A New Beginning (DH -COMPLIANT)

Chapter 78 ~ The Potion’s Out the Bag

They continued about fifteen more minutes, Hermione finishing her water and Severus drinking his as well. The wizard stopped walking and wiped his face with his towel. He looked at the witch.

”I believe we’ve done enough for this evening. I don’t want you exhausted,” he purred at her. “Now I am going to retire to my home to prepare for your visit. Eli will retrieve you when you are ready.”

The wizard stepped off the treadmill.

”I will see you shortly,” he said, leaving the exercise room without giving her as much as a kiss.

Hermione frowned after him. At least he could have kissed her good-bye. Perhaps he was saving his kisses for when they were in a more intimate situation. The witch shrugged, then went to her apartment to prepare for their night.

As she showered, she wondered when Severus would try to “surprise” her with a potion, if he did at all. It wouldn’t be an easy task.

Hermione’s mistake was she believed the game would begin after the workout, so didn’t even imagine the wizard would slip the potion into her water. Yet, there seemed to be no effects so she was none the wiser.

After consideration, Hermione transfigured a short white nightie into a green one. She did the same thing to a pair of silk knickers. At first she wasn’t going to wear any, but decided a bit of modesty couldn’t hurt. She buttoned her robes over her clothing, then summoned Eli.

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Hermione was delivered directly to the dining room where the Potions master waited at the dining room table. He rose and pulled out her chair for her. Hermione sat down, eyeing him. He had on black silk pajamas and black slippers, his hair back in a ponytail. His black eyes glittered at her as he took his seat.

”I thought a small meal to start our evening would be in order,” he purred at her.

Eli appeared carrying two entrees of tender chicken breasts smothered in a light sauce of smoky roasted red peppers and basil. The breasts were served on a bed of egg noodles. It looked and smelled delicious. Severus poured Hermione a glass of full-bodied Pinot Blanc, which she looked at quite suspiciously. He handed it to her rather gingerly, not coming in contact with the witch. He then poured his own and lifted his glass, toasting the witch before he took a healthy sip.

”Did you add anything to the wine?” she asked him.

”No, I did not,” he responded.

Hermione believed Severus would have told her if she asked him directly. She took a sip of the wine and found it excellent. She cut a bit of chicken and ate it with a forkful of egg noodles. It was delicious.

”You know, it’s going to be difficult to give me a potion without my knowing it, Severus,” Hermione said as she cut a bit more chicken.

”I’ve already considered that, Hermione, which is why I have already given it to you,” he replied, sipping a bit more wine and giving her a slight smirk.

Hermione stared at him.

”What? How?” she asked, looking about suspiciously, “Was it a draught I inhaled somehow?”

”No. Nothing as clandestine as that, witch. I simply put it in your water,” he said, cutting his chicken.

”In my water? That I drink while working out? That’s not creative at all!” Hermione exclaimed, “Besides, you said our evening wouldn’t start until after the workout!”

”Technically, the evening hasn’t yet started,” he replied, “You have only been ‘prepared’ for it. As to my being creative, you would have been on the lookout for anything out of the ordinary. To add it to your water was the simplest method of getting you to imbibe the elixir.”

Hermione stared at him. She sat very still for a moment, but felt nothing different. Was Severus playing some sort of mind game?

“I think you’re trying to put me off guard,” Hermione declared.

Severus arched an eyebrow at her.

”I assure you, I am not. You have indeed been slipped the potion required for our game tonight, and it is in effect,” he purred at her as he finished his noodles.

”What did you give me?” she asked him curiously. “I don’t feel anything.”

Severus studied her for a moment, then finished his wine . . . taking his time as Hermione watched him, scowling slightly.

”You’ve heard of the ‘Dulcis Tactus” elixir I presume,” he said to the witch, his face sober.

”Yes. The ‘Sweet Touch’ potion that enhances the feel of anything touching your skin,” she said to him. “It’s a very old brew.”

Severus nodded.

”Well, I gave you a somewhat updated version,” the wizard said, sitting back now, his eyes sweeping over her.

”If you had given me that potion, Severus, I would have known. Everything that touched me would have felt . . . wonderful. The shower alone would have sent me into throes of pleasure . . . the feel of silk against my skin. Even a slight breeze would affect me. Everything is supposed to be amplified,” she said to him.

The wizard’s lip quirked slightly.

”As I said, witch . . . it’s been updated,” he said silkily.

”I think you failed,” she said shortly. “I don’t feel any different.”

The Potions master scowled slightly at the witch. He was very gifted at Potions and had been successfully altering and improving them for years.

“Really?” he purred, noting her empty wine glass. “Pass me your glass so I can refill it.”

Hermione did so, and the wizard brushed his fingers against hers as he took it. Hermione suddenly gasped as waves of pleasure fanned out from the tips of her fingers and up her arm. It was a kind of delicious, sensual tickle that washed over her body and seemed to settle directly at her core. She squirmed a little.

”Oh my gods,” she breathed at the wizard, whose eyes were narrowed now.

”As I said. Updated,” he reiterated.

Hermione stared at him. Severus had enhanced her body so his touch would be extremely pleasurable. Even more, it seemed it enhanced desire as well. Merlin.

”It’s . . . it’s like you’ve given me a lust potion,” she said to him.

He shook his head.

”No. All responses are from you, not the elixir itself. Your desire for me is honest . . . just enhanced. If you were not attracted to me, you would not be affected in such a manner, only feel the pleasurable sensations . . . and they would be slight,” he replied, “Now as to my purpose for this ‘game.’ As a Slytherin, I have a basic philosophy that every action has a reaction, or in layman’s terms, what goes around comes around. You set fire to me in your first year. I realize it was to save Mr. Potter, which is commendable, but I was not responsible for his situation.”

Hermione frowned at him.

”You have to be kidding me, Severus. That was over thirty years ago. Don’t tell me you want to take revenge against what a first-year did. That’s ludicrous,” the witch said.

Severus nodded.

”Yes, it is. That is why I am not focused on ‘revenge.’ Only on ‘evening the score.’ Balancing it out. In short, Hermione . . . I only want ‘burn for burn.’ You set me aflame . . . it is only fair that I do the same to you,” he said, “Only my burn will not be nearly as dangerous or painful as yours was. Of course, you still have the right to end the game, right now if you wish. But that will mean that we don’t engage at all tonight.”

Hermione colored.

“Why you scheming bastard,” she hissed at him.

Severus arched an eyebrow at her.

”I did have both a mother and father who were properly married, you know,” he responded.

“You know what I mean!” Hermione seethed. “This is . . . is just wicked! You’ve manipulated me!”

He nodded.

”Indeed I have. But is it really a surprise? I am a Slytherin after all,” he said rising and walking around the table towards her, “Still, you can end the night and wait to engage me after the potion has worn off . . .”

Severus walked behind Hermione’s chair and gently began to massage her shoulders, the witch gasping at the feel of his hands through the fabric. He leaned forward, his warm breath a gentle, delicious caress on the shell of her ear.

“Just tell me you want to go, Hermione, and Eli will return you to the site,” he breathed. “Do you want to end the game before it begins?”

His pale hands slid to her throat, leaving a trail of fire where they touched, warm, firm and promising against her skin.

”No,” Hermione whispered, her eyes closed in pleasure. “No, I don’t want to end it.”

The wizard chuckled.

”I didn’t think you would,” he purred, pressing his lips to the pulse of her neck and feeling her tremble powerfully.

Tonight would be . . . interesting.

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A/N: Severus! You sneaky Slytherin! Burn for burn? :::shakes head::: Hermione’s in for it. Burn, baby, burn! :::g::: Thanks for reading.