Chapter 15: Torment Of Dreams And Memory
{A/N: Here's another update...}
My Thanks To My Readers and Reviewers...Enjoy-S.S.
Snape's Quarters,Hogwarts Castle, Wizarding World...
A slow methodical burn of the firewhiskey as it made it's way down the immensely pale throat of The Potions Master, Severus Snape had been less than comforting. In fact it had been the opposite, his long and equally pale finger gripped the glass with exceeding force as his mind both resisted and gave in to the urge to drift back into the realm of memory.
He could see her as plain as the day he met her.
The long red hair hanging down her back as her light blue cotton flower print dress complete with white lace trim, swayed in combination of her seemingly graceful girlish movements and the light breeze that had passed through.
She had not been a girl then, but a lovely young teenager.
Her eyes of the purest emerald flickered with a combination of mischief and apparent desire.
The Potions Professor's own obsidian gaze had been focused on the red-orange flames that danced along the half ash log that burned brightly within the fireplace. The dim glow filled the otherwise darkened quarters and provided a dull warmth despite the draft of being so far from the surface of the castle grounds.
The absence of sunlight did little to discourage him from inhabiting such a dreary place. It had been safe compared to a lot of the quarters in the castle and hard to find. Even the Slytherin students found it daunting to brave the narrow winding path to get to the Potions Master's private quarters. Part of the reason had been that the place was once home to Salazar Slytherin, and not even former Head of House Horace Slughorn had ventured into these parts. It seemed fitting that Severus Snape should be the only Slytherin worth his salt to inherit such a colossal find.
The images of the teenage girl with strawberry hair and emerald eyes came back to him despite the many attempts of his hard pressed mind to suppress her memory.
He recalled the heavy breaths and the sensation of need as he gazed into her eyes as if entranced. He would have given her the world if she asked for it.
"Stupid boy." muttered Snape recalling his antics back then.
He knew now that it was foolish wishing that guided him to relinquish what mostly women held so dear.
Another glass and Snape was feeling the familiar sting once more.
He gave no attention to the tears that streamed down his sallow pale cheeks.
The images of her before him had been much too vivid to ignore.
"Come on Sev." she had said ever so sweetly.
Snape threw the glass he clutched between his pale fingers into the flames and stormed off toward his potions stash. He had enough of these memories and their twisted agony.
He grabbed the nearest phial of thick swirling purple liquid.
"I think not." he said before uncorking the phial and quickly drinking down the contents.
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The Girls Dormitories, Gryffindor tower, Hogwarts Castle, Wizarding World...
Sleep had not come easy for a fretting Hermione Jean Granger. The images of the Potions Professor moving about the classroom like a raging storm of warring emotions had filled her weary mind. His voice drawled out of his especially pale lips in the same low ringing tone pitched due to the enormous aquiline nose he was born with.
The longer the lesson went on the more Snape's eyes went from the other students, whom all seemed to fade from existence to her own innocent amber orbs.
The young witch tossed and turned a little more finding the rustling of sheets did little to discourage the continuation of her seemingly vivid dream.
"Miss Granger." he said and before she knew it she was pressed against him.
The numerous buttons that lined his trademark attire beneath her finger tips was all she could feel of him. A low growl rumbled deep within his throat briefly before he leaned down to kiss her on the lips.
The sound of the alarm went off and Hermione found herself awakened just when her soft pink lips were about to come into contact with those upturned pale ones of Severus Snape.
"Hermione wake up." said the concerned voice of Ginny Weasley.
Hermione groaned as she slowly opened her eyes.
"What...?" she asked.
"Hermione...you're going to be late." said the red head witch leaning over the drowsy witch.
"L-Late?" said Hermione hopping out of bed. "You can't be serious?"
She sprang out of bed quickly and raced over toward the wardrobe.
"I-I'm late." she said stunned glancing at the clock ticking on the wall. "And I've got to get dressed."
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The Corridors, Hogwarts Castle, Wizarding World...
The throbbing headache that accompanied the light of the morning sun when Severus Snape reached the mid-corridors to venture into the Great Hall had seen to him retreating toward his classroom. He had rounded the corner when something soft crashed into his chest and subsequently hit the ground. An annoyed growl escaped his lips when he came face to face with a certain bushy haired know it all.
"Well...well." said Snape noting the disheveled appearance of the young witch as she glared back at him. "Running a little late are we Miss Granger?"
"I-I simply overslept Professor." replied Hermione scrambling to her feet as she tried not to look at the ebony clad chest of her Potions Professor or the numerous buttons that plagued her dreams the night before.
Snape had been highly attuned to the strange behavior Hermione was exhibiting. It had been his personal hobby as well as detrimental to his position as Spy for the order of Phoenix to note every aspect of odd behavior and Hermione was definitely getting his undivided attention despite the headache.
"Something the matter?" he asked.
"N-No replied Hermione attempting to keep from looking directly at him.
"Silly girl." he replied. "I suggest you get over yourself quickly lest you draw unwanted attention."
Hermione nodded understanding his meaning and collected herself.
"T-Thank you Professor Snape." she said rather shakily.
The nervous witch made something of a mad dash toward the Great Hall.
Snape smirked despite the throbbing in his head.
"Silly girl." he repeated amused despite the pain then proceeded toward his office.
He had been badly in need of a sober-up potion.