Teaching

Teaching
Chapter 2: Melancholy Greetings
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Severus had closed his eyes, intent on just sitting in the chair long enough to warm his cold body, but seconds turned into minutes, then into hours, and the next thing he new, he was waking. He reached up, massaging the stiff muscles in his neck, glaring at the fading glow the embers in the fire cast. He glanced at the large clock ticking away silently on one of the large mostly bare walls, and cursed himself. He staggered back to the bathroom, gave the mirror a hard glare, wordlessly advising it to keep its comments to itself. Although it would be in his and the rest of the staff’s best interest if he stayed to himself, Dumbledore was expecting him to make a showing. He ran a comb through his hair, threw on his teaching robes, and made his way to the Great Hall.

There were no students crowding the hall yet, they wouldn’t come for another week, and Severus was glad of that fact. He rather hated the little heathens. Few wanted to learn, and even fewer had the intelligence to absorb what they were taught. As he exited the dungeons, he thought back over the years he had been at Hogwarts, and not at all surprising to him, he could think of only one student that met his criteria. Hermione Granger.

\"Speak of the devil herself.\" He mumbled under his breath as he approached the doors to the Hall. Hermione was standing there, engrossed in an animate conversation with Minerva McGonagall. The elder witch was smiling, nodding her head ever so slightly, and listening intently. Severus decided to take the opportunity to slide through the doors behind her, unnoticed, rather than be subjected to the cheerfulness she was projecting.

\"Severus, dear, aren’t you going to say hello to our new Arithmancy professor?\" Minerva’s voice halted his step, and he turned slowly, a scowl plastered across his face. \"I’m sure you remember Hermione Granger.\" Minerva’s voice was light, teasing, knowing that Severus knew damn well who she was.

\"Of course, the famous Harry Potter’s second shadow.\" He said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. \"Tell us, Miss Granger, just how is Gryffindor’s former hero? Are the two of you enjoying the affianced life?\"

The smile slowly faded from Hermione’s face, to be replaced by a slight frown. Severus could see her judging him, and he would be surprised if she wasn’t wondering if he had received her letter. \"Harry is fine, thank you for asking.\" She said coolly. She turned her attention back to Minerva. \"If you would excuse me, Professor McGonagall, but I want to say hello to some of the other Professors before we eat.\"

Minerva nodded, and then waited until the younger woman was out of earshot before turning on Severus. \"That was quite a warm welcome you extended her, Severus.\" He arched a dark eyebrow at her, but remained silent. Minerva appraised him, realization slowly spreading across her face. \"That’s right, you probably haven’t heard.\" She said, thoughtfully, clucking her tongue inside her mouth. She turned and began walking away from him, shaking her head slightly.

Severus stood there for a few moments, before starting off after her. \"Heard what?\" He asked, keeping his voice neutral, not letting her see the curiosity that swelled inside him.

Minerva stopped and turned to face him, \"You are not to repeat this information to anyone, especially Hermione.\" She paused, \"I mean it, Severus.\"

He waved his hand dismissively in the air. \"Whatever. Get on with it.\"

\"Mr. Potter broke off the engagement a couple weeks ago.\" Severus arched an eyebrow. \"He wanted to play professionally for Ireland, but that would mean that Hermione would have to give up her teaching position at Hogwarts to accompany him to Dublin.\" Minerva shook her head sadly. \"Perhaps they’ll be able to work out their differences; after all they do say that absence makes the heart grow fonder. But, I repeat, you are not to repeat this to anyone, it’s Hermione’s place to tell people when she’s ready.\"

\"I would have never placed you for a gossip, Minerva.\" Snape remarked dryly as Minerva left him, taking her usual place at the staff table. But on another note, they say that out of sight out of mind. Severus strode to the front of the hall, his black robes billowing out behind him. If that’s right, why is it that all you can think of is taking the young woman and bending her over the table, taking in front of everyone? He passed Dumbledore’s chair, the headmaster chattering away cheerfully with another of the new Professors for the term. \"Get on with it, Albus; I have things to attend to.\"

Albus gave Severus a nod, the twinkle that seemed ever-present in his eye sparkling, \"Of course, Severus, we wouldn’t want to keep you.\" Snape nodded curtly, taking his place towards the end of the table, his _expression dark and cold, as he stared out at the empty student chairs. Albus tapped his spoon against his goblet, the sound ringing through the room, calling everyone to attention. \"Please, if you would, everyone take your places so we may begin.\"

Severus kept his gaze neutral, but as he watched the other staff moving about out of the corner of his eye, he couldn’t help but notice that Hermione and Poppy Pomfrey were the last two to reach the table, and by chance, the only seats that were still unoccupied were the one beside Flitwick and the one directly next to him.

\"So as I was saying earlier,\" Poppy said, taking another bite of her pastry, \"I’m expecting a large shipment of herbs this afternoon. Do you think you will have time to mix up more of Pepper up Potion before the students arrive. Sibyl and Sinastra both predict this winter is going to be one of the worst we’ve seen.\"

Severus grunted an affirmative response, absently stirring the remainder of his food around his plate. He wasn’t hungry, he hardly ever was, but he knew that he had to partake of some nutrients to survive. As Poppy launched into another stream of rambles, he pushed his chair out and nodded curly to Dumbledore, signaling his retreat. He could hear Poppy mutter, \"I don’t know why I even bother trying to socialize with that old git.\" He cast a glare over his shoulder at her, as he made his way out of the room. He turned back with satisfaction that she had the decency to shrink slightly in her seat from embarrassment.

\"Old git, my ass.\" He said to himself as the doors banged shut behind him. \"That old hag knows she’s five years my senior.\"

\"So you acknowledge the git part, just argue the old?\"

Severus stopped short, his pulse quickening slightly with surprise. \"Are you planning on making a habit of sneaking around the castle and its grounds?\" He asked coldly.

\"I wouldn’t call walking out in plain view of everyone sneaking, would you?\" Hermione retorted, her own voice lacking any sort of warmth. She sighed shaking her head as she leaned back against the hard stone wall. \"Look Professor, I don’t want to start an argument with you, I just...\" She shrugged at an apparent loss of words, her eyes staring at the ground. \"I guess what I want to say is I don’t want our working relationship to by like our student teacher one. We’re on the same level now, and I don’t want any of our past indiscretions to come between us.\"

Severus looked down his nose at the young woman, she had matured well. She wasn’t beautiful, and if he was honest to himself, she wasn’t even as pretty as Rosmerta. She was, however, attractive. Her hair wasn’t as wild as it had been as a child, and she had put on some weight. She wasn’t plump however, the weight had settled on all the right curves. Curves, he shouldn’t have thought about her curves. He could see the outline of her chest through her robes, beautiful or not she had lovely breasts. They were larger than his fantasies. He could hold one in his hand, and take her nipple into his mouth... Hermione was now looking at him. Her eyes wide and brown, and holding innocence that he had never known. \"Professor Granger,\" He began mockingly, \"I am a Potions Master, have been since you were an infant. You are just beginning. No matter how many years you study, you will never be on the same level as I.\" He saw the hurt well up in her eyes, and before she could open her mouth to reply, he spun around and left her standing alone in the hall.

\"Oh Gods, Severus!\" Rosmerta cried out, her sounds only slightly muffled by the pillow she buried her face in. Severus grasped her hips, on his knees between her calves, pulling her backwards each time he drove into her. As he moved faster, Rosmerta reached up, grabbing the headboard to keep her balance. \"What...has… gotten...into...you?\" She panted out between thrusts. Her hips and buttocks were covered with red marks where his fingers had dug into her skin.

\"I apologize.\" He said, loosening his grasp, and slowing down his movements.

\"No,\" Rosmerta said, looking back at him over her shoulder. Her cheeks were flushed, and she grinned at him wickedly, \"I like it rough, I just didn’t think you had it in you.\"

Severus felt the corners of his mouth turn up slightly, as he drew himself out until only the head his cock remained, then thrust back inside her. He kept on, the sounds of her pleasurable cries driving him to move even harder and faster. Soon Rosmerta’s hand left the headboard, and pushed between her legs. They wrapped tightly around his erection, increasing the pressure and sensation. He felt her climax, her juices wetting her fingers, and only then did he let his control go, letting himself finish.

\"Mmmm,\" She moaned, letting go of his spent cock. He slowly unclenched his fingers, flexing them slightly; unaware that he had been holding her so hard they had began to cramp. He slid from within her, and lay down beside her on the mattress. \"You surprise me still, lover.\" She murmured, propping herself up on her elbow and leaning over to kiss him on the tip of the nose. \"Whatever has gotten into you, may I suggest you get a year’s supply?\" She nuzzled up against him, dropping light kisses on his collar bone. \"Ten minutes and we’ll do it again.\"

Severus laughed slightly, his arm stretched out under her, but not holding her, he never did. He never kissed her either, and although it had bothered Rosmerta at first, she never said anything about it anymore. He turned his head towards the wall, staring out at the darkness falling through the window. \"You’ll have to return to work soon, and I have to start getting things ready for the new batch of hellions. Perhaps we can meet again next weekend.\"

Rosmerta sighed, rolling away from him and reaching for her robes. \"One day I’m going to expect more from you Severus Snape, you best ready yourself.\" She gave him a wink, and then left him lying on the bed as she entered the bathroom.

\"I don’t think I have anything more to give.\" He mumbled, closing his eyes. Hermione had been avoiding him, and he had been quick to return the favor. Knowing there were several hexes Rosmerta could through on him, he wouldn’t dare tell her that there was a reason he had taken her from behind that evening. With her face in the pillow, and her arse in the air backed up to him, he could pretend that he was sliding inside of Granger instead. \"You are a fool, Severus, nothing more than a fool.\" A woman was more than ready to give into him fully, a woman, not a child, someone to grow old with. He wasn’t a romantic, hell he wasn’t even nice, but deep inside he was afraid of dying alone. Just one acknowledgment and Rosmerta would be there beside him.

As he washed himself he couldn’t help but wonder why after everything he was doing to get her out of his head, was the only person he could picture at his side, was Hermione.

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To be continued....
(A/N: again, thanks to Yogibear7111 at yahoo dot com for being my beta: to everyone else, thanks for the reviews, I do love them so!!)