A Dance As Old As Time or Hermione's Birthday

Dances with Witches by Pearle

Summary: Severus Snape loses a magical bet. The consequences? The Tango! My answer to the codpiece challenge on Wiktt. HG/SS

Disclaimer: The characters, settings, etc. of the Harry Potter series are not mine they belong to J.K. Rowling and Co. I promise to return them when I am through. Well, most of them anyway.

~~~~~ Dances with Witches ~~~~~

Chapter 19 -A Dance As Old As Time or Hermione's Birthday

Severus was nervous as he knocked on Hermione's door. He could not help but feel tonight was a turning point for the two of them. He could only hope he would still be welcome here when the evening ended.

Hermione had been anxious all day. She had received various owls and messages of Happy Birthday from her friends. Messages from everyone but the one she wanted to hear from. Soaking in a hot tub had gone a long way to ease her anxiety this afternoon. All feelings of calm fled as she heard a knock at her door.

Severus's eyes widened as he took in the woman before him. Hermione was wearing a Muggle-style gown, velvet, in a deep midnight blue. The dress hugged her ample curves, low in the front, and lower in the back. The dress reminded him of the one she had worn at the dance exposition. Her hair was swept from her face and cascaded gently down her back.

"You look...lovely." The words left his lips in a whisper as he appreciated the vision before him. Severus stepped into the flat and hugged Hermione. He kissed her gently before removing his cloak. He was dressed much as she was used to seeing him at the Ministry celebrations. A black velvet frock coat, slightly more formal than his usual coat, a charcoal gray shirt that edged out from the cuffs and collar of his coat, and black twill pants completed the outfit. "We have a few minutes before we need to be at the restaurant. I have something I wish to give you."

Severus produced a small box wrapped in silver foil and tied with a large gold ribbon. "Happy Birthday, Hermione."

"Severus, thank you." Hermione threw her arms around his neck in a fierce hug before moving to the sofa to open his gift.

It would be difficult to say which one of the two was more nervous at the moment. Severus stood awkwardly near the doorway, still unsure of the proper etiquette.

Hermione patted the sofa next to her as she looked at the gift. "Silver and gold, huh? Sit with me while I open it."

Once he was seated next to her, she pulled on the ribbon and removed the silver paper. With infinite curiosity she eyed the silver bag etched with the single leaf. A quick glance at Severus's face gave nothing away. She removed the black velvet case from the pouch and looked at him again. With the briefest of nods from the wizard next to her, she opened the case with trembling fingers.

"Oh my god, Severus. It's beautiful. I can't believe it." Her fingers caressed the surface of the leaf before she turned to hug and kiss him. It was several minutes later before she regarded the necklace again.

With a sigh of relief, Severus asked, "May I assume the gift meets with your approval?" He was debating exactly how much to tell her of his odd encounter with Sibyll's cousin when he purchased the pendant.

Hermione extracted the necklace from its case. "Yes, it meets with my approval. It far exceeds my approval. Will you help me put it on?" Hermione handed him the necklace before turning away from him. She gathered her hair to one side so he could slide the pendant around her neck.

Severus slipped the pendant in place and latched the clasp. His hands moved to her shoulders as he kissed the back of her neck. Her dress was cut low in the back, allowing him the opportunity to trail a few kisses along her spine. He smiled wickedly as he felt a shiver pass through her. His voice was low and sultry as he whispered in her ear, "Happy Birthday, Hermione. My wish is to make this a birthday you will not forget." He was pleased to feel her tremble at his words.

Severus stood and extended his hand to her. "Come, it is time for us to leave. You may be interested in the story of that pendant you are wearing."

Hermione's hand moved to cover the pendant. It seemed to glow with an inner light. "Will you tell me over dinner about the necklace? It's absolutely beautiful. Thank you so much." She reached up to kiss him on the check. "

Severus was mildly uncomfortable with her gratitude, though secretly pleased she was happy with his gift. "You are welcome. Shall we?" Severus helped her on with her cloak before retrieving his own.

"Where is The Wizard's Choice?" she asked, when they were standing outside her building.

"It is in wizarding London. Not that far from Diagon Alley." 'Or the Emerald Leaf,' he thought.

Severus enfolded Hermione in his arms, his cloak falling to enclose them both. "Hold on to me. I will Apparate us there." The sound of a loud crack split the night air as the two disappeared.

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The Wizard's Choice was the new restaurant, the height of chic. The restaurant was elegant and understated. Top Ministry officials and local celebrities could be seen dining there. Still, having two heroes from the final battle, one of them the elusive Potions master from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, was enough to cause a stir, no matter who the restaurant normally catered to.

Hermione was used to people turning to look at her. She was highly visible as she attended classes and met with Harry and Ron every few weeks for dinner. Harry could bring a room to dead silence by just walking into it. He had become adept at waving and moving to a quiet corner in an attempt to become unobtrusive.

Severus had never been comfortable with the attention he received for the Dark Lord's defeat. He saw it as a way to redeem himself for the transgressions he had committed in his youth, nothing more. While he hadn't complained at first, when his newfound status had brought a bevy of witches out of the woodwork and after him, he soon tired of the mindless chits. They had little to say over dinner. They talked about the latest robe styles or an article in Witch Weekly. If he mentioned Potions Today or Ars Alchemica, they would stare at him with a decidedly blank look. He found he had been happier with his own company than attempting to put up with theirs.

Hermione was different. Her mind moved at the speed of light. She could switch from topic to topic with amazing alacrity. She kept up on articles and topics in a variety of fields. Their work on the Wolfsbane Potion was more advanced than any research being performed today. Her professors at Cambridge were fools for dismissing her without a second glance. He was sure there was probably a thing or two she could teach them about their chosen fields, knowing her penchant to research any subject she took.

Severus shook his head and smiled. This was the annoying know-it-all that had plagued him for seven years. The student that would turn in four feet of parchment when he had only asked for two because she could not condense the volume of information her answers would contain.

During dinner, Severus relayed the unusual circumstance behind her pendant. Hermione was fascinated to hear the details. Her hand drifted up every so often to lightly caress the necklace. Their talk turned to the Wolfsbane Potion and the article on Arithmancy they had looked at the previous night, before moving on to articles of interest each had read.

They lingered over dinner, enjoying each other's company before returning to her flat.

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Severus waved his hand. The sound of music softly filled the room. The soft strains of Summer Wind, sung by Frank Sinatra, floated around them. It was the song she had used to teach one of her students the waltz for his anniversary. He held his hand out to her, "Dance with me."

She rested her hand on his shoulder. His arm encircled her waist, pulling her to him. They moved slowly to the music. Severus lowered his head. He nipped her earlobe before leaving a trail of kisses along the side of her neck. He was rewarded with a soft moan for his troubles. Her arms moved to encircle his neck. He moved one hand to gently knead her breast through the soft velvet of her gown. He could feel her nipple pebble through the fabric.

Hermione's voice was husky, "Stay with me tonight, Severus. Make love to me."

He watched her eyes gloss over as they swayed to the music. He could see lust, desire, and want in the depths of her gaze. Her pupils were fully dilated, making her eyes almost as dark as his. He could barely see the gold flecks that usually highlighted the warm brown. His voice was soft, melodic. "Are you sure that's what you want, Hermione? Are you really sure I am what you want? There will be no turning back after tonight. I have told you before; I am not a nice man. I won't share you. If we make love tonight, it will be because you are mine."

Severus studied her eyes, the windows to the soul. Her breathing became erratic. He watched as her hand moved slowly down the length of his chest. Her eyes meet his as her hand moved to gently caress the bulge in his trousers. "I can't imagine ever being with anyone else, ever again, Severus." She was his. No one had ever lit a fire in her blood as he did. She ached to feel him buried inside her, hard, hot with need.

His kiss branded her soul. They clung to one another, his mouth leaving a trail of kisses on her heated skin as they moved into her bedroom. He pulled on the catch at the back of her dress. The gown fell in a liquid puddle at her feet, leaving her nude but for a very abbreviated pair of knickers and thigh high-hose. She turned to pull the covers back on the bed. Severus moved behind her, his hands grasping her hips, pulling her back against his straining erection. His fingers slid forward under the flimsy material of her knickers, toying with the damp curls of her sex.

Hermione moaned as the strength left her legs. She leaned back into his arms, feeling his hard member nestle against her bottom. She ached to feel him inside her. It seemed as if she had been waiting for him forever.

His fingers hooked the band of her knickers and slowly slid them down her legs. She turned to kiss him, her body molding to his. One arm snaked around her back pulling her to him, while the other slipped between their bodies to lightly tease the edges of her sex. Hermione tried to move closer to his gently probing fingers. The feel of his silk shirt a cool contrast to her heated skin.

His hands gently moved her back. "Lie back on the bed." A whispered spell and his clothing disappeared, allowing Hermione to drink in his form. He was tall, a full head taller then she, with broad shoulders that tapered to a narrow waist. The line of hair from his navel continued downward, ending in a thick patch of black curls. His penis, hard and long, stood out proudly from its nest of hair. She was mesmerized, watching his member bob gently as he reached for her stocking-clad leg.

Severus rested Hermione's foot against the broad expanse of his chest. He slowly rolled the silk hose down her leg, teasing the inside of her thigh as he moved. He planted kisses from her knee down as he exposed her skin. Both legs received the same sweet torture. She was left breathless as he moved to lie next to her on the bed.

She eyed the length and thickness of his aroused member. He was much larger than the boys she had experimented with in the past. There was no question he was an adult wizard. She too had heard rumors from some of the witches he had bedded after the final battle, but had dismissed the stories as exaggeration. Now she realized they had not described his 'charms' to his full credit. She had some doubts as to whether he would fit.

Severus watched her eyes, so many emotions, so many questions, skittering across her face. He was long-practiced in the art of pleasing women. He had always been a man who answered to his baser needs.

The Dark Lord had passed the wives of the Death Eaters around to be used like so many whores at the revels; the followers were given no choice. Their wives service was a requirement of loyalty to the Dark Lord. Most of the other Death Eaters could not understand why he was a favorite of the women. Severus had learned long ago that there was more pleasure for a man to derive if a woman willingly accepted and welcomed his attention.

While Severus considered sex an itch to be scratched, he also thought of it as a picnic for his senses. Taste, touch, sight, sound, and smell, all differences to enjoy. He loved the taste of a woman's sex, the feel of soft skin, so different from his own. The sight of a woman's breasts, her nipples hardening in pleasure, changing in color. He reveled in his power over his partners, and took his own pleasure whenever he chose. While not long on looks, his reputation as a lover and the size of his 'equipment' took on the proportion of a fable. Severus allowed the stories to grow, adding to his air of mystery.

Tonight would be different. He had bedded the wives of the other Death Eaters, frequented the brothels in Knockturn Alley when looking for a quick release, and had used the chits that had chased after him when his status changed from spy to hero.

Tonight he truly cared for the woman he intended to make love to. Tonight was about making love, not just sex. He planned on being the last man she would ever have. Tonight was for her. He would enjoy himself, but he wanted her to know what it felt like to reach the heights he intended to take her to. His hand had been slowly caressing her arm, stroking softly from the shoulder to the elbow and back while she looked over his naked form.

He chuckled as her read the last comment in her eyes. "It will fit. Our bodies were made to fit together." He laid on his side, his head propped up with one hand, his other hand continued to gently stroke her arm, as he watched her eyes rove over his body, her hand hesitantly exploring his chest.

He did not want to ask. He really did not want to know. He was happy in his ignorance. Severus took a deep breath before asking the question he dreaded. "Hermione, have you ever been with a man?"

"Are you asking if I'm a virgin?" Her eyes widened as she looked at him.

His voice was soft. "I don't want to hurt you. I just...need to know."

"I may not be all that experienced, but, no, I'm not a virgin. To be honest, until I met you, I was not all that interested in sex. There have been a few boys, but it was never all that great." Her voice turned breathy as she tried to express what she felt. "You do something to me. I can't explain it."

His smile was warm. His voice sultry, "Tonight is for you. Let me show you the pleasure you have been missing." Arrogant? Absolutely. True? Without a doubt.

Hermione shivered as the sound of his voice excited her further. Severus moved over the aroused witch, enjoying the feel of skin sliding across skin. His kiss, while starting slowly, lit the fire growing between them. Tongues dueled for control. Hands played with sensitive skin. Hermione arched beneath him as she felt his leg slide between hers, gently spreading her legs apart.

She moaned as he kissed the line of her jaw. "Oh, god."

A growl was her only answer. He nipped her earlobe, while continuing along the side of her neck. His hands moved to knead and caress her breast, cupping the heavy globes and teasing her hardened nipples. His mouth left a trail of kisses as he traced a path past her collarbone, and moved to worship her breast using his mouth and tongue to further arouse the pebbled flesh, before giving the same attention to the other breast.

His name was a prayer and a curse as it left her lips. "Severus," she moaned.

"I want you to enjoy yourself. We have all night." His voice, smooth and sexy, sent an electric shock straight to her core.

Severus continued moving slowly down the length of her body, stopping randomly to lick and nip her heated flesh. His tongue dipped into her navel, before dancing around to tease the sensitive skin at her hip. Her muscles clenched as he nipped the supple skin, then soothed it with his tongue. The musky smell of her sex filled his nostrils as he buried his nose in the soft damp curls covering her mound.

Hermione's breathing was ragged. She could barely speak as he moved to nuzzle her sex. "Severus, you don't..." He looked up to see her watching him. The desire in his black eyes held her captive, silencing her objection.

His voice was husky, "I don't have to do this? Hasn't anyone ever pleasured you before? Trust me, this is as much for my enjoyment as it is for yours."

The trust shining in her eyes was more than he could bear. He would take it slow. She had played with boys until now. Her excursions into sex had probably amounted to a few fumbling tries with none caring about her satisfaction. It was obvious she had never been with an adult wizard before. There was so much he could teach her, so much for them to discover.

He wanted nothing more than to plunge his engorged member deep within her. To pound her into the mattress, with nothing more than the thought of his own release. Instead, he held back. Tonight was for her pleasure, through he would benefit by it too.

His mouth slid past her sex to lick the inside of her thigh. She was arcing off the bed, desperately trying to get him where she needed his touch most. His fingers slowly parted her sex, gently stroking her sensitive nub. One long supple finger traced the slick folds of her sex, finding its way into her wet opening.

Hermione moaned at the feel of his hands on her heated skin. She had experimented with playing with herself to some success, but it had never felt like this. She was reduced to small whimpers and moans as he slid his finger into her welcoming body. Her hands clutched the sheets as she rode the wave of electricity rushing through her.

He was amazed at how tight she was. He was fairly well endowed. His cock would fit, but he would take it slow, let her adjust to his size before taking his own pleasure from her. His arm across her hips helped hold her in place.

Without thought, he bit the inside of her thigh, marking her and drawing blood. His tongue soothed the bite, the coppery taste of blood in his mouth. He moved to her sex, drinking in the taste of her essence. He stopped short of the incantation he knew was the final step in making her his. As if coming out of a daze, he realized he had actually performed the first two steps of an ancient ritual before coming to his senses. The spell bordered on Dark Magic. He wondered if she knew how close he had come to binding her to him?

Drinking your lovers blood, only a single drop was necessary, was the first step. Tasting the musky juice of her sex was the second. All he needed to complete the ritual was to say the incantation and she would be his, forever. There was a time, long ago, he would have gone ahead and performed the spell without her knowledge. He realized he was no longer that man. As much as he wanted her to be his alone, he would not perform the ancient ritual without her permission. There may come a time, in the future, when they would both perform the ritual and bind themselves to each other. When she would be willing to be his alone, now and forever, as the ancient ritual decreed. He would wait until she was ready to give herself over to him, to desire him alone.

Tonight was about her enjoyment. He turned his full attention to the pleasurable task at hand. Two fingers slipped into her opening. His mouth moved over her clit, sucking lightly, his tongue swirling around the hard nub, licking slowly at first, before increasing the speed and pressure of his tongue. Her taste was beyond anything he could have imagined. Pure heaven. He increased the suction of his mouth, feeling her body twitch in response to his actions. He could feel her walls tighten around his fingers as he pumped them in and out of her body. Steel encased in satin pulsated against him. His cock twitched as he felt how tightly she clamped down on his fingers. He would never last in the tight heat of her body. As he increased the suction on her clit, he could feel her orgasm start. Her muscles tightened around his fingers as she went over the edge.

Hermione's head thrashed as she crested another wave of emotion. Her orgasm washed over her, sending electric shocks straight to her core. She found it hard to breathe, as wave after wave of pleasure swept over and through her. His name was barely a moan falling from her lips. It was several minutes before she could think clearly again.

The sound of his name only served to heighten his arousal. His tongue dipped into the heat of her sex, his hands holding her hips down on the bed. He licked slowly up and back between her wet folds before thrusting his tongue into her slick opening. He could still feel the muscles of her walls twitching as she rode the aftershocks of her orgasm.

He moved slowly up her body, allowing the friction of their skin to add to his desire. He licked and sucked her nipple, teasing the hard bud as Hermione writhed beneath him.

"Oh god. Severus." Her voice was breathless. "Please."

"Please? What do you want?" The vibration of his voice against her sensitized skin sent a shock straight to her already sensitive clit.

"I want you. I want your hard cock inside me. Please, I need to feel you." Hermione's hands gripped his buttocks, pulling him to her.

Severus placed the head of his cock at the slick opening of her sex. He could feel her hands on his arse, urging him on. His voice was low, barely a growl. "Hermione, open your eyes. Look at me. I need to see you."

Hermione's eyes locked with his black gaze. The intimacy of looking into his eyes was greater than anything she had ever felt before. Her breathing was ragged as he eased his hardened shaft into her waiting body. Her breath hitched as her body fully sheathed his engorged member. He was hard and hot, and filled her as none of the others ever had. She watched his eyes glaze over as he leaned in to claim her lips. His tongue plunged in and out of her mouth as he held the rest of his body still, allowing her to adjust to his size. She could feel his member pulsing within her as she tried to move against him.

Her hands pulled at his body, her hips rocked against him, signaling her readiness. Severus moved slowly, using shallow thrusts in an effort to extend their coupling. Hermione was having none of it. She moaned into his mouth, destroying what was left of his control. His thrusts became stronger, harder, deeper, and more erratic than before. She met his movements, her hips raised to take him as deep as possible. His cock plunged over and over into her willing body. This was for her. He wanted to feel her come again before giving in to his own release. He could feel her walls tightening around him as another orgasm threatened to overtake her. Severus lowered his head and licked at her nipple before sucking hard on the pebbled flesh. He moved over her body, trying to regain a shred of his control.

His breath was hot in her ear. His words, a harsh whisper, sending her over the edge again, "So...tight. So... fucking...tight." He felt the start of her climax, her sex tightening around him. Clamping down on his cock.

He gave in to his own need, thrusting into her welcoming heat. The feel of her orgasm, joined with the friction of his cock plunging in and out of her tight channel, sent him over the edge, spilling his seed deep within her body. His hips rocked forward reflexively, a few more thrusts and he was spent.

Severus held himself over her, not wanting to crush Hermione under his weight. His member slipped from the warmth of her body, leaving him feeling momentarily lost. He shifted to his side, pulling her against him. She snuggled into the crook of his neck, throwing one leg possessively over his thigh, to rest between his legs. Her hand snaked across his chest, playing with the sparse hairs that outlined his flat nipples, before idly tracing one of the more prominent scars on his shoulder.

His chest and back were a road map of white and silver lines that told the silent tale of his years of spying, his years of being tortured at the hands of a madman. Tears pricked the back of her eyes as she thought of the years he suffered alone.

Severus was playing with the mass of honeyed curls that flowed down her back. He sensed the shift in her mood. A finger under her chin brought her eyes to his face. His smile, so rare, so open, melted her heart. "Hermione, Happy Birthday." She melted under his touch, this caustic, hard, sarcastic man, who had brought her untold pleasure tonight. This had been her real gift. Not the pendant or the pleasure, through she reveled in it. It was the unguarded glimpse into his heart. His smile, his warmth, so freely given, that had been her real gift.

She snuggled deeper into his shoulder, happy and drowsy from their shared intimacy. "I never got the chance to taste you," she mumbled sleepily.

Severus played with the mass of curls draped across his arm, encircling her back, his other hand casually caressing the back of her hand resting on his chest. "Rest. We have all night. All weekend if you wish it."

Hermione knew he was referring to the party at the Burrow tomorrow. "Hmm. You're going."

Severus laughed. "I was only thinking of you." Her breathing had evened out. He was not sure she had heard his comment. It did not matter. While he was loathe to socialize with anyone else, he would endure the Burrow for her.

'Damn it to hell, what is happening to you man?' Having finally gotten what it wanted, the voice in his head was now off on a new bent. It was at that moment Hermione shifted against him. The leg resting between his thighs moved up to slide along the length of partially aroused member. The satiny feel of her thigh gave new life to his erection and quieted the voice in his head.

Hermione's fingers followed the line of hair from his navel to his erection. Her fingers played with the heavy sac below his aroused member, teasing the sensitive skin. His labored breathing told her she was doing something right. He could feel her hand cupping and stroking his balls. Evidently she had decided not to sleep.

"Hermione, I told you, tonight is for you. It is your birthday. " She was sending electric shocks up his spine.

"Right, tonight is for me." Hermione moved to straddle his hips. His cock jumped to attention, once again pressing into her backside as she sat on his stomach. She took his wrists in her hands. He allowed her to move them over his head, one hand holding the wrist of the other. She shivered as his sucked on her nipple, her breast moving over his mouth as she reached above his head. She pressed down on his hands. "Do not move. They are glued to that spot. Understand?" Her eyes bore into his.

Severus remained silent, curious as to what she had planned. She kissed her way down his chest, paying attention to his nipples as he had done to hers. A quiet groan escaped his throat, his muscles tensed as she licked and sucked the sensitive skin at the juncture of his leg and body, his cock bobbing gently with her movements. Hermione settled between his spread thighs, sitting back on her heels.

She allowed herself a chance to really look at his aroused member. It was long and fairly thick. His groin was covered in thick black curls. She ran her fingers through the curls, noticing the way his breathing changed as she teased the base of his penis. His shaft was heavily veined, the skin darker in color. Her hand moved forward to loosely encircle the base of his cock.

Severus remained quiet as he watched Hermione explore his body. Her touch was driving him mad, but he managed to hold still.

Her head tipped forward, pink tongue darting out to lick the pearly drop of fluid slowly seeping from the slit at the head of his penis. 'Salty, not bad,' she thought, as she continued to lick the tip of his hardened shaft.

Severus's eyes gleamed with lust as he watched Hermione's tongue swirl around the head of his cock. His breath caught in his throat as she took the head of his engorged member in her mouth. It was exquisite torture as she slowly licked the length of his member like an all-day lolly.

His body arced up to meet her mouth. His hands remained clenched above his head as she requested. He wanted to slide his hands into the wild mass of silky curls that made up the mane of her hair. He fought the urge to hold her head still while he used her mouth. She was sexually naive, but what she lacked in technique, she made up for in enthusiasm, he thought. Her eyes shinning with lust, the obvious desire for him that he saw on her face was destroying his legendary control. He could not remember anyone who wanted him with such desire as she did.

He started to lose control as she took the length of his shaft in the hot, wet, depths of her mouth. She sucked his length in and out of her mouth, using a movement she remembered hearing the girls in her dorm talking about. Severus's breathing became erratic as he neared his release. His voice was hoarse with emotion. "Hermione, wait." He moved to pull her away before he came.

She batted his hands away, quickening her movements. One hand moved down to cup his balls. She could feel them drawing up towards his body. His back arched, body stiff. Severus groaned her name as his orgasm hit, his hot seed flooding her mouth.

Hermione sat back, a smile on her lips. She watched Severus, his eyes closed, his hands clenching the pillow above his head. When he had his breathing under control, he opened his eyes and looked at her.

Severus thought she had never looked sexier. He pulled her up to hug and kiss her, tasting himself in her mouth. "You look pretty pleased with yourself," he said, after she had settled once again at his side.

Hermione grinned, "That was a...heady experience. Pun intended. I've never done that before. I've read books and the other girls used to talk, but that was the first time I ever actually did that."

Severus laughed at her obvious delight. "Than I am honored. You always were a quick study." She was chewing on her lower lip, a habit he knew from years of having her as his student. She had a question she wanted to ask. "What?"

Her hand once again moved to his lower regions. "How long before you can...perform again?"

"Dear, god. What have I created? Why do you ask?"

"Just wondering."

"Hermione, I am not as young as I used to be. I may be a wizard, but even I need some time. Have no fear, I am not finished with you yet." He moved to play with her breast, pulling and teasing her nipple, kneading the smooth flesh, before treating the other nipple and breast to the same treatment.

"Severus, thank you."

The quiet sincerity of her voice drew his attention. He looked deep into her eyes, his fingers gently sliding across the angle of her cheek before burying them in her hair. "I am the one who should be thanking you. You are... amazing."

"No. You don't understand. It's never been like this."

Severus was not sure he wanted to know. A part of him wanted to hear what she had to say. Another part of his brain reasoned she was with him now. That was all that mattered. "Hermione, you don't have to tell me anything."

"I know I don't have to. I want to. I haven't had that much experience. But no one has ever made me feel like you do." She was grinning, lost in a post-orgasmic haze.

"Hermione..."

"I won't ask you anything. Okay? I just wanted you to know. That's all."

'Now's your chance; ask her about Potter and Weasley. Go on. Ask her.' Severus almost bit his tongue to keep the words in his mouth. He had promised himself he would not ask her, no matter how much he wanted to know. Instead, he nodded silently.

"What? I can tell you want to ask me something." Hermione was tracing mindless patterns across his chest.

"Are you always this demanding?"

"Yes," she said with a smirk. "What did you want to ask me?"

He couldn't. All right he could. It was with great trepidation he asked, "Potter? Weasley?"

Hermione fell back in a fit of giggles. "Are you asking me if Harry and I? Or Ron and I ever...? Severus, they are like brothers to me. Oh god!"

"You and Weasley dated." It was a statement of fact. He tried to keep the tone of his voice neutral.

"We only went out on three dates. It never went past a kiss." Her giggles returned in force as she thought of Ron and her shagging.

Severus hadn't realized he was holding his breath. He moved over the giggling witch. "You think that's funny, do you?" He licked the shell of her ear, nipping the outer edge, sucking on her earlobe.

Hermione giggles died in her throat. She felt his very hard member nudge the opening of her sex. Her hips shifted trying to impale herself on his hard shaft.

The look in his eyes told her everything she needed to know. Want, lust, desire, need, and something more. Something she wasn't sure she could name, yet.

All thought fled as his mouth claimed her, possessed her. Severus thrust forward, sheathing his cock in one fluid motion. They made love again, with an urgency neither one could explain. Hermione's already sensitized channel answered his welcoming thrusts. Her muscles twitched in response to the friction he was creating. Tasting him had aroused her beyond belief. His strokes became deeper as he increased his speed. He thrust harder, faster and faster, carrying them both closer to the edge. They came together in an explosion of sensation, joined as one.

Severus pulled Hermione with him as he moved off her sated body. Once again, she cuddled into his side. He snagged the duvet from the side of the bed and pulled it over them. A quiet 'nox' plunged the room into darkness, the only light coming from the single window on the far side of the room. Hermione felt his fingers gently playing with her hair, lulling her to sleep. The last thing she remembered before sleep claimed her was Severus, gently kissing the top of her head and whispering Happy Birthday.

Severus looked at the sleeping witch in his arms. Contrary to Muggle men, he had never felt the urge to immediately fall asleep after sex. He watched Hermione smile as she drifted off. He thought back over the night they had spent, his body responding once again to the images playing in his head.

She was amazing. For someone with little experience, she was extremely adventurous. It seemed she was willing to try anything. He knew her willingness to experiment was probably due more to her trust in him then anything else. Trust he came close to violating tonight. His knowledge of Dark Magic was extensive. It seemed to emerge at odd times, seemingly without him calling the dark forward.

Severus thought back to the legend of the pendant, pureness of heart. Albus had believed it referred to him, not Hermione. How much was true of the old story? Hermione had been enthralled when he told her the legend. She had asked if he would take her to see the store one afternoon. She was curious. Her laughter had burst forth, unchecked, when he told her the name of the shopkeeper. It was a well-known fact what Hermione thought of divination. Still, true or not, it made for an amusing tale.

Hermione was pure light. Her heart was white to his black soul. Perhaps this was Albus's plan all along, he thought. Hermione would bind his darkness to the light that was her heart, her soul, ensuring he stayed on the side of right. While he resented Albus's attempt to manipulate his life, he could no longer deny his feelings for her. She was his now. Whether she knew it or not, they belonged to each other. The rest of the world would never see the side of him he showed to her. He had never allowed anyone to come this close to him, before. He had no idea what the future held, but he was sure she would be a part of it.

She had slipped past his defenses and taken up residence in his heart. The world saw him as sarcastic, difficult, loathsome, someone others avoided at all costs. She brought out a side of him that had never existed before. She saw something more in him. Characteristics he did not think existed. He shook his head. She really did embody her house.

Severus chuckled to himself. She had changed him in ways she would never know. There was a time he would have hexed Albus for his interference. Now, Severus would thank the man for bringing them together, then he would hex him. Definitely a softer side to his personality.

His arms tightened around her. He smiled as he allowed sleep to claim him. There were a few more surprises he planned to show her in the morning. They had hours before they had to be at the Burrow.

TBC

A/N: The steps and form of the dance (as well as those that appear in future chapters) are from this web site: Tango tutorial - http://64.70.140.102/ourdance.htm. Challenge rules can be found following chapter one.

The ancient ritual Severus almost used borders on Dark Magic. It is used to bind someone, heart and soul to the caster, to ensure unfailing fidelity in a spouse or lover and will be revisited in a later chapter. I'd like to give a nod to another story that carries this type of ritual into greater detail and with other magical repercussions. The story, Cloak of Courage by WendyNat uses a blood rite ritual to bind two people together through the 'The Call of the Blood'. It is a wonderful story, well crafted, and well worth your time to read. The story can be found in its entirety on Ashwinder.

A thank you to QueneArual who pointed out the error in the last chapter, it has been corrected. Hermione did not get Crookshanks until her third year.

A grateful thank you to Nakhash, my beta for her corrections and suggestions. Another set of eyes is always helpful, the mistakes, however, are still my fault.

Still to come: The Burrow (the only snake in a roomful of lions) with a lemon or two, Harry and Ron's reactions, more dance lessons, and more. Enjoy. Please review and let me know what you think. I love hearing from you! As always, thoughts, comments, reviews, whatever are always welcome.

Regards, Pearle