Yuleride

Chapter 3 ~ Persuasion (Short Chappie)

Hermione studied the map for almost half an hour. Snape took a seat in the armchair before the fire, thinking his own thoughts as he waited for Hermione to finish her perusal. Finally, the witch walked around the chair he was seated in, her brown eyes resting on the pale wizard. Snape looked up at her, his eyes unreadable.

”What you are planning is wonderful and exciting, Professor. All of those potions are remarkable, if they truly exist,” she said to him slowly.

Snape arched an eyebrow at her, but said nothing. He was waiting. Waiting to see if she were ready to cast off the manacles of mediocrity and live up to her potential. He did need the witch. He knew of no one else he could trust to go the distance. Of course, he could travel alone but his chances of success would be greater with the Gryffindor witch.

She had to agree.

”I’m flattered you wish to include me in your plans, but . . . but I don’t think I can do it. I would have to leave everything behind . . .” she said softly.

Snape’s face twisted.

”Everything like what? A wizard not worthy of you? A job that will never bring you the challenge you require?” Snape said, his voice soft despite the look of displeasure on his face.

Slowly the wizard rose and glided toward Hermione, his dark eyes gleaming as he addressed her.

”Think of what I am offering you,” he said seductively, “Adventure. Excitement. Challenge. We will enter places that men have not visited in hundreds of years, Hermione. We will travel to distant lands, live among different cultures. There will be plenty of puzzles to solve, obstacles to circumvent. And our discoveries, our discoveries will seal our place in history in a manner far greater than the mention we currently have as part of Voldemort’s downfall.”

Hermione stood there listening as Snape walked around her, standing close and leaning, slowly pulling back her hair and breathing his words into her ear like a tempter trying to steal a soul.

”Imagine us in the cold, crisp air of the Himalayas trailing Yetis, or in the depths of temple ruins in India, brushing cobwebs from the faces of old gods. Picture us on the shores of now uninhabited islands and cutting paths through verdant jungles. Think, if you will, of us in the chambers of Pharaohs, deciphering the glyphs that will lead us to unseen treasure troves of knowledge. We will see people that have been hidden for generations, we will face dangers that will test the depth of our mettle. There will be no dull moments, no waste of energy. Our lives will be full of purpose, of challenge, enough to last an entire lifetime if you wish, Hermione,” he breathed, gently grasping the witch’s shoulders.

Hermione listened to his silken voice as if mesmerized, feeling Snape’s warm breath on her ear and smelling the scent of Firewhiskey. She didn’t shy away from his grip on her shoulders, his long pale fingers splayed and grasping slightly. He began to gently move those fingers, letting his hands slowly slip to her collarbone and plying her with a gentle massage as he continued to croon in her ear.

“What is there here that can offer you such an opportunity, witch? What is there in all of Wizarding England that offers a challenge such as this? No place. Think of it, witch . . . all the knowledge you can acquire, all of the sights you will see and the situations you will experience,” he said, drawing out the last word like a slow hiss.

“But Ron . . . my family,” the witch said in a hollow voice, her eyes half-closed as Snape’s fingers worked magic into her skin.

“You don’t need him. He is a stone around your neck, a dead weight bringing you down. He is an obstacle . . . and obstacles should be removed. It is time for you to throw away the familiar and take up the gauntlet of the Unknown. And your family, you can write them. I am sure your parents have a well-rounded life even without your presence. Don’t use them as an excuse to deny yourself the greatest adventure you can ever experience,” he breathed, sliding his hands slowly down Hermione’s arms then back again to her collarbone, then under her bushy hair, smoothing them over her throat.

Hermione sighed and leaned her head to one side in response. Snape’s eyes glinted at the motion, at her surrender to his touch. He actually leaned forward and placed his lips against her ear.

”Do something to make your heart race again, something to make your blood rush through your veins in a torrent of uncontrolled emotion. Dare to be selfish, witch. Dare to disregard everything you believe your life is supposed to be and make it more. Challenge yourself, give yourself over to the Unknown,” he implored her softly. “I can show you another world, another life, another experience.”

Again he drew out the last word, hissing it like the serpent of Eden. And like Eve, Hermione was enraptured, at his words and the feel of his hands gently stroking her toward acceptance.

“I can take you to places Ronald Weasley could never even approach,” he breathed. “With me, Hermione, every part of you will be tested, brought out into the open and tried by the fire. Your mind, your body and even your soul. I understand you better than you understand yourself. I know what you need. What I need.”

Hermione sighed again, her eyes closed and Snape moved to the other side of her head, pulling back her hair and once again resting his lips against the witch’s ear.

”Be daring, witch,” he said to her softly, “Be daring and compulsive like you used to be. Dare to dive into the ocean of opportunity I am offering you and see if you are drowned or buoyed by its depthsssss . . .”

Suddenly Snape pressed his lips to her throat, just beneath the curve of her jaw line, the cruel mouth soft and persuasive.

“Join me in this adventure,” he breathed, pulling the witch back against him now, since she didn’t protest his explorative kiss.

To Hermione, everything had taken on a dream-like quality. The room, the situation and even the dark wizard himself, his soft voice hypnotic, unreal and compelling.

Snape turned her to face him, holding her by her shoulders firmly. Hermione looked up at his hawkish features, his pale, sallow face surrounded by lank, oily hair. He still looked severe and harsh, his nostrils pulsating slightly as if he were scenting her, the corner of his mouth curled as he looked down at her. But his eyes . . .his eyes. There was something in the wizard’s black eyes that seemed to draw her in, that wouldn’t let her break away.

”Join me,” Snape hissed, lowering his mouth to hers slowly and capturing her lips between his own.

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A/N: Short chapter I know. But it has a little punch to it. Thanks for reading.