Unforgettable

Chapter Seventeen –

Hermione’s impassioned question went unanswered as Severus ignored the chance for redemption and, instead, decided to continue the deception by persuading her to marry him. He tapped his wand against the bindings and muttered an incantation.

The ropes dissolved into a heap at his lover’s feet. At least she wouldn’t be able to run away, Severus thought with a satisfied smirk. Holding on to her arms, he placed fevered kisses along her jaw and neck.

He smiled as she groaned and leaned into him. “How can you deny this?” he asked between kisses, ripping her robe and blouse from her upper torso. “You…love me,” he muttered, the nonsensical word sticking in his throat as though it was distasteful.

She whimpered, pushing against him and stepping out of the puddle of ropes. “I can’t.”

Feeling the edge of the bed against his knees he released her hands and ran his fingers through her wild hair. Seemingly oblivious to any semblance of decorum, Hermione tore at his clothing. Severus chuckled, her passionate gaze showing him that she had succumbed to the baser instincts of desire.

It killed him to push her away, as he grasped his wand and waved it between them. “Divesto,” he growled, feeling the clothes dissolve from his body and watching as her naked form appeared before him.

Severus reached for his lover, and leered when she pushed him onto the bed, and crawled on top of him. He humored her attempt for control and willingly heeled beneath her. She clutched the focal point of his existence and rubbed her delectable essence against his arousal.

Leaning forward, Hermione stared into his eyes and brushed her lips against his. “Now tell me what kind of lust potion you poisoned me with and why.”

--

Hermione gritted her teeth, and held her wand tightly behind her back. She needed to concentrate. She needed to keep her wits about her. She’d made Outstandings on her N.E.W.T.s. Surely this would not be as difficult.

She grinned, watching Severus squirm beneath her. “Tell me,” she whispered harshly.

“I am guiltless,” he hissed, trying to move beneath her. “I am as much a victim of this cruel twist of fate as you are.”

Pushing against his chest with one hand, she managed to gain more leverage over him. He was helpless beneath her. “That’s almost humorous, coming from you. You’re many things, but I’ve never pictured you as a victim.”

--

Severus groaned and tried reaching for her hips and seating himself inside her. Hermione pulled her wand from behind her back and pointed it between his eyes. His eyes widened in surprise, and Severus suddenly realized a newfound respect for his former student.

“Tell me which lust potion you used so that I may brew the antidote, take it, and be rid of this…problem,” Hermione growled in frustration both at her rising passion and her inability to get a straight answer from him.

“I am guiltless,” he repeated breathlessly, playing to her. If she was angry with him now, imagine if she knew the truth. “I realized when I lured you to Hogwarts that something was amiss,” he panted, trying his best to convince her. “Thoughts of you consumed me for days before I realized what was the matter.”

He stared at the tip of her wand, praying silently that she would not act rashly. Of course she would, Severus thought scathingly. She was a bloody Gryffindor. With an agility he was unaware he possessed, Severus took the wand from her hand and rolled them over.

Flicking her wand, he murmured a binding spell that pulled her hands above her head and her legs apart.

“Release me!” she cried, her cinnamon eyes flashing angrily at him.

“I will do no such thing,” he hissed vehemently, positioning himself before her slick channel.

“I hate you!” she affirmed hotly and struggled against the bindings.

“Your body betrays you,” he murmured, his inflection tender yet concentrated as he nudged the tip of his sex between her slick folds and stilled. “You must realize I would never willingly succumb to this irrational desire. Why would I poison myself? Why would I bind myself to the mercy of a lust potion?”

He inched into her, his arms shaking with the effort of holding himself over her. “Think, Hermione,” he groaned. “Use your intelligence and ponder the accusation you have hurled so casually toward me. It makes no sense.” Severus tilted his head and tugged one of her nipples into his mouth.

Hermione puled and twisted beneath him.

Severus pushed his entire length into her, beseeching the Fates to end his torment. He released her nipple. “I offer you solace from the gnawing ache that festers within your every thought. I offer you a father for your unborn child, a way to remain within the wizarding world where your friends are.”

She cried out, mindlessly yielding to him.

“You have beguiled me ever since you set foot inside my classroom. You embody considerations I have long since thought absurd within the realm of my existence. You offer a child, one who I will cherish as my own. It matters not who his father is. Why can’t you see this?”

Her eyes widened. If she were a practiced Legilimens, his ruse would have long been exposed.

“I believe your feelings to be genuine and true. Why do you struggle against them?” he asked on a whispered plea, unable to resist the urge to rock his hips into hers. “I –” he stammered, “care for you. I’ve acted upon honest affections. You must remember basic potions. Lust potions only have the desired effect unless those infected share a degree of attachment.” His lie skirted dangerously on the edge of truth, a truth he would never permit himself to entertain, much less admit to.

Hermione mewled in response and he sneered. She was almost gone to reason and he realized that now was the time for her to decide. His rhythm was purposefully gentle within her, emphasizing his intentions.

He called for his wand and, once in his hand, placed her wand in hers. Gently closing her fist around the instrument, Severus hoped against hope that she wouldn’t hex his bits off. “Finite Incantatem. Now is your chance,” he whispered. “I am at your mercy. You can ask anything of me.”

--

Pulling her hands and ankles free from the enchanted bindings, Hermione pushed against Severus with all her might, breaking their intimate connection and managing to usurp him. “Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t hex your bollocks off right now,” she menaced, jabbing her wand into his hip.

“If that is what you want,” Severus replied as he shifted under her. “But I fail to see how that will help you or your child.\"

“How is it that you and I became infected with this…problem?” Hermione demanded, wanting so many answers but not knowing which questions to ask. Her mind was muddled with lecherous, indecent thoughts.

“I do not know.” His words were a strangled whisper.

“Where is the antidote?” she asked in earnest, trying to ignore the aching throb of desire.

“There isn’t one,” he replied truthfully.

Worrying her bottom lip with her teeth, Hermione struggled to keep her head clear.

Severus grumbled and flexed his hands on her thighs. “You feel the desire seething inside you. Ease the ache. Use me as I have used you. Take your leave of me and be done with me.”

She closed her eyes and whimpered. “Why me?” she asked, her voice the barest of whispers, as she rocked her hips back and forth over his attentive masculinity. She dropped her wand on the duvet.

With a hesitant hand, Severus reached for her and grasped several of her unruly curls. Tugging her toward him, he replied, “Because I…care for you.”

Her lips brushed against his and she sighed, welcoming the gentle invasion of his body into hers. His hands clasped her hips and coaxed her into a rhythm.

She could feel herself tighten like a spring wound too tightly and gave herself over to the satisfying rush of lust that flooded her very soul.

--

Severus snapped the paper open, content with progression of the latest events. His fiancée was still upstairs, lying in after the exhaustive night they’d had. He’d contacted the Ministry and had arranged for an official to marry them. He and Hermione had an appointment in a few hours. After the “ceremony,” they would Apparate to Hogsmeade and would be at Hogwarts in time for…

Bloody hell! Three days! Having spent the last three days either trying to convince Hermoine or find her, he had completely forgotten his duties at Hogwarts. He must Floo Albus at once.

Standing, Severus tossed a Galleon on the table for the barmaid’s troubles. Just then the door to the Leaky Cauldron slammed opened and Severus’ accomplice from yesterday stormed toward the stairs leading up to the boarding rooms.

“Potter!” Severus shouted across the tavern, ignoring the other early-morning patrons.

Harry’s robes swirled around him as he turned toward Snape. His hair was tousled and his eyes were flashing green beacons of anger. One of his eyes was almost swollen shut and sporting various black and blue marks. “Where is Hermione?” he asked, his tone without a hint of civility.

Instead of answering, Severus gave in to the temptation to goad the other man. Next to shagging Hermione, it was his favorite hobby. “I take it that you failed in your reconciliation attempts with Miss Weasley,” he sneered. “Perhaps hexing her wasn’t the best course of action.”

“I never should have taken that oath,” Harry spat. “I’ve made a pact with the devil. Every time I tried telling Ginny about the potion I would start coughing uncontrollably. Then Ron showed up and we had a row. Tonks had told him that Ginny was pregnant.”

Severus couldn’t help the small chuckle of satisfaction.

Harry shook his head, as if suddenly remembering why he was there. “What have you done with Hermione?”

“Hermione is none of your concern,” Severus replied gingerly, as if bored.

Smirking, Harry handed Severus a parchment. “The Ministry has issued a warrant for her arrest.”

******

A/N – Thanks to all who have reviewed. I’m happy to report that chapter eighteen was just sent to the beta reader. I really appreciate all the reviews. They really do keep the muse appeased. Now to answer questions that were asked in reviews.

Miki asked, “How on earth will Snape convince her that he wants her with or without a potion? Please tell me his desire won\'t desert him when they find a cure.” A cure! Who said anything about there being a cure? He he!

Shauna asked, “Please write more and do you have to put so much A/N in?” I try to answer all questions in my A/N. So the length of the A/Ns depend on how many questions are asked.

Mary asked, “So is Severus going to tell Hermione that he oblivated her?” No, but she will find out.

June asked, “Is there any way Severus can make the twins put their memory into a Pensieve, so he can analyze the potion from there?” Ya know, I really hadn’t considered that. Thanks for the idea.

Next up! The Ministry launches an investigation.