Confrontation

Chapter 18 ~ Retrieval

Hermione had both arms wrapped around her midsection as if she were in pain as she walked up the dungeon corridor, her entire body tingling. She had never felt like this before, so aching, so . . . so hot. Dear gods, the Professor was more alluring than she had ever fantasized about. The reality was so much more than the dream.

She swallowed as she navigated past sneering Slytherins, hardly seeing them as she headed for the Main Hall. He told her to come to his office tonight. Ordered her to in fact. Gods, he was going to shag her.

Suddenly, Hermione was almost frozen with fear. It came from no where, a frightening impulse. She stopped, looking around the Main Hall wildly. She felt rather faint. Professor Lecter was on his way down the Main Stairwell when he saw the witch standing by the armor. Her legs buckled.

The Muggle hurried down the stairs and across the hall to Hermione, catching her before she crumpled. He looked down at the witch, who looked up at him with a dazed expression.

Hannibal could feel her heart racing and scent a decidedly sexual odor. He also detected the faint smell of sandalwood, a scent Professor Snape wore. He looked at Hermione with a smirk as students gathered around her, Harry and Ron among them.

”What’s wrong with Hermione?” Harry asked, his eyes worried behind his glasses.

”I believe she’s had a bit of ‘excitement’ Mr. Potter. Nothing life-threatening I believe,” Lecter purred, passing the witch to him. Ron looked at her worriedly as well.

”Hermione, what happened? Are you all right?” he asked the witch.

Hermione blinked at Harry and Ron, then looked at Professor Lecter, who gave her a slight leer.

He knew. Hermione didn’t know how he knew but she was sure the Muggle was aware of what happened between her and Professor Snape.

”I . . . just take me to Gryffindor tower,” she said to her friends, straightening somewhat.

”All right,” Harry said, taking one arm and Ron taking the other. They helped her up the Main Stairwell and the crowd dispersed. Professor Lecter looked after them. It appeared Professor Snape had made an impression on the witch. She was showing all the signs of being in heat, and being scared to death of her own inclinations. Snape was going to have quite a job pinning her down.

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Hermione hid out in her room for the rest of the day, scared to death as she watched the clock. Curfew was fast approaching, but she didn’t have the nerve to leave the tower and go to the dark wizard. Delicious feelings welled up inside her every time she thought about his kiss and how he felt against her. Severus Snape was no young wizard, but a man who knew what he wanted.

And he wanted her.

No matter how ready she felt earlier, Hermione didn’t feel that way now, now that it was coming down to the crux of the matter. She was frightened.

She sat on her bed with her arms wrapped around herself, staring at the clock on her wall as it chimed nine.

Snape waited in his office, a dark scowl on his face as curfew came and went. Hermione hadn’t come. He sat at his desk, his desire boiling in his belly. He had a craving for the witch, and Severus Snape never denied himself what he desired if he could help it. And he desired Hermione Granger. Every fiber of his being longed to be skin to skin with the young witch, inside her, possessing her. It wasn’t because the wizard had no control. He normally did. It was Hermione’s desire for him that had brought him to this point. He couldn’t remember any witch wanting him the way she did, and he wanted to experience what it would be like to possess a woman who truly wanted his attentions above all others. He had no doubt Hermione was a virgin and he had never taken a virgin. His lust was overpowering.

If he were his normal self, he would have taken a Deflating Draught and retired, but his imagination and libido were deeply invested in the witch. For most of the evening he had his own little fantasy occurring in his head, that of having the young witch sprawled in his four-poster bed, buried deep inside her.

He wasn’t going to let that stay a fantasy for another night.

”Very well, Miss Granger. I gave you the opportunity to come to me. Now, I am forced to retrieve you,” he breathed, casting a Disillusionment spell on himself, then a Silencing spell.

Professor Snape had a secret only known to Albus and himself. He had the ability to Apparate inside of Hogwarts. It was necessary in order to facilitate his safe return after suffering Voldemort’s ravages. Sometimes he was left in such bad shape, he would have died if he had to wait outside the castle gates for assistance to come. He would Apparate directly to the Infirmary, sometimes barely breathing, where Poppy would immediately attend him.

Well, tonight, he wasn’t heading for the Infirmary, but Gryffindor Tower itself.

Hermione would not deny him.

Wrapping his robes around himself, the Disillusioned Potions master disapparated, appearing in the Common Room, the sound of his arrival cloaked by the Silencing spell.. There were three students about, the others having retired to their rooms. Snape didn’t disturb them as they sat at a Wizarding Chess table, two involved in a game, the third student watching.

He immediately took the stairwell up to the girl’s dormitory. They didn’t fold because although Snape was male, he was a staff member and staff members had access. The wizard strode through the hallway, listening at each door for Hermione’s voice. Finally, he came to the last door. It had a “Do Not Disturb, I’m Studying” sign hanging on the knob.

Standard Granger.

Snape didn’t bother opening the door but Disapparated into her room.

He appeared at the end of Hermione’s bed. She was sitting on it, staring at the clock, her face a bit ashen and her eyes wide. She held herself tightly as if she were cold. Snape looked at her, his chest rising and falling with desire the moment his black eyes fell on her. Suddenly, the witch looked toward him, seeing the shimmer.

Startled, she opened her mouth to scream.

“No you don’t, witch,” Snape hissed, stunning Hermione. She fell back on the bed, unconscious.

Snape walked around her four-poster, looking down on the witch before lifting her in his arms and Disapparating.

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A/N: Ooh la la. Another little snippet. ;) Thanks for reading.