Love Square

Chapter Four: The Lost Year

A/N I named this chapter this because when Ashwinder deleted my story they said it had holes in the plot. This will clear up any holes. Also, this chapter focuses more on Hermione and Ron, and Severus and Tonks, though I’ve added some HG/SS lemons at the end to appease my Ashwinder crowd. Enjoy!

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Hermione again woke up in Severus’ arms. This time it was he who was already awake. He wasted no time before sg, “g, “You need to get up.”

“Don’t want to,” she began.

“Don’t care. Get up!” he said roughly, getting up himself. When she didn’t move, he pulled her up forcibly. “And you need to get dressed. And no, you may not keep that set of robes. I already gave you one.”

“But, Severus, I don’t have any clothes here, remember?”

“Yes, you do. You left them here last night when you went back to the future. Now, no more excuses. Your clothes are in the bathroom. I want you showered and dressed in ten minutes.”

“You’re being awfully rough to the woman you love,” she said, walking up to him and throwing her hands around his neck. He immediately walked out of her embrace.

“You need to forget that I said that. I think you and Weasley should try to work things out,” he said grudgingly.

“What happened to the man that said he would get him if the last thing he ever does?” she asked incredulously.

“He’s still here. I haven’t changed. And I will get him. But I don’t think it will happen again. And if it does, I assure you, Azkaban is something I can get out of. Speaking from experience,” he added darkly.

“So you really think I should give Ron a second chance?”

“No, I was just saying that for the hell of it,” he said sarcastically.

“Okay, okay, point taken. I’ll givm a m a second chance. If he’ll take me.”

“He will. Now go get dressed and out of my chambers.”

“Just one question. Do you still love me?”

“I refuse to answer that.”

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“Ron? Ron, are you here?” Hermione called timidly into the boys’ dorm.

“He’s not here, ‘Mione,” Harry told her.

“Oh. Do you know where he is?” she asked.

“Yeah, he went down to the Quidditch pitch to blow off some steam. You royally pissed him offt nit night.”

“I know, I know. I think I’ll go find him,” she said, turning to leave. Harry walked up to her and grabbed her arm.

“Just answer me one question… Did you really sleep with Snape?” he asked, aghast.

Hermione smiled at him. “Almost, but no.”

“Would you have?” Hermione’s blush answered his question. “I don’t know what you see in him, but if he makes you happy, you need to be with him, not Ron.”

“If you want the absolute truth, Severus told me to go to Ron.”

Harry’s face suddenly darkened. “So you’re only going out with my best mate to make your old boyfriend happy?” he shouted angrily.

Hermione looked taken aback, but stood her ground. “How can you stick up for him after he slapped me?”

“You would have fucked Snape! I would have slapped you, too!”

“Severus is the greatest guy I’ve ever met!” she screamed.

“Severus Snape is greasy git, a bastard, a pedophile, and an arrogant asshole. I can’t believe you would even think about comparing him to Ron!”

“Ronald Weasley is a girlfriend beater!”

“Then why are you so keen to get back with him? Oh yeah, to make someone else happy! Why don’t you do what you want? Fuck what Snape says.”

“Because what I want I can’t have!”

“And what do you want? To do Snape until you’re blue in the face? That’s disgusting. He’s twenty years older than you. And your professor. It’s vile. It’s wrong. It makes me sick to my stomach that I even associate with you.”

“Yes! That’s exactly what I want. You finally figured something out on your own. The great Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived, has seen into the mind of the Gryffindor know-it-all at last!” she screamed sarcastically, storming out.

Hermione stormed all the way to the Quidditch pitch. “Ronald Weasley get your ass down here!” she called.

He flew down to her. “What do you want?” he asked viciously.

She mentally told herself to calm down before continuing. “I just wanted to apologize for last night.”

He looked at her skeptically. “You do?”

“Yes. And I think we should get back together.”

Ron walked up to her and kissed her lightly. “I think so, too.” He wrapped his arms around her waist and she wrapped hers around his neck and they snogged for a long time before Harry came rushing out.

“Ron!” he panted, “she’s only,” pant pant, “with you because” more pants “Snape told her to.”

Ron let her go and looked at her. “Is that true?”

“Part of it.”

“Which part?” he asked dubiously.

“Well, the part where Severus told me that he thought we, meaning you and me, should be together.”

“That would be all of it,” added Harry.

“Oh, shut up Harry,” Hermione snapped. “The point is I agree with him. You and I make sense.”

“Do you really want to give it another try?”

“No, I made it up for the hell of it,” she said, mimicking Severus.

Ron laughed and took her hand. “It’s a Hogsmeade weekend. Do you want to go with me?”

“I’d love to,” she replied, kissing his cheek. They walked off, leaving a very pissed off Harry in their wake.

"So where do you want to go?" Ron asked ten minutes later.

"Want to check out Zonkos and Honeydukes?"

"Sure." They walked hand in hand to the joke shop. They looked around at the various practical jokes. Finally, Ron said, "These guys have nothing on Fred and George. It's too bad they're all the way in London."

"It is. Let's get out of here. I could do with something sweet." They walked in silence to Honeydukesooh,ooh, Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans! Can we get some?"

Well, I don't really have much money... he thought to himself. "Of course we can."

She threw her arms around him and kissed him. "Thank you!"

"Anything for you, sweets." I need to get a job...

Ten minutes later they were sitting in the cave they met Sirius in their fourth year. "Eww... earwax," Hermione said in reference to her bean. Ron laughed. "Mmm, chocolate." They went on to name their beans until the box was empty. Hermione moved closer to Ron and he put her arm around her. Remembering that this was for Severus, Hermione went along with the charade. She rest her head on his shoulder and he kissed her forehead.

"I'm glad we're back together. You do want to be with me, right? You're not still in love with Snape?" he asked worriedly.

"The answer to both of those questions is yes. I care about you, but I've loved Severus for a long time. But if I can't have him, there's no one I would rather be with than you." She leaned up and kissed him lightly. Soon their kissed deepened, him thrusting his tongue into her mouth. They snogged until it was time for lunch. "Do you want to go to the Three Broomsticks for lunch?"

More money? This is getting bad... "Sure." They got up and left the cave, hand in hand. When they arrived in the pub, Ron ordered two butterbeers. For lunch they both bowls of soup, as that was the cheapest thing on the menu. "What do you want to do now?"

"Can we go to that little tea shop? Madam Puddifoot's?"

GAH! This woman is bleeding me dry... "Anything you want." They arrived at the tea shop several minutes later. Ron ordered two cups of tea, emptying what remained of his change purse. He looked around at all the kissing couples and reached over and grabbed Hermione's hand. "Are you enjoying yourself?" Hermione nodded, sipping her tea. By the look in her eyes he could tell her mind was elsewhere. Not knowing what to say, they drank their tea in silence. "Where were you just now?" he asked softly.

"What are you talking about? I've been with you all day."

"I meant your thoughts. Who were you thinking about?"

"It wasn't who, it was what. I was thinking about last night. You know, you really shouldn't have slapped me."

He sighed. "I know. I'm sorry. But you really shouldn't have Petrified me."

"Severus would have killed you. Which reminds me, watch your back." Ron looked at her questioningly. "Severus wanted to kill you last night. I reminded him that he would be sent to Azkaban if he did, but he told me this morning that if you hit me again, he won't care." Ron blanched, all the color draining from his face. "Well, all you have to do is not slap me again. Is that so hard?" He shook his head. "That's what I thought. I doubt he'd really do anything if I begged him not to--"

"That bastard made you beg? I'd sooner die than put you through that."

"You're so dramatic about everything. It's not like I literally begged. I just asked him not to hurt you."

"Then why do I have to watch my back?" he asked incredulously.

"Because he doesn't always listen to me. But I'm sure he'll calm down after a few days and you'll be fine. He's a hothead, but he's not stupid."

"He had me fooled." Hermione glared at him. "Oh, relax, I'm just kidding," he laughed.

"No, you're really not. But I can't convince you and Harry that he's a great guy, so I'm not even going to bother." Several minutes passed before either of them spoke again.

"So, there's a lot of couples in here," Ron started. "They all sure look happy, er, don't they? I mean, do you think we'll be that happy? Er, what I mean to say is--"

"Ron, if you want to snog, just ask me."

He breathed a sigh of relief. "Hermione, would you like to snog?"

She smiled at him and moved her seat next to his. They snogged for the rest of the afternoon.

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SIX MONTHS LATER…

Severus and Tonks sat in the Leaky Cauldron one Saturday afternoon discussing the Wonder Trio. For once Severus was tolerating her outside of the bedroom, normally he couldn’t stand her. She was actually starting to grow on him until she asked that fatal question. “So, last I heard, Hermione and Ron were dating. Is that true?”

His face darkened. “I try not to concern myself with the personal lives of the Wonder Brats.”

Tonks frowned before continuing. “You shouldn‘t be so hard on them. They‘ve been through more than half the Aurors I know.”

“I‘m aware of what they‘ve been through and I don‘t care. They‘re brats in my mind,” he snapped. Inwardly he scolded himself for insulting Hermione. Well, the other two are brats, he thought.

“I understand why you don‘t like Harry, but what‘s wrong with Hermione and Ron?”

“Mr. Weasley is as troublesome as Potter. In second year he drove a flying car into the Whomping Willow.”

“I heard about that, it sounded funny.” Severus glared at her. “Well, that explains Ron and Harry. But what makes Hermione a brat?”

Severus red red his throat loudly before changing the subject. “I‘m going to go to the loo.” He got up from his chair and stood there waiting.

“Something you needed, honey?”

“Call me that again and I‘ll hex you.”

“Sorry. But why are you standing there?”

“Well, aren‘t you coming?“ he sneered. Catching on, Tonks followed obediently. When they got to the loo, Severus magically locked the door to ensure privacy. Severus grabbed Tonks and tossed her up against the wall, pushing his body up to hers. He shoved his tongue into her mouth fiercely and began ravishing her chest. He pulled her skirt harshly over her head and undid his pants.

“Do you always have to be so rough?” she asked timidly.

He didn’t stop, just answered. “Yes.”

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Severus was sitting in his sitting room grading papers when Hermione knocked on his door. "Enter," he said gruffly.

"Enter," Hermione mocked. Severus rolled his eyes at her, but beckoned her inside. "How was your date with Tonks?" she asked, sitting in her usual spot next to him on the couch.

He smirked. "Fine."

"What are you smirking at?" He opened his mouth to tell her, but immediately snapped it shut. "Very good, you've learned to imitate a fish. Congratulations. Now tell me why you're smirking," she laughed.

He put down his papers and sat back. He thought about telling her, but decided against it. "Let's just say there's a loo in London that will never be the same."

She clapped her hander her her ears. "Oh! You didn't need to tell me that!" she cried.

"Well you asked," he said simply. "But other than that little encounter, it was fairly routine. Boring. Dull. Uninteresting."

"Sounds like a blast," she said sarcastically. "If you can't stand her, why don't you break up with her?"

"It's easier just to put up with her," he said nastily.

She ignored his tone. "And she's a warm body to throw against a bathroom wall," Hermione sniggered.

Severus looked at her, aghast. "Why Miss Granger, you have quite the dirty mind it would seem."

"Yes, Professor Snape, sir." She laughed for a second, but he kept his face it's usual expressionless mask. "You know, one day I will get you to make a facial expression that is neither a sneer nor a smirk."

"Never." She laughed again. "How are things with Mr. Weasley?"

"Oh, they could be better."

"Another fight? If so, I would advise you to terminate the relationship as you suggested I do with mine."

"Oh, we fight all the time, just like we did for when we were just friends. Never anything serious. Well, unless you count the times your name has come up."

"My name? What have I got to do with your relationship?" he sneered.

"You know, it's not a secret that I care about you. Harry still brings it up all the time, just to annoy me."

"Harry Potter is every bit the ass that his father was."

"Sometimes I'm inclined to agree with you. He's been different since Sirius died. He gets angry ahe the time, now. I seem to be his primary target. When he isn't ranting about schoolwork and Quidditch, he's ranting about how I'm only dating Ron because you told me to. In retrospective, I really shouldn't have told him that," she said sadly.

"You're not wrong. Potters can't be trusted. And are you only dating him because I told you to?"

"At first, yes. But now, I think I like him."

"You think? Shouldn't you know if you do or if you don't?" he asked condescendingl
"Y
"You would think so. I'm an infamous know-it-all, but when it comes to this I have no clue. Sometimes I just get so confused about it."

"What's confusing? Either you do or you don't. Pick one."

"The answer changes all the time. Like when--" she stopped herself.

"Like when what?" he snappe
"O
"Oh, never mind."

"I have ways of finding things out even if you don't tell me."

"Legillimens, right. I forgot. You know, that's really annoying. You have no right just prying into my mind like that."

"I have every right. I'm your professor, you're not allowed to withhold information from me."

"Don't pull the 'I'm your professor' bit," she said, annoyed.

"Then just tell me."

"Do you even care? About anything having to do with me?"

"I think you shoulow bow by now that I care. Now are we going to do this the hard way or the easy way?"

"What was the question again?"

He rolled his eyes. "When does your opinion of Mr. Weasley change?"

She sighed, a blush creeping up her neck. "When I'm around you." He didn't say anything so she continued. "I told you never mind, but noo, you just had to pry," she glared.

"Well, I must say that wasn't what I was expecting." He immediately changed the subject before she could respo"How"How long do you have? Don't you have homework? I know I assigned a three foot essay on the properties of Mugwort."

"You know me, I finished that ages ago. I did have one thing to ask you though..."

"Do you ever not have one thing to ask me?" he said exasperatedly. For the next half hour they discussed the various aspects of Mugwort and it's uses in potions. "You know as much about it as me, now. You're such a little know-it-all."

"Well, I have a very good teacher," she said, scooting closer to him. He stood up the second she moved.

"Can I get you something to drink?" he asked politely, though she knew he was once again turning down her advances.

She sighed. "Pin jin juice would b nice." He left for his small kitchen and returned with a glass of juice for Hermione and a bottle of firewhisky for himself. "Not planning on getting drunk, are you?" she asked, staring at the bottle.

"Alcohol has no effect on me," he said, sipping from the bottle.

"Hey Severus?" He looked at her from the opposite end of the couch. "Maybe, do you think, could I possibly, taste it?"

"No," he said flatly.

"Please?"

"No. Don't ask again."

"Oh, you're no fun. I just wanted to know what it was like--"

"There you are, being a know-it-all again. What if I wasn't a teacher, but a boy your own age? I could easily give you a few sips and take advantage of you," he said seriously, taking another sip.

"Well, that thought had occurred to me."

He raised his eyebrow at her, putting down the bottle. "Explain."

"What?" she said, snapping out of her reverie. "Oh, nothing."

"Hermione, if I've told you once, I've told you a thousand timnothnothing can happen between us. You have Mr. Weasley now. Try seducing him." She looked at him questioningly. "On second thought, forget I said that. You're too young to have anything to do with seduction."

"I'm a sixth year. I know plenty of four years and fifth years that have done more than me."

"And I've known plenty of seventh years that haven't."

"Point taken. Ron wants to, but I don't really want my first time to be with him..."

Knowing where she was going with that, he cut her off. "Mr. Weasley wants to? How long have you been dating? A few months? If he lays one hand on you I'll hex him from Gryffindor Tower to the hospital wing and back again."

"Well, how long did you and Tonks wait?"

"That's a completely different story. We're both adults and that's what happens in an adult relationship. You are currently in an adolescent relationship and have no business doing what Tonks and I do, understand?" he said firmly.

"Yes, sir," she said, looking at the floor. Several uncomfortable minutes passed before she spoke again. By the time she did her pumpkin juice was gone and his bottle of firewhisky was half empty. "Just one sip? I won't try anything."

He regarded her a moment before retreating to his private lab. When he returned he filled the smallest vial he had with firewhisky and handed it to her. "Speak of this to no one," he said gruffly. She held it up to her lips. "And whatever you do, don't--" She swallowed the contents of the vial whole. "Drink it at once," he finished. Hermione coughed and sputtered before clutching her stomach and falling to the floor. "I tried to warn you. Come on, get up, it's not that strong," hid aid after a few minutes. When she didn't get up he picked her up carried her to his bed. "This is why I didn't want to give you any," he said softly.

When he coughing subsided, she said, "Next time I'll listen to you."

"No you won't. How do you feel?"

"I have a headache. Do you have a potion you can give me?" He walked away and returned with a bottle of blue potion which he helped her down. "I don't think this would work to seduce anyone. I feel terrible."

"In a few minutes thotiootion will kick in and you'll be fine again." He sat on the bed and took her hand in his. "Feeling better?" he asked a few minutes later. She nodded. "I bet you're drunk."

"I think you're right... I don't like being drunk."

"I don't like you being drunk. I want you to promise me that you won't drink again until you're of age," he said forcefully, not leaving the matter open for discussion.

"I promise."

"You know, alcohol is a good way to get information out of people. I could ask you anything I wanted right now and you would probably answer me truthfully."

"Oh, Severus, please don't. There are certain things I don't want you to know."

"What don't you want me to know?" he prodded.

"In second year I stole supplies for a Polyjuice Potion from your private stores--"

"I wondered which one of you three it was."

"And that Harry, Ron, and I visited Sirius in his cave when we existed twice--"

Severus' coal black eyes darkened. "You did WHAT!"

"We brought him food once a week for that entire year."

"You left Hogwarts' grounds without permission? That's grounds for expulsion."

"You wouldn't expel the woman you love, would you?" she asked sweetly, sitting up and resting her head on his shoulder.

"You should not have been privy to that information. What else do you not want me to know?"

"That was it."

"You're lying. Tell me what it is that you're hiding."

"Just that I miss you. And that I think you miss me, too. Do you?" she asked, seeing the astonished look on his face.

He glared at her a moment before turning to face her, lifting her head of his shoulder and caressing her cheek. "Yes, I miss you." She leaned up and kissed him. This time he didn't fight her, but lay her down and climbed on top of her. He kissed her delicately, sucking on her lower lip. He kissed up her neck, stopping when he got to her ears. He gently nibbled her lobe. He moved his hand to her chest and caressed her lightly. He unbuttoned her shirt and removed it, exposing her red bra. He ran one hand lightly down her side, tickling her unintentionally. She undid his vest and shirt buttons and tossed them aside. He moved his mouth back to hers and kissed her passionately, their ton dan dancing together. He licked her lips as he slid his hand under her bra. She smiled into their kiss. ent entwined her hand in his silky hair and rest her other arm around the back of his neck, making small circles with her delicate fingers. After a half an hour of snogging and petting, he stopped. "This, love, is why you don't drink firewhisky," he said his most silky voice. "I could do anything I wanted to you right now and you would be powerless to stop me," he whispered in her ear.

"I wouldn't stop you anyway."

He frowned and rolled them on their sides. He ran his hands along her bare arms. "And of Mr. Weasley?"

"Who?" she asked dreamily.

"Your boyfriend. You know, annoying kid, red hair, tall."

"Oh, yeah, him," she slurred. "I don't really like him, I like you."

"I know you do," he said, licking her ear. He leaned down and kissed her again. She returned his kiss full force. He moved his hand behind her back and undid her bra, throwing it aside. He ran his long fingers down her spine, sending shivers down her entire body. He ran his hands up and down her sides, stopping when he got to her jeans. He undid the top button and zipper and rolled her over so he could remove them. Sensing that she was too drunk to do it herself, he stood up and removed his pants, leaving them both in their underwear. "Are you sure you want this?" he asked her. Her voice was now so slurred that he couldn't understand her, but a nod of her head signaled him to continue. He crawled back into the bed and they got under the covers. He resumed his spot by her side. He thought about his afternoon and wondered why he was being so tender with her. He shrugged the thought away and continued caressing her chest. He left little love bites all along her collar bone. He licked his way back up to her mouth. He licked her lips, opening her mouth with his tongue. She gladly accepted, kissing him back. Slowly he ran his hand down to her knickers and removed them. Next he removed his silver boxers and climbed on top of her. His member was poised just before her entrance. He looked down to see that she had passed out from the firewhisky. "Damnit again."

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Hermione woke up the next morning with a terrible hangover. "Where am I?" she wondered aloud.

Severus came walking in, fully clothed now. "You're in my bed," he answered, sitting down next to her. He brushed a lock of her bushy hair behind her ear. "Do you remember anything about last night, love?"

"Love?" she looked at him questioningly. "The last thing I remember is you giving me a vial of firewhisky." Feeling a draft, she looked under the covers to see that she wasn't wearing anything. "Oh, Merlin! You mean, you and me? We, you know... Did we?" she asked aghast.

"No, we didn't. But we were about to."

"It's a good thing we didn't, Ron would have killed me."

"I seem to recall last night you couldn't even remember who he was."

"Is that what firewhisky does to everybody?"

"I've never seen such a small amount have such a powerful affect on someone before. You were more drunk than I have ever been in my 36 years."

"Is the morning after always this painful?"

"Afraid so. I think it would be best if you just tried to sleep it off."

"I'll try. Severus, what did we do if we didn't go all the way?" He leaned forward and kissed her lightly.

"That's what we did."

"That's all?" she asked, disappointed.

"That's all. Now try and get some sleep. We can forget that last night ever happened."

"How can I forget something I can't remember?"

"For once just stop asking questions and get some sleep." She lay back and he kissed her forehead. He left her in his bed for the rest of the day, walking her back to Gryffindor Tower when her hangover was completely gone.

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Ahahaha, thought you were going to get lemons again, didn't you? We evil writers just love giving them and taking them away. Soon enough... Soon enough... Please leave me a review!