Ensnaring The Senses

The wind whispered through the trees as the leaves fell gently to the forest floor. The sun winked at the moon as it drifted gently down behind the clouds for another night. The young woman shivered and zipped her jumper up a little farther as the breeze gently tickled her neck. She threw the last of the wood into the circle of rocks gathered to make a small campfire.

“Tonight's not safe for a fire,” A tall black haired wizard said behind her. “Death Eaters have finally been sighted in the small town near here.” He sighed as he wearily sat down on the camp chair near the cold fire.

“How is he?” The brunette witch asked as she rubbed her hands up her arms.

“Draco is still unconscious and the Healers still hold hope he'll wake up.” Severus Snape said as he drew his hand through his hair. “They're keeping him under the Dreamless Draught till the brain swelling goes down. They hope doing this will prevent him from turning out like the Longbottoms.” He kicked a rock with his shoe and watched as it pinged harmlessly off a tree.

“We'll get Bellatrix and Lucius, Severus. We haven't come this far to give up!” Hermione Granger said, her voice filled with anger.

“I'll fucking break his neck with my bare hands! Bastard...” Snape said with conviction, his eyes filled with hatred for his former friend. “then I'll magically slice his skin till he bleeds to death.”

It was just a month ago that Harry Potter finally vanquished the Dark Lord, Voldemort. A few of minions had escaped into the far reaches of the Muggle world, hoping to escape punishment for their deeds. Order teams had been sent out to track down and bring them back, dead or alive. Draco had been partnered with Snape up until a week ago when Lucius and Bellatrix had surprised them. Draco had taken the brunt of damage before the two infamous Death Eaters escaped.

“Professor!” Hermione gasped.

“I haven't been anyone's Professor for three years, Hermione.” Snape said bitterly, still hating himself for killing his best friend. “With the Dark Lord's death I am at least not hunted anymore. Just very undesirable as a teacher.” With Voldemort's fall, the Order's leader, Remus Lupin was finally able to release some of Dumbledore's Pensieve memories in court and that had exonerated Snape legally, if not morally in the eyes of the Wizardry world.

Hermione filled two mugs with water and dropped some dried coffee in and heated them with a flick of her wand. “Drink this, it will take the chill off.” She said as she added some sugar to hers. In the week she had been assigned with him she had gotten to know he took his black.

“Thank you,” Severus took the cup and sipped it, watching the swirl of steam rise. “You should be in University now. Two years hunting down Death Eaters and the Dark Lord has held you back severely. Potter and Weasley at least went into Auror training while they hunted.”

“When we get Lucius and Bellatrix, then I will.” She promised him. “Besides I probably won't get into Potions or Spells now that I waited so long.” Hermione sighed.

“You will, because you're a War hero.” Snape smiled as he gently reminded her. “You helped Harry Potter defeat the Dark Lord.”

“We all did! Why can't they forgive you and Draco?” Hermione wiped a tear away as she remembered her Slytherin's friend bravery as Draco had faced down his own uncle and saved her and Ginny Potter's lives. “Even Harry doesn't hate him anymore!”

“Ginny threatened him with a hex if he didn't thank Draco. Don't think Ginny can hex every wizard and witch though. Time will take care of it.” At least for him, Snape thought.

“What are you doing?” Severus asked as he watched Hermione unzip both sleeping bags and hook them together into one big one.

“It's freezing, even with heat charms!” She laughed at his expression. “For one night we share.”

“Weasley won't mind?” He asked as his eyebrow arched.

“Ron is engaged to Lavender this week.” Hermione chuckled. “We've haven't been together since he started Auror school and I went on the field as a healer. Guess the old adage 'out of sight out of mind' is true.”

“I'm sorry,” He mumbled, not meaning it. Snape knew Ron would make a good Auror one day, but would bore the poor witch before they were thirty.

“Don't be, sir. I'm just glad I found out early.” Her eyebrow arched like his for a second. “Ron and Harry are my best mates, but they're like kissing brothers.” She laughed at his expression softly. She put together some ham sandwiches from their supplies as Snape put up the wards around the camp. They sipped the rest of their coffee and munched their sandwiches quietly.

Hermione would never get used to him dressed as he was. She missed the billowing black robes he had worn at Hogwarts that flowed with his strides as he walked down the corridors. Now he just wore a simple black shirt covered in a black jumper. His long black hair instead of falling around his face in a veil was pulled back in a ponytail with a simple black rawhide string.

Severus was uneasy. Somewhere out there Lucius and Bellatrix waited to make another attack. He wanted to choke Remus for sending a girl with him, another innocent for him to fail. She was 20 years old and all he could see was the eleven year old girl under the sorting hat her first year. For Merlin's sake! He thought irritably for the umpteenth time this week.

“Another sandwich, Severus?” Hermione asked, suddenly nervous about the sleeping arrangements she had set up. She and Ron or Harry has often got in such a position while out in the field, but nothing had ever happened. She had had to knee Ron once in the groin to straighten him up and for once he had learned his lesson the first time.

“No,” Snape said as he slipped off to a secluded part of the camp. Hermione cleaned up the plates with another flick of her wand and put everything away. She eyed the sleeping bags once more as she slipped her trainers off and slide in.

Snape returned to the camp and untied his hair and kicked of his black boots. Remus is just going to love this if it got back to him. He watched as she shivered slightly and slipped in beside her. He breathed deeply and said simply, “Good night.” Before he rolled over, his backside facing her.

“Night, Severus.” She whispered, her breathing slowed as she fell asleep. Restlessly he rolled unto his back and stared at the moon until he too slept.


He could see her as she touched his cheek with a gentle hand. But every time he tried to glimpse her face it became unclear. He felt her lips on his as they kissed, his hand tangled into her hair holding her close. Pulling back, he asked the dream woman the same question he asked every night, “Who are you?” This time his dream woman answered “Hermione...” as her face came into focus and the hair entwined in his hand was burnette...


Severus opened his eyes slowly, his hand entwined in Hermione's hair and their lips locked together passionately. He pulled away and caressed her cheek as her eyes opened. Her hand reached up as she ran her fingers through his long black hair and tugged his face back to hers.

“Hermione,” Severus breathed out as their lips touched and he felt her fingers tug at his buttons. This isn't a dream, but it's my dream! He thought. He pulled away again, “Hermione! Is this what you want?” He asked, afraid of her answer. Either way, she's going to hate me!

“Yes, Severus.” Hermione smiled up at him. Precautions and consequences forgotten, he held her close as the undressed each other. Skin to skin, they rubbed together as they kissed. He felt her legs go around him as he entered her, a slight resistance as he pushed in.

“Oh, Merlin!” His words brushed her lips, “You should have told me!” He kissed the small tear on her cheek. Holding his hips still, he waited.

“I want this, Severus. Please..” Hermione said, adjusting and moving her pelvis slightly in encouragement.

“Hermione,” Severus said as they rocked together, slowly back and forth in an age old dance. He waited and watched her face as she gasped and he shuddered into completion. He held her close as they laid there, her heart beating the same as his as they slowly fell back asleep.

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A/N: just wanted to say, thanks marti and ms figg for inspiring this. You have truly made me love this ship =P