Outside the Fire

Disclaimer: See previous chapters, because they're not mine.

A/N: Thanks to Sunglow for beta reading & to DH for double-checkiveryverything. Thank you to everyone who has waited so patiently for this chapter, I hope the next one will not take as long, and to all of you have showed so much support for me over the last couple of months. I know I promised that both Harry and Ron's t-shirts would be revealed, but I only had enough room for Harry's. As it is, this chapter is over 13 pages and 8000+ words long. Phew!


Chapter 12 - Sex, Lies and Tit-tape


"Cursed? What do you mean, cursed?" Harry sat up.
"Cursed, as in hexed, jinxed, put under a spell, the sort of thing you've been learning for the last seven years, Mr Potter." Severus smirked.
"What kind of curse?" Draco asked, "And can you reverse it?"
"Well, whoever did this was extremely clever, it was practically undetectable. It may take some time." Severus's face contorted with trying not to laugh.
"What? How long?"
"I'm sure you can go without for a while." Hermione's face wore a half smile.
"He doesn't have to." Harry said, taking Draco's hand, "Just because I can't..you know..doesn't mean.."
"It's no fun without you enjoying it." Draco put a finger over Harry's lips.
"I still enjoy it, Draco," Harry responded, "I just can't reciprocate."
"Oh, give me strength!" Hermione muttered, not being able to stand the soppy looks they were giving each other, not to mention the twinge of guilt. Standing up, she marched over to the pair of them and waved her wand, muttering the counter curse.
"Hermione?" Harry looked up into her eyes.
"Be thankful I'm not so vindictive that they fell off." she said and walked to the door.
"Hermione?" Draco narrowed his eyes.
"You were lucky too, Draco."
"It was you? But why?" Harry was stunned.
"You know why, Harry. You may want to think about that."
"Miss Granger." Severus stood up.
"Yes, Sir?"
"Sit down," he pointed to a chair, "and explain why you felt the need to curse your supposed best friend."
"Perhaps you should be asking Harry that." she was still by the door.
"I'd prefer you to tell me."
"Uh, Draco.." Harry started squirming in his chair.
"Yes, Love?"
"Draco.." they all looked around at the sultry tone in Harry's voice.
"Draco, I suggest you take Mr Potter to your room. If I remember correctly, there is an after-effect to this curse." Severus stood up, indicating that Draco did the same. Draco stared, transfixed as Harry slinked, it was the only word to describe his movement, over to him and wrapped himself around the blond boy.
"Too late, Sir." Severus hadn't noticed Hermione approaching and jumped slightly at the touch of her hand on his arm, pulling him towards the door. The two boys entwined together ignored them as the door closed and the room transformed itself into something more suitable.
"Where do you think you're going, Miss Granger?" Severus said quietly as Hermione started to walk away.
"Back to my rooms, Professor."
"I don't think so, Miss Granger. Follow me."
"I'd rather not, Sir. It's past curfew, and I need to feed Crookshanks."
"It wasn't a request, Miss Granger. A house elf will feed that monstrosity."
"With all due respect, Sir, he's my responsibility, and I prefer to do it myself." she lifted her chin stubbornly.
"Forget the bloody cat, Hermione! I want some answers!"
"No. I'm sorry, Sir, but it's late and I'm very tired."
"I don't care how late it is. You will follow me and you will tell me why you cursed Mr Potter!" Severus was in no mood to argue with her and promptly held her arm in a vice like grip, steering her towards the dungeons. He could feel the tension in her body and walked quickly, forcing her to almost run to keep up with him.
"Slow down!" she squirmed in his grasp, her heels clicking in direct contrast to his silent tread.
"Would you prefer to discuss this with the Headmaster?" he demanded, not slowing his pace, "I'm sure he'd love to hear how the Head Girl has been spending her time."
"You wouldn't!"
"I never say anything I don't mean, Miss Granger, and you will tell me even if I have to force veritaserum down your throat!" The earlier intimate mood had evaporated and there was no way he was going to admit that she scared the life out of him. If she could do that to Harry Potter without him knowing, what else was she capable of? He snorted to himself as he remembered that it was Hermione who had hexed the Dumbledore's Army list, and the subsequent punishment the informant had undergone. It spoke volumes about her resourcefulness and this latest venture had him wondering exactly what it was that Potter had done.

He opened the door to his office and pulled the chair out in front of his desk for her to sit down. Then he leant against the edge of same desk and folded his arms, his foot tapping impatiently. Hermione threw him a look that indicated he wasn't going to get any information out of her any time soon, but sat down anyway.
"Well?"
"Well what?"
"You know what I'm talking about."
"I reserve the right to remain silent."
"This is not America and we do not have the Fifth Amendment. Do I have to get out the veritaserum, or use Legilimency on you?"
"Oh, that's the answer to everything, isn't it?" she jumped up and started pacing in front of him, "typical of the male mentality!" her hands waved in front of her furiously, causing her top to gape slightly. "Just because a woman doesn't want to tell you something, it justifies invasion of privacy!" her skirt flared about her as she paced and she glared at him.
"Losing your temper isn't going to help."
"Oh, so now I'm irrational?" she stopped and poked him in the chest.
"That's not what I said." When did he lose control of the situation? he wondered, rubbing the sore spot.
"Isn't it? You threaten me with drugs, mind control, and expulsion, and then tell me I don't have the right to be angry?"
"Bloody hell, woman! I only wanted you to answer one question!" Severus roared, reaching out and grabbing her shoulders, pulling her to stand in front of him.
"Go ahead then!" she knew she was being irrational, but Draco and Harry's little display had reminded her of what they'd interrupted, "Do what Harry did! Use Legilimency!" she tossed her head defiantly. Severus loosened his grip, horrified.
"He did what?" he hissed, glad he was at least partially sitting. Her anger deflated suddenly and she slumped into the chair, drawing her feet under her and hugging her knees.
"It doesn't matter now." She said, "He won't be doing it again."
"Do you want to talk about it?" he crouched down awkwardly beside her and she looked at him in surprise.
"You're not exactly my idea of a counsellor."
"Nor mine, actually." He allowed a small smile to appear and was rewarded with an answering one from her.
"No wonder your Slytherins are so protective of you." She uncurled her legs and moved closer. "You have a way of getting information out of anybody."
"Years of interrogation will do that." His mouth dried up as he got a view of her cleavage. He cleared his throat, "Do you want to talk about it, Hermione?"
"Not really. It was more embarrassing than anything." She shrugged.
"So you decided to embarrass him in return?"
"Petty, I know."
"But effective." His knees protested as he stood up and backed away out of temptations way. "How did you find the curse?"
"A months pass to the Restricted Section."
"What idiot gave you that?"
"Professor McGonagall."
"I imagine she thought you would use it responsibly."
"I'm very responsible, Professor."
"Yes, responsible for making Mr Potter impotent."
"Only temporarily."
"How did you do it?"
"Incorporated it in the wards to my rooms, and aimed at Harry alone." She sat back in her chair, settling in. "Fairly easy, actually."
"Hermione, I know that curse, and it is not easy."
"It was for me." She shrugged again and crossed her legs, allowing the soft material to ride up her thigh.
"Ah yes, Miss Know-it-all." He sneered, turning away from the sight.
"No, Miss Know-it-not-yet." She could tell a last ditch attempt at denial when she saw it. Sighing, and realising they weren't going to recapture the earlier mood she stood up.
"If you don't mind, I think I'll be going now." she said quietly. Severus spun around, glaring at her.
"No! Tell me exactly what he did to you?"
"I thought we'd just been over that? It was personal and private and I really don't want to discuss it."
"Hermione.." he drew closer, letting his anger go and reaching out to tentatively touch her shoulder.
"Can you not just let it go, Severus? And you touching me like this is not helping my resolve not to jump you this very minute." she swayed towards him, amazed at how the atmosphere could change so quickly. Severus swallowed, unsure of how to proceed. She'd made it obvious that it was up to him to make the next move; that she respected the boundaries he'd set. She hadn't pushed him or teased him, at least he didn't think it had been done deliberately, but you could never tell with Hermione.
"What did he find out?" that wasn't what he'd expected to say to her.
"When?"
"When he went into your memories." he trapped a loose curl between his fingers.
"Oh.." a blush spread across her cheeks and she flicked a sultry look up at him, "it was just a fantasy." her breathing quickened, "Do you want to find out yourself?"
Severus put his hand up to loosen his collar and found it already open. Where was a Death Eater attack when you needed it? Anything to stop him making a public spectacle of himself with Hermione. Merlin, he hadn't even locked the damn door! He licked suddenly dry lips and unconsciously tugged on the curl, encouraging her closer.
"Why don't you tell me?" he lowered his voice as she settled against him as he leaned against his desk, placing his hands on her slim waist.
"Weeellll.." she whispered, a hand smoothing over the fine linen of his shirt, "it involves a small, dark room, a chair and a blindfold."
Severus was just lowering his head to kiss her when he remembered something, a conversation in the Library between Harry and Draco, and straightened up, propelling her away from him.
"Is that what he did? Plant ideas into your head?"
"Are you going to do this every time I get close to you?" she folded her arms and glared at him.
"Do what?"
"Push me away? Oh, forget it! I'm going now, but before I leave I'm going to give you something to think about." before he could move, she grabbed his shirt and pulled him down to her level and put her mouth close to his ear, "It wasn't me that was sitting down and wearing the blindfold." she whispered and released him, giving him a slight push so he sat down on his desk. With her skirt swirling about her hips, she exited the room and let the door slam behind her. Severus passed a shaky hand over his face, wiping away the slight sheen of sweat on his forehead. Bloody hell, she was going to drive him mad, he thought, feeling slightly disgusted with himself. He'd asked her to keep her distance, but it seemed that every chance he got it was him that was initiating contact. He didn't have to drag her back here; she'd had every intention of going back to her rooms and he'd prevented her.

He realised he was giving out mixed signals worthy of any teenage girl himself, blowing hot one minute, cold the next. Merlin, don't start down that road, he thought to himself, shifting uncomfortably on the desk. Did he want her or not? He glanced down at himself and smirked, obviously he did, and from the way they were drawn to each other it wouldn't be long before things came to a head. He snorted at his turn of phrase. She wanted him as well, although that didn't stop her from flirting with that damned Hufflepuff, even if it was just to get another girl jealous. Severus frowned at the thought of Hermione being used in that way. She didn't deserve it; she should be the focus of all that attention. Then he kicked himself; he didn't want anyone else to be paying attention to her, certainly not a young man who was going to be spending time with her in that room dancing.

He stood, his mind made up. Bugger the four months to the end of term. If Hermione wanted him, he'd make sure she got him. Next time they were alone he was going to make sure the door was locked and Harry and Draco were nowhere around. And maybe there'd be a small dark room with a chair and blindfold not too far away..

~~@~~

Ron checked the clock in the common room and realised that it was past curfew. Damn. He'd planned on seeing Millie tonight, but his Transfiguration homework had been due tomorrow and he didn't feel like having McGonagall on his back over three feet of parchment. Debating with himself, he made a decision and ran up the stairs to his dormitory. Neville was on his bed, reading through a Herbology text whilst eating a sandwich and he peered over the top of it as Ron entered the room.
"Hey, Ron."
"Hi, Neville. Harry not around?"
"No. Draco dragged him away a while ago. What are you doing?" he watched as Ron opened Harry's trunk.
"Borrowing Harry's cloak. He said I could use it whenever I wanted."
"Do I want to know why a prefect is sneaking out in the middle of the night?"
"It's not the middle of the night, and no, you don't."
"So it's not got anything to do with a certain dark haired Slytherin?" Neville grinned.
"What's Blaise got to do with it?" Ron threw a grin over his shoulder as he rummaged towards the bottom of the trunk. "Hello, what's this?" he'd found the cloak, but it was wrapped around something.
"What's what?" Neville sat up, putting his book carefully beside him.
"I think I just found Draco's Christmas present to Harry." Ron held up his prize gleefully and turned it towards Neville, who choked as he read the words on the front.
Potter Sucks
But
Harry Blows

"Blimey, Ron, give a guy some warning!" Neville coughed, thumping his chest as his sandwich went down the wrong way.
"Now we know why Harry was so cagey about it." Ron laughed.
"I don't blame him. That really is more information than I needed to know."
"Me too." Ron carefully folded the t-shirt and put it back into the trunk. Then he unfolded himself from the floor in a surprisingly graceful move and stood up, holding the cloak in his arms. "Don't wait up for me, Nev."
"I won't." Neville picked his book up and settled against his pillows, once again engrossed in the text. Ron ran down the stairs to the empty common room and flung the cloak around his shoulders, pulling the hood over his head. Just as he moved across to the portrait hole it was flung open and Hermione stomped in, muttering about stubborn Slytherins. Sighing, he realised that he wasn't going anywhere soon, so he shook the cloak off his head and coughed to draw her attention. She squeaked in alarm as his floating head appeared behind her.
"Ron! What are you doing there?"
"Well I was on my way to see Millie, but I think you're in greater need of my company, hmm?" the rest of his body appeared and he indicated she sit down on the sofa beside the fire.
"So tell me which Slytherin you're muttering about." He plonked himself beside her and nudged her shoulder with his. "Draco or Snape?"
"Guess."
"From your expression, I'd say Snape."
"Correct."
"So what's he done now?"
"Absolutely nothing. And that's the problem." Ron hugged her against his side as she proceeded to tell him about her evening, starting from where Justin had hurt his back.
"How did Snape take that?"
"I don't think he liked the idea of Justin using me to make Susan jealous."
"Even I don't like it, 'Mione."
"It's not doing me any harm, Ron. I don't mind."
"But it didn't seem to bother Justin when Neville was seeing her."
"I think it was that that pushed him to make his move this time." She sighed, "Now you see why I've never bothered to get involved with anyone."
"So you pick now to get involved with one of the most complicated men around. Why am I not surprised?"
"Because we've known each other too long?"
"Possibly." Ron grinned down at her, "So where are Harry and Draco now?"
"Probably where we left them, shagging their brains out."
"I sometimes think it's best that I don't know all the details of their relationship. Especially the sex part."
"You shouldn't have asked then." She shrugged.
"Feeling better now?" Ron tugged on a loose curl.
"Yes, thanks, Ron. You're a great friend."
"Better a great friend than a lousy boyfriend, eh?"
"We were idiots, weren't we?"
"Nah, just too young to know what we were doing."
"Speaks the voice of experience." She snorted.
"Hey, I've got more experience than you have." He elbowed her.
"Yes, I heard about Romania from Harry."
"Well..um..that's..um." Ron cleared his throat and blushed to the roots of his hair while Hermione started laughing at him.
"Don't worry, he didn't go into too many details. Apparently he thought my delicate ears couldn't cope."
"He's obviously not heard those dirty jokes you told Ginny, then."
"Ron! I don't know what you're talking about!" she smacked his leg.
"You weren't paying attention in sex-ed class then." He ducked the cushion she swung and picked up his own, taking a swipe at her head. Rising to the challenge, she retaliated until they fell together in a laughing heap on the sofa again.
"I'll miss this, you know." She said quietly when they'd calmed down a little.
"You beating me up with cushions?"
"No, you idiot, us being all together."
"I know. In a few months we'll be starting all over again, but separately."
"That's really deep, Ron."
"Hey, there's more to me than just good looks, you know." He grinned, "We can't all be genius's like you."
"You just hide it better." She looked speculatively at him.
"It's just good strategy, 'Mione."
"So they don't expect high standards all the time. Very clever."
"I know." Ron smiled smugly. "Anyway, we're not supposed to be talking about me, but how you're getting on with You-Know-Who." Hermione could hear him capitalising the reference to Severus, and she frowned in annoyance.
"Not very far. One minute we're all over each other, the next he's pushing me away."
"Not that I'm squeamish or anything, 'Mione, but I'd rather not have that image in my head." Ron shuddered dramatically, grinning at her.
"You did ask."
"So, what are you going to do about it?"
"Well I can't just go up to him at the dance and proposition him, can I?"
"Why not? He's usually out stalking the gardens and we can cover for you if you want to catch him out there."
"I am not doing it outdoors."
"I don't mean the proposition, you Niffler, I meant you can ask him to dance." Ron rolled his eyes at her.
"It's a bit risky, don't you think?" Hermione chewed her lip anxiously.
"No more risky than getting involved with him in the first place. Come on, 'Mione, take a chance for once in your life."
"You'll cover for me? How?"
"Well, you're going to be missed, as Head Girl, but I don't see any reason for not using a bit of subterfuge."
"A glamour spell?"
"Didn't think of that. I was leaning more towards Polyjuice." Ron looked at her hopefully.
"It takes too long to brew, and only lasts an hour."
"And tastes disgusting. So you think a glamour will be sufficient?"
"If I cast it, yes. The teachers will be expecting the girls to use a bit of enhancement for the evening, so I think we could get away with it for the last hour or so. I don't think they'll be expecting Severus to stay that long anyway."
"I still can't get used to you calling him that." Ron sighed, "Who's going to take your place?"
"Millie's too tall, but I suppose Ginny could get away with it." He could see the cogs turning in Hermione's quick brain, "If I dance with Blaise enough through the evening, it won't look too conspicuous if I dance with him again."
"You can dance with all of us, and you and Ginny can slip out towards the end. Yes, it could work out quite well." Ron tapped his fingers against his thigh, "Apart from Gin being taller than you, that is."
"The glamour will take care of that. I can work round that problem."
"Okay, we'll speak to Gin tomorrow and synchronise watches."
"Ron, have you been reading those comics again?" If Hermione wore glasses she would have looked over them at him. Ron shrugged, the little boy in him smiling at her.
"I'll see you in the morning, Ron. Are you going to make use of that cloak now?"
"No, it's a bit late to be sneaking around." He managed to look self-righteous while she collapsed with laughter again. Still chuckling, they helped each other off the sofa and on impulse Hermione hugged Ron tightly. Patting her back awkwardly, he pushed her towards the stairs to her room.
"'Night, Hermione, sleep tight."
"Don't let the bed bugs bite." She responded automatically.
"That's a disgusting sentiment, 'Mione, Dobby would never let bugs into our beds."

~~@~~

Early the next morning found a dazed Harry climbing through the portrait hole, clothes askew and hair even more out of control than it normally was. He stumbled up the stairs and collapsed onto his bed with a faint moan. Dean and Seamus stirred in their beds and Ron sat up with a start.
"That you, Harry?" he whispered. A groan answered him and Harry raised bleary eyes to his best friend.
"Blimey, Harry, you looked like something Crookshanks just dragged in."
"I feel like it. Don't ever piss Hermione off, or you'll live to regret it."
"She did mention something about you shagging your brains out."
"Oh, Gods, I'm sore!" Harry let his head flop back down on his pillow.
"TMI, Harry, TMI." Ron swung his legs out of bed and padded over to the bathroom. Digging around in the cupboard over the sink, he came back with a dark blue bottle, and pressed it into Harry's lax grip.
"Here, Hermione left this for you. Said you'd probably need it."
"It's not Pepper-up, is it?"
"I have no idea. Just drink it, she promised it wouldn't poison you."
"The way I feel, I wouldn't care if it did." He muttered, but pulled the stopper out anyway and tossed the contents down his throat, swallowing quickly. Ron watched as the stiff line of his friends' back relaxed suddenly and he moaned in relief.
"I'm not having sex again for at least a week."
"Does Draco know that?"
"He was the one that told me." Harry sat up slowly and stretched, feeling much better as the aches dissolved slowly. "She is one scary witch, our friend Hermione."
"I told you that years ago." Ron grinned, pleased that Harry was looking a lot better than a refugee from a brothel. "You need a shower, mate."
"I know. Wake me up in an hour, will you? I need a kip." And Harry crawled under his covers, kicking off just his shoes, and was asleep in seconds. Ron shook his head and got back into his own bed, glad that Hermione hadn't thought to include all of them in her plan for revenge.

The weak January sun was shining through the windows when Harry finally emerged from his blankets to find the other boys already dressed and waiting for him.
"I'll see you downstairs in ten minutes." He grimaced as his robe caught in the sheets and he fought to unscramble himself. Neville shook his head and gathered up his books, herding all but Ron from the room.
"You'd better hurry up or you'll miss breakfast, Harry." Ron helped him off with his robe and pushed him towards the bathroom, "I'll put your clothes on the bed and meet you down there."
"Thanks, Ron." Harry shed his clothes on the way and was unashamedly naked by the time he reached the cubicles, sighing as the hot water cascaded down over him. After quickly washing himself, he towel dried his hair and ran his fingers through it, knowing that anything else was useless. Perhaps he should have a word with Hermione about getting it styled properly, sucking up to her might be a way of getting back into her good books.

Only Ron, Ginny and Hermione were waiting for him when he made his way down the stairs, and he shuffled his feet nervously, peeking out from under his fringe at Hermione to see what sort of mood she was in. To his relief, she was smiling at him, and he straightened up, grinning at her.
"Thanks for whatever that was you gave to Ron for me." He bent and kissed her cheek as she squeezed his hand in hers.
"I thought you might need it. How's Draco?"
"He was asleep when I left him."
"Wore him out, did you?"
"Other way round."
"TMI, Harry, TMI." Ron punched his arm gently and flung his arm around his shoulders and guided him towards the portrait hole.

~~@~~

Severus was pleased to note that Hermione didn't seem to be bearing a grudge against him. She didn't annoy or tease him during the morning meetings, and she ignored the way some of the boys tried to attract her attention. And if he brushed against her on the way out of the door, well, that was just an accident, wasn't it? The preparations for the Valentine's dance were proceeding, and that was when he planned for Hermione to make her move. He'd observed from under an invisibility spell her and Finch-Fletchley dancing together in the evenings, and she didn't move with as much grace as she had when she'd danced with him at that Salsa club, he noted smugly. On more than one occasion he'd wanted to step in and show the boy how to handle her, but had restrained himself. It wouldn't be long now.

The morning of the dance found the prefects in the main hall, decorating. Professor Flitwick was overseeing the charms needed to make the ceiling glitter with a million stars and Draco was tactfully steering Dumbledore away from the idea of huge red hearts and winged cupids, settling for a more discreet winged hearts theme that fluttered around the corners of the room, with red and white silk draped around the walls. They'd also voted against his idea of a colour scheme; the Slytherins adamant that they weren't going to wear red. Hermione was relieved that it wasn't going to look like something out of an Edgar Allen Poe story, so they'd compromised on the hangings instead. All in all, the great hall was looking good, so Millie and Ginny dragged her off for some 'pampering' as they called it. Privately, if it involved waxing of any sort, she though it should be called purgatory.

Justin, Ron and Blaise were waiting downstairs with Harry and Draco when the girls emerged from their room that evening. Harry and Draco had already seen Hermione's outfit before, so they smirked as the others' eyes nearly popped out of their head at the brevity of her top. Draco made a twirling motion with his hand and she obediently rotated for him. Justin choked slightly, the gurgling sound a little unflattering.
"Is that safe?"
"Perfectly." Millie smiled.
"Magic?" Harry asked.
"Perhaps." There was a Mona Lisa smile on Hermione's face as she swung a sliver fringed wrap around her shoulders, the metallic material merging seamlessly with her top.
"Shall we?" Justin recovered his poise and offered his arm for her. Susan was going to be livid..
Harry and Draco fell into step behind the others, allowing them to draw ahead a little before Draco slipped an arm around his lover.
"He won't know what hit him." Draco murmured.
"He's seen that top before, don't forget."
"But not in a room full of randy teenagers. I wonder how many times we'll hear Finite Incantatem tonight."
"You'd better hope there's not many, or the glamour won't work."
"Hermione's better than that, Harry, there's no way a simple Finite is going to undo that glamour."
"I just hope it's not just magic keeping that top on then." Harry muttered and they followed the others into the hall.

Severus was lurking near the far wall in the shadows, taking up his expected position as he had in previous years. Hooch, he snorted at the pun, was overseeing the punch bowl and the Headmaster was nodding benignly in time to the piped music that was sounding throughout the hall. If Severus hadn't been waiting to catch a glimpse of Hermione, Dumbledore wouldn't have been able to drag him out of his dungeons.

The turning of heads nearby attracted his attention and his eyes widened imperceptibly as he saw what Hermione was wearing. He had exactly the same reaction as he had the last time he'd seen it, but this time he had to restrain himself from going over there and bodily removing her from the hall and away from all those boys who were eyeing her up.

When it was obvious all the students were there. Dumbledore clapped his hands to gain their attention.
"Welcome, welcome, students. Just a few things that you should all know before the festivities start," he smiled at the gathered teenagers, "The gardens are off limits, as usual, and Madam Hooch is in charge of refreshments, so to those of you who may be thinking of adding something extra - don't." he looked towards a group of fifth year Slytherins known for their practical jokes. "The party will finish at midnight, so enjoy yourselves." And with a flourish of his wand, the music changed and became louder. Groups of students split up and reformed, a few making their way onto the dance floor. Justin bowed politely to Hermione and then swung her into his arms, her silver top a stark contrast to his black shirt and trousers.

The floor cleared as they moved smoothly to the music and their expertise inhibited the few dancers already there. Severus noted jealously that she had obviously got over her stiffness with the Hufflepuff boy because they really seemed to be playing to their audience. Hermione flashed a smile up at her partner and prayed that Severus was paying attention, because this was all for him.
"Is she looking?" she murmured to Justin as he swung her energetically in a circle.
"Yes. Christ, I didn't know that Corner was going to be her date."
"Forget him, if you finish with that dip we practiced you'll have her eating out of your hand." Hermione said between her teeth, giving every impression of having a fantastic time. Justin manoeuvred her through a series of complicated steps and as the song came to a finish, dipped her over his arm so her loose curls swept the floor.

Lifting her gracefully to her feet, he spun her out in the traditional finish and they bowed/curtseyed to their audience. Severus watched as a laughing crowd gathered around them and the floor was filled with dancing couples, Hermione being passed from Justin to Draco and from there to Harry, Blaise and then Ron. Over the course of the evening, Hermione alternated between the five boys and encouraging the shyer, younger boys out onto the floor, keeping the steps simple so they didn't make idiots out of themselves. She was constantly aware of where Severus was during the evening, and at eleven o'clock, she saw him disappear into the gardens. Squeezing Blaise's shoulder to attract his attention, she tossed her head towards the door.

Guiding her over to their friends, Blaise looked meaningfully at Ginny, who did a wonderful impression of someone who was feeling a little faint from the heat. Hermione fussed over her sympathetically, and between her and Blaise, moved towards the main doors. Professor McGonagall intercepted them.
"Is everything all right, Miss Granger?"
"Ginny's not feeling too well, Professor. We'll help her back to Gryffindor and then come back."
"I'll be fine, it just got a bit hot in there." Ginny leaned against Blaise's arm.
"I'm surprised, given your choice of dress this evening." McGonagall peered over her glasses at the red halter neck she was wearing, but there was a twinkle in her eye when she said it. Blaise cleared his throat and put his arm around her waist.
"I'll expect you and Miss Granger back shortly, shall I?"
"Yes, Professor." Hermione said and they left the room, one on either side of Ginny.

As soon as they were out of sight, they hurried to Gryffindor tower and Hermione retrieved her wand from her room.
"Okay, Ginny, you know the counter spell for when you get back here." She said as her friend was transformed into her doppelganger.
"Yes." Ginny nodded and looked at her boyfriend, "So, Blaise, how does it feel to be cheating on me?"
"Weird. Even though I know it's you under there, I still feel uncomfortable doing anything other than hold your hand."
"Just don't do anything that's going to get Hermione a reputation as a scarlet woman." Ginny turned away and picked something up from behind a cushion. "Here, Hermione, Harry said you'd need this."
"I did wonder how I'd sneak up on him."
"Be careful, though. Harry says he's got a sixth sense when it comes to invisibility cloaks."
"I still can't believe I'm doing this." Hermione shook out the cloak and threw it around her shoulders, leaving her head floating in the air.
"We just want you and Sev to be happy," Blaise groped around until he found her shoulder to pat. He felt her hand reach up to touch his in return.
"Thanks, Blaise, and you too, Ginny."
"No problem. It'll be good practice for next year, when I'm Head Girl." Ginny/Hermione smiled cheekily, and they left the tower.

Hermione weaved her way carefully around the edges of the room, making sure she didn't disturb the drapes as she passed. Slipping through the open door that had been wedged open to allow air into the hall, she allowed her eyes to adjust to the darkness. Spotting her prey in the shadows, she crept quietly towards him, allowing the cloak to slip from her shoulders when she reached the shadows.
"Would you like to dance, Sir?"
"Hermione! You shouldn't be out here." Severus spun around, his black robe merging with the blackness around them.
"I'm not going to be missed, Professor, if that's what you're worried about."
"Why not?" he asked suspiciously as she moved closer, her hips swaying as she walked.
"Take a look." She whispered, and drew him forward to peer in at a hidden window. Ginny/Hermione was dancing with Draco, but Harry was nowhere in sight.
"Is that Potter?"
"No, just a very good friend."
"Do they know where you are?"
"They know I want a bit of privacy, Sir. They don't know why, or who I'm with." Hermione lied smoothly. Severus looked down at her, trying to guess what she was up to.
"You still shouldn't be out here, though. You'll get cold in that outfit." He frowned.
"So keep me warm, and dance with me?" she held out her hand in invitation.

Severus looked up; making sure no one was around. He'd already cleared the gardens of the few couples that had defied Dumbledore's instructions, and he'd taken great pleasure in deducting points from Ravenclaw and Gryffindor this evening. Taking her hand, he her her back to the shadows, just in case.
"This is purely in the interest of preventing pneumonia."
"Of course, Sir."
"Severus." As he took her in his arms.
"Severus." She sighed and inched closer until she was pressed against him.
"Do you always get your way?" he murmured as they moved slowly in a circle.
"If I did, we'd have been in your bed since New Year." Her hand crept up to the back of his neck, pulling him down until his mouth was a breath away from hers.
"Hermione.."
"Severus.." her tongue swept over her bottom lip and he groaned, knowing he was fighting a lost cause. Hauling her tight against him, he backed her into the darkest corner he knew was behind them and kissed her, shielding her bare shoulders from the rough wall with his large hands.

Inserting a long thigh in between hers, he lifted her higher as the kiss escalated into a frantic scrabbling under clothes to get to warm flesh. Hermione squeaked as she felt long fingers slide along her thigh under her skirt and pulled away from Severus to lay her head back against the wall, ba her her throat to him.
"Not afraid that I'm a vampire, then?" he whispered against the throbbing vein.
"I don't care." She whispered back, eager fingers searching for the clasp to his robe which she snapped open.
"We shouldn't be doing this." His other hand slid over her ribs under the triangle of material covering her.
"Not here, anyway." She agreed, her hand at his waist, a finger hesitantly rubbing under the material.
"Where would you suggest?"
"The room?"
"Too far," nibbling kisses to her neck distracted her from his hand creeping higher.
"Your rooms?" she sighed, daring to snap the button open on his trousers, feeling the heat contained against her abdomen.
"Close enough." His hand pressed against the wall and a hidden staircase appeared, flickering wall sconces lighting the way down. Bending down, he swept her into his arms and almost tripped down the stairs as she clutched him tightly.
"I can walk, you know." She nudged aside his hair with her nose to get at his neck.
"Not quickly enough." His jaw clenched as she found a particularly sensitive spot under his ear and he shivered, wondering if she'd find any others before the night was through. From the way her hands were wandering, he'd bet his best cauldron that she would.

The portrait of Salazar Slytherin smirked at him when he saw them coming, and the door swung open without the aid of Severus' normal password.
"Not a word, Salazar." Severus warned and the portrait openly grinned.
"Wouldn't dream of it, Severus. I knew you'd succumb eventually."
"Bugger off." Hermione lifted her head, "And no peeking." She warned meaningfully, pushing at Severus' robe.
"Spoilsport."
"Pervert."
"No, that's Godric."
"Voyeur, then."
"Shut up, Hermione." Severus had walked them into his bedroom and tossed her onto the bed, eyes gleaming as her skirt rode up her thighs.
"You really know how to sweet talk a girl, don't you?" she smiled, kicking off her heels and crawling towards him.
"Would you have me..mmph." she'd launched herself at him and dragged him down to the bed with her. They came together in a tangle of his robes and for a brief moment there was a struggle for air as they were enveloped in the material.
"You wear far too much." She said breathlessly as the robes were flung across the room along with his shoes.
"And you're wearing far too little. Is this held on with magic, like before?" he flipped her top with a long finger.
"You have to be kidding, in a room full of wizards?" she started on his shirt buttons as his fingers moved to the tie at her back. "Careful when you pull it, will you?"
"Why?" he was successful with the knot and was surprised when it didn't fall away in his hands.
"I'll tell you when I get this off you."

Hermione's tongue peeked out from between her teeth as she helped him strip off his shirt and started on his fly. Severus held his breath as her fingers brushed against his erection and mentally visualised the most disgusting ingredients in his stores to prevent an early end to the evening. To distract himself further, he turned his attention to her skirt and in seconds it was pooled around her hips. He pulled her down to him and twisted so she was flat on her back, her hair fanned over the green velvet bedspread.
"I don't think this is how your fantasy goes, is it?"
"Reality is far better." She tugged him down to her and helped him remove the of of her clothes, making sure his joined hers on the floor.
"Ow, ow, ow." She yelped as he pulled at her top and he pulled away in horror.
"What's the matter?"
"I told you to be careful." She sat up, her hair shielding her red face as he sat up next to her. She flicked her hair out of the way and showed him exactly how her top was held on.
"Spellotape?" he gently eased the tape away from her flesh, the slow revealing more erotic than he could have thought.
"Muggle version; I couldn't risk any magic." She smiled shyly at him, "It's called tit-tape." She mumbled.
"Looks painful." His voice deepened as a rosy nipple peeked at him.
"You can always kiss it better." A seductive look from under her lashes sent heat straight to his groin and he groaned, falling back on the bed. Hermione didn't think it could be any more painful than the waxing she'd endured earlier that day, so with a quick tug, she ripped the rest of her top off with a gasp.
"Shit, that hurt." She flopped next to him, covering her face up with her hands in embarrassment. She didn't know what she was supposed to do next; she hadn't imagined it any further than getting into his bedroom.

Severus turned his head and saw her blush extend from her cheeks down her neck and across her chest.
"Please don't tell me you're a virgin?" he asked hesitantly.
"All right, I won't." her voice was muffled from behind her hands, but she turned her head towards him, peeking out between her fingers. Severus sighed, his ardour wilting in the face of her inexperience.
"We haven't thought this out, have we?" he turned on his side and leaned up on his elbow. Her fingers closed and she shook her head. With a sigh, Severus sat up and Hermione felt the covers moving underneath them. The soft velvet whispered over her skin and she took her hands away from her face to see him pull the cover over themselves. She turned on her side, feeling less exposed now, and looked at Severus who was smiling gently at her.
"Feel better now?"
"Thank you." She smiled up at him and ran a finger up his arm until it reached his shoulder and tugged him down to join her on the pillow. He leaned over and kissed her shoulder, working his way up her neck and nuzzling under her ear. Hermione squirmed closer and ran hesitant hands over his back, sighing as one of his hands pulled her against him.

Severus kissed his way over her cheek to her mouth, parting her lips with his tongue, coaxing her to respond after her earlier embarrassment. As she relaxed against him, the guilt about what he was doing surfaced, but he ruthlessly repressed it. There was no way he was going to turn down what she was offering, regardless of the fact that he was the last man she should be sleeping with. He'd agonised long enough, and if she wanted him, wanted this, he wasn't going to stop now.

Hermione clutched at his back, not really knowing where to put her hands. His skin was soft to her touch, the lean muscles flexing under her fingertips, and as she moved her leg it brushed against the rough hair on the thigh he'd wedged between hers. Heat coiled in her belly and her nipples tightened as they rubbed against his chest, and Severus lifted himself over until he was cradled between her legs. Using one hand to brace himself against the bed, he ran the other gently down her body, cupping a breast and squeezing lightly, watching as her pupils dilated with desire.

Moving from her breast, down her ribs to her hip, he brought her thigh up to wrap around his hip, pleased that he'd been correct about her flexibility. Long fingers brushed between them and Hermione's breath hitched as they found her centre. Severus bent to kiss her and his tongue matched the gentle movement of his fingers, becoming more insistent as she responded eagerly. Her arms curled around his neck and she arched upwards as her thighs trembled against him, knowing she was close to release.

Severus felt her start to tighten and withdrew slowly, his self-control stretched to breaking point. He knew he wasn't going to last much longer and if he didn't want to embarrass himself like a teenager he was going to have to be inside her soon. Positioning himself, he prayed that he'd last at least a couple of strokes before coming. Pushing forwards, he was enveloped in wet heat, her muscles rippling around him. She was tight, and he eased into her, trying not to hurt her too much.
"I'm not going to break, Severus." Hermione brought her other leg up over his hip and pulled sharply so he was buried deep inside. His breath hissed out between his teeth and he started listing ingredients again.
"Move, Severus." Her hands slid over his cheeks and she rested her forehead against his, "Please."
"Are you sure?"
"Am I going to have to get violent?" her heel dug into the back of his thigh and he let out a bark of laughter.
"No." he took her mouth in a bruising kiss and started moving against her, the heat building once again between them. Their breathing was loud in the quiet room, interspersed with soft moans from Hermione as she felt her climax building. Holding him in a vice-like grip, she let it wash over her, the tension released in a sudden rush of pleasure. As he felt her rippling around him, Severus thrust once, twice, three times, and allowed his own release deep inside her, his arms trembling as he supported himself.

Brushing kisses over her face, he pulled away and lay next to her, breathing hard and sweating under the velvet covers. He reached over to the table beside the bed and cast a quick cleansing charm, thinking that a bath would be a good idea later. It would help with any residual soreness Hermione would no doubt suffer from. Hermione felt him turn away to put his wand back and wondered what the correct etiquette was for post-coital conversation. Should she thank him for making her first time relatively painless? A yawn caught her unawares and she relaxed into the wonderfully warm and soft bed, her eyelids drooping. Turning towards Severus, her hand sliding around his slim waist, she cuddled into his back, quickly falling asleep.

Severus felt her hand at his waist and he turned slowly, wondering if they were now going to be awkward with each other. A soft snore reached his ears and he looked down at a dead-to-the-world, sleeping Hermione.
"Hermione?" he wound a loose curl around his finger and tugged gently, but she was fast asleep. Pulling the covers up around her bare shoulders, he tucked them behind her so no draught disturbed her rest.
"Typical Gryffindor." He murmured, and ed hed her in slumber.