A New Beginning (DH -COMPLIANT)

Chapter 77 ~ Severus Wants to Play

After Hermione entered the worksite in a huff, Severus hurried back to his labs, immediately heading for his library. After a bit of searching, he located the book he was looking for, a very old tome, yellowed with age. Carefully, he leafed through the brittle pages, searching for a particular potion . . .

Ah yes. There it was.

He looked at the list of ingredients. Hm. He was going to have to double check the terminology. Some items were not familiar and were probably listed under a different name. At least the brewing instructions were clear. It would take about a month for the brew to be completed.

Well, he was a patient man. A month was perfect. It gave him enough time to work out the details of his dastardly plan. He couldn’t deduct points, eh?

This would be much better than a mere point loss and a hundred times more satisfying. It wasn’t really about a thirty-year grudge. It was more about Hermione having a one-up on him. Out of the golden trio, Hermione was the one he thought the most innocent, a follower in a way and never one to initiate trouble or rule-breaking. Her little fire-starting incident made him realize he might have been a bit naïve concerning the witch.

The wizard’s brows drew together. No, there was no ‘might’ in it. She had fooled him. Completely. Hermione Weasley had never been a goody-two-shoes. And he had never caught on.

Hm.

What other little offenses concerning him had she gotten away with while at Hogwarts?

He’d really like to know.

**************************************

Severus had enjoyed being able to see Hermione’s mothering skills during Hugo, Rose’s and Rod’s stay at the site. Not only was she a good mother, but a compassionate woman, giving Rod as much attention as her own children. No doubt she would have shown him just as much affection if he had been more receptive.

Although Severus was not a demonstrative man in most cases, he did appreciate Hermione’s kind character. It offset his own cold, reserved demeanor, and she was very affectionate toward him as well . . . and not only in the physical sense. He could hear it in her voice when she spoke to him and see her fondness in her eyes when she looked at him. It was all new to him and so very precious.

Of course, he did his best to hide his appreciation for the most part, revealing it only when they were in intimate situations, when the witch was in his arms. His kisses and caresses said what words could not. But, they had not engaged sexually since Christmas.

There were many opportunities however, and Hermione wondered to herself why the wizard didn’t take advantage of them. Hermione wasn’t really big on initiating sex. She did Christmas night, but that was because she was ready and knew Severus wouldn’t have made the first move, though he was all for it. But since they now knew each other intimately, she left it to him . . . and he simply left her breathless.

”It is time for me to go, witch,” Severus would breathe down at her, then give her one more delicious kiss and caress, then depart for his lonely bed.

In fact, Hermione was starting to want a dose of “Severus PM” to help her sleep quite badly. She had no idea how much deflating draught the wizard consumed some nights, tossing and turning, longing for her softness, her surrender, wanting to lose himself in everything she was.

Yet, it was all part of the Potions master’s dastardly master plan. The special potion he was working on was almost complete. He had two days left and had been taunting poor Hermione with his closeness and kisses for almost a month now.

She was ready to climb the walls and had masturbated on several occasions.

”Gods damn it. I’m going to have to tie him up and ravish him if this keeps up,” she seethed one night after he departed.

That would have been the only way to get to the determined wizard. He kept his desire on a short leash though they both were suffering. But, when the time did come, Hermione had just a bit more suffering to do than he did. It wouldn’t be painful in the bodily sense . . . well not “screaming for mercy” kind of painful . . . maybe.

It would depend entirely on what Hermione’s idea of pain was.

******************************************

Severus made his move after the potion had been completed and bottled. It was a Thursday night. He visited Hermione in her apartment and once again they had quite a heated snogging session, the witch rubbing her body against him like a cat. The Potions master was hard put not to “pet the kitty” as it were.

The couple was on the sofa, the wizard nearly on top of Hermione, when he broke their kiss and sat up, Hermione staring up at him with hungry eyes. Severus looked down at her.

”It’s been quite a while for us, hasn’t it witch?” he asked her, his eyes heated.

Finally.

”I think maybe a bit too long,” Hermione breathed back at him.

Severus felt a powerful pulse and began to harden.

”Control,” he told himself, then, “I . . . I want to ask you something. It is rather personal but it has been on my mind for weeks.”

Hermione sat up now.

”What is it, Severus?” she asked him.

The wizard drew in a little breath.

“I was wondering, Hermione, if you . . . if you ever played any ‘games?’” he asked her.

Hermione’s brow furrowed.

”Games?” she repeated.

Severus was too focused to let her response get to him.

”Intimate games,” he clarified, looking at the witch hungrily.

”Oh,” she said, flushing a little.

She and Ron had done some role-play and experimented with bondage from time to time.

”Well, yes. I have,” she said, slightly embarrassed but a bit turned on. What would the Potions master like to do?

”What kind of games did you play?” Severus pressed her.

”It’s going to sound silly,” Hermione said, flushing again.

”Tell me,” he breathed.

Hermione started twisting her hands a bit.

”Well, Ron liked to pretend he was the captain of the Chudley Cannons, and he had just made the winning goal for the World Cup . . . and I, I was his groupie,” Hermione said.

Both of Severus’ brows rose.

”His groupie?” the wizard asked, breaking his own rule in his interest.

Hermione nodded.

”Yes. We’d pretend I’d come to his room to . . . well you know. Do what groupies do,” she said, her voice a bit high.

”And what do groupies do?” Severus purred at her, intrigued now.

”Pretty much anything that the person they are groupies for wants,” she replied.

Severus swallowed as he looked at her. He had never been in the position to play any ‘games’ and there were a few things he’d like Hermione to do to him. Yet, he really didn’t know how to approach her concerning his desires. She was not a paid prostitute after all, and he wasn’t sure how she would take a request for a blow job. She might get offended and he didn’t want that. But she said she would do anything Ron wanted. More than likely she had performed fellatio on occasion. So he was rather hopeful.

”That sounds quite . . . interesting,” Severus said to her. “Do you think you would like to engage in a game with me?”

Hermione felt a little pulse of heat as she looked into those dark eyes.

”It depends. What would you want me to do?” she asked him.

“That is the fun of this game I have in mind. You won’t know until I actually begin it. It would be a surprise,” he replied, running one pale finger down her arm. Hermione shuddered, but maintained her wits. Lust couldn’t override reason.

“I don’t know, Severus,” she said doubtfully.

The Potions master grasped her hand and kissed her fingertips slowly and teasingly.

”I promise that I will not cause you any physical pain. That’s not my way, Hermione. It will be very pleasant for you. All I want is your honest responses . . . that’s it,” he said to her silkily, “No ropes or whips or chains. No abuse. It will just be . . . different.”

“If I decide it becomes too much, could we stop?” she asked him.

The wizard nodded.

”Certainly. I would not have you do anything you weren’t comfortable with,” he breathed at her, kissing her palm, which was an erogenous zone for the witch. “All I need you to do, Hermione, is be willing to trust me.”

Hermione had all but forgotten about his reaction to discovering she had set his robes on fire years ago. She had also forgotten how smug she was about getting away with it. Her smugness was what affected the Potions master the most. Gloating was bad form under any circumstances.

Still, Hermione was intrigued by the wizard. He had said they could stop whenever she requested if she didn’t like the game. She would have all the control of the situation, or so she thought.

”All right. I’m willing to play your game, Severus,” she said.

“Excellent,” the wizard purred, “Now, there will be some . . . tools.”

”Sex toys?” Hermione asked him, her mouth turning down. She was never big on toys.

”No. I don’t do ‘toys.’ You are far too delectable to waste on an object that feels nothing,” he said to her. “Your charms are for me and me alone. I am jealous even of insensate items when it comes to you, witch. I am thinking more of oils or even potions that enhance sensation.”

Hermione gave him a naughty little smile. She had done enhancement oils before. They were quite fun and made sex even better.

”That doesn’t sound too bad,” she said.

”It won’t be,” Severus replied, “Although I wish to be a bit clandestine in my application of it. I’d like to catch you by surprise . . .”

Hermione didn’t think he’d be able to do that, particularly since he’d told her what he planned. But he could try.

“All right, Severus,” she agreed, and he kissed her to seal the deal.

”We will indulge ourselves tomorrow evening after our workout,” the wizard said, his eyes sober. “Look forward to a night of heightened pleasure, witch.”

Severus rose, Hermione looking up at him. Tomorrow? Drat. Well, she’d gone this long. One more day wouldn’t kill her.

She walked him to the door.

”Good night, Severus,” she breathed.

Severus’ dark eyes glittered at her for a moment before the dark wizard leaned in and gave her one more sensuous kiss that left the witch leaning toward him longingly.

”Tomorrow will be the good night, witch,” he replied.

*************************************

Hermione could hardly concentrate on her work the next day and the hours seemed to drag by. Finally the workday ended and she hurried to the exercise room where Severus was already on the treadmill, waiting. They had begun a rather challenging regime where Hermione had to keep up with him, or at least try to. The customary towels rested on the handlebars and two bottles of cold water rested nearby.

“Ready to workout, witch?” Severus asked her.

”Yes,” Hermione said, trying to focus on what was happening now and not what would be happening later.

”I hope you can keep up,” the Potions master said, walking at a good clip.

Hermione did her best to keep up with Severus, but he seemed quite driven, his long legs moving quickly. Soon, Hermione was perspiring. She uncapped her bottle of water and drank half of it down.

She didn’t notice Severus was watching her intently, a small smirk on his face.

**************************************
A/N: Thanks for reading.