Outside the Fire

Disclaimer: Still not mine.

Author’s notes: Hasn’t it been a long time since a chapter of this story appeared? Sorry, I got distracted by a new love, and have been nagged incessantly about this one ever since. Well, I’m back, and I already have chapter 15 started, so it won’t be months before it’s posted. Hopefully. Enjoy chapter 14 and look out for the next one.

Age before Beauty

Hermione bit back a hysterical laugh and helped Severus out of the shower and onto a towel she hurriedly spread on the floor, grabbing her wand from the pile of clothes on the chair.
“Where does it hurt?” she knelt beside him and ran a hand over his back, guiltily admiring the long lines of muscle spread out in front of her.
“Everywhere.” His arms muffled his voice and he couldn’t help tensing at the first touch of her hand.
“Relax, Severus, I’ll see what I can do.” A quick wave of her wand showed two pulled muscles at the base of his spine. She put it to one side and placed her hands on his back.
“Are you sure you know what you’re doing?” Severus groaned as surprisingly strong fingers massaged the painful area.
“Of course I know what I’m doing.” Hermione grunted, “Would you rather I fetched Poppy?”
“No!” he yelped as she literally struck a nerve, and then sighed as the pain eased. He relaxed into the towel as her hands stroked over his back and then twisted his head when he heard a choked sound behind him.
“Hermione?”
“I’m sorry, Severus.” She bent and rested her forehead between his shoulder blades, body shaking slightly.
“Hermione?” his slightly panicked enquiry was met with a muffled snort and to his horror what suspiciously sounded like a giggle.
“Sorrysorrysorry,” her hands gripped his waist as she attempted to get herself under control.
“Are you laughing at me?” his tone dropped the temperature in the room to freezing and he tried to lift himself from the floor.
“No, no, Severus, really, it’s not you,” Hermione pushed on his shoulders to make him lie down again and struggled to stop her mouth twitching into a smile. This was not supposed to be funny, but she just couldn’t help think that this was turning into a bit of a ‘Carry on’ moment. And if she could just get herself under control she could probably convince Severus that it was quite amusing too. She coughed and cleared her throat, keeping a firm hand on his back to keep him still.
When she was sure he wasn’t going to bolt from the room, she sat back and let him turn over.
“How’s your back?” she asked, watching anxiously for any sign of discomfort on his face.
Severus cautiously flexed his spine and only felt a mild twinge. “Better.” He said.
“Good.” Her lips twitched again and he frowned at her.
“It wasn’t funny, Hermione.”
“I know.” She schooled her face into a proper expression of concern.
“It was extremely painful.”
“I know.”
“We won’t be doing that again.”
“No?” she let her dismay show; she’d thoroughly enjoyed herself up until he’d hurt himself.
“No.” he tugged her down to his level, “It’s all very well thinking that sex in a shower is exciting, but the reality is far from it. We’ll stick to beds in future.”
“It was a bit dangerous, wasn’t it?” she laid her head on his shoulder.
“I was lucky not to knock myself out” he shuddered, remembering the slippery floor.
“At least you didn’t drop me.”
“I nearly did at one point.” He stretched sideways and reached for his wand, casting a drying spell on her hair and a warming spell on the floor underneath them. There was only a residual ache in his back and a cushioning charm soon eased that.
“I’ll have to go soon,” she sighed, glancing up at him.
“I have rounds to make as well.”
“So…”
“I’ll see you in class tomorrow, then.”
“Yes.” She sighed again, realising that their time was up. She sat up and reached for her clothes, passing Severus his at the same time.

They dressed in silence and quietly closed the door behind them, watching as it disappeared into the panelling. The corridor was shadowed, lit by only two wall sconces, the flames casting flickering shadows on the walls. Severus looked both ways to make sure there was no one around and then looked down at Hermione.
“I’ll expect to hear from Poppy in the next day or two, will I?”
“Tomorrow, if I can manage it.”
“I’m sure you will.” He said dryly, and bent to give her a swift, hard kiss. “Sleep well, Hermione.” And he turned and melted into the darkness.

Hermione sighed and made her way back to the Gryffindor common room. It was empty apart from Harry and Draco sprawled together on one of the sofas. Draco was reclined in an elegant pose against his lover and Hermione watched them for a minute, thinking that they made a very attractive couple.
“Feeling better, Hermione?” Harry looked up from his absorption of Draco’s palm, his fingers entwining with the pale digits resting on his thigh.
“Much.” Her slight smile and flushed cheeks caused Draco to raise an eyebrow, a smirk twisting his lips.
“Severus find you, did he?”
“What makes you say that?” she tried for nonchalant.
“Because I suggested it to him.”
“Oh.” She threw herself down in a chair opposite them and swung her feet over the arm, feet facing the fire. She let her shoes slip onto the floor and wiggled her toes to warm them.
“Well?” Harry asked.
“Well what?”
“Is everything all right between you again?” spoken as if to a simple person.
“Oh, everything’s fine.” A smug smile settled on her face and the two boys grinned.
There was no need for further communication and the trio were content to watch the flames dancing in the grate, a companionable silence falling. Hermione was just thinking about getting up when the portrait door flew open and Ron tumbled through, followed by a giggling Ginny. He charged over and scooped his startled friend out of her chair and swung her round and round in dizzying circles, scattering kisses over her face.
“Ron!” Hermione struggled in his arms; mentally reviewing what spells caused this kind of behaviour.
“Thankyouthankyouthankyou!” Ron grinned down at her, his eyes sparkling, “You’re a lifesaver, Hermione!”
“I’d say you’re welcome, if I knew what I was saving you from.”
“Snape.”
“Professor Snape,” she corrected automatically. Ron rolled his eyes at her.
“Him. What did you do to him?”
“What makes you think I did anything to him?” Hermione flushed as they all sent knowing looks at her.
“Because he just caught me and Ginny..”
“Ginny and I.” Draco corrected his grammar this time, and was gently pinched by Harry.
“He just caught Ginny and I coming from the Slytherin common room.”
“So?”
“He didn’t take points or give us detention!” Ginny flopped down onto the chair Hermione had been dragged from.
“That doesn’t mean I had anything to do with it.” Hermione protested, glaring at Draco as he snorted.
“Hermione, he takes points from Gryffindor on principle.”
“So he’s acting out of character.” She shrugged.
“Bollocks.” Draco snorted again, “Just be grateful that he just got laid, Weasley.”
“Draco!” Hermione flushed a brilliant red.
“Oh, don’t act so coy, Hermione! We can all guess what put him in a better mood, because he’s been a bastard just lately.” Draco disentangled himself from Harry and stood up, holding out his hand to help his lover up as well. “We’re off. See you in the morning.” He lifted a hand in farewell and pulled a willing Harry after him.
“So what happens now you’re back with him?” Ginny idly swung a foot back and forth.
“Well for a start, you can all mind your own business. I think we can manage without any further interference from well-meaning friends.” Hermione said firmly. Ron and Ginny looked at each other and then at their friend.
“Well, we’re pleased you’ve sorted it out with him.” Ginny looked worried for a moment, “You have sorted it out, haven’t you?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
“Now that everyone’s happy, I’m going to bed.” Hermione straightened up and moved towards the staircase that led to her room. “And don’t think that this gets you out of doing your Potions homework, Ron.”
“Oh bugger.”

~~~

“No, absolutely not.” Severus crossed his arms across his chest and scowled at Poppy and Albus who had braved the chill of the dungeons just before dinner the following night. They should have known better to confront him on an empty stomach; he was always more agreeable after he’d eaten. He was surprised that Hermione had worked so fast, and flattered that she was so eager.
“Now, now, Severus, you haven’t thought about all the advantages to having an assistant.” Dumbledore had an annoying gleam in his eye.
“I don’t need one.”
“Nevertheless, it will be in everyone’s interest if Poppy had an assistant who was proficient in potion making.” Dumbledore looked meaningfully over his glasses.
“Twice a week, then, on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.”
“Five times, Wednesday to Sunday.” Poppy demanded.
“Four, Wednesday to Saturday.”
“Done!” Poppy held out her hand triumphantly and Severus realised he’d been done indeed.
“Fine. Tell her to be here at seven o’clock on the dot.” He shook her hand with a great show of reluctance and turned back to his workstation, “Make sure you close the door after you.” He waited for the door to click shut before allowing a smug smile to appear. He hadn’t lost the art of manipulation after all.

A smile from Poppy at the evening meal indicated to Hermione that she had been successful in persuading Severus, and Hermione glanced across to see him frowning into his soup. He was the picture of a man who had been coerced, and once again she was reminded of his role in the war. It was a shame she’d have to wait until Wednesday before they were alone again.

Just as she was finishing her dinner, a shadow fell over her and she looked up to see Severus standing there.
“I’ll expect you in an hour, Miss Granger.”
“Yes, Professor Snape.” She barely got her answer out before he was sweeping away out of the hall.
“What was that about, Hermione?” Lavender, ever the gossip, wanted to know.
“Madam Pomfrey has arranged for extra tuition.”
“I bet that went down well with old Snape.” She smirked.
“Professor Snape probably didn’t have a choice.” Harry headed off a potential disaster and diverted Lavender’s attention towards himself. Hermione shot him a look that told him she knew exactly what he was doing and that she could handle Lavender with her hands tied behind her back. Harry ignored her and drew Ron into the diversion, nudging Hermione to her feet and pushing her towards the door.

Sending him dark looks, she nevertheless took the hint and went back to her room. To make it look good, she gathered various scrolls, quills, inks and books into her bag, slipping the black silk scarves into a side pocket; a girl could only hope, couldn’t she? A soak in the bath took up half an hour and she fussed for ten minutes choosing her underwear, thinking that Severus would appreciate her Slytherin green matched set, providing they actually managed not to break any body parts.

A last she had ten minutes to get to the dungeons and she managed to get out through the common room without running into Lavender. The staircases were unusually co-operative and she made it with two minutes to spare. Straightening her skirt and running her tongue over her teeth, she knocked and waited for Severus to open the door. Precisely on time, the door swung open and she walked through.

Severus was sitting behind his desk, marking a pile of scrolls. Hermione didn’t wait for an invitation to sit down, but carefully placed her bag beside the chair in front of the desk, pulling out a book to read while she waited for him to acknowledge her presence.
“A kiss would be nice.” He murmured, after casting a discreet locking charm. Hermione looked up with a smile. “Really?”
“Hermione, we’re alone, the door is locked, and it’s my private office. I have a warning charm set should the headmaster try to contact me through the floo, and my Slytherins know how to knock.” He sat back in his chair, tossing his quill onto the scroll he was marking, not caring when the red ink splattered; it was only one of Potters’, after all.
“Oh, that’s all right then.” Hermione placed her book carefully back in her bag before landing on his lap, burying her fingers in his hair so she could position him at the right angle for a deep kiss.
“Better?” she asked when she finally released him, settling herself more comfortably by draping his arms around her waist.
“Much.” He cleared his throat and gathered his scattered thoughts, “I managed to negotiate Wednesday to Saturday for us.”
“Practical work on Wednesdays and theory the rest of the time?”
“I was hoping for a bit more than once a week.”
“I meant for potion work.”
“Oh. Oh!” the light dawned at last and Severus settled back into his chair, enjoying the way Hermione fit neatly on his lap with her head on his shoulder.
“Mmm, we could get any brewing that needs to be done out of the way first, and the rest of the time could be spent…” Hermione slid a finger between two buttons of his jacket and rubbed suggestively.
“Efficient, as always, Miss Granger.” His own fingers walked their way up a silk-clad thigh and settled under the hem of her skirt.
“I like to think so.” She nibbled on his earlobe, “So, what did you want to talk to me about?”
“I hadn’t planned on doing any talking.”
“Oh, so the summons was for sex was it?” she shifted so she was straddling his hips, shrugging out of her robe, “I can live with that.” It wasn’t a small, dark room, but the positions were right. Now all she had to do was get those scarves out of her bag..

The chair creaked ominously and they stilled, looking nervously at each other. In full agreement, Hermione carefully stood up and backed onto the desk while Severus checked the chair. For all its sturdy looks, he could see the weak points and decided not to risk the shoddy workmanship. His sitting room chairs were of superior quality to this one, and far more comfortable on his back. Spotting her bag, he picked it up and took her hand in his.
“I know of somewhere we can be a lot more comfortable.”
“Bed?”
“We can’t afford to fall asleep, Hermione, you know that.”
“I know,” she sighed, “Can we at least sleep together on Fridays?”
“When I’m not on duty, yes.” His door swung open and her bag was tossed onto the sofa before her pulled her down into the large winged armchair in front of the fire. She started wriggling round on his lap until he manoeuvred her so she was sitting across his knees and her head tucked under his chin.
“Contrary to what I said earlier, Hermione, I don’t just want you for sex.”
“No?”
“No. There’s only so many times a man my age can..” Severus flushed and cleared his throat, “..anyway, I enjoyed our conversation at New Year.”
“So did I.” Hermione privately thought he was underestimating himself, but she’d prove that to him later, “Does this mean I can raid your library?”
“Within reason.” He agreed, and was pleased by the way she expressed her gratitude.

The chair was far more suited to romantic activities, Severus decided, and allowed Hermione to unbutton his jacket and help him out of it. The rug in front of the fire was thick and soft, and an extra quilt Accio’d from the bedroom made it even more so. Clothes were shed and tossed to mingle on the chair, and Severus spent several minutes appreciating the satin feel of her underwear from his back on the floor, before divesting her of it.

Hermione hovered over him, her hair loose from its barrette, forming a soft curtain around their faces as they exchanged lazy kisses. There was no danger of injury on the floor, so Hermione felt confident enough to be more aggressive than she’d been previously. Grasping his wrists in her hands, she drew them up to rest beside his head, holding him down as she straddled him.
“Are you all right with this?” she asked softly.
“Providing I eventually get to use my hands on you soon, yes.”
“Just keep them there for a bit, will you?” she released him and smiled when he remained in position.

Sitting back, she looked her fill, admiring the lean torso and the way the fine dark hair on his chest arrowed down his abdomen. Her fingers followed her eyes, and closely after that her mouth, tasting his unique flavour until she reached the dip of his navel. Shifting backwards, she felt his erection slide between her legs and a shimmy of her hips had him positioned for her to sink down onto it. Her sigh matched his and the burning in his eyes sent a shiver down her spine. He slowly lifted his hands and brushed them over her breasts, smoothing down her ribs, waist and brought them to rest on her hips.

He guided her movements until she laced her fingers with his and used the strength in his arms for leverage, pushing down as she lifted herself, releasing as she sank back. Riding him like this reminded her of her fantasy, and she concentrated on her own pleasure first, grinding against him until she felt the first tingles of orgasm. The look on her face reminded Severus of her single-minded determination and he grasped her hips again, thrusting forcefully up into her, sending her over the edge into shuddering sobs. He groaned out his own completion and gathered her down on top of him, holding her close as he muttered a cleaning spell.
“Mmm.” She nuzzled under his chin and kissed his throat.
“Indeed. That was..unexpected.”
“No it wasn’t,” Hermione yawned, “You knew exactly what would happen.”
“Don’t fall asleep, Hermione.” He warned.
“Nice avoidance, Severus.”
“Thank you.” He didn’t deny it, smiling to himself.
“I suppose our ‘meeting’ is over?” she looked up at him.
“I’m afraid so.” Severus shifted to one side and let her slide off him, rising from the floor to sort their clothes. He helped her up and steadied her when she wobbled a bit.
“Here, let me help.” Severus stood behind her and helped her into her bra, holding the cups over her breasts and hooking the centre catch. Knickers were next and she used him to lean against as she stepped into them. He smoothed the satin over her hips and straightened the lace neatly.
“Nice colour.” He held her hair out of the way of her collar.
“Thought you might like it,” She twisted her head so she could look up at him, “I have a black set as well.”
“No silver?”
“Funnily enough, I don’t have any red or gold, either.”
“Sensible girl.” He smirked, shrugging into his shirt after pulling on his trousers. A few minor adjustments and no-one would have known they’d just spent the last hour rolling around in front of a fire.
“I’ll see you on Wednesday, shall I?” he placed her bag over her shoulder and cancelled the locking charm on the door.
“Yes.” She went up on tiptoes and kissed his cheek, “Anything you want me to bring with me?”
“No, we’d better stick to the plan of brewing something, just in case the headmaster decides to ensure I don’t hex you.”
“I’ll wear my old jeans, shall I?”
“The ones with the holes in?”
“Yes.”
“You’d better not.” He pulled her against him and slid a hand down her back to cup her backside, “Too much temptation.”
“On Friday then?”
“Much better.” He agreed and kissed her goodnight.

~~~

February passed into March, and no difference was noticed by anyone to the change in their relationship. Severus was a master at keeping secrets and Hermione had no intentions of advertising it either. It was bad enough that her friends knew all about why she was spending so much time down in the dungeons without anyone else finding out.

Severus’s paranoia had saved them from possible embarrassment and expulsion when Dumbledore had dropped in one Thursday evening. Salazar had warned them and they had been debating over a cauldron when he had entered. He commented the following morning in the staff meeting how pleased he was that Severus was making the effort to get along with the Head Girl. Poppy had beamed at him and Severus had found it extremely hard to keep a straight face.

Other nights were spent in his rooms, curled up together in front of the fire after making love, talking about anything and everything. Hermione blossomed under the intellectual stimulus, and she often challenged his ideas, causing Severus to have to come up with convincing arguments. All in all, they were a perfect match for each other.

March’s blustery weather gave way to April’s spring and Hermione was buried under revision schedules and scrolls of notes. The urgency had gone from their coupling and Severus was happy just to have Hermione with him in his rooms while she completed her assignments. Harry and Draco joined them occasionally and then Hermione would bully them into doing their own revising.

She was spending a rare evening in the Common Room when Ron sank onto the sofa next to her. Hermione looked up from her Charms homework when she felt a gentle elbow in her side.
“Hmmm?”
“Just thought I’d make sure you were still alive, seeing as how we haven’t seen much of you lately.”
“You know I’ve been busy.” She looked around to see if anyone was listening.
“Too busy to nag us about NEWTS?”
“I don’t nag.” She frowned.
“Hermione…” Ron raised his eyebrow at her and she smiled reluctantly.
“Okay, okay, I may have nagged in the past, but I decided you were old enough to decide for yourself if you wanted to pass your exams.”
“What do you mean?”
“Look, Harry and Draco have enough money between them to last two lifetimes, so what does it matter if they pass their NEWTS or not? It’s not as if they’ll ever need them.” She twisted sideways and tucked her feet under herself, “Neville’s never needed any prompting from me; he knows he has to work twice as hard to get anywhere. You, on the other hand, have always needed a push.” Ron had the grace to blush.
“So why aren’t you nagging me?”
“Because I assumed that Millie would be encouraging you.”
“You’re right.”
“See? I know how much you want to succeed in life, and getting good results is just the first step.”
“Is that Snape talking?” Ron lowered his voice.
“No, it’s my dad.” She rolled her eyes, “it’s what comes from being a dentist.”
“How’s it going, by the way?”
“Fine, good.” A smug smile curved her lips and she gave a cat-like stretch, dislodging a scroll from her lap. “He loves me, you know.”
“Has he told you then?” Ron didn’t want to see her hurt.
“Not in so many words, no, but why else would we be spending so much time together?”
“You’re a pretty girl, Hermione.”
“He’s not just interested in my looks, Ron.”
“No, you’ve got a good body under that robe.”
“Sex isn’t everything.” Hermione frowned at him, wondering what was going through his mind.

Ron didn’t want to mention a rumour he’d heard from his father at the Ministry that a replacement for one of the teachers was being sought. After the Quirrell, Lupin and Umbridge incidents, all teachers went through a screening process, and it had been a comment from Fred that had aroused his curiosity. By process of elimination, he’d come to the horrible conclusion that Snape was the only one of the teachers who made no attempt to disguise is hatred of teaching. Now the reason for his being at Hogwarts, namely Voldemort, was gone, there was nothing to keep him here. Except Hermione. Ron hoped that she was right and that he did have feelings for her, because otherwise she was going to get her heart broken.

“No, you’re right, Hermione, it isn’t. I’m pleased for you, really.”
“Now say that like you mean it.”
“I just don’t want it to blow up in your faces when everyone finds out.”
“They won’t,” Hermione said confidently; she’d worked it all out in her mind and was planning to broach the subject with Severus when her exams were over. A gradual thaw over coffee when the September term started would lead to a few hints to Poppy that she was getting on well with Severus, and the nurses’ insatiable nose for romance would be twitching. It wouldn’t take long for her to encourage Hermione to suggest dinner to Severus and voila! They could socialise more openly without censure.
“Are you sure about that?”
“Positive. Why, have you heard anything?”
“Not a whisper. You’ve been very discreet.” Ron decided to have a quiet word with the Professor himself. He leaned forward and kissed her cheek, earning a look of surprise from her.
“Don’t work too late.” He said and made his way out of Gryffindor tower and towards the dungeons. It would be better to confront him now, rather than later when he had lost his nerve.

Taking a deep breath, Ron knocked on Severus’s office door and waited for the signal to enter.
“What do you want, Weasley?”
“A word, if you don’t mind, Professor.”
“Sit, then.” Severus wondered what dire emergency had brought the boy down here. Something to do with Bulstrode, perhaps.
“It’s about Hermione.”
“What about her?” he asked cautiously.
“Look, it’s not really my business..”
“No, it’s not.”
“Have you resigned?” Ron decided to be blunt and was rewarded by the look of shock on Severus’s implacable countenance.
“Pardon?”
“Dad mentioned that they’re screening applicants for a teaching position here.” Ron waited nervously.
“And what makes you think it is I that they’re replacing?”
“Is it?”
“I’m busy. Get to the point.” Severus picked up his quill, palm suddenly sweating.
“Look, Hermione’s in love with you. If you leave, where does that leave her?”
“What did you say?”
“She’s in love with you.” Ron narrowed his eyes, “Surely you knew?”
“She’s never said anything.”
“Just like you’ve never said anything to her.” He said shrewdly.
“I assumed that it was a crush.”
“Didn’t stop you taking advantage though, did it?”
“I..no, it didn’t.” Severus put his quill carefully down on his desk and folded his hands together, “Hermione is a lovely, bright young witch. This..infatuation..she has for me will fade in time. I am not so lucky.”
“So you have resigned.”
“Yes. I am not suited to teaching, Ron.” Severus admitted, treating him as an equal for once, “I have every intention of telling Hermione after her exams are finished. I will not jeopardise her academic achievements.”
“What will you do?”
“I intend to go back to research.” Severus sat back in his chair.
“This is going to hit her hard. I think she has plans for you.”
“She doesn’t want to be saddled by an old man.”
“You should give her the chance to decide for herself.”
“I can’t do that.”
“I think you’re making a big mistake, Sir. Hermione is nothing if not determined. If she says she loves you, she means it.”
“It won’t change my mind about leaving.”
“At least let her know. Perhaps you can work something out?”
“I don’t know.”
“And tell her how you feel, as well. She might go easy on you.” Ron decided to make his escape while the older man was still off-balanced.

Severus sat in the flickering candlelight by his fire. He’d given up on marking the homework assignments on his desk as soon as Weasley had left. An unlit cigarette rolled between his fingers and he stared at the unlit tip, willing himself to light it and take a drag into his lungs. He had missed Hermione tonight, and was finally ready to admit that he had fallen in love with her. The hard part was physically telling her how he felt.

This still didn’t make him want to retract his resignation though; he’d been honest with Weasley when he’d told him that. He hated teaching, and he wasn’t about to continue in a job he loathed, even for Hermione. If, and he meant if, Hermione saw fit to continue their relationship after he told her he was leaving, then she could floo to him in the evenings and at weekends, or vice versa. It was all conjecture, though; Hermione hadn’t said anything to him about her feelings, and Weasley could be wrong.

~~~

Ron’s conversation preyed on Hermione’s mind for the rest of the evening. Was she being presumptuous about Severus? He hadn’t said anything about them continuing after she graduated, and what made her so certain that he loved her anyway? She mentally shrugged off the negative thoughts; what she’d told Ron was the truth – Severus wasn’t the kind of man to just want a sexual relationship with a woman. If he was, they would have been burnt out after two weeks of the hottest sex two people could have together.

After their initial fumbling around, they’d finally restricted sex to bed and in front of his fire, and they’d soon shed any inhibitions. Severus was remarkably playful in bed and he allowed her free reign over any experimentation she wanted to try. He could still be a sarcastic bastard when it came to their discussions, but she found it increasingly easier to snap back at him when he was in a mood. In fact, it was when he was pacing around and complaining about idiot students that she found him most appealing, because while he was pacing he was invariably stripping off his robes.

Hermione sighed and gathered her papers and books together, wishing once again that this was one of their nights together. When had Severus Snape become more important to her than her studies? No, that wasn’t strictly true; Severus actively encouraged her studies and wasn’t above giving her a nudge in the right direction occasionally. Her feelings for him were beyond a mere crush and sexual infatuation now; close proximity over the last weeks had soon put paid to that, but what had replaced it was far longer-lasting, and far more terrifying. Love.

She would have to risk everything soon by telling him how she felt, and there was a possibility that she’d end up being rejected. On the other hand, she might be right and he did love her after all, so she had nothing to lose. Back stiffened with resolve, Hermione made her way up the stairs to her room where she slipped into her nightdress, shoving Crookshanks over until she had enough room to spread out. The disgruntled cat growled and batted her with his paw, tail waving against the bedspread.
“Sorry, Crooks, but you’ll have to share the bed tonight.”
Crookshanks rolled over and nuzzled her hand, purring when she scratched behind his ears.
“I know, I wish I was with him too.” She sighed and pulled him closer; sinking her fingers into the long fur, wishing it was Severus she was snuggled up against.

TBC