Ready and Willing

A/N: HA! well, we all saw how Sev has finally taken to Hermione, but will she return his affections at all? Keep reading and find out.
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Chapter 4: A Battle of Wills

Hermione smiled as she walked into Hogsmeade. She was meeting with Harry and Ron over at the Three Broomsticks and was going to have dinner with them. The two were knee deep in auror training, and were absolutely loving it. Ginny was up to her head in Healer training and Hermione, well, she wanted to go to university. Not that she regretted it of course. In fact, Hermione had come close to actually dating a fine young man before she had found him at the quidditch pitch with another witch. When he had approached her the next day, Hermione had sent the angry canary spell that she had used on Ron at him.

Hermione thought back to Severus. Back when Albus had died, she wasn't completely sure that he was entirely guilty. As always, her logical mind had taken over and it had cost her a lot. It had cost her the long-lost relationship with Ron, and had nearly cost her their friendship as well. At first, Harry had sided with Ron in the break up, and he had come back to Hogwarts to deal with the relic that Ravenclaw had left behind that Voldemort had turned into a Horcrux. When he was passing by the ROR, the door had suddenly appeared and he went inside anyway.

Hermione knew about Harry's find of the penseive second hand, but knew that when Harry had found it, the young wizard saw Albus sitting at his desk in front of a mirror and conducting a monolog of Severus' unbreakable oaths not only to Narcissa Malfoy, but, to Albus Dumbledore himself. Albus went on to say that he knew the potion that was in the cave at the time would probably kill him if any magical spell came into contact with him, but he was ready. After all, to the well organized mind, death is the next great adventure.

Harry had literally run to the headmistresses office when he had found the pensive, after casting a charm on the pensive to keep the contents inside. Minerva had been furious that Harry was out, but had later forgiven the young man after watching the pensive. A week after the final battle, Severus turned himself in, badly broken and the darkmark cut out of his arm. Harry and Hermione had stood testimony, ( Ron didn't speak to them for weeks) as well as several other people including Hagrid, Minerva and a few others. Hermione's evidence of the Headmaster going over the edge of the astronomy tower was proof enough that the Avada Kedavra had not been cast, for if it had, the old man would have never been airborn. Anyone hit with the Avada Kedavra always slumped right down to the ground. Harry had witnessed this himself when Cedric had died. Albus Dumbledore had taken a two hundred and fifty foot fall and had died because of it.

Hermione sighed as she thought of Ron. He had said that all of them would go through Auror training and he and Hermione would marry and have a family with at least five kids. Hermione had shot that down when she told him that she was planning to attend university and build her career before having one or two kids, let alone get married. Ron didn't and probably never would. Hermione felt it was better this way. Granted, things were still kind of rocky between her and Ron, but she didn't mind so much. They would work out like they always did.

Hermione stepped into the Three Broomsticks and smiled. Harry waved her over as Ron drank deeply from the mug of ale before him.

" How ya doing 'Mione." Harry said. He was glad to see his friend. Tonight was a rare occasion for the two rookies. They had nothing to do and were off from training the next morning.

" I doing well. I have great news too."

" Lemme guess, McGonagall said yes, and you start you internship with Flitwick in the next month." Ron said. " It's good to see you 'Mione."

" Actually no, I start my internship with Severus in the next week. In lue of me teaching classes, he and I will be producing the Lycanthropy cure. In fact we made a breakthrough." Hermione said.

Harry's eyes widened. He knew tht Severus was trying to make the cure, but had hit a rut when it came to a certain stage. If he and Hermione were working on it together, than it was as good as made by Christmas.

Ron groaned audibly. " You're interning with the greasy git and your calling him Severus? Dear god what is this world coming to?" he said maliciously. " I should have sent that hex at him when I had the chance."

Hermione bristled at this and stood up so quickly her chair flew back. " RONALD BILIUS WEASLEY! How dare you! Severus Snape is the most accredited potions master in Britian and a better part of Europe, not to mention it cost him everything to kill Albus Dumbledore. He was proven innocent and was rightfully proven. Dumbledore left the penseive and that was more than enough evidence for me and for Harry. If you ever insult him in front of me again, you are not going to like the consequences. Is that clear?" she raged. Ron had turned about as red as his hair and nodded.

" Mione...I didn't..." He said. 'Dammit, how am I supposed to win her back now?' he thought.

" Don't you even say another word...Harry, I'm sorry, but I just can't take this. I'll owl you soon." Hermione said. She practically ran from the establishment and held her arms around her. How could Ron say those things? The man had risked everything and had turned himself in, expecting to die...How could someone be so hateful to a man that had sacrificed his entire being for the wizarding world?

" Hermione?!" Ron shouted, catching up to her. " Mione please, let me explain..."

Hermione felt white hot anger surge through her again. " Explain what? Why you verbally condemned my co-worker , why you feel the need to be so bitter to a man that gave himself up for the greater good? Did you spend over twenty five years as a spy Ronald...No? Did you have to be put through countless tortures of the cruciatus, beatings whippings and marrings just because a megalomaniac's whim? NO! Just leave me alone Ronald, or you'll be sorry you messed with this witch." she seethed. Hermione began to go again when Ron grabbed her hand and pulled her into a kiss.

" Dammit Hermione, Harry and I came down her....Well I came down here so that we could patch things up...I didn't mean to upset you, but blimey, it's Snape...You know..." Ron had opened up a can of worms as he continued that sentence.

" Ronald...I have no inclination of ' patching things up' and how dare you think that I could be wooed over so easily. YOU broke up with me because I followed the evidence regarding Dumbledore's death...YOU didn't speak to me because I testified on Snape's behalf, YOU practically shunned me when we were dating because I didn't want to go into auror training get married and become a broodmare! For once, I'm going to intiate this. Don't talk to me, and don't come near me until I come to you...."

" Now Hermione be reasonable..." Ron said.

" BE REASONABLE?! You GIT! How dare you!" Hermione said, raising her wand. " You had best leave now or I WILL hex you into next week..."

Ron put is hands up. Things were not going as planned. Hermione was supposed to just sit there and listen while he planned everything out. That how it used to be anyway. And who did the little chit think she was, threatening him. " Hermione, I'm warning you, put down your wand." Ron said, anger coursing through his voice.

That was the last straw and Hermione was just about to curse his sorry arse when Harry came running up.

" Ronald...How dare you think so little of her! She is not some chess piece to be controlled. She is a human being, and a damn talented witch. If you even dare to harm a hair on her head because you pissed her off, I will kick your arse meself." Harry said, grabbing Ron's shoulder and squeezing hard. " Hermione, you'd better go..."

Hermione nodded and walked back toward the gates.

Harry looked at Ron. " What the hell has gotten into you?!"

" Into me?! INTO ME?! What about Hermione? " Ron bellowed. " I will make her see reason..." he seethed. He pulled out from Harry's grip and began to stalk towards the Hogwarts gates to find Hermione.

" Ronald...You had better not go anywhere near the witch. She doesn't welcome your advances so let it lie!" Harry called out.

Ron didn't hear him. Hermione had been leading him on for years and he was tired of following around like a love sick puppy. He was going to show her how he felt and he wasn't going to take no for an answer.

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Hermione was nearly at the gates when she heard Ron coming up behind her. ' Shit, he's probably pissed as hell and I really don't want to deal with him right now...' she thought. She had just gotten through the gates when Ron came up to them. She knew from reading Hogwarts: A History, that if anyone coming up to the gates of the castle meant any harm, that the castle would not allow them through the gates.

Apparently, Ron meant her some type of harm because he was trying to open the gates and get to her.

" Hermione open the gates..." He said.

" I didn't do a thing Ron...It's the castle..." she said.

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Inside, Severus felt something was wrong and realized the castle was humming. That normally meant that one of the staff was in danger. ' Shit...Hermione!' he thought. He raced to the grand hall and out the door. He made it about a quarter of the way down the walk when he saw Ron cast a hex at Hermione. Her body crumpled to the ground and panic flitted through him for a moment and then anger began to bubble. When Hermione rose back up, he cast another hex and she fell back down again. He ran the rest of the way to her and blocked Ron's next spell.

" Get your hands off of her Snape..." Ron seethed. How dare he stop him from getting to Hermione. He was only trying to slow her down so he could get inside the gates and make her see his side of things.

" Mister Weasley...Be prepared to have an inquiry...I'm fairly certain that Miss Granger here is going to file charges and I will stand as witness. Now go, before I make you..."

Harry came running up to the gates. His blood ran cold when he saw Hermione out cold in the professor's arms and Ron shaking the gates, trying to get in. ' Thank god for enchantment such as those.' Harry thought silently. He was glad that Hermione had made behind the gates before Ron had caught up with her, but the enchantments didn't stop spells. Harry cast a look of anger at Ron.

" What did you do to her..."

Ron looked at Harry. " Harry, she wasn't going to listen any other way..."

Harry's fist balled up for a moment. " That doesn't mean you had to attack her Ron. You know what this means don't you?"

Ron growled in frustration and looked at Harry with the same angry look. " Harry, you don't understand...."

" I most certainly do...Just because Hermione won't go with your plan, you were going to make her, weren't you?"

" If that's what it took." Ron said simply. " Harry. It's always been the three of us...Hermione and I have a closer bond because..."

" Because of what?" Harry seethed. " Because of a few clumsy snogs back at the Burrow four years ago? Hermione didn't want to give you her virginity then Ron, and you are practically incensed to take it from her..."

" Who says she..." Ron began. But Harry had had enough. His fist connected witht he red haired wizard and Ron went down. He was unconscious for the moment.

" Professor...I suggest we wake Hermione. Something's not right with Ron and we need to find out. I'm going to take him to the Ministry first and then I'll come back to check on Hermione. I'm fairly certain Ron was of the frame of mind to attack Hermione this evening, and it would've been disaterous." Harry said. " Tell her I'm sorry..."

Severus nodded and proceeded to take Hermione inside. He made his way down to his chambers and set her gently on his couch. " Envenerate..." He whispered.

Hermione bolted up almost immediately and looked around. She was in Severus' quarters. " Severus... Ron, where? How did..."

Severus calmed her by placing a hand over hers. " It's alright Hermione. The wards on the school were humming earlier and I made my way outside only to witness Mister Weasley's attack on you. I take it he only cast stunners?"

Hermione nodded. " What happened after I was knocked out..."

Severus shook his head. " I best believe that story should be told when Mister Potter gets here with the Auror's. Mister Weasley was of the mind to relieve you of your virtue in less than savory ways..." he said honestly.

Hermione shuddered. That was what she feared, but that wasn't like Ron. Her eyes snapped open. " Wait a moment. He only started acting like this after I showed up at the Three Broomsticks. Do you have an owl? I need to message Harry right away."

Harry burst through the floo. " He was drugged with a love potion. I just came from the Three Broomsticks and a waitress had slipped it into his drink trying to get him to notice her. It was a powerful one too...Amorentia."

Severus shook his head. No wonder Ron had been so incensed earlier. He felt that Hermione was his and with him holding her, it had only complicated things.

Harry looked at Hermione. " Do you still plan to file charges?"

" Yes." Hermione said. " He needs to stay away from me. Love potion or not, you do not attack a person you care about just because you don't feel the same way about them." Hermione replied.

Molly Weasley stuck her head into the floo. " Severus? Are you there?"

" Yes Molly, what do you need."

" Is Hermione with you, I actually need to speak to her about Ron..."

" Molly...Don't you dare defend him. He attacked me and he planned to rape me. A love potion does not do those things. It only increased what was already going through his mind." Hermione said.

Molly hung her head. The girl was right of course, but Ron was her son and Hermione's friend. " You're right dear, but please don't be to harsh on him. "

" I have every right to be pissed at him Molly... He was going to rape me and he attacked me because the school enchanments were keeping him from me. I'm sorry, but Ron needs to stay away from me. I'm not going to make myself vunerable to an attack." Hermione said, finalizing the conversation. " I'll owl you later Molly. Tell Gin I said Hello please."

Molly nodded and the floo connection ended.

Harry sighed. " Is sunday ok?"

" For what?" Hermione said.

" To file the rest of the charges? I can get most of the paperwork filled out myself because I was a witness, but you need to file the grievance as the victim."

Hermione nodded. She and Harry said their goodbyes and the young man left the way he had come in. Hermione sat numbly, hardly able to believe that her best friend of nearly eleven years had attempted to rape her, much less attack her. She looked at the fire with a glazed look in her eye.

Severus couldn't stand to see the witch like this. He sat down next to her and Hermione looked up at him. " Do you want to talk about it?"

Hermione shook her head. " Not right now. I just feel empty inside. Ron has never done that before and the Amorentia only enhances the feelings that a person has. I bet that he had been contemplating this for a long time. What he would do if we didn't see eye to eye on this." Hermione said. Without thinking she leaned into Severus' shoulder and nuzzled the hollow of his neck.

Severus shuddered at the contact. " What else is on your mind, Hermione?" he said. He wrapped a comforting arm around her shoulders and she looked up at him.

" Kiss me..." she whispered.

Severus was taken aback. Whatever he had been expecting, it sure as hell wasn't that. " Hermione. Are you sure?" he said, his voice slightly strained.

" I am. I just can't get my mind off of how you felt. Your lips..." she said, closing the distance.

Severus almost lost himself when he felt her lips brush against his. " Hermione..." he whispered against her lips.

" Yes Severus?" she replied.

" May I kiss you?"

Hermione answered by leaning in and allowing him to capture her lips with his own. She turned slightly and her hands went around his neck and she leaned back to give them both better acess. He was intoxicating. His mouth moved sensuously against hers and only made a small fire burn at the base of her abdomen. She became sensitized all over and the fire began to wind into a tight coil.

Severus finally broke away for the need of air and he looked down at the witch before him. He smiled at her softly and rubbed her nose with his own.

" Severus...Please don't stop..." she whispered, reaching up to kiss him again.

" Hermione, as much as I enjoy kissing you, if I don't stop myself now, I fear I might not be able to stop myself at all. Besides. I'm you teacher again..."

" No, we're colleagues, even if I am an intern. We do not have a student teacher relationship anymore Severus. Don't treat this like one." Hermione said. " I have to know now...Do you feel anything for me?"

Severus sighed. " Have come to see you as the woman you are Hermione. I respect you greatly and I admire you even more. You are a brilliant witch with a future ahead of you and yes to answer your question, I do have feelings. Albeit they were a bit lecherous at first, but my first inclination was to court you..." he said honestly.

Hermione smiled at him and he felt his heart do a little flip. She reached up and pulled him back down as she kissed him again.

" Are you still inclined?" she asked.

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A/N: Woohoo! things got a little hairy there for a moment. But kisses two and three have been met. In chapters to come, the true seduction of Hermione Granger and next chappie, the progression of her internship, the patenting of the glass cauldron, and the progress on the Lycanthropy cure.