The Rules of Engagement

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Chapter 9

Meeting Wubby


Severus lead the way back to the kitchen. Hermione was very interested to meet this Wubby. He stopped at the kitchen door and looked back at her. Hermione was getting annoyed with Severus’ attitude and pushed the door open herself. The door opened into a fairly large kitchen. Tinker was moving about at a frantic speed, which seemed to be his usual. The other elf in the room only appeared older because she moved slower and her skin was a mottled grayish green instead of a shiny gray green like Tinker’s. The older elf also had a tuft of white hair on top of her head that was tied together with a large blue bow and had been carefully curled into three distinct ringlets. When the creature turned around, Hermione almost gasped at the large bright blue eyes appraising her. She had never seen a house-elf with blue eyes.

Severus walked over and bent almost double to give the small creature a kiss on the top of her head. He stood back up and looked nervously at Hermione. “This is Miss Granger, Wubby. The young lady I was telling you about.” Hermione almost laughed. The way Severus talked to Wubby sounded like the way people talked to Hermione’s grandmother.

“A bit plain, but she looks sturdy enough,” Wubby’s voice came out in short clipped words.

“Wubby, now …,” Severus started, but was waved off by a small green hand. Wubby didn’t even look at him, as her full attention was on Hermione.

“My Severus tells me you are his best pupil.” Huge sapphire blue eyes looked at her questioningly.

“I said, one of my best,” he protested, sounding like a twelve year old.

“What is the Latin name for Lavender?” Wubby asked in a tone as demanding as any used in the Professor’s classes.

“Lavendula augustifolia or Levendula spica is Common Lavender,” Hermione answered automatically.

“And what is Mentha piperita vulgaris?” the elf asked. Severus stood with his arms crossed looking almost pleased.

“That would be Peppermint,” Hermione answered politely.

“What would you use Blessed Thistle for?”

“It brings strength & protection. Used in healing and hex breaking potions,” Hermione answered as she gave Severus a small smile.

“When would you administer Red Lichen Potion?” Hermione lost the smug look that must have been residing on her face.

“I’m not sure exactly,” Hermione said, looking to Severus for help. “I know it’s used for damage to the Nervous System, but I’m not certain for what injury it would work best.” She was uncomfortable with not having the correct answer at her finger tips.

“Good, quite good,” Wubby said, nodding her head. “Excellent stock of knowledge, but not afraid to say when she does not know the answer.” Severus looked relieved. Hermione let out a little sigh.

“When is the wedding?” the elf demanded. Hermione blushed and Severus stuttered.

“It …we… I told you, Miss Granger had not made a decision yet. She has two other suitors.”

The old elf let out a snort and tossed her three curls to one side. “The choice between two boys and a man? That is not a difficult problem for the likes of this young lady to solve.” Hermione felt almost complimented.

“Leave us” Wubby demanded.

“Now Wubby, we agreed. . .” But he didn’t get to finish the thought. Wubby snapped her long green fingers and Severus and Tinker disappeared instantly. Perhaps Severus hadn’t been joking about Wubby turning her into something. Hermione looked nervously at the old elf.

“Why is this a difficult decision for you?” Wubby asked, her tone somewhat softer now that they didn’t have an audience.

“I …um …I hadn’t really planned on marrying so soon.”

“Yes, my Severus told me about the marriage law. He thinks it most unfair.” Wubby’s eyes had softened too, though they were still keeping a careful watch of her.

“He is a good man, my Severus,” Wubby said as she turned and walked back to the sink. Hermione, not knowing what else to do, followed her. Hermione was shocked to see the old elf was washing dishes by hand. Why would a being so powerful choose to do such tedious manual labor?

“I think so, too,” Hermione said, quickly as she realized she had not replied. The old elf placed her hands back into the hot soapy water and turned to look at Hermione who had picked up a towel to dry the already clean dishes. Wubby raised, what would have been an eyebrow on a human, but was just skin on her, at Hermione.

“If you know he is a good man, he can obviously provide for you. . .” she said, indicating the manor. “and is completely besotted with you, what else is there to think about?”

Hermione almost dropped the platter she had been drying. “ Be . . . be . . .besotted? The Professor? With me?”

“Come now child. You are the first girl my Severus has ever brought to meet me. He wants us to get along or he would have stormed right back down here from his room.” Oh, that was where she sent them. Kind of a funny thought that a nearly forty year old man gets sent to his room.

“But he’s never . . . I mean . . . He’s my Professor. We’ve never really . . . and I have another petitioner that might be a good match,” Hermione fumbled for something to say. Could the Professor . . . Severus really like her? “And . . . I’m not sure I could love him.”

The elf let out a sound that must have been a chuckle. “Love is something that comes later, my dear. Honestly, I think it was better when these things were arranged. None of this frilly love talk.”

“You don’t believe in love?” Hermione asked incredulously, then she worried she might have offended the creature.

Bright blue eyes turned from their work and widened at her. “Of course I believe in love, my dear, but love takes time and unless I am very much mistaken time is not a luxury you have at the moment.”

Hermione looked down at the glass in her hand. “True,” she sighed. “I don’t know what to do. Everyone is telling me to choose the Professor, but . . . I . . . I think my heart has chosen Rose.”

Hermione startled at the sound of Severus clearing his throat by the door. She looked him in the eye and could not mistake the hurt she saw there before he looked away.

“We should be going soon. Did Wubby show you the pictures you asked about?” Severus said, coming fully into the room.

“What pictures?” Wubby asked, her large eyes following Severus as he tried not to look at either of them.

“I wondered if you would have any pictures of Severus as a boy,” Hermione said. The elf’s eyes filled with the light of love.

“Of course I do. Get the album out of my room, Severus,” she said. The dark man obeyed immediately. He came back out with a large picture album. Handing it to her, their eyes locked.

“Severus, I . . .”

“I will fetch our cloaks,” he said quietly, turning and leaving the room again. Hermione sat at the small table in the kitchen and opened the album. She came across a family picture. A fair haired man with the same build and nose as Severus stood next to an exotic looking black haired beauty with black eyes. A black haired toddler was laughing in his father’s arms. Tears began to well up in Hermione’s eyes, they looked so happy. Life had been so unfair to Severus and now Hermione felt as if she were delivering yet another blow.

“Yes, that is my Miranda,” Wubby said fondly. The elf was standing next to her looking at the same picture. Hermione took a deep breath trying to will away the tears in her eyes. “I was an Avery elf before I came here with my Miranda. Silas made her happy. Just goes to show how an arranged marriage can turn out.”

“They’re marriage was arranged?”

“Oh my, yes. My Miranda was so frightened when she came here . . . with Silas being older.”

“He was older than her. . . by how much?”

“Nineteen years, not so much really,”

Nineteen years? Hermione studied the wizard picture. They all looked so happy. Miranda was smiling broadly at her husband and child. Lovingly, Hermione thought. She looked back at the elf who smiled at her.

“You take that with you, my dear. Have a good look at the pictures. My Severus can bring it back next time he visits.”

“Thank you.” Was all Hermione could think to say. Severus came back into the kitchen with their cloaks. His mood was very subdued and it gave Hermione a pain in her chest. She hadn’t meant to hurt him. She had never imagined she could hurt him.

Severus placed her cloak around her shoulders, then walked over and gave Wubby a kiss on her head.

“I will expect to see you soon,” Wubby told Severus firmly.

“When I can get away,” he replied.

“Soon,” the elf said more forcefully. The small creature walked over to Hermione. “I am glad to have met you, my dear. Think about what I said.” She then turned from them both and went back to her work.

They said, a brief good bye to Tinker, then apparated back to Hogwarts. This time Severus let go of her almost immediately, but he politely and silently offered his arm. Instead of taking it, she clasped his hand, feeling the warmth radiating from his skin. He stiffened, but when she did not let go, he resigned himself to it and started walking to the school.

Hermione wondered about this sudden change in the man who had been her teacher for six plus years. He had been so open with her today, she felt like she had broken something fragile. He would find it even more difficult now to open up to someone else. There had to be a way to fix this.

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Severus’ heart began to race as soon as her small hand found his, the feel of her skin on his almost too much to bear. Stupid man, he thought. Stupid to get your hopes up. A young brilliant witch like Hermione would never shackle herself to an unattractive, old, grouchy, Ex-Death Eater. It was foolish to imagine. How much simpler this would have been if the marriage were to be in name only. ‘Easier? Really?’ the voice in his head asked. No, he would probably still be acting the fool around her.

He look down at her as he walked her to Gryffindor Tower. Hermione turned and gave him a shy smile. Rosemond Green was a lucky man to hold the heart of such a woman. And she was a woman. Severus was at a loss now to understand how he could not have noticed before. As they reached her door, he prepared himself to say a quick good night and then leave with some measure of dignity.

“Would you like to come in for tea?” Hermione asked as she opened her door. He knew she was just being polite.

“No, Miss Granger, perhaps we should both get some rest,” Severus said, beginning to turn to leave.

“Severus, wait. Please come in, I think we should talk.”

“There is no need. I understand perfectly,” he said, his snippy tone seeping back into his voice.

“You don’t understand anything!,” Hermione said, that fire coming into her eyes again. She looked around and sighed. “Could we at least not argue in the hallway?”

Severus didn’t like it, but she was right. No need for the whole school to know she had rejected him.

“Fine,” he said, then breezed past her into the room. He took off her cloak and his own, and hung them by the door, while he heard her ordering tea from the kitchens. They sat in silence on the couch. When the tea arrived, Hermione poured out a cup for each of them. Severus set his on the table in front of him untouched.

“I’m sorry you heard what I said to Wubby.”

“Why? You were only being honest,” he said, trying with all his might not to sound hurt.

“No . . . I. . . well, I mean yes I was but. . . oh! The truth is I don’t know my mind right now. I’m having to make a decision that will effect the rest of my life, in a few days time. A decision I should not even have to make yet.” Hermione set down her teacup, scooted closer to him and picked up one of his hands drawing it into her lap. “The truth is I like you both for different reasons. What you did today . . . Taking me to your home, talking openly with me, any woman would be lucky to marry you.”

Severus swallowed, looking at their joined hands waiting for the ‘but’ in her speech. When none came he thought it was time for him to speak.

“I understand this is a big decision and I would like to make it easier for you. You should marry Mr. Green,” Severus said. Hermione’s brow creased as she looked at him. “I still offer you my protection. I cannot guarantee Mr. Green’s safety, but I will do what I can.”

He half expected her to be ecstatic that he had backed out. But she was staring hard at him and if he wasn’t mistaken her eyes kept darting to his lips.

“Kiss me, Severus.”

“Pardon?” he asked flustered.

“Kiss me. My other dates included kissing and I don’t think that small kiss in your bedroom counts,” she said, with a grin. Now he found himself staring at her lips.

“I do not think that is appropriate, Hermione,” Severus said softly, but his heart was racing again. She scooted even closer to him.

“And why is that?” she asked watching his lips again.

“Be . . . because you have made your choice.”

“I haven’t chosen. You gave me your opinion. I’ll take it into consideration. But first I’d like to have all the facts.” Hermione leaned in, her face getting closer. Without thinking, he was leaning towards her and was almost shocked when their lips met. Hermione’s lips were soft, warm and moist. They moved over his gently. Severus responded in a controlled fashion; no need to scare the girl.

Hermione pulled back suddenly and looked at him annoyed. “Don’t hold back, Severus. You’ve been open and honest with me all day. Don’t stop now.”

“You do not know what you are asking,” he said. A devilish smile played at her lips.

“Show me then.”

Then her lips were on his again. Something inside him broke loose and he gathered her into his arms and kissed her soundly, as he had wanted to do for several days. He deepened the kiss, forcing his tongue into her mouth, but she let out a whimper of encouragement and threaded her hand through his hair. Hermione rested her head back on the couch letting him ravage her mouth. Severus became lost in the softness of her, the smell, the taste. Everything about her encouraged him. She felt so good pressed to him, her flesh soft under his hands. A low moan came from deep in her chest and it was then he realized his hand was cupping her breast, his thumb circling her hard nipple.

Severus pulled back as if scorched, disengaging himself from her arms. “I must go,” he said, standing and retrieving his cloak quickly. At the door, he turned to take one last look at Hermione. Her young face appeared confused, her eyes bright, her lips swollen and moist. He left the room immediately before he changed his mind.

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Hermione sat dumbfounded at Severus’ hasty retreat. Had her kiss been that awful? She knew she didn’t have much experience, but he seemed to be enjoying it. Draco said she was a good kisser and Rose never complained. Maybe it was the difference in age and experience. Severus must have had more than a few lovers in his time. Perhaps he found her too naïve.

Maybe when he told her to marry Rose, he had really been saying he didn’t want to marry her, now that he knew her better and had kissed her. Well . . . maybe she should pick Rose, he liked her kisses and had come back for more. He was handsome, smart, wealthy and HE liked her. She could tell him of the threat against them and let him choose.

Hermione’s anger began to boil over as she got ready for bed. Severus might be a powerful wizard, but it didn’t mean he was the right wizard for her. She lay in bed fuming for nearly an hour before she began to calm down. As she did, she ran the memory of Rose’s kisses through her mind, remembering how it felt to be in his arms. Severus’ kisses were too demanding, too consuming and to her shame she had reacted to them. She sighed and rolled onto her back, still feeling the dull throbbing in her loins. It was because he was her teacher, that must be it. Forbidden fruit and all that. Many girls fantasized about teachers, especially since Remus came back to teach. Hermione never had, or never had directly.

Hermione finally gave in to her body’s needs and began stroking herself lightly over her knickers. If it was a teacher fantasy her body craved, she could think about Remus. He was tall, handsome, kind. Nope. Love him as she did, thinking of him was getting her nowhere. Rose. Yes. Think about Rose. The sparkle in his eye, the roguish up-turn of his lips. Nice lips that moved nicely over hers. He had sucked her bottom lip into his mouth and bit it gently. Hermione moaned at the memory. She threw her knickers off to give herself free access to her pulsing flesh.

Another soft moan came from her as she imagined what might have happened if Rose had come to her bedroom last night. She imagined them both naked, in her bed. She tried to imagine the feel of his body pressed between her thighs. Him entering her slowly while kissing her, then moving in a smooth rhythm, while leaving room enough between them for her to stimulate herself. She groaned impatiently needing more. Rose’s kisses turned more demanding, more passionate and she felt herself speeding towards the edge. Then his head lifted, dark eyes boring into hers, his large nose nuzzling hers as he whispered her name.

“Severus,” Hermione gasped out loud, throwing her over the edge and making her body arch off the bed. She panted, still breathless from her climax.

“Oh, bugger!,” she said, throwing her head back on the pillow.


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When Severus reached the safety of his rooms, he threw his cloak aside and strode over to the armchair by the fire. A whispered spell while running his hand over his buttons opened both vest and shirt. He undid his trousers quickly and pulled his weeping red length to freedom. He would have breathed a sigh of relief, but he was shaking with too great a need. One hand ran over his chest as the other gripped his shaft, stroking himself hurriedly.

Sweet Merlin, he could still taste her on his lips, could almost smell her perfume. His breathing grew more ragged as he imagined the hand stroking him to be Hermione’s. He groaned loudly as he imagined her pinching his nipple with her mouth, while making that whimper again deep in her throat. Finally, his mind couldn’t form a proper scenario anymore, all his brain could do was give him brief snatches of memories. The moistness of her lips, the smell of her hair, the press of her body, the heaving of her breast under his hand, the soft sound of his name leaving her lips.

“Oh , gods . . . Hermione,” Severus called as his hips snapped up and his release splattered onto his chest and stomach. Stroking himself a few more times, he finally let out a shaky sigh . . . then a groan.

“Blasted hell!,” he managed to gasp out as his head fell back into the chair.

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