A New Beginning (DH -COMPLIANT)

Chapter 55 ~ First Contact

As Snape’s lips met Hermione’s a powerful thrill went through the wizard. This was the first time in his life that he actually had the opportunity to thoroughly kiss a witch he was strongly attracted to. He seemed aware of everything about the witch in his arms, her soft mouth, soft body, the scent of her hair, the tempo of her breathing. And she was responding to him, kissing him back, welcoming his attentions and returning them.

Hermione was completely overwhelmed by the hunger and gentleness of the wizard’s kiss. He didn’t attempt to deepen it, to claim her mouth fully, but still his lips were soft, sensuous, moving deliciously against her own, the hardness of his chest pressed against her own, the spicy scent of him filling her nostrils. He was intoxicating and it felt as if she were slowly being covered in honey, a honey that was quickly warming.

Snape drew back, his eyes smoldering as he looked at Hermione for a moment as if he couldn’t believe he was holding her this way, kissing her this way. As if he couldn’t believe the desire for more that he saw in those amber eyes. He fell back to her lips, suckling the lower one softly before pressing his own against them fully, his arms wrapped about her gently but securely, aware that he was becoming very aroused. He shifted his hips back a bit, not wanting Hermione to feel his erection. He had considered the possibility of having sex with the witch, but it was only something that popped into his mind on occasion. It wasn’t something he constantly thought about, or craved at this point. Hell, they were only at the talking stage.

Well, that had definitely changed.

Still Severus Snape was a man, and wired like a man. Unable to help himself, wanting to taste her skin, his lips slid from her mouth, over her cheek and to her neck, Hermione’s head falling helplessly to the side, the wizard’s lank hair partially covering her face. Gods, she was getting so hot, and hotter as the wizard began to suckle on her neck. Oh Merlin.

Snape’s breathing was becoming heavier now, he wanted to touch the witch and began caressing her back as he moved back to her lips, taking the long route over her jaw line as Hermione gasped and suddenly trembled. He fell back to her mouth then, and slowly began to lean forward, taking the witch down to the sofa. He couldn’t help himself as his tongue tapped at her lips.

Hermione felt herself going down and fought to regain reason.

”Professor, please . . . please . . . we have to stop!” she gasped against his lips as he continued to lean her back.

”Severus,” he replied, his voice raw, “Call me Severus, Hermione.”

He stopped kissing her, his dark eyes full of desire, full of hunger. Hermione stared up at him. His pale face was contorted against what he wanted and what was proper. What was proper was to do as the witch asked . . . but damn, he didn’t want to. This was so heady, so different for him. Emotions certainly took what was normally just lust to a new level. He was focused on one particular woman now, his body primed, his cock aching.

“Please, Severus. Let me up. There’s still a lot to talk about,” she said, her own voice husky.

”Did I disprove the ‘passion’ section of the test?” he asked her silkily, still holding her in his arms positioned over the cushions. Another few inches and she would be flat on her back.

”Yessssss,” she sighed, “Now please, let me up.”

Hermione’s insides were churning she was so turned on by the wizard. It was as frightening as it was exciting. She couldn’t ever remember feeling so physically attracted to a man. There must have been times like this with Ron, but Severus was here, now, flesh and real. In this case, his reality was overriding Ron’s memory.

Snape straightened, pulling the witch up and releasing her, his eyes covetous as he looked at her.

”I believe our courtship has begun, witch,” he breathed, trying to get his urges under control. He was a bit taken aback, though he didn’t show it. He had never felt like this before, this kind of hunger. Lily had never taken him to this point, and the prostitutes were merely vessels. It was like he took some type of intoxicating potion that keyed him directly to Hermione.

Hermione took a deep breath and ran her hand through her hair, then looked at the wizard, still breathing heavily.

“I think so too, Pro. . . Severus,” she said, feeling a bit of shyness at using the wizard’s given name, “But I can’t do this without letting my family know my intentions. I don’t want to keep it a secret.”

Severus stared at her for a moment, then slowly nodded.

”Yes. I have to remind myself sometimes that you are a Gryffindor,” he said, straightening his robes. Perhaps if he reasserted his snarkiness, he could shake off what he was feeling.

This did not sound like a compliment by any means and Hermione frowned at him.

”What’s that supposed to mean?” she asked him, the tide of euphoria slowly rolling back as a bit of indignation rose to the fore.

”It simply means you feel the necessity to blurt everything out to those around you, labeling the annoying habit as “being honest,” he replied, feeling a bit more like himself now that Hermione was scowling at him.

“It IS being honest. I don’t want my children or the Weasleys hearing it from someone else,” Hermione snapped at him.

Severus arched an eyebrow at her.

”And exactly who would be informing them of our relationship?” he asked her smoothly.

Hermione turned red. Of course, there was no one to tell them, but still.

”I’d know, and I’d feel terribly guilty about hiding this from them,” she retorted.

Snape shook his head.

”That’s precisely what I mean about you being a Gryffindor. You claim not revealing the truth is ‘hiding’ it. That simply is not the case. A Slytherin never reveals the truth about anything unless it is of some benefit,” the wizard said to her.

Hermione snorted.

”Yes, but you aren’t interested in another Slytherin, are you Severus? Why is that I wonder?” she said a bit smugly.

This was true. Even Lily had been a Gryffindor. And to be honest, Slytherin witches were not that trustworthy relationship-wise, though they knew how to keep a wizard happy or at least pinned down.

“I seem to be attracted to Gryffindors. A definite flaw in my ‘personality’ that your little test didn’t catch,” he responded, then stood up.

Hermione looked as if she were going to hex him for a moment, then burst into laughter as the wizard looked at her soberly.

”I don’t find my weakness for witches of your house amusing, Hermione,” he said to her, looking down his nose.

Hermione just laughed harder.

Suddenly, Severus reached out, grabbed Hermione by her wrist, pulled her up from the couch and soundly kissed her again, effectively shutting her up. Then he let her go with a smirk as she looked at him dazedly.

The wizard actually chuckled as he picked up his cloak.

”It would seem, Hermione, that you have a definite weakness for Slytherins as well,” he purred at her as he tied his cloak.

It would be best for him to leave now and give them both a little space. This had been quite the development. Hermione just looked at him. She really didn’t want the wizard to go, but knew it would be best he did. This situation had the potential to become too much too fast. She really did need to prepare everyone.

”A slight weakness,” she replied, trying to sound light and unaffected.

She didn’t fool Severus a bit. He was almost tempted to stay and find out just how slight that weakness was. But still, it was too soon. He didn’t want Hermione to feel badly if things became too heated between them. That was another problem with Gryffindors. It was as if they lived on guilt at times.

His willingness to forego his own desires showed the wizard that indeed this was something different for him. He was a man of little conscience for the most part, but obviously not where Hermione was concerned. When the time for intimacy came, he wanted to be certain the witch was prepared for it and wanted it.

Wanted him.

”I will give you a bit of space so you can address your family issues,” the wizard said as he tied on his cloak, “Summon Eli when you are ready to see me again.”

Hermione stared at the wizard. He was putting the quaffle in her pitch. The next move would have to be hers. It was clear Severus wasn’t going to play the “pursuit” game. He wanted proof she was just as interested, though her response to his kisses more than proved that.

”All right,” she said softly, walking past him and opening the door to the apartment.

The wizard strode up to the door, paused, then leaned and gave her a very small, quick but delicious peck on the lips, drawing back and studying her face for a moment.

”Good-bye for now, Hermione Weasley,” he purred at her.

”Good-bye, Severus Snape,” she replied softly, her eyes shining.

Severus left, quickly walking up the hall, the door opening and voice announcing his departure. Hermione watched him until the door closed then entered her apartment, closing the door behind her.

She dropped to the couch and picked up one of the cushions, hugging it to herself as the warmth she felt when the wizard kissed her returned.

“Dear gods,” she moaned, thinking about her family as her attraction for the dark wizard coursed through her body, “How am I going to handle this?”

She’d just have to manage.

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A/N: Another short chappie. But mmmm. Thanks for reading.