A Maid in the Devil's Manor

Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to JKR. All situations are mine. No $$$ is being made from this fanfic.
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Chapter 25 ~ Severus Returns to the Manor

When Severus stepped off the lift Friday night, he turned around and looked at it consideringly. It was very fast. It would startle those not expecting a fast drop. He tapped his finger to his chin as his black eyes swept over the lift. He decided he liked it the way it was, turned and walked to the ‘Ecolab’ as the terrarium area was now designated. From the sound of it, there was a lot of activity going on in there. He glided toward the door quietly and looked in.

Neville Longbottom was at the top of a long ladder, magically adjusting what looked like a large concave mirror. A number of house elves were raking a thick, spongy, soil over what looked like a raised mesh of some type that floated about two inches off the floor. He could see a number of pipes criss-crossing beneath the mesh, and Hermione, in jeans and covered in mud, directing the planting of what appeared to be rather broad leafed grass. Something buzzed by the Professor, and he swung at it with irritation.

He watched as Neville nimbly slid down the ladder, backed up and tested the mirror. It seemed to catch the lighting and move it across the room in varying degrees. He watched as Neville smiled. Whatever he had intended the mirror to do, he must have succeeded. He watched as the wizard then walked over to the climate control and began to tinker with that, his brows furrowed in concentration. It seemed Mr. Longbottom had found his niche after all. He had been a hard student to teach. Very clumsy and very nervous, with a propensity to blowing things up, even inert materials, which was quite an accomplishment.

Severus had given him no leeway either. As a boy he was a bumbler, and Severus kept him working under conditions of stress and worry, hoping to toughen him up. But his housemates, particularly Miss Granger, would sneak to his aid in a number of ways, thus hampering the boy’s development severely. One thing Severus could say about Mr. Longbottom, no matter how badly he had frightened and terrorized him, the boy never gave up and never withdrew from his class, doggedly sticking it out, no matter how dismally he failed. Although he did poorly in potions, he exceeded expectations in Defense against the Dark Arts and Charms, as well and garnered an Outstanding in Herbology. He too had been at the Final Battle, and showed well, taking out Bellatrix LeStrange, the witch who had tortured his mother and father to insanity, and flanking Harry Potter so he could reach the Dark Lord.

Hermione was certainly a hands-on witch. She was kneeling in the soil beside the house elves, working plants into the earth with her bare hands. Her hair was drawn back in a ponytail, and she unconsciously drew her hand across her brow, leaving a small streak of mud behind as she returned to her planting. Severus looked around the Ecolab. It was certainly coming along. He decided to leave them to their work. As adept as Mr. Longbottom seemed at his calling, the Potions Master was sure that his presence would reduce the young wizard back to the bumbling, student he was years ago. As much as he would have enjoyed this, Severus didn’t want to hamper the work. He turned and re-entered the lift, and rode it back to the upper floors. It was just as quick ascending as descending, but if one knew what to expect, it was fine.

Severus exited the lift, walked into the corridor headed upstairs to his bedroom, where he stripped down and walked naked into the loo. After using the facilities, he took a long, hot shower, standing under the stream, letting the water wash over his lean body, and working the kinks out of his muscles. He washed, rinsed, dried off then poured a little sandalwood oil in his palm, rubbed it between his hands and applied it to his body. Then wrapping a towel around his waist, he exited the loo.

The Potions Master opened his wardrobe and looked at the clothing inside. He chose a pair of black dress pants, and a pullover black shirt. He opened the lower drawer, took out a Slytherin green pair of silk boxers and drew them on. Then he dressed himself, and walked up to the mirror to look at the result. The pants were a nice fit, and the shirt as well, both showing off his lean, muscular build in a flattering matter. The dark wizard picked up a brush off the dressing table and drew it through his fine black locks a few times, then drew his hair back and tied it into a ponytail. He put on a platinum chain that bore the Snape Family Crest. He looked in the mirror. His transformation was complete. He was officially off-duty from Hogwarts now.

He slipped his feet into his comfortable black slippers and exited his bedroom, just in time to see Neville leaving. He was talking to Hermione by the front door. The Potions Master paused on the stairwell until the wizard walked out the door. He descended as Hermione was walking back toward the entrance to the lower levels.

Hermione was elated. They had got a lot done today. She felt good about the progress they’d made with the Ecolab. She walked toward the entrance to the lower levels and was about to turn in when she heard a silky voice call her name. She looked up and saw the Potions Master walking toward her. Her eyes widened as she took in his dress. He was in muggle clothing, his hair drawn back in a ponytail. She could clearly see his lean, powerful build as he walked toward her with the grace of a big cat. She swallowed reflexively. He stopped in front of the witch, his dark eyes sweeping over her casually.

“Good evening, Miss Granger,” he said silkily. She could smell a hint of sandalwood. She stared at him. She wasn’t used to seeing him this way. He looked so different, more approachable without the severe robes he normally wore.

“Hello, Professor,” she said, her amber eyes flicking over him, before returning to his face. “What happened to your robes?” she asked.

His black eyes met hers.

“I’ve decided, Miss Granger, not to dress like a teacher in my own home. I wear robes daily at Hogwarts. Here, I will dress as the Master of the Manor. Do you approve?” he asked her.

“Yes, I do,” Hermione said, in a lower voice than she intended. She could see his lean, muscular build, and her mind went back to when she had watched him swimming nude. She felt a little warmth inside. Severus’ black eyes didn’t miss the subtle flicker. He moved a bit closer to her. Even covered in mud, she was lovely.

“Would you like to have a late supper with me?” he asked her softly, then added, “After you clean up of course.”

Hermione could feel the heat coming off his body, and snapped out of her daze. She looked up at him. He was very close. Very close.

“What did you ask me?” she said, stepping back from him a bit.

“Supper,” he said, his dark eyes meeting hers. He certainly had intense eyes, she thought.

“Oh, supper. Yes. Yes,” she responded, “I can tell you all about our progress.”

“Wonderful,” Severus replied, “I will escort you to the lower rooms and wait for you to clean up,” he said. He offered her his arm. Hermione hesitated.

“I’m all muddy, Professor,” she said.

The Potions Master looked at her, his arm still offered.

“I don’t mind getting dirty, Miss Granger,” he said, his dark eyes gleaming.

Hermione felt a little jump in her belly at the possible double meaning of his comment. Was the Professor flirting with her? That statement was quite suggestive. At a loss, she took his arm and he escorted her into the lift.

As they descended in silence, Hermione’s mind was working. And that wasn’t all. Without his customary robes, the Professor didn’t seem so much like the Professor any more. She sniffed the scent coming off of him as he stood close by her side. She could feel his masculinity, his maleness as if it were pressing against her physically. Again, her mind returned to that morning, watching him climb the boulder, water streaming from his naked body, his muscles flexing powerfully…

“Miss Granger, we are here,” Severus’ smooth voice broke through her thoughts. She started.

“Oh, yes,” she said, letting him walk her down to her rooms. They entered her study and he released her, looking at her steadily. She continued to stare at him, not moving.

“I’ll be waiting right here,” the Potions Master said with a little note of ‘get going’ in his voice.

“Right,” Hermione said, heading for her bedroom and closing the door.

Once she had the door between her and the Professor, she leaned back against it, holding her stomach. It was clear to her. She was physically attracted to Professor Snape, and very strongly so. What was she going to do? She had known the man since she was a child.

“Yes, but you’re not a child anymore,” said a warm and rather naughty voice in her head. “And he’s no longer your Professor.”

“Shut up,” Hermione muttered as she divestoed her muddy clothes. She looked in the mirror and saw the mud streaked on her face.

“Good gods, I looked like this? He never said a word. He passed up a perfectly good snarky moment,” she said. She thought about his remark about not minding getting dirty, and had a full body blush wash over her. He couldn’t have meant that suggestively, could he?

She walked into the loo, and turned on the shower, mixing the water absently. She finally asked herself the question.

Would I fuck the Professor if the opportunity arose?

She stepped into the shower, the water caressing her body. She sighed and arched into it, turning and letting it stream down her back. It felt good against her skin. She picked up the washcloth hanging on the little bar, and picked up the jasmine scented soap and worked it into a rich lather. She began to wash herself, rubbing the cloth against her skin slowly, thinking of the Professor. She ran the cloth over her face and neck, down between her breasts and over her belly, before returning to her breasts, lathering them, her nipples hardening. She sighed again, and imagined him touching her. Gods, this wasn’t good was it? But it didn’t feel wrong, just illicit, naughty, a sinful, but delightful indulgence. Those long pale fingers…

Severus sat on the couch in the study, riveted to the thoughts of the witch washing herself in the shower and having very erotic thoughts about his hands. His dark eyes were glittering. She had no idea what his hands could do, but obviously she thought she might like to know. So she was attracted to him. Yet he wasn’t sure if it were him specifically, or her libido in general. She had been without sex for a while now. That much was clear the night they shared the cognac and she expressed interest in visiting the brothel, and paying for male companionship. He could very well be her focus right now simply because he was in the vicinity.

He wanted her to want him specifically. He needed to build up a slow burn inside her. Make her admit to herself, and to him that she wanted her ex-Professor. He would not take her unless she told him she wanted him to. The Potions Master smiled. He thought it would be a hard admission for her, and enjoyed the idea of the stubborn little witch having to admit she wanted him. He was going to love teasing her to the point of no return. He listened as Hermione brought herself to climax, and his cock instantly hardened. Severus looked down at himself and sighed.

He hoped he could keep his own desire under control as he subtly worked his magic on her during the next few weeks.

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A/N: Bowing to my readers’ demands, I have turned up the heat a bit. What could be sexier to a man than knowing a woman is using him as impetus to climax? Well, besides actually doing her, that is. Lol. Well, after him seeing that, supper ought to be interesting. I hope you liked this chapter. Please review.