Say You Love Me

Chapter Ten
Be Careful Who You Trust

Ecclestia had not returned by the next morning, so Severus was pleased with the peace and quiet. It was while he was eating breakfast that his thoughts turned to Hermione. She was at the Gryffindor table with the other two as usual, but this morning she didn't even glance in his direction.

Severus was not prone to apologizing, but in this case he felt that he had allowed his perverse need for her to get the better of him. The urge to taste her was still present, and he wasn't sure he dared trust himself alone with her again.

He also did not dare approach her in here, even to ask for a moment of her time. Dumbledore would be vigilantly watching as he always did, and Severus could not risk being found out. At least since he had potions class with the Gryffindors and Slytherins today he could make her stay after class.

Hermione could feel his eyes burning into her back. She didn't need to turn around to know that he was staring at her through that curtain of hair of his. A shiver went down her spine, both frightening and deliciously enticing.

She had warded her self in her room last night after fleeing from him, scared senseless. Hermione wanted to say yes to him, to beg him to take her but after her dream her romantic notions were shattered. Being the Death Eater that he was substantiated what Ecclestia had said. Of course, he would probably enjoy inflicting pain on his wife after participating in Merlin knows what activities.


Hermione was further shocked by the fact that her knickers were wet with the sticky secretions of arousal. She took a bath, only to be disappointed when her feelings of arousal remained long after the bodily secretions were scrubbed away. When she woke up the next morning, she was determined to keep her distance from the Professor.

~*~

In potions class that afternoon, Hermione was careful to keep herself buried in her notes and other tasks that Snape assigned to the class. She had fully expected Snape to exert some of his Slytherin tactics on her, but he didn't. Hermione had nearly relaxed when he barked:

"Class dismissed. I shall expect thirty inches of parchment from each of you on the many uses of boxweed by tomorrow. And Miss Granger, I need for you to see me after class."

"What'd you do now, Herm?" Ron asked, popping a piece of Drooble's gum in his mouth.

"Nothing, Ronald."

"Snape doesn't look too pleased with you."

"Snape isn't ever pleased with anyone, Ron," Harry said.

"That is your opinion, Potter," Snape hissed. The Professor had slipped up behind them on silent feet. "What I want with Miss Granger is none of yours or Mister Weasley's concern. I suggest that you take yourselves back to your common room since you have nothing better to do with your time."

"If he gives you any trouble, Hermione, let me know," Harry said angrily, glaring at Snape directly in the eyes.

"Be careful who you challenge, Potter."

"I always am," Harry replied. "Come on, Ron."


Hermione stuffed the last book in her bag and flipped the top closed. It did nothing for her morale to hear the door slam with a bang after Harry and Ron.
Nervously, she picked up the heavy bag and held it in front her, backing up away from the Professor who stood regarding her with hooded eyes.

"What did you want with me, Professor?"

"I wished to.....apologize to you for my behavior last evening. It was not my intention to make you run away from me."

Snape was apologizing? Hermione turned perplexed eyes on him.

The brown orbs shining up at him made Severus clench his fists inside his robe pockets momentarily. Hermione's mouth was damp and pink and he wanted to devour it yet again. He had to settle for touching a singular curl that was resting on her shoulder instead. Her eyes darted to his fingers. Her hair had curled itself around one of them, and he was making no effort to remove it.

"Why?" Hermione asked shakily.

"Why?" Severus reluctantly released the curl and paced. "I do not exactly understand why myself, Miss Granger." He stopped in mid pace. "I do not fraternize with students. Ever. Yet-I want you," he admitted.

Hermione was stunned by his admission. He'd made his needs clear to her last night but to hear him say it aloud was another thing entirely. She didn't know what to say.

"I am bad for you. I have murdered, and I have felt no remorse for it. Yet I feel nearly humble when I touch you."

"But you were-are a Death Eater."

"Yes, and I regret the choice I made so long ago."

Hermione sighed and sat the book bag down. For the moment, she was not afraid of him, and it wouldn't take much effort on his part for her to fling herself into his arms again.

"I wanted it," she said timidly.

"What?"

"I wanted you. To kiss me. Last night."

"I wanted you as well." Snape's black eyes opened wider, and she saw the same desire there that she had glimpsed last night; only this time she recognized it for what it was. "I want you now, Miss Granger."

He took a step towards her, and then stopped.

"But I will not touch you. You are my student," Severus said, more to himself than to her. "Perhaps you are wise to run from me."

"You frighten me, Sir," Hermione backed up, only to feel the desk at her back.

"I would not harm you. I gave my vow to Albus long ago to protect those inside these walls."

The urge to pin her against the desk and ravish her then and there was strong.

"I think you should leave, Miss Granger," he said with a sigh.

The light from the torches shown on Snape's black hair, and his lips were thinned out and set in a frown.

Hermione edged her way along the desks, watching him as she lifted her bag to her shoulder once again.

"And Miss Granger?"

"Yes, Sir?"

"Keep your distance from me in the future. It will be better for both of us."

She nodded agreement and hastily took her leave, barely noticing that the door flung itself open for her.

Ecclestia sauntered through the back gate of Hogwarts shortly afterwards, a satisfied smile on her face. She plucked a stray piece of blonde hair from her robes. Her back still ached from blows that Lucius had inflicted with his cane. She would look in Severus' personal stores for a healing potion once she determined the whereabouts of her husband.

Lucius had not let her out of bed. The two of them would still be there if he had not received an owl from Narcissa. Ecclestia despised the woman, and had been thinking that an arranged death for her would be a lovely idea. If the Dark Lord destroyed Granger, then Severus would have no choice but to occupy her bed.

Ecclestia licked her lips at the thought. She could have both wizards at the same time. Of course, she considered, there was that annoying child of Lucius'.
Granted, their relationship was nearly non-existent due to Draco turning his back on the Death Eaters. It was only through Lucius' loyalty that the Dark Lord had not destroyed the ignorant git of a boy for refusing to join his followers.

"If he were truly Lucius' son, he would be ready to join the three of us in bed," Ecclestia said aloud. "Pah. He's too much like that Mum of his. I may need to add him to the list of those in my way."


That evening, Hermione did not see the Professor on his rounds. He was conspicuously absent. She missed his brooding presence, but there was also a part of her that finally relaxed as Draco walked beside her.

"I wonder where the Professor is this evening," Draco wondered. "I noticed Hooch had hall duty tonight. She rarely does hall duty since she prefers to indulge in her carnal desires in Hogsmeade instead of working."

"That wasn't nice, Draco."

"Granger," he teased. "Don't pretend that you don't know Hooch likes the weird in her bed. All the Slytherins know it."

"It's just not nice to talk about it."

Draco's pale eyes assessed Hermione, making her blush.

"You need to stop being such a nice person. What you need is a Slytherin to share your bed."

"And I suppose you are volunteering for the position?"

Draco smirked evilly.

"Not a chance. I have plenty to occupy my time. I was thinking more along the lines of Snape."

The shocked look that Hermione gave him confirmed his suspicions, and Draco laughed.

"Come off it, Hermione. I don't care if you want to shag my Godfather. It would probably do him good to have a proper piece."

Hermione blushed scarlet.

"I've seen the way you look at each other. You two need to stop playing games and follow your own desires."

"I don't want to discuss this." Hermione absently rubbed her cheeks, the heat of them obvious. If Draco had noticed, then how many others knew?

"Death Eaters are notorious for their insatiable sexual appetites," Draco continued.

"Please, Draco."

"You're going to have to face your own demons one way or another, Hermione."

"I would rather it be never."

Draco was still laughing when Ecclestia appeared from behind a tapestry.

"What are you doing, roaming the halls, Ecclestia?" Draco glared at the woman, who glared back.

"That is none of your business, boy," Ecclestia sneered.

"We were told that you were to remain in the dungeons."

"I don't take orders from Dumbledore or anyone else."

"You don't defy Voldemort. You wouldn't dare," Draco shot back.

"Watch your mouth, child. Consider yourself lucky that you are still alive. No one leaves the service of the Dark Lord and lives to tell about it."

"Father will not allow Voldemort to touch me."

"Your Father's ability to fool the Dark Lord won't last long. When his luck runs out, so will your life."

"Don't threaten me."

"I don't have to. You are insignificant to my errand anyway." The witch turned to Hermione. "Come with me. Severus would like to speak to you."

"No." Draco stepped in front of Hermione. "She's not going anywhere with you."

"Get out of my way," Ecclestia snarled. "Return to your den or whatever they call it. You are not needed here."

"Why would the Professor want to see me?" Hermione asked.

"I really don't know, but I do think it must be important. He was working on an experiment in the lab."

Hermione was torn. She felt that it was highly unlikely that the Professor would need her services, and if he did, he would not have sent his wife to fetch her.

Seeing the girl waver, Ecclestia smiled encouragingly.

"Come along then, Hermione. We can't keep Severus waiting. You know how irritable he is." Ecclestia reached out, grasping Hermione's arm and clamping down hard.

"Let go." Hermione jerked backed, dragging Ecclestia with her.

"Don't fight me. We have things to do." Ecclestia's fingernails dug deep into Hermione's arm.

Draco drew his wand, prepared to hex the woman.

"Let go of Miss Granger," the deadly voice boomed loudly. Ecclestia immediately dropped Hermione's arm as Severus moved forward from the shadows where he had been watching.

"Severus."

"Yes, your husband," Severus hissed, his wand still pointed at Ecclestia's chest. Without taking his eyes from the woman, he motioned to Hermione with his free hand. "Take Miss Granger to her room immediately Draco."

"Yes, Sir."

"Miss Granger, you are not to move from your room for the remainder of the night. Is that clear?"

"Yes, Professor."

Severus waited until the footsteps of the two had died away before he bound Ecclestia's hands and took possession of her wand.

"Come, wife. We need to see the Headmaster and discuss your actions tonight."


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