Saving Miss Granger (Small Edit)

Chapter 15 ~ Not Everyone’s Onboard

Friday morning once again found Hermione in her labs, and Severus in the Great Hall being stared at curiously by staff and students. Finally, Minerva couldn’t take it any longer and walked down to where the Potions Master sat eating a bowl of very crunchy cereal, with buttered toast and jam, and a tall glass of orange juice.

The Transfiguration Professor sat down and sat something to him, but he couldn’t hear her because he was chewing. She glared at him as he swallowed it down.

“May I help you with something, Minerva?” he asked her, brushing back his shining locks.

“I asked you what was the reason for this new look?” Minerva said, scowling at him. “I hope you don’t have your sights set on our Spells Mistress.”

Severus stared at the witch for a moment. She had some nerve trying to tell him who to set his sights on.

“Minerva, I was quite unaware you had pushed Miss Granger out of your womb,” the wizard said, his black eyes boring into hers, “or that your apron strings were still tied to her robes.”

Minerva huffed up visibly.

“Severus, you know full well I am just concerned about her welfare. You are too…too worldly for a witch like Hermione. Next to you, she’s practically an innocent. There are plenty of witches more capable of handling you,” the witch replied.

Severus scowled at her.

“You mean easy pick-ups at the taverns or perhaps the employees of Madame Plushie's?” he said to her.

Minerva colored.

“Well, those are the kind of witches you have always found attractive, Severus,” the witch said in a low voice.

“No Minerva, those are the kinds of witches that were available for a short, quick fuck,” the dark wizard said, his eyes narrowing.

Minerva colored even more at the language the Potions Master used. Well, she had insisted on trying to interfere with his plans for Hermione, so she got what she got from the wizard.

“I find Miss Granger attractive,” Severus continued, "In fact, I’ve invited her out for a night of dining and dancing tonight, and she accepted,” he said to the shocked witch, “And I assure you, Madam, Miss Granger is much more experienced than you would imagine. As far as my being “too worldly” for her, I can also assure you the witch has been around the world herself, in a manner of speaking.”

Minerva was amazed. Severus taking a witch out on a date? She had known him for years and never knew the wizard to take a witch any farther than the closest available bed. And Hermione accepted? Good grindelows.

“Still, Severus I think…”she began.

The wizard lost his temper then.

“Minerva, I would appreciate it if you didn’t think…especially about my affairs. What you think doesn’t matter, and if you continue to try to tell me how to handle my personal concerns, you are going to force me to say something quite hurtful to you that I will not be able to take back. I have always respected you. I must ask you to do the same for me and discontinue this conversation,” the wizard said warningly. “Miss Granger is a grown woman, and if she is not interested in me, I am sure she will say so. She does not need a go-between. Now, please let me finish my breakfast. My cereal is getting soggy.”

Severus began to eat again, and Minerva rose scowling and returned to her own seat, Albus shaking his head. He loved the woman, but she was a nosey old bird at times.

“Did you find out anything Minerva?” Pomona asked her curiously.

“I most certainly did. You won’t believe this, but Severus is taking Hermione Granger out dancing tonight. That is why he’s primped himself up,” she said, her nose wrinkled.

The Herbology teacher gasped and put a hand over her heart.

“Really? Are you sure, Minerva?” she asked her.

”As sure as I am that he has wicked designs on the witch. I am going to talk to Hermione about this. Maybe she will see reason,” Minerva said.

“You will do no such thing,” Albus said to the witch from across the table. He wasn’t smiling and not a single twinkle was in his blue eyes as he looked at her. “I forbid you to interfere, Minerva. I mean it.”

Minerva knew the Headmaster meant business.

“But Albus, Severus is too…too old for the witch. Too…experienced,” she said.

“Severus is in his forties, Hermione is in her twenties. There is a twenty year difference between her parents, and they have been happy together for years. Stop meddling Minerva and let them be,” the Headmaster said evenly.

Minerva fell silent. She had forgotten about the age difference between Hermione’s mother and father. Obviously the witch had her mother’s attraction for older men.

Marcus Delaluci had heard the conversation. Snape was taking Hermione out on the town. Now that was dirty Quidditch. He was raising the bar and ruining everything. Marcus didn’t want to court Hermione, he wanted to fuck her. If Snape were going to take her out, then the witch would automatically expect more from any other suitor. He really needed to talk to the snarky bastard and convince him to keep Hermione in the lower strata of accessibility. They could share the witch’s charms. That way, everyone would be happy.

Severus finished his meal, and exited the Great Hall. Marcus followed. He waited until the wizard turned down the dungeon hall before he hailed him.

“Snape, I want a word with you,” the wizard called. Severus stopped walking and waited for the blonde wizard to catch up with him.

“How can I help you, Mr. Delaluci?” Severus asked him, starting up the hall again, Marcus walking by his side.

“I hear you’re taking Hermione out tonight,” Marcus said, scowling at the wizard slightly. Severus gave him a sidelong glance.

“As a matter of fact I am,” Severus responded.

“Why would you want to do a stupid thing like that?” Marcus asked him.

“And why do you think taking Miss Granger out to be a stupid act on my part?” Severus said evenly, holding his temper in check as he strode a bit faster. He needed to get out of Marcus’ presence before something very ugly happened.

“Because, she’ll put on airs, that’s why,” Marcus said, “We both know she’s a hot little witch, and it will only be a matter of time before her libido gets the best of her. She’s already had us both and I imagine you did all right by her since you managed to keep her ‘stimulated’ for more than an hour. She’ll give in to one of us in a bit. No need to take her out.”

They arrived at the door to the Potions Master’s office. Severus turned to face the wizard. They were about the same height, although Marcus was heavier. It wouldn’t make a difference though if they came to blows. The Professor was quite a skilled fighter.

He’d do some damage if they came to blows.

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Hermione was in her private rooms, having returned from her lab to retrieve some paperwork she had taken with her last night to peruse and forgotten this morning. She opened the door to exit when she heard male voices that sounded like Severus and Marcus. She peeked out cautiously and saw it was indeed the two wizards. And they were scowling at each other. Curious, she closed the door back, cracked it slightly and listened in.

“Mr. Delaluci. I am taking Miss Granger out because I believe she is worthy of such treatment, unlike you who think the impression of your enlarged cock is incentive enough for her to fall into your bed. The witch is a gem, Mr. Delaluci, she is brilliant as well as passionate, and I find that quite attractive,” the wizard said.

Marcus scowled at him.

“Oh come on, Professor. What got you interested was fucking her. You have the same motive as I do. You want to fuck her again,” the Dark Arts teacher said.

Hermione’s mouth formed an “o” as she listened to Marcus’ statement.

“I have to admit, Mr. Delaluci, that my experience with the witch is what awakened my interest…however, I am interested in forming an exclusive relationship with her. I believe we are compatible mentally as well as physically,” he replied smoothly. “Unlike you, I will have more to say to the witch than “Is my cock big enough?”

Hermione quickly covered her mouth with her hand to keep from bursting out laughing. Ooh, that had been a low blow. What was worse is he was probably right. Marcus’ eyes telescoped to black. How did the wizard know about his telescoping cock?

“Hermione and I have more in common than you think,” the wizard shot back. “She is a Spells Mistress and I teach Defense Against the Dark Arts, which is spell work as well. I can keep up a conversation when necessary with a witch I’m fucking. I avoid it as much as possible, but I can do it.”

”Yes, but Miss Granger has a formidable mind that needs to be challenged, Mr. Delaluci. Your interests seem to be more concerned with sticking your wand in as many witches as possible and not the pursuit of knowledge and the mechanics of the latest theories and discoveries in the field of magic. I am quite well read, sir, and can hold the witch’s interest as well as debate and challenge her. With you, she would be wasted. Only someone who is as well read as she would make a suitable companion,” Severus said. “You may have the looks and the tool, Mr. Delaluci, but it will take more than that to land Miss Granger. I am by far the better choice for the witch.”

Gods, they were arguing over her. Hermione suddenly felt very special.

“All of that is just gravy, Snape. All Hermione needs is a good, hard boning by a wizard who can do the job. When she’s climaxing she could care less about theories and debates. And I want her available. You need to tone it down. I don’t care if you get a piece of her now and then, but I want the same opportunity. She doesn’t need to be tied down to one wizard. Shit, you could have dinner with her in your rooms. Then you’d only be a few steps from the bedroom and could save your galleons.”

Severus shook his head.

“Mr. Delaluci, you truly are an arrogant, insolent pig of a wizard and absolutely insane if you think for one moment I will desist from pursuing Miss Granger simply because it infringes on your designs for her. I suggest you make some effort to be more than a rutting hippogriff and try to court the witch for her favors. If you aren’t willing to do that, then it is your loss and my gain,” Severus said.

Marcus glowered.

“I don’t take loss well, Snape,” he growled.

Severus’ black eyes narrowed.

“Are you threatening me, Mr. Delaluci?” the wizard asked him, “because inversely, I do not take threats well.”

Hermione looked worried. This was getting out of hand.

“It depends on what you consider a threat to be, Snape. I know you were a death eater, but I’ve got a past of my own. You aren’t the only dark wizard at Hogwarts, and you don’t scare me,” the wizard said, his fists balling.

“It is not my intention to scare you, Mr. Delaluci, but…perhaps if you feel you have a grievance with me, we can settle it like wizards,” the Professor purred.

Marcus looked at the pale wizard and his shining hair appraisingly. He wasn’t a coward, that was for sure. It seemed he was willing to fight for the witch. But Marcus wasn’t about to expend energy unnecessarily as much as he would like to kick the wizard’s ass. He needed to find out where Hermione stood first.

“I’ll consider it, Snape,” he replied, “and let you know. In the meantime, I’ll be watching you, and I don’t plan to let up on Hermione just because you are finding fancy ways to stick your cock in her. I have my ways too, old man. Tried and true.”

“Then I suggest you go your way, Mr. Delaluci. I have a date to prepare for,” Severus said, unlocking his office door and walking through, closing it behind him without another word to the blonde wizard.

Marcus stared at the door, hatred on his face.

“The bloody bastard. He’s going to ruin everything,” the wizard muttered, turning on his heel and heading up the corridor.

Hermione quickly closed the door before he passed. She stood there, staring into space as she absorbed the argument between the wizards. Severus had been quite territorial when he spoke about her. She would have never believed him to be a wizard willing to fight over a woman. But then again, he had always been rather covetous in nature. She remembered asking him to borrow a book from his library and was quickly told to go to the Ministry library. Severus didn’t lend his books out.

Hermione smiled naughtily as she exited her rooms and headed for her lab. She glanced at the Potions Master’s closed office door.

She bet he’d let her have one now.

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A/N: Just a little added tension to the mix. Next chapter…the Date. Please review.