Survival of the Fittest

A/N – Thanks to all for their patience. For waiting, here’s an extra long chapter. I’m not JKR. So, I don’t own any of the characters.

--

Standing in front of the mirror, Hermione made a face at her reflection. She was obviously stark-raving mad. What had possessed her to say yes to his invitation? He had given her no explanation. He had just taken it for granted that she had accepted his invitation and had walked away.

It was unnerving. What would she say to him? Where was he taking her? Why was she going? She glared at the stack of clothes on her bed as if they held the answers to her questions. “This is impossible! How does he expect me to dress when I don’t even know where he’s taking me?”

An owl pecked at her window, interrupting her musings. Hermione opened the window and shivered as the owl and the cold air flew into her room. “You poor thing! Who would send you out in this kind of weather?”

Answering her question with a soft hoot of agreement, the owl lifted his leg and offered its letter. She gave the owl a treat and it flew to the other side of the room, closer to the fire. Opening the letter, Hermione scanned it.

Pack an overnight bag. Dress for warm weather.

S.S.

She crumpled the parchment into a ball and threw it into the fireplace. “Of all the nerve!” she growled in frustration.

Distressed at nearly being hit with the paper, the owl flew to the window.

“That arrogant son of a –”

A knock at the door made her yelp in surprise. Looking at the clock on the mantle, she closed her terrycloth robe and tied the sash with a vicious jerk. There was no way she was going to dinner with him now.

She could play sick or pretend she had forgotten about the date. Pacing back and forth, she pondered how she should go about avoiding Severus for the next two days.

“Think, Hermione,” she mumbled to herself. “I received high marks on my N.E.W.T.s. I should be able to avoid him. Hogwarts is filled with secret passages. I could –”

Her reverie was cut short as the door to her bedchambers opened and the owl hooted pitifully to be let out. She cast a quick Disillusionment Charm and cursed under her breath. There was no way she was going to be able to let the owl out now.

--

Somehow, he knew this evening would not go as planned. Frowning, Severus entered her quarters. He knew she would refuse his invitation. She just hadn’t done so to his face. Hermione was too intelligent for him to manipulate the way he truly wanted to manipulate her. It would serve little purpose to bed her now. Instead, he needed to convince her that there was more than…

More than what?

Severus let his mind wander as he walked into his lover’s domain.

Her defenses had been down after they had kissed, and he had taken the opportunity to ascertain his chances of pursuing a long-term relationship with the Hogwarts’ librarian.

He had slithered into her mind effortlessly, searching for the feelings he had hoped to discover.

She loved him -- of that he was certain. Normally he would exploit such a weakness, but he was only getting older. And, as Albus had reminded him time and time again, even former Death Eaters need companionship.

A harried looking owl hooted on the windowsill, pecking at the window to be let out. Severus walked across the room and opened the window. At least she had gotten the owl. Now where the bloody hell is she?

Scowling, he surveyed his lover’s bedchambers. He couldn’t believe his eyes. “I’ve been on staff here well over a decade and she has larger quarters than me.” Severus walked to the fireplace and perused the various knick-knacks and books.

Walking over to the bed, he noticed a large pile of clothing and started picking through it. He lifted a lacy pair of crimson red knickers and rubbed the material between his fingers and thumb.

“Gryffindors,” he sneered appreciatively. “I wonder how she would look in Slytherin Green.”

A stifled noise caught his attention and he glanced toward the window. The drapes shifted as though they were caught in a slight breeze. But the window was closed.

Tossing her knickers onto the bed, Severus picked up another article of clothing and pretended to inspect the intimate clothing. She certainly did have exquisite taste in lingerie. “Lovely,” he murmured.

The drapes moved again, catching the flickering light from the fireplace and candles in the room.

Severus chuckled. The little minx was using a Disillusionment Charm and hiding from him. He pocketed her brassiere and walked over to the fireplace, setting the snow globe on the mantel and pretending to warm his hands.

Out of the corner of his eye, he could see the drapes move again. He enjoyed a good game of cat and mouse, especially when she made such a delectable mouse.

Heaving an exaggerated sigh, he started to pace the length of the room, lulling his little illusionist into a false sense of security. After all, he could convince her much more easily if he caught her off balance. Part of him pondered whether or not a relationship with her was advisable. The other part decided that the physical intimacies they had shared were well worth the effort.

He was still trying to grasp the concept that he even wanted to have anything other than a physical relationship with her. After all, her intelligence held its own appeal.

He folded his hands behind his back and strode to the window again, this time stopping to look out. Hermione obviously had her wand with her. He would need to disarm her before he made his move.

The drape shifted again as if it were trying to step away from him.

With the speed of a striking snake, Severus pointed at the drape and cast a disarming spell.

The illusion dissolved before his eyes and her wand clattered to the floor. She tried to dive for her wand, but he was too quick, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her against him.

“Let me go!” she spat like an angry cat, kicking at his shins.

“Petrificus Totalus, ” Severus chuffed, trying to ignore the pain in his lower extremities and not drop her as she stiffened in his arms. The only sounds in the room were her muffled protests and his angry huffs.

Flicking his wand toward the fireplace, he heaved Hogwarts’ petrified librarian over his shoulder. The flames extinguished quickly and he grabbed a handful of Floo powder and stepped into the fireplace.

“Snow globe!” he barked out the destination, tossing the powder at his feet.

--

Severus set her on the wicker sofa and then brushed the soot from his robes.

“Finite Incantatem,” Severus muttered as he pointed his wand at her and released her from his spell.

Feeling the instant rush of freedom, Hermione bolted off the sofa and glared at the man who had made her life a living hell for…well…ever since she could remember. “Floo powder! Now!” she commanded, holding her hand out, heedless that her robe was gaping open.

Severus walked toward the bedroom, dismissing her request with a wave of his hand. “I don’t have any.”

“What?” Hermione shouted in disbelief, following Severus. “We’re trapped here?”

“No,” assured Severus. “Minerva will be along Monday morning, before classes begin.”

Looking around the room, she felt a familiar ember stir in the pit of her stomach. “But I have to report to Gringotts by Monday! You are un-bloody believable!” she railed, becoming even more frustrated by his insufferable grin.

“Thank you,” he replied, removing his standard black teaching robe and revealing his black trousers and shirt.

So that’s what he wears under his robe, Hermione’s libido murmured in appreciation.

Do shut up! she chastised inwardly.

“Do you honestly think I’ll sleep with you now?” she questioned him caustically. “Is this what this is all about? One last shag before I leave Hogwarts?”

Severus\' opaque eyes grew darker and he turned away from her. “No,” he stated simply, walking over to the table by the picture window and pulling out a chair. “Although I do have ulterior motives, I prefer to dine for now. We should get to know one another better. Please.” He held onto the chair, seemingly frozen in place and awaiting her response.

She approached him warily. “I don’t know what game you are playing, but you can bloody-well forget the ‘one last shag’ routine.”

“Tempting,” Snape purred, inciting her hormones to riot. “But I think it’s time we do more than shag.”

“And just what would that be?”

“We should explore other facets of our relationship.”

“Facets? Relationship? Have I missed an owl or have you inhaled too many potion fumes?”

“Neither,” replied Severus with an ever-growing scowl.

Hermione threw her hands up in the air, realizing she would never get a straight answer out of him. “Well, as far as I’m concerned, we do not and never shall have a ‘relationship.’”

He abandoned his post by her chair and walked around the table, methodically pulling out his chair, sitting down, and folding his napkin in his lap.

“Please,” Severus offered through gritted teeth, “have a seat.”

His gaze traveled lazily up and down her body and she realized that her robe was wide open. Tugging on it, she crossed her arms over her chest. “No, thank you,” she bit off.

--

“We have much to discuss, Hermione,” he said. “Wouldn’t you be more comfortable sitting down?” Lifting his goblet to his lips, he hid his smirk. Her eyes darted around the room wildly, looking for a possible way to escape his company. Severus took a sip of red wine and closed his eyes with a contented sigh.

“Until Minerva sends the Floo powder, there is no way out. It’s snowing outside. You’d freeze.”

“What do you want?”

“You,” he replied softly. “But we will get to that later.” He glanced at the bed for emphasis.

“For now, we should dine.” Taking a lid off a dish, Severus set it aside and inhaled.

“Look,” Hermione said, tightening the sash on her bathrobe. “I’ll be leaving tomorrow. I’ll be out of your hair and out of your life for good.”

She nibbled her bottom lip worriedly as if she were searching for the flaw in her plan.

“No, you won’t,” Severus stated with pleasure, spooning a generous portion of a pasta dish onto his plate.

“I won’t what?” she asked, a delectable blush crawling up her neck.

“Be leaving tomorrow.” He motioned for his young Gryffindor lover to sit down. “As I have already informed you, we will be unable to leave until Minerva sends the Floo powder.”

Her fiery temper did not take long to ignite and he watched in bemusement as she started to sputter and pace.

“I can’t --. You can’t --. What have --?”

Hermione walked up to the table and pounded on it with her fist. “Why?”

“After everything we’ve shared?” purred Severus.

“What?”

One of his eyebrows quirked and he glanced pointedly toward the bed on the other side of the room.

“That?” She pointed at the bed like it was something to be reviled. “That was just sex!”

“Indeed.”

“It didn’t mean anything.”

He grabbed her wrist. “Then why do I see you every time I close my eyes. Why do I hear you in my dreams? Why does your taste linger in my memory?”

Her eyes were wide and she was finding it difficult to breathe. She tugged on her hand halfheartedly, but he did not let her go. Was he baiting her? Did he have no limit to his cruelty?

“Will you be content when you leave Hogwarts, Hermione?” he asked the question that had rattled in her thoughts ever since they had been released from the snow globe.

“Will you yearn for me just as I will for you? Or will you flit from lover to lover, trying to replace what only I can offer you?” he questioned, hardly containing the note of jealousy in his voice.

Hermione stood frozen in place. She had no answers for his questions.

“Why do you deny your feelings, Hermione?”

Snippets of their previous time in this tropical paradise played in her mind like a flickering cinema.

“You fail to realize the potential,” he stated, maintaining his hold of her hand and standing up slowly as if he was afraid he would frighten her away.

“Potential for what?”

“Us,” he answered softly, wrapping his arms around her and lowering his head. Unable to look away, she held her breath and looked into the inky depths of his eyes.

She had no time to realize her mistake.

Like a shark who scented blood in the water, Severus pushed his way into her mind. Emotions and thoughts coalesced with fantasy and reality. Was the skilled Legilimens pushing past her mental barriers or pulling her past his?

In the vision that thrummed with lust and want, her lover was upon her, thrusting his knee between her thighs. Feeling her mouth go dry, Hermione licked her lips and closed her eyes.

“Such a delicious invitation,” he whispered as he brushed his lips against hers. “How can I resist?”

Unable to stop the whimper that escaped, dream-Hermione shifted against him, offering herself up to the pleasure he so readily bestowed.

What does it matter, anyway, the inner voice whispered knowingly. You love Severus and after tomorrow you will never see him again.

She felt exposed, as if emotions other than her own were carrying her onto an unknown plateau.

--

Severus held on to her, stroking his hands lazily up and down the soft arch of her back and showing her the possibilities. Concentrating, he lured her into the murky thoughts that had haunted him ever since she had arrived back at Hogwarts.

“I could take your thoughts, Hermione,” Dream-Severus murmured, kissing a path along her jaw. “For now, I offer you mine.”

Letting go of Hermione’s hands, Severus waited for his lover to realize the depth his affection. That was the problem with Legilimency. Would she be able to discern between her feelings and his? Could he?

Daring to hope that Hermione could feel what he was showing her, Severus started to pull away…to sever the mental link he had established.

“Please,” she entreated, opening her eyes and trembling against him. “I need more.”

Her voice was hopeful and calm. Her eyes were wide and inviting.

“Legilimens,” he invoked, his voice barely a whisper. He pulled her back into the errant thoughts that he had long since ignored and dare not identify. He desired her – his desire burning him just as the sun had melted Icarus’ wings. The desire was buried deep within him, like an embedded vein of precious metal. He could not fathom his life without her. He would not fathom such an existence…

How would he be able to survive without her?

Hermione touched her lips to his, breaking the intimate connection. Feeling her fingers gather the material of his shirt, Severus stepped back and pulled his shirt over his head. Gathering her closer, he opened her robe and was gifted by the sight of peach-colored skin from her collar to her hip. Only the black material of her knickers obstructed his perusal of her intimate nest.

Cupping one of her breasts, he ran his callused thumb over the erect bud. His flexible witch arched into his touch and he pulled her closer to his waiting lips.

Wrapping his lips around the pert nipple, he sucked it into his mouth and lashed the sensitive flesh until he thought he would come from the taste.

Focus, Severus, his inner voice cautioned. Remember what you are here for. You may have her now. Do you wish to have her after this night?

“Yes,” he growled against her fleshy mound as he slid a hand between her legs and his fingers under her knickers. Touching her welcoming flesh, he closed his eyes. “Merlin…so wet.”

“Please,” she gasped, pushing against him and trying to take control of their physical intimacy.

He was deaf to her pleas as he lost himself in her pleasure. “Tell me, Hermione,” he murmured lustily, kissing his way up the gentle curve of her neck. “Tell me what you desire?”

Her words were nonsensical and he grinned, taking pride in his Slytherin abilities by robbing her of reason.

“You!” she implored, hooking one of her legs around his and reaching for her knickers.

Severus stilled her attempts and trapped her hand between their chests. “Me?”

“Yes, you!” Her fingers flexed and she dug her nails into his chest.

Taking a shuddering breath, he let a smidgen of hope lighten his soul. “For how long?”

If she lived to be a hundred years old, she would never forget that look. He was exposed, leaving himself open to honest scrutiny. The mask was gone. Saying nothing, Hermione touched him, ghosting her fingertips from his forehead to his jaw. There was no ridicule in the darkness of his eyes. There were no snapping retorts or callous words. “I –”

Temperate lips closed over hers, only to pull away before she could deepen the kiss. “—Love me?”

Habit made her flinch, but the caustic tone that had always chipped away her confidence was not there. She could see what he was doing – trying his hand at affectionate intimidation. He was testing her, showing her the depth of his feelings. “Yes,” she stated softly. “I love you.”

--

Gryffindor bravery has its advantages, he mused as her testament permeated through him.

“For how long?” Severus challenged.

“As long as you wish,” she mumbled against his chest.

Kissing the top of her head, he grinned. His lover was testing him. “I wish it.”

Pushing her robe down her shoulders, Severus leered as he trapped her arms and forced her backwards. He consumed one of her breasts, lapping and nipping the areola. Guiding her backwards, he set about showing her how much he wished for.

“Severus!” she gasped as he spread her thighs for his admittance.

“All that time wasted,” he growled, peeling the black lace down her thighs. Her knickers removed, Severus unzipped his trousers and released his pulsing member.

She scooted to the edge of the table and reached for him, mumbling. “Yes, please. I love you.”

Restraining the urge to take her quick and hard, Severus eased into her and stilled. “You do realize you know nothing about me, don’t you?”

“Wh-wh-what?” she stammered, thrusting her hips toward him.

Placing a tender kiss upon her furrowed brow, he chuckled. “You know nothing about me. I hardly know anything you.”

Finally able to release her arms, Hermione reached for him and groaned.

He would have continued conversing with her, but he was distracted by the throbbing passage surrounding his rigid sex. All thought was lost as he gave into the savage rhythm of nature. “Bloody hell!”

He slid a hand between them and rubbed his thumb across her clitoris. He couldn’t hold on much longer. He hadn’t had her in days. “Come for me, Hermione.”

His lover clawed his back as she reached higher toward release.

--

A hand stroked her backside as she dozed in and out of a sated slumber. The dream-like quality of the last few hours did not escape her and she had actually taken to pinching herself. Severus Snape was her lover and she would stay as such as long as he permitted it.

Although he had not verbalized anything romantic or soppy words of love, Hermione knew that he cared for her. That would do for now. She closed her eyes and drifted toward sleep.

“I’m a self-centered bastard who will always see to my needs first.” Hermione opened her eyes and found her lover staring at her.

“I beg your pardon,” she said through a stifled yawn.

Severus placed chaste kisses from her shoulder to her elbow. “I knew we would ultimately end up in bed, but I really had intended to dine with you.”

He sounded so serious.

“We can always eat later,” murmured Hermione as she closed her eyes.

“Are you deliberately being obtuse, woman?” Severus pulled her against him, inserting one of his legs between hers and gently biting her shoulder.

Feeling the growing evidence of his arousal, Hermione wiggled her bum against him. She was rewarded with a sharp intake of breath. She reached behind her and stroked his cock to full arousal.

“Minx,” he growled lustily, brushing his hand against her thigh. “I am trying to discuss something with you.”

Hermione kept stroking him and she smiled as he maneuvered her onto her back. “What is it?” she asked, knowing that this would probably be the only time he would ever be like this. Here, they were alone. At Hogwarts, he would revert back to himself. Of that she was sure.

“Does this passion not bother you?” Severus murmured against her ear, looming over her.

“No.” It was an honest answer – the only one she could think of for his hand had distracted her.

“It should,” he whispered as he settled between her legs, smoothing the tip of his weeping sex up and down the moist slit of hers. Lifting one of her legs, he placed her ankle against his shoulder and lunged as deeply as he could go.

“It vexes me,” Severus admitted with a strangled cry as he thrust in time with his words. “I won’t…do…without…ever again.”

Hermione cried out beneath him.

Pausing, Severus put her ankle down and kissed her. Just the feel of her heat around him was enough to make him reach orgasm. Would he ever be sated? “Will I ever get enough of you?”

“I hope not,” she huffed breathlessly.

He paid no mind to his verbal slip as he drove toward completion.

--

Sunlight flitted across his eyes, signaling the passage of time and begrudgingly welcoming the morning. Hermione had made a wonderful makeshift duvet, resting on top of him and waking when he woke. With a tilt of his hips, he was able to wake her properly several times during their brief periods of respite.

Now he would need to convince her to stay at Hogwarts. As she had reminded him several times in the past few hours, she was supposed to leave for her new position Monday at Gringotts.

Gringotts was in London. Even with Floo connections and Apparition, it still took the better part of the day to travel between Hogwarts and London. And he couldn’t very well go creating illegal Portkeys forever.

Forever – a mental slip if he’d ever thought it. Nothing lasts forever.

Rolling over, Severus reached for his human duvet, but his hand met with empty space. His eyes snapped open, sight confirming what touch already had. His lover had bolted.

“Hermione?” he called out, kicking off the rest of the bedclothes and bolting out of bed.

There was no answer.

With little thought to modesty, Severus stalked into the other room and the quality of dread grew within him. The door to the loo was open and she wasn’t in the sitting room. Taking a deep breath, he opened the front door and stepped out onto the porch.

He scanned the horizon, hoping against hope that she hadn’t left him…again.

Why she had left him concerned him just as much as how she had accomplished it. She couldn’t have Apparated. They were still on Hogwarts grounds. There was no Floo powder so she couldn’t have used the fireplace. His imagination ran wild with scenarios of jilted affections and –

A small dot broke the surface of the ocean water, followed by a pair of waving arms. He squinted, unable to make out any details. It was Hermione. It had to be. Walking down the porch steps, he stumbled a bit as he stared at the figure in the water.

“—verus!” A fragment of his name carried on the wind, soothing his worry.

Hermione started swimming toward the shore and he plodded to the water’s edge. She stopped swimming and waved at him again.

“The water’s great!” she shouted invitingly as she treaded water.

Severus stepped into the water and stopped, the sensation of the waves lapping at his ankles causing him pause.

“Come to me, Hermione,” he called to her.

She swam toward him, pausing several meters away.

Merlin, she’s stunning, thought Severus as he watched her stand up. Feeling a spike of jealousy as he watched the water fall from her breasts, he took more hesitant steps into the water. Water was up to his waist by the time he realized what he was doing. He felt as though he was an enchanted sailor being lured by the Lorelei.

Laughing, Hermione slapped the water like a playful sea urchin. “Come on! Let’s go swimming!”

Severus shook his head, backing away.

“Severus?” Hermione treaded toward him, easily catching him around his waist. “What’s wrong?”

Grasping her arms, Severus turned in her embrace. “I don’t swim,” he whispered huskily.

“You won’t or can’t?” One of her eyebrows arched as if she had asked a question that she already knew the answer to. She climbed up his body, straddling his waist and pressing her beautifully nude body against his.

“I can’t swim,” he answered automatically, his body hardening against hers. “What are you doing to me, you minx?”

“Isn’t it obvious,” she purred against his Adam’s apple. “I’m seducing my ex-Potions professor.”

“By all means,” he growled, digging his fingers into the fleshy cheeks of her bum and positioning her above his growing erection, “please proceed.”

“You wanted to discuss something at dinner last night?” asked Hermione, digging her nails into his shoulders.

The only response he could muster was a strangled hiss as her sheath yielded to his invasive shaft.

“You…ah…wanted to…uh…talk,” she moaned. “You w-wanted…to get to…know…me…possibly find things…w-we have in c-common.”

The feeling of the warmth of her body made his head swim. Would it always be like this with her?

Moving with the waves and fluidic sway of their bodies, Hermione bucked against him. “You teach Potions and Potions just happens to be one of my favorite topics.”

“What?” he chuffed confusedly. “What are you blathering about, wench?” He nipped her earlobe playfully.

Hermione moaned and arched her back. “You said…you wanted…to get to…know me better. I-I w-was telling…you something about…myself. Now it’s…your turn.”

When she arched her back, she changed the angle in which they were coupled and he took advantage and thrust deeper. “Impudent, young lover,” he chastised, gathering her in his arms and crushing her lips in a desperate kiss. Hermione keened as she came and he consumed the sound greedily.

A fierce wave of possessiveness washed over Severus as he hammered into her. Mine, mine, mine, repeated in his mind with each blissful thrust. Closing his eyes, he gave in to the enchantment.

Both lovers were panting, one relaxing in the waves and reveling in their spent passion, while the other maintained his footing and hold.

Severus had long slipped out of her, yet continued to hold Hermione who was leaning back and floating on the waves. She had anchored herself to him, her legs still wrapped tightly around him. Her hair ebbed and flowed with the waves, taking on a life of its own. She smiled up at him and wiggled against him.

“I prefer books over movies and such,” she rattled on. “I especially enjoy mysteries. Your turn.”

Severus laughed so hard he almost lost his footing. Sobering, he pulled her against him. “Perhaps we should adjourn to the cabin.”

Hermione giggled and pulled him toward the shore. “I don’t want you to burn. Before we go in, maybe we could have sex on the beach.”

They trudged out of the ocean and he caught her wrist. “As much as that appeals to me, I do not wish to get sand in uncomfortable places while I make love to you.”

His lover smirked. “Have you made love on the beach before?”

“No,” Severus answered quickly and pulled her toward the cottage. “I’ve never actually been to a beach before Albus abducted us.”

“Where do you normally vacation?”

Pondering her question, he walked up the steps and paused. “I’ve never had much use for vacations. Between spying for the Order and my teaching responsibilities, I never had much time.”

Hermione followed him, leaning against the wooden railing of the porch. “You aren’t really leaving Hogwarts, are you?”

The look on her face was one he was familiar with. Only this time, she didn’t have her hand raised, annoyingly trying to capture his attention. But there was something else in her eyes…something that told him this answer was important.

“That depends,” he replied, drawing her into his tangled web.

“On?” She took a bunch of hair in her hands and started wringing the water out.

“You.”

Hermione lowered her eyes and shivered. “I leave for London tomorrow night.”

Severus closed the distance between them and ran his hands up and down her arms. “Is what the headmaster did so horrible?”

“Yes,” she returned. “No. I don’t know.”

He waited for more of an explanation but received none. “Hermione?” Severus could see her struggling for words.

Taking a trembling breath, Hermione looked up. “I have to leave. Here, we are different people. We’re different people outside this enchanted globe.”

“That is absurd,” Severus murmured against her cheek.

“This isn’t real.” She tried to pull away, but he wouldn’t let her go. “It’s just a sexual marathon.”

He refused to believe what he was hearing. Especially after everything he had shown her last night. “Accio wand,” he growled and held out his hand.

“No,” she pleaded and pulled away. But she was caught between the solid wall of his chest and the wooden railing. “Please don’t.”

His wand hit the palm of his hand and he closed his fingers around it. Turning Hermione around, he flicked his wand. “Inanimatus Conjurus mirror! ”

--

A mirror appeared in front of her, floating and moving in time with her movements. Reflective black eyes bore into hers and she tried to look away, but found that she couldn’t. She was trapped between her lover and the rail. His fingers brushed her cheek and traveled down her neck, brushing her wild hair out of his way.

A treacherous sigh escaped her lips and she arched her neck for more of his touch.

“What do you see?” he whispered against the sensitive shell of her ear.

His touch wreaked havoc throughout her entire being. He was leaning against her, one of his hands tweaking her nipple while the other ran over the curve of her arse.

His question went unanswered as she happily acquiesced to his touch and presented herself for more of his touch.

Positioning himself behind her, Severus teased her moist nether lips with the crown of his distended sex. “What do you see?” he asked the question again, demanding an answer.

Hermione thrust backward, trying to claim him for her own.

Severus pulled away from the temptation with an audible hiss. “Not until you tell me what you see.”

Frustration boiled over and she keened. “What do you want me to say?”

“Your reasoning is flawed,” he stated as he tried to catch his breath. “I’ll want you no matter where we are.”

Feeling fingers explore her, Hermione cried out.

“You have implied that you love me.”

“I do!” she replied piteously as his thumb brushed against her clit.

“And will you stop loving me when we return to Hogwarts?”

“Of course not!” she hissed and tried to right herself.

“My affections will never diminish!” he declared, establishing his position behind her.

Hermione whimpered.

“You are mine!”

His girth plundered her feminine core.

--

She stirred in his arms and he placed a gentle kiss upon her head. Hermione sighed and nuzzled his neck.

“If you accept the position at Gringotts, I shall follow you,” Severus teased. “Then what would Albus do? He would be short one librarian and one Potions professor.”

Hermione chuckled. “Are you trying to guilt me in to staying?”

“Yes.” His answer was honest and too the point.

“And you’ll leave poor Melody Kilpatrick alone?”

Grinning in the darkness, Severus ran his hand up and down the curves of her torso. His witch was setting terms. “Only if you remain as head librarian. She’ll need torturing. I suspect she will not survive her O.W.L.s without a proper tutor. If you feel up to the challenge of mentoring the dunderhe – er young woman, I wouldn’t be surprised if she ended up in my N.E.W.T.s class.”

Hermione’s fingers caressed his lips, which were quickly replaced by her lips. “It’s a deal.”

--
A year later –


Pacing worriedly in his office, Albus waited, well aware of the various stares he was amassing.

“Do sit down, Albus,” Minerva bit off. “I’d like to have a floor to pace on after you’ve retired.”

A scuffle happened in the portrait nearest the gargoyle entrance.

“Watch it!” an indignant voice warned.

“Move out of the way,” a high-pitch voice panted as other put-out snarls sounded from the portraits.

Albus eyed the serene scene in the portrait that usually housed Dilys Derwent.

“Disgusting!” the neighboring portrait huffed. “You’d never see me spying on teachers.”

Dilys arrived in her portrait and doubled over. Her face was flush with exertion.

“Oh, do shut up, Phineas!” Minerva rose from her chair and wound her hand through Albus’ arm.

Albus shifted from foot to foot like an excited child.

Dilys remained doubled over, panting.

“Well?” Minerva asked excitedly as she clutched his sleeve.

“He did it!” she huffed. “She said…(pant, pant)…yes!”

Minerva clapped her free hand over her mouth, squelching the undignified squeal of joy.

Albus held onto his dearest friend’s hand and patted it. “Well done, Dilys.”

“It was so…(pant)…romantic.” Dilys clutched her side.

“We should start planning.” Minerva clapped. “We’ll need decorations for the Great Hall. Maybe they would like the ceremony outside.”

“And you accuse me of meddling,” Albus chided.

“I doubt he’ll go through with it,” Phineas cackled. “Snape won’t settle down.”

“He’s smitten!” Headmistress Derwent insisted. “And she is equally so.”

Albus held up a hand. “Don’t let him goad you, Dilys.”

“This is exciting news, indeed, Albus.” Minerva smiled up at him and kissed him on his cheek. “I can’t believe it. I never thought I would see Severus so happy.”

“If Hogwarts’ Potions master is so happy,” Phineas interrupted, “then I would hate to see him sad. He has the most unpleasant disposition.”

Albus stepped away from Minerva and the bickering portraits and walked over to the window. Hermione and Severus’ relationship had been fodder for speculation for some time now. Even the staff had taken to wagering on when Severus would pop the question – without Snape knowing, of course.

Hermione had forgiven him and Severus had…

Severus was still Severus, as forgiving as he could be. Especially when he and Hermione were arguing. The young librarian really was the best thing for his ex-spy. In his own way, Severus had actually thanked him.

Hermione walked away in a huff as Dumbledore approached the young couple. Well, Severus was much younger than he was.

“Something wrong, Severus?” the old wizard asked, suppressing a smile.

The normally reserved Potions master paced the width of the hall, muttering under his breath. He looked harried and not at all like himself.

“Severus?”

Realizing someone was near him, Severus tensed and looked at him.

“You!” He pointed the headmaster. “I have you to thank for this!”

“Oh?” Albus tried his best to keep the bemusement out of his inflection but failed miserably.

“You think this is amusing, do you?” Severus resumed his pacing.

He knew better than to answer that question.

The younger wizard swiped his dark hair out of his eyes. “The witch is insufferable! Opinionated! And stubborn, too! No wonder you locked us away in that hellish paradise. How else would have I been able to convince her to stay?”

“I am certain you would have figured something out eventually.” Albus smiled a Severus walked off in the direction Hermione had taken.

“Albus?” Minerva’s voice broke through his musings and he blinked.

“Yes, my dear,” he answered, taking her hand in his and brushing his lips against her knuckles.

“What is it? What is troubling you?”

Albus tucked her hand in his elbow and sighed. “I was just having a bit of introspection.”

“They’ll be fine, Albus,” the smiling witch assured him. “You’ve finagled and cheated, but you’ve gotten your way. Severus and Hermione will be fine.”

Dumbledore nodded in agreement.

“Hermione is good for Severus. She keeps him guessing. Most importantly, she doesn’t tolerate his behaviors. I’ve spent years worrying about him.” Minerva placed a gentle kiss upon his weathered cheek.

Absentmindedly stroking her hand, Albus stared back out the window. Ever since Severus Snape had walked into Hogwarts, Albus had worried about the young Slytherin. Even then, Severus was merely existing. But now, things were different.

Severus was doing more than surviving. Hermione kept him guessing, challenging him at every turn and showing the ex-Death Eater what it was like to live.

*****

Fin

A/N – I cannot thank Kathy Rose and Larilee enough for their beta-reading capabilities. They were extremely patient with my frequent blunders. Both have my eternal gratitude. I would also like to extend my gratitude to my frequent reviewers (My faithful servant, Satoni, Sniv, Merrclm, Shib, Kabochan, and everybody else). God Bless you all! Without reviews, this story would not be complete. Reviews really do fuel an author’s creative process. When I started this story, I was trying to complete it before book six came out. I had a really bad feeling about HPB. I adore the SS/HG ship. It is the most absurd, hilarious, totally improbable ship in the fandom. (I mean that in a good way.) That’s what makes it so fun to write. I often cackle when I write Severus and Hermione. They make such wonderful antagonists for one another.