Chapter 7 - Agreement

A/N - OK, gentle reader, the time has arrived. In my prologue I mentioned there may be some hot-dirty-monkey-sex. This chapter isn't quite it, but consider it a preview of things to come. I'm sure the moderators will agree it earns at least a T (PG-13), possibly an M (R), if not an MA (NC-17). Enjoy. My deep gratitude to Dreamy_Dragon for continuing to beta my work. It's a mess until Dreamy does the stuff.

Please don't sue me, JKR! I'm not making any income from this. But thank you for the original ideas.

Hermione took a deep breath, squeezed her left wrist and took a leap of faith. "Mr. Snape, I need your approval because I want to make you my first project. I want to change the public's perception of you."

It was a good thing Severus had already swallowed his bite of quiche. When Hermione had finally made her proposal, he had to call upon his latent self-control to prevent snorting. "Miss Granger, why would you ever want to do that?" Severus asked sharply.

"Mr. Snape, I know that you are a private person. You may resent the fact that after Harry visited you with Minister Shacklebolt; he related your current circumstances to me. I also know that the public has never forgiven you for being a Death Eater. Besides Horace Slughorn, you are the only other Potions master in all of Britain. There should be no reason you cannot regain your potions supply customers without jeopardizing your private life. The skills you have to offer are wasted. Everyone would benefit, including you." Hermione stopped to breathe. She knew she would have to defend her proposal. Her nerves were on edge, waiting for his counter-challenge.

Severus regarded Hermione a moment. Her breath rate had escalated, her speech sounded prepared and rehearsed, yet she had still delivered it at a rapid rate. He noticed again how she stroked her left wrist with her right hand. Funny, he had never noticed any nervous tics when she was a student. Miss Granger seemed unable to keep a "poker face" as an adult.

"You do realize," Severus began calmly, "that what you propose is parallel to my entire existence from when I chose to take the Mark until the time the Boy Wonder defeated Tom Riddle. You want to step up to the spots vacated by Voldemort and Dumbledore, controlling my life and determining my destiny. You can certainly understand why I will decline your most generous offer."

Hermione had prepared herself for this line of reasoning. "Mr. Snape, I am no manipulating overseer. I promise you that I have no designs on controlling you in any way. All I ask is that you allow me to formulate a model of action and review it with you. You would have total right of sanction on how we proceed. It's possible that my plan won't change anyone's attitude towards you. It could be a failure. But, Mr. Snape, I strongly feel that I must try."

"If attitudes remain constant, my situation stays as it is. I'm satisfied with that. I do not seek public recognition, Miss Granger. Nor do I wish for it. And I certainly have no obligation to you to help fulfill your need to try."

"Mr. Snape, you certainly recall that I was privy to your trial testimony. I know that you pleaded guilty and had no desire to be exonerated. I can speculate on why you wish to be loathed and despised, but your reasoning is none of my business, nor is it anyone else's. My goal is thrice-fold: gain experience in wizarding public relations, benefit the public by providing access to your potions, and give you a purpose again."

Snape pondered that Miss Granger might the first person to ever attempt to enter his life and respect his personal boundaries at the same time. He was beginning to truly wonder if her intentions were as altruistic as she declared. Before he could decide, their waiter approached the table.

Both tablemates were glad when the waiter chose that moment to deliver the cheque. Though Severus reached for it, Hermione quickly gestured that she was responsible for today.

"Mr. Snape, you are here at my invitation. This is a business meeting. Please, let me take care of our tea." He allowed her the concession as she had given him a respectful reason for him not to take the gentleman's role.

Once she had settled the bill, Severus rose and proceeded to pull her chair out for her to rise. Hermione looked over her shoulder, whispering a demure, "Thank you," and then rose fully to extend her hand to him.

"Mr. Snape, I am very grateful you agreed to meet with me and discuss my project. I have to admit, it has been a pleasure speaking to you without fear of losing house points. I am sorry that my proposal doesn't interest you, but I've enjoyed this bit of time we have shared. Thank you for that."

"You are welcome. May I escort you to the Floo or Apparition Point?"

~~SSHG~~

Well slap me silly and call me Sally, Hermione thought. "Please, Mr. Snape," she choked, "I would appreciate that."

"Après-vous, Mademoiselle." Severus gestured towards the door with his left hand and fell into step behind Hermione as she crossed the room to its exit.

Both stepped from the aroma of butter and tea leaves into an area infused with the signature of warm, tanned hide. As they walked past luggage covered with creamy blonde leather, Hermione reached out to brush the tips of her fingers over its smooth surface.

Severus could not help but notice her small indulgence.

Hermione did not notice the twitch in his left eyelid, his uncontrolled response to her small sample of public sensuality.

~~SSHG~~

As they reached the Apparition point, Hermione once again turned to Severus. "Mr. Snape, I do hope that you will change your mind about my proposal. Regardless, it was a great pleasure spending this time with you."

Severus took Hermione by surprise. "Change my mind? If haven't decided anything yet."

"I don't understand. It was fairly obvious you were not interested in this venture."

"Miss Granger, you would have made a terrible spy. You were the one who stated I wasn't interested. I never said that. However, I haven't made a decision."

Hermione's heart started to race. I can't believe he may go through with this! "I am glad to hear that." For all of her internal jitters, Hermione calmly continued, "Please take your time considering what I have said. When you are ready, please owl me again. If you agree, I would like to present a tentative plan at our next meeting. If you don't agree, I would be happy to meet you for your dismissal. It would be good to see you again."

~~SSHG~~

As Hermione Apparated away from the space, Severus couldn't help but consider what had happened in the space of two hours. I met with Miss Granger. I had tea with Miss Granger. I enjoyed Miss Granger's company. She stated she enjoyed my company. Hell must have frozen over. Even though he knew he shouldn't, Severus Snape, Masochist Extraordinaire, didn't stop his muscles as the left corner of his mouth curled up into a grin.

~~SSHG~~

The smell of cake and black tea filled his senses. A hint of vanilla accented the aroma, and Hermione Granger walked past him, leaving in her wake the scent of leather and musk. As she passed, she looked demurely over her shoulder.

Severus found his feet obeying her voice. For some reason sharing her company was pleasurable. He reached her side, but had no compunction to do anything without following her suggestion first.

Hermione slowly circled his submissive body. With a wave of her wand, his wool trousers and underwear pooled on the ground around his knees. He barely had time to register the distinct whoosh of the crop slice through the air before he heard its crack across his right buttock and felt the sting on his flesh. Hermione administered two more strikes, then ever so slowly and lightly dragged the leather flays of the crop through his legs and brushed his testicles.

Before Severus could register what was happening, his mistress moved to the head of the bed. "Come to me, Severus, let me hold you." Severus crawled to her side and, following her lead, laid his taller body in her arms as best he could. "You have taken your punishment well, Severus. You have earned a reward." With that promise, Hermione brought her delicate arm, sheathed to the wrist in navy silk, across his torso and reached for his erection. Taken firmly in her hand, before she could apply the first stroke, Severus spurted his come like a third-year Hufflepuff.

~~SSHG~~

A quick gasp for air, and Severus bolted up straight in his bed.

A quick Tempus showed it was 3:15 a.m. A cooling, sticky glob coating his fingers showed the evidence of a wet dream.