The Hunt

Hermione was awed by the castle. While it was nowhere near Hogwarts size, it was impressive none the less. Each couple had been given a different wing but by no means were confined to it. The weekend was on it’s way to being most enjoyable, as each couple would have more then enough space to themselves, as well as chances to gather as a group.



Hermione had no idea the grounds themselves were so vast, with gardens stretching out to an orchard and a river leading to the village. When they arrived Pansy let them know that tea would be available in the garden setting in an hour. Everyone should be at the castle by then.



Hermione and Severus unpacked and changed. Since they had begun working in the potion together, she had seen him in casual clothes more consistently. She loved how he looked in his jeans, black shirt and boots. His hair was pulled back in a ponytail at the nape of his neck. They walked arm in arm down to the garden setting and greeted the others.



Everyone had arrived and was having a good time. Hermione looked around at her friends. Luna and Greg were chatting enthusiastically with Pansy and Ron. Luna was sitting closely beside Greg and holding his hand while he talked to Ron, Luna had her legs crossed and was brushing the arch of her foot across his calf as she spoke to Pansy.



Ron was speaking to Greg as he leaned back in his chair. His arm was draped across the back on Pansy’s chair as she leaned her body against his. Her arm was lazily resting on his leg, while she was speaking to Luna.



Each couple looked completely at ease with each other. It was something that would have been unheard of when they were young, but thankfully they had matured over the years. It was easy to see they were all happy, Severus and Lucius included. Hermione smiled, and turned back to Ginny. “Luna looks happy, doesn’t she Gin?”



Ginny leaned forward. “Yes she does. They haven’t been apart since they arrived.” Lucius was talking to Severus as he rested his arm around Ginny’s hip. “They immediately left to go unpack and didn’t come down for almost two hours according to Pansy. She wasn’t around when Lucius and I showed up.”



“Really?” Ginny nodded. “I’m glad, she’s had a thing for him for so long.”



Hermione sucked in a breathe as she felt Severus’s hand on her back running his fingers along her spine. Neither man saw it but Ginny was looking right at her and slid into a smile.



Hermione was ecstatic. The feel of Severus’s caress was amazing. It was too bad she had a shirt on. The feel of his fingertips on her bare skin was something she just had to feel.



“I saw that Hermione.” She whispered.



“Stop it.” Hermione couldn’t resist a giggle. A giggle joined by Ginny, but both ladies quickly quieted when they saw Lucius and Severus looking at them. Both men exchanged looks of humor. At their age they were only far to aware of the secrets of ladies.





After tea, Luna and Greg took a walk along the grounds. Hermione watched them leave with their arms around each other, walking at a slow pace. Pansy and Ron held hands and walked to the game room. Pansy mentioned wanting to learn to play billiards. Lucius and Ginny took off for a fly around the grounds. Lucius loved to fly and Ginny did too.



“Lucius doesn’t usually fly at home.” Severus commented as they walked around the castle. “It’s a shame, he always used to fly when we were younger.”



“Well if he is going to continue seeing Ginny, he should get used to it again. Ginny is always in the air.” She grew just a tad serious. “Do you think they will continue?”



“I sincerely hope so. Lucius shines when he is on her company. I like to see him happy again.” He offered her his arm, which she took.



“I like seeing Ginny enjoy herself after the years that she’s had.” Hermione said rested her hand comfortably on his forearm. It seemed so natural to walk with him this way, with his hand covering hers. He had a soft touch, that she didn’t think capable from potions master.



With all the ingredients to prepare, a brewer had to keep their hands clean. Hermione had a strict moisturizing regimen that she followed otherwise her hands would be cracked and red. Severus obviously applied the same diligence since his hand was smooth on hers.



“What happened to her Hermione? Why did she divorce?” Severus asked, with a genuine concern.



“He slapped her.” Hermione said plainly.



Severus stopped for a moment and looked at her. “Did he?”



“He did indeed.” Hermione confirmed as they continued walking in no general direction. “Ginny took after him with a beaters bat, but he managed to run faster then her.” Hermione let out a laugh at the image of Ginny attacking him.



“Good. Ginny Weasley was never one to let a man treat her that way.” Severus commented. “I assumed she began divorce proceedings before he could catch his breathe.”



“Yes, the next morning she had begun the process with her legal advisor.”



“No wonder she ended up with everything except his trousers.” Severus said with a chuckle.



Hermione laughed. “If she had found a way to take them she would have. She said that if she could beat the life out of him, she would make his life as uncomfortable as possible. She made no secret of it, either. He lost a great deal of respect, from everyone he knew. No doubt Igor Petrov regrets his actions.”



“Yes, but not for the right reasons.” Severus said dryly. Hermione looked to him to comment when he gaze caught the room they were passing.



“Oh wow!” Severus followed her gaze when she let out a gasp. It was the castle library. Severus followed her into the room just as excited. “Oh my ..Severus look at these, some of them are ancient texts and have been out of print for decades.”



“This is amazing indeed Hermione, some of these are perfect research sources for the potion.” He said, glancing at a few of them. “Before we leave here, we need to ask Pansy if we can borrow a few of these.”



“Severus look at this,” she brought a book over and showed him a section, “these plants are often used in meditations by those training on occlumency. We might be able to utilize them in the potion. Neville has several of these in his greenhouses.”



“That’s a good idea. If he doesn’t have them, he will know where he can procure them.” He reached out to take the book and in doing so covered her hand with his. Hermione felt her whole body warm up. She looked up and met his eyes. His touch had a way of doing that to her.



Severus took the book at set it on a nearby table, then took her hands in his. Hermione watched him slowly lower his face to hers. She lifted and met his lips. He had the gentlest kiss she had ever known. This was no unsure boy who was self conscience about his actions. This was a man. A real man who relished the experience of kissing her. He wanted to kiss her. He wasn’t kissing her just to get more, he wanted to feel this with her, she could tell. She could read so much from his kiss.



Severus held only her hands as he deepened the kissed, parting his lips and waiting until she parted hers to invade. He stroked her tongue gently with his own, coaxing a reaction from her.



Hermione felt her body responding. She pulled her hands from his and lifted them to his shoulders. When he slid his arms around her waist she moved closer, wrapping her arms around him. Severus was strong, she felt the broadness of his shoulders as she held him.



She tilted her head and gave into the heat of his kiss. He was holding her tightly, molding her curves against his frame. He leaned against the edge of a sturdy table and spread his legs so she could stand between them. Her hips fit perfectly against his. Severus wondered what her soft legs would feel like wrapped around him.



One hand slid up her back cradling the back of her neck. She felt his erection against her and pressed her body closer. Severus was such a fabulous kisser, turning her body on with just his lips and keeping it going with his caresses.



“It figures you two would be the ones to have a snog in the library.”



Hermione and Severus parted lips and turned to face Ron and Pansy in the doorway, arm in arm, smiling at them. Hermione hadn’t let him go and wasn’t about to. She felt Severus‘s hands shifting about behind her back. He pulled his wand out of his sleeve and with a neat flick, shut the door.



Turning back to Hermione he took her lips with his again, picking up as if nothing had separated them. Hermione let a small groan into his open mouth. Severus felt himself harden even more. He wanted nothing more then to bury himself inside her, but he was not about to take her on a hard table in the library.



He pulled away from her lips and dropped down to her neck, sucking gently. He didn’t want to mark her, but her responses were driving him to loss of control. She was holding his shoulders tightly, and leaning in close.



He felt the heat of her body warming him. He felt such lust when he held her. A surge through his being to take her clothes off and hold her skin to skin. He wanted to kiss every inch of her and discover everything that would make her shudder and cry out. He wanted to make her loose control.



He kissed along her neck downward, as her head rolled back. Her fingers clutched onto him for dear life. Severus wrapped an arm tightly around her waist and held her close.



“Pardon me.” A high voice called to them. They took a moment to regain their senses and looked at the house elf that was standing nervously on it’s feet, shifting it’s weight back and forth.



“Yes?” Severus asked, keeping Hermione close to him.



“Miss Parkinson says to inform you that dinner will be served in an hours time.” The little creature said quickly.



“Thank you.” Severus said. The creature vanished away. He stood to his height and looked down at her. “We should go and change.” He said softly. Hermione nodded and they left the library, arm in arm.