Once again, both Hermione and Professor Snape made their way up to the castle. Both were silent as they contemplated the past few days. As they reached the door leading to the dungeons Professor Snape put his bags down and reached into a pocket, revealing two black cigarettes. Hermione gratefully took one, before putting it between her lips and lighting it with her wand. As they smoked, Professor Snape took out his notebook and glanced at it before returning his gaze to his apprentice.
"Miss Granger, I will not need you this week, this time should be spent reviewing and studying for your N.E.W.T's, yes?"
"Absolutely, thank your Professor!"
Professor Snape scoffed before taking another drag. "I don't think any student has ever thanked a Professor for allowing them to study Mis Granger."
Hermione smiled at him, before putting her own cigarette out and picking up her bag, and opening the door. "No I would send gifts instead to show my appreciation"
"Oh? Funny, I don't recall ever getting one of these supposed gifts."
"Must have gotten lost in the mail" Hermione said looking back with a smile before she shut the door and entered the castle.
Professor Snape smirked, he would have never guessed the Gryffindor Princess had a sense of humor, then again she must have if she thought she and Weasley were a compatible match. In the weeks they had worked closely together he felt a type of kinship between them, one he could not imagine she and Weasley shared. Their love of learning, of books, the art of making potions, and of course illegal activity. He smirked at his last thought, he had to admit she had surprised him, caught him completely off guard. She was by far the last person he would expect to connect with, which made her that much more attractive to him. Clearly, his type were fiery Gryffindor women he could never have, nor deserve, he thought to himself. Shaking his head, he set off for his lab wanting to test out his new theories with his newfound ingredient.
Hermione got to her room and immediately jumped in the shower, wanting to clean off the few days they had spent in the wilderness. As she cleaned herself, her soapy hands started traveling all over her body, she could feel herself getting wet thinking of other hands touching her, caressing her breasts, cupping her mound, then traveling up to her throat. She gave a tentative squeeze, but couldn't quite get the feeling she wanted from her own hand. Focusing instead on her hand circling her clit as well as her other hand pinching her nipple, the image of rough yet slender hands came to mind. At the image of those hands touching her body, she rubbed her clit faster and faster until she came hard in the shower, thanking every deity that the shower muffled her cry. Pressing her head onto the shower tiles, Hermione caught her breath as the water caressed her back. Feeling better, she was determined to study for her upcoming exams in the library in peace and quiet, away from any distractions. Hermione read and studied for several hours in the library, until she heard the door creak open. Looking through the stacks of books between her and the front door, she saw her dark haired professor enter without making so much as a sound. Intrigued, she decided to follow him while trying her best to be as quiet as possible, as she got closer she could see he was in the magical fungi section. Wanting to take a closer look at the books he was currently perusing, she stepped closer but found the floorboards gave her away almost instantly by emitting a loud creak.
"You are by far the most heavy-footed spy I have come across Miss Granger, do try and not stomp around when trying to sneak around"
"How did you know it was me?"
Professor Snape scoffed, "Who else would dare try and stick their nose where it doesn't belong, also that ghastly hair of yours was peaking out from the stacks"
Hermione rolled her eyes while smoothing her hair down, before stepping out of the stacks of books she was attempting to hide behind. "I don't know how you do it, being so quiet with dragon hide boots"
"Practice and most importantly, spells"
"You spell your boots to be quiet so you can sneak around?"
"How else do you think I am able to sneak around as you so aptly put it Miss Granger?"
"I mean more why do you still do it even after the war?"
"I find it amusing to startle unsuspecting victims"
Hermione looked at him suspiciously, clearly not convinced.
"And…perhaps habit after years of needing to be discreet…it's rather difficult as a seasoned spy to break the habits that kept me alive for so many years."
"Ah…I see that makes sense" Hermione said rather stunned he had shared as much as he had. Needing to switch the subject she looked down to the book he had picked up.
"What do we have here" Hermione tried grabbing the book but the potion master was too quick and snatched it away, spelling it to be smaller and putting it in his side pocket.
"That, Miss Granger is none of your business at this time."
"When are you going to tell me what you're working on? I could give a fresh perspective, I could-"
"Miss Grange's your abilities are not in question, you've proven to be somewhat useful so far…I will bring you in once I am sure of my theory. Now if you will excuse me." As he made his way toward the library doors, her next question stopped him in his tracks.
"What were your test scores?"
"What?" Slowly he turned around to once again face her.
"What were your scores?"
"Why do you want to know my scores Granger?" Now fully turned towards her he crossed his arm and peered down into her face with his nose turned upwards.
Hermione simply shrugged before answering him. "Just curious…and feeling rather competitive since no one from my grade seems to be able to come close to my test scores."
"So you feel the need to compete with my test scores decades ago? I stand by my earlier comment of you being a little know-it-all, Granger…"
"Yes, yes we've been over this before I'm a swot and a know-it-all, you'll need to be more original with your insults."
"What makes you think I'm insulting you, Miss Granger?"
"Well…I don't think calling someone a know-it-all is a term of endearment?"
"Why not? Would you prefer to be called a bumbling idiot?"
Hermione laughed "I suppose not… you may have a point but don't change the subject, what were your scores Professor? Or are you scared a Gryffindor will beat you?"
Professor Snape scoffed before gesturing towards the library. "I'm sure you can find the school records somewhere in here seeing as we're in the school library…good luck Miss Granger." With that, Professor Snape turned and left the library, robes billowing behind him.
Hermione spent the better part of her evening reviewing the test scores from years she guessed he graduated from. Finally landing on the graduating class of 1978, she found his test scores and had a good laugh when she saw he had received Outstanding's in everything but Herbology. Feeling as though she finally had some arsenal in their little game of tête-à-tête, she packed up her things and made her way to bed.
