Alternative Remedies

Title: Alternative Remedies
Author: Ira
Notes: Just a bit of cheesy and corny smut. Set and written before HBP. Hermione is 18 in this fic.
DISCLAIMER: Guess what – I’m not JKR and these characters are not mine.

Severus Snape had a headache. In fact he’d had a headache for three days now. It had of course heralded the start of a new school year and the new legion of dunderhead Gryffindors that were brought to his class.

He had used every last drop of headache potion he had in stock and was frankly pissing himself off with his unrelenting crankiness. The final straw was when he could no longer stand the sound of his own quill scratching its usual tirade of abuse across a fifth year’s homework.

Throwing the offending object down he stood and made the reluctant decision to go and see Madame Pomfrey. The woman reminded him of a cranky old hen – clucking bad temperedly around all who needed her; but Severus reminded himself - she is also probably the most intelligent and skilled healer outside of St Mungo\'s.

Slamming his office door behind him, he jerked albeit practically invisibly as bolts of pain shot up the back of his neck and across his forehead at the same time. Ignoring the pain as best he could he strode to the hospital wing glaring at passing students although he could not find the will to actually stop and berate any of them. He hadn’t slept for the past few days and frankly he felt exhausted.

Reaching the hospital wing he knocked only briefly before stalking in. He could see the Mediwitch rooting around in a cupboard beneath the nurses’ station, obviously looking for something she had misplaced. Severus rolled his eyes; he never failed to be appalled at the sheer lack of organisation that most of his colleagues displayed. Frankly it was dangerous and he was most surprised at Madame Pomfrey. He had always found her to be reasonably efficient in the past.

She obviously hadn’t heard him enter over all the noise she was making, shuffling and shifting objects around. Tired of waiting he cleared his throat impatiently. Well, it did the trick, even if she did bump her head on the desk as she stood up in haste, startled by the sudden noise. Severus had just started to bite back a smirk when his face froze and his eyes widened in disbelief. It wasn’t Madame Pomfrey who stood rubbing her banged head. Indeed, it took a moment for him recognise her; what with her hair tied back into a long plait and her starched Mediwitch robes and all.

“Miss Granger!” he spat, not trying to conceal his surprise or distaste at the sight of her.

“Professor Snape. How can I help you?” the annoying chit replied, tossing her head and returning his stare. Her voice though, maintained at least a parody of politeness as she spoke to him.

He suddenly remembered that Albus had mentioned that a new Mediwitch had been appointed to help Madame Pomfrey this year. Just his luck, although unsurprising that Albus had chosen Gryffindor’s notorious know it all as said assistant. Severus had always suspected that Hermione Granger would one day return to the school, but he had always assumed that it would be a) In a teaching capacity and b) long enough after his departure for him to not only not care, but also not know about it. Whatever the reason she had chosen to return as a Mediwitch he wasn’t really interested. Right now he just wanted to get rid of the annoying girl and get some help for his headache. “Where is Madame Pomfrey?” he seethed between gritted teeth.

“She’s not here Professor Snape, may I help?” replied Hermione smoothly, who was after seven years, well used to and unaffected by the sharpness of his tone. That said, she peered at him cautiously, suddenly aware that all was not right with the Potions Master. “Are you unwell Sir?” she enquired, a trace of concern in her voice.

Severus rolled his eyes, “Do you imagine I am here to discuss knitting patterns Miss Granger?” he barked. “Just give me some headache relieving potion and I will be on my way.”

“You have a headache?” said the young witch before him, apparently surprised by this revelation. He opened his mouth to offer a sharp retort but she interrupted him, “Surely you have a store of your own potion Professor Snape?” she said, eying him warily now.

Severus stared her, a look of disbelief on his face at the girl’s insolence. Between gritted teeth he snarled at her, “Miss Granger, you may no longer be a pupil at this school but I should remind you that your new…position here does not give you the right to cross examine me. Kindly retrieve the potion I require and then I shall be on my way.”

He saw her tilt her head and even before she spoke knew that she was not about to give in that easily. He was right. “Actually, Professor Snape, as Mediwitch I do have the right to question you; especially when it is evident that your headache is so severe that you have used all of you own, no doubt, plentiful stock of analgesia.”

Severus stared at her, his teeth were clenched so tightly that his jaw was beginning to ache and he was aware of the little muscle in his temple twitching violently now. He also knew that she did in fact have the right to question him and that he could not cope with this headache for much longer. Damn Madame Pomfrey he thought to himself wondering if he could last it out until she returned.

If he didn’t know better he’d have said she read his mind. “Madame Pomfrey won’t be back until tomorrow.” Hermione said quietly, meeting his glare and returning it with a calm gaze. They continued to stare at each other for a long moment before he finally made his decision.

“I have had a headache for three days,” he began simply, “I have used copious amounts of analgesic potions with no effect.”

Hermione merely nodded and he favoured he could hear her mind spinning. “Any other symptoms?” she enquired, her tone all business like and formal.

Severus sighed, he may as well tell her the lot and get it over with, “I haven’t been sleeping well as a result, and of course that has worsened my headaches. The pains have also started to affect my neck,” he said stiffly.

“You haven’t used dreamless sleep potion?” she enquired. Severus just shook his head and was mildly impressed that she just nodded her response but said nothing. He never used such potions; he had long since learned the need to be on guard at all times. He would not risk a potion affecting his senses in such a way that could hinder the alertness of his senses.

Her voice startled him out of his momentary reverie. “Would you remove your outer robes please?” came her tentative question.

He looked at her incredulously. “I will need to examine your neck as well as your head,” she explained calmly. Severus hesitated only a moment before complying. Perhaps she did know what she was doing after all. Tossing his top layers of clothing on to a nearby chair he stood glaring at the wall behind her as she drifted her wand across his body at a distance of around six inches, muttering a familiar incantation as she assessed his overall physical health. She spoke her findings aloud as she went, “no evidence of poisoning to the blood…no hexes, curses or charms present…except for one of course,” she finished as her wand lingered over his shirt-covered forearm.

To her credit she met his eyes and showed no hint of any underlying fear or disgust at his dark mark.

“Sit on the bed please,” she instructed, and to both their surprise he complied without question. Hermione walked around the other side of the narrow bed so she was now looking at the back of him.
He heard the hesitancy in her voice, “I will need to touch you now,” Severus suspected she was trembling a little…well so she might. “I can assure you that I will neither crumble beneath your touch or burn your fingers Miss Granger,” he snapped, “Now can we just get on with it - some of us haven’t got all day you know.”

He heard her sharp intake of breath and regretted his sharpness; a bumbling Mediwitch would not be an effective one. “Please continue Miss Granger,” he said in a gentler, but still dangerous tone.

When he felt the first brush of her finger tips across his neck he stiffened slightly, unused as he was to the intimacy of another’s touch. He felt her fingers push past his hair to skim the back of his neck as she tried to examine the nape of his neck. “Could you undo your shirt please?” she said, her voice full of obviously false confidence. Silently he undid the buttons of his shirt and eventually slid it off and threw it to the nearby chair to join his other garments.

“Thank you Sir,” she said quietly, “that will make things much easier.” He snorted softly. “I trust I can keep my trousers on?” he drawled sardonically and was relieved when she did not answer but merely got on with things.

Closing his eyes he endured her touch as she examined his neck and shoulders. Her hands were cool on his skin and it was unnervingly pleasant. He gritted his teeth as the young Mediwitch’s hands carefully travelled across his skin. She was thorough in her examination…possibly too thorough for his liking. He felt her touch become firmer as she sought to examine his deeper muscles and he found it strangely relaxing. A few minutes later she asked him to lie face down on the bed while she collected a potion.

He was surprised but in too much pain to argue about it. Pulling his legs up he flipped onto his stomach and lay on the bed as requested. When Hermione returned she unstoppered a potion bottle and poured a liberal dash of the viscous, clear liquid onto her palm. Rubbing it between her hands briefly she then began to apply the lotion to his shoulders and neck

The potion was cinnamon scented and warm from her hands as she spread it across his skin. Her small hands sought out his muscles and it was evident that she was not merely applying tincture. He lifted his head and began to speak, “Miss Granger…”
He felt her hand travel across his shoulders and onto the back of his neck. Gently but firmly she pushed his head back down to the bed.

“Professor Snape,” she said her voice quiet but compelling, “Your muscles are full of tension and this is contributing to your head and neck pain. I have no analgesia stronger than you have already tried. The systematic manipulation of your muscles will relax the tension within them and ease your pain. It will also reduce your headache and make you more receptive to the dose of pain relief potion that I shall administer afterwards.”

Suddenly tired, Severus relented. He was by now in so much pain that he had not the inclination to respond further, and anyway it did feel rather good.

Hermione continued to run her hands across his shoulders and neck. Seeking out the knots of tension within him, she massaged his taught muscles with a skill that surprised him. Hermione kneaded and stroked and soothed his aches away and his focus on his pain diminished. He felt his body grow heavy on the bed as her fingers worked their own special kind of magic.

His mind was relaxing with his body and he felt a warm sense of detachment envelop him. The smell of the cinnamon enveloped him and it felt as though the world around him had shrunk. All he was aware of was his own warmth, the soft rustle of Hermione’s robes as she moved, and the feeling of her fingertips dancing over his skin. She was close to him now, leaning over him and into him as she sought to tend him. At times he felt her breath whisper across his skin, caught a whiff of her own vanilla scent mingling with that of the cinnamon; felt the fleeting caress of a linen covered breast as she moved around him.

She moved closer to him, her hips touching the side of his torso. Her touch became lighter and he knew she was preparing to complete his treatment. He was no longer aware of his head throbbing but felt a sudden pull in the pit of his stomach and he felt slightly dizzy at the sensation and what it signified. Her strokes were so light now as to be caresses, and he felt her fingers wander across his scarred skin, tracing the faint white lines of old injuries as if her very touch could heal them too. For a second he almost believed she could.

He raised and turned his head a little, his glance quizzical and confused. For a second she looked shocked, and their eyes locked together, each searching for something neither could say.
“Does that feel better?” she said in such a low voice as to almost be a whisper.
Severus nodded curtly, “Surprisingly yes Miss Granger,” he replied, having regained his composure sooner than she realised he had lost it.

She nodded back and stepped away from him, wiping her hands on a towel, her eyes lowered to her task. For this he was grateful, as he was keen to avoid displaying the fact that she had done more than relax him. Indeed a certain part of his anatomy had indeed responded in completely the opposite way to her ministrations. Unfortunately, at the same time he chose to sit up and reach for his clothes Hermione also happened to look over at him. Her mouth that had opened to speak quickly shut again. He saw her drag her eyes away from his crotch and up to his face.

“Miss Granger,” he began curtly, “I apologize. A mere physical response you understand…” He trailed off as she stepped towards him. Her eyes again dropped to his erection and when she looked up at him again her lips parted and she gazed at him with an odd look in her eye. Closing the gap between them Hermione reached out to him. She hesitated in her movements for but a second before letting her fingers rest on the waistband of his trousers.

She looked up at him, her lips still parted, her cheeks flushed now and he saw lust in her eyes. He pulled her towards him and slowly, hesitantly at first, their lips met. One of her hands came to rest on his shoulder, her caresses of earlier resuming and becoming more intimate. Her fingers slowly moved across his torso, exploring every inch of him and setting his skin alight with the fire of a passion long forgotten. Her other hand still rested on the waistband of his trousers, except now she was dipping her fingers beneath it to caress the course hair that travelled from his navel downward.

Severus had begun his own exploration of Hermione’s body. He entwined his fingers in her hair as he deepened their kiss, exploring her mouth with his tongue, and letting his teeth graze her lips. Soon his hands moved to caress the delicate skin of her neck and he followed with his mouth, licking and gently nibbling eliciting a soft moan from Hermione. His fingers crept under the neck of her robes pulling then away slightly so that his thumbs could swirl across her clavicle, into the dip of her throat, and against the swell of her breast.

He felt Hermione fumble in her robes and saw her bring out her wand to ward the infirmary doors. He noted her mumble a silencing spell and then one, which would alert her to the presence of an ill or injured person approaching the door. As she turned back to him she dropped her wand as he pulled open her robes, undoing some of the buttons but sending most of them flying as he pulled impatiently at the garments that covered her. She helped him, their fingers brushing each other as they battled to free her. Finally he undid the clasp of her bra and letting it too drop to the floor.

His mouth descended upon the creamy silken skin of her breasts and as his hands cupped and stoked her, his tongue swirled lightly across the milky flesh. Capturing a nipple in his mouth he gently sucked and ran his teeth over her erect nipple. His hands travelled to her stomach, stroking the flatness of her abdomen before moving to her hips and then down her thighs taking her knickers with them. Finally she was naked and Severus could barely contain himself, so strong was his desire for her. His caresses intensified and to his satisfaction Hermione arched backwards as she groaned in pleasure. Severus could not resist snaking a hand up so that he could run his fingers up the centre of her chest to her neck. There he found her pulse and ran his thumb gently over it as he continued to tease her breasts with his mouth. Hermione let out another long, low groan and slowly brought her head up to look into his eyes.

He caught the glint of mischief, the flash of lust in her eyes and his lip curled as she smiled wickedly at him. Her nimble fingers made short work of removing his trousers and he helped her make the task quicker. Pushing him down onto the bed again, this time on his back she climbed up too, and sat astride him. Placing her hands on either side of him, Hermione leaned over to kiss him, pressing her breasts into the hardness of his lean torso and he felt his erection brush her damp curls.

Hermione’s kiss lightened and she gradually moved her way down his body stopping now and then to snake her tongue out to taste the saltiness of his skin. She licked his nipples and blew warm air over them, flicking her eyes up to meet his and grinning at the feel of his cock twitch beneath her. She swirled her tongue around his navel eliciting a small gasp of surprise from him and then another as she kissed her way down the line of hair to his erection where upon she swiftly took him into her mouth.

Hermione’s hands stroked his thighs as her tongue swept across the head of his penis. She took his shaft in her hand and let her lips caress him at the same time. Her tongue explored his length as her free hand made their way to his testicles and gently massaged them. Up and down her mouth and hand moved together along his cock, and as she licked and sucked as him he seemed to harden more, if it were possible.

Soon he groaned, the sight of her naked body atop of his, her hair falling across her face and the feeling of her mouth on his cock was becoming too much. “Hermione…” he rasped, his breath slightly ragged
She looked at him and smiled. Slowly releasing him from her mouth she crawled her way back up his body. Severus tried to sit up, to take control but she had other ideas.

“Just relax,” she said, that amazingly wicked smile back again and promising so much. She kissed him deeply as he leaned back on the bed and he returned the kiss with fervour, pulling her body closer to him, squashing her breasts against his chest and grinding his hips into her heat. They kissed passionately, lips pressed harshly against each other and tongues writhing together in a rhythm of desire. Soon Hermione pushed herself away from him a little. Panting hard she ran her hands down his chest and further still. Finding their goal she took him in one hand and raised herself up. Steadying herself with her other hand Hermione stared deep into Severus’s eyes as she slowly bore down upon him taking him deep inside her.

Severus held his breath as he slipped inside her, her tightness exquisite, her heat and moisture delightful to his enflamed skin. After a moment they began to move together. Slowly at first she moved herself up and down his shaft, his hands holding her hips, supporting her as she became accustomed to him. Gradually her movements became faster, deeper; she was taking him into her with an ever increasing urgency and he was raising his hips to meet her. Hermione’s hands settled on his chest and she let her fingers wander, her nails lightly scratch his skin. Up and down his arms, across his chest and down to his abdomen she caressed him.

Severus in turn cupped her buttocks, lightly squeezing at first, then harder as she moaned her pleasure. Moving a hand up her back he pulled her towards him a little so that he could take her breast in his mouth again. Pulling her nipples into tight peaks between his lips one at a time he then slid his hand downwards and between their bodies. Snaking his fingers through her curls he quickly found her clit. She gasped and shifted her position slightly to push against his hand, increasing her pleasure as she rocked against him.

Severus was not disappointed that this also slowed their movements. He was dangerously close to climax, the feeling of her tight velvet walls around him was threatening to overwhelm him; and much as he wanted to come he also wanted to extend his pleasure - and gods he wanted to feel her come around him too. Soon Hermione’s pace changed, she raised herself up again, pulling out of his embrace. He saw desperation in her eyes, felt her fever in her movements as she thrust herself unto him again and again. Harder, deeper they moved together and as Severus continued to circle his thumb around her clit, he sensed her closeness. His hips ground into hers and soon he felt her walls tighten around him. Hermione threw back her head and let out a cry as they drove together desperately, her orgasm encompassing them both with its heat and intensity. Severus could hold back no longer and letting out a deep groan of his own he let go and released his own orgasm. Wave after wave of heat coursed through him as his climax rocked him and filled Hermione with his pleasure. Panting, they slowed their movements, having the purpose and effect of lengthening, increasing their pleasure until the final subsidence of their climaxes.

They stilled for a long moment, savouring the sensations that their union had provoked, looking at each other neither saw a trace of regret or of embarrassment. She was no longer his pupil, he no longer her teacher. Suddenly Hermione Granger was so much more than an insufferable know it all; and he Severus Snape had more qualities than just greasy hair and a hooked nose.

They hadn’t forgotten these things of course, nor had they magically transformed. Instead a greater awareness had been found. Odd and yet not unusual you might say that after all these years they only now saw past the reputations of themselves and each other, to the truth. She realised that he did not despise her; and he that she did not hate him. They had tolerated each other for so long and yet they had so much in common. Both were private people, unaccustomed to romance and the fickle folly of relationships. They were equally as happy as each other to immerse themselves in books, in learning, and in the battles for what they believed to be right at the time.

As they cleaned up and dressed they remained silent, their occasional eye contact being exploratory and curious of each other. There was little discomfort, they were both pragmatic enough to accept the reality of the situation. What had happened had happened, and neither would hold any regret - for that was not their way. What happened now would depend on how much they were willing to sacrifice.

Eventually Hermione handed Severus a large vial of headache remedy. He thanked her and placing it in his pocket nodded his goodbye, his regard for her far more intense and yet also less so than ever before. As he reached the door and un-warded it, Hermione spoke, stilling his progress for a moment. “If you have any problems sleeping, I know of an alternative to dreamless sleeping potion too, Professor Snape…just let me know.” And with that she smiled that cheeky smile that he had never seen before today and began to gather up the bed linen.

“I shall remember that Miss Granger,” he said, with a tilt of his eyebrow and a curl of his lip, “Thank you.”

“My pleasure,” muttered Hermione with a grin as he shut the door quietly after him.

~fin~