Chapter 2

Chapter Two

For the first time in days, Hermione allowed herself to think about all of her friends. There had been several times she wished she could hear the boys argue over Quidditch, just to hear their voices. She also worried about why Dumbledore had brought her here; was she the catalyst of Lily and James finally getting together, or the reason Severus became a Death Eater? Could she stop Pettigrew? What would be the consequence of her coming back in time, then going forward once again?

Above the whirring of her mind, she heard, "Do you have any idea what is going on between those two?"

Hermione looked at Sirius across the common room and then to where Lily and James were sitting. If one did not look too closely, you would think that they were studying, but to the trained eye of their friends, they were having an argument. She said, "I think Lily is yelling at him because of that sixth year girl he was using to get her attention."

Sirius looked at her and asked, "How did you know about the sixth year?"

She smiled and said, "James told me."

Sirius shook his head and gazed back at the couple. Since Hermione had come, James had been straightening his act up in order to impress Lily. If it had not been for Hermione discreetly pulling James aside after the 'sixth year incident,' he probably would have screwed up even more. "Are you going into Hogsmeade this weekend?"

Hermione nodded. "I got permission from my guardian. I'm looking forward to going shopping." She hadn't expected Dumbledore to let her go, but he had given permission, only after he made an announcement about an informal ball to be held on Christmas. She suspected the old man to be up to something; however...without proof...she had nothing.

She looked at Sirius and saw the gleam in his eye that he saved for his latest conquests. "Sirius, whatever you are thinking, the answer is no."

"Come on, Hermione! I will behave like a perfect gentleman." He held up two fingers together and said, "Scouts honor!"

Hermione laughed at him and said, "No, you will only get in the way. Besides, Lily and I have shopping to do. She has decided to stay for Christmas this year because of the informal ball Dumbledore announced last week, and we are both sorely in need of some dress robes."

"Um, Hermione..."

Hermione looked behind her and saw Remus carrying a bouquet of flowers. She smiled at him and said, "Remus, you really didn't have to do that."

Remus blushed and said, "They're not from me. I found them outside the portrait hole." He handed them to Hermione and sat next to Sirius.

"Are you going to see who they are from?"

Hermione looked at Lily and saw her give a slight nod. Hermione slightly shook her head and looked for the card. In the middle of the bouquet, she found a small card. Written on it was, "You could never be considered a consolation prize. Meet me at the place." Hermione handed the card to Lily and inhaled the heady perfume of the flowers.

Lily flipped over the card and was not surprised to see no signature of any sort. That boy was playing a dangerous game, but the look on Hermione's face puzzled her. She looked torn. Lily scooted away from James, and sat on the floor next to Hermione. She leaned close and asked, "They are from Severus, aren't they?"

Hermione nodded and asked, "Do you think I should see him? He has been behaving." Severus had not made any overt gestures, but he seemed to be sincere in his attempts. He would lightly brush her hand when they were in a crowd or when they were preparing a potion in class.

Lily looked at James when she answered. "If you think you can find happiness with him, go for it." She stood and walked toward James. She talked to him for a little bit and then left the common room.

Hermione smiled when James scampered after her. Sirius draped an arm around her and asked, "So, do we have a date or not?"

Hermione brushed his arm off her and said, "Not." Hermione stood and went to her room. She quickly changed out of her school uniform and into a long skirt and a short-sleeved shirt. She threw her robes over the top of everything and quickly made her way to the hallway where she had assaulted Severus only a few weeks before.

She flattened herself against the wall and slowed her breathing so she would not give away her position. It seemed like a few hours passed while she waited for him, but the most that actually passed was only half an hour. When he passed by Hermione, she grabbed at him and pulled him close. "Looking for me?"

Getting over his shock, Severus grabbed a fistful of her hair and said, "I have been looking for you the past three weeks, Miss Granger. Please tell me you are not teasing me."

Hermione shook her head. She pressed her hands to his chest and slid them upward toward his shoulders. She lightly caressed his face, making sure to touch every inch of it. Lingering on his nose, she asked, "Is the old adage true?"

"What one would that be?" Severus felt a tingle move up his spine as she continued to stroke his nose. He felt himself slowly becoming aroused. She affected him in ways he never thought possible.

"Big nose, big..." Hermione deliberately trailed off as she continued stroking his nose. She moved her hand and tried to pull away, but his hand was still tangled up in her hair.

He pulled her back to him and he pressed up against her body. His arousal was becoming evident; Hermione gave a little sound of surprise. He leaned down and captured her lips with his own. He slowly coaxed her mouth open, allowing him to slip his tongue inside her mouth. He brought his other hand up and began groping at her breast through her robes.

Hermione gave a small moan and laced her arms around his neck. It had never felt like this with Ron. Now, she was really glad that they had broken up. As he pressed into her body more, one of her hands snaked down and lightly touched his erection. He moaned and trembled at her gentle touch. His mouth left hers, and he began a slow trek down her throat. He stilled when he heard someone clearing his throat.

Hermione pulled away and glanced over his shoulder to see Sirius tapping his feet at them. She groaned and placed her face into Severus' shoulder. "Go away, Sirius," she said into Severus' shoulder, "this is none of your damn business."

Severus slowly pulled away from Hermione and took a few steadying breaths. He then turned around and asked, "Why are you poking your nose where it doesn't belong, Black?"

Sirius grabbed Hermione's hand and began to walk away. Hermione stood where she was and said, "Answer his question, Sirius."

Sirius sneered at Severus and said, "I won't have you dirty one of our girls, you damn Slytherin." He dropped Hermione's hand and ran back at Severus, his fist raised.

"There you are, Hermione. I have been looking for you," Lily said as she rounded the corner, a sheepish James in tow. She gave an assessing glance at the group and said, "I don't want any of you to get detention with Filch, so Severus, you go back to your common room, and we will go to ours."

Severus left toward the dungeons where the Slytherin dorms were. He quickly went to his dorm and pulled the curtains around himself. After casting a quick Silencing Charm, he disrobed and lay on his bed. His shaft was pushing against his underwear and he slowly caressed it the way Hermione had been before they were interrupted. He softly moaned her name and imagined what it would be like to thrust inside her. He climaxed and decided to find out what she would feel like.

"Damn it, Sirius! You are not my keeper!" Hermione screamed at him and transfigured the chair he was sitting on into a pincushion.

"Ow!" Since the chair had been a little taller than normal chairs, he had quite a drop. He stood up and rubbed his rear-end. "If I had known that James was coming, I would have looked at the stupid map sooner!" He grabbed for Hermione and forced a kiss on her. She kicked him in the shin and punched him in the stomach.

Hermione sat down on another chair and glared at him. He was rubbing his shin and looking for a place to sit. She suddenly rose and had her wand pressed to his throat. He growled low in his throat, but Hermione didn't move her wand. She looked up into his eyes and said, "If you ever force you attentions on me again, I will be forced to neuter you."

Remus entered the common room and calmly sat in a chair. He looked at the expression in Sirius' eyes and laughed. This was the first time he had ever been bested by a girl. Still snickering, he said, "If I had known you wanted some alone time with Snape, I would not have shown him the map."

Hermione blushed and pulled her wand away from Sirius' throat. She walked to where Remus was sitting and she asked him, "Do you disapprove as well?"

He slowly shook his head. When he heard a protest from Sirius, he added, "It is not my place to judge. If I was to judge, she could have done worse."

Hermione smiled and wrapped him in a loose hug. Remus seemed surprised by her display of affection, and he blushed profusely. Hermione ruffled his hair and turned back to Sirius. She narrowed her eyes and said, "Maybe in time I can trust you enough to be friendly towards you. However, until then, if I hear about Severus being targeted for being with me, you will regret it." She turned and went to her room. She shed her robes and slipped into a nightgown, then lay down and fell asleep.

The next two days were a pain for both Hermione and Severus. Hermione constantly had Sirius hovering over her, and Severus constantly had someone watching him. Friday morning in Potions, Hermione asked, "Are you going to Hogsmeade?"

He shook his head and sighed. "Every time I do go, Potter and Black manage to find a way to humiliate me."

Hermione touched her hand to his and gently smiled at him. "I have an idea; come with me." As he shook his head, Hermione peered into the cauldron and gave it a few brisk stirs. When she resumed her seat, she caught Severus staring at her. She leaned into him and asked, "Do you like what you see?"

Severus nodded and attempted to swallow the lump in his throat. Their last encounter had been lying heavily on his mind. He remembered the way her body fit against his and the way her breast felt in his palm... He groaned and attempted to concentrate on the potion. He cut the heat underneath it and sat back, waiting for it to cool. He leaned into her and asked, "Do I get some sort of incentive to come?"

Hermione got close to his ear and gave it a small lick. She whispered, "I plan on getting some new dress robes for the informal ball. I have yet to find a date..."

Severus felt his cock stir and he turned back to her. He watched the way the light hit her face, and he couldn't help touching her. "The ball is not for another two months. I am sure you will find a date by then."

Hermione growled at him and pulled away. He could be dense when he wanted to be. She checked the potion and ladled it into two separate flasks. Labeling them, she deposited them on Professor Slughorn's desk and gathered her things. She didn't say anything else to Severus as she left.

"What did he do this time?"

Hermione looked up from the book she was reading and looked at Remus. "He who?"

Remus placed another bouquet from Severus on Hermione's lap. "That makes the second one today and the third this week. I know what he did the first time; so what did he do this time?"

Hermione pulled out the card from this set of flowers and read the simple, "I'm sorry." She held the card to her lips and sighed. She turned to Remus and asked, "May I see the map?"

Remus motioned for her to come with him. They went to the boys' dormitory, and Hermione stood outside while Remus grabbed the map. Remus opened it up and saw Severus near the Gryffindor dormitories, and Sirius was sneaking up behind him. He folded the map back up, grabbed Hermione's hand, and led her to the portrait hole. "He's out there. He should just be around the corner."

Hermione stepped out and turned the corner. Severus saw her and grabbed her hand. "Come with me, I need to talk with you in private." When Hermione nodded, he led her to the abandoned classroom. He shut the door behind him and placed a Silencing Charm so no one could hear what was going on in there. He took her to the window and asked, "Will you tell me what I did to make you mad at me?"

She licked her lips and said, "Is it so hard to imagine yourself with me in two months? Believe me, if I did not allow myself believe I could make it with you, I would not have allowed us to get caught in the hall by Sirius." She threw her hands up and walked to a spot farther away from the window. She turned back and said, "I think we are going way too fast anyway. I had only gotten a little farther with the last guy I was with, but it took us months to get there, and we have only known each other a few weeks."

Severus took Hermione into his arms and said, "If I didn't think you were too good for me, I would not have been careless with my words." He found a seat and sat down, pulling her into his lap. He buried his nose into her hair and just breathed in her scent. He could fell the baser part of his nature beginning to stir, but he kept his mind off that. He cleared his throat and asked, "If I take you to this ball, do I get to have you exclusively?"

Hermione giggled at his tone and leaned back against him. She faced him and said, "Well, I did promise Remus a dance. He's the first genuine male friend I have made here, so I felt it would be nice to include him in my plans."

Severus nipped at her neck and said, "I guess I can handle Lupin; as long as it isn't Black or Potter."

Hermione smiled and leaned back. She felt safe here with him, and at this moment, she never wanted to go back. She nuzzled into his shoulder and said, "Don't worry about James. Lily has her own plans for him."

Severus tangled one hand in her hair and softly kneaded her scalp until she gave a purr of pleasure. He pulled the hair away from her neck and slowly left kisses and tiny bites. She shifted in his lap and he turned her face towards his. He slowly kissed her, taking his time to make her want him. When he finally pulled away, she had color in her cheeks and he was fully aroused.

Bringing a hand to his face, she made sympathetic noises and kissed his nose. "You're going to have to fix yourself, aren't you?" She turned so she straddled his lap, and began leaving small kisses on his face.

Severus pulled away with a frustrated groan. "Hermione, you are not helping the situation."

Hermione gave him a wide-mouth smile and said, "I know. I am showing what could happen at the end of the ball."

"At the end of the ball?"

"Yes," Hermione nodded to emphasize her point, "but before then...starting tomorrow...you have to be on your best behavior until then." She put one hand to his face and moved the stray hairs out of the way before she kissed him. She slightly opened her mouth to allow him access. She slid her hands down his torso and moved his robes out of the way. He started to protest, but she recaptured his mouth with her own. She slowly stroked the bulge in the front of his pants.

"Hermione, don't," he cried as he pulled his mouth away. "This wouldn't be fair."

"Then you can get me next time." She dragged his hands to her breasts as she slowly kissed and stroked him. Her nipples drew up to fine points and her breathing became ragged. "Oh, Severus," she moaned as he tugged at her nipples through her shirt.

"Hermione... you are too good to be true." He slid his hands up her shirt and got skin-to-skin contact. She skillfully stroked him through his pants and he shuddered as he had his climax. He pulled out his wand and said a simple cleaning spell.

Hermione got off his lap and stood before him. "So, are you going to come with me to Hogsmeade tomorrow?"

Severus pulled Hermione toward him and softly kissed her. "After what you just did for me, I will be certain to never leave you alone again." He kissed her one more time and lifted the Silencing Spell. As he opened the door, he saw Sirius barreling around the corner. He held onto Hermione's hand and kept walking toward the Gryffindor dormitory. When they reached the portrait hole, he planted a small, chaste kiss on her lips.

Hermione stood on her tiptoes and tried to make the kiss deeper, but Severus wouldn't let her. She settled back down and asked, "Where should I meet you?"

"Outside the main doors." He caressed her cheek and said, "I will wait for you then."

As he left, Hermione cast an admiring glance at his backside. 'What an adorable tush.'

"Where were you and Snivellus?"

Hermione gave a startled jump at Sirius' voice behind her. She turned around and said, "It's none of your damn business, Sirius. Do me a favor; go chase someone else."

Sirius watched as she entered the portrait hole. He sniffed and he let out a groan. She had his scent on her. He shook with need and a deeper hatred for Severus Snape. Snape had better treat her right, or he was going to face Sirius Black.