Chapter 16

"The good news is, we will be in a warmer climate, the bad news is we will be camping again"

Hermione groaned internally before flipping the pages of her Professor's well-crafted document detailing what they needed to find. It was another flower but this time, it was to be found somewhere in North-Eastern Italy.

"When do we leave?" Hermione asked, raising her head to meet her Professor's gaze.

"Tomorrow morning, weather permitting." Professor Snape said, leaning back in his chair with an amused smirk.

"Why would the weather impact-wait, no, you don't mean we're flying there?" Hermione snapped the booklet shut, leaning forward in her seat.

"You seemed perfectly capable last time you were on a broom before you had the bright idea to try and play a little prank. Just don't nose dive again and we will be fine" He said, still smirking.

Hermione reclined into the chair and shut her eyes, feeling nauseous already

"Besides, we won't be flying the whole way there, just parts where I would rather my magical signature not be detected. The Italians are famously protective of their flora and fauna, and I will be…borrowing one of their more rare flowers. This should be one of the last trips we go on before we start your apprenticeship on a more…legitimate basis"

"So no more camping?" Hermione asked sounding hopeful.

"I never said that, but we will be shortening our stays in nature by quite a bit once winter comes around. Even I have my limits" Professor Snape said, holding Hermione's gaze.

"Off to bed with you, we will be meeting here tomorrow at 6 am sharp. And Granger, you better be bringing your own sleeping arrangements this time or you'll be left at the mercy of the wilderness."

Hermione blushed before setting the document down and making her way to the hall where her bedroom now resided. Before she left, she turned and leaned onto the door frame, gazing at him as he lazily scribbled notes into his notebook before catching his gaze one last time that evening.

"Hmm, I didn't hear too many complaints last time Professor, if memory serves me right you seemed to enjoy my presence quite a bit" Hermione said before turning away and leaving for the evening.

Feeling rooted to this seat, Professor Snape put his quill down and put his hands on his face, trying to block out the thoughts that now flooded his mind. How soft her body had been, how she had smelled of the elements and not cheap floral perfume, how her hair had tangled around everything and seemed to come alive whenever she got animated. Sighing he dropped his hands from his face, got up, and moved to the chair she had just been sitting in, the one near the fireplace while grabbing a tumbler and his decanter of firewhisky along the way. Sitting down, he poured himself two fingers worth and sipped, moving lower onto the chair and getting comfortable as his inner dialogue raged on.

She flirted with me

She was making a joke

A flirty joke

She doesn't want you

She seemed content to lay in my arms that morning

She was being polite

"Fuck.."

Deciding he would not find the answers he was searching for, Professor Snape left for his chambers to retire for the evening. As he got to his bed he realized he had forgotten to tell her a crucial detail for their upcoming trip. Groaning he got back up and headed to her chambers, as he got closer to her door he could hear muffled sounds that sounded like crying. Growing concerned he quickly approached and put his ear on the door. The sounds seemed erratic and increasing in volume, unsatisfied at not being able to properly hear, Professor Snape cast one of his own listening charms.

"Ohh….Ohhh…Professor….Fuck me"

Closing his eyes and leaning on the wall next to her bedroom, Professor Snape swallowed hard before turning away, his tumultuous thoughts not far behind him.

The next morning found Severus wide awake and desperately needing a cup of tea before departing on what was hopefully their last "adventure" before settling down for the year. Ripping off his duvet and magically clothing himself, he set off for the dining hall hoping to find solitude this early in the morning. The first thing he noticed when entering the room was the mass of curls that was currently haunting his dreams. The second thing he noticed was that same head turned to the side regarding the new Defence professor as they seemed to be chatting amicably, laughing together even. As he continued to stride into the massive hall, Hermione finally noticed him and gestured for him to set beside her. Ignoring her, he continued to his usual spot, internally fuming and feeling foolish. To think he thought for one second that she had been touching herself, or even fucking herself to thoughts of him was delusional at best. Deciding to just finish his breakfast as fast as possible so he could get out, he focused on trying to swallow the lumps of porridge without choking. Swallowing his tea before it even cooled down effectively burning his throat he practically fled the dining hall before having to spend the few days alone with the woman he had come to admire in a very short amount of time.

Hermione on the other hand felt as though she could not escape, still too polite to tell Professor Cyprus to fuck off and leave her alone. She had been politely laughing at his less than impressive joke when Professor Snape had walked in. She had silently begged him to sit beside her, hoping he would see the desperation in her eyes. Alas he had ignored her request, opting to sit on the furthest chair possible and had practically glped his tea in one go along with his breakfast and shot up to leave her alone once again with Professor Cyprus. Making her excuses she also left the Great Hall and made her way to her chambers, feeling anticipation about spending alone time with the man she had come to find intriguing and attractive in a very short amount of time.