Undercurrents

A/N: Sorry for the late update - posting two chapters as an apology!

15. Undercurrents

"...There is the heat of Love, the pulsing rush of Longing, the lover's whisper, irresistible...magic to make the sanest man go mad."

― Homer, The Iliad

The next few days passed slowly for Hermione. Minerva had acknowledged that a substitute teacher would be needed for the remainder of Severus' classes and had called in Remus Lupin, who had been more than happy to accept. This didn't really suit Severus, but he had come to realise that he would do just about anything for Hermione, and this thought had stopped him in his tracks.

They were currently in the dungeon lab, and Severus was having a hard time keeping his eyes from Hermione as she prepared a base for their experimental antidote. He was fascinated by her hands, for one thing. Her fingers were long and pale, and her movements were precise and deft when chopping and slicing. He found himself wondering how they would feel against his skin, and despite knowing that these were his own hands he was fantasising about, he simply couldn't help himself. The other thing he was obsessed with was the way the buttoned collar of her frock coat brushed against the soft, pale skin of her neck as she moved. He remembered the sensation of it, but for some reason he had the urge to unbutton the top three buttons and lave his tongue against her flesh there. He closed his eyes and tried to hold in a moan as he felt his nipples pebble against to fabric of the bra he was wearing. It was almost impossible to concentrate on his reading.

They had decided to search for ingredients that had the opposite effects to Polyjuice, returning them to their natural state and keeping them like that. Severus thought that after this, he would never want to use Polyjuice again. The whole experience was humiliating and confusing, and the only saving grace was that he had seen Hermione naked. Even the novelty of being able to play with her breasts and finger himself to oblivion was starting to wear off.

Severus looked up when Hermione walked over to him and smiled. She paused momentarily and arched an eyebrow.

'Anything?' she asked him. Severus bit his lip as he caught her gaze, and he caught his lower lip beneath his teeth slightly before shaking his head.

'Not yet. I was thinking I might go to the library and see what's in the Restricted section.' He didn't really need to do this, but the urge to throw himself at Hermione was starting to cloud his judgement.

'I'll keep searching here if you like. The base is ready, but we need something to put into it. And, I was wondering,' she paused and looked at him hopefully. 'Will you have dinner with me here tonight? Pretending to be you is all well and good, but I could really use the break.'

'I know the feeling,' Severus said. 'Very well. Will you inform Minerva?' He slipped from the stool he was sitting on and handed the heavy book he had been reading to Hermione.

'Of course.' Hermione held the book to her chest in a typically Granger pose and Severus grinned at her. Old habits died hard, it seemed. He headed for the door but was stopped in his tracks by a hand on his shoulder.

'Hermione?' There was an odd look on Hermione's face, but before Severus could take another step, she had put down the book and pulled him into her arms for a huge hug. His senses were immediately assailed by the aromas clinging to the clothes Hermione was wearing, the sharp tang of herbs and the soft undercurrent of the sandalwood soap from his quarters. He felt himself melting against her chest and fought the urge to play with the buttons on the coat. He gazed slightly upwards and saw the flash of skin where the collar met her neck, and he closed his eyes. With reluctance, he pulled away, and knew without a doubt that he was blushing.

'Thank you, Severus. For helping and everything.' Hermione smiled at him, then grabbed the book and walked into her quarters, leaving him nonplussed and more than a little aroused.

***

Hermione closed the door to the lab with a firm push and then leant against it, breathing deeply. What had possessed her to grab him like that? She must be going stark raving bonkers to be lusting after him in her own body, for goodness sake. The problem was, the more she was with him, the stronger the urge. She put her hand to her crotch and adjusted the evidence of her arousal, hoping he hadn't felt it when she was holding him close.

With a slight groan, she walked over to her bedroom and was about to walk into the bathroom when she noticed the pile of books beside her bed. They were in a different order to how she had left them, and when she looked closely she realised that that Severus had used spare strips of parchment to mark certain sections. She didn't need to be a genius to know which bits he had marked, which begged the question; Why?

As soon as she asked it, she knew the answer, but rather than feeling angry that Severus was making free with her body, the thought of him touching her breasts and his fingers trailing through her lower lips made her cock even harder and more eager for attention, and the image of Severus in the throes of orgasm sprang to mind. She couldn't help but rub her hand over Severus's cock, and deftly opened the buttons on his fly, something she was getting quite good at. She wrapped her hand around the shaft, and with a few brisk pulls, she shuddered and shot come over her hand with a low moan. In her minds eye, she was fucking herself, and she shook her head. Surely this must be a side effect of being Polyjuiced for so long? She couldn't think of any other reason for it. Of course, she knew that she had developed feelings for Severus, but that was as himself. How on earth could she have fantasies about him when he was waking around as her? Hermione decided she would have to do some further research into the spells she had used, because it was more than obvious she had missed something. She wondered if Severus was having the same problem, but dismissed that idea. After all, she had feelings for him, which would explain her feelings of sexual attraction. She was under no illusion that he felt that way about her. They were friends, and she had to be content with that.

Hermione cast a quick cleansing spell and tucked herself away before heading for the Floo. She had a feeling they would need help, and she knew exactly who to ask.

***

Severus returned to the dungeon with a pile of books that he had shrunk and put into his pocket. He entered the lab and was surprised to find Phoebe Gilroy chopping what looked to be ginger. She looked up as he entered, and to his surprise she actually approached him, rather than continuing her task.

'Miss Gilroy?' Severus saw that the girl was pale and her eyes a little red, and he was immediately concerned. 'Whatever is wrong, girl?'

'Professor Granger told me what happened, sir. I am so, so sorry,' she whispered. Her eyes were glassy, but like a true Slytherin she wouldn't allow her tears to fall, especially not in front of her Head of House. Severus felt a pang of regret.

'You have nothing to apologise for Phoebe. The error lies with myself and Professor Granger, I can assure you. You were merely following instructions. Think no more of it.' Severus placed a gentle hand on Phoebe's arm and squeezed lightly, noting the look of grateful surprise on her face. It made him feel good to be kind to the girl.

'I told her that too,' Hermione said as she walked back into the lab. 'Once you have the ginger chopped, could you go to Professor Sprout and ask her if she has a mature Mandrake plant, Phoebe? Professor Snape and I will be having dinner here but you can return after you've eaten with your house if you wish?'

Phoebe couldn't disguise her happiness, and smiled at them both before nodding in agreement. Severus followed Hermione back into her quarters before removing the books and spelling them back to their original size. He looked at Hermione and recognised the look in her eye and she grinned at him.

'You've thought of something.' It was a statement, but Hermione shook her head.

'Not me. Phoebe. She's been reading the updated version of Hogwarts: A History, and she reminded me of the basilisk. The Mandrakes were used to return us to normal after we were petrified, and when I looked into their properties, I think they might be what we need!' Hermione couldn't hide her excitement, and Severus laughed as she spun on the spot, making her robes flay out like a dress.

'That is actually quite brilliant. And the ginger?' Severus could feel his own excitement mounting to match Hermione's. If they were lucky they might be back to normal by Christmas Day.

'Well, it's in Wit-Sharpening potion, but it will also counteract the bicorn powder in the Polyjuice. Once we have the antidote, we will have to cast the counter spells as we take it, but hopefully that will be that.' Hermione sighed happily.

'Does that mean I carted these back for no reason?' Severus waved his hand at the stack of books on the table.

Hermione fought back a chuckle at the chagrin on his face, but straightened her face to Severus' usual blank stare before raising her eyebrow. 'Obviously,' she said sternly.

'Very funny,' Severus muttered. 'How long before we can return to normal?' He turned a serious gaze on Hermione, and when their eyes met stepped closer without really thinking about what he was doing. He saw Hermione's mouth open slightly, and the tip of her – his- pink tongue licked her lower lip, making him want to chase after it with his own. He was thankful that at least Hermione was sensible. She turned away and walked to the small table and chairs he had added to the dungeon so that he could eat there, and she motioned for him to follow her before sitting.

'If we are able to get the mandrake, then I think we could take the potion on Christmas Eve,' she said thoughtfully. 'Which reminds me. I still need to write to Molly.'

Severus poured a glass of water and picked up his fork. 'They will miss you,' he stated. 'Why don't you wait until you know for definite?' Why he was giving her a reason to leave the castle at Christmas he really couldn't fathom. He would hate it if she was away for even a few hours, but he couldn't imagine any reason she would choose to stay here at Christmas.

'I don't think I want to go anyway,' she said quietly. 'Ron will be there.'

'Ah. And you and he are..?' Severus looked up and Hermione shot him a glare. 'None of my business. I apologise.'

'No. I'm sorry. I didn't think you would be interested in my personal life,' she grinned at him ruefully. 'I don't have one. There, now you know it all.'

Severus felt a flood of relief wash over him. He has assumed that she wasn't seeing Weasley, but to hear her mention his name has gripped him irrational panic for a brief moment. Still, he picked up the touch of sadness in her tone and looked at her with concern.

'You wish you were still with him,' he stated softly. Hermione fixed him with a gentle gaze, and he saw the flash of warmth, and something else he couldn't name, as she smiled at him

'Definitely not,' she said quietly. She held his gaze for a moment before looking away. Severus felt the frisson of her wards that alerted them to Phoebe's presence in the lab. Hermione smiled at him and shrugged, and he watched her thoughtfully as she walked back to the lab.