A Gift

Sarah watches her as she walks through the kitchen door, grinning ear to ear. \"That was very brave of you. I don\'t think I have ever seen him so unnerved!\"
She laughs, shaking her head. \"I doubt I unnerved him. He\'s a stone wall. Nothing bothers him except to anger him. Ihave seen it many times.\"
Hermione feels a slight chill as Sarah glides closer. \"Then you didn\'t catch the look of fright on his face before you stepped in here, did you?\" The ghost winks. \"Open the door just a hair and see for yourself.\"
Unable to comprehend the thought of Snape being the littlest bit unnerved by her, she creeps closer to the door and opens it enough for her to peek out. She notices right away the worried look on his face and the fact that he is staring at the paper without truly seeing it. She shoves a hand in her mouth, holding back the giggles threatening to escape. She quickly closes the door again, striding over to the table to sit down.
\" Goddess!\" She stiffles her snort of laughter. \"I can\'t believe I have finally found something to unnerve the prat!\"
Sarah grins and glides back towards the windows. \"Believe it. And if you wish to keep the advantage, act as if you never said anything to him about being a virgin. Then tomorrow after he leaves for a walk, go to the south barn.\"
Hermione frowns. \"South barn? Why?\"
\"You\'ll see.\" Sarah laughs softly, Illiya finally appearing next to the ghost with food for Hermione. \"He has something there that he enjoys and would like to keep to himself.\"

His nerves slowly settle, the quiet from the kitchen giving him the impression that something is afoot. He tosthe the Prophet to the side, closing his eyes in frustration. First he is told to watch her and now she is wearing on his nerves! \'Why me?\' keeps flowing through his mind when the sound of the kitchen door opening startles him. His mask of indifference slides in place and he tries his best to look anywhere but at her as she passes by.
\"Good evening, Professor.\" She mounts the stairs towards the bedrooms.
He glares up at her, expecting her to say more. When she does not, his frown deepens. \"Good night, Miss Granger.\"
He waits til he hears her door close behind her before getting up and pacing the room. His hair falls down over his eyes and his scowl deepens. \"What are the two fo you planning?\" He growls low when he feels Sarah\'s presence.
\"Such things you acuse me of, Severus!\" She scowls back at him. \"And here I was only coming to ask you if Illiya could make you something before bed!\"
\"You know very well what I mean, Grandmother!\" He spins to face her, eyes blazing.
She lifts a brow. \"Do you mean the comment I overheard earlier?\" She gives him a mildly surprised look. \"I had nothing to do with that comment. I see no reason to be so upset over just a jest...\" She lifts borowsrows at him. \"unless there is a bit of truth to it.\"
The image of Hermione in the bath naked floods his mind and his cheeks turn slightly pink. \"I do not know what you are talking about, Grandmother!\" He turns towards the stairs, his long strides taking him to them in seconds. \"Goodnight!\"
He takes the stairs two at a time, never looking back to see the grin forming on Sarah\'s lips. He nearly hits the door to his room at a brisk jog, suddenly in great need of a very cold shower. Hoping to not have a repeat of the night before, he listens at the door to the bathroom before opening it. Once inside, he quickly locks the door to Hermione\'s room and starts the shower. He sighs heavily, tossing his clothes to the floor in his haste to calm his body\'s reaction to his mind\'s image. He nearly yelps when the cold water hits his skin, biting his lip til he adjusts to the feel of it beating on his skin.
\"Bloody women!\" He growls softly to himself, closing his eyes and letting his head rest against the wall as the cold water calms his hot flesh.