Mastering Temptation

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX: Secrets Always Comes Out, Eventually









Severus was leaning against the bathroom counter while Hermione readied herself for the day. He had transfigured the breeches and boots into trousers and shoes, but left the black shirt alone since Hermione had voiced her appreciation of him in the more casual attire. He enjoyed watching her at such mundane tasks as brushing her teeth and combing her hair. She was wrapped in a towel, her skin damp and rosy from her shower, and the activities they had been engaging in while in the shower.





She was rubbing the soft, vanilla scented cream into her skin while he watched. He enjoyed watching her hands traverse her curves and vowed that one day soon he would have a go at smoothing the lotion over her, and he would do a more thorough job of it. When she was done, she grabbed her wand from the counter and cast a spell to dry and smooth her curls before she pulled it back into a ponytail. She would frequently smile at him as she went through her morning routine.





“Aren’t you bored watching me?” She asked, reaching for a tube of lip gloss lying on the counter.





“Not at all, actually.” He said, watching her dab the shiny cosmetic over her lips, knowing from experience that it tasted like cinnamon. “I find that I enjoy watching you, in all sorts of situations.”





Hermione blushed slightly and began putting her things back into her little red bag. She jumped when she heard the knocking on the door.





“Darling, are you in there?” Draco called through the door. Severus frowned slightly and glanced at the door.





“Do the two of you have an open door policy for your bedrooms?” He asked, his voice hushed.





“Well not generally, he probably knocked and became worried when I didn’t answer.” Hermione said, opening the door just a crack and peeking out at Draco. “Good morning, Draco.”





“Oh, good, I was worried when you didn’t answer. Are you nearly ready for breakfast?” He asked.





“Yes, I’ll meet you in the dining room.” She said, jumping slightly when she felt Severus tugging her towel from her body. She angled her body so that she was fully shielded by the door. Severus was grinning to himself as he slid his hands over her back while she talked to her friend through the door.





“Oh, where is Sev? I thought he spent the night?” Draco asked, looking over at the rumpled bed.





“Oh…um…” Hermione startled when Severus kissed her on the small of her back.







“I’m right here, Draco.” Severus said from behind her, looking over her shoulder at Draco. Hermione closed her eyes and her face heated.





“Ah…well, sorry to interrupt…I’ll just leave you to it then.” Draco said, laughing softly.





“We will be down shortly.” Severus said, reaching above her head and slamming the door shut. “Now…I am finding this position rather interesting.” He whispered in her ear as he pressed himself along her back.





“Severus we just did it in the shower, surely you don’t want to…OH!” She felt him press his hardened length against her backside and her eyes grew wide. “I guess you do want to.”





“Brace your hands on the door…” Severus whispered hotly and proceeded to show her just how much he wanted her.







~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~





“Severus, might I have a word with you?” Lucius asked after breakfast. Hermione excused herself and went upstairs to gather her things.





“What can I do for you, Lucius?” He asked, facing his friend.





“You look…happy…it’s disconcerting.” Lucius said, frowning slightly.







“And you look rather smug this morning, not that it’s unusual.” Severus replied. “Feeling rather pleased with yourself?”





“Of course I am pleased with myself. I hosted what was no doubt the social event of the season, kissed a pretty witch and annoyed you in the process, my night was bloody fantastic.” Lucius said, smiling.







“Speaking of the later, do me a favor and keep your lips off of MY witch.” Severus said.







“Ah, see that is the problem with secrets, Severus. If no one knows she is yours then she is fair game.” He drawled.







“She is not a game for me.” Severus said quietly, looking suddenly contemplative.







“I’m glad to hear you say so.” Lucius said his tone serious. “We have been friends for a long time, Severus. Do not play with this one; I would be quite put out were she to get hurt.”





Severus looked at his friend, though he didn’t show it, he was curious and quite surprised by the subtle threat.





“How very paternal of you.” Severus said, smirking. “You don’t have to worry on that front; I have no intentions of hurting her in any way.”





“I must admit that I feel as though I have stepped into the role of her protector. Might I inquire just what your intentions are regarding her?” Lucius asked.





“I am not sure myself, to be honest.” Severus said.





“Are we ready to go now?” Hermione asked from the doorway as she entered the room carrying her things.





“Of course we are.” Severus said, offering her a small smile. She handed him her things and to his surprise she wrapped her arms around Lucius and hugged him tightly.





“Thank you, it was a lovely party.” She said, bussing a gentle kiss to his cheek.





“You planned it, my dear; all I did was pay the bill.” He said, hugging her back. “And it was worth it just to kiss those sweet lips of yours.” He said, grinning at Severus over her shoulder.





“Half the magical population already thinks I service you and Draco, no doubt someone took a photograph that will grace the society pages and seal my fate as the Malfoys’ concubine.” She laughed, removing herself from his embrace.





“Half of the magical population are idiots; let them think what they want.” He said. “I will see you on Saturday, my dear. Severus, you could join us for dinner if you would like.”





“I will be there.” Severus took Hermione’s arm and after saying goodbye, led her into the fireplace and back to her house.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~





Hermione lay in her bed and listened to the soft breathing of Severus beside her. They had spent the majority of the day in bed, making love slowly as the snow fell outside, getting up only to eat and rehydrate before climbing back into the comfortable warmth of the blankets. He was sleeping on his stomach, the covers barely covering his bum and his pillow over his head.





She heard the soft whooshing of her floo connection being accessed and sat up. She reached for Severus’s black shirt lying on the floor beside the bed and pulled it on. It fell to her knees, covering her well enough as she buttoned it hastily and headed downstairs to see which of her friends was coming to call. She was rolling the overlong sleeves up to her elbows when she got to the bottom of the stairs.





“Happy New year!” Hermione found herself suddenly wrapped up in Ginny’s embrace. She patted her friend awkwardly on the back, staring at Harry who was looking at her curiously.





“Um…Happy New Year.” She said, pushing back from Ginny. “What are you two doing here?”





“Mum is watching the baby so Harry and I can go out, and I wanted to borrow your green dress, you know, the one Draco bought you last Christmas?” Ginny said, suddenly realizing that Hermione was wearing a man’s black dress shirt. “What are you wearing?”





“Um…I was in bed.” She muttered.





“At seven?” Harry asked, tilting his head to the side.





“I was at the Malfoy’s last night, I didn’t get much sleep.” She said, unable to keep the blush from staining her cheeks.





“Oh? How was it? Lavish as always I assume.” Harry asked.





“You and Ginny were invited; you might consider coming sometime and seeing for yourself.” Hermione said to him.





“Sorry, unlike you I try to limit my exposure to deatheaters.” He said. “Hope you don’t mind her borrowing the dress, apparently it was a one of a kind that Draco bought directly from the designer.”





“I don’t mind at all…wait, where is Ginny?” Hermione asked, panicking when she looked around and couldn’t see her. “Oh no!”





Hermione turned and raced up the stairs after Ginny. She entered her bedroom to find Ginny standing at the foot of the bed, the green dress clutched in her hand staring at the smooth, muscled back of the man lying in Hermione’s bed.





“Ginny…” Hermione whispered her name softly as she stepped gingerly across the room. “I would have gotten you the dress.”





“You were chatting with Harry. I see why you were still in bed…nice, shame I can’t see his face.”





“Let’s go back downstairs.” Hermione said, tugging on Ginny’s arm. She tripped over one of Severus’s shoes and stumbled a bit, swearing softly when she stubbed her toe.





“Hermione, can you be still for five minutes and just sleep? You make enough bloody noise to wake the dead.” A deep voice rumbled from beneath the pillow before he shoved it off of his head and rose up onto his elbows to look back over his shoulder. “Oh, hello, Mrs. Potter.”





“Um…hello, Professor.” Ginny managed not to scream as she stared at her former Potions Professor and school headmaster lying in Hermione’s bed.





“Care to tell me why you and your friend are staring at me while I sleep?” Severus asked grouchily as he quirked his eyebrow at the curious redhead now scanning his naked torso.





“I came to…um…wow…I uh…a dress.” Ginny stammered stupidly, holding the dress up for him to see.





“That’s great, would you mind stepping out so I can dress?” He asked.





“OH! Sorry…” Ginny turned to head towards the door, bumping into Hermione on the way. Hermione followed her into the hall and down the stairs. She noted the bright red flush on Ginny’s face and she winced.





“Are you alright?” Hermione asked, watching her friend fan her face. Ginny looked over at Harry who was busy clicking through the channels on Hermione’s television.







“Why didn’t you tell me that he was the man you were seeing?” Ginny asked, stepping closer to Hermione.







“I didn’t tell anyone, we didn’t want people gossiping.” Hermione said.







“Holy horcruxes, Mione! Snape was in your bed naked!” Ginny started to laugh, giggle actually, like a schoolgirl. “Wow, he wasn’t what I expected.”







“No kidding.” Hermione heard him on the stairs and she stiffened immediately when he walked into the room wearing only his trousers and shoes. Harry looked up and he leapt to his feet immediately.





“What in the bloody hell is he doing here?” He asked, staring at the bare-chested wizard, his green eyes flashing with anger.





“What are you doing here, Potter?” He asked, coming to stand just behind Hermione.







“I came to see Hermione.” Harry spat. “Hermione, what the fuck is going on here?”

Hermione flinched at Harry’s harsh language; she had rarely heard him swear and wasn’t prepared for him to use that particular word. “Why don’t you have your clothes on?” He asked Severus.





Hermione glanced over her shoulder at Severus and frowned.

“Why aren’t you wearing a shirt?” She asked.





“Because you are wearing my shirt.” He answered, resting his hands on her shoulders.







“Are you having an affair with your boss?” Harry asked, running his hands through his hair, clearly agitated. “Mione, please tell me you are not sleeping with Snape.”







“Harry….” Hermione started towards her distressed friend, but Severus tightened his hold on her shoulders.







“She does not have to explain herself to you, Potter.” Severus said softly.







“Fine, you explain it to me then because I am quite confused.” Harry said, starting to pace. “I mean as far as I was aware she was just your secretary! You couldn’t stand her when we were young!”







“I don’t have to explain myself to you either; frankly it is none of your business. But since you are her friend, and I know you are worried about her, I will address your concerns. She is my secretary, and I never had any ill feelings towards her when you were younger, I was simply indifferent, as I should be with any student. I will admit to finding her impertinent, but I did not dislike her.” Severus said.







“Mione, what are you doing? Isn’t it bad enough that you are so involved with the Malfoys? Did you have to go and get yourself in bed with him?” Harry asked.





“Harry, that’s enough.” Ginny said, grabbing him by the arm.





“No! I don’t understand what has happened to you, Hermione! Do you have any memory whatsoever of the war? Of what happened because of these men you have embedded yourself with?” Harry asked, shaking off his wife’s arm.





“My memories are very vivid, Harry, and sometimes they haunt my dreams so that I can’t sleep, but they can not be what I base all of my decisions on. I refuse to live the rest of my life bound by things in the past that can not be changed.” Hermione said, her eyes tearing as Harry looked at her as though she had betrayed him somehow. “I know you do not understand my relationship with Draco and Lucius, even though I wish with all my heart that you would give them a chance, get to know them as I do. I am sorry that this upsets you so.”





Harry removed his glasses and rubbed the place between his eyes.

“Mione, I just want you to be happy, I really do, but I just can’t believe that you have gone and slept with him.” Harry watched her lift her hand and lay it over Snape’s on her shoulder.







“Harry, I love him.” She said softly. “This isn’t some impulsive little fling…we have been together for a few months now.”







Harry watched in amazement as Snape leaned down and kissed the top of her head as he rubbed her shoulders gently, trying to comfort her.

“You care for her?” Harry asked, stunned when he saw the feeling in Snape’s eyes.







“I do.” He answered honestly; though he wasn’t sure himself just what his feelings were, only that they ran deep.







“Mione, what if he breaks your heart?” Harry asked. He knew he didn’t have the right, but he couldn’t help being apprehensive about her involvement with Snape, though he supposed that compared to the Malfoys he was the lesser of the three evils.







“If that should happen then I will cry my tears and you will be there to comfort me and help me move on. Because you are my friend and you love me enough to let me live my life.” She said, looking at him hopefully. “If my relationships with Severus and the Malfoys are mistakes, then they are MY mistakes to make and I will deal with the consequences.”







Harry didn’t like it, but he knew that what he wanted didn’t matter. He sighed, a frown on his face as he looked away, resigned to her decision. Hermione stepped away from Severus and put her arms around Harry’s neck.





“Thank you for understanding, Harry.” She whispered softly.





“I don’t understand, Hermione, but I love you enough to try.” He said, making eye contact with Severus over her shoulder.







“Will you come to dinner some night, with Severus and the Malfoys?” She asked. “Will you give them a chance to show you that they have changed?”







“Set it up and I will be there.” Harry said, releasing her and reaching for his wife. “Happy New Year, Hermione.” He said, kissing her cheek. “Be very careful with her, Snape.”







“Always.” Severus, answered, putting his hands back on her shoulders as she watched her friends step back into the fireplace. Ginny was grinning wickedly in Hermione’s direction.





“I suppose things are no longer going to remain a secret.” Severus said, resting his chin atop her curls.







“Secrets always come out, eventually.” Hermione said, feeling as if the weight of the world were off her shoulders now that the friends she loved were aware of the man she loved.









*** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** ****



Sorry, long chapter I know. But they all had to find out eventually!







Utopia – You learn to deal with it, separations are common, but this is the life we chose and I would not change it. But I do miss him and it is not easy to be apart. Now, as to the story…yes, Severus’s reaction to her cuddling with Draco was extreme, but in this particular incarnation of the Potions Master/Headmaster I think it was based on his insecurity regarding their age differences, after all, Draco is her age, handsome, rich….its a vulnerability, and I think its kinda sweet…and it gives him an excuse for spanking his witch LOL. Now, as to her job…..that will all unfold in the coming chapters……..thanks for reviewing, I always like reading what you have to say, detailed, curious, questioning and looking for the deeper meaning behind the story….and you are always courteous and encouraging when you offer suggestions without being condescending…..I like that!







Aliciana – Rickman is a mild (laughs maniacally) obsession of mine LOL. I find myself drawn towards British Actors….and the people in general. I too married a sweetheart of a man, but I will admit to being drawn to alpha males. Only dated one Brit, when I was sixteen, an exchange student. Back then I didn’t get the dry sense of humor and it didn’t work out, but now that I am older and wiser, and have a few friends from the UK who have helped me get a better understanding, I find it charming. Thanks for reading!





Gertie - I don’t think Moony will let me get by with ignoring him for long…he’ll stalk me if I do. (not that I would mind.)





Twinsie - How can you not love Remus? Hes just so damned cute and sweet and….bitable. I just looked back at your other comment…..Supermom? I like that, maybe I can have a costume made LOL…..let me share with you something I learned. 2 children are much harder than 1, but three is easier…..I am no supermom I assure you, I am a strict mom who keeps a tight schedule in her house, kids to bed at 7 and mommy gets to write the night away. I also get a few hours in the afternoon during naptime. Hang in there love! Remember, stay at home moms work for their family, its still a job you just don’t get the paycheck.