Woes of a Potions Master

Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to JKR. All situations are mine. No $$$ is being made from this fanfic.
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Chapter 12 ~ Setting Up

Supper was a rather muted affair in the Great Hall. Everyone was much quieter than usual, with the staff members glancing at the Potions Master furtively, as he ate his meal. Particularly Hermione. His parting words to them at lunch had run deep, and each associate felt extremely guilty.

Severus was still angry, though he hid it well. It was as if his short speech to them drove home just how alone he was, how much of an outcast. Even his wife had been part of his humiliation, and that hurt him the most. Of course, Hermione was young and as far as Severus was concerned, still maturing. It wasn’t vindictiveness that made her find the situation funny, he knew that, but it was her callousness that affected him. Well, he’d be sure to tell her exactly what she had done wrong tonight as he was driving his cock into her sweet body. He’d found that she rarely made the same mistake twice after his specialized correction. Plus, he saw the guilt and remorse in her eyes before he left the Great Hall. She was sorry, he knew. But his ego required much more than an apology. He needed to remind her she was his wife, and as such was supposed to be supportive of him in all situations. And he would do it, very thoroughly.

Severus looked down the staff table at his wife with this thought in mind, just as Hermione looked toward him. She recognized the look he gave her…both hot and cold at the same time. Her husband was thinking of what he was going to do to her once he got his hands on her. She felt heat rise in her belly and looked away from him. He had no idea how badly she felt, and what she was willing to go through to make things right between them. She hoped Ginny was right. She hoped tonight would be enough to start to repair the damage her callousness had caused.

Severus decided that after supper he would go to Hermione’s rooms and retrieve her. The hell with talking first. He hadn’t touched or tasted her in over a week. He would drag her to his rooms and back to their marriage bed if necessary, though he expected she would come willingly. If she resisted, so much the better. And after he was done with her, he would go and bring back her clothing and other articles and put them in their rightful place, in his rooms where they belonged.

Severus was so lost in his thoughts about abducting and reclaiming his wife that he didn’t see Albus rise and approach him. He started when he felt the Headmaster’s hand on his shoulder.

“I didn’t mean to startle you, Severus,” the Headmaster said, his blue eyes solemn as he looked at the dark wizard. “You look quite deep in thought, my boy.”

“Yes, Headmaster. I do have several things on my mind,” the Potions Master replied.

“So do I,” the Headmaster responded, “I would like you to join me in my office after supper, Severus.”

The Potions Master scowled slightly. He had wanted to collect Hermione after supper.

“Can it wait, Headmaster? I have…plans,” Severus said.

“I’m afraid I must insist, Severus,” Albus replied, turning to return to his seat, “I’ll expect you directly.”

Severus scowled after the Headmaster. Damn it.

Hermione finished her meal, rose and walked past her husband quickly. It was now seven o’clock and she needed to bathe. She exited out the staff exit. Severus watched her go, his nostrils flared. Suddenly he stood up and exited behind her.

Hermione turned down the dungeon corridor and had just gone several feet, when she felt strong hands grab her by the shoulders and turn her, pushing her back against the wall. She gazed into the dark eyes of her husband. Severus pressed close against her.

“Hello, wife,” he said silkily, relishing the feel of her soft body against his.

“Severus,” Hermione breathed, feeling desire pool between her thighs at the delicious feel of his hard body pressing into hers. She could feel him hardening against her.

“I was going to surprise you tonight, but Albus had other plans for me…but I am informing you that this separation is officially over. I fully expect you to be ready to perform the wifely duties that have been denied me these past seven days,” he breathed down at her, “and trust me, you will make up for every single day and then some.”

Severus released his wife and backed away, noting the heat in her eyes and her labored breathing. She was ready for him. Ready for what she knew he was going to do to her. His black eyes glinted.

“I will retrieve you from your rooms whenever I am done with whatever foolishness Albus has in store for me. Be there. Don’t make me look for you,” he said in a low, dangerous voice. “And be prepared for a long, rough ride, my little wife. I’ve missed you, and you have a lot to make up for.”

Hermione’s legs felt as if they were made of Jell-O and she was trembling all over as her husband gave her a hungry look, then strode back to the main hall and up the main stairwell. He was on his way to Albus’ office.

Hermione pushed herself unsteadily off the wall, her body feeling as if it were engulfed in fire. Walking rather dazedly, she made it to her office, opened the door and let herself in. She opened the wall that let to her study and walked through, looking at the clock. She hurried into her bedroom, then the bathroom. She needed to bathe before Ginny got here. She was so ready for tonight. Severus’ angry declaration had ripples of anticipation running up and down her body. At this point she didn’t care what he did to her, as long as he did something. She turned on the spigot and started to undress.

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Severus headed up to the Headmaster’s office, hoping whatever the old wizard wanted to talk to him about wouldn’t take long. He was ready to reclaim his wife, and intended to fuck her until her head popped off. Or damn near. By the time he was finished with Hermione, she’d never, ever think about leaving him again.

The Potions Master stopped in front of the gargoyle that guarded the entrance to Albus’ office.

“Jelly Slugs” Severus said, his large nose wrinkled in distaste. Why couldn’t the Headmaster come up with a reasonable password for once?

The gargoyle leapt aside and the spiral stairwell that led up to the Headmaster’s office came into view. The Potions Master mounted the stairs quickly and knocked on Albus’ door.

“Come in, Severus,” the Headmaster said pleasantly.

Severus opened the door and entered the office. Albus was sitting behind his desk, two large stacks of parchments in front of him. Fawkes trilled a welcome at the Potions Master. For some reason, the Phoenix seemed to adore him. She had from the first time Severus approached the Headmaster years ago and was turned to the service of the Order. Actually, it was Fawkes response to the young, dark wizard that made Albus take the chance on him. The Phoenix had been correct. Severus proved to be courageous, selfless and loyal despite his cold exterior. A pity he had never been recognized for his service by the Ministry.

“Have a seat, my boy,” Albus said, gesturing toward the cushioned chair in front of his desk. Severus eyed the chair. This was the “You’re Going to Be Here a While” chair. Normally Albus had wooden straight-backed chairs in front of his desk. Whenever this one appeared…forget it.

Severus looked at the piles of parchment on Albus’ desk and got a bad feeling.

“So, Severus…you must be wondering while I called you up here. Well, I’ve been working on the budgeting, and we need to go over next year’s budget for your Potions class supplies,” he said evenly. Actually, this was the best idea he could come up with to keep the Potions Master in his office for such a long period of time.

“What? Headmaster, you can’t be serious. Can’t we discuss this another time?” Severus asked.

“No, I have all the other budgeting done,” Albus lied, “Yours is the last and I want to get this out of the way. I have the Potions budgets of the past two years here. I am sure we can estimate next year’s needs from these.”

Severus scowled. Budgeting at seven-thirty on a Sunday night? Sometimes he really wondered if the Headmaster was going a bit dotty. Albus handed a stack of parchments to the exasperated Potions Master.

“All right. Let’s start with January,” the Headmaster said, his eyes twinkling.

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“Hermione! Hermione, wake up!”

Hermione opened her eyes to see Ginny standing over the bathtub.

“I can’t believe you fell asleep. Hurry up and finish bathing. We have things to do,” she said.

Hermione blinked at her.

“How’d you get in here?” Hermione asked her. The port key had been set to Severus’ rooms.

“It took a while, believe me. First I had to get out of the Professor’s rooms, then into yours when you didn’t answer the door. Good thing I have Fred and George for brothers. They showed me a trick or two. But come on. It’s going on eight o’clock. That only leaves us an hour,” Ginny said. “I left his rooms open.”

Hermione finished bathing and exited the tub as Ginny enlarged the items they bought at the joke shop. She brought Hermione the dress and helped her put it on.

“Wow,” Ginny said stepping back to look at the dress, “Oh, you look hot girl.”

Hermione looked down at it. Yes…in a wild kind of way she did.

“Come on…let’s loosen your hair,” Ginny said. Hermione sat on the edge of the tub as Ginny quickly undid her braids. “Now don’t comb them out…leave them just like this,” Ginny said. Hermione looked at her hair in the mirror. It looked rather strange, falling in long kinky strands, almost like dreadlocks. It looked like a wild woman’s hairstyle. Ginny cast a holding spell on the twisted locks.

“That ought to last until morning. He’s going to like that hair with that dress,” she said.

Hermione felt a little draft.

“What about knickers?” she asked. Ginny looked at her like she was crazy.

“No knickers,” she said firmly, “Now come on, we’ve got to get your bedroom fixed up…your proper bedroom…not this place.”

She and Hermione picked up their wands and the packages, then headed out the Spells office. Ginny peeked out first to make sure no one was in the corridor, then they both ran to the Potions Master’s office and slipped in, Hermione warding the door behind them. They entered the study, then the bedroom, where Ginny quickly set up the restraints, pushing the leather straps through the rings and attaching them to the crank, then attaching the crank to the wall and levitating the rings until they adhered firmly to the ceiling. Hermione stood still as Ginny put the restraints on each wrist and cranked it a little, then stepped back to look at her. She stared at her up and down and shook her head.

“No, that’s not it,” Ginny said, and made a change to the ring setup and restrained Hermione again in a different manner.

“Yessss,” she breathed. “You look delicious like that. If my boys saw you….”

“No need to finish that sentence, Ginny,” Hermione said as the witch released her.

Ginny took out the speaker box and put the disk in it. She set it so it would start playing when Severus entered the bedroom.

“What is that song?” Hermione asked her.

“Sweet Dreams by the Eurythmics. Perfect lyrics for tonight, trust me,” she said grinning. It’s set to replay. It’s your theme music.”

Hermione wasn’t familiar with the song.

“What are the lyrics?” Hermione asked the redheaded witch.

“You’ll see,” Ginny smiled. “There’s not a lot of words to it, but the words fit the situation.”

Ginny picked up the parchment, the mask, gloves and riding crop and went into the study. She laid the items on the table between the two armchairs in front of the floo, walked over to Severus’ desk and retrieved a quill. She handed the quill to Hermione.

“Write a short letter to your husband about how sorry you are and how you are waiting for him in the bedroom,” Ginny said.

Hermione walked over to the table, knelt and wrote something on the parchment. Then Ginny picked it up, read it and nodded, then held it in front of the floo. The parchment began to glow and the witch let it loose. It floated in mid-air, softly glowing.

“That will be the first thing that gets his attention, then he’ll see the mask, gloves and crop,” Ginny said.

“Gods,” Hermione said, “My stomach is all in knots.”

“Yeah,” Ginny grinned, “By the end of tonight your stomach might not be the only thing knotted up.”.

She looked at the time. It was five to nine.

“Well, it’s just about showtime, Hermione,” Ginny said looking at her friend, “Now let’s go over what you’re going to do and say when he comes into the room…”

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“And that should do it,” Albus said, taking the parchments from Severus and stacking them neatly on his desk. “We’re set until next year. Thank you so much, Severus.”

The Potions Master looked at the Headmaster. This really could have waited.

“You’re welcome, Headmaster,” he replied, standing up.

Albus looked at the time. Nine o’clock on the dot. He smiled. He’d done it. Whatever Hermione had planned he hoped the Potions Master would enjoy it. The wizard deserved something pleasant after all he had been through.

“Is there anything else?” the Potions Master asked, already moving toward the floo. He didn’t feel like taking all those stairs.

“Yes,” Albus said, looking at Severus curiously, “How did you do it?”

“Do what?” the Potions Master asked?

“The students. Today. All the impersonations,” Albus replied.

“I didn’t do it,” Severus replied. It was the truth after all.

The Headmaster looked at Severus. He had never known the wizard to lie.

“But you know who did,” the Headmaster observed.

Severus gave a little smirk but didn’t say anything.

“Very well,” Albus stated, his eyes twinkling, “Let the culprits remain anonymous then, but it was quite an effective way to teach an old wizard a lesson. Again, I am very sorry, Severus.”

The Potions Master looked at him.

“I know sir. Good night,” he replied. He stepped to the floo.

“Spells Mistress’ rooms,” he said, and stepped through.

“Good luck, Hermione,” Albus breathed as the Potions Master walked through the flames.

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Severus stepped through the floo in Hermione’s rooms and immediately bellowed for her. When there was no answer, he frowned and walked into her bedroom. He found a wet towel and nothing else. He looked in the bathroom. He could tell the tub had been used. He walked back into the study, raised the wall and looked in her Spells office. She wasn’t there either. He checked her lab as well. Nothing. He scowled. He had told her to wait for him to retrieve her. Nostrils flared, he left for his rooms. He would use the doll to find her.

He entered his office, opened the wall to his study and entered it. He stopped immediately, noticing a glowing parchment floating eye level in front of his fireplace. His eyes slid around his study slowly. Who had placed the parchment here? Cautiously he walked around the chairs. He saw items on his table. A mask, gloves and a riding crop. What was going on here? He read the letter.

Dear Severus,

I know I have wronged you and am willing to do anything to make it up to you. The items on the table are for your use if you choose. I am in the bedroom waiting for you.

Hermione

The Potions Master looked at the items again. A mask? Gloves? A riding crop?

Severus picked up the riding crop and looked at it. Experimentally he brought it down on his palm and jerked his hand back, surprised. Then his eyes narrowed. A riding crop that gave pleasure? He turned his head toward his bedroom. What was his wife up to?

He gathered the items up and headed for his bedroom curiously. He stepped across the threshold and froze, his black eyes going wide first with shock, then amazement. He stared at his wife as a kind of techno beat started playing, and a woman’s resonant, alto voice began to sing:

Sweet dreams are made of these
Who am I to disagree?
I traveled the world and the seven seas
Everybody's looking for something…

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A/N: Oh, it’s on now ya’ll. Full speed ahead to the orchards. I love the song “Sweet Dreams” Very sexy. Please review.