Chapter 15: Sweet Realisations

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author.

A huge hug of thanks goes out to VIVAvivacious for all of her help.

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The sound of birds chirruping outside and the white-grey light filtering through a gap in the curtains was the strongest indicator it was no longer night. The warmth of the fireplace had diminished along with the logs that had burned there throughout the night, leaving the room uncomfortably chilly. It was this Hermione awoke to, opening her eyes slowly to the realisation she was, in fact, in her sitting room. She tried to sit up until she realized two long arms were wrapped around her form and that she was seated sideways on something a lot firmer than the chair.

'Good morning, Hermione,' a deep voice purred into her ear softly.

Hermione lifted her head from Snape's chest and looked up into his face, noting her hands were resting lightly on his chest and that arms were wound around her tightly. It was then, too, she noticed that they were sitting together, with her on his lap, in the armchair in her sitting room. She felt the urge to blush, get up, and flee the room in short order after apologizing profusely for falling asleep on him.

But she stayed put and shifted a little to sit upright on his lap. 'Good morning,' she mumbled, still embarrassed. 'I'm sorry about falling asleep on you.'

'It's not a problem,' he dismissed kindly.

She smiled weakly. 'You're surprisingly amiable for so early in the morning,' she commented softly, brushing a lock of hair out of her own eyes and tucking it behind her ear so she could see him better. He was smiling at her warmly.

She was then thoroughly surprised by his next move, when he leaned forward slightly and kissed her lips chastely before pulling back just enough to see her response. Snape knew he had simply done so on a whim but couldn't help wondering exactly what she would think if he were to do it again. He wanted to kiss her over and over until they were breathless, but if she didn't want it, he would not push her, and they could sweep this incident under the proverbial rug.

She gazed at him as if she were in a daze, eyes misted over and lips still parted slightly in surprise. Of course she had not been expecting that. She blinked a few times before focusing on his face again, her eyes dropping to his mouth. She noted the thinner upper lip and the slightly fleshier bottom lip. So many times she had seen those lips sneer at her and seem cruel and harsh. She had seen seven years of that, in fact. She had also seen them smirk at her smugly when he got his way, when he was right, and when he had caught her staring at him. Then, he would smile sometimes, just like he had before, making her go weak at the knees.

'Oh,' she said softly.

'Indeed,' he murmured provocatively.

She searched his eyes, wondering exactly what they held, wanting to understand what had just passed between them when he had willingly touched his lips to hers.

'You just kissed me,' she said, sounding a little breathless.

'May I do it again?' he asked, sufficiently reassured she had not been disgusted or repulsed by his attentions.

She nodded, and he brought his hand up to her face from where they had been resting lightly on her waist to cup her jaw and stroke her cheek. He leaned up and pressed his lips to hers gently, not deepening it, but kissing her tenderly so he did not make her feel too uncomfortable. She smiled and pressed back against his mouth a little more firmly, closing her eyes and letting her feelings guide her. She reached a hand tentatively to his cheek, tracing the sharp angle of his jaw, along his prominent cheekbones, and across the strong ridge of his brow.

Eventually they pulled apart, and he stroked her cheek tenderly, catching a tear that had escaped her eye with his thumb as it made the trek downwards. He leaned his forehead against hers and closed his eyes, taking a deep breath.

'By this point, I believe it is safe to assume you know I have feelings for you,' he mumbled quietly.

She chuckled softly. 'I suppose you can safely assume the same of me,' she said, still a tad breathless from their kisses.

'Dear girl,' he murmured. 'I am not one for speaking of matters of the heart, but I can do this once for you. I care for you deeply, and I would be honoured to continue doing so for as long as you are happy to accept my feelings.'

Pulling back, he gazed at her and swore he could see the beauty of her soul through her sparkling, cinnamon eyes.

Her breath caught in her throat when he said that, and her lips parted in disbelief. He cared for her? What should she do? Reply in kind? It was true, she too had very deep feelings for him she supposed were similar to love, but she was unwilling to put a label on the emotion so early. She appreciated everything about him, for he had understood her when no one else could and had held her tight with arms that made her feel safe.

It struck her then that being honest, just as he had with her, was the best option. He was as fragile as she, after all. Severus Snape had been dealt a fair number of emotional blows, so he was guarded, too. She leaned forwards and kissed the tip of his nose then.

'I care for you a lot, too,' she said softly, her nerves making her stomach roil.

He let out a breath of relief that she was not appalled by his feelings for her, and more so that she reciprocated those very same feelings. He felt his heart throb tirelessly in excitement and closed his arms around her tightly, hugging her more fiercely than she had ever imagined was possible. Despite his firm hold leaving her feeling a tad breathless, she hugged him back, cradling the back of his head with a hand fisted in his silky hair.

Ever-so-gently, she tilted his head back so her face hovered just above his.

She kissed him then, with all of the restrained passions of what had felt like a lifetime for her, even though they had only truly known each other for two weeks. Tongues tasted and stroked, teeth nipped, and lips pressed and parted as they welcomed each other's frantic kisses. They snogged each other until they were both breathless and senseless, although Hermione felt like nothing else could have made more sense in the world.

His breathing was deep and shaky when their lips parted once more, and they simply rested in one another's embrace silently, trying to gain some sense of composure. Her breathing slowed first, and she pulled back to survey her handiwork, delighted to see his cheeks flushed, lips glistening and parted, and eyes dilated with mild desire, not to mention affection. She felt then that if she could spend an eternity with this man, it still wouldn't be long enough for her.

It was only when he shifted she realized she was still sitting on his lap, as she had been for almost the entire afternoon before and the whole night as they slept. She detangled herself from him and jumped up instantly, apologizing for falling asleep there and not getting up sooner.

'Well, my legs were sore when I woke, but now I can't feel a thing because they're numb,' he teased, smirking at the pretty blush that stole over her pale cheeks.

She poked out her tongue at him and walked to the doorway between the sitting room and the kitchen. 'Is there anything in particular that you would care to eat this morning?' she asked politely, smiling and leaning casually against the doorframe.

He flashed a grin at her. 'You, but toast and tea would do in a pinch,' he replied saucily. 'However, whatever you want to make will be fine.'

She grinned, resting a hand on her jutting hip. 'All right, but I plan to make omelettes for breakfast, with toast and tea. I haven't had an omelette in years,' she said, turning on her heel and fleeing to her kitchen.

She was still trying to get over just how awkward it was to fall asleep on Snape's lap only to end up snogging with him on a chair for half the morning.

Snape stood up from his seat and followed her into the kitchen just a few moments after, standing behind her and reaching his arms around her. He took hold of her hand with the knife, and with her wrapped up in his embrace, he began to help her by deftly chopping the ingredients as if they were for a potion. Not that it actually mattered, as they were going into the frying pan, anyway.

'Thank you,' she piped once he had finished and moved aside, allowing her to place the ingredients into the hot pan.

'Not a problem, dear,' he answered softly.

He was surprised to find being with her compelled him to call her by endearing names – a practice no Snape was ever known to partake. If being able to work and play side-by-side with her resulted in such things, who was he to complain?

Boldly, she surprised him by turning in his arms and wrapping hers around his neck, pulling him down for a long and gentle kiss. He growled in approval and kissed her back fiercely, grateful he had been presented with yet another opportunity to kiss her sweet lips. He was desperate to accept everything she had to offer him. Eventually, the need to take a breath became paramount, and she turned back to the cooking of their meal.

'What was that for?' he asked with a satisfied smirk.

She smiled impishly, and without turning to look at him, answered with a simple, contrite, 'Because I wanted to.'

He chuckled and leaned against the kitchen counter to watch her as she worked. She was so graceful that even he was amazed. Whatever happened to that bushy-haired know-it-all Gryffindor? Sighing, he contented himself with knowing that she was not just any Gryffindor – she was his little lioness.

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