The Seduction Game

Disclaimer: All of the Harry Potter characters and the Harry Potter universe belongs to J.K. Rowling/Warnerbros. I am making no money.

Finally back again! Sorry it\'s taken a bit longer than usual, but as you all probably know by now I\'ve been working on this new story (\"The Unfortunates\") I haven\'t been able to get it out of my head... Oh, well! Hopefully this chapter\'ll make up for everything. ;)

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CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE: DARING HERMIONE


Hermione was exhausted.

The average Saturday’s worth of work at the Ministry’s Department of Magical Transportation was nothing short of living hell, and today had been no excen.
n.

She so needed something to help her relax. Anything, to make her get rid of the irritated, exhausted feeling she was left with after the horrible hours she’d just been through.

But a thought was constantly returning to her mind, never leaving her in peace: It was something Malfoy had said earlier that day, as he’d been rushing out of her office.

Just let your boyfriend know, alright?

Sure, she was going to let Severus know, that went without saying. What had really caught Hermione’s attention, was Malfoy’s use of words – boyfriend.

Hermione didn’t really think of Severus as her boyfriend, simply because she’d always connected that term with teenage flings, something she’d never really liked the idea of, much less experienced for herself.

But an overwhelmingly happy thought came from all of this: Severus was indeed her something, wasn’t he? Her lover, her date, her... partner?

She was – what to call it – going steady. She had someone who was hers. And what’s more, he was this magnificent, mysterious, tall and dark bat-like wonder whose voice worked more magic than the average wizard’s wand, and he happened to like her.

No, more than like, even. He desired her. He’d said so. And she was happy to desire him back.

Oh gods. She had someone. Not a boyfriend, but a man, and he was hers! She really was in love, there was nothing else for it, and she thoroughly enjoyed the feeling.

Sorting through the papers at her desk, her mind continued its reasoning.

Today was Saturday. Which naturally meant tomorrow was Sunday.

What did Sunday indicate?

No work.

She wouldn’t have to turn up for work tomorrow, which again meant she was free to do whatever she wished for the rest of the evening and tomorrow morning... She could go for a niout out with the boys or Ginny, or she could perhaps relax with a glass of wine and a long, hot bath to calm her irritation back at her flat.

Or – she couldn’t help but smirking to herself – she could go back to Hogwarts...

--

His fingers were tapping impatiently on the table. Severus couldn’t help it; he was in a thoroughly bad mood.

Which he shouldn’t have been, really, considering the night he’d and and the woman he’d woken up next to.

The only problem was, she was no longer there.

And gods, how he wanted her there! He had come to realize, only minutes after her departure that morning, that he needed every little inch of her. He needed her body, her mind, her company and her care for him.

Gods. Severus Snape, in love?

He suspected it were true, and enjoyed it despite himself. Normally, he would never have allowed himself to believe he could be in such a state, but now he’d found he was okay with it.

Because she appeared just as eager as him.

Which left him wondering, really. Why would the young, beautiful and brilliant Hermione Granger want him? As Hooch had pointed out (for the hundredth time that day), he wasn’t exactly the prime specimen when desirable males were considered. He was no perfect example of the ideal boyfriend.

Hell, he’d probably hang himself in the dungeons before he even allowed the term “boyfriend” to be used on him.

Still... She wanted him. And he wasn’t about to question that, not now anyway.

The food finally arrived, but Severus wasn’t all that hungry – well, not for food, anyway. What he wanted was nowhere around. Sure, they’d agreed they’d talk again on Monday – if not before – but he just couldn’t stand the wait. He craveis wis woman like a drug, and he thoroughly enjoyed it.

“Dieting, Severus?” smirked McGonagall to his left, glaring at his untouched food.

“No,” he replied, forcing himself back down on earth. “My mind was elsewhere.”

“Clearly,” said McGonagall knowingly, and shot him a lookt sat said she undoubtedly understood what had occupied his thoughts. He rolled his eyes at her and turned his attention to his dinner.

Over an hour had passed by the time Severus considered getting to his feet. He was in no rush to get back to his quarters, really, because all they would serve as was a constant reminder to the fact that he was indeed alone in them.

“An interesting evening ahead of you, I suspect?” said McGonagall to his left, breaking the silence. Around them, a few of the teachers stood to leave.

“Devastatingly so,” replied Severus wearily.

McGonagall smirked, and her gaze swept across the Great Hall.

“Ah,” she said suddenly, the surprise in her voice catching Severus’s attention, “it appears whatever plans you may have for tonight shall have to be cancelled, Severus. I believe you have a visitor.”

Quickly looking up, his eyes sweeping the Great Hall, Severus suddenly spotted a very familiar figure standing in the doors. Even at this distance, he could see her smile.

“Well, Severus!” beamed a voice further down the table – Hooch had spotted his visitor. “Who would have thought?” she said icily, enjoying the attention this brought him.

“She’s here to see you, is she, Severus?” asked Flitwick curiously to his right. Clearly, the gossip about Severus and Hermione had passed the little bloke by.

Severus quickly stood, freezing for a moment by his chair to catch a loud whisper from Hooch: “I bet she’s just here to ask for assistance on a potion... Can’t seriously be here because she likes him, can she...”

Resisting the urge to snort or snap at her, Severus determinedly made his way through the Great Hall, approaching Hermione, who stood by the empty Gryffindor table waiting for him.

“Hi,” she smiled as he reached her. “Am I disturbing you?”

“Not at all,” he said, giving a faint smile to show his appreciation. Oh, how happy he was to see her...

“It looks as though your suspicions about Madam Hooch were right,” commented Hermione, nodded towards the staff table. Following her gaze, Severus spotted Hooch whispering menacingly into Trelawney’s ear, who in turn nodded frantically.

“What are they on about?” asked Hermione.

“It appears,” said Severus slowly, “they do not believe you could ever be here because you actually enjoy my company.”

“Oh, is that so?” said Hermione, a hint of irritation in her voice. Severus raised an eyebrow.

Glancing around for a moment, Hermione seemed to be checking how many people were actually present. The view appeared to have been satisfactory, because she looked back to Severus, smiling.

“Not too many teachers about,” she said, “so I won’t ruin your reputation too greatly...”

“What are you on about?” he asked, frowning.

“I should very much like to show Madam Hooch and Trelawney how much I appreciate your company...”

“Here? In the Great Hall?” said Severus with a slight smirk.

“Don’t let your imagination get you carried away,” smiled Hermione. She paused for a second, then said, “Do you mind?”

He’d learned the previous evening that answering a “No” to that was never in his favour. So without hesitating, he nodded.

“Try to be the mean, old Potions Master in this too, will you?” whispered Hermione, leaning in slightly closer. “Just to avoid your reputation getting a nasty bump...”

And without waiting for him to reply, she stood up on tiptoe, wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled his face to hers for a thorough kiss.

Severus was, to say the least, completely taken aback. He’d never expected she would even want to kiss him in public... Now, she was doing it in front of a table full of her ex-Professors.

Suddenly remembering what she’d said about keeping up the “mean, old Potions Master reputation”, he quickly wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her closer and returning the kiss eagerly. There was something rather arousing, actually, about all of this...

Vaguely, Severus thought he could pick up the gasps coming from the staff table, but he found he didn’t care. All that mattered now were Hermione and how her tongue was teasing his own, how her fingers were playing at his neck...

And finally, she pulled away, giving him a very satisfied smirk. She’d certainly learned a thing or two since that insane ice cream-stunt back at the IMG... How quickly she’d learned how to properly tease and excite him was really quite astonishing.

Just for appearance’s sake (and because he wanted to), Severus kept one of his arms firmly around her waist as he turned slightly to dare a glance at the staff table.

Eyes were glaring and mouths were gaping at him. Only Albus and Minerva seemed to be hiding satisfied grins behind their water goblets. The rest of the staff seemed completely astounded.

Playing the part, Severus raised an eyebrow at them, as though daring them to question what he’d just done. One by one, they all averted their gaze. Hooch and Trelawney were whispering like mad to one another.

His arm still gently placed around Hermione’s waist, Severus led the way out of the Great Hall and down towards the dungeons.

“Acceptable?” Hermione asked him once they’d entered his chambers and closed the door.

“More than acceptable,” he replied, pulling her to him for another quick kiss. He couldn’t help it; seeing her here had made his day perfect. He’d missed her, and she’d come. Just like that. He didn’t know why, and he found he didn’t really care – he would find out about that later.

All that mattered now was that she was here, and in his arms.

And gods, the stunt she’d pulled in the Great Hall had been just wonderful. The thought of what Hooch and the rest of them would say at breakfast tomorrow made Severus smirk.

--

He awoke the following morning to the sound of running water. Glancing around in bed, he found he was alone.

Hermione was showering.

He didn’t mind, really – but he kind of wished she had stayed until he’d woken up.

Oh, well. Perhaps she just hadn’t wanted to disturb him.

His thoughts went on to imagining what she might look like at that very moment. Naked, wet, in his bathroom... It was a thought he thoroughly enjoyed. And the fact that she felt comfortable enough in his rooms to do this...

When did fate decide it was time to end my punishment?

He hadn’t been this happy in – well – ever. It was a first for him. The only time that even came close to that, was when he was at the height of his Death Eater career and believed the world was at his beck and call... But then he’d been wrong, hadn’t he? And his perfect illusion had been torn to pieces, leaving him ten times as unhappy as he’d been before he’d joined Voldemort’s forces.

But now... Nothing was lurking in the shadows anymore, waiting to ruin his happiness. The war was over, he was no longer a spy, Lucius was Obliviated – and although he was no longer in St. Mungo’s and happened to remember Severus’s name, that didn’t necessarily mean there was any reason to exactly fear for his life.

Severus was too content to bother with that now.

Pulling himself up into a sitting position on the bed, running a hand through his hair, his thoughts strayed to the enjoyable evening before. Hermione had been amazing... So wanton and eager, Severus had actually had to restrain himself from losing all control on her and ravaging her as his desires demanded.

It was later that night, when they lay spent in each other’s arms, Hermione had whispered to him, “Don’t hold back, Severus. I’m not afraid of you, and I’m not made of glass.”

He’d remained silent, unsure of how to reply her, when she’d spoken again:

“You don’t have to... restrain yourself. I don’t want you to. If you’re...” She hesitated here, presumably gaining her courage, “... if you’re in the mood for being the intimidating, wild control freak you are –” Here, he raised an eyebrow at her, “– then please, don’t hold back. I’d love to experience that side of you as well, you know.”

He’d remained silent still, not wanting to ruin the moment, but he’d kissed her tenderly and pulled her closer to him, and they’d fallen asleep.

Now, thinking back on the conversation, Severus found he really wanted to take her up on her little offer... So she wanted the dominating, untamed part of him as well, then?

Fine, she’d have him.

Getting to his feet, Severus determinedly made for the bathroom.


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A/N: Thanks so much to my beta JessiokaFroka!

I\'m considering publishing this other Hermione/Snape-fic I\'ve got going here, too... It\'s on FF.net, perhaps I\'ll bring it here some time in the future... Anyway, it\'s because of that the updates have been going slow. Sorry \'bout that. :)