After Hermione was done with her lunch she made her way to the DADA classroom. It felt strange going to see Severus on the third floor since that was where the classroom now was. She wondered how he was doing since he was used to the cold in the dungeons. She knocked on the door and waited for him to answer.
"Come in," he said. She pushed the door open and noticed Severus was sitting at his desk without his frock coat on, in his white shirt with his sleeves rolled up to his forearms.
"I like the new look," she said while closing the door.
"It's hotter than molasses up here," he said, "my sweat is sweating."
Hermione giggled as she heard him open up.
"I wondered how you were doing up here instead of in the dungeons," Hermione sat down in front of Severus and put her elbows on his desk.
"You were wondering about me?" He lifted his head to look at Hermione, she could almost see his eyes glistening.
"Yes of course," she smiled and started to tap her fingers on his desk.
He cleared his throat, "I hear you are the new Gryffindor prefect."
"Yes I am," Hermione smiled.
"Who is your companion?" He questioned with a quirky smile.
"Ron," Hermione didn't change her facial expressions.
Severus' smile soon turned into a disgusted look and then to his scowl. "I think you should go, Miss Granger, I will see you in class next week," he cleared his throat and looked back at his parchment.
"But, Severus," she whispered.
"I can't talk right now, Miss Granger, I must go," he said as he stood up from his desk, making his way to the door. He opened the door to see that Professor Dumbledore was standing waiting to knock.
"Ah, Severus, you must've known I was looking for you," he smiled, "and Miss Granger," he nodded. "You must be excited for your upcoming birthday, Miss Granger, if I don't see you on the 19th, I wish you a Happy Birthday. It is getting late you should get back to your dorm."
"Thank you, Professor Dumbledore, I will head out to my dorm now. Goodnight, Professors," Hermione stood up and walked past the two. After she made it around the corner she took a deep breath. He must've known he was around since he didn't do anything. Hermione made her way back to her dorm and fell into a deep sleep.
oOo
—-
"Have to admit, thought I was going
to miss that last one. Hope Cormac's not taking it too hard," Ron smiled as he stared off into the fireplace. He had just finished tryouts for the Gryffindor Quidditch team.
"Has a bit of a thing for you, Hermione. Cormac," Ron said.
"He's vile," Hermione said, she was disgusted with what he had just said. Cormac was nothing compared to what she somewhat had.
"Ever heard of this spell? Harry leans over with his potions book. He points to the word that has been underlined three times.
"Sectumsempra. For Enemies." Hermione frowns. "No, I have not and if you had any shred of self-respect you would turn that book in."
"Not bloody likely. He's top of the class. Even better than you, Hermione. Slughorn thinks he's a genius," Ron said.
"I'd like to know just whose book that was. Let's take a look, shall we?" Hermione said while holding her hand out.
"No," Harry shook his head.
"Why not?"
"It's... old. The binding is fragile," Harry said.
"The binding is fragile?" Hermione shook her head and made another grab for it, but Harry held it tightly. Coming in for an attack Ginny appeared and plucked it out of his hands.
"Who's the Half-Blood Prince?" Ginny asked.
"The who?" Ron questioned.
"That's what it says. Right here. 'This Book is the Property of the Half-Blood Prince.'" Ginny says again making Hermione's heart pitter patter. The book belonged to Severus in school.
oOo
Winter Time
"For weeks you carry around this book, practically sleep with it... and you have no desire to find out who The Half-Blood Prince is?" Hermione said.
"I didn't say I wasn't curious. And, by the way, I don't sleep with it," Harry rolled his eyes as the trio trailed through the snow.
"Yeah. Right," Ron chuckled, "Well, it's true. I like a nice chat before I go to bed. Now you're always reading that bloody book. It's like being with Hermione."
Hermione glared at Ron but ignored his comment, "Well, I was curious. So I went to --"
"The library," the boys interject. "And?"
"And... nothing. There's no reference to the Half-Blood Prince anywhere," Hermione gulped hoping the boys would take her lie. She knew that the Half-Blood Prince was Severus but it wasn't her place to tell them. She wondered if the boys would question why she wasn't looking into the Half-Blood Prince if she didn't bring anything to them.
oOo
"Filius! I was hoping to find you at the Three Broomsticks," Slughorn started to pass Flitwick as they made their way around the corner.
"Emergency choir practice, I'm afraid, Horace," Flitwick said.
"Who's up for a butterbeer?" Harry smiled as he stared at Slughorn making his way into the Three Broomsticks.
Ron and Hermione nodded at Harry as they made their way into the pub. Harry was staring at Slughorn the whole time as they tried to find a table.
"No, over here, besides me," Harry said to Ron. Ron sat by Harry as Hermione sat across from Ron.
"What'll you have?" The waiter came up to the table and waited for us to answer.
"Three Butterbeers. Splash of ginger in mine, please," Hermione smiles.
"Aw, bloody hell..." Ron shakes his head and puts his head into his hands.
Harry and Hermione both turn around to see Dean and Ginny.
"Oh, honestly, Ronald. They're just holding hands..."Hermione rolls her eyes, "And snogging."
"I'd like to leave," Ron says.
"Leave? You can't be serious." Hermione rolls her eyes again.
"That happens to be my sister," Ron said.
"So? What if she looked over here and saw you snogging me? Would you expect her to get up and leave?" Hermione took a sip of her butterbeer.
Ron blinked, utterly speechless.
"Harry, m'boy!" Slughorn's voice booms making Hermione jump.
"Hello, sir. Wonderful to see you," Harry smiles.
"So what brings you here, sir?" Harry asks
"Oh, the Three Broomsticks and I go
way back. Longer than I'd care to admit. In fact, I remember when it was simply One Broomstick!" Slughorn chuckles.
Slughorn chuckles loudly and his hand trembles with his mug sloshing over onto the table. "Oops! All hands on deck, Granger!"
"Listen, m'boy. In the old days, I used to throw together the occasional supper and invite a select student or two. Would you be game?"
"I'd consider it an honor, sir." Harry smiled.
"You'd be welcome too, Granger," Slughorn smiled.
"Be delighted, sir," Hermione smiling ear to ear.
"Brilliant. Look for my owl. Good to see you, Wallenby," Slughorn eyed Ron as he scrambled away instantly.
"What're you playing at?" Ron asks
"Dumbledore asked me to... get to know him," Harry said.
As they were done drinking their butterbeers the trio made their way out of The Three Broomsticks and made the trek back to the castle. The boys were ahead of Hermione as she started to wrap both her arms around the boys' shoulders.
"What's up?" Hermione smiled as they all stopped and watched Katie Bell rise six feet into the air, her hair standing straight up, when she started screaming. Then in an instant, she fell into the snow with her eyes rolled back.
"I warned her, I warned her not to touch it!" Leanne said to the trio as they watched Katie laying on the ground.
"Get back, all o' yeh!" Hagrids yelled as he picked up Katie. "Don' go touchin' tha' but by the wrappin's. Unnerstan'?" Hagrid let Harry know.
oOo
"You're sure Katie did not have this in her possession when she entered the Three Broomsticks, Leanne?" Professor McGonagall questioned Leanne.
"It's like I said. She went to the loo and when she came back she had the package. She said it was important she deliver it," Leanne says.
"Did she say to whom?" Professor McGonagall questions.
Leanne shook her head.
"All right, Leanne. You may go," Professor McGonagall sighed as Leanne exited. She turned and looks at the trio, "Why is it always you three? Hm? When something happens?"
"Believe me, Professor, I've been asking myself the same question for six years," Ron said.
As Hermione took a deep breath, "Ah, Severus," Professor McGonagall breathes. Hermione sits frozen as she sees Severus walk in and stand in front of them. He looks coldly at the boys but his eyes reach Hermione's and they glisten slightly.
"Is this it?" Severus asks Professor McGonagall.
Minerva nods. Severus takes his wand and lifts the necklace like a dead snake. Eyes it with fascination.
"What do you think?" Professor McGonagall asked.
"I think Miss Bell is lucky to be alive," Severus glanced at Hermione.
"She was cursed, wasn't she? I know Katie. Off the Quidditch pitch, she wouldn't hurt a fly. If she was bringing that to someone, she wasn't doing it knowingly," Harry said.
"Yes. She was cursed." Professor McGonagall said.
"It was Malfoy," Harry said making Hermione glare at him. She looked back at Severus who looked like he wanted to tear Harry apart.
"That's a very serious accusation, Potter."
"Indeed. Your evidence?" Severus said.
"I... just... know," Harry said confidently.
"You... just... know. Once again you astonish me with your gifts, Potter, gifts mere mortals could only dream of possessing. How grand it must be to be the Chosen One," Severus snarls.
Ron and Hermione avert their eyes uncomfortably.
"I suggest you return to your dormitory. All of you," Professor McGonagall said.
oOo
Slug Club
Slughorn's Office
"A toast!" Slughorn raised his arm with his goblet in hand, "To Hogwarts' best and brightest."
"Here, here," Cormac smiled as he stared at Hermione.
"So tell me, Cormac. See much of your Uncle Tiberius these days?" Slughorn asked Cormac making him look away from Hermione.
"Yes, sir. In fact, I'm meant to go hunting with him and the Minister for Magic over holiday," Cormac went back to staring at Hermione as he licked his ice cream.
"Well, be sure to give them both my best. What about your uncle, Belby? Working on anything new?" Slughorn asked. "For those of you who don't know, Marcus' uncle invented the Wolfsbane Potion.
"Dunno. He and my dad don't get on. Probably because Dad thinks potions are rubbish. Says the only potion worth having is a stiff one at the end of the day." Belby said.
"And you, Miss Granger? What is it your family does in the Muggle world?" Slughorn asked.
"My parents are dentists. They tend to people's teeth," Hermione gulped.
"Fascinating. And is that considered a dangerous profession?" Slughorn asked.
"No. Though, a boy named Robbie Fenwick did bite my father once. Needed ten stitches," Hermione laughed.
Nobody else laughed but Cormac smirked at Hermione.
The door to the office slightly opened to see Ginny peaking into the room.
"Miss Weasley! Come in, come in," Slughorn said.
"Sorry, I'm not ordinarily late --" Ginny rubbed her eyes.
"That's okay, sit sit, hopefully, there will be enough ice cream left since Belby has been going to town on it," Slughorn laughed.
The evening was coming to an end when Slughorn stood up, "Before everyone goes I would like to let all of you know that you are in the Slug Club that I founded many years ago. Welcome. I also would like you all to know we will have a Christmas Party before Winter break. You may bring a plus one and I hope to see all of your bright faces."
Everyone smiled as they made their way out of Slughorn's office. Hermione turned around to see that Cormac had followed her instead of Harry. She gulped as she watched Cormac get closer to her. She started to step back when he pushed her against the wall. "You and me, Slughorn's Christmas Party, Granger," he licked his lips as he moved his body closer. He brought his hand to her face and guided his thumb on her cheek.
"Um, no," Hermione grabbed his hand and pulled it away from her face.
"Come on, Granger, I can please you like no one has before," Cormac started to push his pelvis against hers.
"I seriously doubt that McLaggen," a dark velvety voice emerged from the hallway. Hermione turned her head to see Severus staring at her and Cormac. "Now if you'll step away from my student then you can be on your way, McLaggen."
Cormac stepped away from Hermione and stared at Severus. His lip quivered as Severus got closer to him. "I dare you, McLaggen, say it."
"Goodnight," his voice cracked as he walked past Severus. Severus waited until Cormac was around the corner and nobody else was around. "Follow me," he said as he grabbed her hand softly and pulled her away.
"Where are we going, Severus?" Hermione said his name quietly.
They made their way to his office on the third floor and he let her go in first, as always.
Hermione walked over to his desk and leaned against it. "Are you okay?" He said as he flicked his wrist and locked the door.
"I'm fine, Severus," she looked down at the ground.
"Did you see the look on his face?" Severus almost chuckled but stopped when Hermione lifted her head to look at him.
"What?" He questioned.
"I didn't need your help, Severus," Hermione glared at him.
Severus scuffed, "I didn't know you were in the Slug Club."
"Changing the subject, are we?"
"I was in the Slug Club, in school," Severus said.
"I saw your picture in his office," Hermione gulped. "You looked—" Severus cut her off, "ugly?"
Hermione scuffed again and walked towards Severus. "What are you doing?" He asked.
"You are not ugly, Severus," Hermione grabbed him by the hips and pushed him hard against the wall, making Severus moan as he hit the wall.
"God, you are a-amazing," he stopped talking as soon as Hermione got on her knees and started to unbutton his trousers. Hermione licked her lips as she felt his cock hardened beneath her touch. She unzipped his trousers and pulled them down to his ankles. Next, she slid his boxers down to his ankles making his cock bounce and stand straight out.
Hermione started to kiss his inner thighs as she made her way closer to his shaft. She starts to lick his shaft which made his cock twitch under her tongue. He let out a gasp when her hand rubbed against his balls. She brought her other hand to his shaft and started to grip him tightly. Moving up and down she felt his body start to stiffen up at her touch.
Knock, Knock*
Hermione's eyes went wide as she looked up at Severus who stared at her with wide eyes. Hermione pulled away from Severus as he tucked himself into his waist band and walked to his desk, sitting down.
"Yes?" His voice cracked slightly as he cast a spell to open the door. Nobody answered the door so Severus went to the door and opened it abruptly. "What do you want?"
"Who's there?" Hermione whispered.
"Nobody," he turned around and walked back over to Hermione. "Before I send you back to your dorm," he cleared his throat, "I know I have been busy with everything going on, but I would like to wish you a belated Happy Birthday," he whispered as he looked behind Hermione.
Hermione smiled as she stared at Severus. It felt strange having him say happy birthday to her even if it had been a couple of weeks since her seventeenth birthday.
"Here," he held out his hand and there was a small necklace in his large calloused hand.
Hermione smiled larger when she grabbed the necklace out of his hand. She gulped as she looked at it closer, it was a small S on the front you almost wouldn't see it if you weren't close. Hermione looked up at Severus with a confused look.
"Don't read too much into it, Hermione," he whispered her name so softly she almost couldn't hear it.