The Prince and the Villain

Chapter 5 ~ The Prince and the Villain

"Me?" Hermione nearly spluttered.

She would have never believed Severus Snape would dare try to . . . to purposely blackmail her into a tryst. Not directly. What happened with the oath had been an unfortunate accident. But this! He was purposely trying to manipulate her into a sexual relationship!

The wizard had bigger balls than a fucking troll.

"Yes. You, Professor Granger. I want you if I prove myself," Severus said, his dark eyes softening.

"You insolent young pup! Trying to negotiate to have sex with me? You have no morals! No ethics!" she seethed at him.

Severus fought back a little smirk. Professor Granger was a Slytherin, wasn't she? Morals and ethics never played a very large role in a Slytherin's basic make-up. She was trying to turn his own house inclinations back on him. Trying to make him feel guilty about what he was attempting to do. Well, Severus didn't feel guilty. This was an opportunity to get at the snarky witch the way he wanted. He wasn't about to pass on that, no matter how un-Gryffindorish it seemed. But she was wrong about his motives. Well . . . partially wrong. There was more to this than sex.

Severus shook his head.

"I'm not negotiating for sex, Professor," he said, then faltered. "Well, I guess I am, but I want more than that. I want to be able to spend time with you, brew with you and learn from you. Yes, I've managed through trial and error to alter brewing processes, but there's still so much I don't know that you do. Things I want to learn.

"I'd like to talk about things, about potions, about life . . . and about you. You're a brilliant teacher, Professor, and I think you're beautiful as well. We could enjoy each other, I know we could. I don't have anyone I can talk about serious things with, intellectual things, and I don't think you do either. It has to get lonely for you. I have ideas and thoughts I'd like to be able to share with someone and get opinions on. I like to debate too, but no one has enough knowledge to be challenging. I just know you'd be good at it. So, yes, I want you, Professor, but for more than just sex, though I want that too. Lots of it," the wizard said. "I know you could teach me about what it really is. I know the mechanics, but that's it. You could help me there."

Hermione studied the wizard.

"You certainly want a lot, Mr. Snape. What you are asking for would take up much of my time," she said to him.

"It would only be until I graduate, Professor. That's only a few months. In return you'll be able to brew your potions better, earn a better salary and be revered as a very talented teacher long after I'm gone. I mean, if I can't brew these potions, you're willing to ruin my life as punishment. So I think if I can brew them, you should be willing to share your life with me as a reward. It's only fair," Severus said.

Ah, there it was. The Gryffindorness, yet tempered by self-interest. An interesting combination.

"I guess from where you're sitting, Mr. Snape, it appears that way, doesn't it?" Hermione said to him with a disarming smile. "I tell you what. I'll consider your proposal while you are brewing. How's that?"

Hermione hoped she sounded disarming as well. She had no intentions on agreeing after the fact. If he did manage to improve the technique, good for him. He wasn't going to suck up all her spare time.

Not that she had much to do with it other than brewing, drinking Firewhiskey and marking papers. She never went anyplace.

Severus arched an eyebrow at Hermione.

"I . . . don't think so, Professor. I'd prefer to know your answer now," he said slowly.

Hermione swelled indignantly.

"Are you saying you don't TRUST me, Mr. Snape?" she hissed at him.

"I'm just saying I'd like to know your answer before I do anything," he replied diplomatically.

"Mr. Snape, you will go into my labs and prepare yourself to brew the Draught of Living Death this instant!" Hermione snarled at him.

"I won't," Severus said stubbornly, meeting her narrowed eyes.

Hermione really did feel like hexing him, the smug little bastard. He knew he had her. By taking him to task about the annotations in his book, she had cast down the gauntlet, erroneously thinking she had Severus dead to rights. She had also told Albus there was a "situation" that she would have to apprise him of, so he was expecting a report. If the Gryffindor couldn't prove his techniques viable, he would be expelled, yet if they proved to be as he said they were, Albus would sing his and her praises from the turret tops. But if Severus didn't brew anything at all, there would be a hearing where he would demonstrate his techniques. If he were successful, then everyone would blame her for putting such a talented student under scrutiny, perhaps out of malice or even jealousy.

Gods damn it.

"Mr. Snape, you do realize by not obeying me in this matter, you are breaking school rules," she said to him in a last effort to make the stubborn wizard capitulate.

Severus shrugged.

"Considering the situation, that's the least of my worries, Professor. I'm facing being expelled anyway. Another broken rule isn't going to make it any worse," he replied logically, "unless you try to get me sent to Azkaban as well. But if you do, you'll fail."

Hermione glared at him for a full five minutes. Severus looked back at her expectantly.

Gods, was he really willing to go to such lengths in order to gain access to her? Hm, but she still didn't like the idea of being bested by a seventh-year Gryffindor, no matter how delicious he was starting to appear. There was a third option.

"Mr. Snape, I could just copy your annotations and test them myself," the Potions mistress said.

"In that case, I would be forced to take my techniques to the Headmaster myself to insure that I received credit for my discoveries. Not to say you would steal the credit, Professor, but better safe than sorry, especially when dealing with a Slytherin," Severus replied.

Hermione turned bright red. He had an answer for everything. He was so aggravating, but still so compelling. Those dark eyes burned into hers, waiting for an answer.

The Potions mistress paced back and forth a few times, as if that would help her situation. Then she looked at Severus again, noting the hopeful look in his eyes. Well, the boy wanted more than sex . . . he wanted intelligent companionship and to learn. If she did this, she would sort of be his patron or mentor, with additional privileges. Privileges that would only get better with time and experience.

Hermione took a moment to look at her life. Really look at it. She had nothing really. Oh, she had her job, a secure position, a roof over her head. But that was about it. She had been hiding from life, finding solace in her misery and pleasure in making the lives of others just a touch less joyful because the old adage was true that misery loves company. Severus made her realize she was tired of being miserable and tired of spending night after night alone. And not just sexually, but emotionally and mentally. Hell, if she agreed, he could be a pleasurable diversion over the next few months. A reprieve of sorts from the dull ache her life had become.

Hell. Why not? For years everything she'd done had been for the benefit of others. Now it was time for Hermione Granger to have a little fun, a little excitement. The good kind. The kind that didn't always have death hanging over it.

She looked at Severus and sighed, because she knew once she said it, he was going to overreact.

"All right, Mr. Snape. I agree to your terms. If you fail, you will be expelled, but if your techniques work, I will allow you to 'keep me company' until graduation. Does that satisfy you?" she asked him.

"It will when you take an oath," he replied, smiling.

"An oath? Why, you little . . ."

Hermione let out a stream of profanities that blew Severus' hair back, but he sat at the desk stoically until Hermione grudgingly took the oath. Then he leapt up from the chair, pumping his fist in the air.

"YES! YES!" he cried, doing a little victory dance as Hermione looked at him in disbelief. Good gods, she'd agreed to sleep with this little cretin? He was acting as if he'd single-handedly won the World Cup. Merlin help her.

Suddenly, Severus latched onto Hermione, wrapping his arms around her and kissing her hard, trying to slip his tongue into her mouth.

She stomped on his foot.

"Ow!" Severus cried, holding his injured foot and hopping about as Hermione wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.

"You will not latch onto me like the Giant Squid whenever the urge hits you, Mr. Snape. You haven't brewed the Draught yet. Next time you do that, I'll hex you where you'll feel it most!" Hermione snapped at the wizard, picking up the Potions book and heading for her labs.

"Come on, Mr. Snape," she called back to him.

Severus gingerly put his foot down. It hurt, but he wore a very broad smile as he followed the witch, limping slightly, and he wondered if he might be able to get another shag out of her tonight.

* * *

Hermione watched as Severus removed his robes, revealing his lean young body clad in a crisp white button-up shirt, black trousers and black boots, polished to a gleam. He undid his cuffs and rolled up his shirt sleeves. He was all focus as he set up the cauldron, carefully examining it before Scourgifying it several times and then casting an additional purification spell on it. He set it up, then carefully chose a set of scales, plucking at several, his black eyes intense as he checked the ballast. Hermione had the feeling of being invisible as the wizard walked to her stores and collected the ingredients he needed to create the Draught without as much as even glancing at the book.

He quickly prepared his ingredients, adding the base to the cauldron and efficiently chopping up valerian roots and other herbs, scourgifying his utensils, measuring the amounts precisely and adding them to the cauldron. Within ten minutes, bluish steam was rising from the cauldron and the potion already resembled the smooth, black currant-colored liquid that heralded the midway stage.

Severus added a few more ingredients. Up to this point he was following the original instructions. Now he was to add the Sopophorous Bean. Hermione started, because instead of chopping the bean as instructed, the wizard picked up a silver dagger and with the blade crushed the bean, which exuded more juice than Hermione could have ever thought possible.

Severus deftly scooped up the juice and added it to the cauldron. The potion turned a perfect shade of lilac. Hermione had to admit she was impressed. Normally, this was the portion of the brewing when errors were made. But so far Severus was doing well, better than well, and crushing the bean was certainly more effective than chopping it.

Now came the most difficult part. According to the instructions, the potion was to be stirred counterclockwise until it turned as clear as water. But Severus added a clockwise stir after every seventh counterclockwise stir. The potion immediately turned a pale pink.

Hermione blinked. She had never seen the potion react so quickly. The wizard was barely twenty stirs in. It normally took about seventy stirs before there was any reaction. Hermione watched as the potion turned clear as water in less than a quarter of the time it normally took. Severus stared down at it, then slowly turned his head to look at his professor.

"You can test it now, Professor," he said softly. "I think you'll find it viable."

Feeling rather stunned, Hermione approached the cauldron. Severus never took his eyes off her as she checked the contents. Hermione looked at him, her eyes wide.

"It's viable," she breathed as the clear liquid sparkled.

"Yes, it is, Professor," the wizard replied, moving a bit closer. "And now, according to your oath, so are we."

"Now, just a minute, Mr. Snape," Hermione said to the approaching wizard.

"That's Severus, Professor," Severus said in a low voice as he inched closer to her.

"Fine. Wait a minute, Severus," Hermione repeated, holding up her hands.

Severus stopped, but the eager look in his eyes said he intended to keep coming.

"I proved my techniques work," he said to her. "You took an oath I could keep you company."

Hermione gave him a rather crooked little smirk.

"You've proven ONE technique works, Severus. I need to know they ALL work before we go any further. And I need them presented in a legible manner. I can't very well give Albus that dragon-scratch you have scrawled in the margins of your potions book," she said to him evenly.

Take that, smart boy.

"What? But that's not fair!" Severus said to her, frowning.

"It is perfectly fair. I'm not going to fall flat on my back for you, then discover only one technique works. You're going to have to demonstrate them all for me," she said to him, her eyes glinting.

"Some of those brews take three weeks to complete!" Severus complained, a slight whine in his voice.

"Then I suggest you start on those first. Tomorrow I will set up a separate work area for you, and after class you can come down and start," Hermione said to him, turning and walking out of the lab.

Severus stared after her for a moment, then dropped his head. He should have known she had something up her robe sleeve. It had been too easy. Now she was going to put him off for several more weeks, and he still had to brew. Damn it!

Hermione grinned to herself as she walked back into the Potions classroom. Severus put his robes back on, put his Potions book in his pocket and followed her back into the classroom, dragging his feet.

She turned to him with a smug little smile.

"Never try to out-Slytherin a Slytherin, Severus," she said to him. "At least not this Slytherin. Now, you may go."

"Go? But, I did brew one potion. That should be worth something. A kiss? A caress? Something, Professor," Severus said to her, looking extremely put out.

Hermione considered him.

"All right. Close your eyes," she said to him.

Severus did so, pursing his lips. He felt the witch's hands lightly rest on the sides of his head and tilt it downward. She was shorter than he was, and he quickly licked his lips for extra softness.

Hermione kissed him, right in the middle of his forehead.

"That's for trying so hard," she said as the wizard opened his eyes, looking at her in shock. "Now, get going. I have parchments to mark."

"But . . . but," Severus protested.

"Five points from Gryffindor," Hermione said to him, frowning.

Severus sighed.

"All right, but I'll be here right after supper tomorrow," he said to the witch.

"I'm sure you will be, Mr. Snape," Hermione said, reverting to proper address.

Severus turned toward the door, opening it slowly, hoping to put the witch off guard so he could steal another kiss, then run like hell before she hexed him. He opened it wider, stepped forward a bit, then suddenly spun . . . only to find Hermione's wand pointed directly between his eyes.

The Potions mistress cocked her head at him.

"Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice and you get a new appendage growing out the top of your head. Goodbye, Mr. Snape," she said.

Severus smiled.

"Goodbye, Professor," the Gryffindor replied. Then he left.

Hermione let out a sigh and closed her door. After a moment, she warded it too. Just in case. She walked back to her desk and collected the day's work she had to mark. She shook her head slowly as she thought about the brilliant young wizard.

He really should have been sorted into Slytherin.

* * *

Severus was feeling quite a bit better by the time he reached the corridor leading to Gryffindor tower, and that was because he realized some of those brews would require him to enter Hermione's domain at all hours of the night.

And that had possibilities.

He gave the Fat Lady the password and entered the common room. Ron was in there, chatting up one of the Patil sisters. He jumped up the moment he saw Severus enter. He hurried up to him as Parvati frowned.

"Severus! You survived!" he said, overjoyed, then made a big production of looking him over for damages.

"What did the old bat want?" he asked the pale wizard, who scowled at him but didn't say anything. This was Classic Ron.

Severus sat down on the sofa.

"She found out about my altering of brewing techniques," he said.

Ron's eyes went round with horror.

"Oh no! What did she say?" he asked, sitting down on the edge of the seat.

"Well, she was going to try and get me expelled, but I told her that I'd fight to stay because the changes I made to the brewing processes worked," the wizard said.

"You told her you'd fight her?" Ron asked in amazement.

Severus nodded.

"You really don't like your life, do you, Severus?" Ron said, shaking his head, truly amazed the wizard made it back to Gryffindor tower in one piece. "So what happened then?"

Severus wasn't about to tell Ron he manipulated the situation so the professor agreed he could "keep her company."

"Well, I showed her one of the brews. The Draught of Living Death. I made it perfectly. Now I have to show her all the other potions work," he told the redhead.

"But in order to do that, you're going to have to be down in the dungeons constantly, Severus," Ron said to him.

"I know," Severus replied, trying not to smile.

"But . . . you'll be down there with . . . with her," Ron said as if this were the most horrible thing in the world.

"I know," Severus said.

Ron looked at Severus with a furrowed brow. He didn't seem at all upset about being sequestered alone with Professor Granger, a situation Ron equated with being caged with an underfed and salivating Manticore.

"Severus, you aren't still going to try and shag her, are you?" he asked the wizard.

"No, Ron. I'm not going to try," Severus replied.

He was going to do it. Again. Eventually.

Ron let out a sigh of relief.

"That's good, Sev. I was worried about you there for a moment. Anyone who'd want to tangle with Granger like that would have to have a few loose bolts in his broom. She's awful," the wizard said.

Severus didn't reply to this. He stood up.

"I have homework to do before I go on my rounds, Ron. I'll see you later," he said to the wizard.

"All right," Ron said, looking around for Parvati, who had left when Ron so rudely jumped up to talk to Severus without so much as an "Excuse me, Parvati."

"Where'd she go?" Ron wondered, perplexed.

Poor Ron. At this rate, he was never going to get laid.

* * *

After she finished marking parchments, Hermione visited Albus to apprise him of the situation with Severus.

"He actually improved brewing techniques, Hermione? At his age? That's amazing," Dumbledore said. "Imagine, one of our students making strides in the field of Potions before even graduating. This is absolutely wonderful! I must contact the Ministry at once!"

Hermione shook her head.

"Headmaster, I think we should wait to find out if all the new techniques work. I need to get a special dispensation so Mr. Snape will be allowed out after rounds in order to tend to the brewing. Some potions will require him to go to the lab in the middle of the night. If Argus holds him up, then the potions could be ruined," she said to the old wizard.

"Hm," Albus said thoughtfully, drumming his fingers on his desk.

Behind him, Fawkes let out a trill.

"You know, Professor Granger, this is quite important. Extremely so. We really need to make sure we facilitate young Severus' success in this matter. Give him every opportunity to handle his brewing properly without disrupting his ability to study and keep his marks up. Traveling back and forth between Gryffindor tower and the dungeons will be draining on the boy. I believe he should be sequestered in your rooms for the duration," Albus said firmly.

"My rooms? Albus, you can't be serious!" Hermione sputtered.

"You do have an extra room off your study. He could use that," the Headmaster said, totally oblivious to Hermione's horror. "This way he would have easier access to the labs and not have to move through the castle at all hours of the night."

"That's insane, Albus! I can't have an eighteen-year-old wizard domiciled in my rooms with me! What will people say?" Hermione said, flustered.

"Since when have you ever cared what people have to say about you, Hermione?" Albus replied. "Severus has done something amazing, something he will be revered and honored for, and he is your student . . . your protégé. You need to do everything you can to assist him. You will be receiving credit as well, Hermione, for your splendid teaching methods that no doubt inspired him. I do believe a bit of a pay raise will be in order."

Hermione blinked at Albus. It was going just as Severus said it would. But the randy wizard locked in her private rooms with her? Hermione groaned as Albus went over the details. He would notify Minerva immediately and have the house-elves move the boy's things as soon as possible.

"It will only be for a few weeks, Hermione. It will all be worth it in the end," Albus said to her encouragingly. "Now would you like to tell him, or should I?"

Hermione looked up at Albus, imagining what Severus' reaction would be if she told him. He'd probably break something.

"You tell him, Headmaster," she replied, then dropped her head and pinched the bridge of her nose, shaking her head ruefully.

She should have never opened that damned book.

* * *

Hermione sat picking at her morning meal when Albus swept by her, exiting the Great Hall through the teacher's exit. No doubt he was going to wait for Severus in the main hall and tell him of his "new arrangements."

As she was leaving her rooms this morning, Hermione had heard the house-elves busily working in the bedroom that Severus would occupy. She hadn't looked in on them. She felt she would be too tempted to blast them out of there. Damn Albus and his ideas.

Now seated at the dais, the Potions mistress watched the Gryffindor eat his breakfast with hooded eyes. He was sitting between Harry Potter and the non-stop eating machine, Ronald Weasley, who was masticating on a mouthful of biscuits and jam. Severus glanced toward her for a moment, a wistful look in his dark eyes. She scowled at him reflexively, then finished her breakfast and headed back to her office to prepare for her first class.

Hermione took out her lesson plan and sketched out a few notes, but found it very hard to focus knowing that the randy young wizard would be in her rooms before the day was out. Well, he'd better keep his hands to himself.

He'd find it hard to brew without any fingers.

* * *

Severus had just finished his breakfast and was exiting the Great Hall with Harry and Ron when the Headmaster called to him.

"Mr. Snape, a word if you please," the old wizard said with a bright smile.

Harry and Ron continued on to Gryffindor tower as Severus walked up to Albus, whose blue eyes were exceptionally twinkly.

"Yes, sir?" Severus said politely.

"I wonder if you might come with me to my office, Severus. We have much to discuss, my boy. Professor Granger has told me about your brewing improvements and how she intends to test your methods. We would like to facilitate this, and that will require a certain change in your current situation," the Headmaster said, leading Severus to the Floo in the main hall.

Change in his situation? What kind of change?

The Gryffindor followed Albus into his office. The wizard offered him the comfy armchair in front of his desk as Fawkes trilled a welcome. Severus sat down and looked at the Headmaster curiously as he took a seat as well. After beaming for a full minute, Albus got down to it.

"Severus, you have done something exemplary. Improved brewing techniques that have been established for centuries. You are going to go down in the history books if you have accomplished what you say you have," he said to the young wizard.

"I have, sir," Severus replied confidently.

"I believe you. However, showing your techniques will be difficult if you have to continuously run from Gryffindor tower down to the dungeons at all hours of the day and night. It will not only keep you hopping but most likely interfere with your studies. Therefore, I have made other arrangements for you in order to make your task easier. You will be occupying the spare room off the Potions mistress' study until you complete the brewing. Your things are being moved at this moment," Albus said to the wizard.

Severus stared at him in disbelief.

"Professor Granger's rooms?" he said hollowly, the office around him seeming to bend and flex as if he were suddenly thrown into some kind of time warp.

Albus nodded, his brow furrowing slightly.

"Now, Professor Granger probably won't be the ideal roommate, but if you stay in your own room and not disrupt her too much, you ought to be able to make out just fine," Albus said to him. "Just give her plenty of space."

Severus stared at the Headmaster blankly.

Albus blinked at the empty expression on the boy's face.

"Severus? Severus? Are you all right, my boy?" he asked the young wizard. Severus' eyes focused.

"Ah, yes, sir. I'm fine. Just a bit shocked," Severus replied, doing his best to keep the broad smile that was trying to get out in check.

"It is you who will be doing the shocking if you prove your techniques work," Albus replied with a smile. "Now, I suggest you go to the dungeon area and retrieve your books for class. No doubt the house-elves have been quick and thorough. Professor Granger will show you your room."

Severus popped up out of the chair like a Jack-in-the-Box.

"Yes, sir," he said breathlessly, heading for the office door at top speed.

"Ah, Severus?" the Headmaster said.

Severus turned back to the wizard, his eyes bright.

"Yes, sir?" he responded.

"Good luck, my boy," Albus said to him as Fawkes let out yet another trill.

"Thank you, sir," Severus said with a nod and a smile. Then he exited the office.

Albus leaned back in his chair, folding his fingers together.

"What I wouldn't give to be a fly on the wall in those quarters," he said, shaking his head.

* * *

Severus took the stairs three at a time as he headed for the main floor. Ron and Harry spied him speeding toward the dungeons.

"Where's Sev going?" Ron said to Harry. "Doesn't he have Advanced Arithmancy? Why is he heading for the dungeons?"

Harry shrugged.

"He must have a reason," the boy who lived replied.

"I wonder what Dumbledore wanted with him," Ron said as the two reached the main floor and turned toward their next class.

"We'll find out what's going on at lunch," Harry said. "Now let's go."

* * *

Hermione had just finished compiling her notes when a heavy knock sounded on her door. She frowned. Who was at her door this early?

"Come in," she snapped.

The door opened, and a brightly smiling Severus entered her office. Obviously the wizard wasted no time hightailing it down here once Albus told him of his new arrangements.

Hermione narrowed her eyes at the Gryffindor. "Couldn't you have at least waited until the end of the day to encroach on my domain, Mr. Snape?"

"I came to get my books for class," the wizard said, grinning at her.

"Your books?" Hermione repeated, her eyebrows lifted.

Severus nodded enthusiastically. "Yes. The Headmaster said all my things have been transferred to my new room," he said to her, his delight nauseatingly evident.

"It is not 'your' room, Mr. Snape . . . it is MY room, a room that you are merely occupying for a short period of time. Don't you forget that," she snapped at him.

Severus continued to smile at her.

"Wipe that damn smile off your face!" Hermione growled at him. "This is not a happy occasion! You are infringing on my privacy and disrupting my routine. I don't appreciate this one bit, Mr. Snape."

Severus tried to look less happy but failed miserably.

Hermione looked at him for several moments, then stood up and walked from behind her desk to the wall that opened on her study.

"Watch me carefully. I'm only going to show you this once," she said to the young wizard.

Severus watched as Hermione pressed a series of stones and memorized it instantly. He felt he wouldn't forget that combination even if he was hit with an Obliviate. It was the key to all his randy little desires concerning the Potions mistress. The wall slid up, and Hermione entered, followed by Severus. She pointed to a door on the right side of the study.

"That is your room for the time being. I expect you to stay in it when you aren't going to and from the lab," she said to him as Severus opened the door.

Two torches flared up, and he saw he had a full-sized bed, a wardrobe, chest of drawers and several bookshelves. His bed was spread in Gryffindor colors, which made Hermione's nose wrinkle with distaste as she looked in behind him. Damned elves. Did they have to try and make him feel so at home?

"There's no writing desk," he said as he walked up to the shelf and removed several books, sticking them into his knapsack. "I have no place to do my work."

"I'll have one put in," Hermione replied, scowling at him as Severus experimentally bounced on the bed, then looked at her rather hotly, his eyes speaking for him.

"I know our agreement, Mr. Snape, and I warn you that if you attempt to 'put any moves' on me before you complete your brewing, you will be spending much of your time in the infirmary rather than this room. Do I make myself clear? Your being in my rooms is not a license to attempt to maul me every chance you get," she snapped at him.

"I don't want to maul you, Professor," he said softly, "I just want to be with you."

Hermione snorted.

"I already know what you want to do with me, Mr. Snape," she replied, her eyes hard. "If you were a Slytherin, I'd think you planned this entire situation."

Severus smirked at her and stood up.

"But I didn't. You did this, Professor, when you decided to try and get me thrown out of Hogwarts," the young man replied. "I have to say I'm glad you did. It wouldn't have worked out better if I did plan this. It makes things so much easier."

Hermione frowned at him again before sighing in resignation. The boy had a one track mind, and that track specifically led to her.

"You have your books. Go to class," she said to him, stepping out of the doorway and giving the young wizard ample room to pass without coming into contact with her.

Severus walked by her, his eyes triumphant. She felt like kicking him.

"After class this afternoon, you are to go into the lab and prepare your next project," she directed him. "And I expect you to begin transcribing your notes in a legible manner."

"Yes, Professor," he said cheesily, his black eyes full of mirth.

"GET OUT!" Hermione yelled at him furiously. He was so damned smug it was unbearable.

Severus hurried through the wall into her office.

"See you tonight, Professor," he called back, then hurriedly ran out, almost colliding with several Slytherins who were passing on their way to class.

"Completely insufferable," Hermione hissed as she closed the wall to her private rooms and collected her notes for class.

In bad temper, she headed for her classroom.

Her students could count on a rough hour.

* * *

"In her rooms?" Ron exclaimed in horror as Severus informed him and Harry why Dumbledore wanted to speak to him after breakfast. "What the hell is Dumbledore thinking? She's going to kill you, Severus."

"No she's not, Ron. Gods, she's a teacher. I'll be fine," Severus replied with a hint of exasperation.

"Fine dust," Ron said, his brows furrowed as he looked up at the dais where Professor Granger sat, looking more sour than usual as she ate her lunch. Harry stared at Severus.

"How long are you going to be down there?" he asked Severus, who gave him a little smirk.

"Well, at first I planned to do several brewings at once to speed up the time, but then I decided to space them out instead," the young wizard replied, spooning a bit of soup into his mouth.

Ron stopped chewing and looked at Severus as if this were the stupidest idea he had ever heard in his life.

"Why'd you change your mind, Sev? You should want to get out of there as soon as possible. The longer you stay down in the dungeons, the more likely you are to lose a body part," Ron said to him around a mouthful of chicken.

Severus looked at him.

"I want to make sure I do everything properly, Ron. Too many cauldrons spoil the brew," he replied sagely.

Harry frowned at him slightly. He didn't believe his friend for one moment. Severus wanted to stay down in the dungeons with Professor Granger. He was still trying to shag her.

"Severus, are you sure you know what you're doing?" Harry asked him, not wanting to say what he was thinking because Ron would have conniptions, most likely loud ones.

"Of course I know what I'm doing, Harry," Severus replied, looking toward Hermione for a moment. The longer he was down there, the more he could work on breaking her down. Yes, it might be a little risky, but the professor couldn't really harm him too badly. She'd get in a world of trouble with the Headmaster.

"It's your arse," Ron said, shaking his head slowly, then looking at Harry. "I still think we ought to get an owl out to his next of kin."

Harry laughed as Severus scowled at Ron.

"Shut up, Ron," he snapped.

From the dais, Hermione watched the trio, her brown eyes narrowed. By the furtive glances Harry and Ron had thrown her way, it was easy to tell that Severus had informed them of his change in lodgings. Soon it would be all over the school. From further down the table, Minerva McGonagall eyed the Potions mistress. She'd had a fit when Albus told her one of her Gryffindors would be in the Slytherin Head of House's care for several weeks.

"Albus, it's the perfect setup for Hermione to take an untold amount of house points from Gryffindor. She's bad enough when she just has classroom contact with my students. She's going to use him to put Slytherin ahead in gaining the House Cup," the witch complained.

"Now, now, Minerva. Hermione isn't that bad. As long as Severus conducts himself properly, you have nothing to worry about," he said to her placatingly.

Minerva harrumphed.

"She's taken points from students for breathing too hard, Albus," the witch said. "Besides, it is unseemly for a witch of thirty-six years to have an eighteen-year-old male student in her rooms. It's scandalous!"

Albus raised an eyebrow at Minerva.

"Are you suggesting that Professor Granger may have 'designs' on young Mr. Snape?" he asked the Transfiguration professor. "Professor Granger?"

Minerva fell silent for a moment. She knew, as did everyone else at Hogwarts, that Hermione did not indulge with any male and hadn't for a number of years. To think she would go after Severus, a young, inexperienced wizard, who was a Gryffindor no less, was absolutely ludicrous. Of course, it didn't cross her mind that Severus might go for the Potions mistress. In Minerva's eyes, all her students were 'innocents.' At least when it came to sex and older wizards and witches. She had no idea she had a young predator in her house. And Severus, despite his honest desire for Hermione, really was a predator and quite good at it for one so young.

"No, I suppose not," she said with a sigh. "I just don't like it, Albus."

"You'll like it fine when Gryffindor house gets the credit for producing the brightest Potions master in years," he replied reassuringly, patting her hand. "Young Severus will be a credit to us all."

Well, he might be a credit to the rest of Hogwarts, but to one Hermione Granger, he was a complete pain in the arse.

* * *

An irritated Hermione snapped and snarled at her last Potions class. Most of the reason she was in such a bad mood was because of Severus, who sat staring at her with a look of pure, idiotic joy on his face. This was the last class of the day. Then . . . then he'd be in her quarters, alone with the witch of his dreams.

But the way Hermione was feeling, it was more than likely she would be the witch that nightmares were made of. He was totally oblivious to her scowl, and she meanly assigned the class a four-foot essay due tomorrow because she felt so . . . impotent.

There was no way out of this situation.

Severus made it even worse by flicking his eyes toward the clock every thirty seconds or so, as if willing time to speed up. This irritated Hermione even more.

Finally, the class ended, and Severus was one of the first out of the door.

Curious students on their way to the Great Hall watched as the Gryffindor let himself into the empty Potions office. The wards had been set to his signature so he could take them down at will.

"What's Snape doing?" Goyle said to Draco as Severus slipped through the door and closed it.

"It looks like committing suicide," Draco said. "Come on, let's tell Granger and help him along."

Draco and Goyle hurried back to the Potions class and found Hermione gathering paperwork together. Draco knocked on the doorsill, and the witch looked up with narrowed eyes.

"What is it, Mr. Malfoy?" she demanded, still in a foul mood.

"I thought I should tell you that Severus Snape just broke into your office," Draco said, hiding a delighted grin as the witch turned red as a salamander.

"He did? Why that little ba..." Hermione growled, then caught herself, remembering students were present.

"Thank you, Mr. Malfoy. Five points to Slytherin," she said, hurrying through the short corridor that led to her office.

"Snape's dead," Draco grinned to Goyle, who looked at him with a big ape-like smile. The two Slytherins left, trotting up the hall and stopping to listen at the Potions office door.

They didn't hear any blasts or cries for mercy.

"Damn. I bet he left before she got there," Draco muttered, disappointed. "Come on, Goyle. Let's go to supper."

The two young wizards headed up the corridor, Draco in the lead and Goyle lumbering behind him.

Damn. The pureblood really wanted to see Snape get fried.

* * *

Hermione rushed into the office, ready to browbeat, but Severus wasn't there. Scowling, Hermione let herself into her quarters and froze as she saw Severus sitting in one of the two armchairs in front of the fireplace, which was lit, in what looked like black silk pajama bottoms and . . . and was that a smoking jacket?

He was eating a ham sandwich and looking very much at home, his Advanced Potions book resting on the small table next to a plate and a glass of Pumpkin juice.

Hermione stalked up to him, billowing around the chair, her arms full of parchments.

"What," she hissed, "do you think you're doing?"

Severus looked up at the witch, put the sandwich down, swallowed what he was eating and gave her a disarming smile.

"I'm relaxing after a hard day of classes," the wizard replied, stretching a little and wriggling his toes luxuriously in the black fuzzy slippers he wore. "I always do this."

"I'm sure," Hermione snorted, eyeing his attire.

She walked over to her desk calmly, put her paperwork down, calmly drew her wand, turned and blasted the Pumpkin juice, plate and sandwich to dust before setting Severus' fluffy slippers on fire.

Severus yelped and jumped out of the armchair, kicking his flaming footwear into the hearth.

"Hey! Why'd you do that?" he said to the witch, still shaking his hot bare feet as if some residual fire clung to them.

"This . . ." Hermione hissed, "is my study. Mine. My territory. My domain. That . . ." Hermione pointed to the doorway on the right that led to his room, " . . . is also mine, but you are temporarily infringing on my domain like a creeping, unwanted Gryffindor weed. You will sequester yourself in that room during your time here unless I give you permission to be in my study. And there will be NO eating in here, period. You'll attract magical roaches, and they're next to impossible to remove once they've set in," she snapped at him.

Snape just blinked at her, his eyes focused on her lips. It was as if he hadn't heard a word she'd said. She had turned him on by yelling at him and setting him on fire . . . magically. It only took a little kindling to get his libido in gear.

Hermione rolled her eyes at his look.

Merlin's Dangling Dingleberries. How was she ever going to stand this?

"Earth to Severus. Did you hear me?" she snapped at him.

"Ah, yeah. No eating down here," he said softly.

"And no being in my study without permission," she added darkly. "Besides, you should be in the labs brewing, not lounging about stuffing your maw. Now get out of here and get started on the Polyjuice Potion!"

"Yes, Professor," he said, walking slowly towards her rather than his room.

Hermione's wand hand twitched noticeably.

"I suggest you make a change in direction if you don't want your feet set on fire this time," the witch said dangerously.

Severus stopped and looked at her. Then, with an annoying smirk, he did change direction and walked into his room, leaving the door open as he pulled off his specially Transfigured smoking jacket, baring his strong torso, and then looking toward the witch, who flicked her wand at the door, slamming it shut.

"The nerve," she spat, Scourgifying the dust left behind from his meal.

Presently, Snape exited his room, dressed properly in student robes.

"I'm going now," he announced to Hermione, who was sitting at her desk and marking parchments.

"I'd prefer you gone," she replied without looking up.

Severus smirked again and exited the study.

As soon as the wall slid down, Hermione put down her quill, sat back and rubbed her eyes.

She still had to deal with tonight. She knew she had laid out the rules for the young Gryffindor, but she knew with certainty that despite him being Head Boy, he didn't have much regard for rules.

* * *

Hermione was still sitting at her desk when she heard the wall slide up. What? It took at least three hours to prepare the ingredients for Polyjuice Potion and get it started. Scowling, she looked at the open wall. At first she saw no one.

She drew her wand.

"There's no way you could have finished prepping the brew this quickly. Preparing the ingredients requires the normal amount of time, even if you have managed to speed up the brewing time," she snarled, "so I suggest you go back to the lab."

Suddenly, a form stepped through the door.

It wasn't Severus.

It was another wizard, a very unwelcome one.

"Hermione," Lucius Malfoy purred, looking as debonair and handsome as ever, his blond hair falling over his shoulders, dressed in immaculate green dress robes, the ever-present, silver-tipped cane in his hand. He smiled at the witch, a dimple appearing in one cheek.

"Lucius, what are you doing here?" Hermione demanded, her face black.

"Now, now, Hermione. Is that any way to talk to your savior? To the man who saved your life . . . to the man you owe a Life Debt?" the wizard purred, entering the study.

He had been here many times before Albus Dumbledore's purported death, which was why he could get through her office and into her quarters. This was the first time he'd been here in more than a year, and Hermione hadn't thought to remove his signature since his advances had ceased.

"I don't owe you anything, Lucius. That debt was cleared when I saved Draco's soul from being fragmented," she hissed at him. "Now, leave my quarters."

Lucius simply smiled at her, although he stopped advancing.

"I'm afraid you're wrong, Hermione. It was Narcissa who bound you to the blood oath to keep Draco safe, not me. You still owe me," he breathed.

"But Draco is your son too," Hermione said sharply. "I did both of you a service by saving your only heir, Lucius. I owe you nothing and will give you nothing!"

Lucius studied her, waiting . . . waiting for the witch to be subjected to the pull of the debt. She would be compelled. But to his chagrin, nothing happened.

Hermione had been waiting too. Anytime Lucius came to her, she was driven to allow herself to be subjected to his desires. It was the price she had paid when he had convinced the Dark Lord to let her live after she did not show up at the graveyard when he was resurrected. Lucius had convinced him she had been loyal, and Voldemort had Crucio'd the pureblood severely for interfering, but allowed Hermione to live. She owed Lucius her life, and the wizard had taken full advantage of it until she had "killed" Dumbledore and informed him her debt to him was paid.

He hadn't taken this well. He had enjoyed his engagements with Hermione because she didn't want him. She had never wanted him. And that was what made her so desirable, her hatred of him. Lucius got off on that. And missed it.

Hermione gave him a rather nasty but victorious smile.

"I'm not compelled, Lucius . . . so leave. That's proof my debt to you is repaid," she said.

Lucius began to twirl his cane, his gray eyes resting on her.

"You know you miss me, Hermione. How about one more dip of my wand for old time's sake?" he purred at her.

"I don't miss anything about you, Lucius. You're selfish, cruel, and manipulative. A decent wizard wouldn't have made me do the things you did. A decent wizard would have saved me because it was the noble thing to do," she spat at him.

"Just because I am a noble doesn't mean I am noble," the blond wizard said, his eyes darkening. Suddenly, he pointed his cane at her.

"Imperio!" he hissed, catching Hermione by surprise with the spell.

Lucius suspected she might not cooperate, and so was prepared. He had inserted his wand into his walking cane, hoping to catch her off-guard.

And he did.

Hermione stood there, unable to move, her wand extended and brown eyes shifting wildly as Lucius walked up to her.

"Put your wand on your desk and come to me," he said to her with deceptive softness.

Hermione's arm moved jerkily as she dropped the wand on her desk, then twitchily walked around it toward Lucius, stopping about two feet away. Her eyes were glistening.

Not again. She thought she was free of him. Free of this.

Lucius slid his hand over her cheek slowly, studying her face, her eyes as tears helplessly slid from the corners.

He smiled.

"You know, Hermione. I've missed you greatly. Yes, yes, I know I have plenty of women to fuck, willing women . . . all shapes and sizes, willing to do whatever I wish because I am so . . . desirable."

Lucius began to walk around Hermione, his hands clasped behind his back, his cane resting between his shoulder blades. He leaned over her shoulder and pulled her hair back, his lips close to her ear.

"It's terribly boring, sticking my cock in witches who want it. There are no more revels to suit my darker tastes. I did have you for a short while, Hermione, and you were just as delightful as any terrified Muggle bitch, particularly since I didn't have to murder you when I was finished. You hate my touch . . ."

Lucius licked her ear, and Hermione shuddered inwardly.

"My wealth, looks and breeding mean nothing to you . . . In fact . . . you've always given me the impression you think yourself better than me in some way. That is why I enjoy fucking you . . . I know it turns your very soul cold," he breathed, pulling away from her ear and walking back around her. "Every stroke I give you humiliates and disgusts you. Such a turn-on to know you are so helpless against me. That you hate me so. Anytime you groan my name, it is a groan of anguish . . . not pleasure. Every gasp is one of shame, degradation and loss. I take from you every time I touch you. So appealing."

Lucius reached around her, running his hand up her spine.

"I particularly miss the Tree, the raised marks of your treachery. To think, you actually deserved them," he said softly, "you traitorous whore."

Hermione wanted to hiss that Narcissa was also a traitor. She had pretended Harry was dead when he wasn't, and that was how he had gotten to Voldemort. But that didn't matter to Lucius. His wife had been trying to save their son, and Harry was the only way she knew Draco would have a chance. She had acted on behalf of his offspring.

"I was hoping against hope that the Life Debt would compel you to me, but I came prepared just in case it didn't. As I said, I've missed our times together. If this is to be the last time, it will be the best time," he said with a bit of a growl. "But don't worry. You won't remember. There's no way I intend to let you finger me for rape, Hermione, though I'll consider this closure. A well-placed Obliviate will take care of any . . . possible unpleasantries, though I'm sure you're going to wonder what happened to leave you so sore and bruised with the taste of come in your mouth. A mystery you'll just have to live with."

Lucius turned and warded the wall, cast a Silencing Charm, then walked over to the desk and retrieved Hermione's wand, sticking it in his pocket. He pointed his cane at the now defenseless witch.

"This wouldn't be nearly as fun with you under the Imperio," he breathed, releasing her.

Hermione was no match for Lucius hand to hand. She knew it from earlier encounters. He had no problem punching her in the face or jaw or ribs.

He wouldn't now.

"I hate you, Lucius Malfoy," she hissed at him as the wizard began to unbutton his robes with one hand, keeping a good grip on his cane as the witch came back to herself.

"I know, Hermione. I know," he replied with a lascivious smile, waiting for the witch to run.

She always ran. It was fruitless, but she did it anyway.

Hermione didn't disappoint him.

* * *

Severus returned to the Potions mistress' rooms an hour and a half later, a broad smile on his face. He had started the brewing. He needed to study and planned to persuade Hermione to let him use her study because it was brighter in there.

Or something. He'd figure it out.

The moment the wall slid up, he saw something was wrong. Both armchairs were tipped over, the small table between them smashed, parchments, quills and bottles of ink were scattered all over.

"Professor! Professor!" the young wizard cried, running into the study and looking around frantically.

"Professor Granger!" he yelled, running into the bedroom.

He stopped just inside the door, horrified by the sight that met him. The bedroom was also in a shambles, the wardrobe overturned, the mirror over the dresser broken, the nightstand lying against the far wall. But that wasn't the most terrible sight that greeted him.

Hermione lay in the bed nude, her body black and blue, covered in scratches and what looked like bites. Her thighs lay gaped, wet and bruised, and the young wizard could scent sex in the air. Her clothing lay ripped and torn on the floor beside the bed.

Severus ran over to her, staring down at her swollen face, the dried blood encrusted in her hair, his heart pounding as he stared at her, afraid to touch her, his black eyes taking in her sad condition. It didn't look as if she were breathing. Oh gods.

"Professor," he said brokenly, believing her to be dead. She was so still. His eyes welled up.

"Oh, gods, who did this to you?" he said softly. "Who would do this to anyone?"

Suddenly, Hermione groaned and shifted. Severus dropped to his knees on the side of the bed as she partially opened her swollen eyes. They were glazed with pain as they shifted towards him. Her mouth moved.

Thank Merlin she wasn't dead. Severus felt he could breathe again, at least a little.

The young wizard folded part of the rumpled sheet over her battered body and leaned toward her.

"Professor, I'm going to go get help," he said to her softly.

Hermione's swollen lips moved. She said something, but he couldn't hear her, and her lips were flecked with blood.

He leaned closer.

"No," Hermione whispered, "Healing . . . Pain potion."

"But . . . but there's no way a simple Healing potion can take care of this, Professor. I need to get Poppy and Dumbledore!" Severus said desperately.

"Get . . . me . . . blasted . . . idiot," she gasped, her pain-filled eyes angry now. He had to listen to her. She knew what she needed.

"All right. I'll get them," Severus said. "Wait here."

Even through her agony, Hermione let out a snort as Severus sprinted out of the bedroom. Where the hell was she going to go?

She lay there aching, not knowing who did this to her, but every orifice burned. She stunk of sex and could taste semen in her mouth. She'd been raped, then most likely Obliviated. If Severus went for help, then he would be the prime suspect. She didn't believe him capable of such an act, not when he had worked so hard at trying to seduce her.

On the floor lay the black and blue rose, still in the flush of life despite being without water, no sign of blight on its petals.

She needed to get to Spinner's End. There, she had stronger brews to heal herself. After she recovered, she'd set about trying to find out who did this to her. She didn't want anyone to know what had happened. It would just add more difficulty to her life.

Severus came in with an armload of potions. Not only Healing and Pain potions, but Pepper-Up and Stamina potions as well. He put them on the nightstand, then gently slid onto the bed, lifting Hermione partially up and resting her against him, his eyes drifting over her bruises, a murderous feeling swelling inside him.

He'd kill whoever did this to her.

He carefully uncapped one of the Pain potions and slowly fed it to her, tilting the bottle carefully against her bruised lips. Hermione let out a sigh.

"Another," she whispered, and Severus obliged her. Then he fed her the Healing potion, followed by the Stamina potion and a few sips of Pepper-Up.

Hermione now sat on the edge of the bed, the sheets gathered around her body, bite marks on her shoulders.

"I need to report what happened," Severus said quietly. "There has to be an investigation."

"You'll be the one investigated," she said weakly, turning her swollen face toward him. "We need to go to Spinner's End. I have stronger brews there, brews I took when I served the Dark Lord and returned broken and tortured. I've been through this before, Severus. Worse than this. Go find my wand. I need it to Apparate."

Severus looked at her with raised brows.

Did she say Apparate? No one was supposed to be able to Apparate on the grounds of Hogwarts. But Albus had arranged for Hermione to do so, because of the dismal condition she would be in most of the time when she returned from Voldemort. She kept the ability a secret. She wouldn't have revealed it to the Gryffindor if she didn't have to.

Severus hurried back into the study and found her wand on the floor near her desk and returned it to her. Then he took off his robes and helped her up, his black eyes both tender and angry as he gently placed them over her shoulders, buttoning them.

As he did so, he noticed a hank of hair on the bed. It was long and blond. As Hermione finished buttoning the robes, he discreetly grabbed the hair and pocketed it. It had to belong to whoever had done this to her. He knew several spells that could reveal who the hair belonged to . . . and when he found out . . .

The wizard felt hot, searing hatred boil over him.

Someone was going to die.

"Hold on to me," Hermione suddenly breathed.

Severus started, then took hold of her arm gently. Very gently.

With a crack of thunder, they Disapparated.

* * *

A/N: My, this took a rather dark turn, didn't it? And it will get a bit darker before it gets better. Severus isn't going to let this pass. I'm hoping I translated Hermione's horror well. No glorifying it here. I know there are some people into rape fantasy (I admit, I get into it once in a while.), but this isn't one of those situations. What exactly happened will be revealed in the next chapter, but not in a way remotely arousing. At least, not to me. Anyway, thanks for reading.