Hermione awoke to a soreness in her back, and as she shifted, she realized she was not in her own bedroom but in Severus's. Surprised, she glanced around, finding him asleep nearby, his soft snores filling the room. She couldn't tear her gaze away from him, captivated by the softening of his features and the sight of his shirtless torso. A fluttering sensation stirred in her stomach, unexpected and unfamiliar.
Hermione attempted to extricate herself from the bed, but she discovered that Severus's arm held her tightly. It was an unexpected revelation; she never would have suspected Severus to cuddle, indicating that he must have done so in his sleep, unaware of his actions.
The pain in her back intensified as memories of Severus passionately taking her against the floor flooded her mind. Their banter from the night before had escalated into something unexpected. Hermione couldn't shake the uncertainty about whether this was something Severus would continue or if it was merely a temporary release of pent-up frustration.
Unable to resist, Hermione's eyes wandered over other parts of Severus's body. She admired the strength of his chest, noting a few scars that only added to his allure. Moving lower, she observed his abdomen, appreciating its lean, muscular definition despite his lack of bulk.
As Hermione reached to lower the sheets, Severus's hand shot out, halting her movements abruptly. Her eyes snapped back to his face, realizing he was fully awake and had caught her ogling him. Her cheeks immediately flushed red, embarrassed that she had been caught staring at him in such a manner.
Now that he had let go of her, Hermione hastily scooted over, putting some distance between them. She winced slightly as she moved, her back smarting from the pain.
Severus commented dryly, "Seems like you need a potion." He gave her an amused smirk.
Hermione shot him a glare, slightly annoyed by his remark. "I wouldn't need one if you weren't so rough," she retorted.
Severus's smirk deepened. "Don't pretend you didn't enjoy it. You were screaming my name plenty of times, I might add," he remarked, his tone teasing.
Hermione's cheeks burned even more at his words, acknowledging the truth in them. She attempted to leave the bed but was gently pulled back by his arm.
"Stay," he murmured, his tone softening. "We can shower together."
Hermione stared down at the sheets processing what he was asking of her. "You just want to see me naked again," she retorted accusingly.
Severus did not back down from her accusation. "Maybe, but I wasn't the one who was pulling the sheets off me this morning."
Hermione sighed, feeling a bit outmatched by his quick responses. "And what exactly do you have in mind for our shower?" she asked, trying to divert the conversation.
Severus's smirk deepened at her response. "Well, cleaning ourselves would be the primary objective, but if you have other ideas in mind, I'm certainly open to suggestions," he replied, his tone teasing.
Hermione's eyes narrowed at him, but she softened her gaze, realizing his attempt to provoke her. "I'm not so easily caught, Professor," she quipped, a playful glint in her eyes. With that, she swiftly left the bed and made her way to the bedroom door, prepared to escape his teasing.
Hermione let out a surprised yelp as she was swiftly lifted off the floor and thrown over Severus's shoulder. "Hey, put me down!" she protested, squirming in his grip, but he paid no heed as he headed towards the bathroom. "Caught you," he growled with a smirk, relishing in his victory.
Severus turned on the shower, the sound of rushing water filling the room as he kept a firm grip on her squirming body. Once the water reached the right temperature, he opened the sliding glass door and brought her into the water with him. Holding her securely, he gently set her down on her feet inside the shower, smirking at her annoyance.
Hermione wanted to yell at him, but the soothing water running down her back stopped her. She relented from the argument and allowed herself to get comfortable in the shower with him.
Severus reached for the soap and began to lather Hermione up. Starting with her shoulders, his hands gently worked the soap into every part of her body. He was pleased by her submission to his will as he cleaned her thoroughly.
With both of their bodies completely clean, Severus reached for the shampoo, intending to wash Hermione's hair for her. However, she stopped him suddenly.
"Hermione, I know how to wash hair. I promise I'll be gentle," he assured her. Seeing her relax slightly, he began washing her hair. His fingers gently massaged her scalp as he worked the shampoo through her hair. She let out a soft moan, clearly enjoying his touch.
"I told you," he responded with a smirk. "I know exactly what you need."
After rinsing off her hair and his own, they stood under the steady flow of water, enveloped in the warmth of the shower. Hermione found it difficult to tear her gaze away from him once more.
Hermione recalled her earlier thoughts and swiftly averted her gaze from Severus. Despite the allure of their intimacy, she refused to be reduced to a mere outlet for his stress. She grappled with her growing emotions, struggling to keep them in check.
"You are thinking too much again," Severus chided softly.
Hermione ignored his comment and reached for the shower handle, intending to turn off the water.
Severus caught her wrist in his hand. "Why do you always do that?" he asked, his tone tinged with curiosity.
Hermione stared at him in confusion. "Do what? Turn off the water after I'm done bathing?" she asked, puzzled by his question.
Severus chuckled and said, "No, not that. Why do you always let your thoughts complicate simple moments? Yes, we had sex last night. Yes, we showered together. Just accept it and move on, but you seem upset about something, and I don't understand why."
"This situation is anything but simple," Hermione countered. "It's quite complicated, actually."
"It's only as complicated as you make it," Severus replied. "Regardless of what happens between us privately, you remain my apprentice, and you are still bound to follow my instructions.
Hermione narrowed her eyes at him and demanded, "Why do you always do that?"
Severus affected an air of innocence. "Do what, Hermione? Remind you of your obligations, or are you bothered by the fact that you must heed my commands?"
"You are so infuriating sometimes," Hermione muttered in annoyance.
"You find me charming," he teased softly before kissing her. Sensing the moment, he turned off the water and added, "Come, time is short, and we must be at breakfast soon."
After quickly drying off from their shower, they changed into their potion robes. Hermione tied her hair back, away from her face, and glanced in the mirror to ensure everything was in place. However, her frown deepened when she noticed the glaring bite marks on her neck. "Severus," she growled with annoyance.
"Yes?" Severus responded with a pleased smirk. As he noticed her pointing to her neck, his amusement grew. "They look lovely on you," he responded coyly.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "You want me to walk around the castle baring them for the world to see?" she asked incredulously.
Severus's eyes darkened slightly. Reluctantly, he retrieved a peculiar tub of paste from the medicine cabinet. Scooping out a small amount, he applied it to the bite marks on Hermione's neck. Within seconds, the marks vanished, leaving no trace behind.
Pleased that the marks were no longer visible, Hermione headed toward the door, ready for breakfast.
As they reached the portrait hole, Severus stopped her abruptly. "Do I need to remind you of the protocol for today?" he asked, his tone serious.
Hermione rolled her eyes again. "Why are you so relentless about teaching? I know what I'm doing. I understand that you're my professor. I'm well aware of what I can and can't say once we leave through the portrait hole. I'm not incompetent."
"I'm just ensuring you remember my expectations," he responded calmly, releasing her to pass through the portrait hole.
Hermione maintained a slight distance between them as they walked to the Great Hall. She felt weary of his constant reminders and the weight of his expectations pressing down on her. The way he seamlessly shifted from a lover to a relentless professor was unsettling.
As she nibbled on her toast and sipped her tea, Hermione's thoughts turned to the Quidditch game scheduled for that day, where Ginny was set to play as the star Chaser. "Can we watch the game?" she asked quietly, her gaze shifting to the Gryffindor table.
Severus nodded slightly. "I suppose it would be expected of us."
Hermione smiled, pleased at the prospect of being able to cheer for her friend. "I hope Gryffindor wins," she said, her voice filled with enthusiasm.
Severus couldn't help but snort at her words. "I doubt that. Slytherin will prevail," he remarked confidently.
Hermione narrowed her eyes slightly at his words. "Care to make a bet?" she blurted out, a challenge in her tone.
Severus leaned closer to her, an evil grin on his lips. "I never turn down a challenge," he replied, his tone carrying a hint of excitement.
As Hermione nervously continued to eat, she regretted her choice of words. She hoped that Ginny and her team would win, or she knew she'd be in for it now.
Severus sat amused, his confidence unwavering in his team's abilities. He had seen firsthand how well they played, and he doubted anyone could defeat their new seeker.
As breakfast concluded, Hermione made her way anxiously to the Quidditch pitch, her hopes riding on Ginny's performance that day. She purposefully disregarded Severus, who followed closely behind her. Her mind was consumed by the implications of what he might demand if his team emerged victorious.
They settled into seats reserved for the professors, and Hermione fidgeted anxiously as she awaited the start of the game, her anticipation palpable.
"You can always back out of our bet," Severus murmured near her ear.
Hermione shook her head resolutely. "No, I have faith in Ginny. I'm confident my team will emerge victorious."
Severus shrugged and extended his hand. "Shake on it then, if you're truly up for the challenge."
Hermione, feeling somewhat foolish but determined not to back down, placed her hand in his. An electric tension crackled between them, but she ignored it, focusing on the challenge ahead. As their hands shook, Severus's intense gaze bore into hers, daring her to relent.
Quickly, Hermione withdrew her hand as she felt Professor McGonagall take a seat beside her. "Good morning, Professor. How are you today?" She shifted her focus to the elder witch, eager to steer the conversation away from the challenge she had just made.
Professor McGonagall smiled warmly at Hermione. "I'm doing well. How is everything going with your apprenticeship?"
Hermione suppressed the smirk that threatened to form on her lips. She hoped the elder witch wasn't adept at reading minds. "It's been quite challenging, but you know me, Professor. I never shy away from a challenge," she replied confidently.
Before Hermione or Minerva could say anything more, the two teams began to emerge. They flew on brooms, eagerly taking their spots on the Quidditch field. Hermione bit her lip nervously as she spotted her ginger-haired friend flying on her broom.
Severus pointed to a boy with a menacing look on his face. "That is our new seeker, Ms. Granger. He just might surprise you today."
Hermione ignored him, her heart quickening as the referee blew the whistle. The Quaffle soared into the air, and Ginny swiftly snatched it. Racing toward the hoops, she skillfully maneuvered past Slytherin players, dodging and weaving. With a precise throw, she scored ten points for her team.
Hermione cheered loudly, her heart pounding with excitement. As the game progressed, both teams scored points, keeping the match tense. By the middle of the game, the score stood at 50-40, with Gryffindor holding a narrow lead.
Hermione squinted slightly as she watched the Gryffindor Seeker and the Slytherin Seeker engage in a fierce pursuit of the snitch. They darted around the Quidditch field with lightning speed, each determined to seize victory. Hermione bit her lip nervously, her heart racing as she rooted for the Gryffindor Seeker to capture the snitch.
"I would start thinking about what you will say to me once Slytherin wins," Severus taunted next to her.
Severus's taunting words grated on Hermione's nerves as she kept her eyes fixed on the Seekers. She refused to let his provocations distract her, focusing intently on the game unfolding before her.
The two boys dove towards the ground, arms outstretched, vying for the golden snitch. Hermione silently hoped that the Gryffindor Seeker would manage to stretch just a bit farther.
Hermione couldn't shake off her nerves, her mind swirling with thoughts of what Severus might make her do if Slytherin won. Regret tinged her decision to challenge him, but her determination to prove herself capable of facing any challenge he threw her way remained steadfast.
Hermione's nerves skyrocketed as she watched the Slytherin Seeker accelerate, seizing the golden snitch just in the nick of time. The sound of the referee blowing the whistle halted the game entirely as she announced that Slytherin had caught the snitch, clinching the victory for his team.
"We'll have our chance another day," Professor McGonagall said with a tinge of disappointment as she rose from her seat to depart the Quidditch pitch.
Hermione reluctantly turned her attention to Severus. "Congratulations," she mumbled begrudgingly, annoyance evident in her tone. She tried to rise, but his hand firmly pressed her back into her seat. Her gaze met his, apprehension flickering in her eyes, awaiting his words.
"If you're bold enough to make a challenge, then you should be bold enough to follow through," Severus replied firmly.
Hermione swallowed nervously, realizing she was bound to fulfill whatever request he had. "Alright, you won. What do you want from me?" she asked, her voice tinged with resignation.
Severus, with a sly grin, leaned in closer to Hermione, his voice low and commanding. "Since you challenged me and lost, I expect you to abide by the terms. Your challenge is to assist me in brewing a complex potion of my choice, entirely on your own, without any assistance or guidance from me."
Hermione's eyes widened at the daunting task. Brewing potions with Severus was already challenging enough, but doing it solo, under his scrutiny, was a whole new level of pressure. She knew she had no choice but to accept the challenge, her determination fueling her readiness to prove herself.