Are You Beautiful Because I Love You?

Severus braved breakfast in the Great Hall and regretted it almost as soon as he sat down, thanks to the arrival of the post owls. He had hoped that sticking to his usual routine would distract him from other, more pressing matters (how to get Hermione Granger in a more compromising position being the most pressing of all). He had successfully ignored the pointed looks from Minerva and Albus and was just about to tuck in to his usual half-breakfast of bacon, egg and toast, when a cream envelope landed on the table between himself and Professor Flitwick, and they reached for it simultaneously. Flitwick, being closer to the tabletop, Severus presumed, managed to snatch it and read who it was addressed to before him.

'Severus? Why on earth would Hermione Granger be writing to you, when you keep her locked in your stuffy dungeon day in and day out?' Flitwick handed him the envelope reluctantly, and his lips twitched in amusement. 'Is the poor girl scared to speak?'

'Hilarious as always, Filius. No doubt when I open my mail later, all will be revealed,' he responded silkily, as if it were quite normal to receive mail from his apprentice.

He slipped the envelope into his inside pocket, his own curiosity burning a hole in his seat in his eagerness to read her note, but he wouldn't give his colleagues the satisfaction of rushing away too soon. The wait was almost as torturous as the banter that began to fly thanks to Flitwick's less-than-quiet announcement.

With feigned languor, Snape finished his meal, although he no longer tasted it, and then pushed his chair away from the table slowly. He took a slow walk via the Slytherin table and made a half-hearted attempt at a steely glare intended to keep his students in line, then he stepped into the hallway, letting the doors close behind him, and let out a breath of relief. He increased his pace and slipped into the tapestry-curtained alcove, withdrew his wand and Hermione's note, and whispered 'Lumos'.

'Dear Severus,

I hope you don't mind me addressing you informally when discussing personal matters? Obviously, I will behave formally in company.

I would like to invite you to dinner this evening. We shouldn't waste any more time, and I thought it might be beneficial to discuss things away from Hogwarts.

I have booked a table at The Crooked Wand in Hogsmeade for 8 p.m. I know the owner and have requested a private booth.

Please let me know if this suits you,

Yours,

Hermione'

Severus smirked at the nerve of the girl. Surely, as the man, he should be the one inviting her to dinner? But then, he hadn't even thought of it, and he realised wryly that she seemed to be courting him. Something pricked his ego, and he strode down to the dungeon intent on redressing the balance.

She was brewing, as he knew she would be. She looked up as he entered the lab, and as he walked over to her, he thought he saw her shudder slightly.

'Miss Granger,' he said smoothly. 'I received your note this morning at breakfast, much to the intrigue and delight of my gossipy colleagues.'

Hermione flushed but held his gaze. 'I thought you would be here, sir. I apologise if I caused you any embarrassment.'

Severus looked down at her until the weight of his gaze made her look away.

'I have classes to teach,' he said softly, 'but I will meet you at The Crooked Wand as arranged.'

She didn't respond, so he tipped her chin upwards so that she had no choice but to look at him. Her eyes seemed watery, and he felt a slight twinge of guilt. Relenting, he kissed her briefly and caressed her cheek with his fingertips before leaving her to her tasks.

***

Hermione sat in the cosy booth at The Crooked Wand and hoped that she wasn't over dressed. She rarely had the chance to wear dresses, and the turquoise silk creation had sat in her wardrobe for over a year just waiting for the right occasion. Her first proper date with her intended seemed like the right time, and she had applied a little make up and pinned her hair in an elegant chignon at the base of her neck. She hadn't seen Severus since his brief visit to the lab, and it had left her a little off-balance to say the least. One minute he had seemed annoyed, and then he had kissed her so tenderly, it was as if he were two different people.

Hermione's eyes flicked towards the door as Severus entered, and as she raised her hand to show him where she was, her stomach flipped. He had obviously decided to treat this as a date, too. His silky hair was caught in a black ribbon, and he was wearing his dress robes over a tailored jacket in bottle green. Hermione had never seen him in any colour but black or white, and she found herself gazing at him as he was led to the booth by the waitress. He murmured his thanks and slipped into the seat before her, bending lightly to kiss Hermione's cheek as before sitting.

'You look amazing,' she breathed, her eyes wide as he slipped off his outer robes and adjusted his cuffs. He looked at her and smirked.

'You look very lovely too, Hermione. I don't recall seeing you in that colour before. It suits you,' he said, his rich voice vibrating deliciously down Hermione's spine. 'That reminds me. I have a gift for you.'

'Oh, Severus.' Hermione's voice trembled softly. He seemed so self-assured, and it was a side of him she had never experienced. She felt her eyes fill with tears as he passed a small silver box over to her and opened it so she could see the contents.

Nestled against the inner velvet of the box was an oval filigree pendant of fine silver, backed with a thin sliver of a gemstone Hermione didn't recognise. She lifted it carefully and examined it under the candlelight.

'It's very beautiful, Severus. Thank you,' she said with a smile. She unfastened the catch and caught him watching her, his dark eyes flashing with what she now recognised as his need for her. 'Would you put it on for me?'

Hermione slipped from the booth and stood beside him, and he twisted in his seat, taking the delicate necklace in his hands and placing it onto her smooth, creamy neck. His fingers caressed her skin, and Hermione stifled a moan. His aura was magnetic this night, and she wondered if The Calling felt something like this, but stronger.

'Done,' he said softly. She turned to show him, and he lifted the pendant in his hand gently and looked into her eyes. 'It was my Mother's, of course. It looks beautiful on you, too. The stone changes colour to match whatever you are wearing. Look'. He tipped the pendant towards her, and Hermione gasped at the sparkling turquoise stone behind the silver knot work.

'Thank you, Severus. I'll treasure it,' she said meaningfully. Feeling suddenly brave, she kissed him on the lips softly before returning to her side of the table, just in time for them to give their orders to the waitress.

***

After the initial awkwardness, conversation flowed between them quite well, and the glass of wine Severus pressed into her hand did the job of relaxing her enough to forget her nerves. Once they had finished dessert, they both recognised the need to get down to the task in hand, albeit reluctantly. Sharing secret looks across the table was so much more fun.

'I took the liberty of bringing both sets of questions and answers. You should consider teaching, Hermione. You are a hard taskmaster.' He chuckled as he handed over the answers to her questions.

'I learned from the best.' She laughed and winked at him cheekily, making him chuckle yet again. He found her company beguiling, and she seemed more beautiful than he had ever noticed before.

Hermione opened the parchment and read through carefully.

'1. Would you be prepared for me to continue my career when the child or children reach school age?

I would fully expect you to fulfil your potential. When you say children, I would want no more than two.

2. How important do you view the physical side of the relationship, on a scale of one to ten?

With you? Ten.

3. When we argue, will you be willing to listen to my side of the argument before drawing your wand? (I know you have a temper already, Severus.)

I will do my utmost to ensure we have no reason to argue. If such a thing is likely, I give you permission to hold my wand before we start to shout.

4. Were you attracted to me before The Calling?

I was.

5. Will you want to feed from my blood occasionally?

If you are willing, it could enhance our relationship in certain areas. Refer to question 2. I would very much like to taste you.

6. After we have produced offspring, would you want me to Turn and become Strigoi?

Only if you request it. You need to know that this is a subject I will not bring up. The advantage would be that we both live longer lives together. The disadvantage is that you would no longer be able to bear a child and would need to use blood as a food source. If you do not choose to be Turned, I would live approximately two hundred years longer than you.

7. I understand that Strigoi can fly. Would you be willing not to fly with me, as I am particularly scared of heights?

I do fly on occasion, but I much prefer Apparition. I think that answers your question.

8. Do you think that you will learn to love me?

I already do. Silly witch.'

Hermione's lower lip trembled as she read his last answer, and her eyes found his shyly.

'Really?' she whispered.

Severus took her hand in his and ran his thumb across her knuckles gently. 'Really.'

Hermione beamed a wide smile at him, unable to stop herself. She didn't know if what she felt for Severus was love, not yet anyway, but it felt good, whatever it was.

'Do you want to talk about my answers, Severus?' she said, leaning forward across the table as he lifted her fingers to his lips.

'No need. I already know we are compatible, Hermione. The question is...' He paused in his attentions to her digits. 'Do you?'

He took a finger into his mouth and sucked on it seductively, and Hermione was lost.

'Yes, I do Severus,' she said lightly, fascinated by the sensations he was creating in her crotch.

Her finger let his mouth with a pop. 'So you will marry me, then?' He gazed at her intensely, and Hermione felt that she was turning into a puddle of goo and would slide off the chair any second. She found her tongue suddenly too large for her mouth, so she merely nodded.

'In that case.' Severus stood suddenly and put his robes over his smart attire. 'We are leaving now. There is business to conduct, and I'm not willing to wait for you any longer, Hermione Granger.' He held his hand to her, and she took it without question. If Dumbledore appeared from the next booth and offered to bind them there and then, she would have happily agreed.

Hermione shivered as Severus gallantly lifted her wrap and placed it across her shoulders and then followed it with his arm. His fingers pressed firmly into the top of her shoulder, and he all but marched her out of the restaurant. Pausing at the door, he paid the waitress over the amount for the meal, not bothering to wait for his change, and then Apparated them back to the gates of Hogwarts.

***

Dumbledore was non-plussed at the urgent and dusty arrival of Severus and Hermione through his Floo. He noted with interest the firm hold that Severus had on Hermione's hand and the flushed, pink tinge to her cheeks.

'Severus, Miss Granger. You are very welcome,' he said. 'Is everything quite alright?'

Hermione looked up at Severus and realised that now they were there, he was too strained to speak and fully in the grip of The Calling. His goal was so close; he could hardly bear it. Ignoring the nervous frisson that ran through her at his deeply penetrating gaze, she turned to the headmaster and regarded him coolly.

'Headmaster, Professor Snape and I would request that you bind us in a civil ceremony, if you would be so kind?' She fought to keep the anger from her voice.

'Oh, that is wonderful news? Do you have a date in mind?' He pulled his diary towards him.

'Now would be good, if you aren't too busy?' Hermione smiled at him, but it didn't reach her eyes. She would have liked to have planned a more romantic, lovely affair and maybe even invite some friends. As it was, she couldn't keep Severus in limbo any longer.

'Now? Are you totally sure, Hermione? It seems so sudden.' Dumbledore frowned and hoped that Severus hadn't slipped her a lust potion.

'If I had known about The Calling sooner, Professor, I would have had more time to prepare. If we don't do this tonight, Severus is at risk of going mad with lust, and right now, only I can fix that. So, if you please?'

Dumbledore winced at the implication of her words, and his face flushed. 'Very well,' he said calmly. 'I shall have to call Minerva as a witness.'

'Hurry up, you old fool,' Severus hissed through gritted teeth.

'Calm down, Severus,' Hermione said firmly. She reached up and cupped his cheek, and his eyes found hers. 'It won't be much longer, I promise.'

Minerva stepped into Dumbledore's office wearing her nightwear, with her long hair in a plait down her back. She looked at Hermione and Severus for a moment, and Hermione wondered if she was about to feel the wrath of her tongue. Instead, the older witch came forward and embraced them both.

'Congratulations,' she said warmly. 'I am so glad for you both. Thank you, Hermione. He really is precious to me,' she said, taking Hermione's hand and squeezing it.

'Sentimental Gryffindor,' Severus muttered, avoiding Minerva's teary gaze. Hermione smirked and resolved to make a point of finding out the true nature of Severus' relationship with Minerva. It obviously ran deeper than outward appearances, but she shouldn't have been surprised.

'Can we do this, please?' Severus said. All semblance of the self-assured man in the restaurant had slipped, leaving behind a seething mass of hormones.

'Join hands, Hermione, Severus,' Dumbledore said clearly. They did so and as his waved his wand in a complicated movement; golden light threaded its way around them and tied itself across their joined hands. Hermione felt a shiver of power pass through her and saw that Severus felt it, too. Through a haze of golden light, he smiled at her.

'It is done,' Dumbledore said. 'Congratulations, Mr and Mrs Snape.'

Hermione beamed at Severus, who looked at her keenly, an unspoken question in his eyes. Hermione nodded and led him to the Floo.

'Thank you, Professors,' she called before stepping through the Floo into her own bedchamber with her new husband.

***

If Hermione had expected unbridled, unchecked passion, she was pleasantly surprised. Severus undressed her slowly and kissed every area of exposed skin, and when he revealed her firm, young breasts for the first time, he revered them with his mouth and lavished her nipples with his tongue. Hermione felt the power in his arms when he lifted her and placed her onto the bed, and as he stripped naked, the sight of his engorged penis made her ache with want.

He sat on the edge of the bed and trailed his fingers along her bare skin, making her shiver. 'This is your first time, isn't it?'

'Of course it is. If you wanted experience, you should have fallen in love with Lavender Brown.' She laughed lightly.

Severus moved and lay beside her, the heat from his flesh warming her. She turned and pressed her body against his, feeling the tip of his cock as it nudged against her lower lips. 'Gods, Hermione,' he moaned, capturing her lips with his own and sliding his fingers between them. He caressed her clit, gently and then more firmly as she arched against him then shuddered and cried out as she came fiercely against his hand. Relaxed but not yet fully sated, she lay back and let her thighs fall open in invitation, and he laid himself above her with his penis at her entrance, staring down at her nakedness as if he could hardly believe his luck.

'If this should hurt,' he panted. Hermione placed a finger on his lips.

'It might, but not for long. Please, just make me yours,' she whispered. It was obviously the right thing to say, because his eyes flared open and he entered her swiftly, his mouth open in a silent cry of pleasure as he felt her moist, wet heat for the first time. Hermione gasped as he filled her, the sharp pang of pain soon soothed by the feeling of fullness, and by her joy at creating such pleasure for him. She had never seen him so at ease, so open, and all of his emotions showed on his face. Then he began to move, soft, firm strokes at first, and he tipped his pelvis to an angle and thrust again. Hermione cried out with desire. He had found a place deep inside that made her want to stay like this forever, and as she felt another orgasm build, she became uncontrollably vocal in her desire for more.

Before long, she was writhing beneath him, arching her hips to meet his thrusts, until he started to move with erratic urgency and could hold back no longer.

'Fuck, Hermione. Come for me, wife,' he said, his voice trembling with lust.

'Oh, Gods, Severus,' she cried. Her orgasm shuddered through her, and she felt her inner walls tighten around him, and then the flood of his release as he cried out her name. His orgasm made his legs tremble until he could no longer hold his own weight, and he collapsed gently onto her.

Exhausted, he rolled from her slowly, pulling her close to his chest, his breathing deep and laboured.

'Thank you,' he whispered.

'Any time,' she replied, smiling against his sweat-covered chest.