he was planning. I should have known the moment that snake gave me those pictures and said you were being unfaithful to me, that he was up to no good. I should have…"
"What pictures?" Hermione asked quickly, looking up into his dark, smoldering eyes. "What pictures, Severus? May I see them?"
Snape reached around Hermione's head and withdrew the pictures from underneath the pillow and placed them in her hand. She stretched her arms up over her head and looked at the pictures one by one, a slight smile on her face. This shift of position caused a gap between their bodies and Snape shivered when he looked down and saw her perfect breasts and flat abdomen. Hermione was oblivious to his admiring gaze, as she flipped through the pictures. He struggled to keep his mind from wandering into forbidden territory.
Snape snapped his attention back to the present moment when he heard Hermione say, "These were taken at the restaurant, yesterday morning. We had such a good time. Why would he give you these, they're just me and Ron…" She got to the picture where she was crying and Ron was holding her. She looked at him with such a sad smile and said, "We need to talk about the conversation taking place in this picture."
"Hermione, wait…" Snape interrupted, as he looked down into her warm, brown eyes. "There's something I have to tell you, something I'm not proud of…. Last night I entered your mind without permission and..."
She placed her hand on his lips to silence him. "I know...I saw you there." At his look of confusion, she continued, "I was dreaming that I was at Hogwarts when the dream suddenly changed. I was back at the restaurant and I saw you standing there, watching my memory play out." She closed her eyes as a tear slid out and ran down towards the pillow.
"Hermione, I'm so sorry…I had no right," Snape whispered, fearing that she would not be able to forgive him for intruding into her mind without permission.
"No, no, it's okay. I'm glad you witnessed it, and even though it was embarrassing, I'm glad you were able to hear how much I needed you…how much...I love you."
She looked up at him shyly as if trying to read his expression. It suddenly occurred to him that this was the part where she expected him to run from Hogwarts screaming. He needed to tell her that scenario was nowhere near the truth. He had to show her how he felt. Words failing him, his lips captured hers in a hungry, demanding kiss. Overcome by desire, she returned his kiss hungrily and entwined her hands in his hair forcing his mouth down harder upon hers. She opened her mouth and allowed his tongue to slide inside; their tongues danced together as she wrapped her legs around him and began grinding her pelvis against his hardness. She extracted her fingers from his hair and pulled him down on top of her, running her nails up and down his back. He knew he wasn't a slight man, but she didn't seem to mind having his weight pressed down on her. He was beginning to go mad feeling her nails dig into his skin. I occurred to him that his briefs and a thin sheet were the only things between their bodies. He was sure he could feel her wet cunt pressing against his stiff cock. He inhaled sharply and recognized the scent of her arousal.
She cried out in a husky whisper, "Take me Severus, please, if you've ever loved me...fuck me, fuck me now. I need you so bad. Please…please…." Caught up in the moment and not wanting her to doubt his love, he lifted his hips and using his right hand, shoved the sheets down and released his throbbing cock from his briefs. Snape slid his shaft up and down her wet slit a few times, causing her to tremble violently, and knew if he didn't do something soon, she was going to go insane. Hermione whimpered at the anticipation of what was to come. "Please, Severus, please..."
He thumbed his erection and was preparing to slide it inside her when he heard Ginny approaching quickly, while hissing, "No! No! No!"
He pulled his briefs back over his cock as Ginny appeared behind the curtain. Reaching under the blankets, Ginny grabbed Hermione around the waist and withdrew her out from under him and stood her on her feet in one swift movement. Snape was once again amazed at how strong Nurse Ginny was. She grabbed a hospital robe and wrapped it around Hermione to cover her nakedness, the quick glimpse of which, Snape couldn't help but appreciate – Hermione had a lovely body.
"Just one more day Hermione and you will be a married woman. It will make your wedding night so much more meaningful. Trust me, you'll thank me later." Ginny threw a withering look over her shoulder at the Professor making his cock go limp. Yes, Nurse Ginny definitely scared the shit out of him.
Hermione leaned heavily on her friend as Ginny led her away. He could hear Hermione quietly sobbing, "But I want him so much, Ginny. I want to feel him inside me." Snape's cock sprang back to life hearing Hermione speak of her need for him.
"I know, I know, sweetie." Ginny was telling her "but it's only one more day and you want your first time to be special…don't you?"
He heard Hermione agree with her and thank her for stopping them, just in time. Yes, Snape thought – and not for the first time – that Ginny was a bad influence on his Hermione.
Snape lay back in bed and tried to ignore his pulsating cock. Suddenly, he remembered—thanks to Tippy—he now had his wand hidden under his mattress. He pushed the sheet and his briefs down to his knees, giving him complete access, as he grabbed his cock in his right hand and began pumping his shaft in sure, even strokes. It was early still, but he tried to keep his moans to a minimum as he fucked his hand. He didn't want Madam Pomfrey to arrive, think he was in pain and feel the need to come check on him. He was remembering how Hermione had practically begged him to fuck her, only moments ago. His breathing became ragged and he thrust his hips in rhythm with his slick hand as it slid up and down his blood-engorged cock. He began trembling and his breathing quickened as his orgasm was quickly approaching. When it finally hit, he clamped his left hand over his mouth to muffle his roar of triumph as his back bowed off the bed and his seed shot up in a high arc up to his chest. He fell back down upon the bed and lay gasping as he fought to regain his composure. He was still trembling from the experience as he reached for his wand and cleaned up the evidence of his mind-blowing release.
Later that morning, he sat in his bedside chair, trying to decide if he should summon Tippy to deliver a message to Hermione. He wanted to assure Hermione that she was well worth the wait, and he respected her last-minute decision to wait until they were married before having sex with him for the first time? He grimaced when he remembered it was actually Nurse Ginny's interference, which prompted Hermione to wait; however, he wouldn't win any points by pointing that out.
Maybe Hermione would return today, and walk with him out onto the terrace. His pleasant thoughts of snogging her on the terrace were interrupted when he heard footsteps approach and Harry Potter's voice announce to the room that he was there to "claim" the Professor. Madam Pomfrey spoke a few words with Harry and then pulled back the curtain so she could hand him his daily vial of potion. Snape drank the treatment from the vial Madam Pomfrey handed him as Potter waited patiently. Madam Pomfrey took the empty vial back from him and declared that he was good as new, before leaving the two men to speak in private.
Snape turned to bid Harry a good morning and was surprised to see him holding a set of black robes in his arms.
"I picked these up for you yesterday from the robe maker. He had your size on file and was able to prepare you a set of robes just like you use to wear while skulking around the castle." Harry said with a smirk.
"I never skulked, Potter," Snape said with a sneer. "Well, maybe a little," Snape said with a smirk. "What do I owe you?" He asked, accepting the robes that Harry placed in his arms.
"Nothing, Professor, it's the least I could do, for everything you've done for us. I tried to chip in for the ceremony, but the Ministry wouldn't allow it…on your orders."
Snape ran his hand over the material, loving the way it felt under his hands.
Noticing the reverent way Snape touched the robes, Harry smiled and said, "I'll give you a moment to get dressed and then we have a busy day. Your treatments are finished so Madam Pomfrey is releasing you into my care."
Snape looked up quickly and replied, "I'm released? Wait, what busy day? I want to see Hermione."
Harry feigned great remorsefulness and said, "Oh, sorry pal. Molly's orders; no one gets to see the brides until tomorrow, at the wedding—bad luck and all."
Snape sputtered in indignation, "Of all the crazy, ridiculous notions…"
Harry threw his hands up in mock surrender and stepped backwards until he was outside the curtains. "Oh yeah," he said from the other side of the curtain, "Madam Pomfrey said to let her know if you need her assistance in getting showered and dressed." He heard Harry's unmistakable snicker.
Snape jumped out of his chair and wrapped his robe tightly around his hospital gown. He stowed his wand up his sleeve, before grabbing a clean pair of briefs, the robes Harry had provided and started to storm past Harry toward the showers. Harry reached out and placed black socks and dress shoes on the pile of clothes in Snape's arms.
Grunting his thanks, Snape, proceeded to the showers, thinking he was a grown-ass man and the last thing he needed was for Madam Pomfrey to see him in the same uncompromising situations that Nurse Ginny had.
While showering, Snape reveled in the feel of the warm water flowing over his head and down his back—no more "supervised" baths for him. He felt like a new man. The treatment had really done the trick. He felt like his old self again, back to his full strength. Hell, the fact that he'd just been ready to fuck the hell out of Hermione was proof that he was felling stronger. Hermione… He gripped his cock in the shower and thought about all the delicious things he was going to do to her tomorrow night, when as Ginny put it, he'd be allowed to make Hermione's night more meaningful.
Snape dressed in the robes, loving how the coat buttoned up to his neck hiding his scars. He also loved the feel of the sleeves that came down to his palms. He slipped on the socks and shoes liking how everything felt on him. He had missed wearing real clothes. He'd felt so overexposed in the flimsy hospital gown. Checking to see that he'd done a good job on shaving his face and drying his hair, he tucked his wand up his sleeve; he was ready to face his busy day with Potter. Molly be damned, he was going to try to find a way to see Hermione today. Merlin's beard, how he craved that girl; it would be enough if he could just see her—know that she was alright.
Satisfied with his appearance, Snape exited the bathrooms and walked down the long corridor, observing the same pictures that had hung on the walls when he used to, as Harry put it, skulk around the corridors at night trying to catch students out of bed. All the time he wasted roaming the halls could have been spent, he thought with a devilish smile on his face, lying in Granger's arms. He came to a sudden stop when he considered his last train of thought. Granger would have only been 16 or 17 at the time. Not that she was much older now, but at 16 it wouldn't have been proper for him to... Besides, what would he have done? Slipped into Gryffindor's Common Room, climbed into bed with Miss Granger and after erecting a silencing charm, spread her legs and... No! He forbade himself to think those thoughts. Miss Granger was the brightest student he had ever taught and he had been deplorable to her. If he knew then what he knew now, instead of chastising her he would have…what? Stormed over to her in Potions class, pulled her up from her chair and planted a firm kiss on her mouth? He stood there in the corridor, chuckling at the scandal that would have rocked Hogwarts. Merlin help him if he'd been caught in her bed. Of course, he had been such an ass to her that had she awakened, and found him in bed with her, she would have undoubtedly become a hysterical, screaming girl. Whereas now, given the chance...she would ravish him. He stood there in the Hallway thinking of the differences between then and now. He was pulled from his musings when he realized the paintings were staring at him and whispering about his demeanor. He thought he heard one of the paintings whisper about being saved by love. He looked up at a picture that portrayed several ladies dressed as ballerinas clasping their hands to their bosoms and swooning over him. Feeling suddenly uncomfortable with the unwanted attention, he sneered and continued on down the corridor.
He found Harry waiting for him in the front hall and was surprised as Harry handed him a walking stick.
"What's this?" He asked, eyeing it skeptically; "I'm not an invalid Harry"
"I know," said the younger man, "It's just in case you get tired, you know something to lean on."
Snape inspected the walking stick and said it looked like something Lucius would have used to strut around town with.
"It was Lucius' walking stick." Harry confirmed.
At Snape's look of surprise Harry continued, "Draco sent it over. He thought you should have it since, you and his dad were good friends, you know… back before everything got crazy. He thought you'd want something that used to belong to his dad, something to remember him by...I suppose."
Snape looked at the walking stick and felt his heart ache. He did remember a time, when Lucius had been the best friend he had in Slytherin. Tucking the stick under his arm, he motioned to Harry to lead the way and proceeded to follow him off the grounds of Hogwarts.
When they approached the Apparating point, Snape was surprised to see three Aurors waiting for them. Snape knew that Harry was currently working for the Ministry of Magic as an Auror and assumed they had come to speak to Harry regarding something. When they encircled them, Snape looked over at Harry, in alarm.
"They're here to accompany us into Hogsmeade. Unfortunately, not everyone has gotten use to the idea that you survived and have been cleared of all charges. Some of Voldemort's followers still blame you for undermining his bid for power, more so than they blame me...and the rest see you as a hero. Either way, we don't want to be mobbed." Harry looked apologetically at Snape as he held out his arm to him. Sighing heavily, he took hold of Harry's are as they Apparated to Hogsmeade.
There first stop was the robe shop where Snape had ordered the men's attire. The Auror's stood outside the shop, as if they expected a surge of wizarding folk to try and storm the building. Snape allowed the other men to be fitted, for their robes, and relaxed in a corner while he waited for his turn. Finally, it was his turn to be fitted for his ceremonial dress robe.
As he turned to inspect himself from different angles in the mirror, he heard the seamstress speak of how dashing Hagrid had looked, when he tried on his robes. He smirked when he heard the seamstress confess that a lot of fabric had been involved, in the making of Hagrid's Robes.
Snape was pleased with how well the robes looked on him. The waistcoat hung below his hips and buttoned all the way up, almost to his chin. It was made out of a black material that resembled satin. He complained about the length of the sleeves, since they barely reached his wrists. The seamstress stepped forward and with a quick wave of her wand, the sleeves lengthened to the center of Snape's palms. He could tell that the seamstress thought the sleeves were now too long; however, Snape declared them just right. The seamstress stepped back and Snape admired the ensemble some more. He hoped Hermione liked it. Hermione...
He gazed into the mirror lost in thought. He came back to his senses when he heard Harry clear his throat behind him and caught the reflection of his own ridiculous grin that had somehow appeared on his face, in contrast to his usual sneer or grimace. Merlin help him...he looked like a lovesick fool.
Harry cleared his throat again and remarked, "Hermione sends her love, Professor. The girls are at an undisclosed location today getting pampered with a spa treatment…my treat. Besides after what Hermione endured yesterday...well, I thought all the girls could use today to relax and focus on themselves."
Snape's smile slipped off his face as he nodded and stepped down from the platform to face Harry. "Speaking of yesterday, what is the ministry doing about Crabbe. If they would like I'd be more than happy too..."
Harry's eyes flew open wide at Snape's innuendo. "Mr. Crabbe is going to be committed. He's not in his right mind." Severus gave a small snort of indignation and Harry rushed on, "He blamed Hermione for his nephew's death; felt somehow she should have saved him...even though his nephew started the fire in the Room of Requirements and was responsible for his own death. Apparently, his other nephews were unaware of his plans to hurt Hermione and are adamant that he be held responsible for his actions against her. Snape looked at Harry in alarm, but Harry was quick to add, "No one knows that he tried to rape Hermione, except for me and the Aurors directly involved yesterday; and they have all taken a vow of silence. Mr. Crabbe is being charged with trying to kidnap her. He will be committed to the psych ward at St Mungo's. It turns out, he is very ill and they don't expect him to live long...that is why the ministry had rejected his contract to marry her, well that and the fact that they wanted me to..." Harry suddenly looked uncomfortable and turned away.
Sensing his discomfort, Snape changed the subject. "So there's no way for me to see Hermione today, I mean surely you can sneak me..." Harry was shaking his head, smiling at the Professor, "now, look who is sneaking around the corridors at night...up to no good."
Snape felt the color drain from his face. Could Potter have used Legilimency to see his thoughts, back at the castle? Did he witness Snape's fantasy about slipping into bed with Hermione...while she had still been a student at Hogwarts? He took a deep breath and felt his color return when he remembered—Potter sucked at Occlumency, which was the shielding of one's mind, so he definitely hadn't mastered the skill of Legilimency.
His attention snapped back to the present, when Harry said, "Hermione is fine, Professor. If it makes you feel any better she was trying to convince Mr. Weasley to sneak her back to see you today."
Hearing this news made Snape's Heart swell with glee; Hermione wanted to see him just as much as he longed to see her. He knew he must be grinning from ear to ear; however, he was powerless to stop it...that is, until Weasley opened his big mouth.
Snape didn't realize Ron Weasley was standing next to them until Ron said, "Man he's got it bad...the love fairy has bit him right on the ass."
Sneering at Weasley, and remembering what he'd seen of Hermione's memory, Snape replied "No worse than you Weasley." At Weasley's look of confusion, Snape realized his mistake. He didn't want the man to know he'd seen Hermione's memory, of their private conversation. "Uhm...Hermione tells me you and Gabrielle are very much in love and..." he added quickly, "She couldn't be happier for you."
Ron starred off into space with a goofy grin on his face and Snape rolled his eyes at him, hoping he didn't look that goofy when he thought of Hermione; although he realized, he probably did. Scowling, he retreated to the dressing room and redressed in his own robes, carefully hanging the wedding robes up and handing them to the seamstress on the way out the door.
"I want to stop by the book store and get Hermione a gift," Snape announced to no one in particular. Harry smiled as he led the way, and the rest of the group followed him.