Chapter Twenty Five - Confusion Worse Confounded

Disclaimer: Anything you recognize belongs to JKR and/or Daniel Knauf. I do not profit from writing this story.

Author's Notes: Many thanks to my talented beta, melusin.

There is a large dose of angst and abuse in this chapter. Although, I'm not sure if that's a warning or a promise...

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"Harry... please..."

Desperation hung heavy in the air. Just as it always did when his back was turned to her. Harry ceased in his exit not only because of her request but largely due to the sharp pain it stabbed in his gut.

"Lavender." Harry sighed, clenching his eyes.

"You don't need to leave. Parvati won't be back for hours. Stay here with me... please."

Scratching the back of his neck, Harry faltered, eying Lavender's once fit stomach... which now displayed a proud bulge.

Her proud bulge.

Her pregnancy wasn't that obvious, to say the least. At any rate, Lavender had possessed the tact to habitually wear a larger set of school robes to every class and even when lounging in the Gryffindor common room. Rumors hadn't spread yet, so Harry had assumed that only very few knew about him...them.

But Lavender always made a point of shedding her outer robes when the two of them happened to be alone.

Harry sullenly sat down beside her on the bed.

Silently, he waited like he always did for her inevitable attack on his person. She was always quick to place a hand on his leg, lean into him, or hungrily kiss his cheek.

The uncomfortable silence dragged on.

"I appreciate what you have done for me." Never knowing when his mood would change, Lavender was careful to speak gently. "But, you don't... have... to do it."

Harry turned sharply. "Are you crying?"

"No," she sniffed, sloppily wiping her runny nose with her wrist.

"Is this one of those hormone things?"

"UGH! You are such a dolt!" Lavender lunged for one of her gaudy pink pillows. Hand fisted in the padding, she punched Harry in the stomach...hard.

Falling back against the bedpost, Harry awkwardly sat back up, staggered by her outburst.

Harry hadn't the faintest idea what he should do. What did she expect of him? They weren't in love. They both knew that. He had made that perfectly clear to her, too, when he had asked her to marry him. But he had also told her that he believed in many different types of love. Regardless of how uncomfortable this pregnancy made him feel, he really did want the baby. They...all three of them...just needed time to get to know each other.

Thinking all this, Harry grimaced as he watched Lavender cry into her mattress. "Get up," he sighed.

"No!"

"You're acting childishly."

It wasn't his intention, but his judgmental comment and insensitive tone made Lavender comply with his demand much quicker than Harry expected.

"Don't you dare call me a child! Not only will I be eighteen soon, but I'll also be having a child..."

Harry cut her off with a wave of his hand. "If you don't stop screaming at me, then I'm going to leave."

"Fine! Leave! I don't need you and neither does your baby!"

Harry cringed. A hard knot tightened nauseatingly in his gut. Gritting his teeth, he remained exactly where he was. It had never once crossed his mind that Lavender was manipulating him whenever she said such things. Harry yearned to do the right thing so fiercely, he couldn't muster the spirit to be suspicious.

It also wasn't worth the risk of what he might lose.

Harry leaned into her. He reached to touch her back but clumsily drew away. "I am trying, Lavender. I don't understand what you expect me to do."

"I know you're trying," she said miserably. "But you don't need to remind me of how this is such a sacrifice for you. I don't enjoy feeling like I need to force you to be with me."

Tears streaming down her face once more, she turned away from his penetrating expression.

"Come here," he whispered suddenly.

Lavender tensed at such an unfamiliar request from him.

Harry leaned across the bed, lightly resting his hand on the base of her belly. He smirked slightly when she hiccoughed at the contact. Sensing her hesitation, Harry's own nervousness melted away. He pulled her, pressing his chest against her back, urging her to lie down with him on her bed.

Yes, Harry had acknowledged to himself that they needed to get to know each other better. But if that was ever going to happen, Harry knew he needed to stop deliberately avoiding it.

*** *** ***

Hermione feverishly jotted down a few more notes, her ears straining for sounds within Snape's bathroom.

It surprised Hermione how much time Severus spent in the shower. Almost as long as she did. But Hermione had much more hair on her head... so she couldn't imagine what he could be doing in there.

Well... Hermione could wantonly imagine a few things... Hermione raised the back of her hand to her mouth, stifling a giggle. The idea of Severus Snape wanking in the shower didn't seem likely...no matter how often she enjoyed envisioning it.

Not that she was complaining at the amount of time she now had to herself.

Hermione had feigned sleep when he had arrived in his chambers after classes, knowing Snape would take advantage of the rare, although minimal amount of privacy he had to himself. The moment the bathroom door had closed behind him, Hermione wasted no time in summoning Snape's house-elves.

They were quick in getting every book, quill, and parchment she needed to complete a week's worth of missed assignments.

A sated calmness swept over Hermione as she medicated her mind with facts and the scent of ink.

About twenty minutes from the time Snape had entered the bathroom, Hermione tensed as she listened to the water being turned off.

She eyed the mess covering his entire bed. Thinking quickly, Hermione realized she was loath to put her things away. Straightening the parchment on her lap with a flip of her wrists, she huffed to herself, determined to finish what she had started.

In the face of her determination, Hermione still couldn't prevent her breath from skipping when the bathroom door flew open. The moist humidity swept into the bedroom, only one of many causes that forced Hermione's cheeks to turn red.

She didn't want Snape to notice her apprehension at being scolded. Keeping her eyes trained on the books in front of her, Hermione nervously finished writing the sentence she had started. Ineffectively straining her focus from Snape's pause in the doorway... Hermione's feeble efforts allowed her to catch the slight tilt of his head as he stalked to her side of the bed.

"What is this?" Snape barked, looming over her.

Hermione flinched at the volume but then giggled at her own silliness. She knew she was well enough to complete a few homework assignments. Snape was acting unnecessarily overprotective and controlling.

Glancing up at him, the smirk Hermione had prepared slowly melted away.

Snape hadn't dressed.

He was only wearing a towel wrapped around his waist, held loosely by one hand over the side of his hip. Hermione swallowed, unaware that she had been drinking him in with her eyes. Snape's wet hair splayed across his broad shoulders. His firm chest and stomach were beaded with moisture. Hermione's eyes traveled down his body, quickly drawn to the natural bulge between his legs that was exaggerated by the wet towel.

"I asked you a question, Hermione..." Snape tried to sound stern but humor resonated in his voice.

Hermione blushed, suddenly insecure of what he thought of her licentiousness.

"Homework," Hermione mumbled. She glanced at the quill twirling between her fingers before finally looking him in the eye.

"I do believe you are the most willful woman I have ever... encountered."

Hermione smiled instinctively, her cheeks turning red once more. She loved it when he called her anything other than a girl. If Snape was still attempting to intimidate her into putting her books away, he certainly wasn't going about it the right way. She knew he was annoyed with her for being up when she should have been sleeping. But Hermione didn't care. How could she? Grinning slightly, Hermione brashly allowed her vision to return to the prominence between his legs.

Throwing the bedclothes aside, Hermione slid her bum across the mattress, making an effort to be closer to him.

"What did I just say?" he thundered, all humor gone.

Ignoring him, Hermione slowly reached out, grasping the back of Severus' thigh. Glancing up through hooded eyes, she drew Snape closer to the bed.

Swallowing, Snape gracelessly stepped into her insistent nudge.

When Snape was near enough to stand between her legs, Hermione hummed contentedly, wrapping her arms around his waist, nuzzling her face into his navel.

He chuckled throatily in response. "Don't start something you cannot finish. I need to be in the Great Hall for dinn..."

Smirking up at him, Hermione shamelessly squeezed his arse. "Don't worry... I intend to finish..."

Severus sucked in a breath when she slowly pulled the towel away from him.

Face still against his taut stomach, Hermione shuddered when his hardness quickly thrust away from the folds of the cloth only to press firmly beneath her jaw.

"Severus," she hummed in frustration. Hermione struggled to prevent her nails from digging into him. It had been almost two weeks since they had... done anything, really. Despite the teasing encounter in the bathroom, the both of them had attempted to avoid as much overly-tempting physical contact as possible, for fear of being carried away.

Her hands slid up the back of his bare thighs, drawing him even closer.

Lifting her face, Hermione's innocent and curious expression warred with the intense gaze with which Snape graced her. She slid her quivering palms across his hipbones, savoring the feel of his naked flesh under her fingers.

Severus calmly raised a hand to her face. Staring down at her, he trailed her bottom lip with his thumb before edging it into her mouth. Hermione's tongue swathed around his finger eagerly. Impatiently wrapping a greedy hand around his cock, she grinned when Snape failed to suppress a loud hiss.

Hermione continued playing with him delicately as she lowered her face. Her cheek softly brushed against his hardness, reveling in the distinctive texture of his skin. When the corner of her lower lip dragged against the head of his penis, Severus quickly raised a hand to clench into Hermione's hair.

"Open your mouth," Severus groaned.

Driven by an ardent arousal, she immediately complied. Mouth opening, Severus eagerly trailed her lips with the pad of his index finger before grasping himself to guide his hardness past her lower lip.

Hermione's warmth closed around him. She moaned contently.

Snape growled at the sound, smirking slightly. He had to fight the instinct to thrust into her wonderfully wet mouth. He watched Hermione alternate between sucking him senseless and softly licking circles around the tip.

Severus couldn't prevent the chuckle of absolute pleasure that escaped him.

Feeling Hermione insecurely draw away, Snape tilted his hips forward, gently pressing himself deeper into her mouth. "No," he groaned, loath for her to stop. "That was right. Again..."

Her tongue darted out once more, wrapping around the head of his cock.

"Yes," Severus hissed. Her tongue flicked again. "Now... take it completely," he grunted. Holding the base of his cock, Severus slowly pushed himself further into her hungry mouth.

Hermione did as instructed, groaning in pleasure at hearing and feeling him so excited.

Snape threw his head back and sighed. Chuckling again, Snape released the off-color comment that had been twisting in his thoughts. "G-good girl. Ten points to Gryffindor, Miss Granger."

Snape may have been teasing, but he had never given House points lightly before and so hadn't anticipated the consequences of his words. A floor above him, the Gryffindor hour-glass clinked loudly as ten rubies were added to the count.

*** *** ***

The next day, Severus hadn't protested when Hermione woke up early to work on the mass of assignments she needed to complete.

It was Saturday. If she hadn't bullied his house-elves into retrieving her things yesterday, he would have sent them himself at the crack of dawn. Exam day before the hols was fast approaching, but Snape didn't doubt her ability to effortlessly 'exceed expectations'.

He snorted at the thought.

Thundering into his bedroom before lunch, her daily potion in hand, Snape unresponsively gazed at Hermione and the layer of parchment and books she'd gleefully immersed herself in on his bed. When Hermione failed to glance up at him, Snape cleared his throat and drawled, "You have a visitor waiting for you in my office, Hermione. The house-elves have been instructed to bring the two of you some food. I'll be back in an hour." Snape placed a mug-full of the blue mixture on the end-table beside Hermione and turned to leave.

Hermione called after him before he fully exited the room. "You're allowing me visitors?"

Snape arched an eyebrow. "Despite the incessant rumors circulating the castle... You are not my prisoner, my dear."

Hermione wanted to admit that she wouldn't mind if she had been. She smiled instead. Reaching for her potion, she swallowed a few tentative sips and hummed, "Thank you. Who is it?"

"Ginevra Weasley. A much better alternative to her witless brother, I must say."

Hermione struggled to ignore the insult against her friend. The idea of speaking to someone other than Severus while she was down in the dungeons hadn't crossed her mind. It seemed absurd that she had even been allowed down here. But Hermione didn't want to run the risk of angering Snape by defending Ron. She very much craved the opportunity of talking to Ginny, now.

"While I can tolerate her in my chambers," Snape continued, "it would be completely inappropriate for her to see you... in my bed."

"I agree. Is the living room fine?"

"Adequate. But after you've finished every drop." With that, Snape whirled around in a billow of robes with Hermione eagerly crawling out of bed to walk closely behind him.

Snape spun to face her, causing Hermione to slam into his chest. "What did I just say? After you finish the potion, Hermione."

Disappointed, she nodded in response.

When the Conjured door leading into Snape's office slammed shut behind him, Hermione rolled her eyes. It was just like Snape to make Ginny sit uncomfortably in his office instead of inviting her in himself.

Hermione ignored his instruction, believing there was no harm in waiting. She lingered a few seconds to ensure Snape was thoroughly gone before she invited Ginny in. Right before Hermione reached for the brass handle, she gasped at the realization of her own carelessness. Glancing down at the thin nightshirt she typically wore when lounging about, it had suddenly dawned on her that this wasn't appropriate to wear around Professor Snape...in the eyes of everyone but her and Snape, that is.

She ran back to his bedroom to throw on her school robes. Closing and warding his bedroom door, Hermione stilled her nervous breathing before inviting Ginny in.

She stepped into Professor Snape's office and shook her head. Hermione laughed at the sight of Ginny standing painfully still in the middle of the room.

"Glad you came." Hermione sniggered.

Ginny briefly grinned in return. The energetic smile faltered as soon as the redhead's eyes focused. Ginny frowned, almost gaping at Hermione, before she fruitlessly attempted to grin again.

Hermione awkwardly drew her hair to cover more of her face. Her bruising wasn't nearly as ugly as before; her skin didn't hurt when she touched it. But the yellow discoloration of her fading injuries had been enough for Ginny to imagine the worst.

"Come on." Hermione sighed, jerking her head into Snape's living space.

Ginny's eyes widened as she walked through the door. "I cannot believe I am down here...in here."

"I can't believe it, either." Hermione laughed.

Hermione sat down on the settee, and two house-elves instantly appeared with a tray of sandwiches and tea. They magically Summoned the coffee table closer to Hermione's knees and then popped back down to the kitchens with a snap of their fingers.

Ginny hadn't moved from the wall where the door had been. She impulsively examined Snape's living rooms with a strange expression of both fear and awe.

"Oh, relax!" Hermione lightly scolded, patting the cushion at her side.

"Relax?" Ginny scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Here?" Hermione's lack of nervousness was obvious, compelling Ginny to flip her hair over her shoulder to appear just as nonchalant. Ginny finally took her offered seat. Hermione reached for the pot of tea, pouring boiling cupfuls for the both of them.

Hermione cleared her throat, turning her face so Ginny couldn't see her smile. She had felt so secure in these surroundings that she delighted in Ginny's hesitancy within the very same walls. The dreaded Potions master's chambers almost felt like her rooms, now. Our rooms, her mind corrected. This was punctuated by Hermione acting quite the little hostess in the manner she was serving Ginny.

Snape would be furious if he had been here to witness this.

Which of course made Hermione smile even wider. Clearing her throat again, she focused on the real matter at hand.

Popping a sandwich into her mouth, Hermione turned to Ginny with forced good humor. If she led the conversation, Hermione could avoid the topic turning on herself. "So...what excitement have I missed in Gryffindor Tower? I know Harry or Ron must have got into some form of mischief without me."

Ginny's face snapped up, glancing at Hermione oddly.

Hermione swallowed her partially-chewed food, throwing the leftover piece in her hand onto the table. "Why are you looking at me like that? What is it?"

Ginny shook her head furiously, unable to speak.

"Has something happened?" Hermione demanded.

"Stop! I didn't come here just to talk about me," Ginny said, surprisingly angry all of a sudden, sharply turning away.

Hermione comprehended the redhead's outburst, nonetheless. Not one to normally shed tears, Ginny's feelings of sadness had always twisted into frustration. Hermione had been used to similar emotions from Ron.

"Well, I certainly don't want to talk about me!" Hermione laughed archly. Only one thing...one person...could make Ginny react like this. "Harry...?"

Ginny nodded. Hermione gave her friend time to compose herself before she made Ginny tell her everything.

*** *** ***

Hermione couldn't believe all that had happened in the past week-and-a-half while she had been recuperating in the dungeons.

Lavender was months into a pregnancy... and engaged to Harry!

Hermione was further dismayed to learn that Harry had been so careless in not preventing such an... accident. There were certainly other options available to them that wouldn't necessitate him marrying the slapper!

Ginny had sobbingly confessed all of this to her in Snape's living room. As soon as the redhead's pathetic divulgence had processed in Hermione's mind, she was on her feet and out the door, thundering through the dungeons with only one thought on her mind. Answers...and lots of them.

Ginny had trailed after her, bawling uncharacteristically as she begged for Hermione to leave things be.

Leave things be, Hermione scoffed to herself. Over her dead body!

Curly hair wildly swirling behind Hermione in her haste, she hadn't been surprised when the younger students in the corridors dashed out of her path. Many had seen the Head Girl in such a state before, so Hermione hadn't felt surprised when they diverted their eyes to the floor, hoping they weren't the reason behind her wrath. Not one student dared to whisper about the Head Girl's suspicious absence for the past week for fear that Hermione might overhear them.

Upon reaching the Gryffindor common room, Hermione was relieved to notice that Ginny had finally abandoned her incessant pleading. As the redhead fearfully watched Hermione crawl through the portrait hole, she sharply turned on her heel and ran back down the corridor in the direction they had come.

The portrait of the Fat Lady hadn't completely closed before Hermione screamed, "Harry Potter!"

The image of a livid Hermione Granger was certainly a sight that had been seen before in the tower, but now she had fading battle wounds and rumors of their existence to add to the intimidating vision. All heads in the common room dutifully turned down, giving the appearance of minding their own business to avoid confrontation.

Harry tentatively descended the boys' dormitory stairs.

"I need to speak to you," Hermione said through clenched teeth.

"I figured as much..." Harry was at a loss on how to properly react to her unexpected anger.

"In my room, if you please." Hermione whirled away from him, expecting Harry to obediently follow. Hermione stormed through the common room to the door that led into her Head Girl's rooms. She gruffly thrust open the door.

Hermione turned, only to meet the scandalized eyes of Lavender Brown, whose palm was pressed firmly against Harry's chest.

Lavender was determined to keep him exactly where he was. Not only in the physical sense, but mentally and emotionally as well. She had covered much ground during Hermione's absence and wasn't willing to lose it without a fight.

"Can I help you, Miss Brown?" Hermione sang sweetly with her head cocked to the side.

The common room had fallen deathly quiet. The only person who dared to breathe was Harry, whose face had fallen into his hands with a dreaded groan.

"Anything you have to say to Harry, you can say to me as well."

"Oh, I don't think so." Hermione laughed condescendingly. "I have no duty or obligation to afford you such courtesy. You are not his wife... yet."

"Enough!" Harry yelled. Taken aback by his own ferocity, he wavered before ultimately taking an even step past Lavender.

"Harry!" Lavender cried.

"QUIET, please!" Harry snapped.

Hermione was quite satisfied to see the aghast look on Lavender's face...until Harry turned on her with the same irritation.

"And you!" Harry snarled at Hermione. "No 'hello'? Not even a quick word or owl to let me know you were all right?"

"I..." Hermione hadn't come prepared for this row, but now she realized she should have. She guiltily shut her mouth before replying softly, "Professor McGonagall told you I wasn't in any danger..."

"Don't you think Ron and I would rather have heard that from you?"

"I've been bed-ridden, Harry!"

"Really?" Harry narrowed his eyes at her. "You seem quite energized now, don't you think?"

Stung, Hermione lunged at him, hands fisted at her side. "I'm bloody angry, that's why!"

Oblivious to what had been going on, Ron descended the boys' dormitory stairs. He hadn't heard the topic that was being discussed, only being able to make out the voices of his two best friends. Ecstatic in the return of his female companion, Ron laughed. "Hermione's swearing! Who kicked a house-elf...?"

"THIS ISN'T FUNNY, RONALD!"

The entire common room followed Ron's lead and gazed at Hermione as if she had grown a second head.

Hermione composed herself with a deep huff. Looking past Lavender's death glare, Hermione finally spoke calmly. "I apologize. It's good to see you again, Ron."

"Er... likewise."

"And we'll discuss my careless decisions later, Harry. Right now, I'm here to speak about yours."

"Excuse me?" Lavender hissed.

Harry thrust his arm out to keep Lavender behind him.

"Hermione," Harry said quietly, "you're out of line."

"So are you! I cannot believe I had to hear about this from a heart-broken Ginny! How could you, Harry?"

"What?" Harry gasped. He turned to look at Lavender, but she had made it a point to divert her gaze before Harry had been able to catch it. Turning accusing eyes to Ron, he was suddenly nowhere to be seen. "Ginny? I haven't told her anything..."

Hermione growled through clenched teeth, momentarily shame-faced at blaming Harry for Ginny's state. But the second she realized that Harry hadn't been the one to tell Ginny, Hermione already knew who was at fault.

Parvati failed to remove her heartless smirk fast enough to prevent Hermione's notice. Lavender's wide eyes of warning towards her best friend finally snapped the last of Hermione's control.

Wand raised, Hermione lunged at the vicious blond. "You... you spiteful bitch!"

Lavender ducked Hermione's hex, screaming at the top of her lungs. A cushion behind her exploded in a cloud of feathers. Lavender screamed again, throwing herself towards Parvati and forcing her friend in front of her path.

Harry caught Hermione by her wand-arm at just the last minute. "Calm down," he barked, struggling to subdue her. "Ron!" Harry yelled, fearing he would need help.

"This is madness, Harry!" Hermione finally stopped struggling to speak pointedly to him. "Don't you have any idea what kind of snake you're committing your life to?"

"I have to...I want to do this, Hermione."

"NO. You don't. What for? Duty? Playing the father you never had?"

"Hermione!" Ron's voice screamed, completely appalled.

"How do you know her baby is even yours, Harry? It's no secret that she's... that she's been... UGH! I won't say that, but it's obvious she's deceiving you!"

"STOP IT!" Harry thrust Hermione away from him. She stumbled backwards, unable to regain her footing until Ron finally came out of hiding and caught her.

Hermione had never seen Harry so angry. His rage finally melted her own.

"These are my decisions to make, Hermione. So get over it."

"I only wanted to..."

"NO! And I don't want to hear you saying such things about the baby's parentage, either. Why would Lavender lie about something like that? Regardless of who she may or may not have been with in the past, she's with me now!"

The cruel smirk twitching on the edges of Lavender's mouth had disappeared long before Harry finished saying this. She yanked herself away from Parvati, desiring nothing more than to run to him but turned instead to run up the dormitory stairs to be alone.

"Harry..." Hermione didn't have the chance to finish her sentence. She choked on her saliva when a dreaded roar forced Hermione to swallow her words.

"MISS GRANGER!"

Aside from the few whimpers and squeaks of the first-years, the entire common room was rendered silent once more.

Hermione found herself hesitant to face him. What in Merlin's name was Snape doing in her common room? How could he get in?

Spinning around, Hermione winced at the sight of Professor McGonagall standing beside her Potions master, both wearing identical expressions of discontent.

Hermione calmly folded her hands behind her back. "Yes... Professor Snape?"

"Did your Head of House or your... physician... give you permission to leave your sick bed?"

"I...no, sir."

"Then I strongly suggest you to return to it."

"Yes, sir," Hermione replied meekly.

"Honestly, Miss Granger," Professor McGonagall huffed with an exasperated wave of her hands. "What were you thinking?"

"I apologize, Professor McGonagall. I... wasn't... thinking, that is."

"That much is already obvious," Snape sneered.

"Yes, well, Professor Snape, no harm done as you can see. I'm certain you can take over from here?" Thin lipped, Minerva waited for some sign of acknowledgment. Snape bowed slightly, waving his arm towards the portrait hole. Minerva comprehended his meaning with a roll of her eyes.

"Ladies first," he sneered so only Minerva could hear him. Standing rigidly straight when she had exited, Snape turned to glare venomously at Hermione.

At the sound of a very recognizable and exaggerated snicker laughing at her retreating back, Hermione's previous resentment swelled in her chest. Making a show of calmly following Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape out of the common room, neither noticed the presence of a wand in her folded hands. Hermione snapped her wrist, whispering under her breath before she was completely through the portrait hole.

Parvati's tortured scream echoed in the common room, followed by gasps of horror that abruptly cut off when the portrait of the Fat Lady closed.

Luckily, Professor McGonagall had already rounded the corner in the direction of the Headmaster's office. Hermione wasn't surprised by the obvious hurry of her Head of House. No doubt everything Minerva had learned in the Gryffindor common room would be replayed for the Headmaster in hopes that some... solution... could be attained.

Professor Snape held very different priorities than his fellow Order member. He whirled around to the sound of Parvati's distress. Senses on full alert, his wand-arm flinched in preparation.

"Keep walking," Hermione whispered, passing him.

Hermione didn't wait for him to follow, expecting that eventually he would. A vengeful smirk began to spread across her face.

The metal toe of Snape's dragon-hide boots idly scraped behind her. His long-legged stride enabled him to quickly match her pace.

"What did you do?" Snape asked quietly.

"I gave that snorting face of hers a nasty snout to match," Hermione casually responded.

"Hmm," Snape grunted.

Hermione tentatively glanced up at his lack of reaction.

"You're not... upset?"

"Rule breaking in the Gryffindor common room is Professor McGonagall's inconvenience, not mine," Snape said briskly.

Increasing his pace, he easily passed her.

*** *** ***

Once they had returned to Snape's chambers, cold and indifferent Professor Snape melted away as soon he was certain they weren't within earshot of anyone roaming the dungeon corridors.

Professor Snape had been instantly replaced by Severus Snape's wrath.

Severus had loudly slammed the door, making Hermione cringe. Trying to avoid his rage by appearing minuscule, Hermione darted across the room to sit quietly on the settee.

"I cannot believe you left these rooms...without permission...and without finishing your potion."

"I'm sorry," Hermione breathed tiredly. "I was speaking to Ginny and got... distracted."

Crossing his arms, Snape marched to stand before her. "You mean," he sneered, "you received some tid-bit of student gossip and immediately had to stick your nose in other people's business!"

Hermione jumped to her feet at his undeserved accusation.

"Harry's business is my business, Severus. That should be very apparent by now!"

Snape narrowed his eyes. Slowly walking closer to her, he leaned into Hermione, forcing her to sit back down on the cushions. "Perhaps... this routine meddling should now come to an end."

Hermione vigorously shook her head. "Never."

"So, you're going to tell Potter whom he can and can't marry?"

"He's marrying a... a... you know what kind of girl she is. Marrying her out of pity for a baby he didn't father."

"You don't know that for a fact, Hermione. And even if it were true, it is not your place to decide such things for other people."

"Harry's my best friend, Severus. I know the two of you have never got along and probably never will, but sometimes friends know what's best for each other, even if said friend doesn't know it himself."

Severus chuckled throatily, pushing himself away from her. "You are a complete hypocrite, Hermione."

Hermione was dumbstruck.

"What did you call me?"

"A hypocrite," he said evenly with a dismissive flip of his hand. Snape's weariness for discussions related to anything Potter drove him to retreat into his bedroom.

Hermione sat for a few seconds in silence, taken aback by his insult. Stifling a screech, she thrust herself off the settee, storming through his living space and ranting off the top of her lungs. "How dare you say that to me! You, of all people, calling me a hypocrite. Snape," she scoffed nastily, "the dedicated spy of not one but two masters... Snape, the sacrificial hero for the Order... Snape, the most valued pet of Voldemor..."

Hermione had entered Snape's bedroom before she was able to prevent her ghastly slip from rolling off her tongue. But regardless of her carelessness, it was stopped for her. A fierce hand clamped around her mouth as another closed around her throat.

Snape thrust her against the wall.

Hermione's feet scrambled beneath her, her toes desperate to touch the floor. Eyes bulging, Hermione's arms flailed against him, and for the life of her, she couldn't recall if she had completely said the Dark Lord's name or not.

Snape towered over her, his hair draping both sides of his face, casting a black shadow across his eyes.

His voice hissed low and threatening. "I believe you have finished mocking me."

Snape removed his hand from her mouth to grasp her jaw tighter. He shook her face to force a response. "Yes?"

Hermione fervently began shaking her head.

"Say it."

When her back began sliding up the rough wall, Hermione cried, "Yes! Yes... I've finished. I won't mock you... again."

They stood there staring at each other, the silence dragging mercilessly. Hermione's muscles threatened to cramp in her effort to remain perfectly still as she watched Snape's own battle to control his anger. She had no idea how long this mood of his would drag out. When Snape sensed her quivering in his arms, his dangerous expression slowly altered to heartless amusement.

When Hermione averted her eyes, Snape jerked her jaw, forcing her to look at him. "I am not a hypocrite... because I do not claim to be either of the things you accused me of. Nor do I make such claims for others. You, on the other hand, are so quick to voice your opinions on the choices of everyone around you, believing that Miss Hermione Granger knows best... "

At the sight of tears welling in her eyes, Snape finally yanked his arm away from her with a snarl.

Hermione fell forward; coughing for air, she held her sore throat.

Lip curling, Snape turned away from the sight.

Hermione pushed herself off the floor but was mindful not to say a word.

Snape sensed the exact moment she was facing him. Whirling around, he ignored her retreat away, grabbing her by the arm. Hermione prepared herself for pain but was doubly confused when his arm softly wrapped around her waist. Hermione struggled to pull away.

Snape held Hermione close and sneered, "Feeling better? Shall we continue, then?"

Hermione glared at him and snarled, "If you want to talk, fine. But perhaps we should wait until you are feeling better?"

Snape faltered slightly but then only held her tighter. "Unfortunately, that isn't an option. I have far too many questions for you. What if...stop struggling and listen to me! What would happen if your precious Potter had an opinion an your love life...?"

Hermione stilled like he expected, finally meeting his eye.

"That is," Snape whispered nastily, gently brushing his lips against her ear, "if you even have one?"

Hermione cried out, surprising Snape with a hard kick in the leg. Using the distraction of his pain, she finally pulled away from him. But Hermione made no move to escape from his bedroom. She wasn't afraid of him; although, she knew in many ways she should be. When his arms closed around her from behind, Hermione could no longer hold back her tears. Her mind was always a war of emotions when he was... like this. She had experienced his physical violence before, but it had never cut her as deeply as his callous words.

"I asked you a question," Snape hissed against her ear.

"No," Hermione screeched, throwing his arms off her. Her back still facing him, Hermione thrust herself towards the four-poster, unable to prevent the wrack of sobs that were taking control of her breathing and senses. Falling dumbly against the bed, she gasped. "You're just lashing out."

"Answer me," Snape said quietly behind her.

Was there a question? Hermione couldn't remember... She turned her face into the mattress.

Snape snarled in impatience. Lunging towards the bed, he grasped her by the arms, yanking her up to face him.

"Tell me now!"

"What? What do you want to know?" Hermione cried. She made a move to crawl away, but Snape was too fast for her. He clambered on top of her and pinned her arms to the mattress.

"When Potter and Weasley find out who you have chosen to be intimate with, what do you expect their reaction to be? Professor Snape, the dreaded Potions master and very loyal Death Eater... Wouldn't you expect them to make similar demands as you did today?"

Hermione's eyes widened. She couldn't understand why he had been lashing out like this, and now it all finally made sense. She had never pondered the 'what-if's' of their senselessly continued liaisons. Was he afraid that she expected him to remain her dirty little secret forever?

"Yes... they would," Hermione breathed, finally glancing up into his furious face.

"And would you let them persuade you?" Snape barked at her.

Hermione lifted her shoulders off the mattress, meeting his anger. "What if I did?"

Snape pulled back slightly, his eyes strangely going blank. The anger melted from his face until he was no longer pressing his intimidating weight against her. It appeared Hermione wasn't the only one who had been ignoring the 'what-if's'.

At a loss for words, Snape turned his expressionless face, slowly struggling to remove his hold on her.

Before he had completely pulled himself off her, Hermione asked, "Would you?"

Tears running out of the corner of her eyes, Hermione clenched them shut and furiously shook her head. She fiercely wished she hadn't been desperate enough to ask that. Not expecting an answer, Hermione pulled her legs out from under him and quickly rose off the bed.

She gasped when determined hands closed around her waist, pulling her back down on the bed.

"No more," she cried, her hands digging into Snape's arms.

"I don't..." Snape faltered, swallowing thickly. It was obvious he wasn't angry anymore, but his dark eyes still possessed a dangerous gleam to them. "Don't leave..."

It wasn't a command. Hermione found herself struggling to deny his sincere request.

Despite... everything... it was difficult for Snape not to be conscious of his hold on her arms and of their position on the bed. Grasping her hands, Snape softly lifted them above her head, holding both of her wrists in one hand. Unable to prevent certain... bodily... reactions, Hermione was soon aware of it herself.

He could feel her entire body trembling underneath him; whether it was from fear or arousal, he couldn't say for certain. Snape released her arms, snaking his hands in the hollow between her back and the mattress, pulling her hard against him. "Would you," his voice was a strangled whisper, "end all of this, merely to please them?"

"No!" Hermione cried, anguish and disappointment rang heavy in that one word. "Never... you know I wouldn't."

Pressing his face against her neck, Severus exhaled at the forcefulness of her reaction.

"That is why you are a hypocrite."

Hermione pushed against him, but Snape refused to give her a chance to argue. "Enough." His hair brushed against her face as his lips pressed carefully against hers. Hermione's tears and runny nose did nothing to deter his onslaught. If anything, the taste of them made Snape deepen the kiss further.

Hermione weakly placed her hands on his shoulders, her whole body feeling too heavy to move.

Looking down at her, Snape pulled his lips away to whisper, "And no. I wouldn't."

Hermione returned his kiss, her eyes widening. Had he just answered her question?

Snape slowly lifted Hermione by the bum, pushing his robes out from under her. Lightly edging his fingers beneath her bare thigh, Snape carefully dragged it over his hip. With a few quick movements, he released himself, reveling in the sensation of his aching cock pressing between her legs.

Face pressed into his neck, Hermione groaned when Snape leisurely pushed into her. Her hands clenched against his robes; she was taken aback by his slow and determined movements. Snape had never... not like this...

Hermione tensed when she felt Snape unexpectedly freeze on top of her.

Pushing himself away, he looked down at her in horror. "Bloody hell!"

"What?" Hermione gasped. Snape pushed himself off her, lunging for the forgotten healing potion on the bedside table.

"Severus," Hermione asked again. "What is it?"

"You didn't finish your potion," Snape responded sternly. He grasped her wrist, urging the mug into Hermione's hands.

"It's all right. I was just..."

"NO, Hermione. It is not all right. You don't know what this is..."

"I... um... The ingredients are similar to the Strengthening Solution, but the color and consistency seem a bit... heavy."

Snape chuckled, lightly shaking his head. He hadn't asked her to name the potion, but he wasn't surprised at her attempt, either. "Close. This is a variant of the Strengthening Solution not commonly known since it's been banned by the Ministry."

"Why?" Hermione clasped a hand to her mouth, staring fearfully into the mug.

Severus sighed. While Hermione was distracted in her horror, he reached out to grasp the hem of her robe, pulling it down to cover her partial nakedness. Acknowledging that the mood was long gone, Snape rose from the bed to fasten his trousers before beginning his explanation.

"Because of the dosage. It needs to be taken once a day, at the exact same time each day, for twelve days. The first six days of the potion introduces a magically simulated parasite that feasts on tissue...quite similar to maggots. This potion does target infected tissue initially but won't recognize if and when the body has healed. Once these 'parasites' have successfully eradicated anything foul within the wound, they will begin to harm the host in hopes of creating more infections. Over the next six days, a slightly altered version of this potion is given to kill the 'magical parasite' introduced by the first and finally commence the basic purpose of the Strengthening Solution. As you can see... it is very easy to accidentally...if not intentionally...poison someone."

Hermione jerked the mug to her face, tossing the liquid quickly down her throat.

"Good girl. Now start packing."

Hermione coughed, struggling to speak and swallow at the same time. "Excuse me?"

"Since classes end this week for the holidays, Dumbledore is planning a pathetic get together at Headquarters for the Order."

"I had to spend the entire summer there. I'm not going back for a holiday."

"You really don't have a choice... and neither do I."

"You're spending the hols in Sirius' house?" Hermione asked skeptically.

"It's work, Hermione. Not a holiday. Either way, I believe there will be an Order meeting as well."

"Since you're staying there, I can only assume Sirius will be there as well?" Hermione asked with a frown.

Severus' eyebrow arched in response. "What does it matter to you?"

"Only trying to gauge how unbearable this week will be," Hermione sighed, finally rising out of the bed. "As much as you'll despise every moment of it, I must admit that I'm relieved. But in many ways, your presence will be unbearable as well."

"Why is that?" He laughed darkly.

"You'll just be there. It won't be how... it was here. I dread the idea of having you so near and being forced to pretend that there is nothing between us."

"I'm certain we'll find ways to... bear it."

Hermione snorted disbelievingly, turning to walk out of the bedroom. Snape caught her by surprise before she was able to leave the room.

His cool fingers closed around her wrist, pulling her into his arms. Holding her tight against him, he looked down into her surprised face.

"Are you... all right?"

Hermione smiled shyly, nodding her agreement.

"What number am I down to?"

Bewildered, it took Hermione a moment to realize what he was referring to. "I... lost count."

Snape frowned. Curling his hands around her jaw, Snape drew her face up to his for another slow, drawn out kiss.

---

Author's Notes: No, I am not ignoring the other subplots. Pansy and Remus and our favorite psychopath are due next chapter. I must thank those of you who voted for my story in the first round of the 2008 TNL Awards. Winning Best AU has been an honor!

-My beta, melusin, has been aces with her work on this story.

-Chapter title taken from John Milton's Paradise Lost, Book ii. Line 995.

Next Up: It's the week of the hols, and omniscient Dumbledore believes a bit of Christmas celebrations are just what the Order needs... at Sirius' house.