AFTERWARDS

Hermione stood watching the back of Severus Snape as he walked out of the Great Hall, her breath caught in her throat and her stomach doing back flips. She felt a gentle hand on her arm and turned to see Ginny Potter pulling her back from the dance floor towards the table where her friends were sitting.

‘Hermione, are you OK? Did he upset you?’ Ginny’s face was concerned; she had never seen her friend so flustered before.

‘What? No, not at all… I just wasn’t expecting him to leave so suddenly.’ She drifted off and looked around the table. ‘Where is Harry?’

Ginny wrapped her arms across her chest and pouted a little. ‘He’s gone for a walk with Ron. We had a row. About you, as it happens…’ She sighed deeply.

‘That’s so ridiculous! What did he say?’ Hermione was furious with Harry, how could he leave Ginny here on her own?

‘He was annoyed when you started dancing with the Professor and was going to pull you away, so I stopped him. I’m sure he still thinks you’re at school sometimes, I had to remind him that you and the Professor are colleagues now and he would just have to get used to it. He seemed to think there was more to it than that.’ Ginny grinned at her and raised her eyebrows and snorted as if it were the most far-fetched idea anyone could have.

Hermione stared at Ginny, not wanting to lie to her but not willing to divulge her feelings. If anyone was going to know tonight, it would be Severus. Hermione knew exactly where she needed to be right now and it wasn’t standing here talking to Ginny.

‘Listen Ginny, tell Harry for me he’s a total idiot. I really have to go. I’ll Owl you, OK?’ And with that, Hermione turned and left the Great Hall, leaving Ginny staring after her, her mouth open in confusion.


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Hermione walked down the familiar halls towards the dungeons. She shivered slightly, she had forgotten how cold it was in the lower parts of the castle and thought she should perhaps have brought a wrap with her. She was so focussed on her destination she was surprised when she found herself standing outside Severus’s private laboratory. She paused a little before knocking and wondered if she truly knew what she was doing. She lent her forehead against the cool wood of the door and took a deep breath, closing her eyes. She had no idea what she was going to say to him, if anything. She just knew she wanted to be in the same room and for now, that would be enough. She raised her hand and knocked firmly on the door.


Severus had wondered how long it would take her to follow him. He thought back to the moment he left her in the Great Hall and realised it was less than chivalrous of him to leave her standing there on her own. For his own sanity he had needed to leave, he couldn’t bear being so close to her without touching her. He closed his eyes and an image of Hermione, her voluptuous figure clad in that stunning gown, her hair so sexily arranged on top of her head and the memory of his arm around her waist as they danced, swam before his eyes and he groaned at the thought of it, his crotch tightening slightly. She was so young and so beautiful he knew it could be lust. It had been a significant length of time since he had sampled the delights of female flesh. But Severus had been in love before and he recognised the signs. He hoped silently that he wouldn’t make a fool of himself like he had with Lily. Perhaps, just perhaps, he could get it right this time.

He opened the door slowly, knowing it was her before he did so. She stood framed in the doorway, a serious look on her face, her arms wrapped around herself in a familiar gesture he recognised. Something was amiss. He didn’t speak to her but nodded and opened the door wider. She walked past and he caught her scent, vanilla and musk.

Hermione stood in his laboratory and glanced around. She smiled a little. It hadn’t changed since she was last here. She jumped as she heard him close the door behind her and she was suddenly anxious.

‘You look like you need that drink. Follow me.’ He spoke quietly and walked towards his private quarters. Hermione watched him, his walk graceful and fluid as she followed him.

He stepped into his private space before her and walked towards a small table near a huge fireplace on the left hand wall of the room. The room was warm and cosier than she had imagined it would be. A large brown leather sofa sat in front of the fire, two leather chairs either side. Along the far wall were two bookcases full of bound volumes. Her interest was aroused and she wondered if he would let her access his private collection at some point. Beyond this, Hermione could see another door, which she assumed led into his bedchamber. Her face flushed at the thought of it and she turned to where he was standing. He had been watching her, the firelight glinting off her hair, her eyes wide as she looked around the room and brightening as she saw his books. He smiled as she turned to look at him and he held out a glass of Fire whisky.

‘Thank you.’ She smiled at him a little but her face fell quickly. There were so many emotions and thoughts running through her head and he could see she was troubled by something.

‘Take a seat, Miss Granger…’ He spoke softly and sat in one of the armchairs as Hermione sat in the corner of the sofa.

Hermione realised she needed to say something now she was finally here. ‘You have a nice place, it’s not what I expected..’ She took a gulp of her Fire whisky and licked her lips. It was warm and delicious on her tongue.

‘So, you have spent some time imagining my private quarters, have you, Miss Granger?’ He teased her and she looked up at him, blushing.

He was grinning at her and she couldn’t help but laugh. ‘I have not! What a thing to suggest! I just thought, stern Professor, stern living quarters…’ She grinned at him.

‘Ahh. Touché…’ He smiled at her warmly.

Hermione looked at him thoughtfully. ‘I didn’t know you could dance, Severus.’

‘I think there is a lot about me you don’t know Hermione.’ He was challenging her, she knew it.

‘I will have to make it my business to find out now we are colleagues, don’t you think, Severus…’ She whispered and their eyes met. He didn’t break her gaze but stood from his chair and walked over to where she was sitting. Her breathing was erratic, he was so close she could reach out to touch him.

‘Your glass is empty. Allow me…’ He took the glass and turned away from her finally to pour a larger measure of Fire whisky into it. When he returned it to her, he sat down on the sofa next to her and she looked at him closely. He looked much healthier than the last time she had seen him.

‘Hermione…’ He frowned a little as he looked into her beautiful face. ‘Why are you here and not still in the Great Hall with the rest of your little gang?’

‘They’re not my ‘little gang’ any more, in fact, after tonight I don’t know that I would care if I saw Harry again.’ Hermione smiled a small smile at him and drank her Fire whisky. The alcohol was warming her face and two pink spots had appeared on her cheeks.

‘I must say I had half expected you to marry Weasley and turn into another Molly, churning out ginger babies and forgetting that contraceptive potions exist…’ He chuckled at his joke and Hermione laughed softly.

‘I think that’s what Ron thought too!’ She grinned at him. ‘He asked me. I said no. He has hardly spoken to me since.’ She shrugged.

‘You said no?’ Severus was surprised.

‘It wouldn’t have been fair on him, would it? Given that I am in love with you and have been since I was sixteen.’ She smiled at him and lifted his empty glass from his hand. ‘Allow me, Severus…’

He felt like he had been punched in the stomach. Typical of the little witch to pull the rug out from beneath him when he had thought he was in control of the situation. He clearly wasn’t. He looked up at her. She had her back to him as she poured more Fire whisky into their glasses. Her dress skimmed her round bottom and trailed a little on the floor. Thin tendrils of hair were resting against her smooth neck and he couldn’t hold back any longer, he had to hold her.

He stood quickly and went to where she was standing. She felt him behind her and stiffened a little, her breath coming rapidly, biting her bottom lip. She hadn’t meant for it to come out the way it did but it was out there. Now she just had to deal with the fall out and wondered if he would tell her to leave. What actually happened was a surprise to both of them.

Severus took a length of her hair and ran it through his fingers. It was as smooth as silk and fragrant from her shampoo. He laid his hands gently on her shoulders and bent his head to her neck, kissing it gently. Hermione gasped and leant her back against his firm body as he kissed her throat over and over again.

‘Severus…’ she whispered.

He turned her to face him and took the two glasses she was clutching from her grasp. She was clinging onto them for dear life, her knuckles white. He looked down into her deep chocolate eyes as she looked up at him. He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her gently to him, their bodies touching. He stroked her cheek with his free hand, running his thumb over her full lips.

‘So beautiful…’ He whispered.

Hermione snaked her arms around his waist and allowed her fingers to stroke his back through the fabric of his coat. Their faces were so close, searching each other as their lips met in a gentle, tender kiss. Hermione gasped as she felt him pull her closer, both arms holding her as they deepened their kiss, his tongue gently licking her mouth until she opened to allow him access. Their tongues met slowly and sensuously and they savoured the moment until as if by mutual consent, they drew apart.

They smiled at each other shyly. ‘That was much better than I imagined it to be…’ Hermione spoke gently as he handed her back her glass and pulled her next to him on the sofa.

‘Aha….’ He grinned at her.

‘You caught me out…’ She grinned at him.

They sat quietly, sipping their drinks until Hermione stood up.

‘I really should be going, Severus.’ She smiled down at him and he stood with her.

‘Of course. Perhaps tomorrow we could meet to discuss the Potions you will be needing? ’ He smiled at her and took her hand in his, squeezing it gently.

‘I think that's an excellent idea....Professor…’ She smiled.

He bent his head and kissed her gently before dropping his arm around her waist and guiding her to the door.

Hermione smiled at him as he closed the door. She had no recollection of returning to her quarters; she thought she might have flown there.

All she could remember was the feel of his lips and the taste of his tongue in her mouth.


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