Outside the Fire

Disclaimer: Not mine, as I've said so many times before..sigh.

A/N: Well, this is turning out to be quite an epic! Ten pages on the last chapter, and then I had to stop or I'd never have got the tea ready... Anyway, thank you to everyone who has reviewed so far, my husband for the criticism and Sunglow for beta reading.

Just to let everyone know, I haven't revealed what Harry's t-shirt says yet, although I admit it was a little vague. I do this deliberately; because that's just the way my twisted mind works. If you don't like it - tough! It's my story, and sometimes it just writes itself that way and I have absolutely no control over it whatsoever.

Outside the Fire

Chapter 9 - A matter of dress

Apart from telling Harry about Snape's present, Draco refused to divulge anything more about Ron and Hermione's, except that he had owled them so the gifts arrived on Christmas Day.
"If you're desperate to know what's on them, just owl Ron and Hermione and dare them to wear them when they get back." Draco was sprawled on one of the Gryffindors' sofas.
"Are they that bad then?"
"Not as bad as yours, although I'm sure Ron wouldn't think so."
"Where's the parchment?" Harry scrambled for a quill, knowing he had to see what their t-shirts said. Draco watched as Harry scribbled two notes and rolled them up.
"Are you coming with me?" Harry asked. Draco pretended to think about it.
"No, I think I'll stay here for a while." he wiggled his socked feet in front of the fire, too comfortable to move.
"Okay, I won't be long."
"There's no rush."
"Are you feeling all right, Draco?"
"Fine. Take as long as you like."
"You're up to something." Harry narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
"I'm not. I just don't want you to feel that you have to be with me all the time." Draco assured him, "You can go and see Hagrid if you want."
"No, I'll be back soon." Harry wasn't sure what Draco was up to, but he wasn't going to leave him alone for too long, just in case.

He climbed out of the portrait hole and headed over to the owlery. He whistled softly and Hedwig swooped down to him. He petted her while she clicked her beak at him and then tied the messages to her leg.
"One to Ron, one to Hermione, girl, okay?" he stroked her breast feathers and she nipped his finger in acknowledgement. Making his way quickly from the owlery, he passed the entrance to the dungeons and caught sight of Professor Snape moving down the corridor.
"Professor!"
"What is it, Potter?" Severus paused and turned around impatiently.
"Can I talk to you in private?"
"Is it important?"
"To me, yes." Harry stopped a few feet away. Severus sighed and turned towards his quarters, thinking Harry would follow him, but no sound of footsteps echoed behind him.
"Well? I haven't got all day." his snapping voice galvanised Harry into action and he hurried after the potions master. He hesitated again at the entrance of Snape's rooms.
"Get in here, Potter, before I find something for you to do." Severus tapped his foot impatiently and Harry crossed the threshold, closing the door quietly behind him. Severus indicated a chair beside firefire and sat in the one opposite, waiting.
Harry sat down nervously and rubbed his palms down his thighs, wiping the sweat away. The nervous gesture drew Severus eyes to his hands and they narrowed. Before Harry could react, Severus lunged forward and trapped his left wrist against his thigh.
"What's this, Potter?" he tapped his ring finger where the band glinted.
"It's a ring, sir."
"With a snake on it?"
"Yes." Harry looked him in the eye.
"Is there any significance to it?" Severus sat back, releasing him.
"Yes."
"Does Draco have one too?"
"Yes." Harry lifted his chin. And waited. And waited. "Aren't you going to say anything?"
"Does it matter what I think?"
"You're Draco's nearest relative, Sir, and about the only man he respects enough for him to care about what you think. I guess I should have come to you first."
"Perhaps you should have, Mr Potter." Severus hesitated, "Now that you have, what are your intentions?"
"You sound like tatheather of the bride." Harry smiled slightly.
"As you said, I am the nearest he has to a relative. Even if I am a heartless bastard, I still don't want to see him hurt."
"You're not completely heartless, sir, or Draco wouldn't be so concerned about you."
"Am I going to regret this if I ask why?"
"He, um, thinks you're lonely." Harry mumbled, making sure his wand was to hand, and waited for Severus to explode. He looked up to see Severus looking into the fire.
"Well that's not likely to change anytime soon, is it?" he murmured and Harry had to strain to hear him.
"If you want to talk.."
"Not to a seventeen year old Gryffindor." Severus snapped sharply.
"I was going to say, that Draco would be happy to listen." Harry snapped back. He reined in his temper, knowing that losing it wouldn't help his situation. No need to piss off his lover's godfather anymore than he was already, was there?
"Look, I know we haven't gotten along in the past, but Draco is the one that matters here. I'm not going to go away so you'll have to deal with it."
"You do realise what those Bond rings mean, don't you?" Severus looked hard at Harry.
"Yes. He's mine, I'm his."
"You're very sure about this."
"Yes."
"I can see your mother in you."
"Pardon?"
"Your mother. Lily was just as certain that your father was the one for her."
"Not at first."
"No. He was a bit of an idiot."
"Bit?" Harry stared at him, remembering how his father and Si had had treated Snape.
"I've long since come to terms with the past, Harry." Severus's smile was bitter, "Perhaps you should too."
"That's very magnanimous of you, Sir." Harry wasn't sure what to say to the older man.
"I suppose you want me to say 'Welcome to the Family', eh, Potter?"
"Pretty dysfunctional family, Sir. An Ex-death eater and two orphans."
"Two obscenely rich orphans, Mr Potter. What will you do when you graduate?" Severus poured them some tea.
"Travel, we think. Neither of us have been anywhere, really. Hermione's told me all about the places she's been to, and we want to see them ourselves." Harry's eyes lit up and Severus felt very old, all of a sudden. Had he ever had that enthusiasm that both Harry and Draco showed? He didn't think so.
"I dread to think what havoc you pair will wreak upon the unsuspecting world." Severus shook his head.
"Does this mean I can count on you to stand up for Draco when we Bond?" Harry asked.
"I suppose I must, if only to make sure that idiot Weasley knows the proper procedure." Severus paused, "He does know what he has to do, doesn't he?"
"Ron's from a Pureblood family, Sir, he was the one who suggested it."
"I hate to say this, but I think I'm actually impressed."
"I promise not to tell him."
"Make sure you don't." Severus sniffed, "Now get out."
Harry grinned. Snape wasn't so bad, once you got past the prickly exterior. He glanced around the room and spotted some brightly coloured packages.
"You haven't opened your presents."
"What? Oh, them."
"Don't you want to know what you've got?"
"Socks, wine that I won't drink, a book I won't read and assorted chocolate that will be thrown out tomorrow."
"You don't like chocolate?"
"Not really."
"Can I have it? For Draco."
"You're pushing your luck, Potter."
"I know."
"Take it then."
"You'll have to open them first." Harry gathered them up and brought them back to the fireplace, dropping into his chair and handing the first one to Snape. It was quite surreal to be with his once-hated professor, opening late Christmas gifts. Severus grumbled as he was handed the first package.
"I told you, Potter. Socks."
"From Dumbledore." Harry laughed as he saw the bright blue socks with green trees on.
"I have a whole closet of them." Severus shuddered, dropping them disdainfully on the rug. Harry picked them up and put them carefully on the table.
"But you don't get rid of them."
"They may come in useful one day."
"Here, open this one." Harry gave him another one, almost bouncing with anticipation. Severus looked at him and shook his head. Who would have guessed he'd be entertaining a hyperactive Harry Potter in his rooms the day after Christmas? And very nearly enjoying it, as well.

Severus had been right. There was a copy of a book he'd already got, two bottles of wine, chocolate (that was passed to Harry) and a rather nice set of bottles from Minerva that he thought he'd keep. Then Harry passed him another flat box, which weighed almost nothing.
"This is from Hermione." Harry said quietly. Severus looked at it warily. He was familiar with the tradition of token gifts from the Head Boy and Girl. Draco's t-shirt had been opened yesterday and he was used to his godson's strange sense of humour. He wondered what Miss Granger had thought of. He turned it over in his hands, admiring the neat silver and green striped paper and the curls of green ribbon holding the package together. Pulling one end, the ribbon unfurled and a deep green box was revealed. Lifting the lid slowly, he looked inside. Silver tissue paper rustled as the contents were revealed and Harry watched his face carefully. This was what Draco had bought on behalf of Hermione. Slight widening of eyes and then a puzzled frown.
"What is it, sir?"
"I have no idea." Severus put the lid on the floor and black material slid out onto his lap. He picked it up, long fingers caressing the silk unconsciously.
"A silk scarf." Harry said.
"What use would I have for a silk scarf?" Severus murmured. He looked up as a choked sound came from Harry. "What's the matter, Potter?" his earlier mellow mood gone.
"Nothing, sir. But I'm sure Draco could tell you."
"I don't think I want to know, do I?"
"Probably not."
"You're going to make me ask, aren't you?"
"Yes, Sir."
"All right," Severus sighed, "Do you know why our Head Girl would give me a silk scarf?"
"Not really. Perhaps it's a message of some sort?" Harry grinned, he couldn't wait to get back to Draco, "You could always ask her when she gets back in the New Year." Harry shrugged. "I'll leave you to ponder, Sir. Thanks for the chocolate." and he swiftly left the room, leaving a rather puzzled Potion's Master alone with a black silk scarf.

~~@~~

Hermione opened the window to let Hedwig in. Taking the parchment with her name on it, she fed the snowy owl a treat from the bowl she kept by the window and stroked her breast feathers. Hedwig nibbled her finger in thanks and flapped her wings, disturbing Crookshanks who was stretched out on Hermione's bed. He growled slightly at being woken from his nap, but settled down when his mistress rubbed his belly.

She smiled as she read Harry's note, her eyes glancing to the pile of presents that had arrived the day before. They were mostly tokens from Flourish and Blotts, but Professor Flitwick had given her a nice quill and McGonagall had given her a month's pass to the Restricted Section. From Dumbledore she'd got a very pretty crystal paperweight, and most surprising of all, she'd got chocolates from Professor Snape. Not the normal sort either; there was dark truffles and sinfully delicious confections of liqueurs and almonds and dipped candied fruits, arranged on a bed of gold rice paper. How had he known she had a weakness for chocolate?

She wondered what Draco had bought for him from her. He'd insisted that he had the perfect present and like an idiot she'd gone along with it instead of finding out first what it was. Now she'd have to ask Draco just in case Professor Snape thanked her. She smiled as she remembered Harry's note and then picked up Draco's present, laughing as she read the wording. So Harry was daring her to wear it, was he? Well, she might as well give everyone a laugh. She wondered whether the note to Ron held the same challenge, and whether Ron would take it up. Knowing Ron, he would.

Drawn again to the box on her desk, she lifted the lid, inhaling the heady scent of cocoa beans and sugar, and was tempted by a dipped cherry. Mindful in case there was a stone in the centre, she bit into the outer shell, eyes widening slightly as she found the centre of the fruit filled with kirsch, the combination of dark chocolate, sweet cherry and bitter liqueur bursting on her tongue in a riot of flavours. She'd debated whether to share these with Ginny, but decided instead to hoard them, thinking again about the mystery that was Professor Snape.

Her eyes became slightly unfocused as she remembered her last encounter with him. She wondered how he'd been manoeuvred into dancing with her. He'd moved with unsurprising grace; she'd known that already from the way he glided silently around Hogwarts. What was surprising was that she hadn't felt any awkwardness in his arms. It had been comfortable and even with their height difference; she hadn't felt like a midget against him. Mind, the four-inch heels had definitely helped there, she thought, wiggling her toes in her slippers, remembering the hard muscles under her hands and brushing against her legs.

She wasn't likely to look at him the same way ever again, now she knew what was under all those layers he wore, thinking back to the sight of him half nake the the Room of Requirement. She'd fantasised about stripping those trousers off him many times since then and she found herself trying to find out more about him by asking roundabout questions to Poppy. Like whether any staff stayed over in the holidays, the ins and outs of the hierarchy of the top table and she'd found out that Professor Snape spent a week after school finished at Hogwarts and then two weeks there again before the new term started. Where he went the rest of the time no one except the headmaster knew.

Hermione sighed to herself. She wanted to get to know him better, but didn't know how to approach him. Perhaps she could ask him if she could assist him again, and then snorted. She had more chance of persuading him to give dance lessons to first years! Maybe it was time to ask Draco to give her a few hints; he nor Harry hadn't been bothered by having Snape accompany them to a London club, and she wasn't daft; she'd felt him steering her around so she kept the Professor in sight. If she didn't know any better, she'd say that Draco wouldn't mind her going after his godfather...

Making a decision, she ran lightly downstairs, hoping to catch her parents in a good mood.
"Hey, Dad." She found her father in the kitchen, stirring soup on the cooker.
"Hello sweetheart. How's the studying?"
"Not bad. Can I ask you something?"
"Providing it's nothing to do with magic, sure."
"Would it be all right if I spent New Year with Harry?"
"Back at Hogwarts?"
"Yes. Do you mind?"
"Do you mind if I ask a personal question?"
"Providing it's nothing to do with magic."
"Does this have anything to do with you having a crush on a certain teacher?" he turned to face his daughter after turning the burner down.
"Dad..." she flushed and looked down.
"Hermione, he's a lot older than you, and carries a lot of responsibility. Don't make it awkward for either of you."
"I know what he's like, Dad, but I.."
"I know, honey. He's a good man, and I quite liked him. Please don't get your hopes up though. It will cost him his job if you're too reckless."
"This is not the sort of conversation most girls have with their fathers." Hermione smiled slightly.
"But you're not most girls, Hermione. I don't want to see you get hurt, but I know everyone has to learn by their own mistakes." He hugged her, knowing that come the summer she would be fully immersing herself in the other world. They'd made the most of the holidays, but his daughter was a witch and that was where she belonged.

When had his little girl grown up? She was so self-contained all the time it was almost as though she'd always been this way. Perhaps it was being thrust into a war at such a young age that had done it. He frowned as he remembered how subdued she'd been at the end of her fifth year and the way she began studying every waking minute. He'd known there was something happening in her world, from the way she'd impressed on them the need to be careful all the time.

He realised now that this was the reason why she'd never had a boyfriend. She'd never had the time or inclination before; walling herself up behind the facade of driven perfection. There had been no letters home about a special boy she was seeing; just chatty missives about how her schoolwork was going and about Harry and Ron. For a while he'd thought she would get together with the Weasley boy, but one look at them together had been enough to know that wasn't going to go anywhere.

Now it looked like she was finally ready to start dating, although from the look in her eye when she was dancing with Severus there wouldn't be much dinner and dancing going on. Did he really just think that about his innocent daughter? And why didn't it bother him that much? Probably because her Professor wouldn't let himself get involved with a student. But she wouldn't be a student forever, would she? Six months and she'll graduate, finished with school until she starts her Apprenticeship. No seven-year training for Healers, apparently. With her grounding in all the major subjects and her determination she'll be shedshed in two, possibly three years.

John sighed, resigning himself to Hermione's choice. Did every parent feel the same when their child finally flew the nest? Yes, they'd been prepared for it by having Hermione away for most of the year, but being prepared didn't compare to it actually happening. There wouldn't be any more long holidays together, just a few snatched days here and there, and they'd have to let her go. It was going to be strange, knowing that she was leaving for good this time.

"So, you want to spend New Year with Harry and Draco?"
"Do you mind?"
"Of course not, honey. Don't drink too much, though."
"No problem. Hangover cures, remember?" Hermione smiled, " And I can hold my drink a lot better than Harry can, thanks to you."
"Are you accusing your poor old dad of corrupting you with drink?"
"Appreciating a fine wine is not corrupting me, and you know it. Why else did you drag me and Mum around the wine-making countries of Europe these past few years?"
"I did it so you don't forget your roots."
"Oh Dad, I'm never going to forget that." she put her arm around him and hugged him.
"Yes, well," John cleared his throat, "Go and get packed, I'm sure you'agerager to see your friends." he pushed her slightly away from him shooed her out of the kitchen.
"Thanks, Dad." she said softly and ran back upstairs to start packing.

Crookshanks lifted his head from her pillow as she started opening and shutting drawers, filling her bag as she went. She threw her robe over the chair and stripped off her shirt, grabbing up Draco's gift. Grinning to herself, she pulled it on, smoothing down the soft material over her hips and then tucking it iher her worn jeans. The pale green material contrasted nicely with her black robe and she left it open so the wording showed. She'd show Draco she could take a joke as well as the next person, and if a certain tall dark person happened to bump into her, well, that would be a bonus, wouldn't it?

~~@~~

Hedwig glided through the dungeon corridors, her night vision helping in the darkness. The letters gripped in her talons as she found the entrance to the Slytherin common room. Swooping through the owl tunnel, she emerged into the green and silver common room and perched on the back of Harry's chair. Dropping the letters in his lap, she hopped over to the sofa Draco was sprawled on and hooted at him. Holding up a lazy arm, he clicked his fingers and the snowy owl fluttered across the foot wide gap, gripping his wrist carefully. Bringing her down onto his chest, Draco fed her a piece of his turkey sandwich.

"You spoil her." Harry glanced up from one of the letters.
"Can I help it if your owl prefers me?" Draco clicked his tongue at Hedwig and smoothed her chest feathers. Her head swivelled to look at Harry and then turned back to Draco, preening for him.
"She only goes to you because she's a vain creature and you colour co-ordinate with her." Harry grinned when she hooted disdainfully.
"Take no notice of him, pretty. He's only jealous." Draco stroked her head and then gently placed her on the back of the sofa.
"Who are they from?"
"Hermione and Ron. Ron says Gryffindor bravery will triumph over Slytherin cunning, and that he knows where you sleep."
"What about Hermione?"
"Says she's coming back for New Year."
"Better hang that mistletoe back up then."
"You don't snog girls anymore."
"I'm not the one that's going to kiss her."
"Neither am I."
"You can be so dense sometimes, Harry."
"Oooh, I seeeee." Harry got it at last, the blank look on his face replaced by a smirk worthy of Draco himself.
"At last."
"We'd better celebrate down here then."
"Of course. Where else?"
"Spiked pumpkin juice?"
"No need. We're allowed wine."
"So it'll be just the three of us?"
"Mmmm." Draco waited for Harry to sit next to him before pulling him onto his lap.
"So do you think Snape will come and check up on us?"
"Harry Potter in his common room, alone with his godson? Of course he will."
"Does that mean we can expect him anytime soon?"
"Why?"
"I sort of had plans for that rug."
"Only sort of?" Draco rolled them off the sofa and onto the thick rug in front of the roaring fire, his hands busy under Harry's sweater.
"Okay, definite plans..oh..yes, Draco!" Harry had his hands full of his lovers' shirt, fumbling with the buttons.
"There is..an..easier way to..do this." Draco tugged the button of Harry's jeans open and slid his hand inside. Harry yelped as a few hairs were caught in the zip.
"Careful!"
"Sorry." Draco nuzzled his neck in apology and pushed the offending material down Harry's legs. Harry kicked the denim across the floor and concentrated on Draco's trousers. In minutes they were both naked and Draco snagged a cushion from the chair to place under Harry's hips, settling himself between his splayed knees, sighing as the warmth of the fire chased any remaining chill away.
"Love you, Harry." Draco whispered, leaning in for a gentle kiss.
"Love you too," Harry whispered back, and arched up, bringing their erections together and moaning at the sensation of skin against skin.

Silence reigned for what seemed like hours, broken only by whispered endearments and soft demands, the gentle slap of skin on skin, the crackle of the logs drowning out moans that should have echoed around the large room. Firelight flickered, bathing one tan, one cream body in an orange glow as their movements slowed and they curled around each other.

"We have bedrooms to do that in," a dark voice said from the doorway. Both Draco and Harry turned their heads to see Severus standing there. Harry pulled the light blanket off the sofa and covered them with it.
"Been there long, Sev?" Draco rested his head on Harry's shoulder.
"Seconds only, thank Merlin."
"Would hate to shock you, then." Harry didn't seem too concerned with being caught naked on the floor.
"There is very little that will shock me, Draco, although I would hate for any first years to catch you like this."
"There was a locking charm on the door." Harry said.
"Not a very good one then." Severus replied, "You might want to practice a bit more."
"Did you want us for anything, Professor?" Harry asked.
"If you intend going to Hogsmeade in the next couple of days, there's something to collect from the Apothecary."
"I can owl Hermione, she's coming back for New Year." Harry sat up, "She'll be happy to collect it for you."
"Do that then." Severus tried not to show any surprise that she was returning early, and he ignored the way his pulse leapt at the thought of possibly running into her. He quickly turned and made his way back to his lab, determined to immerse himself in his work.

~~@~~

There were a few raised eyebrows and smiles as Hermione made her way through Hogsmeade after Apparating there early on New Years Eve. Making her way to the Apothecary, she collected the fragile ingredients that Professor Snape didn't trust to owl post, and then walked up to the castle, glad she had her warm sheepskin boots on. It was a lot colder up here and she was glad she'd cast a warming charm on her cloak too.

Crookshanks ran ahead, not bothered by the snow on the ground but wanting to get in front of a warm fire as soon as possible. He waited at the main doors for his mistress to catch up and shot through as soon as the door was wide enough for him. Hermione followed him up the stairs to Gryffindor tower and let him into her room, smiling as he headed straight for the fireplace where he curled in front of the flames. Professor McGonagall must have been in earlier and lit it for her so the room was aired properly.

Enlarging her bag, she rummaged around for a hairbrush, pulling it through the tangles of her hair. She was pleased when it didn't frizz out, mentally thanking the hairdresser for finally taming it, and then spelled it into a French plait. Giving a glance at the mirror, she checked her appearance again and then picked up the packages for Professor Snape. Telling Crookshanks she wouldn't be long, she made her way down to the dungeons.

Opening the door of the potions classroom, she noticed Snape bent over a cauldron and she walked silently over to him, her boots whispering over the stone floor. Hovering quietly beside him, she identified the potion he was brewing and automatically passed him the next ingredient. Finishing that step, he stirred the potion and spelled the burner so it simmered. Then he turned to her and raised an eyebrow.
"I think I'm capable of brewing my own potion, Miss Granger."
"Sorry. Automatic reaction." She shrugged, placing the packages she was holding onto the table next to him.
"Well? You know where they go." He waved his hand at the store cupboard and turned back to the simmering cauldron. Hardly believing her luck, Hermione moved the parcels across the room and started putting them away, rotating the bottles and packets so the newest were at the back. Severus watched surreptitiously as she closed the cupboard and turned around.
"I see Draco's sense of humour has extended to you." He said as he started chopping the pixie wings. She gravitated back to his workstation and he slid her a knife and pile of wings.
"Sarcastic little bugger, isn't he?" she grinned, neatly slicing away.
"Language."
"Sorry," she was unrepentant though, "Dad told me to say hello to you."
"Thank you." Her scent drifted towards him, a hint of jasmine and something else he couldn't quite place. He added the pixie wings and held his hand out to her. She placed the next ingredient into it. They worked in silence for a while and both were surprised when the final step of the potion arrived.

Hermione set the bottles up and started to write the labels as Severus filled and put the stoppers in them. She passed him a small crate and he packed them away, and then she started on the clean up, automatically going over to the sink to start the manual work.
"Miss Granger."
"Yes?"
"This is not detention." He looked pointedly at her wand.
"Oh. Thanks." She smiled and within seconds the cauldron was clean and packed away neatly.
"I think sometimes that Draco had the right idea." He smirked, indicating her shirt.
"After that display, I think I agree with you." She grinned at him and was delighted when a quirk of his lips indicated he agreed with her. Rolling down his sleeves, he buttoned the cuffs, stalling a little bit. He picked up his jacket and shrugged into it. Hermione's mouth watered as his shirt was pulled tight across his chest for a few tantalising seconds.
"Bring your dragonhide gloves tomorrow." He said.
"Pardon?"
"Dragonhide gloves." He looked up at her from where he was buttoning his jacket, "Really, Miss Granger, I'm beginning to wish those really were your brains."
"Hey! No insulting the help!" she said indignantly.
"I'm allowed; it's in my contract." He said dryly, "I had it added specially."
Hermione laughed and then it hit her what he'd said, "I can assist you?"
"You didn't do too badly just now, I suppose I could give you a trial." He cleared his throat and picked up his voluminous robes.
"Thank you, Sir." A bright smile lit up Hermione's face.
"Just don't be late. I'll expect you after breakfast. Nine o'clock sharp."
"Does this mean I can always use magic to clean up?"
"Except in detention."
"So why do we always clean up by hand in your class?"
"Because residual magic combined with incompetent students are a dangerous mix."
"I see, so basically you're.." Hermione leant her arms on her desk and proceeded to fire questions at him. Severus, in return, went into lecture mode, and before they knew it, two hours had passed.
"So here you are." Harry spoke from the doorway, with an armful of ginger half-kneazle. Crookshanks grs growling at him and Hermione saw a couple of scratches on his hand. At the sight of his mistress, the cat leapt out of his arms.
"I found him outside Draco's common room. He's not a happy cat, 'Mione."
"He doesn't normally scratch you, Harry. What did you do?"
"Nothing, I swear. He's just in a cantankerous mood." he watched as Hermione reduced her cat to a liquid mass of fur, his purr echoing around the classroom and the cat slid out of her arms and onto the bench in front of Severus.
"Don't look at me you great furball, I know at least ten potions that use kneazle fur alone." Severus frowned at the cat. Crookshanks ignored him and rolled on his back, his tail twitching lazily.
"He wants you to stroke him." Hermione said. Severus gave her one of his 'I'm not stupid' glares.
"I don't stroke," he said, folding his arms.
"No? I'll leave Crooks here then. Let him be the judge, shall we?" Hermione picked up her robe, "Come on, Harry, Professor Snape will let him out when he's had enough."
"Who? Him or Crookshanks?" Harry held the door open for her.
"Both."
"Five points from Gryffindor, Miss Granger, for abandonment." Severus called as the cat stretched out a paw and batted his arm.
"You, or my cat?" she stuck her head back around the door.
"Make it ten, five for each." he unhooked one of Crookshank's claws from his sleeve.
"If I take him with me, will you give them back?"
"No."
"He likes a bit of fish for his supper." she disappeared.
"Pull one thread and you're potions ingredient." Severus warned the ginger cat, who got up and rubbed against him, purring. Muttering about shedding hairs, Severus stood up and walked towards his rooms, holding the door open for the cat. He waited for Severus to sit down and summon a pot of tea before leaping onto his lap and stretching out over the man's long thighs. His rumbling purr sounded in the room as Severus ran long fingers through the thick fur of his belly and proceeded to recite the potions that used Kneazle parts. Crookshanks lifted his head and stared at the man that smelled faintly of his mistress, then laid his head down and dug one claw into his knee as a warning. Severus hissed and unhooked the claw, wondering what he'd done to warrant the attention of Miss Granger's crazy cat; because it had to be crazy to want to spend time with him.

~~@~~

Harry started laughing as they headed down the corridor to the Slytherin common room.
"What?" Hermione punched his arm.
"Draco's sense of humour, Hermione. 'I Wish These Were Brains'? I wonder what Ron's says."
"So what about yours then?" she asked and grinned as a blush spread over Harry's face, "Tell me!"
"It's embarrassing."
"No more than mine."
"No."
"Do I have to dare you?"
"Maybe later, after you've had far too much to drink to remember anything."
"You'd better have plenty of booze then."
"Oh, we have," Draco said from the doorway, "About time you turned up, Granger."
"I've been working, Malfoy." Hermione kissed his cheek, though.
"Working? Didn't look like working to me." Harry said, "She was chatting up your Head of House."
"I was not chatting him up, Harry. We were having a discussion." she wandered around the common room, comparing it to Gryffindor. Draco looked at Harry, who gave him a discreet thumbs up sign.
"We're having dinner here, if that's all right with you." Draco said.
"Fine. I'm starving." she threw herself down on the sofa and stretched out, kicking off her ankle boots and wiggling her toes, "This is nice."
"So pleased our humble common room meets with your approval." Draco bowed.
"Could do with a bit of red, though, make it a bit more Christmassy," she said, grinning, and caught the pillow he threw at her.
"Order dinner, like a good little witch," Draco said.
"Order it yourself, you chauvinist pureblood."
"I'll order it," Harry got fed up with their good-natured bickering, and summoned Dobby.
Draco opened the first bottle of wine over starters and they'd gone through two before the elf brought a selection of desserts, predominantly of the chocolate variety.
"So tell me what you got for Christmas," Harry leaned against Draco and brought Hermione's feet into his lap. She rested her wine on her stomach and sighed as he started a foot rub.
"Mainly book tokens, and that book you got me had better have been a joke, Harry Potter."
"I thought 'Bondage for Beginners' would be right up your street, you bossy witch."
"I told you before that my sex life was none of your business, and I'm just wondering if you didn't want to borrow it yourself."
"Well, if you're not going to use it.."
"Harry Potter!" this from both Hermione and Draco.
"What? Of course it was a joke! Didn't you like the bracelet?"
"It was lovely, thank you. I think Draco is having a bad influence on you. You used to be such a sweet, innocent boy."
Draco started laughing, "Excuse me, but he seduced me. I was the innocent one."
"So the 'Sex God of Slytherin' rumours were just that?"
"That'd be telling, wouldn't it?" Draco shot a sly grin at her, "Anyway, where do you hear all these rumours, shut up in the library like you always are?"
"You'd be surprised how reading a book makes people think you're deaf." she held out her glass for a refill.
"I'll have to try that sometime." Harry said.
"What, reading? Are you feeling all right?"
"I will be when I've had some more of this. Fill me up, Draco."
"I didn't want to hear that," Hermione giggled, "Not that it doesn't look hot to see two good-looking guys make out."
"You pervert!" Draco gaped at her.
"No, really. I read in a magazine that it's one of the top ten turn-ons for women, after foot rubs."
Harry dropped her foot like it was a hot coal. "Okay, who are you and what have you done with the shy, retiring, real Hermione Granger?" he demanded.
"You're just seeing the new, improved, more aggressive version," Hermione lifted her foot, "I was joking about the foot rub."

There was laughter and another bottle of wine was opened, and by eleven thirty Hermione was pleasantly high, but by no means drunk. Harry's eyes were a little glazed and he wasn't objecting to Draco's possessive displays of affection.
"Help me up, Draco, I think I'll see the New Year in with Crookshanks." Hermione held out her hand.
"You can borrow one of the spare rooms if you want," Draco stopped nuzzling Harry's neck for a minute.
"No, thanks. Regardless of what I said earlier, I think you two need to be alone."
"Severus's rooms are three doors down, beside the portrait of Salazar Slytherin, if you want to wish him Happy New Year."
"I might stop by to see if Crookshanks is still alive." She made sure she wasn't looking at Draco while she put her wand in the back pocket of her jeans.
"Good luck, then." Draco nudged Harry to get his attention and the darker boy withdrew his hand from under Draco's shirt.
"Happy New Year, 'Mione."
"Happy New Year to you too. Have fun." she bent and kissed them both and then made her way out the door. As soon as it shut behind her, she pulled her wand and cast a sobering charm. Clearheaded once again, she found the portrait of Salazar Slytherin and raised her hand to knock on the door.
"It's a bit late for a young lady to be wandering the dungeons." Salazar leaned against the frame of his portrait in a casual gesture.
"New Year's Eve, Sir." Hermione had always secretly thought that Salazar was much better looking than Godric Gryffindor.
"After the Potions Master, are you?"
"He has my cat."
"Big ginger thing? He's still in there."
"I just thought I'd check up on him."
"The cat, or Severus Snape?" his dark eyes glinted in amusement.
"Both?" Hermione smiled back at Salazar.
"It's always the quiet ones," he shook his head, "Knock, then." He'd been keeping his eye on this one, and was inclined to agree with the Potter and Malfoy boys; she would be good for Severus.

Hermione did as she was told and knocked lightly on the door. Quick, impatient steps sounded and then the door opened suddenly to reveal a scowling professor.
"About time. Your bloody cat is taking over." he snarled, stepping aside so she could see the way Crookshanks was draped over the back of what was obviously Severus's chair by the fire. As they watched, the cat slid down the back and curled up on the seat, purring.
"I know where to come then when he disappears, shall I?" Clever girl, thought Salazar as he slid into the portrait over the fire. Severus folded his arms and glared at the offending animal.
"Did you give him some fish?" she asked. Severus snorted, then nodded reluctantly.
"Thank you. Professor McGonagall says I spoil him."
"Probably because you've never offered her any when she's a cat."
"Was that a joke, Professor?"
"I have been known to make one every ten years or so."
"So that was your quota, was it?" she leant back against the door and folded her arms, feeling brave enough to flirt a little. She glanced at her watch and saw that it was very nearly midnight. She straightened up and started forward as if to collect her cat.

As she drew closer, the clock started to chime the hour and they both paused to look at it. Sev's f's face was in shadows and he looked down at Hermione, noticing how the firelight caught in her curls. Hermione crossed her fingers behind her back and turned to face him.
"Professor?"
"Yes?"
"Happy New Year." she put her hand on his collar and tugged him down to her level, pressing her lips against his. He tasted faintly of coffee and cigarettes, with a underlying hint of mint and she pressed closer, her other hand coming up to rest on his shoulder.

Severus tensed as Hermione tugged on his collar, not realising what she intended doing until her lips pressed against his and her other hand landed on his shoulder, and she moved closer, her breasts pushing against his chest. He unfolded his arms, intent on pushing her away, but his actions caused his hands to brush against the swell of her breasts and his fingertips encountered hard nipples. He had a sudden vision of her in just a towel and he paused, his mind going blank for a few seconds.

Hermione took advantage of his stillness and darted her tongue out to sweep over his bottom lip, requesting entrance, and pushed suddenly aching breasts into his hands, rubbing against him in invitation. The reality was far surpassing her fantasy and he wasn't even really involved yet.

Severus felt a velvet tongue over his bottom lip and he opened his mouth before reality hit him in the face. This was Miss Granger, Head Girl, that was currently rubbing against him, doing a good impression of a cat in heat. He could taste chocolate and red wine on her tongue and he finally moved reluctant hands from full breasts to a narrow waist, determined to push her away. A small hand dug into the back of his head and pulled him down further and she changed the angle of her mouth, moaning slightly as she did so, her hips moving closer to his sudden arousal.

As the blood rushed from his head to his groin, Severus mentally calculated how many rules they were breaking and when the last time was that he'd held a willing woman in his arms. Realising that it was far too long, he threw caution to the wind and kissed her back.


TBC