Goodnight, Demon Slayer

Goodnight, Demon Slayer
Chapter Fourteen:
Isn’to Wao Wants To Marry A Virgin” A Reality Show?

“Excuse me.”

“Oh, sorry, I-”

“It’s okay, I just-”

“No, my fault.”

“Okay, so…”

“Right.”

Hermione and Severus danced carefully around each other, Hermione trying very hard to clean up after their very messy guests and Severus trying very hard to understand what was going on. Everything had been perfect until the guests had left, bu soo soon as Harry and Tonks, the last of them, had departed, Hermione had gone into super-efficient cleaning mode, her eyes never meeting Severus.’

“Hermione?”

“Huh?” she called, not even looking up from the table she was desperately scrubbing. Damn Weasley invention. She wasn’t even sure what it was that had exploded there, but she was quite sure Fred and/or George had been behind it. Besides, concentrating on the stain left her very little time to concentrate on Severus and his probing black eyes.

Oh, God, those eyes…

Scrub, Hermione!

“Nothing.”

“Oh. Okay.”

After scrubbing until the veneer was almost stripped from the table, Hermione found she had to content herself with collecting the various plates and napkins that had been left forgotten throughout the room, busying herself as best she could. As long as she kept busy, as long as she didn’t look at him she could put off thinking about what had transpired.

She had kissed him.

Really kissed him.

Like, moved to the couch, petting and almost fully making out kissed him.

Like, I wish no one else was here and I could show you my bedroom kissed him.

And there was the tiny matter of telling him sovedoved him.

That, she supposed was just an added bonus in the great game show of humiliation she was an unwilling contestant on. She had never asked to be targeted by Voldemort. She had never asked Severus to take care of her.

She’d never asked him to look so damn hot this afternoon. And, yeah, he had been drunk, but a drunk Snape was much more social than the regular garden variety, so that was good. But who knew if a drunk Snape was a truthful Snape or just a horny Snape who would tell her anything to get in her pants.

Moving rapidly around the room in a whirlwind of cleaning solution and dust rags, Hermione never even noticed when Severus began shadowing her, eventually stepping in front of her before she could attack the mirror in the front hall with all the cleaning fervor Hou House Elf.

“Hermione?”

“Uh-huh?” Again, she kept her eyes down, looking only into the mirror she was wiping down. She gasped as she caught his reflection too and again averted her eyes before she could make contact with his.

“Can you stop for a moment so we can talk, please?” Severus pleaded.

“Um… sure, I just need to get these last…”

Severus moved to intercept the young girl who had made a move to escape him and return to the kitchen. Stepping in front of her, he gently took her hands in his own and waited for her to look up at him.

“Or now,” she whimpered, sounding like she was practically in pain. “Now’s good.” Severus narrowed his eyes at her obvious discomfort and sighed, releasing her hands and turning aside.

“Let’s just act like it didn’t happen, then, shall we?”

“If that’s what you want.”

It was so quiet Severus wasn’t even sure he had heard her correctly, th he he was quite certain of the tiny tremble in her voice as she spoke. The girl was close to tears.

Great.

Good going, you moron!

You’ve brought the girl to tears.

Again.

“Hermione, pissed though I was (and still am a little, to tell the truth) I meant everything I said to you. I… I don’t know what to say to you now, don’t know what you‘re thinking, but if it makes you this uncomfortable, then ive ive me. I was out of line.”

“No!” she cried, her eyes widening. “I mean, I kissed you, remember? I just… I’ve never… You’re the only person- guy- I’ve ever kissed, and you’re so… I mean, why would you want me?” The tears that had been threatening behind Hermione’s eyes finally fell as she tried in vain once again to movto tto the kitchen, but Severus seized her, grabbing her hands, a manic grin in place on his face now. He lead her to the couch and sat, motioning for her to join him.

“Is that what this is about?” he asked disbelievingly. “Hermione, the question should be why you would want me. You have never, ever treated me poorly though I’ve given you every reason to. You are intelligent, you are eloquent, and God, are you beautiful. Hermione, any man in his right mind would want you. I’m just lucky that I’ve come to my senses and accepted the fact that I was- am- completely infatuated with you.”

“Really?” she sniffed, looking up at him for the f tim time since sitting.

“Of course. Hermione. Love. I made nice with Potter and Weasley. True, that was due in great part to the vodka, but it was more as a favor to you. I wanted to impress you, let you see that I could get on with your friends. But I of course, being the fuck-up that I am, only managed to make you angry.”

“It’s alright, Severus,” she responded, smiling sweetly and fully at him for the first time since the end of the party. “I do, I mean… I do want you. A lot, actually. And I guess… I think things turned out alright… Don’t you?”

“I do,” he responded, gently lowering his lips to hers and kissing her sweetly. He pulled her close and relished the way she shivered at his touch and kissed him back so innocently but so intensely. This girl was amazing.

“Ooh… yeah. Things turned out okay, I think,” Hermione practically moaned as he pulled away, but as he searched her eyes, she once again dropped them to her hands, now clenching his.

“I… I don’t really know how this is supposed to go. I mean I know how THAT’s supposed to go, but I don’t know how to get to that point, and I… I just… I guess what I’m trying to tell you is I think you got the last virgin at Hogwarts, and quite frankly she’s kind of nervous about this whole… thing.”

Severus laughed gently, lifting her chin with one of his extraordinarily long fingers and smiling at her.

“Hermione, I am quite sure that, though you may feel that way, you are not the only virgin left at Hogwarts. Perhaps the last in your year, but I’m sure there are some younger onand and God knows Filch has never seen a woman naked.” Hermione smiled and laughed a little, but once again her eyes betrayed her nerves as they sought out anything but his own. “Hermione, I meant it when I said I loved you, and as far as THAT, as you so eloquently put it, we don’t have to do THAT until you are ready.”
ealleally? I mean, I know it sounds stupid, but I overheard Lavender and Parvati one time and they said that guys will think you’re rejecting them if you don’t want… if you’re not ready.”

“Well, I cannot speak on the quality of gentlemen that those two have entertained, but I can assure you, Hermione, I do not expect such a thing, and I would never feel rejectf yof you were not ready. Especially if- God, you’re really a virgin?” asked Severus incredulously. After all, who was a virgin anymore, anyway? When he had been Hermione’s age it had been common for people, okay, girls mostly, to save themselves for marriage, but in recent years, there had been a very large spike in the number of students caught in the astronomy tower. War and the threat of imminent death would do that to a person’s sex drive. Plus, there were very few girls Severus knew who would have been able to resist an impassionedfriefriend’s plea of “I don’t want to die a virgin.” That line went around every time the final battle seemed inescapable. Seemed like once a year since Harry Potter’s first year…

“Yuh-huh,” Hermione assented. “That’s bad, isn’t it?”

“No, no, definitely not. But certainly a rarity. And when or if you choose to be with me, I will be honored to know that you loved me so much to give me such a gift.”

He wasn’t sure what he had been expecting after that speech. A hug, a kiss, a declaration of love, perhaps, but he had never, ever expected the girl to begin giggling.

“Oh, Severus!” she cried, clenching his hands tightly before each peal of laughter much like she had that first day when she had learned her fate in his office. “You don’t know how much that means to me.”

“Then why does it sound like you’re mocking me?” he scowled.

“I’m not! Oh, Severus, I promise! It’s just that you sound like every speech every mother in the world has ever given her daughter on the virtues of chastity! ‘If he loves you he’ll wait.’ ‘The person you give yourself to should appreciate the gift you’re giving them.’ Oh, Severus! You’re the best!”

“I still think you’re mocking me,” he grumbled, but softened considerably as Herm loo loosened her hands from his and let them roam to the back of his head, pulling him down into a joyful, sweet, perfectly virginal kiss. For his part, Severus tried very hard to keep up the appearance of chivalry and shifted uncomfortably in his seat, trying to adjust the pressure on the erection he knew would not be assuaged for some time, at least by her hands And And somehow, all masculine instinct aside, he felt okay with that situation.

***************A/N*************
Okay, sorry for the length between updates (a little over a week, but I feel guilty), but updates will be slower since I’m back to work, and I have been transferred to a new store where the staff all hate me and I hate them equally. Not a fun environment. Plus, this store actually has customers, so the writing while on the job will have to stop (DAMMIT!). But don’t worry, I’m not abandoning this story, and though they may be slow, the updates will come.

Secondly, several of you have commented on the perceived similarities between my Sev and Spike from BtVS. First off, I like guys in red shirts, always have. That’s why I had Sev buy a red shirt in London. Also, I was greatly influenced by the hot guys at my cousin’s wedding the night before I posted the last chapter who was wearing a red shirt. I did not purposely model Sev on Spike in this chapter (though I do think they’re a lot alike in some ways), even though to some of you his wardrobe indicated differently. And as far as Sev calling Hermione “Love”… I was trying to use a pet name that didn’t sound explicitly American, and the only ones I’ve ever really read or heard that sounded very British was “love” or “pet.” Severus doesn’t seem like a “pet” kinda guy to me, so I went with “love.” I’m sorry if that got some of you hot and bothered for Spike- it was completely unintentional. Though I would ne eve ever refuse a Severus and Spike sandwich. Hey, at least I didn’t have him call her “Goldilocks”

Alright, after a long absence, here they are, the thank yous:

Erika: Thank you! You rock as well!

Firmusvis: Don’t worry! Plenty more fic on the way (couldn’t stop this baby if I tried!)

Gia: Snapey goodnesstom the way!

Snapeaholic: See above, MUCH Snapey goodness on the way! And then some more angst, but I think after that it’s all pretty much smooth sailing to Smut Island!

ancient girl: Share your feelings on RH:PoT exactly. Alan Rickman hot, Kevin Costner evil.

Spaz14’m g’m glad you’re liking it so much, faithful minion, but don’t let your daughter lock you in the looney bin for laughing out loud at apparently nothing! I completely understand the claustrophobia thing- my sister and I narrowly avoided three buses full of small, irritating children when we saw it! I’ll try and give Neville a nice girl just for you, okay?

Deb:Thank you! As always, your reviews are very inspiring! Glad to know you got to sit through the entire movie without potty breaks. I wasn’t so lucky, and my sister is 19! You’re SO the best! You know that the word “beautiful” is my kryptonite, right? Thank you so much!

Azulkan2: Can’t know about the Mudblood. Not yet. Though some have chosen to reveal their guesses in the reviews. Thanks!

GrrArrg: And why can’t I use “sex poodle” in my vows? I promise to have sex with you whenever… I want. Oh, and- I’ve got a theory. It could be bunnies! You can have the Hermione/dead Sirius hysterical pregnancy bunny if you really want it ‘cause I’m not gonna touch it with a ten foot pole! And no! No, no fashion tips from Spike! Fashion tips from hottie wedding guy! And kinda indirectly Spike. Glad you liked the marauders after ‘Mione (I love that ship, too. Can you tell I want an older guy? Or possibly a not entirely human guy?) You’re my favorite!

Megan: Thanks!

Sabrina: Thanks!

FireBlade: You’ll have more! Just be patient!

Stevie: I know, I love Neville, too, but it was just too easy!

Joanna Scarlett: Thank you so much!

Jess: Thanks! You are being a good little reviewer, and I promise as soon as they’re presentable the new chappies will be up!

Mg: Thanks!

ArienAstera: Yes, Severus is a very hot old man! I love Lupin too (and was very upset with the casting for PoA. Not nearly hot enough!), but I had to make Sev hate him in regards to HG ‘cause of something I’ve got planned (I know, it’s scary when I get organized and actually KNOW what’s gonna happen in a story!). I promise, Remus will not be vilified!

Fresh8: Thanks!

Deblovesdragon: First off, thanks for the bday messages! They were very sweet of you! And thank you for your reviews, Domestic Goddess. Now that I know you’re American I can discuss all kindsa fun American things with you that GrrArrg doesn’t get. Can’t think of any right now, buy, hey- it’s late and I have to got to hell, I mean work in eight hours, so I’ll think later.

Bagheera: Thanks! It’ll make my head big if you compare me to “Buffy” again, though. But by all means… go ahead!

Kate McGuire: Thanks!

Emery: Wow! On the whole planet? Thanks! You can have the story’s baby only if you promise to love it and obey it and marry it like a good girl!

VegasVWchik: Thank you! I’m so glad someone else noticed how few reviews I’m getting! I blame the site a little, but since I have no money to donate, I have no cause to complain!

Selene Luavea: You’re right. No such thing as too much Buffy or Angel (Mmm… Especially Angel!) Thanks!

Becky: Thanks!

Teah: Be patient! I DO have a RL (as unfulfilling as it is!)

Okay guys, thanks!
‘Til next time.
Love and floppy, hoppy bunnies,
PMM