Ginny looked radiant, stunningly beautiful and most importantly; happy.
Her loose, fiery auburn locks flowed down the back of her form-fitting, golden gown.
Harry returned her smile— his hair was a mess of course and he looked at Ginny as though he was the luckiest man alive.
Hermione supposed he was exceptionally lucky, against all odds he had survived Voldemort and a second round of the killing curse.
He'd lived to see his wedding day, surrounded by his chosen family.
Ginny had insisted that Hermione be her bridesmaid since she was, by Ginny's own admission, the closest thing she had to a sister. So both she and Luna, dressed in deep crimson, and stood by the happy couple as they bonded their lives as one.
Ron and Sirius stood opposite, dressed in well-tailored black dress robes.
Hermione was painfully aware of Sirius leering at her plunging neckline all throughout the proceedings. It had been tolerable when the ceremony had been there as a buffer, but now, now they were dancing and his hands were dangerously low on her waist.
Nobody seemed to notice, or if they did, they didn't seem to care.
Ron's hands were appropriately placed on Luna, and even Harry wasn't openly groping his new bride. She didn't like to make a scene, so instead she continued their charade around the room.
That was when she noticed someone else's gaze on her dancing form. She wondered if Snape was scowling at her or at Sirius? Maybe he was rightfully horrified by the little display that his ex-bully was putting on.
Hermione desperately tried to catch his eye, pushing her discomfort as far forward in her mind as she could. She doubted he would be randomly reading her thoughts, but maybe it might show on her face.
A deep crease lined his brow as he looked coldly at her. Hermione considered mouthing the word 'help' but decided it might be a tad melodramatic.
So she tolerated Sirius's wandering hands until the music finally ended, after which she practically ran to the bar.
The festivities continued on without her and she was happier for it. Hermione would rather stay away from the limelight, she had been mercilessly thrust onto every headline for years and she'd had enough.
She stood by the bar with her drink clutched in one hand, watching as Sirius tried his luck with Lavender Brown instead.
"Firewhiskey," a cold, familiar drawl came from her left.
Hermione turned her head and looked at her ex-professor. He was dressed almost exactly as he had been as her teacher, with the new addition of a higher collar to hide his battle scars.
"Hello sir," she said politely. She had never really figured out how to address him since leaving school. "Are you having a nice time?"
He didn't turn to face her, just continued to stare straight ahead waiting for his beverage drumming his fingers on the wooden surface that she leaned against.
The only indication that he was aware of her presence at all was the small scoff he let out at her question.
The barman returned with his Firewhiskey and placed it neatly on the bar in front of the dark man.
He was still scowling, not at anyone or anything in particular.
"I am here under threat of unemployment if you must know," he finally said.
Hermione watched as he raised the tumbler to his lips and took a swig before placing the glass back and looked at her.
Just like when she was his student she felt scrutinised under his dark stare.
He looked much the same as he had before Voldemort's downfall, dark curtains of hair framing a pale, thin face and those deep black eyes.
She had never seen anything like them before him, Harry had always talked about how cold his eyes were, but Hermione disagreed.
There was a heat there, a mysterious glint that glittered curiously.
"I almost didn't recognise you," he said, swinging his eyes back to the crowd. "Without Black's," he spat the name with such disgust that she recoiled slightly, "hands running over your backside."
Hermione sighed heavily and leaned back, placing both elbows on the bar behind her.
"I had a lucky escape," she said with a smirk. "Lavender doesn't seem to mind."
She nodded at the pair, Sirius had both hands firmly grasping both of the blonde's arse cheeks.
"Although," Snape said smoothly. "I think he's still sniffing you out." He tilted his glass in Sirius's direction.
Snape was right. Harry's godfather had his fingers splayed across Lavender's backside while she grinded slowly into him, but his eyes were darting around the room until finally they settled on Hermione.
The immediate look of relief and intrigue was quickly replaced as he swung his gaze from her to Snape and furrowed his brow.
A wicked plan formed in Hermione's mind and she couldn't suppress the smile that spread across her face.
"What are you grinning at Granger?" he asked.
"I was just thinking," Hermione said, daring to move a little closer to him. "How fun it might be to make him jealous."
Snape turned his head slowly, his inscrutable dark eyes studying her face fully before tracking down her neck and lingering on her chest.
Hermione felt herself blushing under his watchful eye. When his gaze finally moved back to hers he raised a brow and she could swear his lips twitched into a ghost of a smile.
Again he raised his glass and took a sip, deeper this time. Hermione did the same, relishing in the sensation of tiny bubbles popping on her tongue.
She couldn't believe how bold she was, was she flirting with her ex-professor at her best friend's wedding?
"If I was to play along with your little game," he started, that damned eyebrow still arched in scrutiny. "What would be in it for me?"
Her eyes widened in shock, was he flirting back? That thought was preposterous, of course not.
"I thought that making Sirius jealous might be something that you would enjoy, sir."
"Severus," he said.
"Severus," she replied, testing the name in her mouth.
"Well, Hermione," he said her name slowly, enunciating each syllable. "If I am to mar my reputation by openly flirting with an ex-student, I think I should be properly compensated."
Hermione bit her lip and swirled her drink, she needed a top up. Turning away from the crowd she motioned for the barman to bring a drink for each of them.
"Tell me," she said softly. "What does Severus Snape flirting look like exactly?"
He leaned back then, his back pressing against the bar, his long fingers were only inches away from her bare arm.
Hermione moved closer, as naturally as she could, pretending to seek out her drink.
"That depends," he said and Hermione watched as his pinky twitched slightly, almost touching her. "How jealous do you want him and how thoroughly will I be compensated?"
Hermione looked at him then, his dark eyes were smouldering and she couldn't deny the tightening in her abdomen was entirely real.
Another twitch, just a tiny touch of skin and she was practically gasping for air.
"Hermione," Sirius's booming voice came from behind and she groaned. Both at his presence and the loss of Severus's finger on her skin. "Another dance, love?" he said siding up to her left.
"No thanks, Sirius," she replied stiffly. "I'm quite alright here."
He laughed then, an arrogant laugh and looked past her to Snape before placing his hand on the small of her back, causing her to recoil once again.
"Come on, love," he said seductively, or in attempt anyway. "Snivellus is used to sitting alone while the rest of us have some fun."
"Ah," said Severus lightly. "But perhaps Hermione isn't interested in waking up with fleas in the morning."
She couldn't stop herself giggling at his deadpan delivery. Sirius stiffened beside her, she wasn't looking at him but she could practically feel his anger. In an attempt to diffuse what could be a full-blown duel she shuffled on the spot and groaned at the sting of her shoes.
"Oof," she sighed. "These shoes are killing me."
Both men on either side slid their eyes down her form simultaneously, settling on her golden heels.
Hermione felt like a bug under a microscope and immediately regretted her diffusal method. She should have let them kill one another instead of this.
"Well," Sirius said, downing his drink. "Let's get them off will we?"
To her right Severus snorted and shook his head.
"If you continue to act so desperately, Black, Hermione here might start up a new liberation effort in the name of unwanted muts."
"Alright now, Severus," Hermione said gently, placing her hand on his for just a second. "Let's leave Sirius alone shall we?"
With that, she slipped her hand around his and tugged him away from the bar. They skirted the dance floor, Hermione slinking along in front with Severus following behind, hands clasped together.
She could feel eyes on them as she led him to a quiet corner, slightly in shadow and sat down, making a show of crossing her legs for anyone who might be watching.
Severus — the genius, pulled his chair closer to hers before settling beside her.
When she looked at him, his eyes were on her shoes again, watching her foot as it bobbed in time with the music.
"They really do hurt you know," she said awkwardly.
"Well they are a ridiculous choice of footwear," he replied coldly.
Hermione wilted at his sudden change in demeanour towards her. She knew the flirting wasn't real, but she'd enjoyed the game and wanted to keep it going.
She scanned along the bar and saw Sirius watching them closely. With one movement she placed her chin on her ex-teacher's shoulder and tilted her lips up to his ear.
"He's still watching," she muttered.
One pale hand moved slowly and came to rest on her folded knee. The warmth of his touch penetrated through the silk of her dress and coursed through her veins causing her skin to heat and tingle pleasantly.
"As is everyone else," he replied.
He wasn't too far off, a fair few of the gathered guests in Grimmauld Place's garden were indeed watching their display. She could have done without the added attention but, Hermione smiled coyly and let herself enjoy his scent, taking a deep whiff and releasing a gentle breath against his covered neck.
"Did you just smell me, Granger?" His hand slipped further up her thigh as he spoke.
Hermione dared to press her lips gently to his jaw before speaking.
"All for the show, I'm sure you understand?" she whispered, letting her lips brush against his stubble.
Snape hummed and tilted his head slightly in an effort to look at her, bringing her lips to the corner of his mouth. She could hear herself breathing shakily at the almost kiss, her mouth was dry and her eyes stayed locked on his thin lips.
She had certainly spent some time thinking about kissing Snape before, just a passing schoolgirl fantasy. But at that moment, it was her only goal. Hermione pressed her thighs together as his thumb slipped into the valley of her hip, eliciting a small gasp from her.
"Of course," he mumbled softly, his mouth twitching into a smug smirk.
She reached across, willing her hand to stay steady and was at war with herself on whether to rest her hand along his many buttons or on his face.
Before she could decide he slipped his free arm around her shoulder and pulled her in flush to his side.
"Is he still watching?" he asked her.
She settled her hand on his jaw sweeping her thumb across the dark shadow there and delighting in the roughness.
"I don't care," she said without thinking.
He chuckled then, soft and deep and it vibrated through her. She could feel her flimsy knickers dampen further at the sound, this game had lit a fire in Hermione's core and she didn't want it to end.
With only minimal prompting she turned his face to hers and searched him for permission, before closing her eyes and pressing her mouth to his.
If Hermione hadn't been so caught up in their kiss, in the feel of his lean body pressed against hers, in his fingers now digging slightly into her hip. She might have heard several audible gasps that permeated even the thumping music.
But she didn't.
The kiss was soft and chaste but the underlying heat was undeniable. Hermione desperately wanted to pry open his mouth with her tongue but managed to restrain herself.
When he pulled away, he kept his face close, his large nose bumping against hers. Her chest was rising and falling rapidly as she flicked her gaze from his mouth back to his eyes.
"I think he may have gotten the message," he said tightly.
She reluctantly turned back to the crowd, several pairs of eyes were quickly averting from their display. Hermione quickly found the happy couple, both openly staring. Harry looked like he was trying to solve a particularly difficult Arithmancy equation while Ginny wiggled her eyebrows suggestively and threw her head back in laughter.
Sirius it seemed had all but given up, Lavender stood, practically straddling him at the bar while he threw dirty looks over her shoulder. To her, to Severus, both them? She didn't know, or care.
"Do you know what would make him really jealous?" Hermione said, afraid to let go of the pretense.
He looked at her then, his eyes glittering in that mysterious way, hunger in their depths.
"Always the overachiever," he muttered, not unkindly.
She smiled softly and raised her lips to the shell of his ear, releasing a slow breath and enjoying the slight tensing of his muscles.
"If you took me to his library and fucked me against the shelves." She finally finished.
Her heart was thumping wildly in her chest, she was not usually so forward with men— not that she ever got much of an opportunity. But she knew Severus was not going to do the work here, if she wanted this to continue she would have to talk him into her knickers.
And Merlin, she wanted this.
"I see one glaringly obvious flaw in your plan, Hermione," he whispered directly into her ear causing her to shiver delightfully. "How will Black know if I had my way with you in his library?"
The corner of her lips curled into a wicked smirk. "I suppose you will just have to make sure that I scream louder than Walburga's portrait."
He chuckled again, his breath settling on her neck. Emboldened by his reaction Hermione stood suddenly and motioned for his hand. For a moment he simply stared at her open palm and she worried he might be about to reject her, but then he placed his hand in hers. When he rose to his full height, Hermione felt a thrill run through her at his looming and intimidating presence.
She led the way again, Severus's hand in hers as she crossed a path in the direction of the back door to Sirius's childhood home.
The library was only two stops away, Hermione spent a considerable amount of time in the room, so much so that it was considered hers.
She creaked the ancient door open and bit her lip as she crossed the threshold with Severus' hand still held firmly in her own.
The sound of the door closing behind him sounded deafening to her ears, her heart was thumping wildly against her chest and she could hear her breaths coming fast and short.
His hand left hers, and she heard the tell-tale click of the rusted lock.
Holy Merlin she thought, was this actually happening? She hadn't expected him to go along with it.
Gathering her courage she turned to face him, bottom lip still worried under her teeth.
"Not so bold without an audience?" he asked, a sideways smirk quirked on his face.
He was walking towards her, a predatory look gleaming in his eyes. Hermione watched as he approached, his hand brushed against her breast before settling on her side.
Snape encouraged her to step back, until her backside bumped into one of the many shelves that lined the walls.
"Or," he said, dipping his face to hers and piercing her with his intensity. "Do you like having an audience, Granger?"
His hand was gliding up along her ribs, ghosting over her breast again until it settled on her shoulder. For a moment he toyed with the flimsy string holding her dress in place.
"Y-you,—" she stuttered, she was shaking. She wanted him, but she felt like she had coerced him into it. "If you don't want to.."
He chuckled again, that sound was quickly becoming her favourite thing.
"A girl could get addicted to your laugh," she said quietly.
"It's amusing to me," he said without further explanation.
"What is?" she requested, eyes wide as he slipped the string of her dress down her shoulder.
"That you think I wouldn't want to fuck you."
Long calloused fingers crept up the column of her throat, then gently tilted her head to one side. When his index finger caressed over her bottom lip Hermione let her eyes fall closed.
Severus pressed his lips to the curve of her neck, pecking her gently first, then opening his mouth and sucking hard enough to mark her.
Hermione gasped, her hands were hanging uselessly by her sides as his mouth caused her toes to curl.
"Now," he said, prying his lips from her skin. "Black won't have any doubt that tonight you are mine."
Hermione was unsteady on her already exhausted feet. Her head was spinning as she panted obscenely against him.
She reached up and slipped her hand around his neck, pulling him closer.
"Severus," she whispered needily. "I want you."
She didn't wait long before crashing her mouth into his, their kiss was not slow, it was a kiss of passion and want. Their tongues explored with vigour and promise.
Hermione was already whimpering, pulling him closer and deeper. Her other strap was dislodged, exposing her bare breasts and already pebbled nipples.
When he pulled away from her mouth Hermione almost growled with frustration, until he took her hard, pink peak into his mouth and sucked hard.
Her moans were loud and needy, if anyone had followed them and happened to be listening by the door there would be no doubt what was happening.
The thought of Sirius,— or anyone for that matter, listening to them only spurred her on further.
Severus released her nipple and with both of his hands he peeled her dress down her hips, leaving her in just her knickers and heels.
"Why, Miss Granger," he said with a smirk as he sank to his knees before her, her eyes following him. "It seems like you've made a mess of your underwear."
Before she could respond he pushed her against the shelf behind her and ran his large nose over her covered mound.
"I wonder," he paused. "Do you taste as good as I imagine?"
With a nimble finger he tugged her thong to one side, holding her gaze before licking her lightly at her opening. Hermione knew she was embarrassingly wet already but couldn't bring herself to care, not when his tongue was greedily gathering her lust like a man dying of thirst.
"Oh, sir!"
"'Sir' now is it?" he chuckled, huffing a gentle laugh against her wet folds.
Hermione groaned at her mistake and blushed under his unwavering gaze. She had certainly given herself away now, she had let her teenage fantasies slip.
"That shade of pink looks delightful on you," he said smugly. "Let's see just how flustered I can make you tonight."
His mouth was back where she wanted it and Hermione's previous shame was all but forgotten. She would scream 'Professor' for him so long as he kept his tongue teasing her clit.
Both of her hands held tight to the shelf behind her as her hips lost control, pressing and grinding against him.
A few long strokes later, Hermione was crying her release to the empty library and bucking in ecstasy.
"Better," Severus said before pressing a light kiss on her thigh.
"Huh?" Hermione asked, trying to catch her breath.
"You taste better than I imagined, one could eat you all night."
Hermione felt a new blush creep over her at his praise. He got to his feet, once again looming over her, even in her heels.
"Those shoes might be ridiculous," he continued. "But I think they will look great wrapped around me."
"Let's test that theory, now."
His eyes were pinning her like prey, holding her captive in a sea of black intensity, a sea she would happily drown in. She couldn't get enough.
Severus removed his cloak first, tossing it aside to land on the back of the ancient couch before raising a hand to his buttoned up chest.
Hermione reached out, and began popping his many buttons from the bottom of his coat meeting him in the middle.
"Eager aren't we?" he teased.
"Yes," she replied breathlessly.
There was no point in denying it, she wanted him, wanted him more than any man she'd ever been with. There was no point in denying it when his chin still shined with her obvious excitement.
The shedding of his coat only led to more tiresome buttons. Hermione let Severus take care of those while she made quick work of his belt and zipper. Greedily she plunged her hand inside his trousers and wrapped her hand around his erection.
The silky skin of his rigid length under her fingers caused her to hum contentedly.
"Careful witch," he growled. "I will not be coming by your hand tonight."
Hermione took heed of his warning and removed her hand from his pants, instead she ran her fingers up along his now exposed torso.
His pale, lean chest was interrupted with patches of dark hair and too many scars to count all leading to the large battle wound that puckered the skin of his neck. She couldn't help but take pause at the sight of it, the clenching in her gut a different reaction than the lust she'd felt only moments ago. Some of her emotions must have played plainly across her face because Snape's finger was lifting her chin, tearing her gaze from his scars.
He said nothing, just consumed her with his unwavering intensity until nothing but a fiery need remained. His strength was a welcome surprise as he lifted her off her feet pressing her back painfully into the dark wooden shelves behind her.
With one hand tucked securely under her bum he lined himself up at her entrance, her underwear still pulled to one side.
"Please?" Hermione heard herself whimpering as he slid his cock through her damp folds. Then when he finally sank into her slick channel she moaned long and loud with the relief of being filled so deliciously.
"Hermione," he whispered, his lips pressed to her ear.
He was more gentle with her than she would have thought, sinking fully into her he settled and held her gaze once again.
Hermione wrapped her legs securely around his slim waist and tugged his hair until his mouth hovered inches from hers.
"Tell me what you want?" he whispered gently.
"I want you, Severus," she replied breathlessly, hips thrusting gently in an effort to get him moving within her. "Please."
"You don't just want to make him jealous?" he asked, still withholding his kiss.
"No," Hermione moaned, as he moved slowly grinding against her. "I want you and I want him to know it."
His lips met hers with such power and passion, stealing the air from her lungs. Finally his hips thrust hard, dislodging some books from the shelves behind them, sending them crashing to the floor. Severus swallowed her moans with an eager tongue, his own richer moans echoing back.
"Oh, fuck," Hermione cried as they broke apart. "I'm so close, please don't stop."
"Touch yourself," he purred back.
With her left hand still tangled into his hair she slipped her right between their coupled bodies and found her clit, swollen and ready.
"That's it," he panted. "Come for me Hermione, let me feel you."
She threw her head back, her final moans and cries of pleasure drawn out and pained. Severus was still thrusting, that she was certain of but she was a twitching boneless mess when he jerked his release into her.
They stayed there for longer than was comfortable, neither one ready to let go of the other.
"Well," he finally said, lifting his head from her shoulder. "That's the first time I've enjoyed a social gathering of any kind."
Hermione giggled softly and gently pressed her lips to the jagged scar on his otherwise elegant neck.
"This is the first time I've enjoyed disrespecting books," she laughed breathily.
He did something then that she didn't expect, with a dip of his head he captured her lips in a sweet and gentle kiss, before stepping back and offering her his hand to steady herself with.
Hermione took his hand long enough to find her footing, realising her state of undress she blushed.
With a whispered spell, Severus cleaned them both up as she slipped her bridesmaid dress back on. The pair dressed in silence and righted the tossed books, standing awkwardly side by side.
"I better get back," Hermione said a little sadly.
"Come on then," he replied, surprising her once more. His hand was open and welcoming again as she took it and allowed him to lead her from the library.
The back garden was still awash with the new Potter couple's many guests, familiar faces all around. Heads turned as the pair resurfaced, Severus walked her straight onto the dance floor where couples were swaying and dancing happily.
He pulled her close, too close for friends and encouraged her to drape her arms over his shoulders before placing his on her hips.
"You dance?" she asked, taken aback by the gesture.
Severus huffed out a laugh as he continued to sway and move rhythmically with her.
"I said I don't enjoy social gatherings, they are unfortunately a necessity and with events comes dancing," he replied. "Don't you?"
"'Don't I' what?" she asked, wrinkling her nose in confusion.
"Dance?" he asked.
"Of course I do," she said, still confused.
"You could have fooled me," he responded sarcastically.
Hermione swatted his shoulder but was unable to keep the small smile from her lips, she knew he was teasing her and she liked it.
"Try that again," he whispered, nodding to her hand which had hit him gently, "and you'll pay for it."
With a twitch of her lip Hermione slapped him again, this time letting her hand trail down until it rested against his chest.
Quicker than she knew what was happening his fingers threaded into her hair and tugged gently, tilting her head back, exposing her neck.
She gasped in response, there were eyes on them, she could sense their intrigue. But as Severus lowered his face to hers and mumbled in her ear she found that she couldn't care.
"Next time I get you alone, I'll teach you a lesson, witch."
All Hermione heard was 'next time'.