Seven

SEVEN

On Monday morning Hermione arrived early and immediately set to work on the potions orders for the week. She had convinced herself that her best course of action was just to behave normally and pretend she didn't know what Snape had been up to, but as she approached the potions bench she was assaulted by a vivid memory of Snape and 'herself' shagging. Ever since Saturday night she had veered between anger at Snape for using a doppelganger of her to satisfy his baser lusts, to intrigue as to why he had chosen her. Did he use a different hair sample each time, depending on his mood, and if so, who would be next? Whatever it was, she couldn't ignore the fact that her opinion of him had changed. She hadn't really considered him as a sexual being before and now, it was staring her in the face. He oozed masculinity and she couldn't believe that she hadn't noticed it before.

Shaking her head, she forced herself to concentrate on the Pepper Up Potion, and she managed to get to the bottling stage when Snape entered the lab.

'Hermione,' Snape said smoothly. 'You came early.'

Hermione bit her lip and nodded, not looking at him. She made a big show of filling up the phials, and when she had finished she hurried the full crate over to the store, wishing he would go away and leave her to it. Now they were in the same room, all she could think about was how he looked with his trousers around his ankles, and she felt a blush start to rise up her throat. Although she spent a lot longer than she should have done in the store, Snape had waited for her.

'Is everything alright?' he asked her. He wasn't behaving like a man who had fucked his employee over the weekend. In fact he was being considerate, something she had started to appreciate more about him.

'Still recovering from Saturday night,' she said with a slight smirk. It wasn't a lie, after all.

'How was the Girl's Night Out?' He said each word a little harshly and with emphasis. Hermione looked at him properly for the first time. He was leant against the Potions bench with his arms crossed and a frown on his face. He look tired, but Hermione thought it was no wonder, the way he had exerted himself.

'It was fun. Just too many Cosmopolitans,' she said with a laugh.

'Was there dancing?' he said curiously. Hermione flushed. There would have been dancing if she hadn't left early.

'A bit. But Parvati is expecting, so I kept her company most of the time. I'm not that great at dancing.' Hermione smiled, and watched in surprise as Snape visibly relaxed. 'How was your weekend, Severus?' she asked.

It was cruel of her, but he had used her hair to create a look-alike and then done things to her she would never have imagined. For some reason she felt like being cruel.

'My weekend was passable. I completed a project I have been working on,' he said blandly. He didn't look at her but walked towards the store, and when he returned he had the new jar of Boomslang skin in his hand. Hermione had already started on the bruise paste, but she couldn't help but stare at him as he took a marble chopping block from the shelf and placed it a little way from her.

'Are you making more Polyjuice potion?' Her voice sounded shaky even to her, and she smiled, trying to temper the tremor.

'I have received a further order, yes. If it reassures you, Hermione, I can guarantee the user only has good intentions for the potion.'

Hermione's mouth went dry. 'I didn't think anything else.'

'You didn't? You surprise me. I know that Polyjuice potion was used extensively during the war. It's natural that you would be suspicious of my motives.' Severus smirked at her and leaned across the bench slightly. He covered her hand with his own and she jumped, but he moved the pestle in her grip in a circular motion. 'Keep grinding or the paste will set,' he said. 'I know from experience it can be a bugger to clean off.'

Hermione licked her lips and carried on blending the paste, trying not to watch as the professor started to shred the Boomslang skin finely with his knife. His fingers were pale, but Hermione knew now that his hands were warn and precise. She could still feel tingling where he had touched her. She could also feel tingling in her nether regions.

It was going to be a long day.

***

Snape watched Hermione as she brewed. She seemed distracted and a little distant, and he didn't like to admit quite how much that bothered him. He couldn't begin to think what it was, unless she hadn't been totally truthful about her night out.

After his engagement with Constance Barclay's witch on the Saturday night, Snape had showered and changed and gone for a long walk around the castle until he reached the Astronomy tower. The castle was quiet at night now that the students had left for the summer break, and he could have found a silent space to think anywhere, but the Astronomy tower had always been his retreat. He had felt unsettled and slightly ashamed of his behaviour. Getting another witch to wear Hermione's body for his sexual pleasure had seemed like an excellent plan. He desired her, wanted her, and he found a way to have her. But it wasn't right. Of course he had enjoyed the experience fully, and if he was honest with himself he was planning to do the same again the following Saturday night, but there was no getting away from the fact that these pretenders were no substitute for the real thing and that pleasures of the flesh were actually only a small part of what he really wanted. As he had sat in an alcove that overlooked the lake, he admitted to himself that he was smitten by Hermione Granger and doomed to hell because of it.

Snape hadn't slept a wink after that. His thoughts had strayed to what she was doing on her night out and more importantly, who she was with. Knowing Ginevra Potter and Parvati Patil, they had invited her out with match making in mind, and he wondered if they had been successful in their endeavours. Had Hermione taken a man to her bed and been pleasured by him? In his minds eye Snape pictured the opposite of the Weasley runt, a blond, muscular Adonis with blue eyes and sparkling teeth, someone who would sweep her off her feet and make love to her until she was as limp as a rag doll. The thought of it made his blood boil, but the irony of this wasn't lost on him. He wasn't lily white and he couldn't bear to think what she would do if she found out about his extra-curricular activities.

He had been lost in his thoughts for so long that when he roused himself he realised that Hermione had packed up and was ready to leave for the day.

'Have you any dinner plans, Hermione?' He couldn't let her go just yet, not with this distance between them. She hadn't properly smiled at him all day.

'Not tonight. I was thinking of microwave lasagne and an early night, to be honest.' Hermione shrugged her brewing robes off and headed for her room. Severus followed her.

'I was thinking of heading to the Leaky Cauldron for a change. You are most welcome to join me,' he said hopefully.

'I don't think I could cope with the attention,' she said sadly. Severus chuckled.

'You think they would dare to bother you when you are with me?' He looked at her and caught her eye, and was gratified when they warmed and crinkled at the corner.

'Well, okay then. But I can't cope with a late night and by the look of you, it wouldn't hurt if you caught up on some sleep too, Severus.'

Severus smiled at her. The tension that had hung between them had dissipated and now she was back to herself, fussing over him and saying whatever crossed her mind.

'You are welcome to use my personal bathroom if you want to freshen up,' she said quietly as he watched her untangle her main of curls. He was immediately rewarded with a smile that made his heart swell.

'Thank you, Severus. That's very kind of you.' Hermione ducked past him and quickly headed for his rooms, and he watched in appreciation as her pert, denim clad bottom disappeared behind the solid oak door.

With a snort, he realised he had managed to secure a date with Hermione Granger.

***

The Leaky Cauldron had smartened up its image since the war. It still held a rustic charm, but the food was much better, and the tables and floors were always clean. The meal had been filling and delicious, and the wine had gone down more than nicely. Hermione swished the dregs of her wine in the bottom of her glass and watched Snape as he stood at the bar. He had changed to go out with her into black trousers and a plain black shirt which was open at the collar, and he let his hair hang loosely. The trousers were a snug fit and it was the first time that she could see the man beneath the robes. She had to admit she really liked what she saw.

He had been great company and very attentive to her needs, and as promised, she hadn't been on the receiving end of any negative comments or insults from the other patrons, only a few side long glances which soon averted when Snape stared in their direction. Hermione smiled dreamily as he came back with another round of drinks.

'You're different to what I remember,' she said.

'Of course I am. I am no longer your teacher, nor am I fighting a bloody war,' he said before taking a deep mouthful of bitter.

'It's more than that. You're really nice, Severus, and you kept it hidden all this time.' She leant over the table to slap his wrist in admonishment, but he grabbed her hand before she got there.

'My reflexes are still sharp, Hermione.' He squeezed her hand and let go quickly, avoiding her gaze.

'Can I ask you something? Seriously?' Hermione took a long sip of red wine, trying to gauge if this was a good idea or not and being a bit too tipsy to really care.

'Go on,' Severus said, rolling his eyes.

'Why didn't you ever settle down? I mean, I know about Harry's mum, but afterwards. There must have been other witches,' she said carefully. She was fishing in shark-infested waters, and the black look Snape gave her told her she really was pushing her luck.

'There has never been anyone else, and that drivel in the Prophet about me and Lily Evans was romantic claptrap. I cared for her once, but it was a childhood crush I grew out of. I don't want you to think I have been pining all of this time, Hermione,' he said softly. He looked directly at her, and Hermione felt her heart beat faster.

'There's never been anyone else, then?' Hermione's curiosity was seriously piqued now.

'A dalliance or two, nothing permanent,' he said.

Hermione took a gulp of wine and realised through the alcoholic haze that she was more than a bit tipsy, she was slightly drunk.

'I should go after this,' she said.

'Are you drunk?' He smiled at her mischievously.

'Only a little bit,' she said, slurring slightly.

'Come on, I'll Apparate you home.'

Hermione stood unsteadily and allowed Severus to wrap his arm around her waist to hold her up. He was so close, she could inhale him, and she took a deep breath.

The aromas of ink, sandalwood, parchment and musk assaulted her senses.

'Of course,' she muttered in realisation.

'What?' said Severus, holding her even tighter.

'Nothing,' she said. But in her head, she knew. She loved him, and probably always had.