The Seduction Game

Disclaimer: All of the Harry Potter characters and the Harry Potter universe belongs to J.K. Rowling/Warnerbros. I am making no money.

Another chapter... :)

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He caught her by surprise, but no muc much that she pulled away or jumped in shock. It was just, well - unexpected.

Severus - for he had to be called Severus now, not Professor Snape, the man that wissiissing her couldn’t possibly be called by his title and last name - reached a hand up to cup her face whilst leaning his weight against the bed with the other.

Hermione quickly returned his kiss, enjoying it now fully for the first time as she was completely sober, willingly opening her mouth to hiplorploring tongue.

It felt much more serious now than it had the night before. They were sober, both of them, and the discussion about Lucius had brought on the gravity of the situation.

Hermione reached out her hands, wanting to touch him but afraid he would pull away if she did so. Reluctantly she touched his shoulders, and when she got no objection, snaked them around and caressed his neck and hair with her fingers.

He gave a slight groan in response, and she had to smile into their still intense kissing.

Stopping only seconds at a time for breath, they continued exploring each other’s mouths, and slowly Hermione found herself being lowered into a lying position on the bed, with Severus following on top of her, holding himself up with his arms on both sides of her head.

She moved her hands across his back, feeling his muscles and strength through the fabric of the robes. For the first time in her life, Hermione felt that a man close to her was wearing too much clothes. She wanted to feel the heat of his skin, not just cold fabric. Realizing this, her hands quickly made their way back up to feel his neck again.

He, too, was apparently eager to touch. Readjusting his weight onto his left hand only, his right hand went to feel her cheek and neck, and then travelled down her chest, gently feeling the curve of one of her breasts and then reaching her stomach.

His hand moved up again, and found her breasts once more, gently yet eagerly feeling them through the fabric of her robe. His breathing between the kisses became uneven.

Severus’s hands on Hermione worked the same magic as his tongue - but the hand caressing her breasts in turn started to worry her, he was getting very eager. Although not attempting to undress her or force her into anything, she couldn’t help but getting flashing images of what Lucius had done the night before.

She gently ed hed him away and broke their once never-ending kisses.

He caught eye contact with her, but didn’t speak or express a thing. Finally, she decided she had to speak, having been the one to push him away. “Sorry,” she whispered, feeling it was the only right thing to say.

“For what?” he asked.

“For - for pushing you away,” answered Hermione reluctantly, feeling shameful at the idea of being such a coward. She would be twenty in a month, and yhe che couldn’t even handle a man touching her!

“I suppose I should be the one to apologize,” he said. “I doubt what I did was what you were expecting from me when you came here for my aid this morning.”

She laughed a bit at that. “No, you’re right, that wasn’t what I’d expected,” she admitted. Then of course, she had to add, “I rather enjoyed it, though.”

He smirked, and sat up, pulling her with him as he did so. “I suppose I took what you said as an encouragement.”

“And you had every right to,” said Hermione quickly, “it WAS an encouragement. It’s just me, I’m a bit nervous because of yesterday, that’s all.”

“Understandable,” said Severus. “I did not mean to - ah, what to call it - attempt anything you weren’t comfortable with. I guess you could say I was acting on pure instinct.

“What an instinct,” Hermione commented, then instantly regretted it.

He smirked again, though.

She sighed, pushing hair away from her face and pulling herself together. “Look, I need to - I’m really at a loss for words here, you know - er, what happened here, exactly?”

“I believe we were kissing,” Severus stated.

“Yes, we were, but... how did that occur?”

“I believe you gave me an encouragement, although I think it’s fair to say I started it all.”

She smiled. “Is this your way of taking thinerioeriously?”

“I always take things seriously. Being sarcastic and ironic is just my way of dealing with an issue.”

“Right. So - what happened here, really? Yesterday was understandable, we’d both had a lot to drink, I needed comfort, you - for some reason - decided to comfort me... But today? Now, I mean?” She was uncertai how how to express herself, worried about his reaction to it all. It was so unusual to observe Professor Snape talking in a polite manner to her, not barking or yelling as he had done while at Hogwarts. It took some time getting used to.

And why was he so nice now, anyway?

“I acted out of selfishness,” said Severus earnestly, catching her eye.

“How do you mean?” she asked quietly, slightly afraid of the answer.

“Take a guess, Hermione.”

She really didn’t want to guess aloud, but she had a sneaking suspicion about what he was indicating. He’d said he’d enjoyed their kiss from last night, after all, and he’d been more than willing to kiss her again... But was it just simple luBeinBeing a man twice her age who just wanted to have his fun with a young, distressed woman?

Somehow, she didn’t think it could be possible. Severus had made too many mistakes in his life already, she didn’t think he would’ve wanted to make any more.

Taking into consideration of course that he indeed DID think of it as a mistake, taking advantage of a woman...

But he hadn’t taken advantage of her, had he, nor had he tried to... And she HAD encouraged him, no doubt about that... So to to the original question - what had really happened? Had she become attracted to this man? Why else would she have enjoyed his kisses? Why else would she encourage them?

Looking at him now, she felt an obvious attraction, but she couldn’t determine when it had first occurred.

Suddenly Severus Snape was attractive? Desireable, even?

“You are thinking hard, I presume.”

“Sorry, I was just caught up in thought,” she replied, rninrning to reality. “I really don’t want to guess. Could you please just be straight forwards with me for once and tell me what you meant?”

He sighed. “Very well. I have come to enjoy your company - the little of it I have had so far since you graduated, that is. And I will not attempt to hide the fact that I have been slightly curious about you since your latest Hogwarts years, too.”

“Where are you going with all of this?”

“I call it a kind of fascination, Hermione, if you will. Perhaps more - I would not know yet.”

He spoke in such a calm, confident voice, as though what he was telling her wasn’t important at all, as though he was merely stating facts. How could he always be so cool about things? Was it all just a mask, covering up what he really wished to show and feel? Or did he really have no outward emotions?

“You mean you fancy me?”

He gave a short laugh. “Yealleally have no subtlety. Very well, you want the honest and straight forward truth? You interest me, Hermione.”

“Is that so?” she asked, confused. Where did all of this come from?

He smirked, leaning forward to whisper gently in her ear: “I guess you could even say I have come to desire you.”

Her eyes went wide. This was so different from Lucius’s approach, and yet in many way so very alike. Severus wasn’t exactly being subtle now himself, she thought with a slight smile, and neither was he helping her insecurity.

“R - really?” she managed to stutter, nervously catching his eye again.

He smiled this time, gently. “I did not mean to upset you,” he said. “But you asked me for the truth, and after what just happened here I thought I might as well explain to you what my part in it was.”

She remained quiet.

“But as for your part, we still have a mystery on our hands, do we not?”

“I... I didn’t mean to push you away,” she said automatically, the guilt rushing over her.

“Well, I pushed too far,” he said in reply, dismissing her apology with ease. “It wasn’t my intention.” He paused, as though to think thoroughly about his next spoken words. “I have simply explained the situation to you, Hermione, it is not as if I ask something of you. However, I wish to be of assistance in order to keep you safe from Lucius, and you have only to come for me if you need anything. Do not bother yourself with what happened here, think of what matters.”

Yet again, he showed no sign of emotion. Didn’t he care what she thought of him? He’d just pretty much announced a real desire for her, yet he didn’t seem to mind at all in return what she felt for him! If she felt anything at all...

Attraction, yes, but real desire?

She was a virgin, how could she desire this man? Who would desire Professor Severus Snape?

It’s not impossible, she thought quietly. Not at all.

“I really need to think things through,” she said at last, standing from his bed. “And as long as we’re honest here, I’d like to say that I wish you’d show a bit more emotion - for your own sake. You rarely ever sound sincere when you talk so indifferently.”

“That is in my nature,” he smirked.

She nodded. “I know.”

“Let me know if you get another word from Lucius, will you?”

“Of course.”

Hesitating, she leaned down and gave him a quick kiss on the lips before making her way out of his room, her mind completely caught up in thought as she went down the corridor.

* * *

He hadn’t seen her at breakfast - obviously, the letter had frightened her.

He had hoped it would.

Lucius was spending his afternoon in the longue, reading whilst enjoying a fine whisky. His face did carry a smirk, if only a small one.

Hermione Granger would certainly regret pushing him away like that. Scream, in fact, was what she’d done. If she only hadn’t screamed, then that blasted Severus wouldn’t have come to her rescue.

Yes, he was without a doubt the hero now, Lucius was sure of it. Severus would be Hermione’s brave knight, giving her strength and comfort and care. It was a brilliant tactic, he would undoubtedly get her into bed within a week.

Lucius had to admit he was impressed. If Severus had thought this properly through, he’d done a good job at it. He’d pretended all along to desire Hermione in much the same way that Lucius did, and he had sent his old friend on many misleading paths at that.

Now, Severus had beat him to it. It would be impole fle for Lucius now to get Hermione voluntarily into his bed. No, it would have to be done forcefully.

Not that he minded that, of course not. A fighting woman was often just as attractive as a willing one, especially if she was as young and innocent as Hermione. It was a delicious sight, and Lucius wished to see it again.

And he would. The letter had been her warning. Now it was time for the attack.

Standing up, he made his way over to the door leading to the rooms’ corridor and peered through it. Leaving SeverusR roo room at the end of the hall was no other than Hermione.

Removing himself quickly from the door again, Lucius hurried back into the longue. It was time.

Preparing himself to cast a few locking and silencing charms, he then Disapparated to the very room in which he had left a small, slightly threatening piece of parchment the very evening before.

“Now it’s my turn, Hermione,” he whispered.


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Right, reviews, please... :)

And I promise there\'ll be some real action between Hermione and Severus..

PS: I have to apologize if it takes a while for the chapters to be published, but I\'m currently working on another story as well, on Snape\'s years as a Hogwarts students and a Death Eater.. I may end up publishing it actually, if I\'m satisfied with it...