Talented and Smart

Chapter 4 ~ Talented and Smart

Hermione had been a bit shocked when Severus scooped her up and deposited her into the bed, but at least he hadn't leapt on top of her. Instead, he lay to the side and kissed her hungrily. One hand slowly slid up her right arm, caressing it gently until he reached her wrist. Then he clasped it and stopped kissing her, lifting his head and drawing the palm of her hand to his lips, his eyes closing with pleasure.

"I've always loved your hands, Professor," he said to her softly as he kissed her fingertips, lingering over the small calluses and slight, shiny burns. He took three of them into his mouth, sucking on them gently. Hermione felt a little pulse that threatened to curl her toes. How could the boy sucking on her fingers cause that kind of response?

"They're always so sure when you're brewing, so . . . meticulous. It's like they'd never make a mistake," Severus breathed, slipping his tongue between her digits. It felt good, but strange.

Hermione shuddered and pulled her hand away.

"You're too young to get so freaky," she said to him. "No more hand play."

Severus smirked down at her.

"But you liked it. I felt you shudder," he said softly, his black eyes resting on her face, one pale hand slipping to her waist and caressing her side. He certainly liked touching her, and he had a gentle touch. She had expected him to do quite a bit of groping. His hand moved over her hip and down her thigh, then back again.

"Never mind about that," she snapped, a bit disconcerted he was so observant and knew what she liked. But Severus Snape learned much by observation. It was ingrained in him. "Let's just get on with this."

"As you wish, Professor," he purred, once again kissing her hungrily, losing himself in her taste and scent and carefully mounting her body. Hermione couldn't help but sigh as the boy began to kiss, lick and suck on every bit of skin she had, his mouth moving over her throat, shoulders and arms, once again getting hold of her fingers, but quickly moving on before she complained.

But Hermione wasn't complaining as his lips and hands moved over her body, his lean form moving against her sensually as he slipped lower, kissing, suckling and nipping her breasts until everything took on a dreamlike quality and the only thing that felt real was his worship of her body. He did take his time. It was as if he were consuming something delicious and didn't want to finish the meal too quickly.

Severus moved down her body in small increments: at her belly now, kissing her soft flesh, caressing her hips and thighs, reveling in the warmth of her skin beneath his palms. He had her. He had his professor, and if this were to be the only time he would be with her this way, he was going to enjoy it and make it last as long as possible. He groaned as her body undulated under his attentions, her hands slipping into his hair, massaging his scalp, then over his strong shoulders. Gods, her touch felt wonderful, and he knew it was because she was responding to him, liking what he was doing. He applied himself even more ardently as he moved lower, nostrils flaring as he caught the scent of her arousal. He pushed himself lower, kissing the tops of her thighs, his dark eyes resting on the curling hair that protected her sex. His mouth watered, and he slid lower, gently pushing Hermione's legs apart.

He must have gotten it right. She didn't attempt to push him away at all. He looked up at the witch. Her face was red and her eyes half-closed as she shifted her body anxiously. Damn, she looked good enough to eat . . .

"Professor, bend your legs a little," he breathed up at her, still kissing her thighs so the magic occurring between them on a physical level wouldn't die.

Hermione registered what he had said and obliged the young wizard, who drew in a breath as he clearly saw her delicate, pink core, moist with arousal, the clit swollen with blood. Remembering the Kama Sutra, he gently caught the labia between his two fingers and pressed them together over her clit, then sucked on them like a lower lip. Hermione buckled a bit and made small surprised noises. Oh, she tasted so good.

This was called the "Quivering Kiss," and Severus realized how it got its name as Hermione's thighs did indeed quiver.

"What . . . What are you doing?" Hermione gasped as he kissed her lower lips ardently.

"Quivering Kiss," he breathed, then, releasing his fingers, used his nose to part her. Hermione squealed as his tongue probed her, his nose, lips and chin slowly circling, stimulating her until her hips bucked. Severus wrapped his arms around her thighs to hold her steady as he applied the Jihva-Bhramanaka or "Circling Tongue."

Hermione arched up against his mouth, her hands pressing his head down into her softness.

"Damn!" the witch hissed, lifting her head to look down on him. All she could see was the top of his silky black hair and his head rolling sensuously. A pulse of pleasure shot through her, and her head dropped back down, panting, her mouth dropping open as her eyes closed.

No one this boy's age should be able to eat pussy this good. Saying he was "talented" didn't even begin to cover it. But Severus had fantasized about this enough and knew just how he wanted to do it when he got the chance and had even practiced his tongue movements on a few dried figs. He was quite committed.

Now, all his preparations were paying off, and his confidence grew as Hermione responded powerfully to him. He could make his next move now.

Suddenly Severus rose to his knees, his eyes hot as he looked down on her body, his face glistening slightly. Hermione looked up at him.

"What . . ." she said softly, then let out a cry as Severus hoisted her hips up, sitting back on his heels, and placed her legs on his shoulders, pulling her upward so her core was at his mouth. Then he stuck his tongue inside her as deep as it would go and began whirling it.

"OH SHIT!" Hermione cried out, grasping the bed with both hands as the wizard stirred her, then began to suck, kiss and nibble on her clit. This was a combination of the "Chushita" and "Bahuchushita."

Hermione writhed as the boy held her steady, losing himself in her taste, holding onto her tightly. Severus was strong and didn't lose his grip or his focus as he brought her to greater heights. Hermione hurled obscenities at him, trying to reach him with one clawed hand, but certainly didn't try to stop him.

Suddenly the witch stiffened, and Severus was rewarded with a huge gush of release before she began to tremble. He drank every bit of her ambrosia down. He'd done it. He'd made her orgasm. His heart was pounding as he thirstily swallowed the gift given. Oh, gods, this was so amazing.

Hermione felt completely boneless as the young wizard gently lowered her back to the bed and climbed over her, resting his body on top of hers and kissing her, sharing her flavor before licking the perspiration from her temples. Then he looked down at her, letting out a very satisfied sigh.

"That was great," he said to Hermione with a smile.

She looked up at him. Great? Gods, he was so young. An older wizard would have found a better word to express his delight. But Hermione seriously doubted an older wizard could have done a better job of it. So it was a fair trade-off.

"It was . . . fair," she replied, still quivering a bit. That had been some climax.

"I'll get better at it," he said to her, a bit hopefully.

Hermione didn't say anything to this. This was just a one-time tryst with the boy. She didn't want to get his hopes up that it would be anything more. One time . . . to save his life. But at least she was getting something out of it.

Severus began kissing her again, hoisting himself forward so his cock rested against her core; then he began grinding into her gently, making little groans as she oiled him up. His kisses became more frenzied as he became more excited, pressing down against her hard as she helplessly pressed back, trying to satisfy the ache between her thighs. Damn, if he was this good now . . . what would he be like when he reached full adulthood?

Finally he pulled away from her mouth.

"I can't wait to be inside you, Professor," he breathed down at the panting witch. "I can't wait to feel you wrapped around me. Can I do it now? Please?"

His eyes were both hot and pleading, his pale face contorted with desire.

"Yes, but remember what I told you," Hermione said to him.

All that registered to Severus was the "yes" part.

Hermione let out another surprised cry as the wizard once again rose to his knees and quickly hooked her legs over his shoulders, spreading her wide under him.

"This is called the 'Yawning Position,'" he breathed, staring down at the very accessible juncture of her thighs and grasping the base of his erection.

Shit, Hermione thought as he leaned forward slightly, resting one hand on the bed by her head and aiming for his target.

He certainly knew how he wanted to do this.

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Severus pulled his foreskin back, the sensitive head of his organ glistening, as he carefully drew nearer. Suddenly, he struck the upper part of Hermione's core with it, gasping as he did so. Hermione let out a gasp as well.

"What are you doing?" the witch cried as he struck her several more times, his body quaking at the contact.

"It's called 'Piercing.' I hit the upper part of your yoni with my lingam," he panted, shifting and striking her lower, "Unnggh. This . . . this is called 'Rubbing.'"

Dear Circe. The boy was beating her with his cock. And it felt amazing. Hermione arched helplessly as he alternated, Severus gasping as he did so. Watching his cock tapping her so intimately had him open full throttle. If he hadn't drunk that Stamina Potion, this would indeed be over.

Finally, Hermione caught hold of his arm.

"Enough, Severus . . . This is supposed to be sex, not torture!" she hissed at him.

"According to the Kama Sutra, this is sex," he said, still holding his tool and looking at her hungrily, raising it to strike her again.

Gods damn it.

"If you hit me with that thing again, I'm going to hex it off!" she snapped at him, lust making her even snarkier than usual.

Severus blinked at her for a moment, then suddenly pressed the head to her entrance and slipped inside her. Hermione let out a cry as his girth pierced her body, and Severus let out a stream of uncontrollable gasps as her softness wrapped around his sensitive glans.

"OhOhOhOhOhOhOhOhOhhhh . . . Professor! Professor!" he groaned, his eyes wet as he tried to convey what he felt. He couldn't move, his body quaking as she pulsed around him.

"Calm down! It'll be all right," Hermione gasped, partially impaled by the excited young wizard, his shaking sending little vibrations down his thick shaft and into her body.

"You feel incredible . . . I can't . . . how am I supposed to . . ." he hissed at her, his eyes desperate.

"Breathe," Hermione hissed back at him, extremely turned on by his reaction. It certainly wasn't what she expected.

The wizard hovered over her, holding himself up by his hands, his mouth slack and lower lip trembling as he looked down at himself partially inside the witch, her pink flesh wrapped around him and slightly puckered, like a small mouth. He pushed a bit, sinking deeper, and threw his head back, his black eyes rolling up into his head. Hermione let out a little moan as his hardness sunk into her deeper.

"Oh, fuck," Severus gasped, his head dropping forward, and he looked at Hermione as if she were the most beautiful creature he had ever seen in his life.

"I love you!" he gasped, sliding in farther, parting her flesh deliciously.

"You don't love me! You love pussy," she hissed up at him, her own eyelids fluttering as she caught hold of his slender waist and pushed, making him withdraw slightly. Severus let out another stream of gasps as she slid around him. Then she pulled him back toward her, guiding his motions, helping him to fall into the stroke.

"Oh, damn," Hermione breathed as Severus began to move on his own, his strokes jerky, unable to penetrate her fully yet. He wasn't used to such delicious sensations. This was nothing like wanking off. She was warm, alive, tight, her body seeming to suck and pull at him, his cock bathed in heat, and wetness, and . . .

Severus watched himself enter and withdraw, his shaft glistening with Hermione's lubrication, just able to make out white streaks on his pale organ. He groaned, and suddenly he fell to his elbows, landing on top of the witch and sinking inside her fully, locking his mouth to hers desperately, doubling his penetration.

"Oh, gods . . . Professor," he moaned against her mouth as he began to stroke her, everything about "Sporting of the Sparrow" and "Blow of the Boar" flying out of his head as he lost himself in the softness of her body and the sweetness of her lips.

Hermione gasped against his mouth as he penetrated her deeper, his size stretching her, hitting bottom, but not too hard. What was even more heady were the boy's gasped appreciation and frenzied kisses covering her mouth, her face, whatever part he could reach as he rippled and flowed, his body undulating, not breaking contact. His arms encircled her, trying to hold her as close as he could as he experienced his first time with a woman.

And it was glorious.

"You're so beautiful, Professor. Oh, my gods, how am I ever going to not want to do this to you every time I see you?" he breathed against her cheek passionately, his body flowing over hers, connected, his arms around her as Hermione gasped with pleasure.

"Don't . . . talk!" she managed to get out, not wanting to concentrate on anything else but her pleasure. Gods, this was good. Much better than she had imagined it would be with such an inexperienced young wizard. His passion was a large part of it. Severus Snape was completely lost to her, moving in and out of her hungrily, breathing his pleasure, desire, and love into her ear.

He managed to raise himself up on his arms again, staring down at Hermione as she hissed and moaned, her voice like music to him, the scent of sex heavy in the air. Suddenly he wound his hips, whirling inside the witch, and her eyes flew open as she let out a groan.

"You liked that," he panted, doing it again, then again, before falling back into the stroke, looking down and watching himself penetrate her for several moments, his heart full as her body accepted him, all of him, then looking back at her face. "You like me. I know you do, Professor. You'll let me come back, I know you will."

"Shut up!" Hermione hissed at him, pulling him down into her even harder.

He caught on quick and began to fuck the witch hard, gasping at every stroke. He felt as if something were building up inside him, an intense tightening in his groin, pleasure racing up his back. He cried out as Hermione's nails suddenly raked down his back, and he began plunging even harder, the witch shrieking now, as he rode her body for all he was worth.

"Oh, yes, Professor . . . yes!" he hissed. Hermione squelched around him, her body and breasts bouncing beneath him. Oh, he couldn't imagine anyone looking as beautiful as his Potions professor did at this moment, receiving him, taking him in, and liking it. He drove into her, his black eyes taking in her every response, listening to every utterance, his heart pounding in his chest, his body unable to stop moving, his cock claiming every wonderful inch of the woman under him. He felt her stiffen and held himself deep inside her, boiling over.

Hermione arched up and exploded, once again clawing Severus, who cried out both from the pain and his own powerful release, the world spinning around him as he fell heavily on the witch, clutching her close to him as he pulsed, filling her, groaning in ecstasy. Nothing he had ever experienced compared to this . . . nothing. He kissed her weakly all over her face as his pulsing slowed, and his back burned as perspiration mixed with the scratches the Potions mistress had left on his pale body. Oh, but it had been worth it. Definitely worth it.

Severus fell still, his breathing slowing and evening out, as Hermione panted beneath his weight, feeling the sting of him deep inside and his organ pulsing and softening as it deflated. He had come quite a bit. Good thing she had made sure to drink a full bottle of potent contraceptive potion. All she needed was to get pregnant by a seventh year.

Hermione lay there, Severus resting on top of her. Suddenly, she heard a little snore.

"Oh, fuck," she breathed.

The boy was asleep on top of her. He hadn't even withdrawn.

Well, good as he was, he was still a young wizard. That he fell asleep wasn't that much of a shock. Hermione shifted, managing to roll him off of her. The wizard rolled onto his back, arms and legs splayed, his loins and flaccid organ still wet with their mingled juices.

He had a little smile on his pale face.

Hermione looked at him, then sighed. She had intended on sending him directly back to Gryffindor Tower, but hell, he was already asleep, and by the look of him, she'd be hard put to wake him up. She sat up and let out a little noise. The boy had been very thorough his first time. She climbed over him, walked over to her dresser, and retrieved her wand. She Scourgified herself, then the nude young wizard snoring loudly in her bed. She studied him, then sighed, putting her wand down, picking up her nightgown, and slipping it on. Then she picked up her wand again and flicked it toward Severus' discarded boxers. They reappeared on his lean body.

Hermione walked back over to the bed, flicked her wand at it, Scourgifying it under the sleeping wizard, then covering him up with the Slytherin-green bed sheet. She looked down at him, his long black eyelashes, and big nose. He still wore the smile as he shifted slightly. Hermione couldn't help but smirk at that.

She put her wand in the nightstand drawer, then climbed back over Severus, slipped under the sheets, and turned to look at his profile.

Well, he was out of danger now and had his cherry suitably popped.

He'd be satisfied.

The witch turned away from him and settled down to sleep.

She'd eject him in the morning.

Early.

* * *

The next morning when Severus woke up, he was startled at first, sitting up and looking around Hermione's room wildly before realizing he was still in his professor's bed. He fell back, smiling for a moment until he realized he was alone.

He sat up again, noticing he was in his boxers and Scourgified. The door to the bathroom was closed, but he could make out the shower running. Professor Granger must be getting ready for the day. But . . . it was Saturday, so she didn't have classes.

The young wizard slid out of the bed and stealthily walked over to the bathroom door, placing his ear against it. Yes, the shower was running. He tried the door and found it open. He slipped in and stared at the translucent shower door, watching as Hermione bathed her body. He already had a morning erection, but he definitely became more aware of it as he looked at the witch.

Slowly, he began to approach the shower. Hermione suddenly froze mid-wash.

"Get out of here and get dressed, Mr. Snape! Immediately," she snapped.

Severus started.

"But . . . but I want to shower too," he said to her, watching as the witch's hands went to her hips.

"You can shower when you get to Gryffindor Tower," Hermione said, frowning.

"But . . . but I thought we might . . ." he began.

"We won't. Now, go get dressed like I told you. I'll be out in a minute," the witch said.

Severus let out a sigh and dejectedly walked back into the bedroom, picking up his robes and shrugging them on. If only he had woken a bit earlier, he probably could have persuaded the Potions mistress to give him another go. He sat down on the side of the bed and pulled on his socks, then his boots. He waited.

Eventually, Hermione came out of the bathroom, fully dressed and looking as untouchable as ever as she looked at the wizard.

"You are out of danger now, Mr. Snape. Now, give me your oath you will not be telling your friends about our . . . activities," Hermione said to him, her eyes narrowing.

"I wouldn't tell them anyway. This is between you and me, Professor," Severus said, his eyes hot as he looked at her. Hermione had the distinct impression she was naked to the boy.

"No, Mr. Snape. It 'was' between us. There is no 'is,'" the witch said. "Now your oath."

Severus reluctantly gave Hermione an oath that he wouldn't tell anyone about what had occurred between them the night before. The witch nodded, then walked to the door of her bedroom, motioning for the wizard to follow her. But he continued to sit on the bed.

"Come along, Mr. Snape. It is time for you to depart," she said to him evenly as the young wizard's dark eyes rested on her soberly.

"It's Saturday. Neither of us has anything to do on Saturdays. Can't I spend the day with you? We don't have to do anything," he said to Hermione, who sighed.

He was like a whipped Muggle puppy.

"Unlike you, I do have things to do, Mr. Snape, and it doesn't include playing nursemaid to a love-sick little Gryffindor. What we had last night was a one-time occurrence. We can move on now. You can practice your prowess on witches closer to your age, witches who want to be involved with you in that manner," Hermione said.

Severus studied her.

"But you liked me that way, Professor. I could tell. I could feel it inside you," he breathed. "You wanted me. I know you did."

Hermione scowled at him.

"Mr. Snape. What I felt for you was purely physical. It was . . . reactionary. I am a practicing celibate . . ." she began.

"Not anymore," the young wizard said with a bit of smugness that made Hermione want to whip out her wand and blast him. But she didn't.

"I AM a practicing celibate, who only indulged you to save your miserable life. Don't put more than what it was into this. I am not about to become your 'girlfriend,'" she snapped at him.

Severus stood up and began to slowly walk toward her.

"How am I supposed to look at you the same way, knowing how you are, how good . . . how . . . how . . ." he began.

"You'll manage. I'm sure I'm not the first thing you wanted in your life but couldn't have, Mr. Snape, and I won't be the last. Now, please leave my rooms. I won't ask you so nicely next time," Hermione said, her brown eyes cold.

Severus stopped a few inches from her.

"A kiss then? One last kiss, Professor?" he asked her, his eyes pleading.

She shook her head. To kiss him would give him hope there could be something more.

"No, Mr. Snape. You received your last kisses from me last night. There will be no more," she said sternly.

Severus blinked at her, his mouth working as if he wanted to say more. But he didn't. Shoulders slightly slumped, he walked out of the bedroom into her study.

"I'll send you to the Entrance Hall. You must be hungry," the witch said.

Severus looked at her a bit sorrowfully.

"I'll never eat . . ." he began before Hermione screeched, "DON'T YOU DARE SAY IT!" afraid he'd set another blasted oath in motion.

Severus shut up.

Hermione rubbed her forehead with her hand, then strode up to the Floo, took some powder out of the box, and tossed it into the flames, which turned green.

"The Main Hall," she said, then looked at Severus pointedly.

"Goodbye, Mr. Snape," she said as the boy approached the Floo.

The wizard stopped in front of the fireplace and let out a long sigh. Hermione rolled her eyes, taking them off him for a second.

Suddenly, Severus grabbed her and kissed her hard on the mouth, the witch struggling in his arms. He released her with a rakish smile, then dashed through the flames before she could draw her wand.

"Why of all the impertinent, sneaky, low-down . . ." Hermione cursed, spluttering.

But the Gryffindor was long gone, no doubt proud of himself that he managed to steal a kiss and escape getting hexed. Hermione shook her head at the boy's audacity.

"Well, that's that," she said, straightening her robes and running her hand through her hair. She headed for her labs.

She had brewing to do.

* * *

Severus came flying into the Entrance Hall out of the Floo and almost ran smack into the Headmaster, who was on his way to breakfast. He stopped, wheeling his arms for balance, out of breath. The Headmaster looked at him curiously.

"Good morning, Mr. Snape. In a hurry for breakfast?" he asked the young wizard, who was looking back at the Floo a bit nervously until the flames turned red again. He let out a sigh. Then he realized the old wizard was addressing him.

"Um . . . yes. I'm very hungry this morning," he replied, discovering he really was. Sex took a lot out of a wizard.

"I see," Albus said to him. "You are looking much better than the last time I saw you."

"Yes, sir," Severus agreed, his eyes shifting a little as he wondered if the Headmaster knew the exact nature of the oath he'd taken. Probably not. How could he?

"I take it the oath you took has been resolved satisfactorily?" the wizard said.

"Oh, the oath? Um . . . yes, sir. I'm fine now," he said uncomfortably. But his second oath not to reveal anything didn't choke him, so it must have been all right to answer.

Oaths were tricky things, however. He wouldn't be punished by it for telling something someone already knew. And Albus knew there was only one way that oath could have been satisfied. Hermione must have bedded the boy. Well, he didn't look any worse for wear.

"I'm glad to hear it, Mr. Snape. Now, go get your breakfast," Albus said with a smile.

"Thank you, sir," Severus said, hurrying into the Great Hall. He was hungry enough to eat a Hippogriff.

Albus looked after him thoughtfully.

"Quite a wizard," he mused as he headed for the teacher's entrance. He couldn't help but wonder how Hermione had fared with the boy. He hoped it hadn't been too trying on the witch.

But if Hermione had been grading Severus on his performance, he would have garnered an "Exceeds Expectations."

This wasn't too bad a mark, considering it was Hermione. Any other witch would have probably given the young wizard a hearty "Outstanding."

* * *

Severus spent the rest of the morning in his room going over the night before in his head and groaning over the huge erection that resulted. He wished he had more control. Then he could have shown the Potions mistress all the other positions he knew. Maybe that would have won her over.

Finally, he had to take a cold shower. He didn't want to wank off. After last night, it would be a poor substitute. Just as he had dried off and exited the shower dressed in his boxers, there was a knock on the door.

"Who is it?" he called.

"Harry and Ron," Ron called back.

Severus picked up his wand off the nightstand and unwarded his door.

"Come in," he called.

Ron and Harry entered.

"Hey, Sev. Wanted to know if you wanted to do a bit of flying? Toss the Quaffle for us so we can practice?" Harry asked him, smiling.

"I guess so," Severus replied, turning his back to the boys as he opened his wardrobe for a fresh robe.

"Oy! What happened to your back? You look like you've been clawed by something," Ron said, looking at the long scratches that ran from Severus' shoulders, down to his waist and off to the side. There were sixteen long scars down his pale back.

Severus fought for an answer.

"I ran through some brambles in the Forbidden Forest. They snagged me," he lied, pulling on his robes quickly.

Ron and Harry looked at each other, then back at the wizard who had turned around and was buttoning up his robes.

"Bramble scratches wouldn't look like that, Severus. They'd go straight across your back, not like that. It looks like someone grabbed you by your shoulders and ran their nails down your back," Harry said, pressing his friend.

"Come on, Sev. What gives. A witch did that to you!" Ron said eagerly. "You shagged somebody last night, didn't you?"

Severus looked at the both of them and sighed.

"Yeah, I did," he said shortly.

Ron looked at him hungrily.

"Who? Who'd you stick your wand in? Was it Luna?" he asked the wizard.

"I took an oath not to tell. It was the only way she'd let me do it," Severus said.

Ron scowled at him.

"You what? Took an oath? Why the hell did you do that when you knew we'd want every detail?" Ron hissed at him before dropping heavily on his bed, holding his forehead in his hand.

Harry stared at his friend.

"Well, was it good at least?" Ron asked Severus.

The wizard paused, his dark eyes going hot.

"Yeah, it was," he replied, then shook off the feeling of desire welling up in him at the thought of the Potions mistress impaled by him and moaning with pleasure.

"Do we at least know the witch?" Harry asked him.

"Yeah, but that's all I can say, Harry, so stop asking me about it," Severus replied, sitting down next to Ron and pulling on his socks.

"Was it Professor Granger?" Harry asked him directly.

Ron stared at Severus wide-eyed. Had he actually shagged the snarkiest witch in the wizarding world?

Severus looked at Harry incredulously.

"Professor Granger?" he repeated. "What the hell do you think? You know how it came out when I told her how I felt. What would have changed?"

Harry studied him as Ron heartily agreed.

"He's right, Harry. Besides, he still has his goods. If he had shagged Granger, they would have been bitten off by the roots," Ron said, shuddering as Severus scowled at him.

"Well, what about the oath you took?" Harry demanded.

"Impossible oaths wear off," Severus replied. "I guess that's what happened. Now are we going to go flying or what?"

Severus grabbed his broom out of the corner, reduced its size, then exited his room with his friends, Harry continuing to look at him suspiciously.

Severus said he hadn't shagged Professor Granger, but Harry wasn't sure he believed him. The wizard was quite tenacious when he wanted something. For him to just give up was out of character. But then again, he might not have given up . . . He might have simply taken advantage of a situation with another witch and found he could shag her.

Yeah, that made sense.

More sense than Granger giving in.

* * *

Hermione spent both morning and afternoon in her labs, brewing potions for the infirmary and replacing her Dreamless Sleeping Draught supply. The witch was in a horrible mood, mostly because her night with Severus kept coming back to her in disturbing clarity.

"Gods damn it," she hissed as the boy's blazing black eyes appeared before her. "Get out of my head, Severus Snape."

She stirred a potion viciously.

By late afternoon she realized she was hiding out in the dungeons, avoiding both breakfast and lunch because of the Gryffindor. She had never run from anything. She wasn't about to start now just because she tangled up the bed sheets with the young wizard. She'd been through worse things.

"I am not about to change my mode of operation because of some randy little wizard," she told herself, cleaning up her lab with a vengeance. "I am a mature witch. I can face him. I've faced worse than him."

Yes, she had. But what she had faced were horrible situations, painful ones. Situations that had required her to be tough, strong, and unflappable. That wasn't the case with Severus.

Their interlude had been pleasant and affecting. Something . . . something good. Something that required her to be giving to some extent. The boy acted out of honest desire for her. He didn't want to just use her and cast her aside. He didn't want to cause her pain. And he didn't want what they had started to stop.

But it had to stop. She wasn't some randy witch on the prowl for young meat. She was Hermione Granger, Potions mistress. A disciplined woman. In control, most of the time. Well, some of the time. She did have the occasional violent outburst, but that was to be expected. She certainly wasn't led about by her libido.

Hermione entered her bedroom to change her robes, glancing at the rose in the vase on her dresser. The rose Severus had given her. She stared at it.

One thing about living items sustained by magic, they usually faded within a few hours, the connection with the soul dissipating. But this rose, it was still fresh as if just produced.

"He's just over-reactive," she said to herself dismissively. "He was feeling strong emotion when he created it, brought on by lust. It'll probably be dead when I return from supper."

Hermione did go to supper, and Severus was there. The boy did his best not to look up at the dais, at the woman who gave him his first sexual experience, at the witch who meant more than anyone in the world to him at this time in his life, but had a hard time of it. Yet, every time he did glance at Hermione, she glared at him, warning in her eyes.

"Don't act like a smitten little fool, you idiot," her narrowed eyes seemed to say.

"Wow, Granger looks like she wants to hex you, Sev," Ron observed, looking up at the surly professor. "That's what you get for telling her you want to shag her. I don't think your knobblies are in the clear yet. I'd get a magical cup if I were you. With extra defensive charms."

"Shut up, Ron," Severus hissed at him, irritated.

"I'm just trying to keep you in one piece," Ron replied, biting into a pasty.

Harry had to agree with Ron. The Potions mistress seemed to have a touch of extra malice towards the Gryffindor.

The rest of the weekend went off without a hitch, especially since Severus didn't patrol on the weekends, so there was no chance of Hermione running into him in the corridors.

The rose still sat on her dresser, in perfect bloom, not a petal out of place.

* * *

Monday afternoon, Severus arrived early at Potions class. Hermione was sitting at her desk and looked up as the Gryffindor limped in. He looked terrible. His hair was lank, his pallor pale, and he tottered as he walked.

A bit too much.

He plopped into his chair and turned a bleary eye on the Potions mistress.

"Hello, Professor," he said weakly, his soft voice quavering.

Hermione eyed him, pulled out her wand, and flicked it at him, removing his glamour.

"What kind of idiot do you think I am, Mr. Snape? Really. Glamouring yourself to try and get my sympathies again. Well, it won't work," she snapped at him as more students entered the class.

"Drat," Severus sighed to himself.

Well, it had been worth a try.

Later, a student added too much Deadly Nightshade to a potion, and the classroom had to be hurriedly cleared. When Hermione returned, she noticed Severus had left his Advanced Potions book on his desk. Idly, she picked it up and thumbed through it. Then she blinked.

In all the margins were notes and some of the potions' instructions had lines drawn through them and handwritten instructions in their place.

"What is this?" she said to herself, reading some of the notes.

"What? What does he think he's doing?" she snarled as she read changes to potions that had been established for years. There were also a number of unfamiliar hexes and jinxes scrawled in the margins as well. In fact, there were so many notations in the margins that they rivaled the print.

The young wizard was purposely altering potions. Did he actually use these in class? Did he purposely break away from the established methods to use his own wooly instructions? If he did, it was unconscionable. He was putting every student in her class as well as himself in danger, the idiot. Well, this wasn't going to continue.

She looked at the name on the inside jacket.

Snorting, she said, "'The Half-Blood Prince?' Oh, good gods."

Apparently, Mr. Snape suffered from narcissism as well as randiness.

Hermione placed the book in her pocket and gathered up her paperwork.

She was going to have a talk with Mr. "Half-Blood Prince."

ASAP.

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After collecting all the books and parchments the students left behind, Professor Granger stormed out of her Potions classroom and toward the Great Hall.

Ron, who was seated at the table in front of a precarious pile of food that threatened to topple over at any moment, suddenly stopped eating and shuddered. He swallowed and looked at Severus.

"Did you feel an icy chill?" he asked, shuddering again.

"No," Severus said, biting into a pork chop.

Her eyes narrowed, Hermione scattered a few of her own charges as she billowed through the dungeons with purpose, bumping into Crabbe and snapping at him to watch where he was walking.

"Wow," Crabbe said to Draco as Granger passed, her face pinched in a scowl. "Professor Granger seems pissed off."

"That's her 'Hunting' scowl," Draco said in a near-whisper. "Whoever she's looking for is in for it. Glad it's not me."

"Brrrr," Ron said, hugging himself and looking about. "If I didn't know we were inside, I'd swear there was a storm coming."

"Just eat, Ron," Severus snapped, "before that mountain of food in front of you falls over and sweeps us away."

Harry chuckled. Ron did have an awful amount of food on his plate. Sometimes Harry suspected he had a tapeworm or two. No matter how much Ron ate, he never got any bigger.

"It's the Weasley metabolism," he'd say between forkfuls.

Hermione turned into the Entrance Hall, stampeding a few more students as she stalked toward the main doors of the Great Hall. The students all held back and let her pass. It was unusual that the Potions mistress entered supper in such a manner. Usually she used the teacher's entrance.

Granger was just about to rip the doors open when she was called.

"Ah, Professor Granger, a word if you please," the voice of Albus Dumbledore rang out behind her.

Hermione closed her eyes for a moment. The Headmaster would pick this time to stop her. What in the world did he want? There was a student to terrorize.

Hermione turned to see Albus smiling at her benignly, dressed in royal purple robes, his long beard braided into two plaits with matching purple bows on the end. She sighed and walked toward him.

"Yes, Headmaster?" she said with a hint of irritation.

"I noticed you were in quite a hurry to get into the Great Hall. Usually you use the teacher's entrance," the wizard said curiously.

Hermione fought the urge to blatantly roll her eyes. Albus was definitely fishing. Why didn't he ever just ask what he wanted to know?

"Yes. A situation has arisen concerning one of our students. Something that might even require expulsion from the school," Hermione said to him.

Both of Albus' eyebrows rose at this.

"Expulsion? That is quite a harsh punishment, Professor Granger. Usually the worst we give is suspension," the Headmaster said.

"If what I suspect is true, Headmaster, then the situation is so extreme that expulsion is the only possible punishment to suit the crime," Hermione responded.

"Crime? Has someone been murdered, Professor?" Albus asked her.

"Not yet," she said, her eyes narrowing.

The Headmaster thought she looked angry enough to do a bit of life-taking herself.

"Would you care to give me the details of this grievous infraction, Professor?" Albus asked her.

Hermione shook her head.

"No, sir. Not until I investigate and get both an explanation and a confession from the student involved," she responded, "after which I will apprise you of the situation and give you my recommendation."

"That is fine, Professor Granger. Just make sure that physical torture is not one of the methods used to secure the confession," Albus said, fully aware Hermione could torture someone just as well with her words, which could be sharp and cutting as knives.

"Of course not, sir," she responded.

"Very well. Carry on, Professor Granger," Albus said.

"Thank you, sir," Hermione replied, then turned with a billow of robes, walked to the entrance, and pulled the doors open with a flourish.

This was quite the visual, since most of the students were now inside. The doors flung open, and Hermione stormed through them, her face twisted in anger and eyes narrowed. The students unfortunate enough to be sitting off the center aisle all reflexively leaned forward over the tables as if afraid they would accidentally come into contact with her, though there was at least five feet of space on either side of the snarky Potions mistress. The entire student body fell silent.

Ron looked up and paled as Hermione's eyes seemed to fall on him. She kept walking forward.

"Oh, my gods. Granger's coming for me," Ron hissed. "What the hell did I do? I'm not even in any of her classes! I knew that blast of cold was an omen!"

Both Harry and Severus looked up and saw Professor Granger bearing down on them, her eyes glinting.

"I don't think she's coming for you, Ron," Harry whispered. "She's looking at Severus."

Ron let out a relieved sigh as Severus just stared at the angry witch, his heart starting to pound as she stormed up to them.

She looked down at him imperiously for a moment. He blinked up at her. Hermione had to force herself not to think of him on top of her, shuddering and declaring his love. This situation had nothing to do with that one.

"Mr. Snape, after supper you are to report directly to my office. Am I understood?" she snarled at him.

Severus felt a bit of tightening in his loins as her brown eyes flashed at him dangerously.

"Yes, Professor," he replied, his voice cracking a bit.

"Be prepared to stay a while," she snapped, stalking away.

Ron watched her go as murmuring began around the Great Hall, everyone discussing in muted tones just how long Severus was for the world. Ron turned to Severus.

"What did you do?" he asked the pale wizard, his blue eyes wide.

"I didn't do anything," Severus replied, looking up at the dais. Hermione glared back at him with malice.

"You must have done something. She made one of her 'Grand Entrances.' That usually means at least a month's worth of detentions," Ron said, staring at Severus as if he would never see him again.

"I'm telling you, Ron, I didn't do anything. At least nothing I can think of," Severus replied, returning to his meal.

"Maybe she found out something, Sev," Harry suggested. "Have you been doing anything sneaky? Something you can get in trouble for?"

Severus shook his head.

"No. I've conducted myself like a proper Gryffindor," Severus replied, thinking the only thing he did do that might be considered untoward was shag his Potions mistress. But he couldn't get in trouble for that. She was a willing...well, maybe not so willing...participant.

"Well, she's got something on you, believe that," Harry said, looking up at the dais. Hermione curled her lip at him. "I don't envy you a bit."

"I hope you got that magical cup I suggested. If I were you, I'd be so scared, my nads would be shrunk to the size of peas," Ron said, picking up a huge turkey leg.

"Shut up, Ron," Severus snapped at him, trying to return to his meal, but not feeling hungry any longer.

What the hell had he done?

He looked toward the dais again, but Professor Granger was eating her meal now. A salad. Severus was familiar enough with the witch through pining for her and watching her every move to know that something was truly on her mind. She only ate salads when she was stressed. Otherwise, she ate quite a bit of rare meat. Ron suspected she was a werewolf, though he had no proof except that she often snarled at her students.

Severus picked at his peas. Whatever he was in trouble for, he'd find out later.

* * *

When Severus showed up at Hermione's office after supper, she wasn't there yet, so he loitered outside the door. Draco Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle sauntered by, smirking at him.

"What'd you do to Granger, Snape?" Draco purred at him, slowing his pace. "She seemed really pissed off. Looks like somebody's going to be losing a few points. What a shame. Slytherin and Gryffindor are neck and neck for the House Cup. Still, we appreciate your efforts for our cause."

"Get out of here, Malfoy, before I give you another set of tits," Severus snapped at him.

Severus had given Draco breasts earlier that year after Drao cast a Tripping Spell on Harry when his back was turned. Harry had been heading down the main stairwell and could have been badly hurt if he hadn't grabbed the railing in time. Severus had hit Draco with the hex before the Slytherin could react, large triple-D gazongas filling out his robes. It had taken hours for them to deflate.

Draco scowled as Crabbe and Goyle both stiffened. Severus readied himself.

"Three against one, eh?" Severus said through clenched teeth, his hand flexing as if he were a gunfighter. "I'll get at least two of you."

Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle looked at each other doubtfully. They outnumbered Severus, but the Gryffindor was fast. Not only was he fast, but he used hexes no one had ever heard of before. He had made Goyle's toenails grow one day in the corridor, with very entertaining results. They had been so thick that Madame Pomfrey had to clip them back with a pair of specialized toenail clippers made for trolls.

Still, they didn't want to back down from a single Gryffindor. They stared at each other.

"Mr. Malfoy, Mr. Goyle, and Mr. Crabbe, get to your house immediately!" Professor Granger hissed.

She had walked up on them while they were focused on each other. Severus relaxed.

"Yes, Professor," Draco replied, giving Severus one more glare before he, Crabbe, and Goyle continued down the hall. Severus watched them go, then turned to find the Potions mistress glaring at him in much the same way Draco had been.

"What's this about, Professor?" Severus asked her, his dark eyes hot.

Maybe she wanted another go with him.

Hermione noticed the hopeful look in his eyes and frowned at the boy's nerve.

"I'll ask the questions, Mr. Snape. Now, follow me," she said, walking down the corridor.

Severus followed, his eyes resting on her hips as she walked ahead of him. He felt himself hardening a little. Hermione stopped in front of the Potions classroom, unlocked the door, and turned to him just in time to see his eyes quickly flick upward. Had he been watching her arse? Dear gods.

"Just get in the classroom, Mr. Snape, and take your seat up front," she snapped at him.

Severus entered the classroom and did as she asked, looking up at her curiously as she billowed around the desk and stood in front of him. She reached into her pocket, pulled out his Advanced Potions book, and slammed it down on the desk.

"What is this, Mr. Snape?" she demanded.

Severus looked at it calmly.

"My Advanced Potions book, Professor," he responded.

Hermione flipped open the book and pointed at the name written there.

"I assume the 'Half-Blood Prince' is you, Mr. Snape. Quite the modest title," she said sarcastically.

"Actually, I picked it because my mother's maiden name is Prince and my father is a Muggle, Professor," Severus said.

Hermione looked at him.

"Are you sure, that's why you chose such a prominent-sounding pseudonym, Mr. Snape? Or is it because you believe you are above everyone else when it comes to following long-established rules and instructions. A Prince can change the rules, can't he, Mr. Snape?"

Severus blinked at her.

"If he has the authority, I suppose so," he responded.

"Well, you do NOT have the authority, Mr Snape! I've looked through that book and read the changes you've made to instructions for some very dangerous and volatile brews, changes that can cost lives, Mr. Snape! Your life and the life of my students! It is an asinine, irresponsible, and decidedly dangerous course you have taken, young man, one which will surely result in your expulsion from not only this class, but Hogwarts itself!" she snarled at him.

Severus looked at her calmly despite her declaration.

"Why would I be expelled if the changes work?" he asked her. "Why would you have me thrown out if I've improved the brewing process?"

"Improved? Why, you arrogant little bastard. You actually believe you have improved potions created by masters long before you were even born?" she asked him in disbelief. "The delusions Gryffindors have concerning their own greatness is ludicrous."

"I don't believe it," Severus said quietly, "I've done it."

"If you have, you've done it by risking the lives of everyone around you while you 'experimented.' That's tantamount to casting a random Killing Curse and hoping it doesn't hit anyone," she said to him. "Even if you have had some small success, the end result does not justify the means by which you accomplished it. You are out of here on your ear, Mr. Snape. I will not have such a reckless student at this school!"

Severus frowned back at her now.

"Do you think I'm stupid enough to test a theory in a class full of pupils, Professor?" he asked her, his eyes now full of disdain. "I've experimented on my own time, in a safe area. Alone. The only one who was ever at risk was me. And I knew what I was doing. I only used my findings in class after they'd been tested and retested. I am not an idiot, and I HAVE improved the brewing process of several potions. If you try to get me expelled for that, I will fight to stay here. I am at Hogwarts not only to learn, but to improve. I am going to be a Potions master someday. The best there ever was."

Severus didn't make this declaration with overblown pride, but with quiet certainty. A very sincere certainty that Hermione couldn't help but feel.

"You'll fight me?" she asked him softly, her eyes glittering.

"Tooth and nail," he replied, meeting her gaze evenly. "You'll have to prove my annotations and changes are dangerous. You won't be able to do that, Professor, because everything in there works. Even the spells."

"You are an arrogant little sod, aren't you, Mr. Snape?" Granger hissed at him.

"No. I just know what I know," he replied, his eyes as hard as diamonds.

Hermione had to admit she was a bit impressed at the boy's confidence. He wasn't the least bit cowed about what he'd done, and he defended himself without hesitation. Most students would have been apologizing and pleading with her to give them another chance. But not this young wizard. He had conviction concerning his skills.

She hated to admit it to herself, but his confidence was quite attractive.

Hermione stared at him a moment, then picked up his book, leafing through it until she located a very difficult, complex potion to brew that he had scrawled all over.

The Draught of Living Death. It was next to impossible for a novice to brew this correctly the first time, even with the proper instructions. She looked at Severus with narrowed eyes.

"Come to the lab, Mr. Snape. You have brewing to do. You'd better hope your high opinion of yourself and your abilities hold true, or you will be packing your bags tonight," she hissed at him.

Severus looked at her, a cunning look washing over his face.

"What's in it for me if I do brew it correctly with my improvements?" he asked her.

Hermione frowned at him.

"What the hell do you mean 'what's in it for you'? You don't get expelled, you idiot!" she snapped at him.

Snape still sat there.

"I could refuse to brew and force you to bring me before the Board of Governors for expulsion; then I could show them firsthand that my techniques work. That would make you look rather inept, Professor Granger. It might even make you . . . seem a bit jealous that a student was able to improve brews you could not," he said in a low voice.

Hermione began to shake with rage. How dare he suggest such a thing?

"It's not that I could not improve them. I found no reason to tamper with what was already perfection," she snapped at him, itching to give him a blast from her wand.

"If the techniques were perfection, I wouldn't have been able to improve them, would I?" he purred at the witch.

Hermione stared at him.

"You should have been in Slytherin house," she said to the young man.

"I have just enough scruples to have been spared that," Severus replied silkily, looking much older than he really was at this point. "If I have indeed improved the brewing process like I claim, Professor, your instruction over the years will be considered the reason for my skills. You will receive acclaim for teaching me in such a manner that I was able to forge ahead on my own. The student is only as good as the teacher, after all. That would be quite the quill in your cap, not to mention it will probably result in a salary increase to ensure such a wonderful instructor is not wooed away by another school. I will gladly give you all the credit for my abilities . . . if there is something in it for me."

Hermione listened to him, a bit appreciative of his calculating nature. She had never realized Severus Snape had such a manipulative streak. It was very appealing.

"And what would you want, Mr. Snape? Unlimited access to my stores? Perfect marks for the rest of the year?"

Severus shook his head.

"No. Nothing as complicated as that, Professor. If I prove that I have improved the brewing technique on whatever potion you choose from that book, then I only want one thing," he said softly.

"What?" Hermione asked him impatiently. "What is it you want, Mr. Snape?"

"You."

* * *

A/N: Interesting turn of events. Whoo, young Snape is playing with fire here. Guess some traits just don't change. Lol. Thanks for reading.