It's All In The Details

"Miss Granger," Severus acknowledged.

"Erm, hello, Professor," Hermione faltered, "and please, call me Hermione." She brushed a stray lock behind her ear and smiled at him.

Severus gave a slight nod of agreement and said, "Hermione." He stood staring at her; her mannerisms intrigued him. She seemed nervous. Her breath hitched the moment she had turned around to face him. His eyes travelled down her slender neck and rested for a moment on her slightly heaving cleavage. Memories of her years as his student flooded his mind. She has turned into a beautiful woman over the past five years, he thought as his admiring eyes travelled back to meet hers.

An uncomfortable silence fell between them.

Hermione was the first to speak. "Well, Professor, it's been nice seeing you again." She shuffled her things and turned to go.

"Hermione," Severus said tauntingly, "you forgot your book." This is going to be fun. She stopped without turning around, and he considered closing the distance between them; he could sense that she was deliberating – would she turn around to claim the book, or just move on without it? Your love of reading will make you turn around, he prompted her silently. He then looked down, discovered the title, and let out a short laugh.

She turned around sharply at his laughter and reached for the book. "Thank you."

She waited.

And waited.

When she realised he was not going to give her the book, she withdrew her hand and placed it firmly on her hip. "Was there something else?" she inquired.

She is a feisty little grown-up know-it-all, he thought, as he considered her form once more. He leant back against the bookshelf behind him, crossed his arms, and stared openly at her. "Felicitous Fantasy: Autoeroticism Made Easy. What an interesting title." His voice still held a taunting challenge.

"Professor Snape, I am twenty-three years old. If I choose to read a book written about sexual fantasies, I will." She grabbed the book from him and stalked away.

So I've noticed. Severus pulled himself up fully and turned to watch the sway of her retreating arse.

Severus waited for the door to chime; notifying him of her departure, then turned to the shelf and took a copy of the book Hermione had just purchased.

"I could use a good laugh," he said aloud. He flipped through the pages and became aware that this was not just a basic "How To" book – this particular version was much more detailed and included meticulous drawings.

How Muggles stand pictures that do not move is beyond me, he thought as he turned to the front page.

Its contents page featured:

1. The First Time

2. How To Please Yourself

a. Women

b. Men

3. Begin Your Fantasy

a. Daytime

b. Night-time

4. Bring A Partner Into Your Fantasy World

As Severus reached the title of chapter 4, Hermione's face flashed into his mind. He groaned audibly and forcefully closed the book. He advanced to the counter and the waiting bookstore owner. Severus gave the owner a "Do not say a word" glare and set the book down.

"Ahem." The shopkeeper cleared his throat while trying not to smile at the dark man. "Yes, sir, will that be all for you today?"

Severus could see the glimmer of suppressed laughter in the man's eyes and replied, "Yes. That will be all." He noticed the man glance at the title, look towards the front door, and then back again.

Severus followed his gaze but saw nothing. "Today, if you don't mind," he said, gaining the man's attention once more as he tapped his fingers on the counter impatiently.

Severus paid for his purchase and went out onto the quiet streets of Muggle London. He glanced at the café and his reflection in its windows and decided that he had imbibed enough coffee for today.

He walked to the Apparition point and went directly home.

What he did not see was a pair of brown eyes watching his every move from the window of his favourite café.

Severus Apparated into his sitting room, went to the kitchen, made some tea, and returned to the sitting room. He took it to his preferred chair next to the fireplace, sat and closed his eyes.

Of all the places she could have chosen to be, he thought derisively. "Little miss know-it-all," he said aloud.

He had not thought about her in quite some time. Thumbing the spine of the text still in hand, he recalled Hermione Granger, the woman. Severus sipped his tea and began to relax. He envisioned her legs and retreating arse once more. Setting his teacup on the sofa table, he released an audible growl and stood; beginning to pace the floor, he let his mind wander.

He had not had intimate thoughts of a specific woman in a very long time. Each time he had taken himself in hand in surrogate for a warm body, he would simply envision a woman with dark hair, luscious curves, and a terrific intellect. He was tired of the dim-witted women he picked up in Diagon Alley. They were all right, but none ever seemed good enough for more than a one-night affair, neither could they uphold an intelligent conversation.

Hermione could, a voice interjected.

He had never thought of a student in that manner. "Never a student, past or present," he said aloud to himself in disgust.

It has been long enough, Severus, the voice within him reminded. She has not been your student in years. Did you not see the way she reacted to your presence? That was not a student afraid of the "Greasy Bat of the Dungeons."

"She's a bloody Gryffindor!" he argued with himself.

Yes. One who is purchasing an explicit book about self-pleasure.

"True," Severus agreed. "She has become an alluring Gryffindor who purchases erotic books. How intriguing."

Severus stopped and retrieved the book, and using his index finger to scan the contents once more, he found the section specifically aimed at helping women find their own pleasurable release. He opened the book to that segment and began to read.

"Yes, yes," he said somewhat sarcastically after reading the first two paragraphs. If a woman does not know that part by now, she needs a more remedial textbook, he thought to himself.

He scanned the next few pages until something of interest caught his eye.

On the left hand page was a detailed drawing of a woman. Her hands were covering her breasts secretively as she lay upon a bed, the sheet covering her hips, yet leaving her silky legs exposed. The caption to the right read: "Find a place to relax, place your hands lightly over your breasts, and let the warmth of your hands warm your soft flesh."

Severus felt something hard hit the back of his legs. He never took his eyes away from the picture as he lowered himself onto the sofa. He settled back and continued to turn the pages slowly. Without looking, he reached for his tea and drank quickly, as if trying to douse a fire beginning to burn within.

He began taking deep breaths as he read the captions that accompanied each picture.

The next drawing portrayed that same woman with her hands placed gently on her stomach. He turned the page once more to see if her hands would travel further down her body in each picture.

They did.

"Mercy," he said aloud as he found an interesting illustration several pages ahead.

The drawing displayed the woman with her eyes closed, lips softly parted, one hand caressing her breast while the other hand disappeared between her thighs.

Severus closed the book, making sure his middle finger kept his place. He reached once more for his tea and muttered a quick Warming Charm. He tried to clear his mind as he shifted once more on the sofa and drank.

How can a Muggle book arouse me like this? he wondered. Muggle women have never interested me before. Severus sat up a bit and set his tea back down onto the table.

"Muggle women didn't look like Hermione in her tight jeans either," he reminded the voice aloud.

Just open the book and picture the witch caressing those lovely breasts, travelling over her navel, down her belly, over her thighs, penetra....

"Enough!" Severus stood as he shouted at the voice within.

The book had fallen from his grasp and lay open, displaying the section where the woman was covering her breasts.

"I'll fix this," Severus decided forcefully. One swift movement and his wand was over the book. A few unintelligible words, a bit of foolish wand waving, and the deed was done. The force of his desire transformed the book to reflect the focus of his thoughts.

Nodding to himself as he picked up the book, he said, "Yes, this will do much better."

He held the book a bit closer to his face and smirked at the now moving picture.

"Hello, Hermione."