Nine

NINE

Hermione didn't want to move from her bed. The covers were pulled up over her head to block out the early morning light that insisted on streaming through the gap in the curtains, and she kept her eyes closed in the hope that sleep would overtake her. It was a futile exercise, because not only did she need to use the toilet with rising urgency, her mouth felt like a ferret had been sleeping in it. Opening that bottle of red wine she had been saving had not been the best idea she had ever had.

With a frustrated sigh, she pushed the covers away and slipped from her bedroom and across the hall to the bathroom. She used the toilet quickly, washed her hands and lifted her toothbrush from the bathroom cabinet. As she closed the mirrored door she caught sigh of herself and groaned.

'Nice move, Hermione. You look as crap as you feel,' she muttered to herself. Her hair was its usual after-bed tangle of curls, but her eyes were red-rimmed and underscored with dark circles from crying. As she thought about the previous night and how she had left Severus in the Leaky Cauldron, the tears threatened to spill again. After running out on him, she wouldn't be surprised if she had totally blown her chances. Her plan of seduction was out of the window now, anyway. Not only had she made an idiot of herself, she had never felt less sexy in her life.

Hermione brushed her teeth thoroughly, despite her miserable mood, and afterwards she trudged back to her room and climbed back under the covers. There was movement in the corner of the room and she let out a scream of surprise.

'Winky is sorry, Miss Hermione. Master is telling me to come here immediately if not sooner.' The House Elf stepped out of the shadow of Hermione's wardrobe warily, wringing her tea towel dress in her small, gnarled hands.

Hermione stared as if not really believing that Winky had Apparated from Hogwarts into her bedroom in her very Muggle house, and she tried to breathe deeply to calm the rapid beating of her heart,

'Its okay, Winky. You just gave me a shock. What did Master Severus want?' Hermione's mind ran through a number of scenarios, most of which ended with her leaving Hogwarts and never going back.

'Master Severus wanted to know if Miss Hermione was feeling better, Miss, and if she needed this.' Winky held out a familiar phial of Hangover potion, and Hermione took it with a giggle.

'I do need it. Thank you very much, Winky.' Hermione swallowed the potion and sighed with relief as it took immediate affect and the banging pain between her ears subsided. 'You can let Master Severus know that I am quite well now.'

'Master Severus tells Winky to give Miss Hermione this letter if she is being better, and to wait for Miss Hermione to say yes.' Winky snapped her fingers and a cream envelope appeared in her hand. She handed it to Hermione with a low bow. Hermione looked at the envelope and recognised Severus' handwriting. It was addressed simply 'To Hermione.' Her hands shook. Severus had never even written her a note about work, let alone a personal letter. She quickly opened it and unfolded the single sheet of parchment inside.

'Dear Hermione,

Severus'

Hermione stared as she read and her eyes widened as she realised what Severus was asking. She re-read the letter twice and then burst out laughing.

'Winky, what time did Master Severus get home? Is he still drunk?' Hermione knew Severus would never send a letter like that unless he was under the influence.

'Master Severus returned to Hogwarts a quarter of an hour since, Miss Hermione. He was finding it hard to walk straight.'

'I imagine so,' Hermione said with a laugh. Her heart felt ten times lighter than it had done, because she knew that the letter was the truth. Her plan was back on.

'Winky, you haven't forgotten our plan for this evening?' Hermione smiled.

'All is arranged, Miss.' Winky nodded.

'Very well. When Master Severus is back to his usual self, tell him my answer is yes. I'll see you tonight.'

Hermione leapt out of bed and back into the bathroom just as Winky left with a small 'pop'. She hummed to herself as she ran her bath.

She had a seduction to plan.

***

Severus Snape was asleep and snoring on the couch in front of the fire. He was still wearing the clothes from the night before, and his hair was half covering his face. One arm was trapped beneath him, the other flung out and almost touching the hearth rug, and he had managed to take off one boot but not the other before his alcohol-induced coma overtook him. None of these things were worrying him right now, because he was in the middle of the best dream he had ever had.

He was entertaining one of Constance Barclay's regular girls, Rosie, and he stood and watched her as she turned into Hermione. But there was something different about this Hermione. She seemed to vibrate with life, her skin glowed, and her lips were parted with anticipation. This was a Hermione that wanted him, badly. Somewhere in the dream, his pretend Hermione had become his real Hermione, and she was tugging at the shoulders of his robes and trying to get him naked.

He was going to kiss Hermione.

The shock woke him up, and he immediately sat up straight, sending blood to his trapped arm and giving himself pins and needles. His head was spinning from his hangover, and he couldn't see clearly. When he was able to focus, Winky the House Elf was standing before him and looking at him curiously with her huge, glassy eyes.

'Winky came back as Master instructed,' she said quietly. There was a look of concern on her face.

'Did I? Then you are a good elf. What did I tell you to do?' Severus rubbed at his eyes and tried to wake himself up, but there was part of his brain stuck with the image of Hermione's parted lips.

'To see Miss Hermione, sir, and to take her your letter.' Winky stepped forward and peered up into Severus' face. 'Does Master need his special medicine?' she asked in a whisper.

'Medicine, yes. If you don't mind Winky. Bring two,' Severus said. He let his head fall into his hands and groaned. He had sent Winky to see Hermione? He had no memory of that. But hold on a minute! What else did the elf say?

'WINKY!' Severus shouted, immediately regretting it. It was far too loud for this scale of a hangover. Winky returned, shaking slightly.

'Here you is, Master.' Her hands trembled as she held out the Hangover potion, and Severus took them gratefully. Once he was feeling a bit more himself, he realised he had half-scared the elf to death.

'I apologise for shouting, Winky. Tell me, what letter did I give to you?' He spoke more kindly and was relieved when Winky relaxed and half-smiled at him.

'I is not knowing what Master wrote. House Elves is not sneaks.' Winky stood up a bit straighter.

'Of course not,' said Severus. 'I usually make a copy of all my letters, Winky. Did I copy that one?'

'You did not, Master, You said you was in a hurry,' said Winky.

'Of course I bloody was,' Severus sighed. 'What did Miss Hermione say to the letter?'

'Miss Hermione was happy, Master. She said to tell you yes.' Winky bowed after giving him the message, her task complete.

'Yes? Yes to what?' Severus stared in horror. In his inebriated state he could have asked her anything. He felt himself going pale. What if he had proposed? He had absolutely no idea what he had said to her. 'Winky, I have a job for you,' he said resignedly. 'The next time I return home pissed, I want you to charm my parchment and quills so I cannot use them no matter how hard I try.'

'Winky is thinking that is a very good idea, Master Severus.'

***

Hermione had borrowed Harry's Invisibility cloak. She hadn't told him what it was for and he hadn't asked, but she had told him that it was incredibly important and she would return it tomorrow. The cloak didn't fully cover her because in her post-school years, Hermione had grown taller, so she found a dark alcove in the dungeon corridor, sat on the cold, stone floor and threw it over her. There were butterflies in her stomach, and a frisson of anticipation went through her. She felt that she had thought of everything, and now all she could do was wait.

She had spent the day pampering herself and had realised with disgust that she didn't pay anywhere near enough attention to her appearance. She couldn't remember the last time she had shaved her legs but in the bath today she had seemed decidedly furry. She had shaved, scrubbed, buffed and moisturised, and she smelled delicious even to her own nose. She had used her favourite vanilla shampoo, and curled her hair slightly to tame the frizziness of her usual style. She had taken care over her underwear, choosing her dark blue satin set that she knew enhanced her breasts and her bottom. She had even painted her toenails. After going to such a lot of effort, she was determined to make sure her plan didn't fail.

Hermione's eyes were becoming a little more used to the darkness, and she had to stifle a scream when she realised that Winky was also in the corridor and was looking right at her.

'Winky just wanted to check that Miss Hermione had arrived,' whispered Winky.

Hermione nodded and shooed Winky away.

'Master Severus is coming,' Winky hissed, and then disappeared with a pop.

Hermione sat as still as she could and then heard the familiar thud, thud, thud of Severus' footfall on the stone floor. He was holding his wand aloft for light, sending his stern face into stark relief. His eyes were bright, and the reflected light shone from the buttons of his jacket, and his firm, muscular thighs strained with each step he took. As he strode past her, his robes billowed and fluttered by her ear. She could smell him, and her heart started to beat a little faster. This was Severus in his Potions Master role, every bit the teacher who had intimidated her as a child. Gods, she was starting feel damp at the crotch already. He was everything she had ever wanted in a man.

The door to Severus' office closed with a bang, and Hermione jumped. Now he was back from his rounds she knew she wouldn't have long to wait, and she glanced at her watch. Severus had cut it fine. Hermione could hear more footsteps, sharper and lighter this time, so she stood in readiness. A cloaked figure walked down the corridor, and Hermione removed Harry's cloak and stepped out with her wand pointed into the face of Rosie, one of Severus' witches. A surge of jealousy rushed through her, but she fought it and approached the witch.

'Miss!' said Rosie. 'It's YOU!'

'That's right. I know what's been going on, Rosie. But tonight is going to be a bit different. I have plenty of Galleons for you, if you agree to my plan of course.'

'Of course, Miss. It's never us he really wants, you know,' she said with a shy smile.

Hermione felt her stomach flip, and she lowered her wand. 'Really?'

'Yes. He told me one day. We look like you, but we are not you. Today was our last appointment.'

'Oh,' said Hermione. A feeling of joy washed over her, and now she was sure. Severus really did want her. And she wanted him.

'I really need your help Rosie. This is what I want you to do...'

***

Severus was pacing his office. He was not in a good mood. Peeves had been creating chaos all day, and if Severus had needed to sort him out once it had been fifty times. On top of that, he was behind in his marking thanks to his morning being totally ruined due to his own ridiculous actions. He had resolved to visit Hermione tomorrow and ask her about the letter in person. There was no other course of action he could think of.

Now he was waiting for a different witch who would pretend to look like Hermione, and he really couldn't find the energy for it. He should have just cancelled. He decided to get the witch to give him a blow job and send her on her way, and then he could concentrate on the real object of his affection and desire. Gods, his every waking thought was of Hermione Granger, and she had no idea.

There was the expected knock on the door, and Severus sighed. He may as well get it over with.

'For your pleasure,' murmured the witch. It was Rosie, and Severus relaxed. She was a sweet girl in her own right, and he knew she would make it easy for him.

'Come in, Rosie,' he said.

'Sir seems down today. Rosie can help you with that,' she said as she lowered her hood.

Severus couldn't help but laugh at the well-used line. 'I am sure you can Rosie. Come on then.'

***

Rosie followed Severus into the lab and immediately drank the already prepared Polyjuice potion. She was practiced at this now, and actually didn't mind it. It made her job more interesting. She felt her skin pucker and change, her hair became bushy and her body shifted and melded into the form of Hermione Granger. She couldn't help but smile. Severus Snape was in for quite a surprise.

'On your knees, witch,' Severus intoned. Rosie complied, kneeling in front of his and reaching for his fly. It was as far as she got.

There was a sharp crack and Winky appeared beside them, her ears shaking and her eyes bulbous. 'Master Severus needs to come quickly! Peeves is in the Potions classroom and is juggling the cauldrons!'

Severus stared disbelievingly at Winky. 'He's doing what?' This was the last straw. He strode out of the classroom in a rush, leaving Winky and Rosie alone together.

'Miss knows what to do,' Winky said to Rosie.

'Yes. Wish the young Miss luck from me. Let's go.' Rosie took hold of Winky's hand and they both disappeared, just as Hermione Granger slipped into the lab through the office door. She stood at the end of the potions bench and waited.

***

Severus had had enough of Peeves and his stupid pranks, and enough of witches pretending to be the witch he really needed. He walked quickly back to the lab with the intention of asking Rosie to leave. It was no good. He didn't want to pretend any more and he didn't even think he could summon an erection this night. He just really needed a good nights' sleep.

The witch was still in the lab, but as he walked towards her with an extra few Galleons in his hand for her trouble, he stopped in his tracks. His nostrils flared, and he stared in disbelief. Her hair was shining and lustrous, and her skin glowed. She looked up at him and her eyes glittered with what looked like a challenge, but more than that, her lips were parted, and he almost gasped as her tongue slipped out to wet them briefly. But most of all, he could smell her. He knew it well, that heady scent of vanilla and patchouli, peppermint and musk. He couldn't believe his eyes, but he had to believe his sense of smell. Every time the fifth years students brewed Amortentia, he could smell her, and he had known, even when she was a student, that she was meant for him. He had known when she was waiting outside his office to be interviewed, from the smell of her resume. It had almost overwhelmed him, and he had to gather his thoughts before letting her into his office. He knew. And so, it seemed, did she. He stepped closer to her, so close that his buttons were crushing the front of her blouse, and looked down into her face. Her lips parted in anticipation, and he smiled at her in wonder.

'Hermione,' he breathed.