Time lost. ...EPILOGUE UP!

Smut warning...

Hermione fled through the hallways heading for her sanctuary. The library was always a place of comfort where she could regroup in peace. Rarely students would go there unless forced so it was empty right now.

Shedding her backpack at one of the alcoves near the back section, Hermione pressed her hand to her chest to still her furiously beating heart.

Dropping to the floor, she tugged her knees up to her chest and rocked slowly thinking about the implications of her interjection between the boys tonight. Grabbing her notebook, she scribbled down the date and time of the event with painstaking detail. She had to stop interfering with Snape’s progress. Even if broke her heart, to see what brought him to the edge of that darkness that eventually consumes him.

An unruly curl rolls over her shoulder and she sighs plucking it in between her fingertips.

Sirius would probably believe she is untrustworthy now. This would make her task more difficult surely. She swallowed hard, remembering Severus probing into her mind. He knows she is a Muggleborn now. Everything was about to crash down around her head. She shivered and drew her arms closer around her knees for comfort.

“Well, well, well, little Mudblood lost?” Lucius Malfoy’s eyes gleamed down at her from above.
“What a disgusting surprise, wouldn’t you say Severus?”

Hermione looked stricken up at Severus whose black orbs were carefully blank.

“They really should call the exterminators before an infestation begins.” Severus drawled silkily as he gaze poured over her form. “At least this Mudblood knows her place. She has the habit of always being on her knees around me.”

He smirks, as the others that circle around her begin to laugh.

Hermione recognizes the fellow Death Eaters although they are younger now. She starts to rise up, but Severus has his wand trained on her and indicates for her to stay still. Her body trembles against her will and Lucius smiles unpleasantly seeing it.

“Now, Severus… Mudblood’s do have some uses. I believe the Ministry should make them sterile concubines. No point in wasting a perfectly talented witch that could be trained to please you. Obviously, they have no other skill. For example, this little filthy Mudblood here has rather large breasts; clearly, she would be very useful to an eager wizard.”

Lucius’s eyes gleam as he stares down at her with a strange expression. Mentally Lucius is comparing them to Narcissa’s rather small breasts.

Lucius sighs. “Fortunately for you Mudblood, Severus has already decided you are of interest to him. Otherwise, you would spend the rest of your time this year, demonstrating exactly how useful you can be to me.”

He smirks and walks past her frozen form. "Lesson time, Severus... I do believe I envy you."

The other Death Eaters stare hard at her before following him.

Severus stared down at the still girl at his feet. His wand trained on her had frozen her into compliance but he could see the rage and disgust blanketed in her whiskey colored eyes. Her lips curled into a grimace of a smile and she watched him as he watched her.

Severus reached a hand down and grasped her arm to haul her to her feet. He pocketed the wand carefully. She shivered slightly as he still had her cornered there. The darkness in his gaze seemed to tantalize her.

“Why did you defend me?” Severus’s words were so quiet, Hermione was not sure if she imagined them.

She blinked and looked up at him startled. Her heavily lashed eyelids were half-lidded giving her a sensuous laziness, but her warm eyes seem to have lost the anger she was displaying earlier.

Hermione’s skin flushed slightly from his proximity. A scent of something spicy and clean invaded her nostrils as he moved closer to her. His soft black hair tickled her cheek and she sighed, closing her eyes. Severus stared down at the girl who was resting solidly against his frame. He could smell the must of old books combined with a more delicate scent coming off her.

Severus tentatively drew a fingertip up to her face and he whispered in her ear. “Why would a Mudblood save her future tormentor?”

The words caused her to shudder with trepidation and her eyes shot open and caught his. His fingertip caressed her bottom lip slowly and he shifted against her to show her his arousal.

Hermione was struggling to breathe. Severus was doing things that were making her inside turn to liquid. Her eyes glazed with lust over at his tenderly cruel caress. Pressing her back hard into the bookshelf, she tried to avoid his question. His long, pale fingertips curled under her chin and tightened. He jerked her chin up to face him shocked at the lust he saw flickering in her gaze.

“Tell me. What are you playing at Mudblood? Are you seeking to be my whore?” His words struck her raw. Hermione struggled to contain the tears that threatened to form from fear and hurt.

Severus could see her eyes swimming in anguish and it startled him. He felt something in his guts twist at her expression but he shoved it aside. She was a lying mudblood Gryffindor, sent to spy on him. Stop being weak.

Severus pulled her hands behind her back and secured them in his right hand. She tried to stay calm but this was a Death Eater Severus, not Order Spy Severus. He could kill her or worse… rewrite history.

Hermione struggled against him, mentally fighting her response to him. Severus saw her panic and the lust she was trying to hide from him. It perplexed him but he ignored all the warnings in his head against this girl. He cupped her breast through the sweater and she froze. – Oh Merlin, what is he doing? – She swallowed hard, slamming her eyes closed in embarrassment.

Severus stared down at the pale girl was pinned against him. He wet his lips, feeling the soft weight of her breast against his other hand. Shockingly he felt her arousal as her nipple stiffened under his hand. He felt his groin tighten and he cursed softly. – He cannot rape a student in the damned library! Where is your head, Severus? – He thumbed the hard point under the sweater and a small moan erupted from her moist sweet mouth.

“I’m practically raping you right now.” He snarled frustrated by her lack of cooperation.

“Shouldn’t you be screaming or crying or something?” He pressed his lips together with a grimace. Why wasn't she doing behaving normally?

Hermione’s brain nearly fell out of her head at his words. He sounded so much like his adult self that she got sopping wet. Severus watched Hermione quiver suddenly and he jerked back from her.

“There is something wrong with you, Mudblood.” His words of confusion had the effect that his brutal exploration did not. Hermione slapped him, hard. Her cheeks burned with humiliation and she shoved past him running for the door. Severus reeled from the slap and leaned back on the books. A ghost of a smile teased his lips. He was not good looking but he knew she wanted him for some reason. Soon, he would find out what it was.

Stupid, stupid, stupid… WHY did you DO that? Hermione knew it is a residual from a foolish school-girl crush she had on Professor Snape in her own time. Always striving to get his approval. Always raising her hand, eager for his attention. Always unrequited. Hermione slumped against the wall, covering her face with her hands. If she had realized that this would be an issue, she would have advised them to send someone else.

In addition, the miserable added bonus. She was no longer a child; despite the rejuvenation potion, she was still a grown woman with needs and awareness of what to do to fulfill those needs. Something that was not a problem in school. This was a disaster and she knew it. The problem is that she cannot talk to anyone about this. Suddenly, Hermione felt very lonely and annoyingly aroused.

Hermione found her way to her room with ease. Her assigned room was shared with Alice Mettle and Lily Evans. This was done because of the Order’s meddling. It certainly helped her ease into a relationship with Lily Evans. Hermione unpacked her bags quietly and began unfolding her clothes to hang. Alice and Lily walked in a few minutes after she had finished unpacking everything.

Alice was a pleasant looking girl with a heart-shaped face and soft green eyes. She smiled across at Hermione and introduced herself. Lily watched approvingly for a moment before addressing Hermione. Lily looked close to bursting with questions about what happened at dinner. Hermione ducked her head picking up her Arthimancy book.

Lily tried to sound casual. “So, what you did for Severus…Was that just …What was that exactly? I mean you do not get along with him, do you? You’re a Gryffindor now.”

Hermione mulled over her choice of words and smirked from behind her book. “I happen to think it’s very brave to stand up to the Marauders don’t you? Especially when they are singling out people to humiliate.”

Lily flushed slightly and smiled. “Oh, so you’re nice. I thought maybe you and Severus had a thing...?” Lily picked at her bedspread, not meeting Hermione’s eyes.

Hermione’s eyes widened. Did Lily have a thing for Severus? Oh Merlin, this is bad news. How to respond? Better to discourage this. I am certain that Lily never fancied Severus, did she?

Hermione swallowed looking from Alice to Lily. “Oh, um… I don’t think of him like that.”

Good nice and vague Granger. What the devil does ‘that’ mean anyway? Hermione shifted on the bed. However, luckily, Lily seemed satisfied with that non-answer.

“Oh good.” Lily breathed.

“Um, I thought you liked James Potter? What do you care anyway?” Hermione ventured nervously.

Lily flipped her vibrant red hair over one shoulder and she sneered slightly. “Oh that arrogant prat? Well, he is good looking. Still Severus has the most gorgeous eyes. So dark and mysterious.”

Hermione could not argue with that particular fact but she felt displaced. This is why Lily and James do not get together? Because Lily is in love with Severus? Her head began to pound heavily from trying to understand what is going on. Hermione closed her eyes.

“Well I’m off to sleep then. Classes are early tomorrow.” Hermione said loudly before flicking off her light switch and sinking into the bed.

She pulled the covers over her head quickly. Lily and Alice reluctantly also went to sleep. Soon the room was silent. Hermione breathed under the cover swearing she could smell Severus still on her. His scent of hypnotic spices and soap sent a shiver of delight through her.

The sudden quiet allowed her a moment to remember the incredible feeling of Severus pressing against her. She suddenly had the thought that she may have to seduce Severus soon.

Otherwise Harry might not live. If she seduces Severus though, what if she becomes his love interest and Voldemort kills her instead? Her head felt like it was splitting in two but eventually sleep claimed her.

In the dark of night, another mind mysteriously turned the events of the day over. Hermione Granger was a definite problem. The little know-it-all Mudblood was going to ruin everything planned. A desperate swallow followed by a grimace. First thing tomorrow, deal with Hermione Granger

Somewhere throughout time, Neville Longbottom and Harry Potter felt ice trickle down their spine as another chunk of their memory faded into oblivion.