The First Taste

Thanks again to those who have read and left reviews, and thanks to those who have just read. I've never been big on leaving reviews for a lot of stories that I've read (for some reason I always feel like what comments I leave sound incredibly asinine and stupid), so whether you read and review or just read, I appreciate it all just the same.

Anywho, I somewhat went off the Dresden Dolls kick I had going with this next chapter. Mainly because I couldn't find a song that really captured what I was going for (or at least in my opinion I couldn't). So I went to the next best thing: Fiona Apple.

Props to my beta and sounding board: Kat

Legal Schtuff:

All characters belong to J.K. Rowling

"The First Taste" belongs to Fiona Apple

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Leaning against the wall by his door, Snape contemplated trying to find Hermione's room to explain why they couldn't make any attempt at a relationship. Well, in truth, one part of his mind was drunkenly trying to come up with a good argument, while the other half was stating that he should find her and shag her before she changed her mind. I should just go to bed. I'll talk to her in the morning. Turning the doorknob, Snape stumbled into his room. Something doesn't seem right. Eyebrows wrinkling in confusion, he looked around. He noticed that his room had the soft glow of candlelight, and there was some unintelligible soft music being played. Did I stumble into Hermione's room? Whirling around the room, he put out a hand to steady himself, as he took in his surroundings. No, it's my room, he thought, noting his cloak laying on a chair by a pile of old tomes. As his eyes fell on the bed, he finally noticed that he wasn't quite alone. She must have come up here and fell asleep waiting for me. Snape softly smiled as he took in Hermione's sleeping form. The blankets were carelessly pushed so that they lay around Hermione's waist, the green of her nightshirt standing out amid the white linens on the bed. Her usually bushy brown hair seemed to be damp and curled into soft little ringlets. She looks so very much at peace, it'd be almost a shame to wake her.

Working over the possible solutions of what to do with the sleeping Gryffindor in his bed, Severus began to remove his robes. I should just wake her and send her off to her own bed, he reasoned. But, on the other hand, the bed is surely big enough for the two of us, and she does really look so peaceful. Not to mention she's easier to deal with if she's asleep, he thought, the edges of his lips lifting into something resembling a smile. Hitting upon the idea to let Hermione sleep, and simply wake up ahead of her, Severus began to undo the buttons on his white linen shirt. Quietly shuffling around the room as he changed, he finally was ready to get into the four poster bed wearing a pair of black boxers and a white vest. Sighing as he snuggled down into the covers, he was surprised when he heard an answering sigh from Hermione who seemed to be drawn to his body heat. It wouldn't hurt to hold her, would it? a voice in the back of his mind asked.

No, I suppose not, he thought, though some part of his mind was insisting there was a very good reason but he couldn't be bothered to think of it right now. Thinking too hard would ruin the perfectly good buzz he had going anyway. A vague sort of smile danced on his lips as he subtly turned a sleeping Hermione and tucked her into the curve of his body. Lightly, putting an arm around her waist, he promptly went to sleep.

~~~

Hermione had had a hard time to keep from smiling as she saw through slitted eyes that her plan was working. After hearing Severus curse in the hallway, she had quickly and quietly hurried up the stairs to his room. Finding the door unlocked, she quickly made her way inside and went about setting up what she hoped would be a romantic atmosphere. And now I have Severus right where I want him, she thought, snuggling closer, her backside brushing up against his groin. Her smile widened even further for two reasons: as she felt Severus's reaction to her, and when she recognized the song that had flitted on.

I lie in an early bed, thinking late thoughts

Of waiting to be consumed by you

Hermione turned so that she was face-to-face with Severus. Truer words could not be spoken, she thought. Looking up at Snape's sleeping face, she gently brushed a lock of hair off his forehead. He looks so peaceful. Knowing she had all the time in the world, she slowly took in the face that had haunted so many of her dreams lately. Finally her eyes came to rest on his lips. Well, it's now or never, so with a determined look in her eye, Hermione softly laid her lips on the man in front of her.

~~~

Snape was becoming increasingly more aware of a kind of pressure on his lips. Thinking it was just a dream, he pulled the soft body closer to him and returned the gentle kiss with one of his own.

Give me the first taste

I'll let you win, but you must make the endeavor

Slowly, Snape began to take control of the kiss, his tongue sweeping across Hermione's lips, almost as if asking for entrance. Whimpering slightly, Hermione parted her lips and felt Severus' tongue silkily slide across her own. She slid her hands up Severus' arms and into his hair, her tongue tangling with his.

"Oh sweet Merlin..." Severus murmured. Opening his eyes as he drew back from the kiss, his eyes focused on the face in front of him. "Hermione? I didn't mean...I thought -"

Hermione put a finger over his lips to silence him. "Severus, just shut up and kiss me." Looking into his eyes, Hermione saw some kind of battle going on and was thankful when she heard Snape mumble, "oh sod all the reasons" and he kissed her passionately.

The candlelight flickered on the walls, as the pair rolled and twisted on the sheets. Severus' hands began to wander from cradling Hermione's head, down to her neck to skim the curves of her breasts. Hermione's breath hitched in her throat and her hands stilled their journey up and down his back for a second before they began their travels anew. Breaking from their heated embrace, Severus began trailing kisses down her neck to her throat, nibbling gently. Hermione's fingers wrung into the raven hair and held him there, her hips squirming and brushing up against his arousal. Severus' breath was now trapped in his throat for a moment while he fought the urge to strip her, immediately followed by joining their bodies. His hands began to roam underneath her nightshirt, cupping and teasing her breasts, his thumbs fluttering her nipples back and forth.

Hermione groaned, pulling Severus' head from the crook of her neck and capturing his lips, kissing him ravenously. Leaving his hair for a minute, her hands slipped down his back to the edge of his vest and began to pull the garment up and finally over his head, breaking their kiss. Severus looked down at her, a eyebrow raising as she tossed his shirt aside.

"Divesting me of my garments, Miss Granger?"

Hermione giggled, "It seemed to be in the way."

"Perhaps I should do the same to you."

Looking deeply into his eyes, she murmured, "I wouldn't object if you did."

A small sigh of relief that she wasn't going to end their night before it really began, he smiled. "Off with the nightshirt then," he said in his best Professor Snape voice. Helping him to remove her nightshirt, Hermione laid back on the sheets, feeling a mite shy in her nakedness.

Oh, your love give me a heart contusion

And I'm building memories on things we have not said

Returning to her lips, Severus kissed her, trying to convey a sense of comfort to her. "You're beautiful," he murmured against her lips, "more than I rightly deserve." Deepening the kiss before she could say anything in his defense, they soon were once more in the throes of passion.

Hermione's hands wandered down Severus' back and rested on his hips as she raised her own hips to brush against him again and again. Burying his head in her hair, he moaned. Taking the opportunity, she leaned and began to leave a trail of kisses along his neck, mimicking his earlier movements. Nibbling along the way she moved upwards to finally gently suck on his earlobe which produced a very audible groan from Severus. Taking a deep breath for courage, Hermione gave a slight tug on his boxers.

Feeling the clothing slide downward, he looked into her eyes. Hermione stared back as more of the fabric inched its way down before Severus removed them completely.

Full is not heavy as empty, not nearly my love

Not nearly my love, not nearly

Settling between her now-spread thighs, he leaned down and kissed her lips sweetly and gently as he entered her. Hermione and Severus were lost in the pleasure of one another; the only sounds in the room were breathless whispers and soft rhythmic squeaking of the bedsprings.

The first taste

But you must make the endeavor

Hermione soon let out a great mewling noise as she shuddered, her back lifted off the bed. Severus immediately followed suit, burying his head into her hair as he lost himself in her body.