The Makeover - COMPLETED

Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to JKR. All situations are mine. No $$$ is being made from this fanfic.
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Chapter 40 ~ A Careful Agreement

Severus watched as Miles and Hermione met at the Three Broomsticks and talked about Spell Making. The intelligent conversation served to stimulate the witch greatly, though the wizard’s good looks and warm smile affected her as well. Hm. The Potions Master could do nothing about his looks, but he was quite capable of intelligent conversation.

He forwarded and saw them dining and dancing. The wizard held her gently and firmly and the contact of his hands and body caused a physical reaction in the witch. Then they were walking in a park, and stopped by a fountain. The wizard had kissed Hermione…soft, teasing kisses at first, but he soon became more ardent, drawing her need out of her slowly, working the witch until desire flowed through her. He was much gentler than the Potions Master, but effective. It seemed Hermione responded to the wizard’s easy passion. Kisses and caresses were what moved her most.

Severus witnessed their frenzied undressing, still a lot of kissing and caressing, Hermione’s desire washing over him as he viewed her memories. Gods the witch looked delicious on the couch entwined with the wizard, hungry, passionate and needy as she returned the wizard’s kisses and touches. Then came the letdown. That had to have been frustrating…then he witnessed Hermione masturbating afterwards. She came, but didn’t look very satisfied.

He then forwarded to the next week and their second failed attempt. Miles was much angrier this time and Hermione again left hanging, doubt in her mind. Then came the flowers and the break-up. He felt Hermione’s pain when the wizard told her he had satisfactorily fucked two prostitutes at the brothel and there was nothing wrong with him and other witches. Only with her. Miles was quite kind and sincere with Hermione. It was easy to see the wizard hated parting with her.

Then he came to Georgio. Severus had witnessed Hermione with the gigolo, but this time he could see their tryst from her point of view. Again, it was the gentle, passionate contact that brought the witch to her pinnacle of need. The wizard withdrew from her mind.

“You have very…romantic leanings, Hermione,” he said, looking at her. “Although your almost-lover’s technique is in my opinion, a rather infantile approach to sex…it seemed adequate enough to start your juices flowing,” the wizard said.

Hermione scowled.

“Miles was wonderful. He didn’t ravage and overpower me but was gentle, coaxing…easy,” she said, her eyes misting over for a moment. “I wanted to feel his tenderness intimately. I know he would have been good. The sex would have been good.”

Hermione looked down at her hands.

Severus felt his belly tighten, and he scowled down into his firewhiskey

“So, am I right in thinking that you believe your tryst with Miles, if it had been completed, would have been better than what you experienced with me?” the Potions Master asked, forcing his voice to remain steady.

“You were strong, thorough and passionate, Severus…but I felt more like a vessel for you. As if it didn’t matter if I received pleasure or not….though I did. I think I am a masochist to have liked how rough you were with me…I researched it…” she said to the wizard.

Severus rolled his eyes.

“Of course,” he replied sarcastically.

“But Miles made me feel more wanted, more complete than you did, even though we never got to make love. I really wanted him too,” the witch sighed.

“You wanted me,” Severus said, sounding a bit like a petulant child. Hermione was picking apart his sexual technique. It bothered him. Every witch he had fucked before her was satisfied with his performance.

“Yes, but it was more of an animal response, Severus. When I reacted to you…it was like I had no choice, my own body betrayed me. You knew how to manipulate me, how to make my libido soar off the charts. You were like a muggle steamroller. On top of it, you made it clear it was only physical for you, that you didn’t want anything more to do with me. I was so randy for you I accepted that. But I want more. Miles would have given me more than you could,” the witch said.

“That wizard could never compare to me sexually,” the Potions Master declared, his eyes glittering. “I saw what he was working with.”

“I’m not just talking about sexually, Severus. I’m not a wizard. I’m a witch. I’m sure there are times when just sex will do,” she said while thinking “Like now for example,” then continued. “But for the most part a witch needs connection, to feel that the wizard has some feeling for her as well when he takes her. Miles was better than you because he had feelings for me. He thought me intelligent and beautiful and worth returning to. If he could have made love to me, we would be together right now…and I would be happy.”

“Make love,” Severus snorted, “A kinder, sweeter way to say ‘fuck.’

He leveled his dark eyes on her.

“So you think he would have been better than me?” he asked the witch.

“Yes, and that’s why I can’t understand why he couldn’t ‘fuck’ me. His motivations were deeper than yours and I was more ready for him than for you emotionally,” Hermione replied. “Severus, was there any point you hesitated with me…even for a moment?”

“Yes, when I was breaking through your hymen, witch,” the wizard growled. “It held me back momentarily. That was the extent of my ‘hesitation.’”

Hermione shook her head, feeling defeated.

“I just don’t understand,” she said. “With Georgio, although he had no true feelings for me, he still had desire…that’s his job after all. He sleeps with all kinds of witches. Even he couldn’t take me.”

Hermione wrapped her arms around her knees and rocked slightly.

“I don’t know what to do,” she said softly, her eyes glistening, “I changed myself outwardly to be more attractive, and it doesn’t seem to matter. I draw wizards to me, but can’t be intimate with them. It’s not fair.”

She dropped her head to her knees for a moment.

“I wish I never had sex with you, Severus” she whispered, “Now I am suffering for it. I had urges before while I was a virgin, but I didn’t know what it was I really needed, and now I do. I have no recourse. No one to meet my needs. No one of my own. It’s almost unbearable.”

Severus looked at the witch and felt a twinge in his chest.

“I know what it’s like to have no one of my own, Hermione. You don’t have the market cornered in that regard,” the wizard said.

“Yes, but with you…it is a choice. You don’t want a witch in your life permanently. It’s not that way for me. I want someone special in my life. Someone just for me…” Hermione said sadly. “Someone who wants me for me.”

Severus looked at the witch and hesitated. He was about to say something he had never told anyone…not even himself.

“Hermione, yes I am alone by choice…but it is a rather cowardly choice. The truth of the matter is I believe that no decent woman would put up with me, with my past and my nature,” the wizard said honestly.

“But…you turn witches away, Severus. I’ve seen you,” the witch replied.

”I said ‘decent’ witches, Hermione. Not status whores or cockmongers,” he said bitterly. “I don’t think I’ve ever been with a decent witch until…”

Hermione looked at Severus as he faltered. Her heart began to pound.

“Until?” she urged.

“Until…you,” he said softly, staring into the fireplace. “And then out of habit I pushed you away as well, when you are…bearable.”

Hermione blinked at him. Was Severus Snape saying he liked her? Oh, if ever a statement needed clarification, this was it.

“Bearable?” she asked.

Severus scowled at her.

“Yes. Bearable. Don’t try to get me to say anything other than that! You still have many insufferable qualities…such as your independence,” he snapped at her. “You don’t listen, you are argumentive, stubborn, mouthy…the list goes on and on. A completely infuriating woman outside of the bed.”

“Severus, I didn’t even know you noticed those things about me,” Hermione said, “You don’t seem to pay attention to anyone here at Hogwarts.”

”I pay attention to everything,” he replied, frowning at her.

Hermione considered what Severus said about pushing her away ‘out of habit.’ She cocked her head at him.

“When you said you pushed me away ‘out of habit’ when I was bearable, are you saying you made a mistake?” the witch inquired.

Severus reddened.

“No! Of course I didn’t make a mistake,” he seethed, then said in a quieter voice, “Though I might have been a bit…hasty.”

Hermione’s eyebrows rose with realization.

“Severus Snape! You want me!” she accused him. “You want me to be your witch, don’t you?”

Severus jumped up out of the armchair and started pacing agitatedly in front of the fireplace.

“You’re mad,” he said, sipping his firewhiskey and scowling down at the floor.

Hermione watched him, her amber eyes full of mirth.

“Saying I’m mad isn’t saying no, Severus,” she replied.

This was the first time the witch had ever seen Severus out of sorts and not in control of a situation. It felt good to pin him against the ropes, the snarky bastard. If he did want her, it had to be something hard for him to admit, even to himself. Oh, this was too good. Severus Snape was a human being after all.

Severus stopped and looked at Hermione for a moment, then started pacing again, his robes billowing. This was not going at all the way he envisioned. How did it get to this point? He was supposed to have used her randiness to have at her again. Not get into a discussion about starting a relationship. He shuddered at the very word.

But he realized Hermione had pegged him. He did want her, gods curse the witch. He wanted her exclusively. All he had done, all the deceptions and plots were simply because he didn’t want anyone else fucking her but him. It was time he admitted it to himself. The Potions Master didn’t know if his desire for Hermione was because he had taken her virginity or for some other reason. All Severus knew was the thought of another wizard putting his cock in her made him furious.

A downside to his attraction to Hermione was that despite his skill at manipulation, this was a situation where the witch had him at a disadvantage. She could reject him as he initially rejected her. Although Severus did rejection well since he had to deal with it all his life…in this instance being rejected…

How could he put this without perceiving himself as weak?

There was no way. If the witch rejected him, he would be hurt. He would feel it.

“I didn’t say I wanted you witch,” Severus said, trying to regain control of the situation, “But in lieu of your situation…I might be willing to accommodate you from time to time, since I am also without a source of steady release. It would be very convenient to have an available witch to fuck when I’m inclined.”

Hermione looked at him incredulously.

“How magnanimous of you,” Hermione said sarcastically.

Severus scowled at her.

“You called me in your rooms because you had a problem you believed I could help you with. In return I have come up with a viable solution to your problem since apparently I am the only wizard capable of meeting your needs,” Severus said.

“And I suppose you are doing this out of the kindness of your heart,” Hermione replied, the thread of sarcasm turning into a veritable river.

“No. I have very selfish reasons for doing this. I would like to continue to fuck you,” the Potions Master admitted.

Hermione felt a powerful pulse at the wizard’s words, but she felt something else as well.

“Severus, you aren’t the kind of wizard I’m looking for. Sex with you was awesome…earth-shaking, but now that I experienced Miles, I realize I want more in a wizard than just the ability to make me orgasm. I want a feeling of connection. Some tenderness. Gentleness. Also I want to know that I am appreciated outside of the bedroom,” she said.

Severus looked at her.

“So I imagine you want to be…coddled,” he said looking down his nose at her. “Petted and caressed. Receive chaste little kisses, things of that nature.”

“Something along those lines…but I don’t want it to be an effort. It would be an effort for you to be kind, Severus. It’s just not your nature. I need a lover, Severus. And let’s face it…love is part of lover,” the witch said.

Severus stared at Hermione quietly for a few moments.

“So you think me incapable of kindness, Hermione? If you gave me pleasure…me alone and no other wizard…I would treat you kindly. How could I not?” he said with some effort. “Contrary to popular belief, witch…I am not a monster. I do have feelings. I just don’t wear them on the sleeve of my robes like most.”

Severus was very uncomfortable opening up to the witch like this. He had never opened up to anyone before. It made him too vulnerable. But he wanted the witch to accept him.

“I’m no Miles. You won’t be receiving roses from me. But I could show you tenderness if that is what you need, at least part of the time. I have a very demanding sexual nature…I can’t change that. But I can also offer you intelligent conversation and companionship when you need it. I believe if you agree to this arrangement you’ll find I can be what you need Hermione, if not exactly what you want at this moment in time.”

There. He had said all he could say as far as he was concerned.

Hermione looked at the pale wizard thoughtfully. Severus was offering her a relationship. She thought perhaps he felt more than he was admitting towards her. But this was the Potions Master. He probably had never opened up his heart to anyone before. And although she knew he was a very cold, disciplined man in most areas of his life, she didn’t believe he would be that way with her if she accepted him as a lover. Maybe at first, because it was new…but even Severus had a heart. Maybe it could be accessed if he were exposed to tenderness and love directed specifically at him. It would be a challenge and most likely a lengthy process. Hermione enjoyed being challenged as well as being successful. Severus would be one of her projects if she agreed to see him exclusively.

Oh but he was an irritating bastard. It didn’t take him long to piss her off, although she usually could control her reactions. But she kind of liked the dark wizard’s snarkiness, sarcasm and biting wit. He could always be trusted to be brutally honest in his observations if not his methods. He was a Slytherin after all and as a Slytherin…quite devious and resourceful. Hermione found she liked that too. Then again, most witches had a secret attraction to ‘bad boys.’

Hermione looked at Severus appraisingly. He straightened under her scrutinizing gaze, almost posing. Hermione smirked. He really was a piece of work. She was very attracted to the wizard on a rather animal level, and she did respect his mind and brilliance. But could he be kind and tender? That was the big question. Hermione didn’t want to lock herself into a relationship with the wizard and find he could not meet all her needs.

“I suppose we could have a trial run of about a month,” the witch said to the Potions Master. “During that time we won’t seek anyone else out. In my case, it doesn’t make sense to anyway. But at the end of the month we’ll decide whether or not we want to continue. That way there is an out for both of us.”

Severus felt a little leap inside, but hid it. So the witch was willing to try. Good deal.

"That sounds...acceptable," the wizard said silkily, his eyes beginning to smolder.

Hermione looked up at him rather tremulously.

“But, it is a possibility Severus, that my ‘problem’ with wizards might extend to you now,” she said in a low voice.

Severus looked down at the witch, his black eyes drifting over her. Suddenly his hand shot out and grabbed Hermione by the wrist, yanking the witch out of the chair and against his body. He wrapped his arms around her.

“Let’s find out, witch” he purred, lowering his head, giving her a searing kiss and backing her toward her bedroom.

“Dear gods,” Hermione breathed as the wizard’s lips slid down her throat. She went immediately boneless.

Severus smirked against her skin.

Come to Daddy, witch.

”If any gods are listening,” Hermione thought, her body aflame as the wizard backed her into the bedroom, “Please, oh please don’t let this be another letdown.”

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A/N: Severus capitulated. Finally, you thick sod. Lol. Well, looks like we are very close to the orchards here. Please review this chapter.