Centerfold

I know it\'s been a few days. I just wasn\'t feeling very inspired until now. Some juiciness is in order, I believe. Read on, you readers, you! Ok, before you do. Might be a spoiler type thingy concerning stuff from HBP in future chapters. I just don\'t want anyone to freak out and think I have a pirate edition of the final installment to J. K. Rowlings\' works. Just some hypotheses and hmmm-what-if-this-is-what-will-happen type stuff. Jill, Samm and I discussed this, so I have to give them some credit. Here, have some credit, Jill and Samm.

Who owns the characters? Why, J.K. Rowling, of course. (That was for the benefit of all the lawyers reading this. Hello lawyers.)


Chapter 6


Severus had been hoping that none of the students had actually heard what Granger had said to him. And even if they had, he had hoped they would be too terrified of him to say anything about it. He was dead wrong. Giggles and whispers assaulted his ears. Conversations ceased as he passed the tables. Albus\'s goddamned twinkle was twinkling quite twinkily at him as he took his seat. Even Minerva looked as if she were holding back a laugh (although to some it looked as if some more fiber in her diet wouldn\'t be amiss, instead of her facial expression being due to suppressed mirth). Severus scowled fiercely. Then, the chair beside him was pulled out from the table, and she sat down. So, she had actually dared to show her face. He looked at her and wanted to strangle her, and then kiss her, and then strangle her some more, but then kiss her and stroke her, but then str-

\"Ok. Enough. I get it.\"

\"Did you say something, Sevvie Pooh?\"

\"It was nothing I was just talking to my- Shut up, Granger!\"

Hermione bit her lip to keep from bursting into raucous laughter. Did he realize he had just screamed at her in front of the entire school? Maybe not yet, but it would come soon. Yes, wait...no...well....Yes! There it was. Realization dawned on Severus! He groaned and stared mutinously into his pumpkin juice, wishing he had something stronger.

\"Awww. My poor little schmoo. Don\'t be embarrassed. I\'m sure this will all blow over soon.\"

Hermione reached over to pat his hand. As soon as their skin made contact, she felt as if the breath had been stolen from her body. Her eyes widened, her breathing grew rapid, and she felt a bit tingly (like when you run around in your socks on the carpet and you get all that static electricity built up until ZAP!). If she hadn\'t been so intent upon not letting Severus see her reaction to his touch, she might have noticed that his reactions were very similar. Coming to herself, Hermione took her hand off of his and concentrated on keeping a light and airy demeanor. She continued to chat (even though he was giving her the silent treatment) and eat her noon meal.

\"You know no one will take this seriously, Professor Snape. There is no way the students would actually think that you and I could ever possibly be involved romantically. I mean, look at our history. You obviously despise me, always have. I, while I believe that you are a wonderful teacher and I realize the sacrifices you have made, do not find the idea of being a participant in an affair with an ill-mannered, pompous and somewhat ill-tempered man, enticing in the least.\"

Lies! All lies! You big liar! Her conscience was screaming at her. She looked at her stew and took a bite. Mmmm...good...I like stew....yes I do....doodly doo...she was trying desperately to not think about what a bold-faced LIAR she was. So enamored with her stew was she that she nearly toppled out of her chair when she felt a hand on her thigh.

\"Ah, yes, Professor Granger. You are certainly right that the students will recall our dislike for one another. However, you must be the first to admit that appearances can be very deceiving.\"

His hand slid in a firm caress down to her knee, and then he stood.

\"Until eight, my little honey muffin snuggle bear.\"

Hermione choked on a carrot as he walked out of the Great Hall. He had practically shouted that last bit. And this time, he had left her with a mouthful of food, unable to reply to his outrageous parting words. Honey muffin snuggle bear, indeed! She glared at a chunk of beef. Grudgingly, she had to admit that for a snarky bat, he certainly knew how to string together a hugely embarrassing pet name.


Severus went to Hermione\'s rooms at eight o\'clock, as agreed. He had his lesson plans in hand as he knocked on the door. She answered promptly, was wearing jeans and a t-shirt, and she had chosen music that did not offend his ears.

\"I was thinking you might decide to \"forget\" about this meeting as well, Professor. Would you care for anything to drink?\"

His eyes flashed with lust as he remembered that the last time she had asked him that, she had been very nearly NAKED! Good Lord, I am insane. Absolutely insane. Who cares if she was almost naked? Not me. I sure don\'t. At all.

\"If you have any wine...\"

\"Certainly. Red or white?\"

\"Red.\"

\"I\'ll be right back. Make yourself comfortable.\"

She left and he sat on the couch, setting his planner on the coffee table. He found himself looking around the comfortable room. It was definitely Granger\'s. All homey and bright and warm and cheerful. He shuddered to think about what she had done to his classroom and office. She had photographs everywhere. Her and her parents, her and the Weasleys, her and fellow Aurors, her and Albus, her and Minerva...but where was Potter? Surely she would have a photo of the great and wonderful Potter? He looked around more closely. No sign of him. Odd. Very odd. Hermione came back into the room bearing to goblets of red wine. She sat next to him on the couch.

\"Is this your lesson plan, then? May I look at it?\"

\"Look at it later, Granger. I have a question to ask you.\"

She turned and looked at him warily, taking her gaze off of the book on the coffee table. She looked highly uncomfortable. Good.

\"Why don\'t you have any photos of Potter? I thought you\'d have some autographed pictures for sure.\"

Her eyes flashed green then grey. He hated that. Absolutely hated it.

\"And stop doing that with your eyes. Why you felt the need to charm them that way is beyond me. Your eye color was perfectly fine before, and it suited you well.\"

She blushed. It was rather endearing. Endearing in a hot sexy makes-me-want-to-rip-off-all-her-clothes kind of way, Severus thought.

\"You liked my eye color? I like the charm. It\'s interesting. You don\'t like it? My eye color changes with my emotions.\"

\"Green is anger? Grey is sad? Blue is happy? So what does your natural eye color mean, Miss Granger?\"

\"Professor.\"

He barely heard her. It looked as if she were breathing rather heavily. She had also scooted closer to him.

\"Yes?\"

\"It\'s not \"Miss\" it\'s Professor. And I don\'t know what brown means.\"

He breathed in and inhaled her scent. Fresh and crisp, with just a hint of sweetness. He couldn\'t help it. He leaned in and took her lips with a savage fury. He was angry that she made him feel this way. That she could make him feel at all. He wanted to hurt her, but be gentle with her. His tongue dove into her mouth as she gasped. He tasted wine, and Hermione. She whimpered and that only made him crush her body more firmly to his. He groaned as her breasts pressed against his chest. The clothing would have to go.

\"Ahem.\"

What was that noise? Never mind. Hermione has her tongue in your mouth now. Also her hand is...whoa, boy! That\'s terribly nice.

\"AHEM.\"

Snape and Granger broke apart, dazed. A face in the flames roaring in the fireplace caught their attention. It was Ron. Snape growled at Weasley. Ron just looked embarrassed.

\"Ron!\"

Hermione leapt up and kneeled in front of Weasley\'s floating head.

\"Have you found anything out? About anything?\"

Ron smiled at her.

\"I did.\"

\"And...? Oh! Professor, if you\'ll excuse us? It\'s Auror business and-\"

\"\'Mione, he may as well stay.\"

Snape sneered.

\"And why would I want to do that? I can not recall a single time when I have willingly listened to a Weasley speak.\"

\"You\'re going to want to this time, Snape. You\'re possibly the only one who can help Hermione. You see, someone has decided to pick up where Voldemort left off. If you hadn\'t been with Hermione, and I\'ll talk to you about that later,\" he gave Hermione a pointed look,\"an Auror would have contacted you anyway. I\'m sad to say it, but looks like your DeathEater days aren\'t quite finished, Snape.\"