Echoes of the Soul

Hermione awoke with a throbbing need between her legs. She was covered in perspiration and flushed a little with embarrassment. She had never had such a vivid sex dream before.



She closed her eyes and could still feel him on top of her, his tongue in her mouth and on her erect nipples. Hermione lifted her nightshirt and thrust her hand over her pussy, pushing a finger slowly through her throbbing folds. She was soaking wet already. Taking a nipple in her hand she pulled gently, squeezing her erect nub between her fingers gently. She moaned and moved her fingers through her wet labia until she found the spot she was looking for. She gently rubbed her clit and inserted a finger into her soft vagina, thrusting in and out of herself quickly. Hermione was moaning louder now, her head thrashing from side to side as she thrummed her fingers faster, blurring them over her clit and biting her lip with pleasure, tweaking and pulling at her breasts and tight nipples. Hermione felt a throbbing and tightening inside her and cried out as she came, her pelvis lifting high from the bed as she her orgasm crashed violently over her. Her legs clamped together as her juices ran over her hand and covered the tops of her thighs, shuddering over and over, whimpering with intense pleasure. She smiled dreamily as she came down from her peak and wriggled in her bed a little. She loved these dreams but they puzzled her. What, or who, was Annalin?



*****



Albus greeted Hermione warmly and bade her sit in the chair opposite his desk. She looked very smart, a tailored grey silk suit teamed with a pale pink Oxford shirt beneath, with charcoal grey stiletto heels to give her a few extra inches. Her hair was clasped loosely in a clip on top of her head, which allowed some loose curls to fall over her shoulders. The subtle make-up enhanced her wide, hazel eyes and her soft full mouth and Albus thought she looked perfect.



‘It’s lovely to see you, Hermione.’ Albus smiled warmly at her. ‘Lemon drop?’ He passed her the bowl on his desk.



Hermione grinned and shook her head. ‘It’s great to be back Professor.’ She looked around a little at the smiling faces of the portraits in Dumbledore’s office. It was like coming home.



‘Let’s get started, shall we? You are aware this is only temporary? Unless Severus decides to take a permanent holiday.’ Albus rolled his eyes a little and Hermione laughed again. This was the best interview she had ever had.



‘Temporary is perfect for me, Sir. I still need to complete my studies.’ She smiled.



‘Excellent. Now, we just have to convince Severus you are the right person for the job.’ Albus smiled.

‘What about the other candidates, Sir?’ Hermione was puzzled.



‘Other candidates? Oh…yes, well. They cancelled at short notice and I am keen to relieve our long-suffering students from the wrath of their fractious Professor as soon as I can. I am sure you know what I am talking about.’ Albus’s blue eyes twinkled as he peered at Hermione.



‘Professor, I am sure I don’t know what you mean…’ Hermione laughed again.



‘Severus is waiting in his classroom. Shall we?’ Albus smiled and offered Hermione his arm, watching her closely. This was going to be interesting on so many levels.



They walked down to the dungeons and Hermione filled Albus in on some of the more amusing happenings at the Ministry. He noted with interest that Hermione changed the subject when he asked about Ron. He smiled briefly. That was one complication out of the way already and he hadn’t done anything about that one.



They arrived at the door of the classroom and Hermione shivered.



‘I feel like a schoolgirl again.’ She murmured to Professor Dumbledore.



Albus faced her and took her hands in his as he searched her face.



‘Hermione, you are a talented, bright, intelligent and may I say it, beautiful, young woman. You should be proud of your achievements so far. I know I am. After what happened to your parents, I feel almost like a Father to you and I don’t want you ever to feel you are not welcome or do not deserve to be here. No matter what Severus may say to you in private. Do you understand? You are no longer a schoolgirl. You are a valued colleague’.



Hermione felt a lump in her throat. After her parents were murdered, she had valued his guidance and she felt the same way. His eyes were bright and she could see he was being serious.



‘Thank you, Professor, that was a lovely thing to say.’ She smiled and brushed tears away from her eyes a little with the back of her hand.



‘I meant every word. Now, shall we?’ Albus knocked firmly on the door.



‘Come in.’ Severus intoned. He hated this process and had been more than a little irritated when Albus had insisted he vet the candidates. However, when Albus had pointed out that whoever took over his class who also need space to work in his private labs, he changed his mind. He wanted some say if this new teacher would be invading his personal space, if only to assert his authority and maintain some control.



Severus looked up as Albus walked in, followed by Hermione.



‘Miss Granger?’ He was non-plussed. He wasn’t expecting his former student, nor had he imagined the witch could look so stunning.



‘Severus, Hermione was the only candidate to turn up for interview. Disappointing in one way, although perhaps fortunate for us.’ Albus smiled warmly at Hermione and she beamed at him, her face lit up with a confident glow.



She held out her hand to Severus. ‘I didn’t think we would see each other again quite so soon Professor.’ She smiled up at him across his desk.



Severus shook her hand and almost dropped it again. A spark of something shuddered through him as they touched and his eyes widened a little. He was speechless for a second and his eyes met hers briefly before he quickly let go of her soft hand.



‘May I ask what qualifications you have, Miss Granger?’ He walked around his desk and stood in front of her imperiously.



Hermione was trembling a little. She could still feel the touch of his hand on hers and was in a state of shock. Her stomach was doing back flips as she looked up at him. She felt an almost magnetic pull towards him and couldn’t take her eyes off his mouth for some reason. She realised, when she saw his lips moving, that he was speaking to her, and snapped out of her reverie, a light blush rising along her throat.



Dumbledore had watched with interest and smiled inwardly. Things were moving on.



‘Miss Granger?’ Severus asked again.



‘Sorry…yes, qualifications….’ Hermione tore her gaze away from his face and started to speak very fast, almost tripping over her words. ‘I gained my Potions degree the year after leaving Hogwarts, I crammed two years study into one because I wanted to do the teaching certificate the following year. Now I’m almost finished my Potions Masters, but I told you that in the library Professor, didn’t I?’



She didn’t pause for breath and looked up at Severus, her eyes wide. She could almost feel the energy pulsing from him he was standing so close. It was clouding her brain and she had no idea why she was suddenly acting like a schoolgirl with a crush.



Severus looked at her. What was the matter with the witch? She seemed nervous and the confidence he had seen had all but disappeared in the space of moments. He hoped it wouldn’t transfer itself to the classroom, he needed someone who could keep control. Nevertheless, he was impressed. She had worked very hard and was obviously qualified for the post. He wasn’t sure that he wanted to share his space with her, however. She was a former student, after all, and a damn irritating one at that.



Severus turned to Albus. ‘Miss Granger was the only candidate, did you say, Headmaster?’ He spoke smoothly, his voice dripping with sarcasm.



Hermione bristled. She was definitely suitable and yet here he was, looking for another option as if he didn’t want her to get the post. She scowled at him but he didn’t notice.



‘Yes, Severus. We are lucky that Hermione is so obviously suitable for the post, don’t you agree?’ Albus grinned and tried to hide a chuckle. Oh this was going to be fun to watch, he thought to himself.



Severus inhaled a little and his eyes narrowed. Albus was up to something, he recognised the signs.



‘Very well, Miss Granger. Congratulations’ He murmured.



Hermione looked up at him and smiled a wide smile ‘Oh! Thank you so much Professor Snape!’



‘You will want to meet with Miss Granger, no doubt, to discuss your lesson plans, show her the ropes, as it were?’ Albus’s eyes twinkled and he fought back a loud guffaw as he saw a black look cross Severus’s face.



‘Oh that would be great Professor!’ Hermione gushed, suddenly excited, her previous nervousness vanished as she started to see herself teaching young students. ‘I don’t want to mess up your classes by skipping something or teaching something you feel the students aren’t yet ready for…’ Hermione stopped talking and looked up at Severus expectantly.



Severus was getting a headache. He turned his gaze on her coldly. ‘I assure you, Miss Granger, you are not the only one who does not want you to mess up in my class.’



Hermione recognised the put down and looked away a little. She felt like a schoolgirl again and a tiny knot of frustration was forming in her stomach. She would just have to prove to him she was more than able for the job, she determined.



Severus continued to speak. ‘I am free tomorrow evening at 8 pm. It will take at least two hours to cover everything. I trust that is acceptable?’ His voice was low but the meaning easy to interpret. If Hermione wanted his help, it was tomorrow or not at all.



Hermione took a deep breath and forced herself to look up into his face. Their eyes met and she forced herself not to look away. ‘Tomorrow will be perfect, Professor. Thank you.’ She smiled warmly, her hazel eyes sparkling at him with a hint of challenge.



Severus’s eyes widened as he looked at her eyes. He had never noticed how amber they were and he was reminded of someone else. His mouth was dry and he felt his tongue stick to the roof of his mouth.



With a quick nod to Albus and Hermione, Severus swept out of the classroom and into his private chambers, closing the door quickly. He accioed a glass of Firewhisky and drank it down in one gulp. How the hell could he share a workspace with Miss Granger, when her eyes were almost the same as the eyes of the woman he was making love to in his dreams at night?





*****





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In my world, Albus lives but hermione\'s parents were murdered by Deatheaters. Just to clarify.