Hermione whispered to Harry as they approached the small village of Hogsmeade, "You should hold my hand to make it seem more real."
Harry glanced at Hermione, surprised by her suggestion, but nodded in agreement. "Sure, if it helps," he replied quietly, intertwining his fingers with hers as they walked through the bustling streets of Hogsmeade.
Hermione concealed a small smirk at Harry's immediate compliance with their scheme. Gripping his hand tightly, she led him into Honeydukes, her nerves beginning to flutter with a hint of apprehension about their plan.
As they browsed the shelves of sweets, Hermione couldn't shake the feeling of guilt gnawing at her. Despite her determination to make Severus jealous, she couldn't help but feel uneasy about manipulating the situation.
"You're hurting my hand," Harry grunted suddenly, gently pulling away from her grasp.
"I'm sorry, Harry," Hermione said quietly. "I'm starting to have second thoughts."
Harry nodded in understanding. "If you want to stop, we could just get a butterbeer as friends," he suggested kindly.
Hermione lingered a bit longer inside Honeydukes, but upon spotting Severus's distinctive black hair through the window, she knew it was time to act. Confirming his presence, she felt a surge of determination. Grabbing Harry's hand again, she declared, "No, I came all this way. Let's see this through."
Harry reluctantly followed Hermione to the counter where they paid for their sweets. Once they had stashed their bags of candy away for later, he found himself being led outside into the cold, fall air once more, still unsure about the plan they were about to execute.
As Hermione stepped into the Three Broomsticks, the welcoming warmth from the candles and the crackling fireplace instantly enveloped her, soothing her nerves. Leading Harry to a secluded corner, she deliberately chose to sit next to him rather than across from him, a departure from her usual seating arrangement.
Hermione leaned in closer than strictly necessary and whispered, "Now we wait. Go get us two butterbeers."
Hermione anxiously watched as Harry went to fetch their butterbeers, hoping that the drink would calm her nerves, which were beginning to twist inside her stomach.
Harry returned to the table with their mugs, and Hermione eagerly took a sip, relishing the familiar taste of butterbeer as it warmed her from the inside out.
"Are you sure we should be doing this?" Harry asked quietly, his voice laced with concern. "You're poking the bear, so to speak."
Hermione fiddled with her glass, contemplating Harry's words. She couldn't shake the image of Severus's potential reaction to seeing them so close together. He would likely be furious, perhaps more than ever before. But she held onto a glimmer of hope that maybe, just maybe, this display would finally make him realize his feelings for her.
"Why can't you just speak up and ask him?" Harry continued as he took a sip of his butterbeer.
Hermione sighed, her thoughts still consumed by the risky plan she had set in motion. "I've tried, Harry. But it's not that simple," she confessed, her voice tinged with frustration. "Sometimes actions speak louder than words."
"Well, whatever happens, it had better be worth Snape angry with me for the rest of the year," Harry growled.
"And that's new?" Hermione retorted with a slight giggle.
Harry rolled his eyes but didn't respond. He took another sip of his butterbeer, his eyes scanning the room as he wondered how long it would take for Snape to notice them.
Harry's eyes widened in surprise as Hermione threw her arms around him, her sudden action catching him off guard. He glanced over at the door and saw Severus's unmistakable figure standing near the entrance, his expression unreadable as he observed them.
Hermione's heart sank as she watched Severus turn and walk out of the inn without a word, leaving her feeling a mix of disappointment and frustration. She knew he wouldn't make a scene in front of the many students in the establishment, but his lack of response or acknowledgment unnerved her deeply.
Hermione couldn't bear to sit there and watch him leave without a word. With a sudden surge of determination, she stood up from the table, nearly knocking over her glass in the process. Briskly, she exited the inn, hoping to catch up to him before he disappeared completely.
Hermione had to hasten her steps to match his long strides, but as she approached him, she hesitated, her steps faltering. Severus turned around abruptly, causing her to collide with him nearly, and she froze, her heart pounding in her chest.
Hermione suddenly squeaked as he grasped her arm and pulled her closer to him. Before she could speak, she felt the familiar sensation of disapparation enveloping her, whisking her away to an unknown destination.
When the spell ended and she was released, Hermione found herself back in their rooms at Hogwarts. It was a familiar and private space, where Severus likely felt comfortable enough to speak his mind.
Hermione remained silent, watching Severus with a mix of apprehension and regret as he paced back and forth with obvious agitation. She knew she had crossed a line and was deeply sorry for her actions.
"Is this what you wanted?" Severus eventually asked, breaking the silence, his voice eerily calm as he continued to pace. The tension in the room was palpable, and Hermione felt a pang of fear at his demeanor.
Hermione wasn't sure if his question was rhetorical, so she stayed quiet, not wanting to anger him any further. She watched him pace back and forth, unsure of what to say or do next.
"Severus, I'm sorry," Hermione began tentatively, hoping her apology would calm him enough to allow her to explain her actions.
Severus abruptly stopped pacing, but he immediately closed the space between them. "Sorry? It didn't look like it. You wanted a reaction out of me and now you got it."
Hermione swallowed nervously, feeling the intensity of Severus's gaze. "I didn't mean to upset you," she said softly, her voice tinged with regret. "I just... I wanted to... I don't know..." She trailed off, unable to find the right words to express her intentions.
"That's not good enough," Severus responded firmly, trying to contain the boiling anger that was threatening to release. "Perhaps you would have preferred to marry him."
Hermione immediately shook her head in denial. "That's not true!"
Severus narrowed his eyes, studying her for a moment before responding. "Then what was the purpose of your little charade in the Three Broomsticks?"
Hermione averted her gaze to the floor and confessed, "I wanted to make you jealous."
"Do you find making me angry amusing?" Severus snarled, his tone filled with displeasure at her deliberate attempt to provoke him.
Seeing her shake her head, Severus sighed heavily, the tension in the room palpable. "And why is that, Hermione?" he asked, his voice softer now, tinged with a mix of frustration and concern.
Hermione realized she was now forced to confess her true feelings regardless. Her attempt to manipulate the situation had only exacerbated the problem. "I don't want everything in this relationship to be mainly out of forced necessity," she admitted finally. "I thought maybe if you saw me with Harry, you would realize that…" She stopped short, feeling nervous again to finish her sentence.
"Realize what?" Severus growled lowly, his tone edged with impatience as he waited for her to finish speaking.
"You want me," she whispered, her voice barely audible, as she finalized her thought.
"You're impatient," Severus suddenly admonished at her words.
Hermione nodded silently, acknowledging the validity of his observation. Regret surged within her for her impulsive behavior, as she grasped the gravity of her actions. Yet, his next words unexpectedly lifted her spirits.
"But you aren't wrong," Severus admitted, surprising Hermione. She looked up from the floor, her eyes meeting his, clearly taken aback by his admission. She was once again caught off guard by the intensity of his gaze and the faint glint in his eyes.
Before Hermione could do or say anything, Severus immediately pinned her wrists to the wall behind her. She felt his anger emanating in waves as he glared at her. His lips crashed down on hers, kissing her aggressively while keeping her pinned to the wall.
Severus pulled away, his expression still intense. He released her wrists, allowing her to lean back slightly, her breaths coming in quick gasps. Severus wasted no time, his grip firm on her wrist as he guided her swiftly to the bedroom, his emotions a tumultuous blend of anger and longing that drove him forward without hesitation.
In the bedroom, Severus resumed his passionate kiss, the intensity fueled by the sight of Hermione with Potter. He was determined to remind her she belonged to him and no one else.
Severus, fueled by a mix of desire and possessiveness, seized her shirt, tearing it apart and scattering buttons across the room. Hermione gasped at the suddenness of his actions, her eyes widening in surprise. "You wanted me, well now you've got me, witch," he muttered darkly, his fingers deftly undoing the buttons of her pants.
Hermione couldn't deny the thrill coursing through her as Severus's hands roamed over her. She relished his possessiveness, feeling a sense of satisfaction that her ploy had indeed succeeded beyond her expectations.
As Severus's eyes met Hermione's once more, her lips curled into a smirk, expressing her satisfaction with the situation. The transformation of the usually composed and collected professor into someone angry and possessive only fueled her excitement, and she reveled in every moment of it.
A look of disappointment filled her eyes when Severus backed away from her. Overwhelmed by desire, she found herself pleading, her mouth forming the word "please" without conscious thought.
Severus struggled to regain control of his emotions, his resolve wavering in the face of Hermione's swollen lips, flushed cheeks, and partially exposed body. The desire to take her right then and there surged within him, but he fought against it, knowing he needed to maintain control.
Hermione, emboldened by her desire and determination, took a bold step, silently hoping to spur him on. Without her wand and without uttering a word, she magically removed his robes. But her daring move was met with a swift response as Severus seized her wrists and pressed them firmly against the door.
Severus's voice cut through the charged atmosphere, firm and resolute. "No," he stated unequivocally. "We are not doing this."
"We will have to anyway in a few months," Hermione pleaded, her voice tinged with frustration and longing.
"We are not ready for this," Severus reiterated, his tone firm and resolute.
Hermione shook her head in desperation and uttered, "I want you, Severus, and I know you want me or else you wouldn't have reacted the way you did."
"No, you don't. Your feelings are influenced by our bond, Hermione. They're not genuinely yours," Severus explained patiently, though his gaze lingered dangerously on her bare chest.
Severus's words hit her like a blow to the gut, leaving her momentarily breathless. She wanted to protest, to reaffirm her desire for him, but a seed of doubt crept into her mind.
Severus observed the conflict waning within her, and with a soft sigh, he gently released her wrists and stepped back. Using his wand, he quickly repaired her shirt and handed it to her without a word. "I'm sorry," he whispered, his voice laden with sincerity. "I promise, when the time is right, we'll get there. But I need you to be patient with me."
Feeling a wave of sadness wash over her, Hermione watched silently as Severus retrieved his robes and disapparated from the room. Once he was gone, she collapsed against the bed, overcome with emotion, and began to cry.