Twelve

They lay together after bringing each other yet again to palpitating but tender climaxes, their bodies holding tight to the other. Hermione lay looking up, her hand resting across Severus' belly, the desperate ache she felt nearly constantly within for now assuaged and replaced by a warm glow.

"I am taking my exams in less than two months time."

"They will not tax your abilities."

"That's not what I meant."

"I know."

Again, she kept her silence after his last response. It was clear he did not wish to speak about it. Neither did she. She thought of his initial words.

"Do you realise that is the first time ever you have complimented my academic abilities?"

"Hmm ... but you were a stupendously annoying student."

She turned towards him, glaring. "No, I wasn't!"

"Yes, you were. Even your fellow students ... even Potter on occasion ... tired of your incessant sycophantic tendencies."

She sat up fully now, her anger flaring. "I was not a sycophant! And certainly not towards you! I would never have ingratiated myself with you." She paused but was so riled that she spoke the words hanging on the tip of her tongue. "I hated you."

She watched him carefully, but he did not waver and spoke without skipping a beat: "You constantly sought my approval."

Hermione opened her mouth to protest but realised he spoke the truth.

She flung herself back down on the bed, a petulant pout on her face, her face turned away from him.

After a while, his hand came up and she felt his fingertips running along her hip, up over the curve of her waist until they came to rest, gently cupping her breast, running over the nipple lightly and instantly drawing it out in ripe anticipation. He leaned down and whispered smoothly in her ear, "I take it you don't hate me anymore?"

She closed her eyes, trying to ignore the lust flaming strong within her again. His hand continued to stroke her nipple, and his mouth had descended to her throat. Hermione could not hold back any longer. She turned her head and Severus moved his mouth to hers immediately. She opened, darting her tongue out to meet his. After a delicious tasting of each other, he travelled down to latch onto her nipple; an immediate surge of pleasure shot through her. His tongue swirled around it before he sucked hard, plying the point deep in his mouth. Hermione felt his hand questing down, parting her thighs and rubbing smoothly, reaching into her and pulling her arousal out before drawing it up to the swollen nub throbbing for his touch.

Severus remained at her breast for some time. Hermione allowed her mind to cloud. He continued to stroke her sodden folds, occasionally dipping into her, sometimes rubbing lightly on her ripe clit. It was the most relaxed, delicious pleasure she had ever experienced, and he seemed to be enjoying it as much as her even though he was receiving no attention himself. At length he coaxed and sucked her stimulated points beyond containment, and with a tender sigh of release she came exquisitely, her body raising itself up to press hard into his mouth and hand.

He pushed his fingers deep inside her, soaking up her essence, then brought them out but kept his hand resting between her legs. His mouth released her nipple, and he turned his head to rest it gently on her breast. Hermione brought her hand up to stroke his hair. At length, it slowed and stopped. They were both fast asleep.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For Hermione and Severus, it was not a night spent in complete slumber, but when day finally roused them the next morning, they found their bodies more rested and relaxed than they could remember.

Hermione stretched lazily, a broad smile breaking out across her face. She turned to the man next to her. He was looking at her in awed curiosity. She leant over and kissed him delicately on the lips.

"Sunday," she sighed out deliciously. "I have absolutely nothing to do."

He stroked up her belly. "I can think of one or two things to occupy your time, if you so desire." Leaning over her, he kissed her deeply again.

"You know I always so desire."

He had entered her again. It seemed like the most natural thing in the world. He moved steadily along her as her muscles squeezed tight around him. His eyes closed in delirium, but he spoke.

"There is breakfast."

Hermione gripped her lover's back hard. "There is indeed."

Sunday breakfast at Hogwarts was a relaxed, sumptuous affair with steaming plates of bacon, eggs, sausages, toast, everything one could wish for. It started late and lasted half the morning. Copies of newspapers and magazines appeared, and students and teachers took the opportunity to relax and catch up with news of the outside world and each other. Still, Hermione wasn't sure she wanted to go. As she felt his rigidity pressing hard up to her very core, her motivation to leave dwindled even further.

"God, don't stop," she breathed out.

For the first time, the thought of merely being able to look at him from afar in the Great Hall was not enough. Their time in his rooms was so perfect, so natural, that she could no longer contemplate being away from him. He thrust harder now, stroking along her inflamed clit. She drew in a gasping breath.

Severus' face flinched with pleasure, but he spoke again, not stopping his strokes, but still with calm, measured tones.

"We should go up."

She smirked. "One of us is already up."

He shot her a reprimanding glare. "Now now."

A juddering breath was caught in his throat. He was so close. She pulled him ever further into her.

"Everyone goes to Sunday breakfast." He spoke between groans. "Our mutual absence may be noted."

She arched into him.

"Oh god, Severus. Just shut up and fuck me."

He complied.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

After lying a while longer Hermione herself felt a pang in her stomach and sighed deeply. "I have to confess ... I'm bloody hungry." She turned to him. "Come on."

With that she pushed him off her. It hurt to do so, but she enjoyed her little exertion of control. He moaned as he fell out of her. She went into the little bathroom off his sitting room and re-emerged clean, dressed and radiant.

Severus slowly got out of bed, still naked, and walked over to hold her. She rested her head against his smooth, pale chest. "Maybe we could do something today ... away from here ... together."

He did not reply. His silence unnerved her. "Not much. Maybe a walk or something," she persisted.

He remained quiet. She pulled back to look up at him. His face held an expression of tense confusion. He spoke low down to her. "There are prying eyes all around the castle and its grounds."

"Severus. I think between us we are just about accomplished enough in magic to manage something without detection."

He sneered slightly. Although he was a master of it himself, her use of sarcasm disagreed with him.

"We could even get out of the grounds and Apparate somewhere quite far away. I'm quite good at Apparition now."

He looked increasingly alarmed causing her unease to deepen.

After more silence from him she gave up, sighing deeply. "It doesn't matter. It was just a suggestion. I'll go to breakfast. You can come in a few minutes. Don't worry. I'll be really careful. There won't be anyone around now anyway. Even Filch doesn't miss Sunday breakfast."

She turned to leave. He finally spoke.

"We will go for a walk in the forest. I'll meet you by the ash tree on the far side of the lake at two o'clock."

After clearing the expression of shock from her face, she beamed over at him. Then unable to stop herself, Hermione flung herself back across the room to plant a hard kiss on his lips. As she hurried from the room to breakfast, she did not see the slight smile caress his features before he himself turned to get ready.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hermione was ridiculously happy as she ate her huge plate of sausages, tomatoes, bacon, eggs and toast. Her appetite and good mood did not go unnoticed by her friends.

"Don't forget the Quidditch match this afternoon, 'Mione. I'll meet you at half one and we'll walk down together," Ginny said.

Hermione flushed a little and struggled to appear nonchalant. "Oh, I thought I'd give it a miss, actually. I was going to pop into Hogsmeade, then maybe catch up on some work later."

Ginny looked at her friend quizzically. Hermione usually enjoyed a good Quidditch match as much as anyone. She felt snubbed. "Oh. Right. Suit yourself." Ginny shrugged.

Hermione knew she had offended Ginny, but could not look her in the eye or think of a better excuse. She kept her head down.

After a few minutes she glanced up and saw Snape come in. She could not stop a smile forming on her lips and her cheeks flushing once again. He sat and was served his food. Hermione noticed him turning to the professor next to him and chatting quite animatedly. She was staggered but thrilled. He was clearly happy.

They hardly looked at each other; there did not seem to be such an urgent need to do so, but each was aware of the other's presence despite the distance between them. At the end of breakfast, Hermione stood to leave, and it was only then that she allowed herself a look up to him. He raised his head slowly to meet her eyes. The corners of her mouth turned up in a cautious smile. Slowly, almost imperceptibly, he returned it.

Her heart swelled and she followed her friends out of the Great Hall, feeling as if she may take off.

At half past one, as the others left for the match, Hermione slipped unobtrusively out of the castle in the opposite direction and headed for the Forbidden Forest.

It was a pleasant autumn day, and as she made her way to the other side of the lake, a faint mist rising from it, the changing leaves fell idly around her.

She got to the ash tree. There was no sign of him. Hermione glanced at her watch. It was a minute before two. She grew slightly anxious. What if he didn't come? Was he too circumspect to risk being seen together even out here?

She pulled her arms around her and shivered, suddenly noticing the chill breeze. There was still no sign of him. Then she heard a noise behind her and spun around. There, stepping out of the shadows was Snape. Her lips broke open in a wide, ecstatic smile. He approached her, his face as yet unreadable. "Good afternoon, Miss Granger."

She smiled. "Good afternoon, Professor Snape. What a pleasant surprise bumping into you like this."

He smirked a little before lowering his eyes to hers again. "I thought perhaps you would choose instead to accompany your friends onto the stands."

She looked at him. His face remained strong and impassive, but his words belied an insecurity which equalled her own. She took his hand. "Why on earth would I want to sit growing cold and miserable watching boys with raging hormones flinging themselves through the air after a flying testicle?"

He allowed himself a slight smirk. "The rest of the school seem to wish to do so."

"They're not with you."

He raised his eyebrows. "Thank Merlin for that."

She smiled more broadly and squeezed his hand, pulling him as she started to walk into the forest. "Come on."

They walked hand in hand, finding a path through a less densely wooded part of the forest. The sun flickered down through the branches, spilling out in random pools of light onto the forest floor. Occasionally, a deer or hare would dart past them. She noticed Severus tensing at these moments, fearful of what or who was nearby. But Hermione was undeterred. She held his hand more firmly and walked ever more deep into the forest. As they left the castle far behind them, she felt him relax. His hand held hers warmly and gently.

She smiled to herself. Here she was, walking hand-in-hand through the Forbidden Forest with Severus Snape. A little giggle bubbled out of her.

"What?" he turned to her in query.

"Nothing. It's just ..."

"Go on."

"Well, you have to admit, this is a little odd ... you and me ... going for a Sunday afternoon stroll."

He raised himself up, his voice slightly defensive. "It was your idea."

"I know. I love it. I'm not complaining." Hermione stopped and looked up at him. "It's just too wonderful to believe."

Severus leant down and planted a tender kiss on her lips. "Believe it," he breathed gently into her mouth. She returned his kiss, then smiling against him, she moved back and continued to walk with him through the forest.

As they walked they settled into easy conversation, discussing potions, spells and the changes in the magical world. They avoided any mention of the war, the Dark Lord, or the events surrounding Snape's encounter with death and his miraculous survival.

Hermione talked more than Severus, but he listened with quiet interest. Then suddenly asked a question which surprised even her.

"Do you enjoy your job?"

His features tensed and he looked at her curiously. "I'm sure you have formed an impression as to whether I do or not."

"I want to hear it from you."

"My presence at Hogwarts has not always been due simply to the extraordinary pleasure gained in attempting to enlighten the feeble minds of slack and idle adolescents." His voice had regained its most sarcastic drawl.

Hermione cold not help but laugh. He darted his eyes to hers. He did not laugh.

She knew what he was referring to: his likely spying for Voldemort, his work for Dumbledore, his need to protect Harry. But he had been at Hogwarts for nearly twenty years ... his whole career. Surely there had been times when he had merely had to settle into a regular pattern of teaching ordinary students.

"You've been there a long time. When not acting as a double agent, protecting the foolish Potter and his chums from their own arrogant ignorance, or enforcing Unbreakable Vows, there must have been times when you simply sat in your classroom and ... taught." She teased him, her eyes twinkling. "How do feel about that?"

Snape spun to her abruptly, spitting his words out coldly. "How do you think I feel about it?"

She held his gaze, not intimidated by his sudden anger. "It would be easy for me to say that I think you hate it, that you feel undervalued, unappreciated, wasted ... but I think I would be wrong."

His features did not waver, but Hermione detected a burning in his eyes. She wondered if she had gone too far. But she could not stop now. She continued, gently but deliberately. "I don't think you can imagine a life outside Hogwarts. I think it makes you feel safe, secure; it provides you with meaning and order ... so different from the chaos which you have experienced on the outside."

He was silent for a while, then turned and walked on again, but not fast enough for her not to keep pace with him. "Even if you have vindicated your idealistic perception of me, that does not mean I enjoy my job."

"I think it must be quite comforting after years of facing unfathomable horrors, torment, shame ... death ... I think it must be comforting to look out on a sea of anonymous faces, looking to you for guidance, holding you in fearful respect, never questioning you. What does it matter if you are popular or not? They provide a framework for you ... a scaffold to cling to amidst an otherwise desperate world."

He stopped suddenly and turned to her. "Do you want me to answer your question?"

Hermione was taken aback. "Yes," she mumbled out.

"I enjoy it more than I could ever imagine because you are there. When you are no longer there, I shall hate and despise every minute of it once again. Come, we must get back. It will grow dark soon."

He turned and strode away from her.

Hermione could not move. She stood stock still, her heart beating rapidly. Then she rushed after him. When she eventually caught up, she caught his hand and pulled. He resisted momentarily, then slowly looked back at her.

She reached swiftly up to his head and held his face tenderly in her hands, pulling it down into a deep and desperate kiss. "Severus. What are we doing? What do you want from me? I won't be here in two months. What then?"

He stopped, breathing heavily, then slowly looked at her, a haunted look in his eyes that she had rarely seen. "I don't know."

To see this man before her, uncertain, this man who had always been so strong, so assured, Hermione felt her soul melting within her. She pressed herself against his chest, and slowly he raised his arms and held her close to him.

They said no more, and she eventually became aware of the dusk descending into the deep forest around them. She raised her head. "We should go."

He met her eyes, and his hand came up to her face. Hermione smiled, then took his hand, leading him back through the forest, until they could see the lights of the castle flickering before them.

It was nearly dark when they finally reached the lake. It was here that they would re-enter the school grounds. They were grateful for the cover of night to hide their return. Hermione turned to him. "It's nearly supper. I'll be in class tomorrow." After the conversation they had had, she felt unsettled and thought he needed time to himself. She reached up to kiss him gently before turning for the castle. He caught her wrist and pulled her back.

"You must stay with me again tonight."

She looked up in alarm. She had not been expecting anything. But looking into his eyes, alight with need and longing, she could not deny him, or herself.

"Yes." She kissed him again. "Yes, of course, of course."

"Go now. Come to me after supper."

He kissed her urgently once again, then she hurried from him, back to the castle.

She went swiftly into supper and ate quickly. He came in fifteen minutes later but she left immediately after eating and went straight to the dungeons.

Hermione walked so purposefully and confidently that the few people she met on her way to his rooms did not bat an eyelid.

She entered his classroom and waited. The familiar room and its smell soothed her. Never had she felt she belonged somewhere so much. After a few minutes the door opened and he came in, swiftly and silently, shutting it behind him.

He said not a word, nor touched her, save for encircling her fingers and pulling her rapidly through into his bedroom.

They quickly found themselves naked, their bodies falling onto the bed, joining urgently. Then Hermione Granger and Severus Snape fell asleep in each other's arms for the second night in a row.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

*sigh*

Any thoughts gratefully read and pondered. x