Chapter 17

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.

Thanks as always to my beta, LadySunflower and any reviewers.

Chapter 17

Ron would be in the hospital wing for a while after Hermione hexed him virtually into next week. His attempt to deceive Hermione using Polyjuice Potion backfired spectacularly, her new wand powering up harmless hexes into quite painful variants. After hearing what had happened, Professor McGonagall was inclined to expel Ron for attempted rape, but Hermione refused to press charges. She could exact her own revenge, after all... and had already started by hitting her presumptuous, so-called 'friend' with a combination of obscure hexes that Madam Pomfrey would struggle to counter. When Ron eventually recovered, he would be in detention until further notice, under McGonagall's watchful eye.

Before she left the hospital wing, Hermione made it clear that Ron had a long way to go before she'd trust him again. She also completely destroyed his 'I-only-did-what-was-right' composure by telling him that his mother had been informed, and that he could expect a Howler anytime.

The real Severus was waiting for her outside, forbidden entrance because he was itching to cast some of his own spells on poor, stupid, misguided Ron.

"What was it that alerted you to the fact that he wasn't me? Your contact Legilimency?"

"No. It never got far enough for that. I'm very familiar with your mannerisms, you know. He didn't move or stand like you, and he scowled when he saw me. I bet Ronald has never seen you make a pleasant expression... he also called me 'Mione, which you know better than to do," Hermione answered. "Oh, and his breath reeked of Polyjuice."

"Do you still want to do this? Perhaps it would be better to wait; that fool has ruined tonight."

"Yes, I do still want to go ahead. It'll take more than that prat to put me off. Just don't mention my idiotic former friend."

"You do realise that you need all the friends you can get? While foolish, Weasley is a faithful friend. Loyal enough to want to keep you from my hands."

Hermione sighed at his words. "I know. I'll forgive him, but I'll find it easier to do so if we rectify this situation tonight."

"Very well. I shall endeavour to make you forget anything else exists. Come with me; my quarters will be the best place for this."

It was a mystery exactly where Severus's quarters were, even to their occupier. Either it could move around the castle or the various doors into it were a form of Portkey, because it had hidden doors leading into it from very different locations. The main entrance was through a door in Severus's office (now moved from the dungeons to the third floor) with others from the Slytherin common room and the corridor along which every other teacher's quarters could be accessed from on the ground floor. The fourth door seemed able to open anywhere in the castle and grounds but only from the inside, and was the secret to the ease with which Severus could patrol at night.

They used the office door, as it was only one floor below them. Hermione hadn't been inside his quarters before as every close encounter they'd had recently had either been in public areas or in the Room of Requirement, but he had described them. The walls couldn't be seen for bookshelves, except for over the fireplace and doors, where earthen tones blended with the polished wooden floors. While furniture was sparse, what there was appeared to be comfortable, high backed armchairs and sofa upholstered in pale green.

Hermione didn't even realise that she'd drifted over to the nearest bookshelf until Severus's hand gently closed around her wrist, preventing her from taking a book.

"I was under the impression that you were not here to read. Although, perhaps you would like a guided tour around my domain before we get down to the serious business of your deflowering."

He guided her around his rooms, showing her where his guest room was ("Not that I ever use it"), his study, ("I tend to use my office. I just file the paperwork here"), his library - filled to the brim with bookshelves packed tightly with books - and finally his bedroom, leading her through it without giving her time to register anything in it, to his personal bathroom. It was smaller than the prefect's bathroom, but it was still more than large enough for two people. There was also a separate shower stall ("I don't have time for baths, so I insisted that it be installed").

Severus's bedroom was carpeted in thick deep green pile, which practically screamed for Hermione to kick her shoes and socks off and dig her bare feet into it. She succumbed to the urge, wriggling her toes.

"It does beg for that." Severus had done the same, his large pale feet sinking deep.

There were a couple of bookshelves - Hermione had been almost surprised by the lack of them in the bathroom - but otherwise there was just a chest of drawers, a floor-to-ceiling Muggle mirror (Severus hated talking mirrors with a vengeance), and his bed. Not even the sight of more books could wrench her gaze from the bed. It was an ordinary king size bed with black cotton sheets - with no irritating curtains or posts - but there was something special about it. Hermione wandered over to it, frowning in concentration. What was it about this bed? Was it just the fact that it was Severus's? She sat on the end to test it out.

'Ah. That's what it is. It's the most comfortable bed I've ever encountered. Mine!' Her eyes closed in bliss as she flopped back to lie spread-eagled on it.

"You're never getting this bed back; I've claimed it." Hermione all but purred.

"Really? I urge you to reconsider, if you think my bed is good now... just think about what it's like with company." Severus's words made her breath catch, her eyes snapping open to see him standing over her, his eyes running hungrily over the sight of her sprawled across his bed. Even as an involuntary flush made her cheeks burn, his words and hungry eyes sparked her arousal into life below the pit of her stomach.

"Rather than keeping on interrupting the mood with questions ascertaining your permission, just tell me 'no' and I will stop, no matter what." His eyes seemed even darker with lust, but he didn't move from his position. Hermione realised that he was waiting for her to say 'yes'.

"Take me." Her voice, although small, was firm with resolve.

Severus smirked at her. "I will."

He pounced, a swift, graceful move that ended with him straddling her, pinning her to the bed. He took her face in his hands as he lowered himself on top of her, his elbows resting on the bed to keep him from crushing her. The warm weight of his chest shifted against her own as he moved his head closer, her nipples tingling as his mouth made contact with her own.

A strangled moan escaped her as he explored her mouth with his tongue after teasing her lips open with it. She prevented him from fully investigating her teeth by tangling her own tongue with his, drawing an answering groan from him as she ran her hands down his back to grip his arse and squeezing lightly. Severus bucked against her, pressing his now fully erect, cloth-covered member into her belly. He pulled away with a growl, staring intently at her whilst still straddling her.

He said nothing, his mouth open as he breathed in deeply. His hands reached down to her torso, long fingers tracing around her breasts, contracting her nipples further as he stroked the sensitive undersides. Severus cupped them, weighing her breasts in his large hands, engulfing them in his grip.

Hermione gasped for breath as she realised that she'd stopped breathing, caught up in Severus's attentions. Her cheeks reddened further at the attention being paid to her chest; she was well aware that her bust size was only average. For all she knew, Severus preferred buxom women. The man in question gently squeezed, drawing her attention to him.

"Whatever you might think, there is nothing wrong with your... dimensions. Your breasts fit perfectly into my hands." He shifted his hands to her throat, unclasping her robes and shoving them aside. "There are spells for this, but I find that the act of undressing manually arousing for both parties involved."

His fingers were surprisingly nimble for their size, undoing her tie in moments and sliding it from under her collar, throwing it aside to the floor. He made quick work of her blouse's buttons (not surprising, considering the number of buttons on his own clothes), pushing it open to reveal her no-nonsense bra surrounded by smooth, almost unblemished skin. The faint pink line of her curse scar cut across her chest from her collarbone to her hip, but Severus ignored it.

Severus cursed as he examined the bra. "Of course, it would have to be fastened at the back." He scrambled off her, pulling her to her feet and he pulled her robe and blouse off, spinning her around and scrutinising the clasp for a moment before fiddling around, attempting to undo it.

Hermione stifled a giggle, reaching around to do it herself. "For future reference, it works like this."

His hands batted hers away once they had undone the clasp. He slid the straps down her shoulders, caressing her skin as he did so with his slightly callused fingertips, sending shivers cascading down her spine. A twist of his arms later, and he'd slipped it off her and sent it across the room. Hermione automatically crossed her arms over her newly exposed skin, her blush spreading down across her chest.

"Do you think you need to hide yourself from me?" Severus demanded, turning her to face him with a hand on her shoulder.

"No..." Hermione whimpered uncertainly, biting her tongue at the unwelcome tone.

"Would it make you feel more comfortable if I was equally exposed?" At Hermione's nod, he grinned. She was wondering exactly what had made him impersonate a shark when he gestured her closer. "Undress me." She followed his command automatically, only to realise that she'd exposed herself to his lecherous gaze. His grin widened.

Hermione let out a huff, shaking her head resignedly. 'He never stated how to undress him, just to do it manually.' She smirked as she reached up to his robe clasp, and touched it with the tip of one finger. It disintegrated under her touch, the array of buttons holding the rest of his clothes together followed suit seconds later, the threads binding the seams together last. She found it easier to tear things apart when their atomic structure was already familiar to her.

Severus frowned, not understanding what she'd done until his clothes started falling open and off. "Hermione! I said equally exposed, infernal girl."

Before she could admire her handiwork, he lunged at her as his control over his animal instincts failed, tearing her skirt all the way down to the hem. It, understandably, fell down. The shreds of her knickers followed suit. Hermione didn't have time to complain as she was thrown down onto the bed, pinned under Severus.

They both gasped at the burning contact between their bare skin, his lightly haired chest tickling her. Severus shifted, bringing his engorged cock into contact with her inner thigh. Her body refused to respond to the prim demands of her brain to move away, enjoying the feel of Severus's hard body pressed tightly against her.

"Temptress," Severus muttered, before seizing her mouth with his own.

Hermione was too caught up in the sensations of skin against skin to respond, but he didn't seem to mind a one-sided exchange. If she could have, she would have been using her contact Legilimency throughout this night, but the concentration required for it was beyond her, her mind in increasing disarray. So it was no surprise that she didn't notice his hand working down between them, running down her left side, pausing at the swell of her breast to fondle it, then continuing down to hover above where his cock twitched against her. She certainly did notice it, however, when long fingers began stroking at the nub between her legs. She was well aware of the finger dipping further down to slip inside, testing the growing wetness it found there.

"Severus..." she gasped, her eyes drifting closed. They snapped open when after she felt Severus move down, his tongue laving her crinkled areola before he sucked her nipple into his mouth. His left hand worked at her other, pinching lightly. Her mouth opened, little whimpers and moans of delight escaping as he switched over, the cold air pebbling her nipple further.

He pulled away, drawing a cry of protest from her. He drew his right hand away from her privates, sucking his glistening finger into his mouth, savouring her essence. From Severus's devilish expression, he liked it very much. He also seemed to like making her squirm, as he slid further down, his hands at her breasts and his mouth...

"Ah!" Hermione's head fell back as he parted her thighs and began licking at her centre, his nose nudging her clitoris as he lapped at her inner labia before slipping his tongue inside. He didn't let up with his kneading fingers either, working her breasts into aching fullness. She wasn't so sure about oral sex, but the sensations it evoked halted any protest before it could be vocalised. Her hands clutched at his freshly washed hair. Not that being washed made much difference, as it seemed to be a law of science and nature that Severus Snape's hair was greasy. No matter, it felt slick and smooth under her fingers. Anyway, who cared about his hair when he was on the verge of giving her a toe curling orgasm?

Her hips were shifting involuntarily against him, as her eyes rolled back in her head. She cried out in ecstasy as he suckled on her clit, much in the same way as he had on her breasts, but the intensity of the reaction sent stars dancing across her vision. Her eyes slid shut as she revelled in her climax.

Severus moved back up, positioning himself over her. The blunt tip of his dripping cock rested at the entrance to her vagina. He said something to her, then summoned something with his wand. He didn't hesitate, thrusting deep inside with a single fluid move. Hermione flinched slightly at the pang from her rendered hymen, but there wasn't much of the fabled pain, just an unfamiliar, strange sensation of being stretched and filled.

"Look at me," Severus ordered, and when she complied she found his expression to be as strained as his voice had been. He was obviously just as affected as she was by the trembling of her body; especially by the contractions of her inner muscles around his erection. She focussed on his eyes, absently noting that she really couldn't tell where the pupils ended and the irises began in their current dilated state.

He began to move, his back arching over her as his hips shifted fluidly, powering spine-tingling thrusts. Hermione ran her hands over his back, sinking her nails in to the point of drawing blood as the tension built again inside her. Severus was almost pulling out of her and then plunging deep back inside, his hands gripping her hips to prevent himself from slipping out. She lifted her legs up, bending them at the knees as she locked her ankles together behind him. He slid even deeper than before, a deep groan escaping both of them as he filled her completely.

His hands came up to tangle in her hair, after stroking his thumbs over her nipples in passing. He used this hold to bring her head up to his as he stretched down, mimicking the act of sex with the thrusts of his tongue as it plunged between her lips.

An extra twist of his hips brought his pubic bone into contact with her own, stimulating her clitoris as it did. He repeated the process, smirking against her lips as another orgasm began to crest, which seemed to blank out her vision as it shook her body. She clenched around Severus, throwing her head back as she screamed something, most likely his name judging by the smug look on his face afterwards.

The sensations of her climax soon took Severus with her, his thrusts becoming less controlled, his balls slapping against her as they tightened. She dimly felt his cock pulse as he came with a strangled cry of "Mine!" which might have been a mangled version of her name, but was just as likely to have been a possessive shout. He collapsed on top of her, still within her.

Once he had regained enough usage of his brain, Severus rolled off her, slipping his softening cock out of her as he did so. Both of their chests heaved as they came down from their high, their breathing eventually slowing down to a more normal rate. Hermione didn't need her heightened hearing to sense his heartbeat still pounding away as it gradually slowed. Severus held her close, stroking her hair. Their skin stuck to each other and the sheets, sticky with sweat.

'Yeah, it's just sweat, Hermione. Why not delude yourself?'

Hermione caught sight of a vial of red liquid on the bedside table, where their wands rested. Odd, she didn't remember removing them from their robes, or seeing Severus do it. She reached out, bringing it closer to examine it. She pulled the stopper, assuming that it was a contraceptive potion and meaning to drink it, only to smell... blood? She raised it to eye level for closer observation. It was blood.

"I told you that I was going to collect your virgin's blood with a spelled vial. Weren't you listening?" Severus stuck the stopper back into the neck of the vial before the precious liquid could be spilt.

"I knew you said something, but I wasn't exactly with it at the time. Bastard," Hermione muttered.

"That's not a very nice thing to say to the man who gave you two orgasms in exchange for the loss of your virginity," Severus said in a mock hurt tone.

Hermione smacked his arm. "What makes you think I'm a very nice person? Your temperament is catching." She suddenly recalled what she'd thought the blood was. "If that wasn't a contraceptive potion, then... oh, God. This isn't the time for pregnancy." She moaned, eyes widening with panic.

She was baffled when Severus began to laugh. "Something the know-it-all doesn't know! My dear girl, only married people have to cast spells or use potions against conception on Hogwarts grounds. Hand-fasting nullifies special wards used to prevent an epidemic of teenage pregnancies. Heaven knows there would be one, with all the madly copulating, hormonally driven students around here. Either that or I'd be overrun with requests for certain potions, even with Horace Slughorn back."

"That wasn't mentioned in Hogwarts: a History or the school rules."

"If it was, then it'd just encourage more promiscuity. Furthermore, you must know that I wouldn't put you at risk if the wards didn't exist. Some things are..." Severus gasped, clutching at his left forearm. Hermione leaned over, pulling his hand away to reveal the squirming tattoo-like Dark Mark, burning black. He'd been summoned. "Badly timed; typical. At least he didn't call while we were making love."

Hermione watched as he pulled on some fresh clothes from his drawers (well, she had ruined what he had been wearing earlier) and slipped his Death Eater robes and mask on. A swift kiss (rather surreal with the mask on) and a hasty farewell and she was alone. She assumed that Severus would use the moving door to leave unseen, as it might scare someone like Filch to death if he was caught in Death Eater gear. He hadn't said that she couldn't stay, so she pulled the covers over her cooling body as she settled in to wait, summoning a tempting looking book to read from the nearest shelf. She looked up abruptly, startled when she remembered what Severus had said before he left. 'He said... he called what we did making love... does that mean he loves me?'

AN: I'm not most confident with my ability at writing scenes like those included in this chapter, so please bear that in mind if it seems a little clumsy.