Saving Miss Granger (Small Edit)

Chapter 17 ~ Wining and Dining


Alexander led Severus and Hermione into the Bee’s Knees proper. The restaurant had marble floors, crystal chandeliers and huge Palladian windows. A handcrafted plaster relief ceiling spanned the entire area and a large dance floor was set in the middle of the space, beautifully dressed tables encircling it. There were two levels of seating, the main floor and the balcony. Lovely lighted floral centerpieces graced each table, the source of light originating from tiny fairies who sat among the blooms. A full orchestra played classical music while sitting on a lighted dais against a far wall.

“This is lovely,” Hermione breathed.

“Not nearly as lovely as you,” Severus replied, squeezing her arm a bit as they arrived at their table.

Unlike the rest of the restaurant, the area in which they sat had only five tables set well apart from each other. But this was the VIP area. The regular area tables were much more concentrated. Their table was designed to provide privacy and a clear view of the dance floor.

The Potions Master pulled out Hermione’s chair and the witch sat down as several waiters appeared and placed appetizers, water and a bottle of complimentary house wine on the table. A waiter handed both Severus and Hermione menus. The Potions Master quickly plucked the menu out of the witch’s hand and returned it to the waiter.

“I will be ordering for the both of us,” the wizard said.

Hermione frowned a bit. The wizard didn’t know what she liked. He could order something dreadful. Not wanting to be rude, but also not wanting to be served a meal she wouldn’t enjoy, Hermione cleared her throat lightly.

Severus looked over the menu at her.

“Do you need some water?” he asked her, one eyebrow arched, “There is a glass right in front of you.”

Now this was the Severus Snape she knew. Beneath the pretty hair and expensive suit, lurked the snarky bastard she appreciated. Hermione would have grinned if she wasn’t so concerned about her meal.

“Um…Severus, perhaps I should order my own meal. I’m kind of … picky about what I eat,” she said haltingly.

Severus put the menu down on the table and looked at her scowling slightly.

“Your pickiness notwithstanding, I ask you to trust my judgment, Hermione. If you do not like what I select for you, you may send it back and order whatever you like,” he said diplomatically. “For the moment, just trust me witch.”

Hermione looked at him, then sighed.

“All right, Severus…but I doubt you will be able to choose a meal I will like,” she said.

Severus arched an eyebrow at her.

“Would you be interested in making a small wager on that?” he asked her silkily.

Hermione’s belly tightened. There was something in the way the wizard said “small wager” that made her think it wouldn’t be small at all. And it excited her. But still, she had to be careful…she wanted to take this slow. She didn’t want the wizard to think she was loose and easy.

“That depends,” Hermione said carefully, “What are the stakes?”

Severus’ dark eyes rested on the witch a long moment, sweeping over her. She saw a flash of hunger there before they became hooded.

“I think,” the wizard said slowly, “I will leave the stakes up to you.”

“Me?” she repeated.

Severus nodded.

“Yes, you. If I name the stakes, I’m afraid it will be something totally inappropriate…maybe even…indecent by your standards. I would rather not tempt myself,” he purred, “Or you. I am doing my best to be a gentleman, Hermione.”

Hermione was very tempted to hear what his stakes would be, though she thought she had a very good idea, judging by the way Severus had looked at her. She felt a little ache inside now. The dark wizard was becoming more desirable every moment and the date hadn’t even really started yet.

“All right,” she said, “The stakes will be this…a helpful service performed by the loser.”

Severus arched an eyebrow at her. He looked as if he were going to say something, but thought better of it.

“As you wish,” he said silkily, “However, I want your word that you will not send the food back just to win. If you like it, you will admit it and eat it. And remember, Hermione, you were my student for several years. I will know if you are lying.”

Hermione smirked. It was true. The Potions Master was always able to tell when she wasn’t being straight-forward. A very exasperating talent to say the least. But Hermione was game.

“Done,” she said.

Severus nodded. His win was in the bag. Hermione didn’t know that he had visited Hogwarts kitchen and talked to the head house elf, a little fellow named Eli, who knew every staff member’s food preferences by heart.

“The Spells Mistress? Oh yes, sir…Eli knows what she likes, he does sir. Tomato soup. Ham with Swiss cheese, sweet pickles, lettuce, tomato and mustard. She loves lobster sir, but won’t order it often. On her birthday and Christmas. She likes all manner of shrimp, sir. Blackened, broiled, boiled, fried and cocktails. And fish. Vegetables is corn, whole potatoes, green beans and asparagus sir. Oh and strawberry chocolate cheesecake with milk She eats other things but those are the best things sir,” the house elf said.

Severus crooked a finger at the waiter, who was standing at a discrete distance as the couple talked, and he approached, leaning in as Severus whispered Hermione’s order, the witch watching him with her forehead wrinkled. He certainly looked confident. The witch had the sneaking suspicion she’d been had. She shuddered at the thought of it. Well, she had said the service had to be helpful. It had been quite a daring stake, and the witch wondered if she subconsciously made it on the chance that she could end up in the wizard’s power.

Her newly awakened dark nature was working its subtle magic on her psyche. Lucius would have been pleased.

As a matter of fact Lucius and his date, whose name was Lucille, were being escorted to their own VIP table in the same section, though they were seated quite a distance away from Severus and Hermione. The wizards did not yet see each other.

A waiter drew out Lucille’s chair, seeing as the Lord made no attempt to do so. The blonde wizard sat down and stared at the witch until she dropped her eyes to the table and kept them there. He had already instructed her how he wanted her to act if she wanted to be intimate with him. Lucius loved the fact that witches obeyed him because they wanted to be fucked by him. The idea of him walking away was horrifying to say the least. Lucille’s knickers were already soaked as she stared obediently at the table, not allowed to meet Lucius’ eyes unless he addressed her.

“One menu,” Lucius said to the waiter.

The waiters were all used to Lucius’ ways. The only time the wizard took two menus was when he was with his wife Narcissa, who ordered her own meals and the wizard was very solicitous to. Other witches, well, he treated them like possessions. It was quite a matter of speculation among the staff as to what the wizard did to the women he brought to the Bee’s Knee’s after wining and dining them. Probably made them work off the galleons he’d spent.

Severus poured himself and Hermione a glass of wine. He sniffed his glass, his large nostrils pulsating before swallowing the wine down.

“They serve a fair house wine,” he said to Hermione, who followed suit. “Very tasty.”

Yes the wine was nice, not too dry and not too fruity.

She looked at the Potions Master curiously.

“Severus, do you dine here often?” she asked, wondering if this was where he brought other witches. The maitre’d had been very accommodating to them. She imagined the Potions Master must be a regular.

“No,” he replied. “This is my first time here.”

Hermione’s eyebrows rose.

“But the maitre’d…he was so accommodating. He took us before the rest of the patrons…you have a VIP table. These are usually reserved for preferred customers,” she stated.

“Obviously he recognizes quality customers,” the wizard answered with a slight smirk. “He most likely took one look at you and realized he was in the presence of a woman of worth and influence. It would be a logical assumption. You look absolutely edi…lovely,” the Potions Master amended.

Hermione snorted. Severus was quite good at laying it on thick. Yet she still was flattered.

“You probably threatened him with bodily harm,” she said, imagining Severus glowering at the snooty looking wizard as he made his reservations.

“I assure you I did no such thing,” Severus replied, looking reproachful.

His words might have implied it, but he didn’t actually threaten Alexander with painful repercussions if his needs weren’t met.

Hermione wasn’t completely convinced, but let it go. She looked around the restaurant…then went very pale. Severus noticed immediately.

“What’s wrong?” he asked her, turning in his chair and looking in the direction the stricken witch was staring.

He saw what had made her stiffen up immediately. Lucius Malfoy.

“Oh damn,” the wizard thought, turning back to Hermione.

“It’s Lucius,” she said in a low voice.

“Yes it is,” Severus said, unconcern in his voice, “With a date. Don’t worry, he won’t be a problem, Hermione. He might drop by the table to say hello, but he will depart.”

Hermione really didn’t want to see the blonde wizard. It would have been all right with her if he had obliviated his memories, but there was no such luck. Lucius wanted to hang on to his memories of fucking the witch. He had done an admirable job, but felt a bit cheated. Hermione had gotten away without pain. Lucius always gave witches some pain, and felt he wasn’t truly finished with Hermione yet. He still owed her.

Several waiters arrived with platters of food. Lucius looked up at them and started to turn back to his menu when he jerked his head back toward the couple sitting at the table. His eyes narrowed then widened.

“My word, is that Severus?” he said to himself.

He watched as the waiters bustled around the table, serving the patrons their food, his head weaving back and forth as he attempted to get a better look. Presently the waiters departed and he could see. Yes, it was Severus…but who was the witch with him? Lucius peered at the witch…then his mouth nearly dropped open.

His companion was none other than Hermione Granger. Lucius smirked.

“Well, well…Severus seems to have developed quite an interest in the witch. I don’t think he’s ever taken a witch out in his life,” the wizard said to himself.

Hermione looked absolutely delicious in Slytherin green. Her hair was piled on top of her head and held in place with a Slytherin green comb. Her dress flattered her body and her soft, smooth back was visible up to the swell of her buttocks. She was quite the delicious little package, and Lucius felt a throb as he remembered wrapping his arms around the witch and driving into her petite, tight little body for all he was worth. Damn, he wanted another go at her. Preferably at his manor, but he’d take the witch anywhere there was a bit of privacy.

He’d have to go over and say hello. He would let them finish their meal first.

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Hermione stared at the food the waiters spread before them like a small buffet suspiciously. Every dish was magically kept warm, so they could eat in the order they wished, waiters appearing to take the empty plates and dishes away as soon as they were finished. Hermione studied the food.

Tomato soup. Small ham and cheese sandwiches dressed as she liked them. All manner of shrimp, some fried fish, corn on the cob, potatoes and asparagus, and two large lobsters with cracked tails and clarified butter. There were also a dozen oysters with condiments. But it was when she saw the ample slice of strawberry chocolate cheesecake that she knew something stank at Hogwarts. She eyed Severus, who was busily preparing his oysters and deliberately not meeting her accusing amber eyes.

“Severus Snape, I don’t know how you did it, but you tricked me,” she seethed at him.

Severus paused in his food preparation and looked up at her.

“And how did I do that?” he asked, his head cocked.

She gestured to the food on the table.

“These are ALL things I love. There’s nothing here I don’t like, except maybe the oysters…and clearly you ordered those for yourself. Now, that’s more than coincidence,” she said frowning.

Severus went back to fixing his oysters.

“Did it ever occur to you,” he said, dipping out a small amount of horseradish from a bowl with a spoon and placing a dollop on each oyster, “that you and I may have the same taste in food? I ordered this for both of us.”

“No, it hasn’t occurred to me. What has occurred to me however is that somehow you found out what I liked to eat and knew it all along,” she said, staring at him. Suddenly her eyes went wide.

“The kitchens! You talked to the house elves, didn’t you?” she asked him.

Severus smirked.

“I may have had a word or two with them. That still doesn’t change the fact that I won the wager and you owe me a helpful service, which I will collect on in the coming weeks as soon as I decide what I want you to help me with,” he said, slurping down an oyster and chewing blissfully.

“You are…are incorrigible,” Hermione declared.

“I agree. Now eat your food,” the wizard responded, slurping down another mollusk.

Trying to keep a frown on her face, Hermione slid a lobster over and with a fork worked a large piece of meat from the cracked tail. Severus watch her surreptiously as she dipped a piece of the succulent lobster into the butter, then inserted it into her mouth, a look of almost orgasmic pleasure on her face as she chewed, her eyes closed in bliss. Severus felt a small throb at the expression on the witch’s face. It was one he would definitely like to become more familiar with, sans shellfish.

“Oh gods this is so good,” Hermione breathed, and again the wizard felt a throb.

She had practically said the same thing to him in the infirmary when he was working to keep her alive and himself from boiling over.

Hermione was very expressive when she ate as well as when she fucked. Severus had to sit through her exclamations of pleasure as she ate the lobster, sounding for all the world as if she were getting off on it, his cock as rigid as iron. He was glad he had no reason to stand up. There was no way this suit could hide his erection. The Potions Master was more than relieved when the witch finished her lobster.

Severus ordered a lobster for himself, but he didn’t particularly care for it. He placed the order so Hermione wouldn’t feel self-conscious about eating something so expensive. Severus thought her annoying Gryffindor sense of “fairness” might kick in. Now the witch eyed his red crustacean with a hungry eye. She certainly did like lobster.

Severus reached across the table and pushed the lobster toward her.

Hermione looked at it, then at Severus. He would think she was a glutton if she ate two lobsters.

“Oh I couldn’t,” she said, her mouth watering.

Severus scowled at her.

“By the way you inhaled the first lobster Hermione, I can tell you want more. Personally, I don’t care for it, and you are very welcome to wolf it down. Otherwise it will go to waste,” he said.

Hermione hesitated then pulled the lobster closer and began to eat. Severus studied her before speaking..

“I want you to understand something Hermione…if this…if we should become more than acquaintances, and you want something…I want you to ask me…no matter what it is. Don’t be hesitant or shy witch. I would not consider it an imposition. I would consider it my duty and an honor to give you what you desire, or what you need. Please remember that,” the wizard said earnestly.

He sincerely meant every word. If the witch became his lover, he would do his best to keep her satisfied and happy, in and out of the bedroom. He was not a poor man and could afford to indulge her. He did absolutely nothing with his galleons but let them grow, and witches of quality deserved to be indulged. As far as he was concerned Hermione was of the highest quality.

Hermione stopped eating. No wizard had ever offered to give her carte blanche before. She never imagined the Potions Master to be a generous man. He had always seemed so selfish. But then again, if he were fucking her regularly, she imagined he would be moved to be magnanimous. Even kind. Well, as kind as was possible for the snarky wizard. She thought he would never become completely whipped, at least she hoped not. He would lose his appeal. She realized Severus was waiting for her to reply to his statement.

“I’ll remember that, Severus,” she said softly, “If we should become more than acquaintances.”

“Good,” he said, spearing a blackened shrimp and eating it, his dark eyes resting on her. “You do realize I am courting you, Hermione. Do you mind that?”

The wizard felt his stomach tighten. This was the crux of it.

“It depends. Is your objective matrimony?” she asked him.

The wizard went two shades paler than normal. Hermione fought back laughter as little prickles of sweat appeared on Severus’ forehead.

“Ah…no,” he managed to choke out.

Hermione looked at him for a long moment as the wizard pulled a handkerchief out of his inner suit pocket and dabbed it at his forehead.

“Good,” she said, “I’m not ready for marriage.”

She grinned wickedly at having almost given the wizard a stroke.

Severus visibly slumped in relief before he realized that Hermione had been teasing him.

“You are a minx,” he growled across the table, his black eyes glinting at the witch

Hermione smiled at him sweetly.

“I know,” she said, spearing a shrimp of her own and eating it, her eyes twinkling at the dark wizard.

The Potions Master continued to eye her for a moment more before returning to his food. The witch had better be careful. The Potions Master rarely forgot anything done to him, whether in jest or not. He rarely let anyone get away with besting him either.

There might be more than one way to handle a minx, but Severus preferred a tried and true method.

If he had his way, Hermione would soon find out what it was…repeatedly.

The couple ate the rest of their meal in relative silence, each wondering where this night would lead. Hermione actually crooned when she bit into the cheesecake, then chased it with a nice gulp of cold milk.

“Oh my gods, that’s better than sex,” she breathed.

“Is it now, Miss Granger?” a smooth voice said out of the blue, “If you honestly believe that, then I must assume you haven’t had enough sex yet.”

Both Severus and Hermione looked up to see the handsome, smirking face of one Lord Lucius Malfoy.

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A/N: Woo hoo. Dinner is going nicely…now Lucius showed up. Lol on Hermione making Severus sweat by asking him if his objective was marriage. Heh heh. Anyway, please review.