Part XI: Circe the Fool?

Disclaimer: As if!

AN, part I: First, my humblest apologies about the delay. I hit a huge stumbling block, and then real life kinda claimed me for a while. Sorry. Secondly, this is catagorized as Humor/Romance, so here you go... (fluff, fluff, fluff)

Part XI: Circe the Fool?

Circe left Snape's office before he could think of a plausible reason to accompany her. He watched until she was out of the dungeons, then made his way to the fireplace.

“Headmaster’s office. Password: jujubes.” A swirl of green flame later, he was dusting himself off in front of a slightly bemused headmaster.

“Severus! What an unexpected pleasure.”

“Headmaster, would you do me a favor and play along with a scheme of mine?” Snape quickly recounted the salient details and was relieved when a mischievous twinkle lit Dumbledore’s eyes.

“I’ve always wanted to put one over on Circe,” Dumbledore admitted.

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

Snape exited via Floo moments before Circe crashed through the door in a distinctly disgruntled mood.

“My dear, whatever is the matter,” Dumbledore asked, opening his arms invitingly.

Circe crossed her arms and scowled at him. “Is it true?”

“Is what true?”

“You and Severus being in love!” Circe snarled dangerously.

“Ah, that. Yes, well, Severus asked me to tell you it is,” he replied calmly. Circe’s scowl lightened slightly, so Dumbledore continued. “Think of the fun it will be to watch Severus and Hermione continue dating under the cloak of secrecy.”

Circe’s wicked smile reappeared while Dumbledore twinkled jovially.

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

Once he reached his office, Snape gathered up a handful of Floo powder and spoke to the fireplace. “Headgirl’s room. Password: please.” He stepped into the green flame and a swirl of robes later emerged facing a very surprised Hermione, along with Potter and two Weasleys.

Stymied by the presence of her friends, he hesitated before saying, “Miss Granger, forgive my intrusion.”

“Shall we leave?” Ginny asked, winking at Hermione. Severus, catching the by-play, couldn’t restrain a blink.

To everyone’s surprise it was Severus who answered. “No need. You three could be useful in our game.”

“Game?” asked Ron, worriedly.

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

Everyone agreed to help the charade, although grimaces were exchanged between the boys at the implications of the game. After they hashed out the details to Severus and Hermione’s liking, her friends left so they could “discuss” other things.

A nice, long, healthy debate later, Hermione and Severus let their lips rest as they cuddled up on her settee.

“I’m looking forward to not being a student,” Hermione admitted after a while.

“Mm,” said Snape, nuzzling her neck with his nose. “So am I,” he growled lustily.

“Not long now,” she added with a smile.

“Nope,” he answered, smirking back.

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

Snape and Hermione managed to meet outside a couple days later. Needing to collect ingredients, he took her for a leisurely walk through the forbidden forest.

He found it odd that they didn’t encounter any creatures, good or bad, as they perambulated, but he was grateful. It gave him time to enjoy her company -- distraction free. Hermione was similarly grateful to spend time with Severus with no act to keep up.

Little did they know that they were being followed by an interfering old coot and a meddlesome crone who sighed contentedly as they watched Snape lovingly kiss Hermione’s palm.

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

As the end of term neared, it became harder to find the time for dates. More often than not Severus would slip into Hermione’s quarters via Floo only to find her studying with her friends. She never insisted he leave, so eventually he brought papers to grade. He’d listen to them quiz each other, smirking at how bossy and impatient Hermione became.

Therefore, he was surprised when one day he Flooed in and she was alone with no open books in sight.

“I’ve been waiting for you,” she said, advancing on him slowly.

He smiled salaciously and met her halfway.

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

Hermione surprised him again when she knocked on his door one evening during his office hours.

“Miss Granger, do you have an appointment?” he asked, masking his surprise and delight with a scowl.

“No, Professor Snape, but I was wondering if you could help me with some properties of lacewing I don’t understand,” she answered, closing the door behind her with a soft click.

Snape quirked an eyebrow at her obvious move. “What really brings you here?”

“I would think that was obvious, Professor,” she replied.

He didn’t get a chance to counter, as his mouth was soon otherwise occupied.

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

Severus decided to repay the favor the next opportunity he got. When he was done marking essays, he Flooed in to find Hermione and her friends studying as usual. He adopted his fiercest scowl, aimed it at them and spat, “Out! Now!” He was quite pleased at how quickly the interlopers disappeared.

“What the hell was that for?” Hermione demanded angrily when she saw him smirking.

He decided to use body language to answer.

When they came up for air, Hermione narrowed her eyes in annoyance. “I do have to study, you know.”

He silenced her qualms with another kiss.

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

It was a while before they could meet again, as Hermione insisted on studying for the NEWTs with no distractions. Besides in class, the only time Severus got to see Hermione was when he brought her midnight snacks. He was only slightly disgruntled to have her shove him out immediately with barely a quick kiss for thanks.

***

At the end of the last day of testing, she appeared in his office wearing a smile.

“Severus, I’m no longer a student.”

His eyes lit up before he remembered their plans. “What about our revenge?”

“What revenge?” she replied whilst kissing him.

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

AN, part II: Okay, you guys will probably not like the last part, which will be coming soon. I stuck to my original challenge of keeping to 100 words for 100 chapters, despite the temptation to expand beyond that. So, to finish it off without going over the limit, I needed to skim a bit in places.

Anyway, the next update is the last, and sorry, it’s gonna be a short one (6 ‘chapters’).