Explosions

Dumbledore's voice rose above the crowd, warm and all-encompassing. "Ladies and gentlemen, I give you this year's graduates of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!"

The seventh-years all bounded to their feet as one, wands held high in the air, multi-colored sparks shooting from their tips and raining down over the group. Amidst the cheering, crying and hugging throng, Hermione turned to look for Severus. She finally spotted him toward the outer fringe of the area, shaking hands with Draco Malfoy.

'Severus.'

His black eyes immediately swung to hers, pinning her to the spot where she stood and crushing the breath out of her before they returned to Draco. She watched him for a moment more, seeing the corner of his mouth twitch upward in a wry smile – oh, how she loved that! – and then she was grabbed from behind and spun into Padma's exuberant hug.

"Oh, Hermione, can you believe we've done it? Doesn't it seem like just yesterday that we were learning our way around the castle? And now, here we are graduating!"

Hermione peered back over her shoulder toward Severus, hoping to catch his eye again. He was still talking with Draco, his face angled away from her. Turning back to Padma, she gave her a wan smile. "Yes, it's hard to believe, isn't it?" she commented weakly.

"It is! And it's so strange to think that we won't all be coming back next year! That we won't be living together... maybe not even seeing each other anymore!"

And the enormity of the situation finally struck Hermione.

There would be no more meals in the Great Hall. There would be no more classes to hustle Harry and Ron off to. No more Peeves, no more fussy portraits, no more moving staircases. No more Dumbledore, McGonagall...

...Severus?

Turning towards him again, she found him staring intently at her. His mouth turned up as he moved his gaze longingly over her body and back up to her face.

"I will find you," he mouthed, and disappeared into the crowd.

"Can you believe how much things are going to change, Hermione?" asked Padma, unaware of the interaction.

Smiling broadly at her, Hermione gave her a warm hug and laughed, "Padma, you have no idea!"

~*~

He had left her in the alcove; that much he knew. He had no recollection, however, of thundering back to the dungeons. He was aghast at what he had just done; it was far too dangerous and foolish, and he knew that! But the raw desire for her had consumed him, and even now – when he was not in her head, she was not in his reach – even now he could smell her, feel her... almost taste her.

His chamber door slammed closed behind him, and before the reverberating echo had quieted, he had torn his robes open and wrenched his pants down his hips. Collapsing against the door, he took himself in hand and pumped furiously. Her eyes, so glazed with lust... her breath, hot and fast against his face... the hot, sweet smell of her juices floating up to him... the wet, slurping sounds of her fingers sliding in and out of her hole... faster and faster and harder and harder and then feeling her stiffen and then the taste of her skin in his mouth as she came... It took only a few strokes, and then Severus exploded, an unholy sound ripping from his throat as thick, white jets spouted from his fisted hand. He slid to the floor, panting hoarsely and trembling gracelessly from the aftershocks of his orgasm.

After a few moments, Severus' head dropped down into his hands, and he groaned an entirely different type of groan altogether. Now that the lust-induced haze that had been fogging his judgment was lifted, he was beside himself. How could he have done that? He had jeopardized both of them, just for a few moments of pleasure that, in the end, were very bittersweet. They had found no release together, and now his desire for her, his need for her, had grown exponentially.

I cannot keep doing this to her, or to myself. This has gone beyond innocence. I will not take her with me into madness.

Pulling himself to his feet, he cast a Scourgify, put his clothes in order and made his way to his liquor cabinet. While pouring the first of what he was sure was going to be many drinks that night, he heard her soft voice.

'Severus?'

He set the bottle down sharply, trying to ignore how his hands shook. Dear gods, he thought to himself. She must be mortified.

'Severus? Please answer me.'

Leaving his glass on the ledge, he began to pace the floor, rubbing his hands fiercely over his face. Try as he might, he could not scrub the memory of what he had just done or the sound of her voice from his mind.

'Severus, answer me. I know you're there. Have you forgotten that I can feel you?'

He had forgotten. Coming to an abrupt halt, he reached his mind out toward hers, trying to latch onto her emotions. If he could just get a peek into how she was feeling... without having to ask her, of course...

'Severus, stop it! Don't sit there and probe at me without acknowledging me! I deserve better than that!'

He pulled back as if he had been slapped. She was right. Damn it all, she was right. She deserved better than lecherous manipulations. Better than being enticed and tortured at every turn. And certainly better than being forced to masturbate in front of her Potions master in a cubbyhole and then left alone, to be discovered by anyone.

She deserved better than to be ignored.

'I am here, Hermione.'

The exasperated sigh that breezed through his mind made him smile, despite himself. 'I know you're there. I wanted to be sure that you were okay.'

Was she serious? He had just talked her – her, Hermione Granger, of all people! – into skipping out of class, forced her physically into a secluded spot, made her finger herself until she came, and then abandoned her... and she was checking to see if HE was okay?

So much for destroying her innocence.

'I am fine, Hermione.'

A pause.

'Well... are you sure? Because I can feel a lot of dismay, and... well, you seem so upset, and... I just wanted to make sure.'

His hands were on his face again. Maybe if he scrubbed harder...

'To make sure of what? That I am all right? I assure you, I am fine.'

When her voice came back, it was small... and very, very scared.

'No... to make sure you weren't mad at me.'

Snape's stomach clenched painfully, and he stumbled into his chair. Is that what she thought? That he was angry? With her? Merlin's mother, he'd heard of the dangers of a woman's mind, but this was insane!

'Hermione, believe me when I tell you that I do not feel angry with you – at all.. But I cannot have this conversation now.'

'Okay?!' His voice was thundering now, and his hands were clenched on the arms of the chair. 'No, Hermione, things are most definitely NOT 'okay'! I had no right to do what I did tonight! Don't you realize that?'

'No! Do NOT drum up that infuriating Gryffindor courage and make excuses for me, Hermione! What I did was inexcusable, don't you understand? I am your teacher. I have a responsibility to you until the day that you graduate, and I am sworn to uphold that! And what is worse, I gave you no option but to perform a lewd act in an area where we both could have been caught!'

'Please. Please, I implore you, Hermione. Let this be. I cannot discuss this further now. Please.'

There was a lengthy pause before she answered, and he found himself wondering which would be worse: her leaving or her staying.

'All right, Severus. But know that this has not changed my feelings for you.'

'Thank you.' He wanted to assure her that his feelings for her had not changed either, but he knew to do so would make it impossible for her to put the issue to rest. So he remained silent.

'Well... you know how to find me if you would like to talk.'

'Be well, Severus.'

He felt her slip from his mind, and walked to his bedroom, intent on ignoring the emptiness inside that he had never felt before.

* ~ *

Hermione lay on her bed, rubbing her face in an unintentional homage to the man who was driving her insane. Her head was swimming with a mix of emotions: confusion, fear, arousal, anger. A brief internal battle took place, with one side being her headstrong personality, determined to find a solution to the problem as quickly and efficiently as possible, and the other side – the eventual victor – being the part of her that realized that Severus was a man who needed his time and space.

She wasn't sure what had happened just now. He had left her in the alcove so quickly, and now it was obvious that he regretted the incident ever taking place. She understood that it had been dangerous and careless on both their parts, and she wasn't surprised that Severus was angry with himself. But Morgana's tight white ass, it had been HOT! Giggling behind her hand, Hermione felt her cheeks warm as she remembered his forehead pressed to hers... the ache in her limbs as she tried to reach him... the feel of his mouth, hot on the skin of her neck...

Oh, gods! He must have left a mark! she realized with a start.

Rushing to her bathroom, she leaned close to the mirror and immediately realized that it was completely unnecessary to do so; the love-bite at the juncture of her neck and shoulder was huge and already an angry brick color with hints of purple seeping in. She touched it gently with the tip of her finger and winced.

She knew that her first thought should be, 'Look at what the bastard did to me!'

But her first thought was, 'Look at what I made him do!'

For the first time in her short life, Hermione felt the rush of sexual power course through her. She had done that to him. She had made the most self-possessed man become obsessed with her. She had unraveled the very thread of his composure and felt him shuddering in her arms. Her arms. She had done this.

And she wanted to do it again.

She knew that there was no sense in dwelling on the matter now. Severus needed to be alone, and she would respect that. They would talk about it, of that she was certain. And she intended to make very sure that he knew that he had neither hurt nor disgusted her with what he had done.

Raising her wand to charm the spot away, she suddenly paused. Then she smiled, and her parents never would have recognized her. "Occultus de electus," she murmured, and watched as the bruise momentarily glowed a whitish-silver. There. Now the mark would be hidden from everyone – except for herself and Severus.

After all, she had Potions first thing in the morning. It certainly wouldn't do to have everyone staring.

* ~ *

Severus was a man who knew the truth to the saying, "There's a first time for everything." He was in the midst of experiencing a first for himself: apprehension over entering his classroom. Schoolboy anxiety had been – until this moment – a blurry phase from his past, and he ridiculed himself with each step as he paced outside the doorway.

You are a fool, Severus. She is a child and no threat to you.

She ceased being a child in my eyes months ago.

True. She still poses no threat.

A mental scoff. She threatens me in ways I cannot begin to comprehend.

You act as though she is in control of the situation.

Well, whatever it is, you'd best find a way to deal with it. Class is about to start, and you can't very well go in there and ignore the situation.

His pacing stopped, and his eyes slid slowly up over the roughly-hewn wood of the door in front of him.

Oh, no, my friend... on the contrary. I can do whatever I please. That is my classroom.

He slammed through the door as he had so many times before: sneer in place, robes billowing... the whole package. Familiarity breeds comfort.

Don't look at her, don't look at her, don't look at her...

"The assignment for today can be found on page 442 of your textbook. Begin." Seating himself at his desk, he immediately began marking essays from his fourth-year Ravenclaws.

'Severus?'

'At least look at me, Severus.'

He continued marking his papers, neither lifting his eyes to her nor answering her.

'You're being a child.'

No response.

'So this is how the great, feared Potions master deals with a problem, huh? He just ignores it. Gosh, how terrifying.'

He gritted his teeth and kept his eyes down. Concentrating on the essays was a joke; right now he was using all of his energies to keep from looking at her. Irritation and desire clashed within him, and somewhere deep in his subconscious, Severus realized that the 'irritation' he felt would be anger... if it were anyone else.

'This is your plan? Assign a ridiculously simple project so that you can just ignore the class – and me – the entire time?'

'I've already started it, you stupid arse, which you'd know very well if you had the nerve to look up from your bloody desk! But no, you can't bear to look at me. Big, dangerous Hermione. What's the matter, Professor? Afraid of what you're going to see there?'

He knew she could sense his feelings, and any answer would have been useless.

'We both know it is not necessary for us to make eye contact in order for either of us to share with each other, Severus.'

He suddenly felt tired... no, beyond tired. He felt weary down to his bones. He didn't want to have to think anymore, to hide anymore. He just wanted something that was real, and honest, and easy.

"Professor Snape?"

She almost got him. In a moment of self-indulgence, his concentration was broken, and he turned toward her voice. At the last second he realized his slip, and directed his gaze downward again.

"Yes, Miss Granger?"

'What are you doing, Hermione?'

"I have a question on the assignment, Professor."

'Is it so horrible that I want you to look at me?'

"The assignment is self-explanatory, Miss Granger."

'Damn it, Hermione!'

"Sir, please, if you could just clarify one step here for me?"

'Is it so horrible that I miss you?'

He didn't need to look into her eyes to see her expression; determined, pleading, and, oh, so familiar.

"Miss Granger, if you are unable to complete this task without assistance, it is quite apparent that you do not belong in my class."

A moment of silence passed, in which it seemed that the entire class held their breath. And then, like an iceberg, "Yes, sir."

'Hermione...'

He reached his mind out to her, knowing he'd been harsh. He would not apologize, but he could soothe. He found nothing but resistance, and heard a single, sharp, bitter word.

'Coward.'

He felt the well-known bubble rising inside of him, aware that he would be completely encompassed by it shortly. It happened every time someone called him a coward; this anger would churn into a frenzy inside him until he exploded. He knew that she knew this, and he was amazed that she would lash out this way. Amazed... and hurt.

His face grew hotter, and his breath quickened as the space inside of him grew smaller and smaller, consumed with...

Wait.

Her voice echoed in his head. 'Coward.'

This was different. This was not anger. This was...

'Coward.'

Pushing his chair violently away from his desk, Severus stormed across the classroom and into his storage room. Once he was around the corner, safely out of sight of the students, he leaned against the tall shelves and closed his eyes.

This was dismay.

Was this really what she thought of him? A coward? He swallowed thickly. Being called names was as much a part of the fiber of his being as Potions. Greasy? That he could live with. Cruel? It just made him shrug. Snarky? Hell, he strived for that! But cowardly... that was the word that cut directly to a place inside of him that he tried his best not to acknowledge.

She was right; he was afraid to see what feelings lay behind her eyes, for he would have no idea how to deal with whatever he found there. There weren't supposed to be feelings involved in this... this... affair. It was supposed to be nothing more than an exciting, fun sexcapade... When had this bloody plot developed? Yet here they were, feelings and all.

He didn't want to hurt her. If he found out he had, he would have to look deep inside this rusty old soul and find a way to make amends. Nor did he want to lose her. He'd found a sense of peace over the past few months that he had never before believed could be his. Whether he deserved it or not was an argument that others could have; he, for one, would not look a gift horse in the mouth.

Shaking his head, he realized he had to find a way to work this. His life – his work – revolved around precise calculations, timing and movements. He would assess the situation in a quiet setting, decide upon the most rational course of action, and then employ his –

The explosion was deafening.

Severus rushed back into the classroom, encountering a thick, purplish smog and a coppery scent. The students, most of them waving their hands in front of their faces and coughing, had unconsciously formed a loose circle around the offending cauldron. Severus' eyes flew instantly to its owner.

Right there, she said, and he was drawn into her mind.

He felt himself stiffen; this was NOT the time nor the place for a shared fantasy! Merlin's mother, he didn't even know if the classroom was safe to be in after the explosion she had created! But his concerns faded as the picture before him played out.

He sat underneath a large tree on top of one of the hills overlooking the lake. His teaching robes were folded neatly on the ground beside him, and he rested against the trunk of the tree wearing only a white shirt – unbuttoned at the throat and rolled up at the sleeves – and black pants.

"I know," she answered, her voice as quiet as a prayer. "I don't yet know what I want... or expect. But Severus," she continued, tilting her face back to see his, "I trust you."

And as quickly as that, he was back.

Dear gods.

He held her gaze for what felt like eternity, finally noticing that the rest of the class had gone quiet. Knowing what they were expecting, he cleared his throat and snarled at her, "As I said, Miss Granger, perhaps you do not belong in my class."

"I'm sorry, Professor," she said demurely, a smile hiding in her eyes. "I thought that perhaps mincing the thistle root as opposed to crushing it would increase the potion's stamina. Apparently I was mistaken."

"Indeed you were." And you're not much of a liar, my dear. You knew exactly what would happen.

"Yes, sir. However, I felt I should take the chance. Don't you agree, Professor," and her eyes lifted to his again, filled with such gentleness and longing that he nearly stepped toward her, "that sometimes it's worth it to take a chance?"

He didn't realize how hard his heart had been pounding, but now it felt as though it was going to burst through his chest wall. She was insane... all of these students watching... What was he going to do with her?

Turning toward his desk and hiding his smirk, he instructed her, "Miss Granger, clean up your mess. There is sufficient time remaining for a student such as yourself to complete the project... correctly this time, please." He sat back down in his chair as she waved her wand, clearing the spilled potion and ruined ingredients from her table. He looked at her proudly; she had courage, this one.

The rest of the class progressed normally. As the students brought their completed potions forward and left the room, Severus reached to her.

Hermione... I will not be free until later this evening. There is a staff meeting I must attend in Dumbledore's office at eight o'clock.

Rest assured, Hermione. I want you. I just did not wish for you to... worry.

He felt her smile. Thank you, Severus.

One point to Gryffindor for having the courage to... experiment.

~*~

Severus sat in a chair in Dumbledore's office, the sole of one boot propped against the low table in front of him and his forehead resting on the heel of his hand. He hated these meetings. He understood that it was necessary for the Headmaster to gather them periodically to review lesson plans, student progress and any upcoming special events. These type of meetings, however – what Dumbledore called "brainstorming sessions" – were completely ludicrous in his opinion. Seated leisurely about the room, Professors were encouraged to suggest and discuss changes to the syllabus, the events calendar, or anything else that struck their fancy. Severus had attended many of these sessions and had yet to voice a single suggestion. Appealing to Dumbledore to allow his absence from the meetings had proven fruitless.

"I certainly can't force you to participate, Severus," he had conceded kindly. "But I can – and will – require your presence. The time may come when you will feel compelled to offer your opinion, and I will, as always, find it invaluable."

Oh, well. Perhaps if he was lucky, Madam Hooch and Professor Sprout would get into an argument and start flinging hexes. Their fights were always enjoyable; they were both extremely creative.

'Severus?' The sing-song voice broke through his thoughts, making him jump. 'Se-ve-rus?'

'Mmm... hello, sexy.'

Severus shot a quick glance around the room. No one was paying any attention to him.

'Hermione, this is not the time. I am...'

'... in a meeting, yes, I know. Dreadfully boring, I'm sure.'

Tiny alarms started sounding in the back of his head. Something sounded different in her voice, something more sure, more... confident.

Oh, no.

'Oh, Hermione, don't.'

'Oh no, love,' she breathed heavily. 'Now. Right now.'

Rolling over, she reached for a small silver bowl on the bedside table and fished out an ice cube.

Severus felt his cock twitch inside of his pants and casually shifted in his seat. His eyes closed briefly. I've got a bad feeling about this, he murmured to himself.

Holding the cube between her thumb and middle finger, Hermione rubbed it over her lips, flicking her tongue out to lick it. Then she leaned forward and pursed her lips around one of his nipples. The sudden shock of the cold caused him to convulse beneath her, and she chuckled darkly.

After a few moments, she drew back, placed her hands on his hips and slid further down his body so that her breasts rested against his groin. A smile of pleasure flitted over her face as she dragged them over his pubic hair, allowing his swollen cock to slide between them.

Inside Dumbledore's office, Severus continued to fidget in his seat, struggling to keep his hips under control. Hi hands gripped the arms of the chair tightly, lest he reach down to rub himself through his trousers. Across the room from him, Professor McGonagall glanced over, then looked at him more closely. "Severus, are you all right? You look flushed."

"I'm fine, Minerva," he replied, as all eyes turned to him. "Please, continue." He gestured vaguely toward the entire room, as he had no idea who may or may not have been speaking.

The ice cube had melted a fair deal by this point, but Hermione was still able to hold it between her teeth and glide the edge of it from his sternum to his belly button. As she moved further, nuzzling the wiry hairs at the base of his cock, she slipped the ice cube into her mouth. It wouldn't last much longer, she knew, so after running the tip of one finger down his length and back up, she bowed her head and took him into her mouth.

Severus bit back a cry at the image and leaned forward in his seat. He was so hard now he was beginning to ache. Glancing down, he realized that the sizable tent in his pants was in plain view for anyone who looked, so he quickly pulled his robes around himself. As he did, his forearm brushed against the throbbing shaft, and he couldn't contain a low groan.

"Severus?" This time it was Albus who was looking at him with concern. "What is it?"

Recognizing that he was practically doubled over in his chair now, he grimaced and replied, "My stomach, Headmaster. I must have eaten something that did not agree with me."

On the bed, he was straining against the ropes and moaning loudly. The alternating sensations of Hermione's hot mouth and the cold of the ice were sending shockwaves of pleasure through his groin, down his legs and up his spine. His hips were bucking, and he knew he wouldn't last long. Hermione had moved over slightly to straddle one of his legs, and was now grinding herself forcefully against his knee. Her moans were almost as loud as his.

'Hermione, oh gods, please don't stop!'

"Shall I get a potion for you, Severus?" Minerva asked kindly. Her concern was growing as she watched her colleague's breath coming quicker, beads of sweat beginning to pop out on his forehead.

He looked as though he was going to explode out of his seat.

"No, thank you," he hissed. Turning to Dumbledore he asked, "Albus, perhaps if I could use your lavatory?"

"Of course, Severus. Through my quarters, the far door. You know the way."

He stood awkwardly, keeping his robes clasped tightly about him. He was as hard as a railroad spike, and was afraid that even his voluminous robes wouldn't be enough to hide his condition.

"It's very painful, isn't it?" Madam Hooch looked at him compassionately as he swept past her.

"You have no idea," he growled.

He crossed Dumbledore's bedroom and slammed the bathroom door behind him. With a gasp he finally allowed his hand to stroke himself through the cloth of his pants. Gods, he was surprised he hadn't ripped a hole through them! Sinking to the ground against the door, he smirked at the fact that he found himself in this position for the second time in two days. He freed himself from his clothing and turned his concentration back to their dream.

He could make no sounds now other than incoherent groans and panting. She was driving him crazy; pumping him in and out of her mouth until his balls started to tighten, then slowing her pace and leisurely running her tongue around the head of his cock. His leg was damp with her juices, and it felt as though she had worked a finger between their bodies to tease her clit.

'Gods! Oh, gods, Hermione, good Lord, don't stop! I'm coming! Oh, now, now, NOW!!!' His last word came out as a wail as he began jerking spasmodically in her hand. His hot semen shot out directly onto her exposed and swollen nub, and she reared back and screamed as her body began to shudder.

The idea of Hermione doing something so wanton, so nasty, pushed him over the edge, and he bit down on a handful of his robes to keep himself from crying out her name as he exploded in his own hand.

Moments later, still sitting on the floor with his back to the door, Severus chuckled.

'Well, now.'

'Indeed,' Hermione giggled.

'This is one of those instances where I should not ask where you learned that, correct?'

'I agree wholeheartedly,' Severus sighed, using his wand to clean himself and putting his clothes to rights. 'That is definitely one to add to the list.'

'I'm sorry I interrupted your meeting,' she offered quietly.

'No, you're not, you cheeky little wench. You knew exactly what you were doing. How long have you had that planned for?'

'Only since you mentioned the meeting to me this morning. Turn-about is fair play, after all. Rule number one in the Slytherin handbook, isn't it?'

'Number three, actually. After "Every wizard for himself," and "Payback's a bitch."'

Another giggle. 'I wish more people could experience your sense of humor. Seems a shame to keep it all to myself. Oh, well,' she sighed. 'I never was very good at sharing.'

Severus smiled and checked his reflection in the mirror. Nothing amiss.

'I'm afraid you're going to have to share me for right now, my dear. I really do have to get back to this meeting.'

'All right. I hope you enjoy the rest of your evening.' He didn't have to see her face to imagine the innocent smile she would be giving him.

'Well, I'm sure it won't compare to that,' he snickered, 'but I'm sure it will be more tolerable now.'

'I'm glad you're feeling better about things, Severus. I mean... about us.'

An uncommonly soft smile graced his face. 'As am I, Hermione. As am I. Goodnight, love.'

'Goodnight, Severus.'

~*~

Hermione was beginning to feel exhausted. The celebration feast in the Great Hall had been going on for hours and she had talked, eaten and danced more this night than she had all year. Though she had glimpsed Severus several times during the course of the party, he had not yet approached her. She was surprised to find that she was glad he hadn't. This would most likely be the last time she would see many of her classmates for who knows how long, and she was grateful for the chance to spend some time with them.

Her thoughts, however, had never been far from her Potions master. This was the night that she – that they– had been waiting for, and the anxiety she had felt all day had been tempered only by a deep, pulling sensation in the pit of her stomach.

Now she was on the dance floor, being twirled around – again – by Harry. He was an absolutely horrid dancer, but seven years of friendship kept pulling them back out to the floor. Her face and sides ached from laughing so much; the only thing that hurt more was her feet.

When the dance ended, she and Harry stumbled over to the refreshment table, joining Ron, Parvati and Ginny. Ginny handed her a cup of water and then went still.

She felt the hairs on the back of her neck rise, even before his breath stirred them.

"Good evening, Miss Granger."

~*~ ~*~

Disclaimer: JKR owns all things Potter. I've just made them my lusty little flesh-puppets for a bit!

A/N: A heartfelt thank you to all who have read and reviewed, and especially to all who have been so patient waiting for this chapter. You guys are the best.

Okay, we're finally there... next chapter, GRADUATION!!!

The line, "I have a bad feeling about this," is stolen directly from every Star Wars movie. My hubby is a fanatic, and I threw that in there for him. I love you, honey. (Dead monkey on a fence... zzzzzzzttt!)