"The Ministry has no moral compass," Hermione said crinkling her nose in frustration. "I was hired with the pretence that I could make a difference, with a common goal that sentient beings could garner the basic respect they deserve. Why hire me in the first place if my ideas were too much of an inconvenience?"
The only sounds were those of their boots shuffling along the flagstones and her impassioned opinions. Tuesdays remained one of their quieter patrolling nights, usually they could count on returning to their private rooms without a single interruption. In the weeks following Hermione's indiscretion she had made an effort to keep conversations light and friendly, of course she did most of the talking. Their first few evenings together after the kiss were achingly uncomfortable for her, although he had seemed perfectly calm and at ease. Hermione wondered was he accustomed to witches throwing themselves at him in such a manner, how else could he continue on as if nothing had happened. Her entire world had turned upside down, every glimpse of him sent fire racing through her body, if he felt anything similar he hid it remarkably well. She was forced to face the knowledge that he may simply not be attracted to her. Just when she was ready to accept this theory she would remember the firm grip on her hip and pale fingers running up her side.
"Don't be naive," He replied stiffly. "You know exactly why they hired you."
"Well, yes," she tried to keep her tone light but it was difficult. "That is why I left after all, I never wanted to be a poster girl for their agenda. I mean they genuinely considered bringing in a Marriage Law for Merlin's sake! Their priorities are so askew I just couldn't stand being a part of it."
"My deepest gratitude to you and those who voted against that abhorrent excuse for a law," he said, lip curling in disgust.
Hermione took a moment to imagine the poor witch who might have been 'betrothed' to the unwilling man next to her. The thought made her both smile at the conjured images and also swell with jealousy. Her next thought replaced the faceless woman in her imagination with her, which set her stomach aflutter. Looking up at him she smiled softly, more to herself than him.
"Yes well, declining birth rates or not, a Marriage Law was a ridiculous motion to put forward," she finished.
The night proved to be just as quiet as predicted. Eleven thirty found them approaching the corridor leading to her office and quarters. Hermione hated this part of each day, closing her door on his retreating frame. Even if a romantic connection was out of the question, she would happily settle for a friendship.
"So we've got Hogsmeade this weekend," she said, trying to delay their inevitable parting. "What's the plan of action? Is there much trouble usually?"
Snape turned to look at her, slowing his steps as they approached her door.
"Since Potter left, not much," the slight curl of his lip gave his game away. He seemed to enjoy winding her up with disparaging comments on her time as a student.
"I don't recall Harry causing much trouble in Hogsmeade actually," she said. "He usually saved that for the castle grounds."
A small, dark chuckle escaped his lips. Hermione beamed at him, pleased with herself that she had pulled that sound from him.
"Well, maybe we could escape to The Three Broomsticks for lunch?" she suggested as casually as she could.
He didn't answer, he just stood rigid and studied her face for a moment before turning on his heel. "Goodnight Granger," he said without looking back at her.
"Goodnight," she said in return. She liked when he called her 'Granger' without the added honorific 'Miss' tacked on before it.
Once tucked by her fireplace with a steaming cup of tea and a good book Hermione allowed herself to get lost in her own head. Not for the first time she thought about how Snape had once loved a girl who didn't love him back, one who coveted his friendship as long as it was convenient for her. She supposed she shouldn't think of Harry's mum like that, but she couldn't help it. Harry had told her all about the memories he had seen and she knew instantly that she would have forgiven Snape or any friend who might belittle her in a moment of humiliation. She had in fact forgiven him for all of the rude and hurtful things he had said to her in the past. Now, here they were with the tables turned. Hermione's growing attraction and infatuation seemed glaringly obvious to her, but if he was aware he was doing an admirable job of keeping her safely at arms length. Did he even consider her a friend? Probably not.
After prepping for bed and settling under her duvet Hermione once again found her mind wandering the dungeon hallway. She found that sleep came easier if she allowed her subconscious to return there now and again. Her hands found the spot on her ribs where Severus' hand had touched. Again and again the ghost of his fingers had played her every night since.
Some times she mourned the memory, wondering had it really happened at all? Only she and Ginny knew of the encounter and since giving birth to little James, her friend wasn't as easily accessible. Obviously Snape never mentioned anything. Hermione was thankful for that, most of the time anyway. Although some days she wished that he would bring it up, even if only to reprimand her behaviour, just to hear him speak of it.
Rolling her left nipple between her fingers Hermione arched in anticipation.
Again she wondered if Snape replayed their kiss on loop as she did and if so, did the memory haunt or enthral him. Her body hummed with that very memory as her right hand found her centre.
"Come on," Granger said excitedly. "I want to show you something."
Her hand reached back towards him although she didn't make contact, just wiggled her fingers at him in invitation. Some deeply buried part of him longed to reach out, take hold of her hand and walk with her fingers entwined with his own. Severus knew better, he'd laid his heart bare once before and had nothing but misery since. Now, his treacherous heart kept fighting to escape his chest at the very sight of those wild curls caught in the autumnal winds of Hogsmeade.
Following Granger in the direction of the Shrieking Shack viewing point he wondered what she thought she could show him in this village that he had frequented far more than she. The witch walked quickly, almost a slow jog, bouncing slightly, clearly excited by something. Severus looked around, it wouldn't do for students to witness someone looking so happy in his presence.
"Granger, will you stop bouncing," he hissed at the back of her head. "You look demented."
Her delicate, tinkling laugh floated back to him and Severus longed to hear more. She seemed constantly in good spirits, even his dark moods and cutting comments didn't seem to dampen her disposition. In fact, from what he could tell, she quite enjoyed his deadpan wit, something that was completely unexpected. Lily used to accuse him of being 'cruel' with his humour, if ever she did laugh she would immediately cover her mouth like a dirty word had slipped out. Granger not only laughed, but often encouraged him to continue.
Shaking away thoughts of Lily, Severus followed on, watching as Granger's locks reflected the watery October sunlight. A mass of brown with golden highlights leading him like a moth to flames.
He was fully aware of the direction her feet were leading him to, a well known spot for students who wanted somewhere secluded to feel each other up. He didn't say anything, just followed on, pulse quickening. She slowed her stride and fell into step beside him, standing close, so close their hands were almost touching.
"Granger," he sounded uncertain even to his own ears. "We should really make our way back, there's usually not much activity here until the warmer months."
"I told you," she said bumping her elbow against his, "I want to show you something."
"There's nothing to show, I've patrolled this area for many years. The only thing I've ever found was students acting inappropriately, naively thinking the staff are unaware of this location."
She didn't respond, just glanced up at him, amber eyes filled with mischief causing his chest to tighten.
"Students have been making use of this area since my days in Hogwarts, and before I would imagine," Severus for once felt the need to fill the silence that had fallen over them. Granger usually talked enough for both of them, but she was being uncharacteristically quiet.
Finally they approached the edge of the clearing, she lead him into the spot he had suspected they were headed for; a thick cover of trees obscured from prying eyes. There were tree stumps scattered amongst the dense foliage. Severus had caught more than one couple engaged in amorous activities atop those stumps. As suspected, there were no wayward pupils present this afternoon.
"If you start telling me about a misspent youth with some willing witch, I might get jealous," she turned to face him, eyes hooded, stopping just inches away.
"You are greatly overestimating my popularity as a student," he scoffed.
"Yes, nobody ever took me here either," she said. "Nobody wants to get caught with their hands on a bushy-haired, buck-toothed know-it-all. I was never very popular with the boys."
"Don't be ridiculous, both Potter and Weasley followed you around like love-sick puppies," he hoped she couldn't detect the jealousy infused in his words. "Even now, Longbottom practically drools over you."
Every time she bit her lip Severus longed to soothe her abused skin with his tongue. Closing his eyes to stop that train of thought he let out a slow breath. Even through layers and layers of black material he felt the moment she laid her hands on his chest, toying with his coat buttons like she had before.
"You're so observant," she whispered. "Usually anyway, but you're completely blind to what's standing right in front of you."
For the second time in so many months Hermione Granger tugged on his coat before pressing her lips to his. This time sober and willing, still. She lacked the patience she had shown during their last encounter, this time tapping his lips impatiently with her tongue demanding entry. Fingers once again curled into his hair. Severus' body made the decision for him, mouth opening, arms wrapping around her waist in a tight embrace.
Exploring her mouth with his tongue and allowing her to do the same was a pleasure Severus was unfamiliar with. Of course he had experienced such activities, but with her it felt different, there was an electricity flowing between them. Snaking a hand up her back he tangled his fingers into her curls and tugged gently dislodging her mouth from his. She whimpered at the loss, but when Severus pressed his open mouth to her throat she moaned eagerly, pressing herself firmly into him.
Severus slipped her travelling cloak from her shoulders while Hermione pushed him down onto a tree stump and quickly straddled him. Her fingers quickly returned to the line of buttons along his chest, popping them open slowly while her mouth found the soft flesh of his earlobe.
"I want you Severus," she breathed, lapping at the shell of his ear. "Will you let me have you?"
XxX
Waking abruptly, sweaty, panting and hard. Severus groaned at the loss of Granger writhing on his lap. Grasping his erection and closing his eyes he allowed himself to stay lost in Hogsmeade with her for a few minutes. It wasn't often he permitted himself a moment of satisfaction and certainly he didn't let his imagination tug him in the direction of Granger. She was never far from his thoughts these days, he couldn't Occlude while asleep and already spent a dangerous amount of time doing so daily. The Granger of his dreams whispered wicked things in his ear while grinding on his lap or begged him to put his hands on her, wild curls spilling across his pillows.
Shame flooded him. Fantasising about an ex-student seemed like a new low. Severus had never intended to survive the second war, hadn't made plans for his future. When Minerva offered him his old post as Potions Master he accepted, thinking there wouldn't be much available to an ex-Death Eater in this post-war world. He was thankful for the opportunity to work a steady job and live anywhere but Cokeworth. Hogwarts might be filled with dark memories, but nowhere consumed him the way his family home did. The memories of an abusive, alcoholic father and a broken, crumpled mother in themselves had been enough to keep him away. But now, those weren't the only ghosts in that wretched house; The Dark Lord, Pettigrew, Bellatrix and many more stained the very soul of the foundations.
A quick cleansing charm over his sheets and person saw Severus rise from his bed and make his way into the shower. Today he would have to spend hours with Granger, between the entire afternoon in Hogsmeade and hallway patrols that evening. He knew it wasn't safe to Occlude for that long, he would have to approach things differently.
Severus certainly had never considered a romantic connection in this new world he felt estranged from. Four years since the final battle had seen him propositioned many times by witches, letters arrived almost daily for the first couple of years. Apparently his story of love lost resonated with the public, for that, he would never forgive Potter. Those faceless witches had no real interest, even if they could overlook his uninviting, less than appealing appearance he knew they would run immediately once confronted with his grating personality.
Breakfast was a rowdy affair that morning, the anticipation of the first Hogsmeade visit had the students riled up. Severus ate his fill in silence as the staff and students buzzed around him.
"Would you like to go for lunch with Neville and I today Hermione?" Lupin asked Granger.
"Oh, um," she hesitated. "I actually made plans already, maybe another time?"
Severus smirked to himself. He had never confirmed to the witch wether he would partake in lunch with her that day, but unless she had made other plans he could safely assume she was saving her afternoon break to spend with him.
"Ready to go Hermione?" he said rising from his seat.
She beamed up at him and nodded happily. The use of her given name had the exact effect he was hoping for upon the table. Lupin shifted his eyes between them, a slight frown pulling on his features, the sight of which caused Severus' smirk to turn mischievous. Longbottom stared up, open-mouthed, completely flabbergasted. The only reaction he wasn't pleased with was Minerva, who did not turn to face him but arched a single eyebrow and pursed her lips into what could only be described as a knowing smile.
"Don't worry Lupin," he drawled. "I don't bite."
Both Lupin and Granger flushed with embarrassment. The latter pushed out her chair, bid farewell to the other staff and followed Severus through the centre of the house tables, the entrance hall and finally into the grounds. The weather had not broke into dreary Autumn drizzle just yet, the sun hung high above them and the ground rustled with a slight, rippling breeze. Granger, like him wore a travelling cloak over her robes, similar to the one he had slipped off her shoulders in his dream. Shaking his head and putting a stop to that train of thought they continued on, across the grounds.
"Why do you have to wind Remus up like that?" she asked as they walked. He had slowed his pace slightly to keep her in step with him.
"He needs to develop a sense of humour," he replied.
"Your humour is an acquired taste I think."
"A taste you seem to have acquired," he was teasing her. Severus Snape did not tease his colleagues, well, not in a friendly, bantering manner such as this. His teasing usually bordered on cruel.
She laughed, like she usually did.
"Yes, well," her voice was light and breathy. "I've always admired your snarky wit, even when its sights are set on me."
"So about lunch then, what plans have you made that are keeping you away from your friends Granger?"
"You called me Hermione before," her voice was small, "I'd like if you would continue to do so, although Granger is better than 'Miss Granger', can we hang that one out to dry please?"
"Alright," he said stiffly. "I suppose you may call me Severus if it pleases you, although, I will ask that you continue to use my professional title while in the presence of students."
"Thank you, Severus." His name sounded sultry on her tongue, whispered slightly as if in hesitation to use it lest he remove her permission. He had never liked his given name, there wasn't much he did like about himself, truth be told. But he liked how it sounded in her mouth.
"As for lunch, I was still hoping you might accompany me," she finished.
Nodding in confirmation the two walked the familiar path to Hogsmeade.