Chapter 20

Chapter 20

After Hermione left Harry and Severus at breakfast, she headed through the courtyard toward her room, munching on her toast. She was halfway across the courtyard when someone called her name from behind her. Turning, she was surprised to see Dumbledore hurrying after her.

"Hello, sir," she greeted him as he neared. "Did you need something?"

"No, no, not really," he replied. "You left breakfast rather abruptly, and I wanted to be sure you were all right."

"I'm fine," she replied, surprised. "I just decided that I didn't want to be caught in the middle of Harry and Severus taking verbal potshots at each other, so I left."

"Oh," Dumbledore said agreeably. "I hope you aren't angry with them. They've got a lot of built-up hostility toward one another, you know," he said in a confiding tone.

"I know," she sighed. "And I'm not really mad, I'm just disappointed. They both promised to be civil to each other, for my sake, and I guess I hoped they wouldn't just skate the edge of hostility like they are."

"Well, my dear, give it time. Perhaps they'll do better eventually. Right now, they're still getting used to the idea that they can't just go after each other the way they've always done." He paused, then patted her arm reassuringly. "They both obviously care deeply for you, Hermione. I'm not sure there's anyone else they would even make an effort for."

She sighed again. "I'm sure you're right, sir. It's just exhausting to be around them at the moment."

He nodded understandingly, "I imagine so. In any event, I mustn't keep you. Have a good day."

"You, too, sir. And thanks for your concern." He headed off, and Hermione continued on her way to her room.

When Hermione reached her room, she closed the door and sighed with relief, only to jump when Severus spoke. "I hope you're not upset with me."

"What are you doing here, Severus?" She frowned. "And how did you get here before I did, anyway?"

"I assume you stopped somewhere," he replied. "And I'm here to make sure you're not too upset."

"You can't just let yourself in here whenever you feel like it, Severus," Hermione said crossly. "I thought I made it clear that I wanted to be alone." She stepped into the bathroom to rinse her hands, since they were sticky with juice from the orange.

"I assumed you meant that for Potter," he replied smoothly, when she came back into the room. "But I'll leave if you want me to."

"Never assume, Severus, isn't that what you always say?" Suddenly, the fight drained out of her. "I don't want you to leave, though." She crossed to him and hugged him tightly. "And I'm not mad, either. A little disappointed, maybe, but I didn't really think you would suddenly be best friends or anything."

He slid his arms around her. "I'm sorry to disappoint, but that's about as good as it gets between Potter and me." He kissed her gently. "Now, what would you like to do while Potter is at Quidditch?"

She nestled against him, saying, "You'll be bored. You don't have to stay if you don't want to."

"Why don't you let me decide if I'll be bored or not? What is it you want to do?"

She smiled sheepishly. "Well, considering I hardly got any sleep last night ..."

He asked seriously, "And whose fault was that?"

She ignored the question, continuing as though he hadn't spoken. "... What I really want is to take a nap."

His lip twitched. "A nap, hmmm? Well, it so happens that I could use a little extra rest myself, since someone kept me awake half the night."

She grinned, and pointed out, "I didn't hear any complaints at the time."

"And you're not hearing one now, either," he rejoined. "I was merely making an observation. Now, where did you want to take this nap?"

"I hadn't really thought about it."

"Might I suggest that we adjourn to my quarters, considering that Potter could decide to return to yours at any moment?"

"Oh, good point," she said. "I knew you were smart."

He led her to the fireplace. "Do you want to go first, or shall I?"

Two hours later, Severus gradually came awake. He watched Hermione sleep for awhile, trying to will her to wake up, but without using any magic. When that didn't work, he began nibbling on her earlobe, and then shifted his attention to her neck. She sighed and murmured in her sleep, and he set about seeing how aroused he could make her without waking her up.

Very aroused, indeed, as it turned out. By the time she woke up, she was writhing and panting with need, and the moment her eyes opened and met his, she started to come apart in his arms. She called his name, and he held her tightly as she shuddered her release. As she started to relax, he began again.

She moaned softly. "Severus," she whispered, sounding surprised that she wanted him again so quickly. He smiled at her.

"Hmmmm?" he murmured.

She shook her head, as though not sure what she wanted to say. Suddenly, she caught him off guard, twisting so that he was suddenly on his back and she was straddling him. She lowered herself slowly, taking him all the way inside her. He hissed with the pure pleasure of being there, but forced himself to wait and let her go at her own pace. When he was as deep as he could go, she paused and looked at him for a long moment, then leaned over and kissed him deeply.

She began to ride him, slowly at first, then gradually with more urgency. He watched her, spellbound by the intensity of her focus on the sensations she must be experiencing. Suddenly, her eyes widened, her back arched, and her body started shaking with an intense orgasm. He flipped her over onto her back and began pumping his hips rapidly. It wasn't long before he followed her into bliss.

He must have dozed for a while. Eventually, he woke up to find her draped half across him, watching him, with her chin resting on the back of her hands, which were clasped on his chest. When she realized he was awake, she whispered, "Hi."

"Hi, yourself," he murmured in reply. He couldn't resist pulling her up for a kiss. "How was your nap?"

She blushed. "It was delightful," she said primly. "Very restful."

He smiled. "Good."

"How was yours?" she asked.

"Delightful," he teased, "and very restful."

After a moment, she sighed. "I suppose we'll have to get up soon. The Quidditch match must be over by now, and Harry will be wondering where we are." Still, she didn't move except to snuggle more comfortably against him and close her eyes.

He groaned. "Hermione?"

"Yes?" She turned to look at him again.

"If you ever hope to have me tolerate Potter," he said dryly, "You probably shouldn't bring him up as a reason why we have to get out of bed."

She stared at him for a moment, then giggled when she realized he was teasing. Sort of. "Well, we also should probably show up for dinner, unless you want everyone speculating about us."

He sighed. "I know, I know. That's the problem with a place like Hogwarts – it's impossible to keep private affairs private." He paused. "Speaking of Potter, we never finished discussing the fact that I don't like him sleeping in your room with you."

"Yes, we did," Hermione said. "Because you have nothing to worry about. The very idea that anything would happen between Harry and me is ridiculous, and you know it."

"And yet, I still don't like it," he replied. "It doesn't help that I know he's probably taking every opportunity to remind you that I'm not worthy of you."

She shook her head. "Harry doesn't get a vote about that. Now, do you trust me, or not?"'

"It's not a question of trust, Hermione."

"Yes, it is. And it's not even that much trust at that, considering I spent most of last night here with you, and I'll probably do the same tonight. Unless," she said pointedly, "you persist in this ridiculous topic of conversation. Is that what you want?"

"No," he replied with alacrity, "But I still don't like it."

She looked at the clock across the room. "Severus, may I point out that we have about half an hour before we absolutely have to get up? Would you like to spend that time on this discussion, or do you perhaps have other ideas for what to do?" She glanced meaningfully down below his waist, where his 'other ideas' were causing the sheet to tent.

He chuckled at her obvious ploy. "You know perfectly well that I have all sorts of ideas. Shall I demonstrate?"

"Yes, please," she replied brightly.

And that, Severus thought wryly, was the end of the discussion.

At dinner that evening, Hermione once again sat between Harry and Severus. Their behavior toward one another since Harry had rejoined her and Severus was marginally better than it had been that morning. Hermione suspected this was because both men were in particularly good moods – Harry because of Gryffindor's Quidditch victory over Ravenclaw; and Severus, she could only assume, because of the afternoon they had just spent lazing around and making love.

As everyone settled in, Dumbledore rose and called for everyone's attention. When the room quieted, he said, "Hogwarts has much to celebrate today – a new school year has recently begun, and today we have had our first Quidditch match of the year. And, as most of you know, we have an honored alumnus and guest visiting us. Therefore, I have decided that a celebratory dance is in order. I will expect to see you all back here in the Great Hall tonight at 8 pm. That is all."

Looking around, it had already seemed to Hermione that the eyes of the entire room were on the three of them. Not for the first time, Hermione wished that Severus and Harry's legendary dislike of one another wasn't quite so legendary – and that Dumbledore hadn't just drawn attention to Harry again with his announcement. She just knew that Severus would be displeased about a celebration that was even a little bit in Harry's honor.

Sighing, she asked Harry something about the Quidditch match, then didn't really hear his response, because Severus was stroking her thigh playfully under cover of the table. She was amazed by his ability to maintain a completely neutral facial expression as he touched her. She was rapidly getting aroused again, and she tried to discreetly remove his hand, but he wasn't having any of that. She glared at him once, wondering if this was his way of ensuring that she sought him out as soon as she could manage later. He gave her a bland, inscrutable look, and she resigned herself to being tortured for the remainder of the meal.

She had no idea what Harry was talking about, but she must have done a credible impression of paying attention, because he didn't seem to notice anything amiss. She couldn't wait for dinner to be over, though – and now, there was the long evening ahead, as well, where Harry would be a guest, but she and Severus would be more like chaperones for the students.

She couldn't wait for this evening – and, for that matter, this weekend – to be over.

After making the announcement about the dance, Dumbledore considered what else he might do to help Hermione and Severus along on their quest for true love. It didn't help that he wasn't sure how far along the path they had gotten on their own. He watched the unlikely trio as he nibbled on some cornbread.

It certainly appeared that his word with Harry last evening had done the trick as far as Potter was concerned. The three looked to be having a perfectly civil conversation. Although, looking closely, Harry was doing most of the talking, Hermione was nodding absently now and then, and Severus was staring neutrally straight ahead, apparently ignoring them both.

Although, he was eating lefthanded, with his right hand out of sight under the table ...

"Albus!" Dumbledore jumped when Minerva's sharp voice cut through his musings. "Just what do you think you're up to?"

"As I just announced, Minerva, I'm arranging a celebration for the entire school." He smiled benignly. "It's important to keep school spirit up – in fact, we should make this a new tradition. The Quidditch Ball, we'll call it, in future years."

"We've never had a Quidditch Ball before, and no one's suffered because of it." She narrowed her eyes. "This had better not be an excuse to interfere in Hermione and Severus's relationship."

Dumbledore tried to look shocked at the mere suggestion. "What do Hermione and Severus have to do with anything? Do you seriously think I would invent an entire social event – in honor of Severus's least favorite person, no less – in an effort to bring Hermione and Severus together?"

"Well, then, why spring it on us so suddenly? Why is this the first anyone's heard of it? And why now?"

"Now that the war has been over for a while, we don't want to forget to fully enjoy life's little blessings, do we? And it occurred to me just this afternoon, when I saw Harry at the Quidditch match. Really, Minerva, you're seeing some Machiavellian plot where none exists."

Minerva looked at him skeptically. "Remember, Albus, you promised not to interfere, and I'm holding you to that."

"Of course, Minerva, I haven't forgotten. Now, shall we discuss the decorations? Or perhaps the music?"

Sighing, Minerva said, "All right, you win. Did you want something seasonal? Or something sporty? Or did you have something else altogether in mind?"