Three

Chapter Three

Hermione then felt his firm hands around her waist.

"Let me see. You are to pretend to be a frightened virgin. Do not speak. Just resist a bit, will you?" He began to unzip her robes.

She gasped a bit.

"Very good," he said in a sexy, deep voice half laced with sleep. He was still sitting on the bed, easing her clothes down.

She nearly fell over and put her hands on his shoulders to steady herself. Bare Skin! Thick, masculine shoulders. She felt her hands slide down to his chest. The man was firm and muscular beneath his robes. Wow! Who knew? He always looked kind of skinny.

He'd not know it was really her, would he? There was no true light in the room. Why not play along a little? She could just snog with him a bit and then tell him the truth. He'd be angry, but she knew he'd get over it. His hands were working magic on her. She wanted to experience that a little first. Before she knew it, only her knickers remained. His lips were all over her body suddenly. When he began kissing her neck lightly, she put her head back and moaned. It felt so good to have him touching her. Seemed right.

"Mmmm. You smell just like her," he whispered.

She smiled to herself. He did care for her. He had to. He'd even recognized her perfume.

****SS**** O_o ****HG****

Something seemed different about Denise tonight. She made it believable. She was playing the part of the virgin well. She seemed hesitant as if exploring him for the first time with her unsteady hands. And she wore the same perfume that Hermione wore. Usually he had her act like she was Lily, so this was nothing new to her. The way she moaned when he put his lips on her was unreal. He'd not be able to play this little game for long. His inebriated state wouldn't allow for it. Neither would his need.

He took a nipple into his mouth. She moaned again and ran her fingers into his hair. He trailed kisses to her other breast. They felt fuller than he remembered. It had been too long. Possibly she was taking some hormone potion to enlarge herself. She had toned up a bit as well. He reached down and slipped a finger inside of her. My god! She was extremely wet already. He massaged her nub gently, and she whimpered. It must have been a while for her as well. She seemed about to burst. He licked her stomach while using his hands to pleasure her.

Within seconds it seemed, she was convulsing. Her cries were loud and long. "Professor..." he heard her whisper in passion.

Lord, I can even image how Hermione sounds, he thought in surprise. Once her convulsions stopped, he threw her on the bed and jumped on top of her.

"I can stand it no longer." He groaned, then parted her legs and placed his erection right over her opening. He took a moment to try to imagine how Hermione would feel. He kissed her then and plunged in. He heard her cry out as he passed her barrier. No. There must be some mistake. Denise was far from a virgin.

He felt her body tense. He stopped. Severus tried to see into her eyes, but her head was turned. Damn! For once he could have lit one candle. Her breathing was shallow. Playing the part well, this one. He began stroking again, slowly at first, trying to savor the feeling of her. The tightness. The wetness. The way he seemed to fit perfectly in her.

When he felt her nails rake across his back and her legs lock around his waist, he couldn't stand it. She moved with him stroke for stroke, and then the ultimate feeling came to him. He heard her call his name, and with one last thrust, he filled her deeply and melted into her.

"I love you, Hermione," he whispered.

"I love you, too," he heard.

She was playing her part extremely well. He curled his fingers into her hair and kissed her once more before falling into a contented sleep filled with dreams of his little Gryffindor vixen.

****SS**** O_o ****HG****

Hermione couldn't believe what she had just done. He would kill her. She had to get out of there as soon as she could. She'd only intended to ruin his night. To snog a bit. But then his hands and lips were on her, and she couldn't put a stop to it. He was pretending to be with her anyway. She felt guilty. No amount of firewhisky would ever excuse this. She had to leave before he woke. Maybe he would never know. She felt his arm tighten around her possessively. It felt so good to be held by him. She breathed in his cologne: some earthy, clean musk.

She couldn't see his face, but she felt his breath on her neck. She turned just enough to place a kiss on his cheek. A little rest wouldn't hurt, now would it? She smiled, remembering how he'd made her feel. She'd never felt that way before. Something seemed to have taken over her body. Twice. It made her heart burst that he had pretended he was with her. And he'd said he loved her.

Maybe they couldn't have anything between them now, but one day. She'd show him that it was not some silly school girl crush. She could love him as good as any woman. Hadn't she just proved that? She'd be out of school in a couple of weeks. After she decided on a career and got settled in, she would come back to see him. To love him.

When she woke again, it was nearing daylight. She was horrified to find her still naked body entwined with his still very naked one. She panicked as the night's events formed in her heavy mind. She was no longer a virgin. She had given herself to Severus Snape. And he didn't even know it! She had to leave before he woke and saw her. Ever so slowly, she pulled away from his embrace. Quickly, she donned her clothes that were piled next to the bed. With one last glance, she ran out of the room. She didn't stop until she was near Hogwarts. Breathing heavily, she doubled over for a rest. He would never forgive her if he figured this out. She had tricked him. What have I done?

****SS**** O_o ****HG****

Yawning slightly, Severus moved on his side. "Denise?" he called. She had gone. She hadn't even waited for payment. Unless she'd found it on the table where he usually kept it. He had wanted to give her a little extra. She had put on a most believable act.

"Hang on!" He sat up wildly. For some reason, he had an odd feeling that it was not Denise who had spent the night with him. Come to think of it, she hadn't felt the same, smelled the same, tasted the same. Good god, man! Pull yourself together. It was the liquor. He'd consumed a rather large amount. He'd been so set on pretending to be with Hermione that now he was giving himself second thoughts.

"Wishful thinking," he said. He got up and went to the bathroom to freshen up before he went to have a bit of breakfast. He smirked at his reflection. He had a small passion mark just above his collar bone. She'd never left him marked before. He turned a bit. Sure enough, little claw marks on his shoulders. God, she'd felt so good to him. They'd have to pretend she was a virgin more often. Virginal Hermione at that. He shuddered. That voice. Those moans. Stop! It was not her.

No matter how much he reassured himself, he had a nagging feeling. Something wasn't right. He walked back to the chair near the window and fireplace. His clothes were neatly piled there. He took his time putting everything on. No rush. He felt so much more relaxed.

Now he could deal with Hermione face to face again. Another woman had cured him of his need for her. For now. He had a feeling he'd be back soon. He walked to the bed to retrieve his money from the bedside table when the sheets caught his eye. Something was all over them.

"Disgusting!" he said in a hateful voice. They'd given him a dirty room! He'd been so drunk he'd not noticed. "Looks like blo..." He felt his face lose its color. Blood. Virgin. He pulled the sheet closer to inspect it.

"Oh my God, no," he whispered. He looked at the pillow where 'Denise' had slept. A single long strand of hair lay there. He plucked it up. Denise had short, black hair. This hair was way longer than hers. Considerably lighter. He pulled the pillow to his nostrils. Hermione! What had he done? How had she known to come here? But she had known, hadn't she? He'd talked to Denise while she was there. Unknowingly at first, of course. Surely she wouldn't have come here and done this to him. He'd be finished.

Just before he had walked her to another man's flat. She was probably still there. He needed to see Denise. Maybe she had sent someone else to replace her. But wouldn't there be a note? It was unlikely. He closed the door behind him with one last glance at the bed. He'd strangle her if she'd tricked him. He would do it. He kept the hair he'd found on the pillow. There was a way he could find out for sure if it was her--if his talk with Denise proved fruitless. As he straightened his robes, he walked down to the front of the building. Just before he passed the first room, Denise tip-toed out of it.

"Ahem."

"Oh, Sevvie Baby. You scared me!" She giggled.

His heart dropped as her brow furrowed.

"You... you slept here anyway?"

"Yes. You slept here?" he asked cautiously, pointing to the room she'd vacated.

She nodded dumbly.

"Who did you send to my room then?" He had to ask it and saw curiosity on her face.

"I sent nobody. I got your note saying that something had come up, so I left with another. Did-did someone go to you?"

He shook his head. "I thought someone walked in, but I was so liquored up, I must have been mistaken."

"Oh, Sevvie. If you would have told me you were tired, I would have still come to see you. I would have done all the work." She grinned wickedly. "Maybe next time, eh?"

He nodded curtly. "Until then, Denise," he said and stalked off toward the castle. He had a certain little wench that he had to throttle. She had come to him. He'd made love to her. Unknowingly of course! He should have never agreed to walk her to from the bar. Now this would be turned around as his fault. He stopped in his tracks. Maybe it wasn't her.

How could he just approach her and make an idiot of himself? Maybe someone came into his room by mistake. Hell, he might have imagined it. But no. There was evidence enough he'd bedded a virgin last night. And, he had a long light brown hair as evidence as well. He knew all too well the thick mass it must have come from. He would say nothing to her until he knew for certain though.

He sneered hatefully at someone passing by. He'd have to snatch a piece of her hair to compare this to. He'd find a way. Hell, he'd pull some out himself the way he was feeling. His pocketwatch said that he'd be just in time for breakfast at the Great Hall. "Well, let's just see how Miss Granger is faring this fine Sunday morning."

Without going to his chambers to change his relatively clean robes, he went to the hall and took his seat. McGonagall seemed surprised to see him there so early on a Sunday.

"Good morning, Minerva," he said in a rough voice.

She smiled knowingly.

Damn her! She probably smells the liquor that's still clinging to my person! Ha! She doesn't know the half of it though, does she? He had been with one of her little innocent Gryffindors. He smirked.

Students began to file in slowly. He ate as slowly as possible. No Granger. Potter and company were there. She hadn't come down. He was tired of waiting. He needed to get to his chambers for a shower and had papers to look over. On a hunch, he took a detour by the Gryffindor table. Parvati was talking to Lavender about Weasley, something about him kissing her. Revolting! he thought. Then he heard Ginny speak.

"No, Harry. For the last time, they said she came in about daybreak. Hair all dishevled. Half crying. I don't know what happened. She said she just felt ill. Drank too much is all. I'll have to owl Fred I guess to see if something happened between them." She kissed Harry's cheek. "Don't worry."

At that moment, Potter's eyes met his.

"But I do worry, Ginny."

He thought he saw the boy's eyes narrow.

"And don't owl Fred. She'd think we have been snooping."

Severus brushed it off and continued walking.

When he reached the corridor leading to his private chambers, he heard a familiar voice calling out to him.

"Potter." He nodded.

"Did you bring Hermione to Fred's?" the boy asked suddenly.

"Of course I did," he said immediately. "What are you getting at?"

"I haven't seen her is all. Just wanted to make sure she got there all right. They didn't mind that she had gone back, right?" Harry's voice sounded as if he was investigating.

"I wouldn't know. She was rightly upset about something it seems. I left her at their door, as I had a date waiting for me," Snape replied coolly. Hopefully, he'd get the hint and move on.

Harry seemed to have accepted his explanation. "Sorry. I'm just worried. They said she was upset."

Severus felt a pang of guilt rush through him. What had he done to her? He needed to see her. To talk to her. To reassure himself that she was all right.

"Well, when you do see her, send her my way, Harry." He smirked when Harry jumped. He'd not ever called him that to his face. "I want to speak to her about the way she treated me last night. She had the nerve to call me names and push me about."

Harry's eyes widened. "Sir, please don't get her into trouble. She'd had too many drinks. Stress with studies for N.E.W.T.s. Those gits attacking her. You turning..." He saw Potter blush.

"Me what?" Snape said, cocking his head to the side.

"You turning down her... her admission of feelings?" He seemed to be asking a question rather than stating something.

"She's just a girl to me, Harry. She was just in... shock in the position she'd found herself. Not to worry. The two assailants have been detained. Dumbledore will decide what is to become of them." He hoped that threw him off. He didn't want him going around questioning her. Better yet, mentioning it to Dumbledore.

"Good day, sir," Harry said and walked off.

So, she kept no secrets from Potter after all. He didn't blame her. Harry was fiercely loyal. Something to be commended. He knew his message would be sent. How she would actually approach him when she came was a different story. He knew now for certain that it was Hermione the night before. And, as much as he wanted to strangle her, he knew he wouldn't. She had lied to him. Tricked him into making love to her. Well, that hadn't been making love, not really.

It was more like intense sex. Aside from that, Severus, she made a fool of you. Yes. An insufferable git, was he? He could show her one easily. She probably thought he had no idea about what had transpired; he'd bet on it. Maybe it was his turn to play a few tricks of his own.

He'd not destroy her by going to the headmaster, thus destroying himself in the process. She'd given herself to him after all. He was the first who had ever been with her. And from what he could remember of their 'session,' it was wonderful. She considered herself to be in love with him. Why, she didn't even really know him at all! She was in love with some fantasy Snape that she'd conjured in her mind.

****SS**** O_o ****HG****

"Wants to see me?" she said in disbelief. Had he figured it out? No, he couldn't have. He'd been too drunk. She began wringing her hands.

Harry's face looked worried. He pulled her away from Ginny. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, Harry. I just. I was drunk. I said some... I did some... I was horrible to him," she said, nearly in tears.

Harry's grin relaxed her a bit. "I know. He told me that you had pushed him about. Look, he's not angry. Just wants to talk."

She felt so relieved. "All right. I'll just run down then," she said breathlessly. He didn't know! Thanks goodness! There was a God indeed!

Harry nodded and laughed.

"Drunk or not. Can't believe you had the nerve to do that to him!" Ron patted her shoulder, coming up behind them. "Nice. I'd like to have done something of the sort meself!"

Hermione giggled and made her way to Snape's chambers.

She felt relieved. She'd been thinking most of the day about what had happened the night before. Never in her life had she imagined that something could be so right. Feel so good. Of course this was completely out of character for her. She'd never had sex before. She did fantasize about it though.

Ever since she'd seen Ron and Pansy Parkinson in that empty classroom months before, she'd been wanting to do it. She had been making her rounds and had come upon them suddenly. She'd been appalled that he would touch a Slytherin in that way, but she was also curious. They'd seemed to be enjoying themselves. She'd been jealous. No, not because Ron had been with someone else, but because he and Pansy could be so carefree. It was after that that she ran into Snape.

If he would have continued on, he'd have caught them. Instead she had chosen to engage him in a discussion so that they might finish their deed unnoticed. What she had noticed, however, was that Snape had seemed disoriented. He had claimed it was a potion gone wrong and was trying to get to the infirmary. She had walked him to see Madam Pomfrey and kept his eyes averted when they passed the classroom that Ron was in.

Madam Pomfrey had given him a potion to reverse the effect his had on him. While he was lying there, he looked in her eyes as if studying her. Then he touched her cheek and had given her the most adoring smile. That was the night she saw him in a different light. Since then, he'd been in all her dreams. Her fantasies.

She blinked realizing she was outside the door to his office. Suddenly her nerves came to life. How could she face him? All she could think about was his hands on her. His mouth on her. Him inside of her. She felt guilty. He would never forgive her if he ever put it together. He'd just call her a silly girl and be on his way. A cold voice surprised her.

"Did you plan on coming in, Miss Granger?"

She felt herself blush and tried to look away from his cold stare. He opened the door wider. She walked in, careful not to touch him.

He looked at her oddly before nodding at a chair. "Sit down, girl." He sneered slightly, causing her heart to drop.

Something was wrong. He couldn't know, could he?