Habeas Corpus

Chapter 5 - The Interlude of Past Painful and Future Good Memories

The evening was more than pleasant thought Snape as he sipped his breakfast coffee in the spacious office of HM&D. Weasley seemed to have a smug expression on her face throughout all of the morning and it became even smugger when she placed his newspapers on the desk in front of him. On top of the pile, there was a copy of The Sun with a huge picture of himself kissing Granger fiercely.

\"I trust you had a pleasant evening, sir.\" Asked Ginny serving Snape his coffee.

\"Yes, I did.\" Replied he, shooting her a deadly look.

\"Flowers for the lady?\"

\"You\'re playing it dangerously close, Ms We...ldon.\"

\"Always trying to be one step ahead.\"

\"Just don\'t run too far.\"

\"Yes, sir. About the flowers?\"

\"Yes.\"

\"Yes what, sir?\"

\"Flowers, of course. Order them.\"

\"Any particular flowers?\"

\"Same as last time.\" Ginny smiled inwardly.

\"Will there be a note, sir?\'

\"Yes, have them write: Let\'s skip the friendship part.\"

It must bes ths thing about being Muggle - he thought as Ginny left his office. He couldn\'t believe he was saying such things to Ginny Weasley or liking the idea of seducing Hermione Granger. Weasley was his student but six months ago but then if Potter is one\'s boyfriend, one must have been sneaky. Wonder where Potter is. Next time, Weasley said something out of line, he was g to to get her with Potter. Now, back to Granger - what a delightful woman - his thoughts drifted away towards the slander figure of Hermione\'s and her fascinating, intelligent eyes.
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Meanwhile Ginny was ordering the flowers. What a good idea she had to order red roses the last time. She dictated the text for the card and hung up. It was good to watch a romance budding, especially when her best friend was the object of the man\'s affection. As long as Ginny could remember Hermione wasn\'t the one of romances. There was a short-lived fling with Victor Krum and her brother\'s infatuation with Hermione but it all came to a naught. Hermione was always too hesitant about boys. Ginny on the other hand has been infatuated with only one boy - Harry Potter. The thought of Harry saddened Ginny. In the summer following his graduation, Ginny started dating him. The bliss lasted for almost a year and then came the fateful July. Since then they were no longer on speaking terms. Ginny missed him terribly but knew she couldn\'t relent. In fact, she accepted the assignment from Dumbledore to forget about Harry. She loved Harry with all of her soul and body. They ached for him but her mind was telling her better. It all started at a party. Harry had a bit too much to drink and he couldn\'t keep his hands off of her. Finally, he apparated them out of the party against her will. It was a miracle they had both survived. Drunk-apparating wasn\'t safe at all. They were in his room in the flat he rented at the university. Harry\'s hand tightened on her blouse and with one sharp jerk he split the thin garment, flinging away from her.

\"What are you...\" she cried.

His mouth crushed down on hers, bruising her lips, forcing them apart to part from sheer, cruel pressure. Ginny writhed futilely in his embrace while tears of rage raced down her cheeks. The more she struggled, the more insolent his mouth became. She remembered the fear she felt that night. His hand moved lower and he squeezed her breast causing her to yelp in pain.

\"Harry, stop, please. Please don\'t... don\'t hurt... hurt me.\" She sobbed.

His hand moved downwards, towards her thighs. He muttered an enchantment and her trousers disappeared. A split of a second later, his cloths disappeared as well.

\"Harry, what\'s wrong with you?\"

He ignored her. His fingers parted her legs and began exploring her intimately, sending tingling sensations racing along the nerve endings. Yet something was wrong in the way he was kissing her, touching her. For a man supposedly in love, his ks las lacked his usual ardour, his caresses were without tenderness. His fingers entered her and moved within her. She moaned.

\"Harry, please, I wanted... I wanted our first time... to be different. Harry.... please....\"

He grasped her hips, wedging his knee between her legs. Ginny shivered at the memory of what happened seconds later. She did not remember everything but she knew she yelled \'Stupefy\' and sent him motionless. Yet the damage was there and it hurt so much. She couldn\'t believe Harry was capable of raping her.

Ginny shook her head and returned to her duties. If Snape hurt Hermione in any way, his days on this planet would be very short indeed.
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The evening was a calm one for Hermione. The flowers from Snape stood on the table and she was rereading his card for the millionth . Sh. She felt sexy and wanted and... there was a knock on the door.

\"Good evening, Samantha, I hope I am not interrupting.\" Said a very familiar, husky voice.

\"You are not.\" Smiled she looking at Snape.

\"May I come in?\"

\"Please do,\" said she.

\"I thought we could have some wine.\" Said he pulling out from behind a bottle of red wine.

\"Very thoughtful of you. I\'ll bring the glasses.\" She left for the kitchen. When she came back, she found Snape sitting on the couch, reading his own note.

\"I hope you like the frs.\rs.\"

\"I do. They are beautiful.\"

\"How are you feeling, Hermione?\" he asked suddenly.

\"I\'m well.\"

\"I really am sorry about yesterday. I hope you are not offended.\"

\"I\'m not. We are both grown up. We have a task to complete.\"

They talked about different things. About her plans for the future, her studies, his potions. There was just one topic they both avoided: Voldemort and consequently their mission. She got up to go the kitchen. He followed her and stood at the entrance.

\"Hermione, let\'s face it. It\'s not only about the mission.\" He said without a context.

\"I know. You didn\'t need to send me flowers, unless of course, the flower shop tips in the newspaper.\"

\"No! I sent you the flowers because I... I think I... I think I like you. I like you a lot and I really meant it with that card. I don\'t think friendship is... is for us.\"

She stood motionless. He approached her very slowly. His hand curved around her nape, his fingers stroking and soothing, while the other drifted over her back in a slow caress, moving her closer to himself. His lips were moving on hers with tenderness. He touched his tongue to her lips, sliding it gently between them, sending jolts through Hemione\'s body. She reached her arms around his neck, clinging to him for support. His arm tightened protectively around her. Her whole body was weak when she pulled away and whispered: \"I thiou sou should go.\" He lingered for a moment as if wanting to say something and then bowed slightly:

\"As you wish.\" He turned away towards the door then turned back to her, pulled her to himself and whispered: \"You may fight me Granger but I can see it in your eyes that you want me as badly as I do you. But I am patient, I wait and you\'ll be begging to be kissed again and then you will give in to me. He kissed her, keeping her lips in his for a second and chanting in ay thy throatily voice.

\"What was that?\" asked she when he pulled away.

\"So there are some charms my little know-it-all doesn\'t know?\" he said mockingly. \"I assure you, you will like this one.\" With that he left.