The Bond

* Sampdoria- I wasnt going to do another update today, but my hubby is busy packing his things for Iraq and I didnt want to watch(sniff). So I decided I would drift into my fantasy world. So here you go, just for you :)

CHAPTER FIVE


One week after the Weasley fiasco………..


It was late, the castle lights were all out, and all the students tucked safely in there beds. Severus finished his rounds and headed back towards the dungeons. It had been a god awful week. No less than ten of his students had blown up their cauldrons; one had managed to brew a tickle potion that had left another student writhing in laughter on the floor of his classroom. A wayward spell had turned Hagrid’s beard into a nest of writhing snakes, resulting in several bites and the need for an anti-venom potion. And to top it all of, Lucius Malfoy, reformed death eater, was now the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Who better, since he was in fact a master of the dark arts?

Severus wasn’t jealous, though he had once coveted the position; he was just annoyed at the continuous torment he received because of the situation he found himself in with Hermione. Lucius loved to joke, and make snide little comments about meeting the needs of the blood bonded witch. As though he weren’t frustrated enough, living in close quarters with a woman who required his touch, his kiss, in order to remain stable, but who wasn’t ready to take the next step and make love. Nope, that wasn’t torture enough, not for Severus Snape. No, he had to have a best friend who liked to remind him regularly of the hell he now lived in. When would life cut him a break?

He entered their apartments, surprised to find the lights off, and Hermione no where to be seen. He stepped into their bedroom and noticed the faint flicker of light coming from the bathroom. He could hear the soft strains of muggle music drifting on the air. He tossed his robes and jacket onto the bench at the foot of the bed and kicked off his shoes. He would hear about it tomorrow when she tidied up before heading to class, and since she was assigned to him anyhow for tomorrow, he was certain he would hear quite often about his messy habits. He unbuttoned his shirt, sliding it off and hanging it on the closet doorknob as he approached the bathroom door.

“Hermione?” He called softly through the slightly opened door.
“Welcome home, Severus.” She called. “Come on in, I’m covered.” Well that was certainly new. He hadn’t seen her at her bath before. He was oddly curious. He pushed the door open slightly and stepped inside. The room was softly lit with several small, scented candles. The humid warmth of the room was heavy with the smell of vanilla and cinnamon, a scent he recognized as the one that clung to her hair and skin.
“Hi.” She smiled from beneath a mountain of bubbles.
“Hello.” He pulled the stool from her vanity to the side of the tub and sat down beside her. She had her wild mane of curls twisted into a bun, several wayward strands escaping to dust her forehead and curl around her neck. She had one leg propped on the side of the tub and was stroking a pink handled razor over one shapely leg. “What are you doing?” He asked, watching the razor as it glided along her shin, over her knee and up her thigh to disappear into the mound of frothy bubbles.
“I’m shaving my legs, what does it look like?” She asked.
“Why don’t you just use a denuding spell like other witches?” He asked, his eyes following the path of the pink handle as it trailed up her leg once more.
“I don’t know, I guess there are some things I just prefer to do the muggle way.” She said, continuing to glide the razor over her skin. “All’s well with the patrols?” She asked.
“Fine, amazingly all students were in their dorms.” He was completely hypnotized by the sight of her stroking that pink razor over her skin. “Let me try.” The words were out of his mouth before he could catch them. She stopped, his eyes looked odd, sort of foggy, his lids lowered and focused on the razor in her hand.
“You want to shave my legs?” She asked, not sure weather she had actually heard him or not.
“Yes.” He held out his hand, his eyes still glued to the pink plastic handle in her hand. She hesitated, not really certain if she should or not. She decided to trust him and placed the razor into his waiting hand.
“Be gentle please.” She said softly, watching as he slid to his knees beside the tub. She lifted her leg, letting her foot rest on the edge of the tub. He dipped his hands into the steamy bathwater and let the water trickle over her leg before taking the razor and mimicking her earlier actions. He started at the ankle, letting the blades rest gently against her skin, and sliding it, slowly and smoothly up her leg, over her knee and along her thigh. He kept his eyes glued to his hand, watching every stroke, every pass he made over her skin. When he had finished, he ran his palm over her skin, enjoying the feel of her silky smooth flesh.
“The other one.” He said, soft and low. She lifted her other leg, and he was required to lean across her to reach it as he traced the razor over her. He was shirtless, she hadn’t seen him without clothing since that first morning when she had sneaked a peak while he slept. She hadn’t seen his back that day either. But now, as he leaned across the tub and gently shaved her other leg, she was able to admire the soft, pale skin stretched over broad, muscular shoulders. She was surprised to see the black tattoo on his shoulder, a pentagram with a serpent crawling through the center. She touched it gently with her fingertips, tracing the symbol.
Severus paused when he felt her fingers on his back. He closed his eyes and tried to breath, deep and even to calm his emotions. He was on the edge, his arousal was bordering on painful, and he knew it wouldn’t take much to send him over. He was determined to wait, to give her the time she needed before he took her.
“I never noticed this.” She said, letting her fingernail trace the edges of the star.
“Got it when I was young, in London, I couldn’t have been more than seventeen.” He told her as he stroked up her thigh.
“Did it hurt?” She asked.
“Not as much as when I was branded with the dark mark, but yes, it did hurt somewhat.” He finished with her other leg and set the razor on the little metal tray stretched across the end of the tub. “All done.” He said quietly as he let his palm slide over her leg as though he were a sculptor admiring his art.
“Severus?” She reached out to push his hair aside so she could see his face. “Are you alright?” She asked, worried when she saw the strained look on his face.
“I’ll be fine, finish your bath.” He stood abruptly and exited the room, leaving her staring after him in shock. She rose from her bath and reached for the large emerald bath towel hanging from the bar. She wrapped it around her and walked out of the bathroom.
He wasn’t in bed, so she went to the living room. She found him there, sprawled in his chair in front of the fire. He had a glass of firewhiskey in his hand as he stared into the flames.
“Severus?” She called from behind him.
“Go to bed Hermione.” He told her. She walked up to stand beside him, laying her hand on his shoulder.
“Are you okay?” She asked. He looked up, and immediately wished he hadn’t. She was covered from breast to thigh in an emerald green bath towel, the water still glistening on her skin, her cheeks still flushed from the heated water.
“Have mercy on me Hermione….go to bed.” He told her, looking away before he lost all reason.
“What’s wrong? Let me help you.” She said softly, the worry evident in her voice.
“You cant…help….me. Please, just go to bed.” He downed the last of his drink and set the empty glass on the table beside his chair.
“I could try.” She said. He growled as he came to his feet, wrenching his shoulder from beneath her hand.
“No, you can’t help me, now for both our sakes; take your ass to bed!” He roared, chest heaving, teeth gnashing.
“Severus, your scaring me, why are you so angry?”
“I’m not angry Hermione….”
“Then what?” She asked. He walked towards her, grasping her hand he pressed it against the front of his trousers.
“This is what damn it, I’ve been walking around for days, so hard it hurts, but I’m trying to be a patient man, trying to do the right thing and let you be. So do us both a favor Hermione, and go to bed.” He flung her hand away and turned his back to her. She was crying, and he couldn’t look at her, if he looked at her, her tears would cut him like a blade and he would have to hold her, and right now, that was the worst thing her could possibly do.
“I’m sorry.” She whispered. She turned and went to their room. She pulled on her pajamas, climbed into bed, and cried herself to sleep.


She was failing as a wife. That was her number one thought as she walked through their apartment and gathered up his clothes from the night before. Oh sure, she could keep house, but then again so could the house elves. She could cook a decent meal for him, but once again, so could a house elf. What she could not do, was meet her husbands sexual needs. He was frustrated, and she was the reason. She just wasn’t ready for sex. Wasn’t ready to let their relationship cross that line. So, she had called on Molly and Ginny for advice. They had been informative, and helpful, though she wasn’t certain how she was going to approach Severus about it. She looked at the stack of Cosmo Witch laying on her desk in the study and smiled, she would read through the rest of them later, see what she could use.

The clock on the mantle struck one, and she rushed out the door. She was suppose to assist in Severus’s Advance Potions with the seventh years this afternoon. The classroom was still empty, as she had expected. Class did not begin until two, but she wanted to see him. He had slipped out early that morning, and had barely spoken to her at breakfast, kissing her in the hall afterwards, but only to settle her, there was no passion in it. He had held her hand at lunch, then walked her back to their rooms immediately after, saying he needed to grade papers.
She stepped into his office, taking note of the hundreds of potion bottles lining the shelves that surrounded the room. He was busy stacking small vials of potions, the assignments of his last class, into wooden rack on his desk.
“Blasted idiots, can’t even concentrate long enough to brew a proper healing draught.” He muttered as he looked over several discolored vials.
“Some things never change.” She said. He looked up suddenly, he hadn’t heard her enter. “But they could be worse; you could still be teaching Neville.” She said with a smile.
“Please, don’t remind me of the horrors of my past; it isn’t polite to torment a man my age.” He said, returning to his task. She walked across the room and put her hand on his, stilling his movement and bringing his attention back to her.
“Are you going to stay upset with me forever?” She asked. Severus looked down at her. She was sitting on the edge of his desk, staring up at him with pleading eyes. She looked pretty today, he thought. She was wearing robes of emerald green velvet atop a matching, ankle length dress. She had pulled that unruly hair of hers into a thick and slightly messy braid. He set the vials aside, and rested his hands on her shoulders.
“I was never upset with you Hermione.” He told her softly.
“You left before I got up, you’ve been avoiding me all day.” She told him.
“I’m sorry, this is more difficult than I imagined, but trust me, I’ll get through it.”
“I’m failing you.” She said on a tearful whisper.
“No, you’re not. I am the one failing you. I promised to go slow, and be patient, I didn’t mean to make you feel bad, or pressured.” He kissed the end of her slightly upturned nose.
“I want to please you Severus, to make you happy.” She whispered. “I just need you to show me how.” He kissed her then, he couldn’t help it, her eagerness, her willingness to voice her desire to please him jumpstarted something inside him. He shifted, stepping in front of her and forcing his way between her thighs to press against her.
“I would love to show you everything.” He whispered against her lips. “I’ll wait as long as it takes, answer whatever you want to know. Just hearing you say that you want it too is enough for now.” He pressed the kiss harder, more passionate, more demanding than he had been with her up to this point.
Thank Merlin she was responding. She kissed him back, giving back as good as she got. Her hands slid around his neck, her fingers buried in his hair as she pulled him closer. His hands slid along her thighs, lifting them over his hips as he pressed her down onto his desk.

“Ahem. Am I interrupting something?” A familiar voice drawled from the doorway. Severus jerked away from her, turning and tossing his arms out as thought to protect her, wand in hand. Lucius arched one silver brow and smiled.
“Jumpy are we?” He drawled. Hermione sat up and looked at Lucius over Severus’s shoulder.
“Goodness, Severus, is everyone on the faculty going to walk in on us?” She asked with a laugh. “Hello Lucius.” She stepped around Severus and leaned up to kiss their intruder on his cheek.
“Hello love, I hope you are well, despite being married to someone so….brooding.” He said with a chuckle as Severus glowered at him.
“Well enough, though I think I would be better if people would quit walking in on us.” She looked back over her shoulder and had the audacity to wink at Severus as she sashayed into the classroom to set up for the next class.
“What in the blackest of hells do you want Lucius?” Severus spat, stabbing his wand into the pocket in his sleeve.
“Do I need a reason to stop by and see my dearest and oldest friend?” He asked, settling himself into a leather chair in front of the desk.
“I am a little busy, Lucius.” Severus growled, snatching up his grade book for the next group of dunderheads.
“Oh, I saw just how busy you were, it’s a shame isn’t it…maybe if I hadn’t spoken I could have watched.” He said with a smirk.
“Don’t get any ideas Malfoy, things wouldn’t have gone that far, and I definitely will not be letting you watch.” Severus told him.
“It never bothered you before. I recall a few times when we even shared….”
“Yes well those women weren’t my wife.”
“You let him watch you have sex?” Hermione was standing in the doorway, her eyes wide as she looked between Severus and Lucius, her arms laden with jars of ingredients.
“Hello again love, eavesdropping are we?” Lucius said, smiling at Hermione and taking great delight in her horrified expression. He may be a reformed death eater, but his sick sense of humor was something he would always retain.
“Why would you let him watch?” She asked, her expression a mixture of both horror and curiosity.
“Because I like to watch, it can be rather amusing at times, arousing at others.” Lucius explained. Severus just stood there, speechless and staring at her. “It can also be rather fun to be watched, I’ve allowed Severus the pleasure of observing more than a few times over the years.”
“And you have shared women…with him?” Hermione asked, her brow furrowing. “Have you been lovers in the past?” She asked. That was enough to knock Severus into action.
“Hell no!” He shouted. Lucius tossed his head back, his platinum hair cascading down his back as he roared his amusement.
“Severus and I? Lovers? Oh dear lord that is an appalling thought!” He laughed harder.
“Hermione, don’t talk to him, he’s a sick and twisted person.” Severus said as he glared at Lucius over his shoulder.
“Oh come on now Severus, she’s curious.” Lucius drawled. “ Come now love, ask me anything and I will answer you honestly.” He said, his smile lighting his silver eyes.

Severus was trying to push Hermione out of his office, but she slipped by him and went to sit in the chair beside Lucius.
“Oh this is not going to be good.” He muttered as he closed the door, just in case some of the students wandered in, he didn’t want them listening in.
“Have you really shared women?” She asked.
“It has been a long time ago, but yes, in our youth we were known for our…..promiscuous activities.” Lucius said with a slight smirk.
“But you weren’t…..intimate with each other?” She asked. An appalled expression crossed Severus’s face, he couldn’t believe the thought had even crossed her mind.
“No my dear, while you may fancy him, I do not find him the slightest bit to my liking, sexually.”
“And you have watched him, and he you, having sex with other women?” She asked. Lucius was clearly enjoying this, the perversity of revealing Severus’s more deviant activities was too much to resist.
“Yes, several times in fact.”
“Would you say he’s good at it?” She asked. Lucius looked over his shoulder at Severus, a shocked look on his face.
“Are you finding him lacking my dear? I assure you, I will happily….”
“Shut it Malfoy, don’t you dare offer your services if you want to walk out of here with your genitals intact.”
“We haven’t….done that yet.” She explained.
“Oh, well then.” He gave Severus an odd look before turning back to Hermione. “To answer your question, yes, I would say he’s quite talented. Never heard any complaints from his partners.”
“And, you found it interesting to watch?” She asked.
“Yes, most interesting. It can be quite intriguing to watch another couple being intimate with each other.” Lucius’ gaze lowered. What was the little witch thinking?
“Is it informative?” She asked.
“Depending on the couple, yes.”
“Do couples ever watch other couples?” She asked.
“Yes, are you interested in watching, Hermione?” He asked. She looked at Severus, whose wide eyed gaze had gone dark, passion swimming in their inky depths as he thought about sitting with his wife and watching as Lucius took one of his many toys.
“Yes.” She answered, though her gaze stayed locked with Severus’s.
“Very well, I’ll make arrangements with Severus.” He said with a smile. He stood, looking between the two of them curiously. “Why haven’t you consummated this marriage yet?” He asked.
“She’s not ready.” Severus said.
“I’m afraid he’s going to kill me with that thing, it’s huge.” She blurted without thinking. Lucius laughed while Severus closed his eyes, letting his head fall back against the door with a thud. Lucius leaned closer to Hermione.
“Then it’s a good thing you belong to him, I’m bigger, and I wouldn’t be quite so patient as my friend.” He kissed her on the lips briefly.
“I would advise you to keep your perverted lips away from my wife.” Severus snarled from his position by the door. Lucius winked at her, she knew he was kidding, but his flirtation always riled Severus, so it was fun to encourage his naughty behavior.
“I’ll be in touch, Severus.” He said as he exited. Severus looked at his wife who stood there smiling as she watched Lucius leave.
“He smells good.” She said tilting her head to the side as she watched him exit through the classroom doors with a dramatic sweep of his royal blue robes.
“Don’t push it Hermione. You’d do well to stay away from Lucius Malfoy if you know what’s good for you.” He drawled.
“I’m looking forward to seeing the show.” She said.
“You really want to…..watch?”
“Yes. I’m curious about weather or not he told the truth.” She said with a sly smile.
“Truth about what?” He asked with a frown.
“Oh, I think I will keep that a secret between Lucius and I.” She said, smiling when she saw the jealousy in his eyes. Taunting Severus was fun, but she suspected it was getting dangerous.
“Your need to know everything will be the death of me Hermione.” He muttered as he heard his next class begin to file into the room. His wife merely smiled at him as she sauntered past him, and into the crowd of students.


A/N: Did you notice how incredibly hot Lucius was in that black leather outfit in OOTP?