Mastering Temptation

CHAPTER EIGHT: Explosions







When Severus had set out looking for Hermione, he had not expected to find her in the main hall overseeing a study period. He had been stumped when a delivery service had arrived and wanted to know what to do with the decorations for the student’s All Hallows Eve party. Severus could have cared less about party decorations and had no idea what to tell the man, so the boxes were now stacked in the middle of his office.





She was standing with a group of second years who were brewing a simple giggle potion for class.





“Now it’s very important that you add the dragonfly blood a drop at a time, don’t forget, one drop at a time.” She said, ruffling the dark curls of Nathan Longbottom, Neville’s little cousin. “Very good, Nathan. Now Claire, you get the remaining ingredients measured out and check them twice.”





“Ms. Granger did you have Professor O’Donnell for Potions?” The little brunette asked as she measured out her ingredients.





“No, Claire. Headmaster Snape was my Potions Professor.” Hermione said, smiling.





“Ooo, was he mean?” The young girl asked her eyes wide. Severus remained near the wall, out of sight as he listened.





“He wasn’t mean, but he wouldn’t stand for nonsense either. Potion making is very serious, and he wanted his students to understand that.” Hermione said. “You have way too many lacewing flies there Claire, measure them over again.”





“He scares me.” Nathan said, giving an exaggerated shiver.





“There is no need to fear him, he would never harm a hair on your head, I promise you.” Hermione said, smoothing the boys curls once more.





Was she defending him to the students? He stepped away from the wall to approach her when she yelled.



“No, Claire that’s too much!” Hermione shoved Nathan, Claire and another student out of the way as she drew her wand just before the cauldron exploded. The containment spell she cast didn’t completely hold the blast at bay and the force shoved her backwards. She braced herself to land on the hard, stone floor and when she didn’t, she slowly opened her tightly shut eyes. Whatever she had landed on groaned slightly.





Hermione rolled over and looked down at her surprise cushion. Severus lay there looking up at her, looking slightly dazed and she worried he was concussed.





“Oh, my god, sir are you alright?” Hermione said, reaching up to push his hair from his face so she could feel his head for injuries, oblivious to the curious students gathering round them.





“I thought my days of getting blown up by a Longbottom were over.” He grumbled. Hermione started laughing and the corner of his mouth twitched slightly as he fought the urge to laugh with her.





“Are you sure you didn’t hurt your head?” She asked, shifting slightly.





“My head is fine, but could you please remove your knee before you do serious damage.” He said, bringing his hands up to her waist to help shift her off of him without him being emasculated in the process.





“Oh! I didn’t even realize I was still on top of you!” She shifted her weight gingerly so as not to hurt him and knelt on the floor beside him, a big smile on her face. “Are you sure you are alright? It has been a long time since a student exploded a cauldron on you.”





“I’ll be fine.” He said, shoving to his feet and brushing off his robes. He looked down at her, kneeling on the floor looking up at him and extended his hand to assist her.





“What happened here?” Professor Flitwick asked.





“Oh, you’re back, good, Nathan and Claire had a little accident, but they are going to clean it up. When it’s good as new they will each be writing a paper about safety in potion making.” Hermione said, staring down at the two embarrassed students. “I told you to measure carefully Claire, and to check twice. Potion making is an exact science and miscalculations can have very serious consequences. Nathan, when you partner with someone, you have to be aware of their actions as well, you are just as responsible. Next time, please be more careful.” She laid her hands on their shoulders so that they knew she wasn’t angry, only concerned.





“Yes, Ms. Granger.” They said in unison, then stared their cleanup.







Hermione turned back to Severus and tilted her head to the side slightly

“Why are you in study period?” She asked.





“I was looking for you.” He said. “A deliveryman left several boxes of decorations for the students All Hallows Eve festival.”





“Oh, well I’ll go take care of it.” She said. She looked down at her clothes and frowned slightly. “I should take care of this too.”





“You have a scratch on your head; I think a shard from the cauldron caught you. I have healing potion in my lab….” Hermione nodded and made her way back towards their office with him close behind her. She walked straight through the outer chamber and into his office where several boxes were waiting. She withdrew her wand and reduced the size, then sent them to sit on top of the bookcases.





“Well, that was easy enough.” She said with a soft laugh.





“I should have thought about that.” He mumbled before disappearing into his little lab for a few minutes and returning with a couple of small vials and a glass of water. Hermione was leaning on the edge of his desk, her clothing back to normal.





“What is all that?” She asked as he set the items on his desk beside her.





“Water, disinfectant and healing ointment.” He said, reaching into his pocket for a crisp white handkerchief. “Hold still.” He said, dipping the cloth into the water and then pouring a little of the disinfectant onto it as well. “You are very good with the students; you would have made a fine teacher.” He said as he dabbed the moistened corner of the cloth onto her cut, she winced at the slight sting and then responded.





“I considered it. But I like what I do. I like keeping things organized and running smoothly.” She said.





“I saw the new photograph of you with a baby on your desk, you seem to like children.” He said while gently cleansing her wound.





“I like him. That’s James Potter, Harry and Ginny’s new baby.” She said, watching him. Why hadn’t she ever noticed that his hair wasn’t greasy, just silky and fine?





“I figured as much, he looks like his father.” Severus said as he dipped his fingertip into the vial of healing ointment.





“He does.” She whispered, her stomach was filled with a small army of butterflies that were waging war. He brushed his fingertip over her forehead, applying the ointment that instantly began to heal the small wound.





“That should just about do it.” He said quietly. When had they gotten so close?





“Thank you, you didn’t have to tend to me, I could have gone to Madam Pomfrey.” She said, wetting her lips with the tip of her tongue. Severus swallowed hard and stared longingly at the plump, glistening pinkness of her mouth.





“No need…..you have soot on your nose.” He reached up and used his thumb to wipe away the black smudge. Why hadn’t he ever noticed how good she smelled? Like vanilla and cinnamon.





“Severus…” Her eyes were half closed and her heart was pounding when his name slipped past her lips. She brushed her mouth against his, testing his reaction.





“This isn’t a good idea.” He said, but made no move to step away from her.





“Probably not.” She said, her hands coming up to rest at his waist as their noses rubbed gently against each other.





“We work together.” He said, his hands sliding up her arms and resting on her shoulders.







“It’s very unprofessional.” She whispered, her fingers curling into his jacket.





“Very.” They were so close they were sharing breath.



“Do it anyhow.” She said, tilting her chin up so that their lips met. Soft and still at first, but then her lips parted on a sigh and she felt the tip of his tongue brush against her and she moaned softly into his mouth. The kiss was slow, wet and he showed gentleness in his handling of her that she would have never dreamed him capable of. His hands slid into her hair as he stepped closer to her, holding her pressed along the front of him as he explored her mouth and reveled in her response to him.





Hermione was lost. She had never done anything so reckless, so unprofessional, and so unbelievably fantastic in her entire life. His kiss was pure decadence, something she could easily find herself addicted to. The rational part of her brain was screaming at her to end it, she was becoming a cliché, the secretary seducing her boss but the longer he kissed her the more she was able to block that voice.





She whimpered in protest when he broke the kiss and put a few inches of space between them. When she opened her eyes they were glazed over with desire and he groaned softly before nipping at her lower lip and kissing her again briefly. They were both breathing heavily, searching for something, anything that might explain or excuse the kiss.







“This is going to get complicated.” He said softly. “I knew the minute I saw you again that this was going to be complicated.”







“Do you want me to resign?” She asked, hoping he said no.







“No, but this thing…..whatever this is……we can’t do this here…..” He said.







“I agree…..but gods I want you to kiss me again…..” She let her head fall forward so that her forehead rested against his chest where his heart pounded.





“We need to talk, but this isn’t the right place to do it.” He said. He knew he shouldn’t get involved with her, but he was incapable of resisting her.







“My house, after work, I’ll make you dinner.” She said. Severus took a deep breath and slid his hands from her hair. Their eyes met as he took two steps back from her and he felt his pulse kick up again instantly.





“I’ll be there around seven.” He said, his velvety voice making her shiver. “For now, I think it would be best if you left me alone before I decide I don’t care where we are.”





Hermione sucked in a quick breath and her body immediately responded to the soft threat. She pulled her lower lip between her teeth and took a shaky step towards the door, stopping in front of him briefly.





“I’m going to forget you said that last bit, Severus, because it just makes me want to stay.” She whispered before stepping around him and out the door.