The Bargain and Veritaserum

A/N: Well, here is some serious smut for y'all. Nothing better than two committed people learning to get their freak on! As always, thanks to MadBrillaint, my beta, and please review!

***

Hermione spent the day with her head in the clouds. She never knew sex could be so satisfying! She replayed the juicier moments in her head between classes. It would not do for the Charms instructor to be less than on the ball! Besides, she had a certain class of Slytherins with which to contend!

The N.E.W.T. level Charms for seventh years came at the end of the day. It was her very last class. She was prepared and ready to challenge them. So far, she had gone by the book, and her students were bored and defiant. She was going to kick it up a notch to let them know Hermione Snape did know a thing or two that they didn't! She had worked long and hard and decided to draw upon her experiences on the run last year with Harry and Ron. As much as it pained her to relive the memories, she knew she had to do it. She had performed the most difficult and complex charms during their time in the forest. She was now going to use her expertise and experience to humble a few who thought she was just a Mudblood who could teach them nothing.

The class started with the usual rumbling, but Hermione took care of that when she started taking house points for rude behavior and talking out of turn in class. Soon, they were silent but looking at her mutinously. Astoria had a sinister smile on her face. Hermione could tell by her smirk that she wanted nothing more than to take down the Mudblood!

Hermione began to write on the board with her wand the following: Cave Inimicum Charm, Repello Muggletum Charm, Fidelius Charm, and Revulsion Jinx.

She turned to face the class and asked, "How many of you can identify all of these charms and also demonstrate how these charms work?"

At first, a couple of Slytherins started to raise their hands, but once Madam Snape asked for a demonstration, they all were at a loss.

"How disappointing," she said in her best imitation of her husband's sarcastic tone as she crossed her arms and prowled around the room.

"According to how our last class went, I was under the assumption that I could not teach any of you a thing! Not only do I know each of these charms, I have used them in real life, under duress, and some cases in a moment's notice."

"It seems you lot do not know everything about Charms after all. Now, I realize this is difficult for most of you to see me here in a position of authority. However, I would not be in this position if I were not qualified to do so. So, allow me to show you some of the Charm work that I am familiar with producing."

The rest of the class went smoothly. She had won most of the class over by her demonstrations of the Revulsion Jinx and the Cave Inimicum Charm. Her explanations of the Fidelius Charm and how she created it wowed the entire class. Her knowledge and expertise was flawless, and at the end of class, she had won the respect of over half the Slytherins and, of course, every Gryffindor in attendance. Astoria Greengrass was still as nasty as ever, but she had lost her grip on her fellow housemates, for they had seen first hand how powerful Madam Snape's magical abilities were. Hermione knew that the rest of the year wouldn't be easy, but at least she now had the respect and control of her classroom. She couldn't wait to tell Severus about her victory.

She walked briskly to his office and found him finishing up his work for the afternoon. She knew how much Severus liked to have a large chunk of his work squared away before dinner so he didn't have to spend all his time in the evenings working on papers. She was bursting with happiness, and Severus saw the look of triumph on his wife's face.

He sat in his chair while he listened and watched his wife retell the story of how she had stumped her seventh years with the experiences she'd had in the Forest of Dean with Harry and Ron. He knew the story from when she had told him before, so he watched her as she talked. She was flushed with happiness and accomplishment. Her eyes were dilated. Her breathing was labored as she spoke a blue streak. He loved her so much. This was why she was so special. She was positively invincible. No one could break her down. She was made of tougher stuff than most. Yet, she was so delicate in other areas. Like himself.

Snape realized how alike they truly were. Hermione was a dedicated scholar, a lover of knowledge, and enjoyed learning. She, like himself, hated accepting the status quo and wanted to see if there could be a way to make a better charm or potion. They both had a drive to succeed and be successful at whatever they focused their sights. Yet, when it came to matters of the heart, they were shy and full of doubt: he, because of his looks, and she, because of her idea that she was "lacking" in womanly curves. Snape surmised that she probably wanted to eradicate his insecurity as much as he wanted to eradicate hers, but it wasn't easy. Each would have to deal with their own insecurities. The best way to handle the issue would be to take the time and let the trust build. In the meantime, Severus was determined to continue "husbanding" his wife.

He needed to make sure she thrived, so he needed to feed her emotions. She needed to be tended to delicately and without reservation. Therefore, he did something he thought he would never do for any woman: he looked through a poetry book. He didn't even know for sure if Hermione was a poetry lover, but he remembered from his school days how much girls loved a wizard who would recite poetry to them or write a poem themselves. Writing a poem was out of the question! However, reading poetry didn't seem to be too painful or embarrassing.

***

That evening, when Hermione came to bed, Severus was waiting for her. He pulled out a piece of parchment and nervously held it in his hand.

"What is that?" Hermione asked as she tried to take it from him.

He kept it from her reach and cleared his throat, while keeping his eyes averted from hers. "I wanted to reach you, Hermione, in a way that I think I still haven't. I don't know what all I can do...although I'm still working on the fantasy you told me, I just wanted to try this to see if you liked it. I read this, and I thought of you and I."

He turned and pulled her close to him, cupping her cheek with his hand. "I don't think that just because the circumstances in which we married weren't ideal diminishes what we have. I have grown to appreciate you more as time passes, and I can honestly say that I am happy that you are my wife. I enjoy our life and I love you. All the beliefs I ever held about love, sex, and desire have changed because of you."

He kissed her softly and whispered in her mouth, "Without you there is no love, no desire, no lust. You are the only woman who can bring those feelings out of me. I adore you, Hermione."

By now, tears were flowing down her face as he began to read the poem he had found:

My true love hath my heart, and I have his,

My true love hath my heart and I have his.

He paused and folded the parchment to put it away, but Hermione snatched it from his hands and said, "I want it. I want to keep it close to me. For whenever I doubt, I can be reassured."

He cleared his throat. "It's entitled 'The Bargain.' I know the pronouns are reversed. A woman should read it, but I liked it because this marriage started as a bargain, a deal for Hogwarts to stay open. Yet, we are becoming more and more, Hermione. I don't think I tell you enough that I love you and you are the only woman for me. Could I be the only man for you?" he asked as he slid his hand into hers.

She looked at him in surprise. "Yes!" she exclaimed. "I do love you, and I love that you did this for me. It was so romantic! Can I repay the favor?" she asked shyly.

"What do you mean?" he asked, suspiciously.

"I would like to do something I think know you would like." She climbed on top of him and slid down. Severus inhaled sharply as he figured her plan. She took his manhood in her hands and examined him. In no time, it was hard as a rock. She danced her fingers over it, trying to test its sensitivity. Her husband's breathing was becoming labored, and his face was flushed.

"Hermione, please do something," he said in a strangled voice.

She decided to lick the length of the shaft with the tip of her tongue. A low growl sounded from deep within his chest. His eyes were smoky, and his stare was so intense, she started to feel nervous about him watching.

"I really don't know what to do," she admitted.

"Put your mouth on the tip and suck," he said deeply.

She did, and he tipped his head back and moaned. Hermione decided to get braver, and she took as much as she could in his mouth and began to move up and down. His breath hitched and his hips bucked.

"Yes, just like that...oh God!" he shouted.

He grabbed her by her hair and forced her head down further along the shaft. She tried to remember all she was supposed to do, but everything was going so fast. Her husband was very blessed in the endowment area. She focused on sucking while he bucked and held her head.

He swore a torrent of obscenities and tried to withdraw, but she had a suction hold on him. Withdrawing only made her suck harder. It was a sensation that he had never experienced before. He exploded in her mouth and watched in fascination as she swallowed it all down and proceeded to lick him clean. He watched in awe as his young, innocent wife gave him head like a world-class whore, and what blew his mind was that she'd figured it all out on her own. It was the most erotic thing he had ever experienced. Once she was done, he held her close to him and sang her praises. He couldn't wait to get hard again. He had great plans to pile-drive her into the mattress!

However, until then, there was always the option of going down under...

***

Christmas was fast approaching, and Hermione was nervous. Professor Flitwick had always been responsible for the myriad decorations for the season. It was going to be a true test of her Charms knowledge and expertise. She headed down early to begin her work. She left her husband snoring lightly and in a deep sleep. She smiled as she walked towards the Great Hall. Her husband had been so romantic last night. She was so touched by his sensitivity to her feelings. Poetry reading was something she had never expected, but she had appreciated his forethought and openness. She also had not been expecting his reaction to her gesture. After he had given her oral sex, she had collapsed into a deep sleep. When she'd awoken, Severus was asleep. She knew when he woke and found her gone, he was going to be irritated and surly. On Saturdays, he liked having his lie-in followed by some sort of intimacy. After last night, he probably would want relations on a regular basis, she surmised. She felt a thrill rush through her. She secretly hoped he would come after her in one of his dark moods and demand she return to bed at once or suffer his wrath.

As she charmed the fairy lights, she wondered when Severus would surprise her with fulfilling her fantasy. If enough time went by without any indications he would do something about it, she might have to take matters into her own hands. She could get her hands on a Hogwarts robe and shock him by seducing him right in his own classroom...after hours, of course. A very naughty smile crept on her lips as she imagined how it would play out. She had thought during her sixth year some very (what she had considered then) sick and twisted fantasies about Severus. However, he was always her Potions professor in her imagination. She thought about him grabbing her and fucking her in front of everyone...okay that is still sick and twisted...after yelling at her for being a "know-it-all." He was always clothed in her fantasies. She wondered why that was. Perhaps, it was because his clothes were so much a part of his persona. She had several deviations on the same fantasy, all involving various degrees of nakedness on her part.

Her favorite by far was the one where she was lying on her back on her lab table as he stripped her naked from the waist down and hiked her robe around the tops of her thighs. He wouldn't expose her sex to all and sundry, only to himself as he slid his hands up and down her milky thighs. He would inform the class this was what happened to "know-it-alls." Then he would fuck her with hard, deliberate strokes, keeping that scowl on his face the whole time until the end when he came undone and climaxed, moaning her name. He would delicately pull her robe down and kiss her forehead. Then he would return to his desk and resume his grading as usual. Then for the rest of the year, he would always have a look of respect whenever he glanced her way. He would never degrade her or think lowly of her again. He would respect her for giving herself to him.

I guess that was always what I wanted from him: respect and admiration for my work ethic and talents. I worked my tail off for him and he had never given me so much as a well done! she groused.

She was so engrossed in her thoughts and her work that she did not notice her husband leaning against the doorway of the Great Hall probing her mind. He had seen the fantasy scenario clear as day and then had sensed her anger towards him. He delicately pushed deeper into her mind and found the source. He smiled to himself. She has no idea. She has never realized she had been the most challenging student I have ever taught! The truth was that she had intimidated him since she had been a fifth year. Her magical abilities had been growing at an alarming rate. She had still been a know-it-all, but her prowess during her sixth- year Defense classes had floored him. He had never been able to tell her how much he had prided himself on her abilities. He had felt blessed to have been her teacher. He had hated that he had to show favoritism to his own house and disregard the others. Well, those days were over. It was time to show Miss Granger how much he thought of her.

***

Hermione couldn't help herself as she slipped back into her old, depraved fantasy from her fifth year.

She was sixteen and underage, out-of-bounds, and not even liked by the temperamental wizard. He was stalking as usual and stopped behind her. Unbeknownst to her and Neville, whom she had been covertly helping, Snape was listening as she whispered directions to the poor boy. Suddenly, a large white hand slammed on the table next to her cauldron.

Oh, and he did! He fucked her into conniptions, and still she had begged for more.

The fantasy always varied from that point; some were silly endings of him proposing marriage, telling her he wanted her to be his apprentice after she graduated, or just shocking the whole school and being known as the Girl-Who-Lived-After-Fucking-Snape, getting some respect for once. She also had one scenario where she received the Order of Merlin, First Class for giving her virginity and her all to Severus Snape, the wizard whom everyone knew was in desperate need of a good, hard shag!

Hermione giggled at her young, hormonal, virginal fantasies. How silly to think that just because a man you desire puts his penis inside you, no matter what, you would experience an earth-shattering orgasm?

***

Hermione had stayed up late working on a pop quiz for her seventh years. Ever since she had asserted herself and regained control of her classroom, she was not about to lose her edge. She kept telling herself that Christmas was right around the corner and she would have a nice calm break. She was exhausted when she finally called it a night and retired to her quarters. It was one in the morning, and she was sure Severus was fast asleep.

She quietly maneuvered her way around in the dark, taking off her clothes and performing her evening toilette. She decided to forgo plaiting her hair as she normally did; she was just too exhausted. She padded naked back into the bedroom and quietly opened her bureau to get her nightgown. She slipped into bed and noticed there was no warmth coming from her husband's side. She gingerly stretched out her hand and did not find him. She grabbed her wand, lit up the room, and saw she had been alone the whole time. Just as she was about to worry over where he might be, she saw a Hogwarts uniform folded neatly on the bed.

She jumped out of bed and went to examine the uniform. It was a regular Gryffindor robe with a skirt, shirt, and tie. She looked on the floor and saw the regulation knee-hi socks and shoes. There was a note hidden in the clothing on the bed.

Miss Granger,

Potions master

Hermione stared at the letter. Surely, he would not make her try to brew now! Suddenly, she felt a rush of adrenaline and expectation and giggled. She quickly dressed in the uniform. She was nervous and excited. She checked her hair in the mirror and was shocked at how young she looked. She had gotten so used to her teaching robes and her turned up hair that she was gobsmacked at her reflection.

A fleeting image flickered in her mind, and she smiled. She decided to remove her underclothes to see if she could shock her husband...no, her Professor. She made her way to the dungeons feeling very self-conscious. Running about the castle without her knickers or bra made her feel naked and exposed. She would feel safer once she was safely locked away in her husband's classroom.

She rapped on the door, and a curt, "Enter," rang from inside. She walked in and saw her husband sitting behind his desk as she had many times in the past as a student.

"Ah, Miss Granger," he said silkily. "Please come over to my desk. We have many issues to discuss this evening."

She obediently walked to his desk and faced him.

His cold look dissolved as he held her soft brown eyes in his black ones.

"Hermione," he began lovingly, "I do this for you since you were so brave to invite me into your heart and reveal your desires. This does not hold any fulfillment for me. I have never had any desire to seduce a student. Yet, tonight I will seduce you. I will treat you as I had treated you when you had been my student and will do my utmost to make your fantasy a reality. If at any time you wish for me to stop, all you have to say is 'husband,' and I will revert back into the man you married. Nevertheless, I warn you that I will have you tonight, either way, Hermione. You have kept me waiting far too long. I will leave the choice to you as how you want this scenario to play out. Is this agreeable?" he asked.

"Yes," she whispered.

"Fine," he snapped as he stood up from his chair. "I have laid out spare instruments for you to use since I know you do not own any of your own anymore. You will be, however, responsible for gathering your own ingredients. You shall complete a batch of Veritaserum for me, and I shall test it on you. If you fail, you will suffer the consequences. Have I made myself clear?" he said icily.

"Yes, sir," she answered clearly.

"Begin!" he bellowed.

Hermione took note of the directions on the blackboard and began to walk to the storeroom for her ingredients. She could feel the professor's eyes on her, and she truly felt like a student again. She had worked successfully under his scrutinizing eye before, and although her work was always impeccable, he had never praised her. She wondered how he would treat her tonight.

As the minutes flew by, she worked fast and efficiently, calculating and carefully rechecking each step to make sure of her progress. She noticed Professor Snape gliding down the aisle way to observe her work. The steam from the potion made her face flush, and she loosened her tie. She felt him behind her as she stirred, but he did not speak, he just watched her work. She could feel the heat of his body soak into hers, and she felt damp between her thighs. She was tingling with anticipation and wished he would just touch her.

Finally, he leaned in closer over her shoulder and stared intently into the cauldron to ascertain the color of the potion. His hand rested lightly on her back. His eyebrows furrowed, and she felt his thumb slide down the length of her back.

He leaned into her and whispered into her ear, "Miss Granger, are you wearing all of your school uniform tonight?"

"Yes, sir," she answered with a hint of cheekiness in her tone.

"You are lying!" he hissed. "You have come into my classroom without any underclothes, haven't you?"

"Yes, sir. However, underclothes are not an official part of the uniform," she said haughtily as she continued to work.

A strangled sound came from his throat, and he walked back to his desk. "Points would be taken, Miss Granger, if I were able. Your behavior is inexcusable, and trust me, I shan't forget it," he whispered softly.

She forced her face to remain neutral as she finished her potion. She announced she was finished, and Professor Snape came and examined it.

"Color and consistency seem to be acceptable. Now, for the real test: open your mouth, Miss Granger," he ordered.

She opened her mouth, and he placed three drops on her tongue.

"Come and sit, Miss Granger," he said politely.

She sat across from his desk, and he said, "We shall see soon if your potion was successful. Tell me, what is your name?"

"Hermione Snape," she answered quickly.

"Are you nervous about this interrogation?"

"Yes."

"Why?" he asked with narrowed eyes.

"I'm afraid you may ask me to reveal things I may not be ready to admit."

"Are you feeling insecure about our marriage?"

Hermione was angered by his question. "Yes," she ground out.

"Do you think I am lying when I say I love you?"

"No."

"Why do you feel insecure?"

"I don't measure up to your standards. I never have. I fear you will eventually find me lacking and throw me away." Her eyes were swimming in tears.

Severus had had enough. He got up, took his wife by the hand, and led her to her old desk. He stood behind her and told her to look at the potion she had made. She watched him take the dropper and administer the Veritaserum to himself.

He took her face into his hands and looked intently into her face as the potion took effect. Finally, he spoke. "I love you so very much. You were the brightest student I have ever taught. You will never know how much it pained me to never give you the acknowledgment you deserved. So, now you know. I cannot lie. You are the most intelligent and lovely witch I have ever known, and I shall never tire of you," he said softly.

He led her to an empty table and laid her down on it. He took one leg at a time, carefully removing each shoe and stocking. He hiked up her robe and skirt to her waist and took in the sight of his beautiful wife's nakedness. He inserted himself between her creamy, white legs and stroked them with his hands. The paleness of her long legs was accentuated by the blackness of his robes. He began to undo her buttons and spread her shirt open to reveal her naked breasts to him.

"Miss Granger, I would normally not do this to another student, but since you have brewed such an exceptional potion, I feel a reward is due you," he said seductively.

He leaned over her and kissed her passionately as he ran his fingers down from her throat to her nipples.

"Your nipples are exquisite," he breathed. "Your breasts are so soft. Each time I see even a glimpse of them, I feel they are aching to be touched and kissed," he confessed. Then he proceeded to kiss and lick them, one at a time, in an excruciatingly slow and erotic manner. She was squirming and felt her inner thighs wet with her juices.

He went down to her hips and placed his hands firmly on them, pulling her closer against the hardness in his trousers. She felt the heat radiate, and a whimper escaped from her.

"I'm going to fuck you, Miss Granger. You have earned it. You've been such a good girl all these years, working hard, trying to impress me. It hasn't gone unnoticed. Your mind is as enticing as your body, and I am captivated by both."

He opened the fly of his trousers slowly, one button at a time as she felt the cool air around her wetness. Severus slid his fingers into her to test her arousal. She closed her eyes in pleasure...she was ready. He plunged into her, and she moaned. He watched his hands stroke her naked legs as he eased himself in and out of her.

"You feel so good, Hermione. I love you," he whispered softly.

Hermione was overcome by his passion. He descended on her and ravished her mouth as he continued to thrust deeply into her. Finally, she broke from him and asked, "Are you sorry you married me?"

He smiled at her Slytherin tactics. "No, Hermione."

He made her gasp again as she tried to ask another question. "Please, I need to know, do you want to have sex with any other woman here?"

"No," he answered firmly. "Hermione, I want you. Your body is a delight to me. I think about being with you all the time. Hermione, I can't continue this way. I need to let go!" he groaned as her wetness overwhelmed him.

She was taken along on a violent storm of lust and greed. He furiously ground into her, cursing and grunting amazingly dirty things that made her blush and feel excited at the same time. Soon, she was spiraling along with him, and together they were clawing and grabbing for the other, screaming each other's name as they came. Hermione was exhausted. She felt as if her insides had been battered and a dull ache crept throughout her. It feels delicious, though, she thought wantonly. She loved that her husband had dragged her over the edge with him. She felt every part of her had been touched.

After Severus cleaned up the lab, he picked up his wife and carried her to their rooms. She was no longer under the effects of the Veritaserum, but she had to tell him what was truthful in her heart.

"Severus, it means so much to me that you took the time to praise and acknowledge all my hard work," she said as she snuggled into his shoulder.

"We are so very happy, aren't we, wife?" he asked as they made their way to their rooms.

"Yes, husband. We are. I do love you so," she replied just before falling asleep in his arms. He gently carried his wife to their quarters and felt a surge of pride and accomplishment. He had definitely "husbanded" his wife this night!

A/N: The poem read by Severus to Hermione is called, The Bargain, written by Sir Philip Sydney. I also want to thank WriterMerrin for her help on this chapter. Thank you!