A/N: This is a reminder that this story is M-rated. Please let me know what you think.

Hermione found herself sitting in a booth with Ginny, Neville, and Luna. She wanted to invite Draco, but considering the history, she chose not to. As she took a pull from her mug, her mind was elsewhere.

"Are you thinking about your man?" Ginny innocently asked when she noticed that Hermione was completely distracted.

Hermione blushed hard at Ginny's words, feeling guilty for being caught thinking about him again.

Luna got a dreamy look in her eyes. "Why don't you invite him next time to join us at Hogsmeade?"

Hermione looked down at the table. Because it is inappropriate for us to be seen together. Instead of voicing that aloud, Hermione took another drink from her mug.

Ginny shrugged and said, "You can't keep him a secret for long, Hermione. Just tell me one thing, what house is he in?"

Hermione started choking on her butterbeer. Once regaining her composure, she couldn't stop the brief panic that crossed her face. "Ginny, I need you to understand that I don't care about house rivalries."

Ginny stared aghast at her friend's response. "Don't tell me he's a Slytherin? I thought you said it wasn't Draco."

Hermione gripped her mug tighter and said, "It isn't Draco. Draco and I are just friends."

Ginny, realizing she didn't correct her, sputtered, "Hermione, why would you be with a Slytherin?"

An overwhelming sense of protection consumed Hermione. Setting her mug down a little too harshly, she glared at her friend and spat, "What's wrong with that? They are ambitious and resourceful."

Ginny wrinkled her nose in response. "And evil, arrogant, and don't forget Pure-Blood superiority."

Hermione gritted her teeth in response. "He is not evil, and for your information, he's not even a Pure-Blood."

Luna chimed in softly, "I think whoever you are with, Hermione, must be a great guy."

Ginny, feeling the fight slightly leave her, grumbled, "Sorry for hounding you so much about this. I just want to make sure that he doesn't hurt you in the end. You know Slytherins are also manipulative."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Ginny, have you ever known me to do anything rash? I have carefully considered this. This is my life, and as you said, you want me to be happy, so screw it. I am going to do what I want." Calming down from her anger, she added, "If he hurts me, I give you permission to use your wand, but I don't think he will."

An evil look marred Ginny's face. "Deal. I know many hexes I can use."

Satisfied that Ginny accepted her words, Hermione finished her butterbeer and looked at the time. Suppressing the smile that lined her lips, she said, "I don't have much time to stay. I have detention tonight with Professor Snape." She feigned being upset about it.

Ginny wrinkled her nose and said boldly, "He's a foul git. Isn't this like your second one in a week?"

Hermione bit back her retort. "Yes, but I was caught out of bed after curfew started. This one I may have actually deserved." Realizing her error in giving out too much information, she cringed at Ginny's next question.

"Why were you out of bed? You hate breaking the rules," Ginny asked.

Hermione tried to play it off, hoping that her cheeks would not give her away. "I just needed a walk to clear my head, and sure enough, on the way back to my room, he caught me."

Luna, oblivious to the blushing on Hermione's face, said, "Ooo, I like to walk around the castle too sometimes. You can easily get lost."

Hermione tried to abate the rosiness that filled her cheeks at the memory of him kissing her so passionately. Excusing herself from the table, she headed to the bathroom. Once inside, she splashed cool water on her face and attempted to calm down the giddiness she felt. After checking herself in the mirror and being satisfied with her appearance, she left the bathroom and returned to the table. As she took a seat, she was annoyed to find that Ginny had ordered everyone refills on their butterbeers.

"Come on, Hermione. It's just one more drink. It can't hurt," Ginny said innocently.

Hermione rolled her eyes. Of course, she would think it doesn't hurt, but she doesn't know that I can barely hold my liquor. If I drink another, I'm going to be buzzed by the time I make it to my detention. Deciding that fighting with her wasn't worth it, she begrudgingly took a sip from her butterbeer. As she sipped her drink, Ginny observed her closely, hoping to glean more information about the mystery man.

"Do we know this person?" Ginny asked suddenly.

Hermione, already starting to feel a bit buzzed from the drink, replied, "Yes, we do."

Ginny frowned, contemplating who it could be. "So, it's not Draco, and it's someone here at school this year?"

Hermione fought the haziness that was filling her head. Glancing at the clock, she finished her drink and stood up from the table. The rush of movement made her feel way tipsier than she thought she was. She gripped the table, steadying herself. "Ginny, I have to go. You know it takes a long time to walk back to the castle from here."

Ginny also rose from the table. "Okay, but I'm walking back with you."

Hermione winced, secretly wishing that Ginny would stay at the bar, but she nodded slowly instead of voicing it. The two of them exited The Three Broomsticks and began the long journey back to the castle. As they walked, Hermione regretted drinking that second butterbeer.

"Ginny, why did you make us drink two?" Hermione mumbled.

Ginny smiled with a shrug. "I thought you might have wanted another. Besides, it's our first Hogsmeade weekend since the war ended. This calls for a celebration."

Hermione winced as they walked, feeling a slight headache coming on. She hoped Severus didn't mind that she might be a little inebriated from today's outing. Hermione was thankful for the silence that surrounded them, but it didn't stay silent for long.

"So, how was your first kiss? Where was your first kiss?" Ginny asked. "I hope it was lovely."

Hermione frowned at Ginny, wishing she would just give it a rest already. "Ginny, why can't we talk about something else for a change?"

Ginny rolled her eyes and said, "Everything is always books and knowledge with you. Why can't we just have girl talk for once?"

Hermione didn't like Ginny's response, but knowing she couldn't hide everything, she reluctantly started talking about the kiss. "My first kiss with him was amazing. It was everything you would want it to be. Passionate and sexy all at the same time."

Pleased with her answer, Ginny responded with, "That's great to hear, Hermione. Now, where did it happen?"

Hermione muttered, "In the hallway." She hoped that answer would suffice.

Ginny said, "Are you planning on kissing him again?"

"I would like to, yes," Hermione answered with a small grin on her face. "Are you satisfied now?"

Ginny said, "Nope, never! Not until I know who it is."

Hermione sighed in annoyance. "One day, but for now just let it go."

The rest of the walk to Hogwarts was quiet. Once inside the castle, Hermione said goodnight to Ginny and staggered down to the dungeons. Once reaching the classroom, she barely touched the door before it was abruptly opened. She stepped inside and closed the door behind her. Her eyes caught Severus scratching away at essays with a scowl on his face. She only had to wait a few more seconds before he put down his quill and looked up at her.

"You're late, Ms. Granger," he responded calmly.

Hermione looked up at the clock and saw that she was five minutes past the expected time she was supposed to be there. She wanted to blame it on the alcohol she consumed. She had a hard time walking back to the castle without falling over. Instead of alerting him to her drunken state, she responded with, "Ginny wanted me to stay longer with her. I tried to leave earlier." She winced at how slurred her speech was. What is wrong with me? It was just two butterbeers.

He stood up from the desk and swiftly approached her. He stared at her critically for a few seconds and came to a realization. "You're drunk."

Hermione tried to deny it with a shake of her head, but that just made her woozy. "Fine, maybe I am a little buzzed."

He cracked a smile and said, "You are way more than buzzed, Hermione."

Before she could respond she observed him enter the potions closet and return with a sickly green-looking potion. Handing it to her, he instructed, "Just a few sips should do the trick."

Unstopping the potion, Hermione took a hesitant sniff, finding its smell unappetizing. Knowing that no potion truly smelled good, she took three sips. Gagging at the taste that filled her mouth, she quickly choked it down. After waiting a few seconds, her mind instantly cleared from the drunken haze she had been feeling. He took the potion from her hand and returned it to the closet.

Relieved she was now able to think straight she reiterated the story to Severus with a frown. "Ginny made me drink two glasses this afternoon. She knows I don't drink, yet she wanted me to have another. She claims it was a celebration of some sort, but I just think she wanted me to blab about who I'm kissing at the moment," she babbled.

A dark look crossed his features. "Hermione, you didn't tell her anything, did you? Do I have to remind you that I am your professor, and we shouldn't be doing this?"

Hermione scowled at his response, a bit offended by his words. "No, Severus. You don't have to remind me."

His features did not change with her answer. "Hermione, what did you tell her?"

She didn't want to make him upset. She got too drunk and wasn't thinking clearly. She regretted ever having that second drink. "I may have disclosed only a couple of things."

He crossed his arms and said impatiently, "Like what?"

She looked away from him, feeling guilty. "She asked me what house and I told her the truth. I told her you were a Slytherin."

He tried to keep his anger at bay but was unsuccessful. Instead of yelling at her, he started to pace. "I imagine she wasn't too happy with that answer, was she?" he demanded.

"No, she was not," she stuttered. She didn't like how quickly Severus' anger mounted. "She tried to argue the fact that I was interested in someone in that house."

"What did she say?" He growled.

"That you all were evil and manipulative. I disagreed and said that Slytherins are ambitious and resourceful, and I didn't care for house rivalry."

"Did she accept that as an answer?" He responded with a deeper scowl on his face.

"No, she tried to bring up blood superiority and how they're all Pure-Bloods. I may have mentioned that you weren't like that at all," she whispered. "Can we talk about something else?"

"No, Hermione! Do you not understand that my job can be at stake here?" He growled. "What if Ms. Weasley catches on to us? Do you not realize what could happen? I knew I shouldn't have allowed this to happen."

Hermione flinched at his words. She didn't want this to end between them. Just as she was starting to feel normal again, she went and messed things up. She couldn't lose him. Now on the verge of a breakdown, she said desperately, "I know I made a mistake, and I'm sorry. Please don't push me away." She took a few steps closer to him and whispered, "I promise I won't tell her anything else."

His eyes softened marginally. Pacing back and forth in thought, he grappled with his anger. Her apology, accompanied by her plea for him not to let her go, tugged at him. He recognized that he should put an end to this now. He wasn't worthy of her. His quick temper, his abrasive demeanor, and the significant age difference between them should deter her, yet none of it seemed to bother her in the least. She desired all of him, fully aware of the demons he faced, accepting the person he was. She understood that her friends would disapprove of her being with him, but perhaps the forbidden nature of their love made it all the more enticing.

He briefly glimpsed the unshed tears that welled up in her eyes. As he regarded her with curiosity, he couldn't deny the striking beauty she exuded, standing there in his classroom wearing that dark green jumper. With a shuddering sigh, his anger subsided, giving way to an overwhelming desire. At that moment, he made his decision, regardless of the consequences. Closing the distance with swift strides, he whispered, "You'll be the death of me, my little lioness." Seizing her wrists, he pressed her against the door, his face mere inches from hers as he gazed longingly into her eyes. "I'll give you one last chance to save yourself from me. You can walk out that door, and we can revert to the way things were—no questions asked. I'll continue to be your professor, and you'll remain my student. Finish the year, and after graduation, we'll part ways." He took a deep breath, his eyes darkening with lust. "Or you can be mine in every sense of the word. But understand, once you agree, Lioness, there's no turning back. I am possessive of what's mine." After a sensual kiss, he impatiently said, "So, what's your choice? Return to your room, grab a book, and play the goody two shoes you think you are, or let your desires run free?"

Hermione's mouth went dry. No one had ever spoken to her the way Severus did. His voice, the way he called her lioness, the possessiveness of his actions, and the things he made her feel made her decision all that much easier for her. She wanted him. She wanted him physically, mentally, and emotionally. Releasing her own shuddering breath, she whispered "I'm yours, Severus."

That's all he needed to hear. Unable to wait anymore, Severus yanked her to his lips. His grip on her wrists tightened as he devoured her mouth. He couldn't get enough of how sweet she tasted on his tongue. He kissed her as if he was submerged, each breath a desperate claim for survival. It was wild, frantic, and passionate, all rolled into one intense moment. He ruthlessly took what was his.

He pulled away from her lips, his eyes, if possible, were the darkest Hermione had ever seen. "You don't know what you do to me. You're insufferable in every sense of the word but I can't get enough of you."

Normally, hearing him call her insufferable would infuriate her, but for once it made her heart soar knowing that she made him lose control. Wanting so much more from him, she wandlessly and wordlessly made his robes disappear, revealing a plain black button-up dress shirt and black dress pants.

His eyes glinted dangerously. "Do you know what you are getting yourself into?"

"No, but I'm willing to learn." She didn't want to wait any longer. All the dreams she had of him led up to this moment. A few seconds ticked by agonizingly slow. "I'm not glass, Severus. I promise I won't break."

"Just you wait, my little lioness." He released her wrists and moved his skillful hands to the bottom of her jumper. He pulled it up and over her head throwing it somewhere in the classroom. He took the time to analyze her torso with precision. Her body was smooth to the touch. Tanned skin, petite, and mouth-watering.

Impatiently, he used a bit of his own wandless magic and removed her bra. His eyes raked over her breasts finding them to be perfect. They were not too large and not too small. Just perfect to fit in his hands. Her rosy, pink nipples were hard in the dungeon's cool air, but a sense of satisfaction consumed him knowing that he caused that.

Moistening his lips with his tongue, he leaned forward and sucked a nipple into his mouth nibbling the flesh. He was pleased to hear Hermione moan his name in the quiet classroom. Releasing her nipple with an audible pop, he muttered a quick incantation putting up a silencing charm around the room.

Hermione, not liking how painstakingly slow Severus was being, reached out and began to unbutton his shirt at a rapid pace. Each sliver of skin was revealed bit by bit as she made quick work of the buttons. She, too, threw his shirt off him uncaring where it landed. All she knew was the desire she felt. Nothing prepared her for the sight that greeted her. Underneath all those robes was a man who was lean and strong.

Seeing the desire and passion evident in her eyes undid him. He effortlessly scooped her into his arms and approached the painting. He entered his living room. From there he carried her into his bedroom and gently put her onto the bed. He quickly kicked off his dragon-hide boots and joined her on the bed. He was finding it difficult to keep up with the slow pace he forced themselves into, but he needed to know something before he could continue. "Hermione, before we continue this, I need to make sure you are prepared."

Hermione rolled her eyes and said playfully, "Of course, you would turn this into a lecture."

Suddenly, she let out a squeal when Severus nipped her on the neck in response. "Behave yourself." Once settled down again he asked hesitantly, "Have you done this before?"

"What, slept with one of my professors?" She asked teasingly, which earned her another nip from him. It made her giggle. "Oh, you mean sex. Once. It was not something that I ever wanted to think about again. I read up on it and then when it happened it was just awful."

Not needing to ask who it was with, he shushed her with another searing kiss. "Whatever flimsy kisses and touches you experienced I want you to get that out of your mind because the only ones you will remember are mine." His words left her speechless. With that, he grabbed her wrists and magically kept them restrained about her head. "Do you trust me, Lioness?"

Not missing a beat, she whispered, "Yes."

He didn't wait any longer. His mouth instantly started mapping every inch of her tanned skin. As his tongue and mouth dipped and nipped every sensitive area he could find, he was serenaded by her moaning his name. His hands soft but firm, unbuttoned her jeans. With ease, he pulled them down her legs, leaving her only in her underwear. His lips traveled down to her thighs leaving love bites behind.

Hermione wanted to touch him so badly, but the phantom hold on her wrists would not let go. She started to squirm a bit underneath him wishing she had her hands free. "Please," she begged.

He ignored her. He removed the last barrier preventing him from devouring every inch of her. "Just lay back and relax."