Chapter 5- If Only. . .

Disclaimer: Alas, the world of Harry Potter is not mine. JKR dreamed it up before I ever had a chance. Any character you recognize belongs to her.

A/n: As always, without RobisonRocket being kind enough to point out my mistakes, this would be so hard to read. Thank you for the help, RR.

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Ch 5 If Only

Severus had stayed in the music room until the dress Hermione had been wearing reappeared. With a broad smile that never made its way to the sight of any student, he had turned and left the room, warding the door to keep any nosy intruders out of a space he now considered private for Miss Granger and himself.

Now, lying alone in his bed, Severus let his thoughts drift to his next plan in her punishment. She had nearly succumbed to his desires by giving in to her own. He imagined she would have if she hadn't been so spooked by them.

The soft silk of the sheets rode low on his hip as he turned onto his back and used his arm to cushion his head. He stared out into the darkness and wondered what his witch was dong right now? Closing his eyes, he let his thoughts continue to drift.

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Hermione tossed restlessly. Her nightgown felt tight and frumpy. Her body was all jittery, and she didn't understand why. Flipping onto her belly, she blew out her breath in frustration. It was Snape! This was all his fault! Her body still burned in all of the places where his hands had touched her. Her lips felt swollen and full.

Angrily, she got up from the bed and pulled her gown off. Maybe, just this once... if she left her gown off, she would sleep better. Crawling back under the covers naked, she sighed at the feel of the soft cotton against her skin. Yes, this was better.

Closing her eyes, she began to drift off to sleep. When the dream began, she knew something was off...

Looking around her, she noticed she was back in the music room. People lined the walls in medieval dress. Her eyes rounded when she saw Severus standing opposite her. His eyes looked at her with what appeared to be as much surprise as what she was feeling.

When he moved close to her, she shivered when he took her into his arms. He smiled at her response. "I have been waiting for this," he whispered softly. "You look absolutely stunning!"

Hermione looked into his eyes as they began to dance before all the others in the room. She was afraid. Something was wrong. "Why is this happening, Professor?"

He shook his head slowly. "No, my love. I'm not that man here." He smiled and Hermione found herself staring in awe at the transformation on his face. "Here, I am whatever you want me to be."

Baffled, she looked around them. "But, this isn't what I want! I have never desired something like this. I never even imagined it!"

Severus led her through the dance; a waltz that was correct for the period the dream was in, yet unfamiliar to her. After a moment, he asked. "Didn't you?" He shrugged. "This is your dream, so one would assume that you wanted it on some level."

She closed her eyes, forcing herself to remain calm. Then she looked back at him. "But what does it mean? If this is a message from my subconscious, then what in the friggin' hell is it trying to say? Could you translate, because I, myself, am a little confused!"

He smiled, which only served to infuriate her more. "Like that!" her voice rose. "You aren't really Severus Snape! The Severus Snape I know would never smile like that! He hardly ever even attempts a grin. If he does, it looks more like a smirk."

He grew solemn and met her eyes with his. "Perhaps I am not the Severus Snape you know. Maybe I am the Severus Snape that could be... if you loved me."

Hermione stopped dancing. The look in her eyes was positively lost. "L-love you? But you... I... I don't even really know you? All I know is that you are the greasy git that doesn't even know how to pay a compliment when I do a good job in your Potions class."

His arms closed around her, and he drew her closer to him. Before she knew what he intended, she was enveloped in a deep kiss that made her body hot and shaky. When he withdrew, his eyes burned into hers. "Find a way to love me, Hermione. I need you to love me. If you can't, then I am lost."

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Startled awake, Severus panted in alarm. He had watched his dream self from inside, horrified at the things he was telling the witch, but helpless to stop him. His eyes wide, he groped for his black robe to cover himself with. It was thick and almost as modest as his usual garments, besides offering a slight glimpse of a few chest-hairs. That was of little importance right at this moment. Right now, he had to find out if the library had any information regarding the dream he had just had.

Love him? He'd asked the know-it-all to love him? "What am I, daft?" Either that or crazy! he thought. Hopefully, his fears were not founded, and Miss Granger would have no knowledge of the nightmare he'd just had. Optimistically speaking.

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Across the castle, in her private room, Hermione lay beneath her covers, tears streaming down her cheeks. She felt the kiss from the dream Snape on her lips. His words stirred feelings within her she couldn't deny. That dream had felt so real. The plea from him was so genuine. Love me. If you can't, then I am lost.

Knowing that she must discover the meaning of this dream, she stood and pulled on her burgundy robe her mother had given her for Christmas. It was silk with a soft inner lining that kept it from being see-through. As she doubted that anyone would be awake at this time of night, she wasn't worried about donning anything more appropriate. There were hours left before the rest of the castle awoke.

As Head Girl, she was granted access to any part of the library whenever she had need of it. She knew she would have no more sleep tonight. She had to find out if there was any information about this kind of dream, and why it haunted her so.

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Severus stood at a section of books, a frown marring his features. He had found nothing on the dream to prove what he feared. Of course, he'd found nothing to disprove it, either. Placing the latest book back in its place on the shelf, he sighed quietly. Maybe it was all in his mind. Perhaps his only true problem was that he was bothered by the Headmaster's suggestion to pursue Hermione. The reason for that was because he knew all too well that he really wanted to do just that.

As he was turning to leave, he heard a very feminine sigh. Quietly, he tiptoed to the end of the bookcase and peered around to see where the sigh had originated from. Unruly, curly brunette hair was the first thing his eyes beheld.

Damning the gods that cursed him, Severus turned and leaned against the end of the bookcase. His eyes stared in shocked silence at an unseen spot on the floor. Well, wasn't this a mess? There was no way to sneak out of the library without her seeing him. No! he scowled at the knowledge. To get out of here, he had to walk past her. Crazy little chit! What was she doing here, anyway? Didn't she realize it was past curfew?

"Of course not," he whispered in a falsetto voice. "When a student is Head Girl, with perfect scores, she should be able to stay out as late as she wants!" He smirked at how Minerva McGonagall had won that fight fair and square just a few years ago. Damn the old witch anyway! Sometimes he thought she just tried to help her precious Gryffindors find ways around intelligent school rules!

Turning to glare once again at the young woman who was quickly becoming the bane of his existence, he was surprised to see her already there and staring at him with an expression similar to his own. He was so taken off guard by her sudden closeness, he lost his balance and was forced to grab hold of her to keep from falling on his arse.

Although she tried valiantly to help him gain his equilibrium, she was indeed too small to be able to correct their combined weight. Together, they fell in a heap in the floor. Robes came open and bodies touched in sensitive areas. Hermione lay atop Severus, her leg between his knees, and her chest pressed against his.

Severus moaned at the feel of her hardened nipples interlacing with the hairs on his chest. His own hard muscles were rippling at the contact. Closing his eyes, he turned his head so she might not see his shame.

Trying to curb her own wayward emotions, Hermione shifted to try to roll off of him, but froze when she felt the hard length of his desire evident against her hip. Horrified, her own eyes closed at the warmth she felt spreading through her nether-regions when she found herself wondering what something that big might feel like stretching her.

A blush had risen on her cheeks and was still there when Severus opened his own eyes. He took advantage of the situation by examining the expression on her face. Her eyes were closed, her cheeks colored. But her mouth was open, and her body was slowly moving in an unconscious way that aroused him even more than he already was.

When his member pulsed twice beneath her, her eyes flew open in shocked wonder. Their eyes met, and he couldn't help but to caress her cheek gently before saying. "Well, I suppose we were both having interesting dreams?"

When she reluctantly nodded, he bent his knee, pushing her torso up and used his hand to pull her head down to meet his. His lips met hers softly at first, and she opened her mouth on a quivering sigh. He used the moment to deepen the kiss, running his tongue into her mouth and circling her own.

She started to pull away, but seemed to think better of it. Wrapping her arms around his neck instead, she returned his kiss with all the passion she had denied feeling from the moment of that very first dance. Flood-gates opened and he rolled over, pinning her beneath him and leaving a trail of kisses down her neck to her chest. When his mouth closed over her nipple, she arched back and lifted her hips, unconsciously bringing his hardness that much closer to her heat.

Sucking gently on the one nipple, he let his other hand roam over her body in a whisper-soft touch. When she began moaning and answering his touches with explorations of her own, Severus forced himself to stop. Rising off of her, he made himself stand, then helped her to her feet.

With a lingering look at her exposed body, Severus let himself smile at her in a tender way. He shook his head and closed her robe, tying the sash to keep it closed. At her crestfallen look, he leaned down to kiss her again. "Not yet," he whispered softly. "But soon." As a light of excitement mixed with fear entered her eyes, he stepped away from her. "When the moment is right, we will know." He pointed at the ground they had just risen from. "But no maiden should be taken for the first time on a hard, cold floor."

Feeling the blush return to her cheeks, Hermione looked away, only to have him reach out to her, kissing her once again. When he pulled away, they were once again winded. Placing a peck on the tip of her nose, he then whispered one last time, "Soon."

Suddenly he turned and walked away, leaving her staring after him. Feeling tingly inside, she made her own way from the library and back to her room. Thoughts of his kisses and the feel of his body against hers kept her from catching a chill in the drafty old castle.

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A/N: Very near lemons, but not quite yet... Heck! I got to keep you guys coming back for more! As always, please leave me a review! It inspires my Muse to ever greater heights!