Continued Existence

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author.

Chapter 1 - Continued Existence

Long periods of war are usually followed up with a time of peace and a sort of harmony. That was the way it was in the Muggle world, and the same could be said for the Wizarding world. The fall of Voldemort had come as quite a relief for most, but offered no solace to the likes of Severus Snape. He sighed at the memory as just one year before, he had been watching over Hermione, as she'd rested in a coma, for five months after the war had ended.

He glanced across from the seat he was sitting in and saw the beautiful witch, lounging comfortably on the chaise lounge in his study. She was twenty years old now, and if possible, even more radiant. Smiling to himself, he was glad that it was the weekend, and that he was offered the brief respite, before returning to Hogwarts to teach the next day. He enjoyed times like these, when Hermione would read, and he was given the chance to simply sit and admire her.

'Severus, you're staring at me,' she piped, looking up from her book.

'Yes,' he admitted quietly.

'Shouldn't you be grading those essays? We have to go back to Hogwarts tomorrow,' she said, raising a curious eyebrow. 'What seems to be bothering you?'

He dropped his quill and stood, making his way over to her slowly, letting her admire his lithe form, and taking the extra time to let his eyes wander over her slim, yet completely desirable length also. 'As we are to return to Hogwarts tomorrow, Professor Granger, perhaps you will entertain with a more pleasurable activity that we will not have the opportunity to engage in during the week?' he suggested dangerously.

Hermione smiled coyly. 'Perhaps when you have finished grading those essays, Master Snape,' she answered.

He sat down on the chaise next to her and tucked a curl that had come loose from the knot at the back of her head behind her ear. 'You are a tease, Miss Granger,' he said with a pout.

Hermione couldn't help but to giggle. 'Not now, Severus. I have Arithmancy papers to grade as soon as I finish these books. And knowing you, the "activity", as you so amply put it, will keep us occupied for far too long, you insatiable old man,' she teased.

Nodding in resignation, he left the lounge and went back to the tediously boring task of marking and grumbled something about "stupid little dunderheads" under his breath and continued on. Hermione laughed at his offhanded comment and set her book aside.

Only a few months before, she would have all too willingly given in and let him sweep them off to the bedroom or, better yet, take her on the Oriental rug in the study itself. But lately she had taken to disregarding his advances a little, to finish her work first, and then attacking him later -- if he was good.

'You take your job too seriously,' Severus said in monotones.

'You only say that because it doesn't involve you, or any of your blasted Potions,' Hermione replied in kind, fighting the urge to laugh at his frustrations.

'Believe what you will, Madam,' came his beaten reply. She had won that time.

'Change that attitude, Severus Snape,' Hermione scolded softly. 'You know I love you more than Arithmancy or Hogwarts for that matter.'

That made Snape smile. It was a good thing she knew exactly what to say and when to say it. Shaking his head, he bent over the essays again, just as Hermione began the task of grading her own classes. 'You look quite lovely today, Hermione,' he said dutifully.

'Your attempts at sexual blackmail will not work with me, Severus,' she responded with a sniff.

'That wasn't my intention, Hermione. But for the sake of interests, did it work?' he asked, barely hiding his smirk and the amused twinkle in his eyes.

'For your information, Mr. Squiffy, it did not. And keep interrupting me like this and I will be forced to send you to a different room tonight,' she threatened, although there was an underlying laugh there.

Snape wisely refrained from interrupting her for the rest of the evening and was then given the right to sweep Hermione out of the study and carry her up to their shared bedroom. He set her down in the sitting room and let her wander into the bathroom to bathe while he went down to clean up in the bathroom down the hall. When he returned to the room, she was propping up pillows, dressed in a daring, silk negligee, the colour of deep wine, which had thin straps and fell to her mid-thigh.

He approached her silently from behind, clad only in his long pajama bottoms, and wrapped his arms around her slim form, pulling her flush against his long, firm body. 'You look good enough to eat,' he whispered provocatively, caressing her sides gently.

Hermione spun in his arms and locked her arms around his lightly muscled middle, pressing her cheek against his firm chest. 'You're not looking too bad yourself, love,' she replied, nipping and licking a light trail over his chest.

Snape groaned softly, and stopped her torturing mouth from continuing its path. Helping her into the bed, he then entered it himself, sliding into place beside her. With a silent spell, he extinguished the lights and wrapped Hermione up in his arms. 'Goodnight, love,' he murmured against her neck, closing his eyes happily.

'How long have we been together, Severus?' she asked out of nowhere.

'One year, and six months on Wednesday,' he replied almost sleepily. 'Why?'

'I was just wondering. It seems like we've been this way for a lot longer than that,' she answered, pressing up against him closer and inhaling his delicious scent.

'You say that, yet Weasley still seems to think that he holds some claim over you,' Snape said bitterly. 'Why don't you tell the rotten sod to bugger off?'

'Severus!' she exclaimed, swatting him lightly. 'He's one of my best friends. I can't do that.'

'I could, quite easily in fact,' he replied with a smirk, closing his eyes and yawning a little.

'So you're tired now, hmmm?' she questioned.

'There is only one thing that could keep me awake at this time,' he said with a deep chuckle.

'And that is?' Hermione asked, rubbing her leg provocatively along his own, sending a rush of blood to his groin, and spreading warmth all over his body.

'Well...' he started, but was cut off when Hermione leaned up and seized his lips in a gentle kiss. She threaded her fingers through his raven tresses and pulled him closer, angling him so that there was maximum contact, before ending it suddenly. 'Well, there is always that.'

'And?' she asked, running her hands up his taut chest and tasting the flesh of his neck.

'Do you really want an answer to that?' he asked, grinding his hips against hers as she let a hand caress his jutting hip bone.

'Mmmhmm,' she mumbled with a nod, letting her hand travel down to its ultimate target, to begin fumbling with the ties of his pants. She withdrew her mouth from his neck for a moment. 'But maybe later.'

Snape needed no other encouragement. He kissed her gently on the lips, teasing her mouth open with his tongue before sliding her silky negligee over her head and tossing it to the floor somewhere. He found her sensitive spot near the base of her throat and suckled it gently. There would be a mark there the next day, but he liked reminding her that she was his.

Hermione moaned softly as he moved his mouth to her breast and tortured her relentlessly with his tongue, all while removing her panties with one fluid movement and discarding it with the negligee.

Hermione mirrored his actions, removing his pants and silky, black boxers at the same time, freeing his throbbing member and stroking it gently with her fingertips. Snape gasped and stopped her movement quickly, abandoning her breasts to kiss her lips tenderly. 'I will not last tonight if you do that, Hermione,' he warned.

She nodded and allowed him to position himself at her entrance. He plunged in swiftly, drawing a grunt from them both, and simply rested there, allowing her time to adjust to his size. After a while, she whimpered, and he began a slow rhythm.

'Please...' she gasped.

'Please... what... Hermione?' he groaned through each slow stroke.

'Harder... faster,' she breathed.

Severus simply obliged, pounding into her, until they both reached their completion, collapsing into the mattress, spent and completely sated. Snape kissed her forehead, feeling her curl into his body, still resting inside of her.

'Goodnight, pet,' he murmured.

'Night, Severus,' she managed with a smile.