Say You Love Me

Chapter Eight
Always Keep Your Enemies Close at Hand


After one day of remaining in the dungeon rooms, Ecclestia became bored. She had absolutely no intentions of allowing Dumbledore to give her orders. If she stayed in the dungeons, she could hardly spy for Voldemort. So far she'd learned nothing. Dumbledore had seen to that.

Distraction, which inevitably led to evil, was what fed Ecclestia's soul and in this case, tormenting Hermione had become her main occupation. Severus was in a foul mood as usual and since he still refused to allow her in his bedroom, Ecclestia decided to add to his misery.

It hadn't been hard to secure a single hair from Hermione's head. A quick visit to the Head Girls' room when it was unoccupied had taken care of that. Even with the careful wards that Hermione invoked upon leaving had proven child's play for a witch with the dark magic that Ecclestia possessed. The hairbrush on Hermione's dresser had been full of dark hair strands that she had removed and secured in a glass vial taken from the potion's lab.

The tiny cauldron that Ecclestia had sat up on the marble topped table bubbled with bat's blood. She added fly eyes, and bits of spiders web before stirring. After a few moments, the final ingredients of fairy dust and dried night blooming flowers were incorporated.

"We shall see just how much of this you can take, Miss Granger," Ecclestia purred as she dropped one of Hermione's hairs and one of Severus' hairs into the brew. "This should give you plenty to think about." She laughed aloud as she gave the brew a final stir.

The red brew bubbled even harder, and then boiled up before exploding into a cloud of mist that quickly flew out the door in search of the bushy haired brunette.

As luck would have it, the object of Ecclestia's hate was in potions class. Snape was walking from cauldron to cauldron, examining the contents and making his usual snide remarks. Hermione was nervously chewing away on her lower lip, both dreading and yearning for him to be close to her. The mist, which had turned invisible, poured over her as she scribbled notes on the parchment in front of her.

The sneeze came on so suddenly that Hermione didn't have time to muffle it.

"Achoo! Achoo! Achoo!"

"Miss Granger! Stifle that incomprehensible noise you are making this instant," Snape hissed.

"I'm sorry, Professor. I have no idea what came over me."

Snape glared at her, but the part of him that cared shoved his handkerchief into her hand without comment.

"Thank you, Sir."

He ignored both her comment and her potion, choosing instead to move on to Seamus and Neville.

"Wow, he didn't deduct points," Ron whispered. "I wonder what's gotten into him."

"I shall deduct one hundred and fifty points from you, Mister Weasley, if you do not cease speculation about my actions behind my back. Now either complete your assignment or leave my classroom." Snape interrupted his berating of Neville.

Ron hurriedly stirred the cauldron and rolled his eyes in Harry's direction. Snape had been exceptionally irritable today, and the last thing Ron wished to do was incur his wrath.

"I can't believe Snape," Ron said later as the three were returning upstairs after tea. "Eavesdropping and getting on to Neville at the same time."

"That's why he's been a good spy," Harry observed. "I would think that by now you would know better than to say anything when he's within earshot."

"He just looks for a reason to deduct points from us. And you know what? I think part of it is because he's had it out for me since he caught me kissing Hermione."

"He doesn't like you because you are a Weasley," Hermione said. "Besides, Ron, Professor Snape is under a lot of duress and it's best to stay out of his way."

"You seem to like the git. I've seen the way that you look at him sometimes."

Harry looked sidewise at Hermione, who blushed.

"I don't hate him, if that's what you mean. I think that the poor man needs some understanding and kindness shown to him."

"And I think you have issues," Ron argued.

"Think what you want," Hermione replied, ignoring a possible fight. "I refuse to be rude to him no matter how rude he might be to me."

She left the boys and went to her own room, glad that she didn't have to sit in the common room and fight with Ron. A nice hot bath and a nap before she had to make her evening rounds would be just the thing.

Hermione undressed, carefully hanging her uniform up. She removed Professor Snape's black handkerchief from the pocket of her robes and sniffed it. The herby, masculine scent of the Potions Master clung to it. She needed to clean it and return it to him, but for the moment, she would keep it.

The handkerchief was placed underneath her pillow once she'd bathed and laid down to rest. The hot water had made Hermione drowsy and she fell asleep easily.


The dark wooden door loomed up in her face. Slowly, Hermione pushed it open.

"Professor?"

The room was as dark as the door, save for a single candle that burned. As Hermione stepped into the room the door slammed shut behind her. She turned and grabbed at the handle, suddenly afraid. It was warded tightly.

“Alohamora.”

“I’ve been waiting for you, Miss Granger.”

Strong hands clamped down on her arms, dragging them behind her. Leather bindings magically tied her wrists together.

A rather large nose buried itself in her neck, inhaling her scent as an arm wrapped itself about her waist.

“I knew if I waited long enough you would come to me.”

“Professor, what is this all about? I’m dreaming, right? Isn’t this just a dream?”

Severus licked her ear and Hermione tried to pull away.

“Divesto,” he mumbled. Her clothing was gone.

“No, Professor, I can’t do this, please let go of me.”

“I can’t do that, Miss Granger. You belong to me. It’s time that I initiated you into the more diverse ways of arousal and satisfaction.”

“Arousal and satis--faction???!!!”

To Hermione’s surprise, he let go of her and she fled across the room. He chuckled and calmly followed. She could barely see him in the darkness, but the maleness and predatory nature he possessed had her senses on end.

“Yes, you see I have a few toys that we can play with.”

As Snape stepped into the candlelight, Hermione saw that he wore only a black dressing robe and nothing else. The pale skin of his lean chest glinted against the darkness, its’ spattering of black hairs revealed to her. In his hand he held a riding crop.

“That’s not a toy.” Hermione edged away from him as he smiled slyly at her.

“Oh but it is, I assure you. It can do many things to bring us both pleasure.”

The crop whistled through the air as Snape brought it down with a resounding crack against a table. Hermione jumped, and ran towards the door, all the while trying to loosen her hands from the leather thong that bound them. In retaliation, they tightened until she yelped.

Snape moved quickly and was next to her.

“Now I must punish you for running,” he said.

“No, stay away from me,” Hermione backed up only to find the door blocking her way.

“Come, Hermione, and let me play with you.”

His hand covered her bum and squeezed. She squealed in surprise and clenched the muscles there.

“Your arse will be welcoming me before this is over with.” He lifted her easily and carried her across the long room, where another candle burned next to a bed. “Naughty students must be punished severely.” He tossed her face down on the bed, holding her down with a hand on her back.

She heard the crop he was still holding swish before it sharply cut into her bum. She cried out with the pain of it and he swatted her again.

“Beg me, Miss Granger. Beg me to stop.”



"No!"

Hermione sat up, breathing hard, her heart racing. She was safe in her own room. It had only been a nightmare.

"Gods," she said aloud, wiping the tears from her eyes with an edge of the comforter.

"It was only a dream. It wasn't real." Hermione reassured herself as she sat on the edge of the bed and tried to calm down. She was still sitting there when someone pounded on the door.

Expecting Draco or one of the boys to be there, Hermione flung open the door.
Much to her horror, Snape stood there glowering.

"Do you intend to fulfill your Head Girl duties this evening Miss Granger? Or shall I make a report to the Headmaster that you are not worthy of your post?"

"I haven't failed to make my rounds yet, Professor. I was only..."

"You are only over an hour late."

Hermione looked quickly at the hourglass that sat on her desk. She was, indeed late. She looked back at the Professor, who was looking smug.

"I apologize, Sir," she said stiffly. "I fell asleep and did not realize that.."

"Don't make up excuses, Miss Granger."

To Severus, the girl looked disheveled and red eyed. She was wearing those blue muggle pants she seemed to be so fond of and a T-shirt. His eyes couldn't help seeing how her round breasts strained against the fabric. Unconsciously he flexed his fingers, wanting to test the weight of them in his palms.

Ever since she'd forced him to kiss her, he'd retreated behind his wall of indifference and formality. He had no choice but to do so, else he give in to his baser urges and get them both into trouble. Standing here in the doorway to her room and looking at her was trying his patience.

"I will be ready in a moment, Professor," Hermione snapped, slamming the door in his face.

Fiery little one, Severus thought with amusement. Ordinarily, he would have deducted points from Gryffindor for such a disrespectful action but considering that he would have to exchange more words with her, it was better to say nothing. An argument would do nothing except fan the fire that he was keeping carefully hidden beneath his cool exterior.

Hermione stalked out the door, ignoring the Professor who still stood there. She had donned her robes and he had no choice but to follow her.

Only a stride or two was all it took to overtake the petite Gryffindor.

"I should deduct points from you for your disrespect," Severus said.

"I seem to remember another conversation that led us into trouble," Hermione replied, not daring to look at him. She was keenly aware of his presence at her side, and the urge to both snog him and run from him was strong.

"Why are you running from me, Miss Granger?"

"I am merely attempting to perform my duties that you so kindly pointed out to me that I was late for, Professor."

Severus followed Hermione in silence until they entered an isolated corridor.

He grabbed her by the arm and spun her around to face him. Her chocolate eyes flashed fire, and he felt her tremble.

"You're angry with me," Severus said before he thought.

"Let go of me, Professor."

"Not until you stop this silly nonsense and listen. I suppose I should apologize for what occurred between us. I should not have allowed you to accost me."

"Accost you? Might I point out to you Professor that you continued to pick at me until you got a response? And you did not exactly run away from me."

"It would be difficult to run when you had your arms locked about my neck in that strangling grip of yours."

"Strangling? I did not strangle you with my arms. How dare you?" Hermione hissed, growing angrier at the minute.

The problem was that she was angry not only at her self but also at him and at the fact that he was here, alone with her and she was afraid to touch him. Merlin only knew what might happen if he were to take her into his bed.

Severus saw her hand rise as if to slap him, and he grabbed it.

"Claws in, my kitten," he growled, feeling some of his resolve start to crumble. He yanked her to him, and she struggled, attempting to free her self. "Do not ever think you can get away with striking me."

"Let me go, Professor. Just go away and leave me be," Hermione felt her eyes sting, and she tried to kick out at him or at least reach her wand where she could hex him.

Severus had been a spy for too many years. As soon as Hermione's leg moved, he had her pinned against the stone wall.

"Try again, Miss Granger." His voice was low, smooth, and dangerous black velvet. In spite of her fear of him Hermione's insides turned to liquid yearning.
He was so close that his nose brushed hers and his eyes burned into hers.
"You are hiding something and I intend to find out just what it is. Legilimens!"

Hermione felt him inside her head, and tried to force him out. She was no challenge for Severus and he was shocked at the sight of himself rapidly pumping into her acquiescent body as she clung to him and begged for it. Embarrassment made him immediately retreat.

Tears were streaming down her flushed face.

"Now are you satisfied?" she gasped.

For a long moment, the Professor was speechless, staring down into her eyes, his breath coming in short gulps. A sound akin to a feral growl came from him as he attacked her mouth, his tongue thrusting inside.