Suprise!

Yes, it's my birthday! And as a gift to myself, I'm putting out this story. It's just a bit of fluffy fun with a laugh here and there. I hope you enjoy it!


PLEASE READ AND REVIEW!!!

***

Hermione was sitting at her vanity absently combing out her hair with a wide toothed comb. The still damp ringlets were not tangling for a change as she did so. It was her birthday and she was going to go out drinking! Rolling her eyes, she tried not to think of a reason to tell her two best female friends to go by themselves.


She looked back at her life, and wondered not for the first time how not only could she have reached the age she was, but to have remained single. The single part was easy. Hermione had told Ron no when he had asked her to marry him at age 19. It still gave her the shivers to think of being that age and married. As it was not only did he get married to Lavender Brown, but he was now the father of five!


That was not for her, she thought, but that didn’t mean that she wanted to be alone. She just wanted it to be with the right man. But dare she ask, was there a Mr. Right for her? Would the man she wanted ever want her back? Hermione let out a groan and let her face fall into one of her hands.


***


“Let me understand you correctly,” Severus said, his voice coolly sarcastic right from the start. “You want me, the last person on the face of this planet Hermione Granger would more than likely want to see ever, to go to a party in celebration of her birthday and ask her to dance?”


“That about sums it up,” Ginny said with a smile. “Well?”


Narrowing his eyes, he muttered, “Give me one good reason why.”


“Just one?” she asked. “Well, I better make it a good one.” Pretending to think it over she inquired out loud, “But should it be negative or positive coercion?”


“You couldn’t possibly…”


“So you want Hermione to find out that you created a scented oil that smells of vanilla, lavender and cinnamon? In other words, just like her. Or that you have been known to apply it to a body pillow—a pillow, I might add, embossed with the letter ‘H’.”


“You think too much like a Slytherin,” he muttered, as he turned away from her. “What time do you want me there?”


***


A party? A fucking party. She should have known. All the signs were there. Everything from the, “Hey, Hermione, are you doing anything on your birthday?” to Luna insisting that she go out with her and Ginny. Luna never insisted on anything! That alone should have told her something.


But Hermione went along to have drinks with her friends, only to be ambushed by just about everyone she knew. Then the jokes started. And then, Merlin help her, Molly started. Only one clear thought came to mind.


“Where’s the Ogdens?” she asked of Ginny, managing to interrupt the Weasley matriarch in the middle of a lecture on how she was too old to be single. “Preferably top shelf.”


Wincing, Ginny whispered, “Uh, we don’t have any here.”


“Right.” She stood up, looking around the room.


When she spotted one of the people she was looking for, she took off like a shot. Hermione went straight over to Sirius Black. Once she was next to him, was able to get his flask quickly enough, and was downing a shot.


“Fuck,” she muttered, looking over to him. “Since when have you carried pumpkin juice?”


“Since I’ve sobered up,” he told, laughing quietly. “Well, as much as I ever will.”


“Shit.” Pushing his flask into his chest, she began looking once again.


What she needed, she thought as she scanned the people around her, was a Slytherin—a Slytherin with a flask of fire whiskey. There! She spotted a dark shape in the corner of the room that could be only one man. Hermione went straight over to Severus Snape, smiling tightly.


“Please tell me that you have fire whiskey,” she muttered.


His hand slipped into his robes, pulling out a large flask and handed it over to her. Severus’s black eyes watched her as she downed a sip.


“It’s bad enough they threw me a surprise party,” she complained to him. “But then Molly took it upon herself to start lecturing me about finding a wizard, getting married, and having children!” She took another shot, handing it back over to him. “Thank you. I didn’t think I could face any more lectures or jokes without a bit of whiskey in me.”


“Understandable,” he murmured, taking a sip of the whiskey himself. “Happy birthday, Miss Granger.”


“Thank you,” she replied. “And please, call me Hermione, Professor Snape.”


“I stopped being your professor years ago,” he told her softly, almost sounding like a purr. “Please call me Severus.”


Within minutes they had managed to find a table that was away from most of the crowd. She asked him about his current potions experimentations and how his job as headmaster was affecting it. He inquired as to whom she was seeing lately privately and if it were serious. The question brought her up slightly short.


“About the only men I see lately are the Unspeakables I work with,” she murmured. “And frankly, they aren’t my type.”


“What is your type, if I may be so bold as to ask?”


“I don’t know if I know,” she answered honestly. “I know what I don’t like, if that means anything.” Hermione smiled. “I suppose I should think of a list of positives for a change.” Worrying her lower lip, she said, “It would have to be a man that knows his own mind, has a high regard for knowledge, and has a healthy respect for my need to learn as well.”


“Is that all?”


She shook her head no, telling him, “I didn’t want to overwhelm you.”


Severus’s lips twisted slightly into a small smile. “Try me.”


Hermione took a breathe to say something when who should come over than Ron. He put his arm around her shoulder, laughing as he said, “It's your birthday! You're getting old!”


“And you’re intoxicated,” Hermione said kindly. “Lavender is looking for you.”


Frowning he asked, “How do you know?”


“She’s standing behind you, Mr. Weasley,” Severus said, pointing her out to him.


He stood up and turned to face his wife saying, “Damn, I’m drunker than I thought.”


“You usually are, love,” Lavender said, patting his face. “Your mother agreed to take the kids for tonight.”


“She did?” He looked puzzled by this. “Has she been drinking too?”


Growling his wife dragged him off. Laughing Hermione turned back to Severus who was rolling his eyes. She reached out and took his hand into her own. Snape went still as he looked at her, still smiling at him.


“Excuse him,” she murmured, moving her chair closer to him. “If Ron gets an ounce of alcohol into him, he loses what little hold he has on…” She paused as she thought it over. “Anything.” He still hadn’t said a word, but was once again looking at their joined hands. “Oh, I’m sorry.”


She tried to pull away, but he wouldn’t let her. If anything, his fingers went tighter on hers. “Don’t.” Severus looked into her uncertain amber eyes. “I like it.” He leaned a little closer to her and asked, “So go on. You were telling me about a positive list of attributes you care for in a man of your choosing.”


Hermione thought it over again. “I like your hands.”


A blush began to creep into his cheeks. “They’re nothing special.”


She took his hand and splayed it out, caressing the palm. “Long fingered, sure and steady, not to mentioned well muscled.” Hermione sighed. “And their texture is perfect too.”


“How?” he was barely able to get out.


“Slightly callused, in my opinion, is just right.”


“Why?”


“It can tell a person that you aren’t afraid of work.” But then frowned as she asked, “Do you need a glass of water or something?”


He shook his head no, clearing his throat. “No, thank you.”


“Okay, it’s just for a second there your voice sounded a little off.” She absently caressed his hand across a slim scar. “Hmm, a potions accident?”


“Yes,” he answered, his voice sounding normal. Severus turned her hand over and studied hers this time. “I find that I like yours as well.” He found a scar along one of her thumbs. “Potions accident?”


Hermione blushed as she muttered, “I was learning to cook. An accident with a can of baked beans.” When he looked at her now crimson face, she added, “In my defense, I would like to say that it wasn’t entirely my fault. I would like to, but I can’t. I became distracted and cut myself.”


“By what?”


“Harry and Ron fighting,” Hermione explained. “They never even knew I hurt myself when it happened. I fixed it before either noticed. Not that they would have, they were so angry.”


Frowning, he asked, “What about?”


She told him what had happened with the Horcrux and how it effected Ron. Meanwhile, she held his hand and took comfort from how he was holding hers in turn.


“I still have difficulty imagining what Albus must have been thinking sending children to hunt for those,” he muttered.


“Would you care to hear my theory?” she asked.


“Certainly.”


“It’s my hypothesis that he did so that Harry could add everything together and come to an understanding that he too was a horcrux,” she explained to him. “Unfortunately, Harry doesn’t add up the abstract very well and it was all explained to him later. Though I have to say he never did say by who.” She caressed his hand in thought one last time. “But given all this time has past and I haven’t faded away without being told, I’m certain I can do without knowing.” Sitting up straight, she said, “Please excuse me, but I must be off to powder my nose. I’ll be right back.”


“Would you like me to order you a drink while you’re off?”


“A fire whiskey neat if you could, please?”


Once she was in the bathroom, Hermione went to the nearest stall and pressed her back to the wood of the very small space. Closing her eyes she thought of Severus Snape’s hands and felt her heart race at the thought of his touch on somewhere other than her hands. Merlin, but that man had a perfect touch. Swallowing thickly, she wondered if she could manage to get him to do more than hold her hand without making a fool out of herself doing so.


“Hermione, what are you doing hiding in the loo?” Ginny called out from the other side of the stall door. “Please come out. Whatever it is, we can work it out I’m sure.”


She left the loo stall and went over to the small lounge area, sitting down hard. “It’s not bad. We’ve been chatting.” Looking to her friend, muttering, “I’ve been monopolizing the conversation, truth be told.”


“It doesn’t look like he minds at all,” Ginny assured her.


Luna drifted into the loo and went over to the lounge. “I thought I would find you here. Are you not liking the party, Hermione?”


“It’s fine, but I do wish fire whiskey was handed to me when I first needed it,” she muttered, looking at Ginny who was blushing. “And seeing how drunk Ron was, it was available.”


“I didn’t want you to get drunk off your ass before you could socialize,” the youngest Weasley said. “But what are you doing in here when you have a man out there waiting for you!”


Standing up, Hermione said, “Point made, but I better go to the loo least I have to explain in five to ten minutes that I have the bladder the size of a walnut.”


***


Hermione slipped back into her chair, sliding her hand along his shoulders as a way to let him know that she was joining him once again. Smiling she took up the drink and took a small sip, as she watched him looking at her.


“Sorry I took so long,” she murmured. “I ended up having a chat with Ginny and Luna.”


Arching his brow he asked, “About?”


“I was concerned that I was making an ass out of myself,” Hermione answered, thinking she would never say that out loud. “And I think someone put veritaserum into this.”


Frowning he took the drink and sniffed it. His eyes like lasers went straight over to the young man serving the drinks. It was Hermione who stopped him from leaving by pushing him back into his chair and slipping into his lap.


“It was more than likely Ginny’s doing,” she told him. “Neville would never do it on his own, seeing as you’re sitting at the same table as me.” Hermione laughed. “He would drop into a faint thinking of it, he’s so scared of you.”


“You’re sitting in my lap,” he murmured.


Hermione was quiet for a moment. “Am I too heavy?”


“No,” he whispered. “But it might become embarrassing after a few minutes.”


“Embarrassing?” That was when she felt the hard, thick length of him. “That is nothing to be embarrassed about.” She kissed his temple, as she got up and sat down next to him once more. Leaning close to him, she caressed his jaw with her knuckles. “Talk to me.”


His black eyes turned to hers as he muttered, “What are you about, witch?”


“What do you mean?” she asked him, pulling back slightly at his hostility. “I had been monopolizing the conversation. Asking you to speak to me was so that I wouldn’t come off as sounding like an egocentric ass.” She stood up. “Goodnight.” Clearing her throat, she muttered, “Thank you for coming.”


She had gotten no further than two steps away before he was cursing and jumping to his feet. Severus got a hold of her arm and pulled her up one of the many staircases that led to the rented rooms. Once to the room he had purchased for the night, he prodded her inside. Closing the door, he turned to face her.


“I owe you an apology,” he told her. “It isn’t like you could have lied to me, not with that potion running through you.”


“Even if I did, you would know. I’m a rather awful liar,” she admitted. “I’ve only able to do so successfully with the completely brain dead, which you are no where near to being.”


That had him grinning slowly, as he said, “No, that I am not.” He went over to her, cupping her face. “Why did Miss Weasley invite me to the party?”


“Because I told her that I thought you had everything a woman like me would want in a man. When she asked me what that would be, I told her that you were smart, had a voice like sin, and your hands could probably make a woman scream.” Squeezing her eyes shut, she worried her fingers over her brow. “I told her other things too, but please tell me that I don’t have to tell you in great detail.”


“But I want to hear what you said,” he murmured almost against her ear.


This made her start and she looked to the side to find his eyes but inches from hers.


“I want to hear all about how you find me attractive,” he purred. “Because Merlin only knows just how long I’ve wanted to strip you bare and bury myself within you.”


A hard shiver when through her, as she stood there staring within the inky black depths of his eyes. “I want more than that.”


“Tell me,” he growled.


“I want to fight.” This startled him until she went on with, “I want us to fight and celebrate. I want us to argue and laugh. I want us to live to the fullest.”


“Together?” he asked quietly.


She nodded. “Together.”


His arms went around her, pulling her into a hug as he asked, “For how long?”


“For always.”


He snorted. “You don’t ask for much, do you, my witch?”


Hermione went to tiptoe, kissing his chin lightly. “I only want you.”


“Only?” She nodded. “For always?”


She began undoing his numerous buttons, saying, “Let’s start with now and go from here.”


His arms went around her tightly as he breathed in her scent. “You’ll never be rid of me.”


Letting out a relieved sigh, she murmured, “As if I would even think it.”


***


“Where is Hermione and why do you look so happy that she isn’t here?” Harry asked his wife as he joined her and Luna at their table.


“That’s because my plan worked,” Ginny told Harry, kissing his mouth in a brief hard kiss.


“What plan?” he asked, sounding a bit scared by what his wife might have done. “Please tell me it was legal.” Ginny got a look on her face that made Harry think better of asking her straight out what she had done. Instead he inquired, “Was anyone hurt by what you did?”


“She was playing matchmaker,” Luna was the one to say in her singsong voice.


“I was sick to death of waiting for those two to get their act together,” Ginny muttered. “I swear for being the two smartest people I know, they are remarkably daft when it comes to love.”


“Who might that be?” Harry asked, a bad feeling building in his gut.


“Hermione and Severus Snape,” she answered. “They’ve been all but mooning over each other for years now.”


He looked over to Luna who nodded in agreement. “They have been quite enamored of each other.” When Harry looked to her with disbelief, a look she was quite familiar with, she went on to add, “Hermione and Severus have been apparently attracted to each other since the crossbill mating season three years ago.”


“A what?” the married couple asked together.


“Crossbill,” she repeated. “It’s a bird.”


“We know,” Ginny answered, looking at her husband who was fighting not to laugh. “We’re just not used to you referring to actual animals or creatures anyone has heard of before.”


***


Hermione fell back onto the bed naked, watching as the man over her was staring down at her with desire shining brightly in his eyes. Lowering himself to her, he kissed her mouth languidly.


“You’re beautiful,” Severus breathed, kissing his way to her neck.


“I have scars,” she muttered.


He made Hermione look him in the eyes as he told her, “As do I.” Kissing her mouth lightly. “Do you want me any less for mine?”


“No,” she breathed.


“Then enough said.”


***


“I can’t believe I never noticed them being attracted to each other,” Harry said. “I’m an auror! I’m paid to notice things!”


“Well, considering that you didn’t notice Hermione was a girl until her fourth year, you not taking note of her attraction to Snape or vise versa isn’t a shock,” Neville said to his friend casually.


“And even then she was always a pal,” George told him.


And Fred adding, “Or a sister. So to you her femininity didn’t count.”


With the twins finishing together, “Not really.”


“How anyone could find that greasy git sexually stimulating at all, is beyond me,” Sirius muttered, taking a sip of fire whiskey only to have Remus take it from him and drink it.


“I don’t either, but if it makes her happy, something we haven’t seen in quite a long time, who are we to complain?” Charlie asked of them.


“We’re talking about the woman that accepts and loves us for who we are, warts and all. Can’t we do the same for her?” Neville asked.


“I beg to differ,” Sirius said, taking his drink back. “I have no warts.”


“You drink too much, you whore as if it were going out of style, and have a sick propensity to pick on those whom you see as lower than yourself,” Remus told him. “But I love you anyway.”


“Thank you, Mr. I was so amply named as to have the fates have no choice, but to make me a werewolf.” He took another sip of his drink adding, “I still don’t know what your parents were thinking when they named you.”


“None of us do,” Remus muttered.


“Neville, where exactly did you put the truth potion?” Fred asked, looking at his drink. “Did you put it into her glass or the bottle we are all now consuming?”


Neville’s face went a vivid red. “I-I…well, it might have been the bottle.”


Ginny looked over to Luna and said, “This should be interesting.”


***


The couple regained their ability to breathe slowly as their sweat slickened skin dried in the sex scented air. Hermione combed her fingers through his jet black silken tresses, as she gazed deeply into her new lover’s dark eyes. Moving slightly, reminded her that he was still as deep as he could be within her.


Shivering she breathed, “I came.”


“Again,” he murmured, his fingers going between her thighs once more to cup her mound stretched taunt by his sex. “So sensitive.”


“Severus?” His name came out as more of a squeak than her normal voice, as his thumb brushed her clit.


“Hmm?”


“Next time, can you tie me up?” He paused. “That’s if it’s okay with you. I always wanted to try it and I’ve never trusted anyone else to…”


Severus kissed her hard on the mouth, stopping her from going on. “Your trust humbles me.” He looked into her dark amber eyes. “Will you marry me?”


***


Hermione and Severus snuck down the stairs and out of the Leaky Caldron. Their marriage was performed at the Ministry of Magic and was a very private affair with only an unknown squib janitor in attendance. The bride kissed the groom, the judge congratulated them, and the janitor cried while tossing shredded memos at them exiting. All in all, it was a very memorable experience.


It was on their way back into the public house that they were caught and brought over to the party.


“We were all doused with truth potion,” Neville told her as they were made to join them.


“Really?” Hermione asked, slipping her hand into Severus’s and laced her fingers through his. “So what have you all found out about each other?”


“Charlie likes muggle musicals, but only so far as it gets him birds, Neville admitted he likes being a submissive, as long as the guy, yes that would be a man, wears leather, and Sirius told everyone that he hasn’t had sex in five months.”


Hermione blinked at them. “That’s it?” She snorted, looking to Severus. “I knew all that ages ago. Let’s go back to bed.”


“Wait a minute!” Harry exclaimed. “Are you telling us that you knew all that?”


“For the most part,” Hermione said. “Charlie has me get him the programs to any of the musicals I attend on the West End. Neville has been to so many motorcycle rallies that it is impossible to find him during good weather while he’s off from Hogwarts. And Sirius actually has spending money lately—something that would never happen if he were still having sex with women for money.” She stood up. “I would have thought you would come up with something better, like getting married behind your friends’ backs at the Ministry of Magic and is now dying to have a proper honeymoon with the man she plans to spend the rest of her life with.” All of them stared at her stunned, as she waved her left hand at them. “Good night!”


It was with a smug smile that Severus followed his new wife up the stairs.


Meanwhile, it was Ginny who asked her husband, “Did they…?”


“Oh yeah,” Harry breathed.


“Damn they’re sneaky,” Ginny murmured into her fire whiskey.


All of them agreed.

THE END!!

***

Thanks for reading. Please if you could, send me a review. I would consider it an awesome birthday gift. Not as great as a new computer or world peace, but far less expensive and more realistic. LOL! Have a great day everyone!