Remember

CHAPTER 12: The Familiar









Hermione rolled over in her strange bed, listening to the creaking of the springs as she did so. It wasn’t even dawn yet and the sun hadn’t begun to lighten the sky outside her window. If she were still at school she would be readying herself to sneak out and meet Severus at the hot spring for their customary morning swim.







She moaned softly as she pulled herself from the warmth of her blankets and padded across the chilly room to the door. The house was dark as pitch as she felt along the hallway for the bathroom door and let her self inside. She answered natures call, shivering all the while, washed her hands and rinsed her mouth before turning off the light and stepping once more into the darkness of the corridor.







She kept her hand on the wall as she neared the end where she knew her room to be situated. Suddenly, from out of the darkness she heard the low murmur of a deep voice.







“Hello witch.” The disembodied voice said. She spun around and stared into the darkness but could see nothing. A scream lodged in her chest, she had left her wand in her room tucked beneath her pillow. “Here witchy witchy!” The voice taunted from the blackness.







Hermione turned and fled across the hall to Severus’s room. She turned the knob and shoved the door open, slamming it closed behind her as she ran through his room, tripping over his shoes as she went. She scrambled into his bed, ignoring the muffled ‘oomphs’ as she crawled over him.







“What the….ouch, be careful witch, are you trying to unman me?” Severus grumbled as he sat up and clutched his groin as the witch burrowed beneath the covers, her entire body hidden under the quilt. “What the devil are you doing?” He asked, unable to see clearly in the darkness. All he knew was that there was a woman in his bed, currently shaking like a leaf beneath his blankets.







“There is a man in the hall!” She said, whispering harshly. “I left my wand beneath my pillow.”







“Hermione, the house is warded, no one else is in the house or I would know it.” Severus said, scooting away from the trembling witch when he recalled his lack of clothing.







“No, Severus, he talked to me!” She said, poking her head out from beneath the blanket. “I was going back to my room from the loo and he spoke to me!”







“What did he say?” Severus reached onto his nightstand for his wand.







“He said Hello witch and then he taunted me!” She said, reaching for his wrist and tugged him closer, snuggling into his side, completely unaware that he was naked.







“Here witchy witchy!” came the voice from the hall. Hermione dug her nails into his arm.







“Oh god! He’s still looking for me! Severus, we have to do something!” She felt him shaking beside her, then heard the soft rumble of his laughter. “Severus, it isn’t funny!”









“Hermione, that is Lucifer.” He said, prying her nails from his bicep.









“The devil?” She asked stupidly causing him to laugh even harder.









“No, my mother’s familiar. He is a Mynah bird, Hermione, he can speak, he mimics voices.” Severus said. He knew that if he could actually see her she would be blushing furiously.







“You didn’t tell me she had a familiar.” Hermione muttered. “Much less one that could scare the life right out of me!”









“I apologize, Lucifer is a rather reclusive animal, and he doesn’t come out of her room often.” Severus said. “I should have warned you, I am sorry you were frightened.”









“I’m sorry I came barreling into your room and your bed waking you up.” She said.









“You damn near caused permanent injury too.” He said, recalling how close her little foot had come to his bits.







“Oh! I’m sorry, did I hurt you?” She flung the covers away and tried to tug them back from his body to check for injury, though what she expected to see in pitch darkness he couldn’t begin to fathom.









“Hermione, don’t….it’s alright, you missed….you kicked my thigh, not my…..stop tugging the blankets!” Severus was clutching the quilt over his lap like a drowning man clutching a life preserver.







“I just want to make sure you are alright.” She said, tugging the covers once more.







“Damn it, Hermione, I’m naked!” He snapped. She stopped tugging and as the pale morning light began creeping through his window he could see her mouth forming a small “O” of surprise.







“Well…why are you naked?” She asked, blinking rapidly.







“I sleep that way…at home anyhow.” He grouched. “I wasn’t expecting company.”









“What if there is an emergency?” She asked, noting his sleep mussed hair and bare torso as the darkness began to lift in his room.







“I have a robe on the bedpost…you sort of surprised me when you crawled in here.” He said, shifting uncomfortably when he saw the snug fitting knit shirt she was sleeping in. “What is that?” He asked, gesturing towards the garment that clearly showed her peaked nipples.







“Night shirt, I don’t sleep naked.” She said, watching him stare at her chest and the nipples poking prominently against the front of her night shirt. “It’s cold in your house.” She said. She refused to cover herself up, she liked the way she felt when he looked at her that way, liked the way the heat glittered in his eyes and he warred with his precious control.









“You really should go back to your room, Hermione.” He said hoarsely. His morning erection had little to do with the need to relieve himself and everything to do with the witch, barely covered in thin cotton who was sitting in his bed.







“Can’t I stay here and snuggle with you?” She asked, the innocent tone of her voice was misleading. She was a bold little witch, passionate and hot blooded with no guilt about how she felt and what she wanted.







“Not a good idea.” He croaked, jumping when he felt her hand pressing against the center of his chest. He was weak, he knew it and she knew it as he allowed her to press him back to the mattress.









“I disagree.” She said softly as she adjusted the blankets over them, cocooning them in their warmth. She settled against his side, one leg draped over his thighs as she looked down at him. “See…we are alone, in a bedroom, actually in the bed and you aren’t ravishing me.”









“It isn’t because the thought hasn’t crossed my mind.” He said, his voice quavering slightly as she ran her fingers over his torso. “You tread a fine line here, witch.” He growled as her fingers ghosted over his flat nipples. They peaked and hardened beneath her touch, surprising her as they responded much like her own.







“Touch me.” She said softly, reaching for his hand and pressing it to her breast. He curled his fingers around the soft globe and squeezed gently. He knew he shouldn’t, but he couldn’t help himself. He was digging his own grave one shovel full at a time. He pinched her nipple between his fingers and plucked gently. “Oh, I like that!” She said breathily.







Severus groaned softly and plucked at the nipple again, her little sighs running straight down his spine. He lifted his other hand and cupped the back of her head pulling her down for his kiss. Severus groaned into her mouth as she slid over him, her thighs flanking his hips as she stretched out on top of him. Their lips met passionately, their tongues dueling as his hands slid down her back to grasp her bottom.







He rolled her onto her back, settling between her legs but making sure to keep his erection from coming in contact with her sex. Instead he pressed his hips into the mattress. He slid his palm along her thigh and over her hip. Thank goodness she was wearing knickers, he wasn’t sure he could handle finding her naked beneath the thin cotton night shirt.







He followed the soft curve of her waist, slowly pushing the thin knit higher as he continued to ravage her mouth while her hands threaded through his hair. He loved feeling her fingers in the long, wayward locks. Their classmates ridiculed the lank, shiny strands, calling his hair greasy when it only appeared as such. Hermione on the other hand loved to touch and stroke his hair, often twirling it between her fingers. And as he was now learning she liked to fist her hands in the strands in the midst of her passion.







He gasped softly, his teeth sinking gently into her lower lip when he was able to close his fingers over her bare breast. She arched beneath him when his fingers brushed over her nipple.





“Oh!” She gasped, pulling her lips from his and turning her head away as he manipulated the tender bud with his fingers. She bit into her lower lip and he found himself entranced by her reactions. She was a responsive little thing, he would give her that. He hadn’t really any clue as to what he was doing, foreplay having been unnecessary with his previous partners. It didn’t seem to require skill, just an instinct as she seemed to be responding to his touch quite enthusiastically.







He pushed up onto his elbow and shoved the cotton higher, baring her breasts to his gaze and the dim morning light. She was so soft, so sweetly curved and pure. He ran his fingertips over the smooth, ivory skin reverently. He watched the tawny nipple darken and pucker more in the cool air and he was completely ensorcelled. He lowered his head and ran his tongue over the stiff little peak. She whimpered and tugged at his hair, pressing his head against her, encouraging him to continue.







Her responses were killing him, notching his arousal up to painful proportions yet he could not refuse her, could not move away from her sweetly scented skin and comforting warmth. He was growing addicted to her touch, her nearness, the affection and companionship she offered to him without reservation. So long he had been alone, cold and lost, but she offered him safe haven, warmth and a sense of belonging somewhere, to someone. She brought out a part of him he had not been aware of before she came along.







He suckled gently on the tip, his tongue circling and lashing at the sensitive peak, alternating his attentions on each breast until she was crying out softly and digging her nails into his scalp painfully. He pulled back and stared at the reddened nipples, fascinated by his reactions to seeing them dark, swollen and wet from his mouth.









“Severus….” Her hands slid from his hair to clutch his shoulders as she arched her hips, pressing her mound into his abdomen. “Touch me more….please.” She pleaded, wrapping her fingers around his wrist and pushing his hand lower, over her stomach and beneath the waistband of her cotton knickers.







Severus was stunned, she wanted him to touch her there. He slipped his fingers beneath the elastic, his breathing harsh as he touched the silky curls covering her. He ruffled them gently with his fingertips before she lifted her hips and his touch slid lower over the plump petals protecting her core. She hissed softly, arching her back when his long fingers parted her and stroked the slick, ultra sensitive flesh of her sex. His eyes widened at the heated feel of her beneath his touch.







He watched her face, the way her moist lips parted, her eyes clenched tightly closed, her breath coming in tiny whimpering pants as he touched her. She was stunning. He had never seen anything so amazingly beautiful, so carnal and pure in his entire life. He moved his fingers over her slowly, memorizing every detail of her womanhood, the smooth skin, the tight opening, the slick, hot arousal that eased his touch. What fascinated him most was the firm, swollen little bud near the top, she would cry out and lurch every time his fingers brushed over it.







He circled it, pinched it between his fingers and tweaked it gently. Pressed into it, flicked his touch over it lightly as her cries became louder, harsher, her writhing grew frenzied as she panted his name again and again until her body drew tight, her back bowed. Instinct told him she was finding release at his touch and that she was about to alert anyone within hearing distance of that fact. He opened his mouth over hers before she could bellow her pleasure into the silence, swallowing her cry with a mixture of awe and pride as he felt her pulsing against his fingers.







Hermione unthreaded her fingers from his hair and wrapped her arms tight around his shoulders as she quaked in the aftermath of pleasure. He removed his hand from between her thighs and buried his face in her hair as she held him close to her. Her heart was pounding and she couldn’t quite catch her breath. She was twirling a lock of his hair between her fingers as she sighed, her eyes growing heavy as satiation overtook her. She wiggled slightly beneath his weight and he grunted a little.







“Severus?” Hermione whispered his name softly and received a muffled grunt in reply. “It’s your turn.” She whispered, sliding her hand over his abdomen. He grabbed her wrist and brought her hand right back up. He lifted his head and kissed her palm before resting his cheek against her shoulder, still lying between her splayed thighs.







“Not necessary.” He murmured.









“No, I want you to…” She tried to pull her hand free of his grasp but he would not release her.









“I did.” He said, his face darkening with embarrassment. She stilled suddenly, then let her body relax, her hand falling back to toy with his hair.







“I didn’t realize…when…um…I mean…how…” She stammered.









“Gods woman, do you have to know everything?” He asked, frowning as he rolled onto his back and tossed his arm over his eyes. Hermione tugged her nightshirt down to cover her and rolled onto her side to look at him. He peaked up at her from beneath his arm and he sighed, she wouldn’t leave it alone, he knew her well enough at that point to realize that. “I haven’t touched a woman like that before…much less experienced her…pleasure...so vividly.” Hermione bit her lower lip and stared at him, he was embarrassed but she was thrilled to have pushed him beyond his control. “I’m…uh…sorry…”









“The only thing I am sorry about is the fact that I was so distracted that I missed it.” She said as she curled into his side. “Next time though I want to watch you, I want to see your face.”









“Why in Circe’s name for?” He asked, letting his arm come around her shoulders.









“I just do.” She said, yawning softly.









“Don’t go to sleep, Hermione.” Severus said, sliding his arm from beneath her and sitting up. He reached for his robe and pulled it on, making certain to keep himself covered as he stood and tied it around his waist. “Come on, I’ll take you back to your room.” He said, reaching for her hand and pulling her from his bed.







“Why can’t I just snuggle in here with you for a bit?” She asked grumpily as he tugged her through the room, kicking his discarded shoes out of the way as they went. He opened the door and pulled her across the hall.







Eileen stood in the shadows, Lucifer perched on her shoulder as she watched her son escort his young lady back to her room. She had heard the slamming of the door earlier along with Lucifer’s demented chanting and figured the contrary bird had terrified the girl. She had stayed in Severus’s room for a bit longer than was necessary.







She saw Severus shake his head when the little witch tried to drag him into her room. He bent his head and kissed her for a moment then shoved her inside and pulled her door closed quickly, he before he turned and made his way back into his own room.







“Inky has a lady love.” Lucifer said, cocking his head to the side.







“Yes, he does. She is a sweet witch, Lucifer, she is good for my boy.” Eileen said softly as she reached up to ruffle her familiar’s ebony feathers. “She will make the difference in him, I can sense it. She will give him just enough light to keep the darkness from completely taking over.”









“She’ll be giving him something else as well.” The bird said with a sinister laugh as Eileen went back into her room and back to bed.







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So there ya go….Sev got a little bit of action…..


So, I thought I better clarify a few things about Lucifer....I sort of felt that magical familiars were also magical, it is why they are bonded to their witch or wizard, therefore they are capable of rational thought...it just happens that Eileen owns an animal who is also capable of speech, therefore capable of conversation. No..he isnt someone else in bird form....