AN: Thank you for all the support! It is very deeply appreciated!
The area around Severus' eyes were darker and saggier than they'd been since the end of the war. There was also a slight slouch to his posture. Unless one had been best friends with him for years, these changes would go unnoticed. Yet Hermione noticed. She noticed every little thing about Severus Snape.
"Do you want to drink straight rum tonight?" Hermione leaned over his shoulder as he prepared the piña colada mix.
"Is that what you want?" He took out the rum from his upper cabinet.
She bit her lip. "I haven't had straight spiced rum in awhile. It might be nice on a night like tonight."
"I cannot argue with that logic," he pulled out two tumblers. "If you are certain that this is what you want, we can have straight rum tonight."
"It is what I want," she replied. "I need something to help me sleep."
"I suspected as much."
"How?"
"You yawned when you came in here, and there are circles under your eyes. Then there's the fact your posture isn't as straight as usual."
"You noticed all that about me?"
"Indeed," he began pouring his drink. "I notice more about you than you realize."
"I notice things about you too."
He glanced back at her, his eyebrow raised.
"Everything you said about me I could say about you. You look as if you'd fall asleep right now if you weren't so terrified of the dreams you'd have."
He shook his head.
"You haven't been taking care of yourself these last few days either," she answered. "Your clothes are a little looser, which tends to mean you aren't eating well."
He shrugged and set down the rum bottle. "A weekend of less sleep than usual is hardly not taking care of oneself."
"Do you want to discuss why you haven't been sleeping?"
He glanced back at her. Fatigue clouded his eyes, but there was a turmoil his expression betrayed. Could it be terror, pain, or something he didn't speak aloud?
He moistened his lips as he examined her. The debate on what to say intensified in his eyes. It pierced her very soul. Until now she thought they trusted each other enough to tell each other everything. Had she done something to betray that trust? If so, was there any way to regain it? Was she on the verge of losing Severus forever? If so, how could she regain his affection?
His voice was almost inaudible, "No, there's nothing you can do."
"Okay," She swallowed the hurt welling in her chest. At some point she should've expected him to shut her out. Years of spying had taught him to be cautious, a skill which had kept him alive during the war. It had been arrogant to believe he would trust her to know everything about him. What right did she have to know everything about him anyway? She was only his best friend, nothing more.
"Do you want a single or double shot?" He asked.
"Double," she answered, taking note of the distance in his voice. Right now, he felt alone, even though she was standing behind him. Somehow she needed to ensure he knew how cherished he was.
Without thinking, she pressed her hands into his back. After getting the right amount of pressure, she began to give him a massage.
"Hermione," his whole body shuddered as his voice betrayed his bliss.
"Do you like that?" She whispered with a sly grin.
"Gods yes," he arched his back to get closer to her. "Keep doing that. Touch me right there. It feels divine."
She grinned as she massaged him harder. "Good. I only want to make you happy."
"You do," he purred. "You make me happy just by standing at my side."
She chuckled as she continued to massage him.
He stopped pouring the rum, instead pushing his back into her touch. The most delicious moans and sighs came from his throat, more addicting than any drink he could pour for her. She could do this every night, if only he'd ask for her to be with him forever.
As his body continued reacting to her touch, a thrill went up her spine. She was able to relax this man at his most tense. He didn't trust any other woman to touch him. Tonight he was comfortable with her, and only her. Nobody could come between them. No one.
"You're amazing, Hermione," He breathed.
She hummed before reaching up and massaging his shoulders.
"This is what I needed," his body quivered. "Thank you."
"You're welcome," she whispered. "Between this and the rum, I hope you sleep better tonight."
He turned back. There was a gleam in his eyes. "I know I will."
She grinned.
He let more of those delicious sounds escape his lips.
"Why didn't you sleep well last night?" She asked.
He moaned before answering, "I was dreaming of the Marauders."
She hummed.
"I couldn't sleep because I was dreaming of the marauders," he answered in a stronger voice. "I kept having a certain dream about them, and I could not expel it from my head."
"And because you hate the taste of Dreamless Sleep potion and have always feared becoming an addict you wouldn't take it."
"Yes," he breathed. "I've seen what addiction to potions can do to people. I don't want to become an addict only brewing potions for my next high."
She nodded.
"I suppose it's hypocritical to drink alcohol given the addictive properties. My father was an alcoholic, not a potions addict."
"Perhaps, but I've never seen you so drunk you couldn't stand. You don't drink to excess, at least not when I'm around."
"And I never want to drink too much around you. I want to do everything in my power to treat you well, which involves not putting myself in position where I may abuse you."
"You are kind in that regard," she rubbed his shoulders harder. "I don't appreciate being around drunks either. They tend to be crass and disgusting."
"Weasley was an arse to get drunk around you as often as he did." Severus answered. "He didn't know how to treat the most wonderful woman in the world. A man would be a fool to do anything which would lead to you walking out of his life."
"And you don't consider yourself a fool?"
He swallowed as his muscles tensed. "Do you consider me one?"
She leaned closer to him. For a brief moment, she wondered what it would be like to kiss his cheek and work her way to his lips. Deciding again that course of action, she whispered in his ear, "No, you are anything but a fool. I have every intention of remaining in your life in whatever way you will have me."
He relaxed.
She released him and stepped back. "Do you feel better?"
"Much better. Thank you," he exhaled. "You are the most amazing woman I've ever met. I shudder to think who I would be without you in my life. Existence without you would be intolerable. I do not even want to consider it."
Her lips curled up.
"Although," he returned his attention to the rum and filled the tumbler with a double shot. "I will not be completely satisfied until I return your generous favor."
She raised an eyebrow.
He handed her a tumbler and gestured for her to turn around. She did so. Before she could react, she felt his hands pressing into her back. Her breath hitched at the flow of power which went through her. She wasn't sure if the sensation of electricity came from her fatigue, her magic touching his, or somewhere deep in her soul which yearned for him more than she had for any other man.
"Am I massaging you too hard?" He rubbed her lower back, the place that always ached after a long day of rearranging books.
"No, you're perfect, just go a little lower," she shifted her body until he touched her in the desired area. "Yes, dear God yes! Keep touching me there!"
He let out a low chuckle as he pressed into her harder. It sent more shockwaves through her body. Good Merlin this man's voice could do wonders for her. How did he not have women pounding on his door begging him to read potions textbooks to them?
"Were you once a massage therapist?" She asked.
"No," he moved up her back. She vibrated under his touch. "I've actually never massaged anyone before."
"You haven't?" Her voice hitched.
"No, I haven't," he massaged her harder. "You are the first and only person I have ever given a massage to."
"Then where the hell did you learn to do all this?" She shifted until he went upwards, hitting her right where her muscles were most tense.
"Sometimes massage therapists come in for relaxation potions."
"Isn't that like cheating given they're supposed to be relaxing their clients?"
"No, because some of the clients are nervous before their first massage. They don't know what to expect, so they tense up. The potion helps relieve some of their anxiety so they can get the most out of the experience."
She sighed.
"Anyway, they gave me a few tips and offered me a few discounts should I ever need a massage," he continued.
"Did you ever take them up on it?"
"No," his touch lessened. "I do not want strangers touching my body."
Her eyes widened as the implications of what she may have done flashed in her mind. "I didn't think about that before I touched you. I should have asked you beforehand I apologize if my massage was unwanted."
"I said I didn't want strangers touching my body," he stepped closer to her. "You are anything but a stranger."
"I would hope your best friend is not a stranger," she let out a chuckle as her body relaxed under his ministrations.
"No, she isn't a stranger to me and," he leaned down and whispered into her ear, "I'm not a stranger to her. I'm more honest with her than I've been with anyone else."
"You're the person I've been most honest with too," the warmth of his breath on her skin was exciting her in ways she hadn't experienced in years. This man could make any woman putty in his hands. She was lucky he choose to use his prowess on her. All he needed to do was kiss her, whisper a few sweet nothings, and she would be in his bed, forgetting any other man existed.
"Do you like this?" He asked as he began massaging her shoulders.
She nodded, not trusting herself to open her mouth without capturing his lips.
"I like massaging you too," he whispered as his touch radiated through her body.
"You're an excellent masseur," she exhaled.
He gave her the same smirk a Slytherin gave a Gryffindor he had just defeated in a game of gobstones.
"Severus," she moaned.
"What?" There was a spark in his eyes.
"I won't be able to meet on Friday…"
He stopped mid-ministration. "don't mention Friday night."
Her eyes widened.
"I just want to live in this moment," he resumed his massage, working on the places where she was most tense.
"I didn't know you were that kind of man," she breathed.
"I am tonight." He pressed harder. "I want you to relax, not worry about the rest of the week."
"I am relaxed," the tension in her muscles eased.
"Good," he whispered into her ear.
She took a deep breath. "Thank you. I needed this after dreaming about Cindy."
"You dreamt about Cindy?"
"Yes," Hermione shook. "I didn't know it was her at first. When I first saw the woman in my dream, she was only a shadow. Then, I recognized her as Cindy."
"Did you have the dream more than once?"
"Yes."
"What dunderheaded thing did she do?"
"Let's just say she wasn't satisfied taking Ron away from me. She wanted to take you away from me too."
"Wait," he drawled. "Do you honestly think vapid Quidditch groupie is the type of woman who could ever capture my interest?"
"No," she admitted, the tension now gone from her muscles. "I don't even know why I dreamed of her with you. All I know is that I called for you and you were nowhere to be found."
"It appears we have the same fears," he stopped massaging her.
She turned around.
"I dreamed you were in James' arms. He was taunting me that you had left. When I called for you, he and the other Marauders mocked me."
"You do know arrogant asshole is not my type, right?"
"I do," his lips curled upwards.
"Nothing is going to happen to our friendship," Hermione replied. "I won't let anything keep us apart."
"You can't promise that."
"I just did."
Skepticism clouded his expression.
"If someone doesn't accept your role in my life, I will expel them from it," she promised.
"I will make the same promise to you," he held her hands. "I need you in my life. If anyone cannot accept our friendship, then I will have no further association with them. I promise you, that I will be here for as long as you will have me."
"Thank you," she leaned against him. "Except you do know that you will be with me forever if you will be around as long as I will have you."
"I wouldn't have it any other way."
For a second, Severus was still. Then, he released her hand and wrapped his arms around her. Soon, her arms were around him, a silent promise that both of them would remain together forever.
Both of them slept much better that night.