Hogwarts Online

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DISCLAIMER: i own nothing; standard disclaimers apply.

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Hermione woke to the feel of the early morning sun on her body. She felt rested and warm. As she opened her eyes, she realized her head wasn’t lying on her pillow. Instead it was on the warm chest of Severus Snape. His chest was lean but fit and she could feel the fine muscles of his stomach under her hand.

Carefully, she lifted herself up on her elbow, and looked down at his face. His brow was softened in sleep, his jaw slack. His hair was rumpled and framed out about his head. She thought he looked beautiful.

She spent many years in his class, watching him terrorize and insult students. She spent months with him after her ordeal, working on the potion that helped Harry defeat Voldemort, watching his grace of movement, and intense concentration. The potion made Voldemort paranoid and confused. That’s the state of mind the most feared Dark Lord was in when he took his Death Eaters into battle. He himself took down several of his own in fear that they were coming at him. In reality, those Death Eaters were trying to take down Ron and Hermione who were protecting Harry. There were times after the war was over that Hermione laughed at the thought that Voldemort possibly saved her life.

Over the last week, she has been intrigued to find a side of Severus Snape that she was previously unfamiliar with. Oh, he could still be snarky, he wouldn’t be Severus if he wasn’t, but she heard him laugh, which turned her on to no end, she admitted to herself. His sense of humor was unique, and dark, just like him. She also saw that he was capable of compassion and kindness.

She enjoyed having him work with her on her project, having him being on the questioning side of potions. She was being a teacher not only in getting Hogwarts online, but in the science of chemistry, explaining how certain ingredients weren’t used for its’ whole, but for some component in it. They discussed it all on a level of colleagues, partners, not as a student or helper as she had been in the past.

Last night he really surprised her. First, by holding her while she cried, and next, by allowing her to hold him while he cried; to be so vulnerable to someone, and then have them return the gift to you. She could see the pain in his eyes, the guilt was written in every line of his face. That was why she never let them tell him about what happened. She knew that he would think it was his fault. It wasn’t, though. The Malfoy’s were all off their rockers and Draco had it in for her since she began Hogwarts, and Lucius had it in for Severus because he was jealous of him, of his power and strength.

She couldn’t help it – looking at his face, so peaceful and vulnerable in sleep – she reached out and ran her fingers through his hair. Another surprise there; his hair was soft and fine. He let out a low, throaty sound and it reverberated down her spine. She stroked his cheek then and watched as his eyes began to flutter open. She gave him a smile, and he smiled back. Hermione didn’t know why she did what she did next, she only knew that it felt right at that moment; she leaned down, and gave him a kiss.

It was a simple, chaste kiss, but the feel of his sleep warmed lips on hers elicited a light moan of contentment. Pulling away from the kiss, she blushed and hoped he wouldn’t be offended at her forwardness.

“Good morning, then?” he asked with a chuckle. She beamed a smile at him, sighing out of relief.

“Yes, it is. You sleep all right?” she asked. He stretched then; one arm reaching up above his head, his other that was still wrapped around her, tightened, as his muscles all snapped and popped back into life.

“I slept fine. You?” Hermione looked down shyly and nodded yes. At his vantage point below her, with her propped up ovim, im, he could see down her pajama top a bit. His first thought was relief to see that there were no open wounds this morning. His second was how wonderfully perfect the tops of her breasts looked, rounded and creamy. As soon as the thought came, he quickly looked back up at her and desperately wanted to get out of the bed. The last thing he needed was to embarrass either of them by her finding his morning erection.

Clearing his throat, he said, “Maybe we should get up? I’m afraid I need to stretch.”

“Oh!” taking his statement the wrong way, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to… I’m so sorry for being such a burden last night, you really didn’t need to stay, and…” She would have kept going for a full minute more, rambling in embarrassment, but he cut her off by grabbing the back of her head and dragging her down for another kiss. This one, while restrained, was not chaste. This one was a kiss of promise and feeling and it made her head spin and her heart race. He broke off the kiss and gave her a look that said ‘stop it, you silly girl.’

“Oh!” Hermione said again, her fingers flying up to touch her lips. That was about all she could say as Severus pulled his robe together and slid out of bed with his back to her, making sure his robe was fastened before turning back around and collecting his wand.

“What do you say to some fresh air this morning, Hermione? Breakfast out?”

She nodded dumat hat him, and he nodded back and left the room.

Hermione stared at the door he just walked out of for a moment before throwing her face down into her pillow and squealing like a school girl!

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Snape made it to the bathroom, and got ready for a crisp, cold shower. He had woken up to the exquisite feeling of her fingers in his hair and on his scalp. At first, he thought he was just dreaming – no one touched his hair on purpose – but then he felt her stroking his cheek, and he opened his eyes. For a moment, he thought he was looking at a feral angel; her hair was a wild mass of curls that caught the light from the window, making her face glow. Then she kissed him, and she let him kiss her back.

Taking off his robe and pants, Snape climbed into the shower and began washing up, still thinking about the kisses they had shared. Her lips were perfect, and she tasted like morning mist. He so wanted to devour her. He remembered the sight of the pale skin of her cleavage peeking at him from her top. Her breasts looked like they were his favorite size, as if he reached out and held one it would just fit in his hand. He remembered how shy and self-conscious she was of the scars she had showed him and it made his heart sting with sadness. If she ever gave him the chance, he would show her how beautiful she is, regardless of her scars.

He groaned, and realized that the cold shower wasn’t helping. Turning up the warm water, he grasped his cock in his hand, and began stroking. He imagined then; her breast in his hand, his tongue tracing around her nipples, his hands, followed by his mouth, stroking her body with both. He saw her face the way it looked this morning, with her red cheeks and that hair! It was riotous and she looked untamed. He imagined what she would look like as he touched her, what her face would look like if he dipped his fingers into her and stroked her clit with his tongue. How would she look if he entered her, pressing himself deep into her, thrusting into her? How would she look with her head tossed back in the throws of ecstasy? Oh, gods! How would it feel for him to be buried inside of her?

His breath hitched and he bit down on his lip to keep himself from screaming out her name as he came hard with those images floating behind his closed eyes. Reaching out with his free hand, he propped himself up against the cold tile wall, as his strokes slowed and his erection waned, sated for the moment.

Snape quickly finished washing, turned off the shower, and got out. As he was drying off, he looked at his back in the mirror, then turned and checked out his front. He had his own collage of scars, though nothing like and no where near the number of hers. He had a scar here or there from fights and duels. He knew how it felt to be held under Cruciatus and he knew how it felt to be kicked and beat down, but he’d never spent two solid weeks being tortured like that, let alone to relive it every night. She really was remarkable and strong, as well as beautiful and brilliant. She was the real deal, the whole package, everything he’d ever wanted and never thought he’d find. Only he did find it. He found it in one irritating, Gryffindor know-it-all. He decided then that he had to have her, all of her. He knew that the only way to have all of her, was for him to help her, help her find that last missing part, the part of her he oddly missed, too.

Smiling, he finished getting ready for breakfast. Yes, fresh air would do them both some good about now.

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They sat at a quaint diner a few blocks away with their cups of coffee, waiting for their breakfast to arrive. So far, they had both been lost in their own thoughts, sneaking glances at the other, and thinking about everything that had passed between them the night before and that morning. Finally, Hermione broke the silence.

“The web site is coming along nicely, Severus. I knew you wouldn’t have much trouble with the coding,” pride evident in her voice.

“Yes, well, I have a good teacher,” Snape admitted, nodding at Hermione. “Though I admit, that much of what I watch you type escapes me. I’m glad you are handling all of the back end whats’its.”

“Is that a technical term, Severus?” she said, and they started laughing. With the awkwardness of the morning finally dispelled, Snape’s face became very serious.

“I want to know why? Why wasn’t I ever told about your disappearance? Why weren’t we searching for you?”

“No one knew I was missing. Apparently Narcissa met my parents on the other side of the barrier and introduced herself as one of my school friend’s mother, then obliviated them. They went home thinking I was staying at Hogwarts for the holidays, and as far as everyone at Hogwarts was concerned, I was at home. Though I’m sure if I hadn’t escaped before that weekend was over everyone would have figured it out I was missing when I didn’t come back. Of course, I probably would have been dead by then.

“As for why no one ever told you, I asked them not to. I knew what you had to do as a spy, Severus. I even knew some of what you went through. I heard them talk about it at Grimmauld Place. I didn’t want to burden you with knowledge that wouldn’t be of any use after the fact. We all had a job to do. What I went through was a small price compared to what yave.ave.”

Severus was completely floored.

“Hermione, you can’t be serious. I’ve never gone through anything like you did.”

“Oh, please. Don’t make me out a fool,” she snapped. “I know perfectly well what you went through. The difference between us is that I suffered for two weeks, you suffered for years.”

“There is a huge difference between a couple hours here and a couple of hours there spread over time. What you went through would have broken lesser men, and to have suffered it over and over every night for the last three years?” She shook her head when he finished. He didn’t understand what he had meant to her back then.

“I got through that ordeal knowing that you survived what you had, you know. I was going to make it through, or die trying, just like you. Well,” she blushed, “that and thinking about how much studying I had to catch up on for my NEWTs.”

At this, Severus laughed. He laughed a deep and rich laugh, which made Hermione smile.

“Listen, I’m just sorry that such a vibrant young girl had to go through that if even in part because of some vendetta that a madman had out for me. You have matured into a wonderful woman, Hermione. But a part of me, just a little part, misses that bossy, self-assured hellion that used to be a part of you. I have a feeling that she was stolen that Christmas. Maybe we can find a part of her again.” He leaned forward towards Hermione across the booth

“I’m going to make a few calls,” he said in a voice just above a whisper. “I have a few favors I can call in, and if I can get into Malfoy’s old house, I know where he hid his dark texts. Hopefully they are still there. I can’t promise anything, but if the curse he placed on you is there, then…” he trailed off.

Hermione’s eyes went wide glistening with unshed tears at his news.

“I won’t get my hopes up, but any hope at all is better than I’ve had in years,” she rasped out.
Hermione’s mind was reeling. Any possibility of ending her nightmares was a good thing! She looked at Severus and saw his eyes looking back at her. She didn’t see pity for her or guilt for himself. She saw the look of someone who gave more than two Knuts about her.

“You know what, Severus?” she said as she reached out and pulled one of his hands into hers. “You really are a good friend.” He snorted, and she just shook her head at hi“So,“So, you may be the last person I’d expect to be my friend, with our past and all,” she winked at him, “but you have been. And not just because of last night. It’s hard to explain, but, well, I… I guess I’m just going to have to fall back on my Gryffindor bluntness and sentimentality and say it. I really don’t want to lose you after this project is over.” Her cheeks flushed and she looked down, not wanting to see the scowl that was creeping on his face when she began her speech.

She felt his other hand come to rest on top of hers and squeeze.

“Indeed,” was all he said, and she looked up to see the slightest of smiles on his face. Her heart jumped in relief that she wasn’t alone in whatever this was between them. At the very least, she wanted his friendship. She just put herself out there and it paid off. She shuddered to think if it didn’t, not believing her heart could handle another rejection.

The waitress walked up with their breakfasts, and their hands separated and they sat up straight. After she made sure they had everything they needed, she left, and they tucked in, talking about how their potion projects were coming along.

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When they got back to her house, Hermione headed upstairs to work on a few things after Snape told her he needed to use the floo and he’d be up shortly. Once he made sure she was in the office and settled in working, he tossed in some floo powder and called out “Headmaster Dumbledore’s Office,” and poked his head in.

“Ah, Severus, my boy! How is everything? How is the project coming along?” Dumbledore twinkled at Severus.

“That is coming along fine, Headmaster. But I had an interesting night last night.”

Dumbledore sighed, the twinkle in his eyes dimmed. He had no ulterior motive when sending Severus to Hermione, contrary to what most would believe. He knew of Hermione working in the web business from her letters to Minerva, and Minerva told him about Hermione’s idea of a Hogwarts web site to help muggle parents understand their kids and the school. So he personally talked to Hermione about the idea and they decided that having a Hogwarts professor who knew the site would be helpful in case there were any problems and she wasn’t available to help. She had agreed that Severus would be the most likely to grasp and understand coding. Professor Vector would also have been a good choice, but she was going abroad this summer.

He knew what Severus had found out, and was expecting a hailstorm of venomous words to come flying through any second.

“Why didn’t you come to me for help in finding a counter-curse for Hermione?” Snape said with a minimum amount of bite. The Headmaster looked shocked at the lack of heat coming from his Potions Master.

“I promised Hermione, Severus. She didn’t want to burden you while you still had your own duties to attend.”

“What about afterwards, Albus? I’m the one person you know who knows about both the Black Arts and Lucius Malfoy. But I suppose I can’t take away the last three years of nightmares now, so that’s all moot. I do, however, need you to get me into the old Malfoy Manor.”

“You know that the Steneroff’s bought that place as a summer home and are there now. Why do you need to get in there?”

“I know where Lucius hid his rarer books; the ones that wouldn’t have been on the shelves in the study. Most important, I know where he hid thee book, the one that has the private Malfoy Family Curses. As long as no one has stumbled across them, they should be there as I doubt the Ministry Aurors are that swift.”

Dumbledore’s eyes began to twinkle again, rivaling the fairy lights he strung up everywhere at Christmas time.

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