Habeas Corpus

Chapter 4 - In the Headlines
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THE SECRET BIDDER\'S IDENTITY REVEALED

Matheson and Darrensfield added a new name to their firm, that of the secret bidder, Mr George Herrensford QC, only to be known as of today as HMD standing for Herrensford, Matheson and Darrensfield. George Herrensford QC attended Oxford University where he obtained his M.A. He articled with a small attornies\' office in London. He became known after his spectacular and successful defence of Reemtsma in the tobacco suit. Mr Herrensford comes from a rich and respected family which for generations...
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Hermione put down the newspaper when the telephone rang;

\"Hello?\"

\"Good morning, Samantha.\" Said a deep voice, \"I hope you don\'t mind my calling you by your first name.\"

\"No, George, I don\'t. I find it rather curious though, how come you have my telephone number?\" replied Hermione.

\"Some things are not that difficult when you are on the first page of The Times.\"

\"You think too well of yourself, George.\"

\"I guess it comes with the three-thousand-pounds suit, I\'m wearing today.\"

\"To what do I own the pleasure of your phone call?\" replied Hermione, ignoring his comment.

\"Will you believe me that I wanted to hear your voice?\"

\"No.\"

\"I thought so. In fact, I wanted to confirm the invitation to the party on Saturday. I hoped you would consider hosting it with me.\"

\"Hosting your party?\" enquired Hermione in disbelief.

\"Yes, I thought we could talk about it tonight over dinner.\"

\"Dinner it is then.\" Confirmed Hermione. It was her chance to learn more about the whole mission.

\"So, you will host that party with me?\"

\"I haven\'t said yes yet but I\'ll consider it.\"

\"I\'ll send my chauffeur to pick you up at seven thirty. See you.\"

\"See you,... George.\"

Snape chuckled hanging up the receiver. This role Dumbledore had given him was easy to play. The house, the cloths, the cars, the money and his new look combined allowed for a mixture of the Death-Eater Severus and the nasty Potions Master Severus where the bad elements were zeroed and the bests parts of his two life enhanced. This mixture was as good as a carefully brewed dark arts potion. He felt at ease with himself and flirting with Hermione over the phone was a piece of cake. He felt smug and grown-up like he had never felt before, and he thought about Hermione as about a woman, he wouldn\'t mind being closer acquainted with, let\'s face it - intimately acquainted with. He no longer treated her as a part of the mission with a known ending, he beheld her as a flesh and blood woman with needs that he was sure, he could satisfy. His Death Eater life would prove vastly useful in this respect, especially those little charms, he and Lucius discovered in their early Voldemort times when torture wasn\'t the main course he ehe evening.

He glanced at The Times. It was neat what they wrote about him. He indeed attended Oxford University of Witchcraft and Wizardry and apprenticed in London, and he did come from a rich and respected family. He smiled inwardly. That Weasley girl was good.
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Meanwhile Hermione was wondering if Snape was playing along Dumbledore\'s lines or if it was all his creation. Her instruction booklet did not include any tasks involving Severus for the next week. Instead, she was supposed to sightsee London and watch out for wizards dressed as Muggles. The last two days proved that the task was rather pointless. It was either that those wizards were extremely cunning or that there were no wizards dressed as Muggles in Muggle London. This morning\'s telephone from Snape took Hermione by surprise. She hadn\'t expected it and Snape\'s behaviour was strange. She was sure he was flirting with her. But why? Finally, she has figured out that he had someone in the room and had to pretend. After all they were both on a mission, they both knew the scenario. There was no need for being romantic or flirty. Not that she minded it really but it would be bet better if she knew if he meant it or just played along the scenario.
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The next morning

Hermione woke up with a start. For a split of a second, she didn\'t know where she was but then the events of last night came back to her. At exactly seven thirty, a black limousine parked in front of her house. Inside, it had leather seats and an uncorked bottle of Moet & Chandon champagne waiting for her. The chauffeur informed her that the ride would take about 40 minutes and that Mr Herrensford will be waiting for her there. Where, he didn\'t want to say. Hermione poured herself a glass of champagne and sipping it slowly she watched as they drove towards M25. Exactly 40 minutes later, the chauffeur opened the door for her. They stood before Cliftons. Hermione wondered if Snape knew what Cliftons was famous for. She thanked the chauffeur and went inside. She spotted Snape the moment she entered. He stood up as she approached and with a lavishing smile greeted her, brushing her hand with his lips.

\"I\'m glad you could join me tonight, Samantha.\"

\"George, you are as surprising as you have always bto mto me.\"

\"And what is the meaning of this?\" at the moment the waiter arrived with a bottle of champagne and Hermione watched Snape approve of it.

When the waiter poured each of them a glass, Hermione said:

\"This life really suits you. You seem more relaxed.\"

\"I am. These Muggles,\" he mouthed the last world, \"really have a way about things.\'

\"You forgot that that you are now a rich Muggle. I doubt, you\'d like it all the same, if you\'d be an underpaid labourer.\"

\"Bun\'tn\'t it the same everywhere. It\'s better to be a Malfoy than a Weasley.\" He said in a low voice.

\"That depends on the preferences. I\'d rather be a Weasley than a nasty Death Eater.\"

\"Would you want to be a Snape?\"

\"That depends. I need to get better acquainted with a Snape to decide.\" Their conversation was interrupted by the waiter whoe toe to take their orders.

\"How are you settling into your new life?\" asked Snape when the waiter left them.

\"Quite well, in fact. However, I do have a suspicion that Dumbledore did not tell us everything.\"

\"I gave some thought to that and I still don\'t understand his motives. It looks to me like he did not tell us the whole truth...\" Without finishing the sentence, Snape touched her hand and ran his fingers through it squeezing and taking it up to kiss. Hermione looked surprised. \"Smile.\" He hissed, \"Ginny tipped in a reporter that I will be here with a woman. He is from The Sun and wants a racy story.\" His lips lingered on her hand and Hermione smiled seductively.

\"I have this fantasy of you in white lingerie, lying on a piano, begging me to touch you.\" He said and she blushed fuslyusly. He brushed her hand with the inside of his lower lip. \"That guy from The Sun will get what he wants and we\'ll get what Dumbledore wants. Say good bye to your private life, dear. As of tomorrow, you are a public property and on the cover of The Sun.\" He continued.

\"I won\'t be alone on that cover. I\'ll be taking you with me, Professor.\" She mouthed the last word.

\"You are playing dangerously close to the fire and that ice is very thin. Trust me.\"

\"No risk, no fun.\"

\"And you like both?\"

\"Just like you.\"

\"I don\'t like either.\"

There was a moment of silence between them before the waiter arrived with their dinner. They ate, enjoying some small talk. The reporter disappeared from their sight. They left the dining room to enjoy their drinks in the sitting room. Snape watched her sip sambucca. She looked lovely and extremely seductive in the low-cut chocolate dress, she was wearing. All it needed was a bit of jewellery but he could take care of that soon. It was close to half past eleven when Snape whispered to Hermione\'s ear:

\"We have not discussed yet that subject we were supposed to discuss.\"

\"Which is?\'

\"The party. Will you host it with me?\"

\"Do I have a choice?\"

\"No really, but I thought you\'d like me to ask.\" Laughed he.

\"You are really terrible. I will host it with you.\"

\"I\'ll have a car pick you up at three. We may have a late lunch and then you\'ll get ready for the party. I expect you to look ravishing.\"

\"Your wish is my command.\" Replied Hermione.

\"I think we should go. That poor bastard from The Sun is freezing outside to get a picture of us.\"

\"You must be joking!\"

\"Nope.\" He helped her get up and they walked towards the door. Snape\'s arm encircled Hermione\'s shoulders. She slid her arm around his waist and they walked out in companionable silence. As soon as the door of the restaurant swung open, they were hit by a flash from a camera. The reporter managed to take at least six shots before they got into the car.

\"Are you okay?\" enquired Snape.

\"I\'m fine.\"

\"I\'m really sorry, you need to go through this.\"

\"I should be saying that, really. I was Muggle-born and I know all about paparazzi and stuff.\"

He stroked her hand and smiled at her: \"You are a brave little girl.\"

Not as brave and not as little as you think - she thought but remained silent.

The car pulled in front of her house and Snape got out to walk her to the door.

\"You are an incredible gentleman, Severus Snape.\" She said stopping on the last step leading to the door in her tenement house and holding it open.

\"Shhhhh.\" He said and pulled her to himself. Without urging she turned her face up for his kiss. Snape brushed his lips against her temple. He felt her hands glide up his chest and go around his neck. As her lips parted beneath him and her tongue crept timidly into his mouth, he lost his control and kissed her deeply, his mouth moving with half-fierce, half-gentle urgency and she moaned, kissing him back with desire and passion. He tormented her with his tongue, retreating then trusting it deep until she was clinging to him, her fingers touching his cheeks.

Their moment was spoilt by a sequence of flashes. Hermione pulled away and disappeared behind the door, and Snape ran to the car. The paparazzi got what they wanted.
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The kiss was incredible - that much Hermione knew for sure and she relived through it every time she looked at the picture in the paper, drinking her coffee for breakfast at her usual cafeteria.