Chapter Twenty One - The Torturing Hour Call Us to Penance (Part 1)

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

Author's Notes: Been a very busy Christmas season, and melusin was wonderful enough to find time to beta this chapter.

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Sirius didn't enter this 'dream' quite as apprehensively as he had in the past. Despite the pulling in his gut at his abrupt and never-ending fall, and despite the thunderous rush of wind against his ears, he still didn't suffer his usual dread.

He almost wanted to smile.

But nothing would change his intense loathing for his mentor. She was the messenger, after all.

If she'd had a physical body, he would not have resisted his urge to strangle her.

"Pleased to see me, I see." The woman's voice echoed against the molten rocks.

Sirius narrowed his eyes. Glancing up, he eyed complete blackness, and glancing down, he was presented with exactly the same. He couldn't see her yet, so he had to wonder if she was able to read his mind.

The moment that last sentence completed itself in his head, she somersaulted into his line of vision, giggling repeatedly.

Sirius glared mutely at her.

He hated coming here. Regardless of the perplexing and overwhelming confidence that was filling him, nothing would ever change that. He hated constantly being reminded of the day he'd fallen through the veil back at the Department of Mysteries. Endlessly falling at mind-numbing speed.

He loathed recalling his initial dread for the impact of this fall. And he cringed as his own voice echoed in his mind, screaming variations of prayers that begged for the bottom to finally end it all.

"Still pitying yourself, I see."

"What do you want, now?" Sirius snarled.

"Just making sure you know your options. Such resiliency... as I have said before, I can't believe you have lasted this long."

"Well, apparently, I have."

"Then I began to wonder," she continued, obviously ignoring his attempt at rudeness, "that perhaps you were just too ignorant to realize you had options. All of the others I had before you knew their...well, that they had at least two choices. They either had to wind their pocket-watch for the rest of their lives... or stop."

She giggled again. Green mist darted toward Sirius as if she were trying to affectionately touch his face.

"Living day to day..." she cooed quietly. "Winding and winding... gasping each and every time their last breath almost escaped... but, they all eventually stopped winding their pocket-watches."

Sirius' hand instinctively darted into his pocket, his fist clenching around his watch.

"But you..." she laughed. "Sirius Black...." Every syllable in his name was exaggerated, as if he were some celebrity whose history could be repeated on command. "You seem to enjoy your daily torment. I could... end it all for you."

She finally stopped circling him, coming very close, practically whispering in his ear.

"Would you finally like to see the end of this pit?"

Sirius' breath hitched in his throat. Glancing below his feet, Sirius had to admit to himself that it would be tempting to finally know.

Shaking his head, his long hair whipped against his face. It wasn't what he wanted. Not anymore, at least.

"No."

She reached toward him. This time, Sirius recognized the fluid movement. She was reaching for his pocket-watch. Glaring at her, he jerked away, possessively clutching his pocket against him.

Eyes dancing in excitement, she gleefully beamed at him. "Then it is done! You do know your options."

He lifted his chin tenaciously. "Yes, and that..." He nodded towards the darkness before his feet. "... is not one of them any longer."

The woman did not say anything, but her pitying smile was not lost on him.

"We'll see...."

Sirius jolted awake, drenched in his usual cold sweat.

Forcing himself to lie against his mattress, he kept his eyes closed to remind himself where he was, concentrating on the erratic and heavy heaving of his chest.

Finally relaxed, he carefully lifted the huge tome off his torso.

His hands blindly fished around his bedclothes. Finally locating the crumbled piece of parchment that had accompanied the text, he shoved it between two yellowed pages, marking his place in the tome.

Pulling the duvet up toward his chin, Sirius kicked his leg over, turning on his side, shoving the bulk of the bedclothes between his legs. Carefully placing his second most precious possession on the bed-side table, Sirius reached for his pocket-watch.

Hermione. He sighed, lovingly caressing the cool metal.

*** *** ***

Hermione shifted in her seat, silently staring at the front of the room.

Potions today had been fairly effortless. As per usual, she had been the first to finish the potion, which had left her bored and very uneasy.

Professor Snape hated seeing his students doing nothing. It didn't matter if her potion was complete and absolutely perfect. None of that mattered when an Advanced Potions student was found to be aimlessly twiddling her thumbs.

Hermione turned the page of her Potions text, giving the appearance of studying. Her finger nervously curled the corner of the page. Leaning against the worktable with her chin in hand, Hermione slyly looked up to the front of the room through hooded eyes.

It was always amazing... and irritating... how disciplined Professor Snape was...that he was able to be only Professor Snape to her in each and every class.

Sometimes, Hermione felt like she was burning holes through his skin with the fierce gaze of her eyes. Hermione was certain that Snape knew she was staring at him, and that he knew exactly what was on her mind every time she did.

Hermione released a frustrated groan under her breath, rubbing her palm across her forehead.

Relax, Granger.

The faint hiss of a whispered conversation caught her attention.

Hermione slightly turned on her stool, glancing over her shoulder towards the back of the lab room.

Pansy's eyes darted up at Hermione's movement, meeting the Gryffindor's stare before sending a quick look to her side.

Nott was entirely preoccupied with completing his potion. So engaged, he was unaware of Blaise, who was sitting behind Pansy, whispering urgently in her ear.

What's going on now? Hermione wondered. The idea of all this being absolutely none of her business didn't even cross her mind.

"Who the hell are you eyeballing?" Ron insultingly whispered directly into her ear.

Hermione flinched in reaction, her stool almost tipping completely over. Grasping frantically for the rim of the table, Hermione yanked it too hard, sending her cauldron toppling across the surface.

"NO!" she screamed as red-hot Blood Replenishing Potion oozed over the edge of her table and splashed across the stone floor.

The room gasped in unison.

"QUIET DOWN!" Professor Snape snarled from his desk.

Face covered by both of her hands, Hermione's stomach tensed as Professor Snape's chair scraped against the floor.

"I do believe hell has frozen over," his voice drawled directly in front of her. "That would make your score for today... a zero... would it not, Miss Granger?"

Hermione's hands began to shake. Perfect... her potion had been perfect! And he could clearly see that it was, too, regardless of the fact that it couldn't be bottled and labeled!

"I asked you a question, girl."

"Yes, sir," Hermione barked from behind her hands.

After a short pause, Professor Snape sneered, "Miss Granger, you are to stay after class and clean up this mess. Do I make myself clear?"

Sighing in defeat, she finally lowered her arms. "Y-yes, sir," Hermione answered weakly, unable to meet his eye.

"Bottle and label your potions and leave them on my desk!"

Severus ignored Hermione as her fellow students gathered their belongings and gradually filed out of the classroom. As Harry and Ron were the last to leave, they both shot her a pitying glance...Ron's was more of a guilty grimace, actually...before turning down the corridor.

Being far too distracted as she tidied up her own table, Hermione did not notice the growing smirk on Severus' face.

She jumped as the classroom door slammed shut. Quickly glancing over her shoulder at the door, Hermione caught a movement out of the corner of her eye. Her expression startled at the sight of Severus' wand raised in front of him.

"Come to me," he commanded smoothly as he turned toward his desk.

Hermione looked questioningly at the mess covering her worktable and the floor. "But I thought you wanted me to..."

Severus swiftly waved his wand once more, and the room lay spotless before her eyes.

"Severus?" Hermione narrowed her eyes at him.

"I think," he drawled, "I have something else in mind for your... punishment, Miss Granger. Now, come here."

Hermione exhaled with a shake of her head before steadily walking around her worktable. "Hermione," she scolded, reminding him that they were alone.

"Oh, no," Severus purred. "I fear that you must remain 'Miss Granger' until... you leave."

Skeptically arching a brow, she waited obediently to the side. Severus took a few steps back and pointed to the floor between himself and his desk.

She shot him a look from the corner of her eye. Hermione slowly walked around his wide desk to stand before him. She crossed her arms impatiently, leaning on one hip.

"What do you want me to do?"

"Manners, Miss Granger." Severus sneered. "Turn around."

"Why?" she asked steadily.

"Because I told you to."

Hermione swallowed heavily. She recognized the blazing gleam in his eye. It was the exact same one she had been sending him all through class. Despite his odd habit of refusing to call her anything but 'Miss Granger' while in this classroom, she had a feeling his punishment wouldn't involve typical teacher-student conduct.

She hesitantly turned around, facing his desk.

"Very good." He chuckled deeply. "Let's see how well you can continue to obey authority."

Hermione heard a rustle of fabric as he stepped closer to her. She felt very vulnerable with her back to him and wished to turn around.

Sensing her impulse, Severus harshly spoke in her ear the second she fidgeted. "I did not give you permission to face me," he said sternly.

Hermione nodded mutely.

"Now," he drawled. "Place your hands on the desk."

Hermione lifted her hands out in front of her but faltered.

"Obey me, or I will be forced to dock points, Miss Granger. As a matter of fact, here is your chance. Accept a loss of twenty points, and you may leave. Or... continue as we are. Which will it be, Miss Granger?"

Bastard!

Hermione wasn't sure if she should react to this situation as a student or as a lover. Instead, she reminded herself that she was both to this man, and it left an uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach. She swallowed one more time before leaning forward, placing both hands flat against the desk.

"Very good." He wasn't patronizing her. Severus actually sounded pleased indeed.

He stepped closer.

"Spread your legs apart," he whispered roughly.

Hermione complied immediately. Her breaths were quickening at the realization as to where this was going. She was nervous, uncomfortable, and excited: a very confusing mixture.

"Now, lean forward... slightly."

The moment Hermione submitted, Severus took another step toward her. Her legs nearly buckled at the feel of his calloused hands lightly skimming the back of her knees. His touch continued upward, gathering her school robes in the process.

The classroom suddenly seemed very bright. Too bright, in fact. Insecurities clamoring in her mind, she slightly pulled away from him when the hem of her robes lifted past the elastic of her knickers.

"Severus, what if someone were to come in?" she asked quickly.

She sharply inhaled when his hand suddenly closed around the inside of her thigh.

"If you are that worried, Miss Granger..." His hand pulled back, tracing his fingers along the elastic of her knickers. "... then, by all means accept the loss of points..." Continuing on his determined path around her arse, he slipped one finger under the elastic, following it until his hand was completely between her legs again. "... and leave."

Hermione's knees were shaking beyond her control. She hissed when his fingers began a slow and determined rhythm.

"So, do you want to leave?"

"N-no," she gasped.

Severus' hand paused. "No, what, Miss Granger?"

"No... sir!"

Severus' only response was a throaty chuckle. He began the slow dance of his fingers once more.

Closing her eyes, Hermione lost herself to the smooth rhythm of his agile fingers. Elbows shaking, she didn't realize that she had been thrusting back against his hand until she heard his ragged intake of air. She whimpered disappointedly when he suddenly stopped.

"Patience," he breathed throatily.

Both of his hands closed around her hips before he slipped his thumbs under the waistband of her knickers. That feeling of overexposure returned again at the feel of her underwear being slowly dragged under her bum until they wrapped around her upper thighs.

"You, Miss Granger, have a deliciously rounded arse."

Hermione instinctively pulled away at the idea of having her bum under inspection.

Grasping her hips, Severus yanked her back.

"I did not give you permission to move."

Just when she desired nothing more than for him to be much closer, Severus wrapped an arm around her waist. His hand trailed across her quivering stomach before slipping under her blouse. Lowering his face into the hollow of her neck, Severus pressed his chest against her, encouraging her to completely bend over.

Warm, bare skin pressed against the back of her thighs.

A high pitched mew escaped Hermione's throat as Severus slid the palm of his other hand up her back, slightly pushing her against the surface of his desk.

She instinctively arched, thrusting her hips against him.

"Yes," Severus groaned. "Yes... just like that."

Severus' hands disappeared between her thighs. Spreading her moisture with the tips of his fingers, he easily guided himself into her.

Hermione was taken aback by the foreign pressure of this angle. Her arms blindly reached out in front of her until she was able to grasp the rim of the desk.

Severus steadily pushed into her.

Gathering a handful of hair, he slightly tugged, instructing her to tilt her head back.

He slowly pulled out of her.

Pressing his jaw against her temple, Severus wrapped his arm around her, pushing up once more.

"Relax," he breathed into her ear.

"All-all right," she gasped as he filled her.

"Am I hurting you?"

"No," she lied.

"This will never feel pleasurable for you if you continue to remain so tense," he purred into her ear. His voice, his breath, hot and panting were doing wonders in the area that his cock was occupying.

Still holding her around the waist, Severus placed his other hand flat on her thigh. He slowly slid his palm against her heated and soft skin... so close, yet not touching her where she wanted. Her muscles clenched when his knuckles barely skimmed her wetness.

"Stop," he groaned, voice catching as he pushed into her once more. "Stop fighting me," he whispered, pressing his face into the back of her neck.

As if on cue, Hermione's muscles instinctively clenched around him. He groaned loader.

"As much as I enjoy it, my dear, this will remain uncomfortable as long as you keep doing that."

Hermione smiled slightly and intentionally squeezed hard.

"Fuck."

Holding her tighter, Severus' steady thrusting built into a quick rhythm.

Listening and feeling him panting on the back of her neck was making Hermione increasingly warm. Relaxing finally, she groaned at the sounds of his exposed upper thighs smacking against her bum.

She fell forward against the desk, her legs no longer able to hold themselves against Severus' repeated plunging. Her inner muscles clenching once more, Hermione groaned in pleasure... to her surprise. The pressure was starting to feel wonderful, and yet, it wasn't enough.

She couldn't help the moans and gasps escaping her mouth.

Severus' growled in response. Inspired with a new energy, he pushed into her energetically and deeply.

She moaned again... but in pain. Her body cringed within itself when Severus pushed hard against her cervix.

He instinctively froze.

His hand squeezed against her stomach. Pushing his sweaty brow against her ear, he tentatively whispered, "Are you... uncomfortable?"

"I-yes," Hermione gasped.

Severus' other arm wrapped around her waist. "Let's go," he said, not allowing her to move of her own accord as he pulled her weight off his desk. Turning her around, he easily lifted her by the bum, half tossing her over his shoulder.

"Severus!" Hermione gasped.

When he started walking, Hermione clutched the robes on his back, praying that he wouldn't drop her.

Leaving the classroom behind, Severus passed through an adjoining door. Hermione pulled her eyes away from the stone floor; she watched his office pass her vision and then disappear when a second door slammed in her face and disappeared into the wall.

When she realized that they were in his personal rooms, she finally spoke up. "Severus..." she said worriedly, "Harry and Ron will be waiting for me at dinner. I think perhaps we should..."

"I couldn't give a toss," he said dismissively, interrupting her.

She cringed at his words, eyes closing in pain.

Seconds later, when she reopened them, she looked up at her Potions master as he laid her on his four-poster.

Removing his robes, Severus slowly descended on top of her, sliding both hands up her bare thighs. Wrapping her leg around his hip, Severus lowered his face to her.

Hermione turned her jaw away. The idea of kissing him didn't seem appealing at the moment.

She couldn't see him, but she could feel his eyes staring at her, searching her face.

"Are you... rejecting me?" he asked slowly.

"Never." As the word exited her mouth, Hermione was unexpectedly overwhelmed. She meant what she had said, and it... hurt. It hurt because she was starting to believe that she was the only half-naked person on this bed who felt such things. Wetness rimmed in her eyes.

Severus pressed his lips against her throat as he slowly pushed into her. One hand glided down her motionless thigh, pulling it around his other hip.

He reached out, sliding his hand through the hair at her temples, urging her to face him.

"I lied," he whispered, pressing his lips against her throat.

Barely comprehending what he'd said, Hermione turned toward him, nudging her jaw against his face. The ache that had been gathering in her eyes escaped, rolling down her face.

Pulling back slightly, Severus thrust into her again. He groaned and pressed his face against her cheek. Feeling wetness, his tongue darted out. He exhaled at the taste of salt.

"I lied, Hermione," he said again.

Hearing those words, Hermione's body sagged into the mattress as she groaned in pleasure and relief. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she slid her hands through his hair. Raising her hips off the mattress, she met his every thrust.

Her tears never stopped. The more he kissed and whispered in her ear, the quicker they trailed down her face.

*** *** ***

"Pregnant?" Ron gasped. The full implications of that one word hit him as the last syllable rolled off his tongue. He dumbly bent his knees, sitting on his four-poster.

"Yeah," Harry said hollowly.

Ron's mouth opened and closed. Finally looking up at Harry, he blurted out the first thing that popped in his head.

"Didn't you wear a johnny?"

"I-no," Harry admitted shamefully. "It sort of... just happened."

"Fucking hell."

Harry dropped his face in his hands.

"What are you going to do?" Ron gasped. "No! What is she going to do?"

Turning his face slightly, Harry blankly stared at the floor. "I don't know what to do. She said she won't get rid of it... and I don't blame her. I wouldn't want that."

"This is bad, mate."

Expecting an exclamation of agreement, Ron repeated his words a bit louder.

"Is it?" Harry slowly said to himself before turning to Ron. "Is it really?"

"Harry... you're seventeen-years-old! Of course this is bad!"

Harry remained silent. He skeptically looked at Ron, shaking his head slightly.

Ron blanched, swallowing thickly.

"I've been thinking about it since she told me. It doesn't sound so terrible. Having a kid... a family."

"HARRY..."

"Listen to me, Ron!" Harry snapped, slamming his hand against the wooden bed rail. "You grew up with the family the size of a Quidditch team, so I can understand why this would be something you would dread. But... I've never had a family. The idea of having one now... it doesn't sound so bad."

"Okay, I get it," Ron groaned, rolling his eyes. "You want to be a number one dad."

"I dunno... maybe more."

*** *** ***

"You asked to speak to me, sir?" Hermione poked her head into Sirius' office, eyes dancing around until his voice revealed his location.

"Sir?" Sirius gasped by the window. He dramatically placed a hand over his supposedly hurt heart.

Hermione rolled her eyes. She indulged him with a smile as she took the last remaining steps into his office.

"Shut the door, please."

Her hand clenched around the doorknob so hard, her knuckles turned white.

In her haste to make a decision, she imagined the worst case scenario being the result of him noticing her reluctance.

Hermione closed the door behind her, standing with her arms crossed over her chest.

A gleeful smile pulled at both corners of Sirius' mouth. "Sit." He pointed to one of the two armchairs directly in front of the hearth.

Tilting her head to the side, Hermione skeptically looked at him but still walked to sit in her offered seat. He seemed to be acting much stranger than usual...which was alarming for a man verging on the edge of an emotional meltdown.

Hermione's lower lip vanished behind her teeth.

Grin plastered across his face, Sirius crossed the room toward his desk. Leaning against it, he lifted himself to sit coolly on its surface.

Hermione's brows rose, obviously showing her wonder as to why he couldn't just sit in a chair like a normal person.

"This isn't a school-related meeting, Hermione. No, this is about something much more important."

She calmly looked up at him. The last time she had been alone with this man, she had saved him from near... death... and then held him as he cried.

Sirius coughed roughly, clearing his throat. "I want to... um... thank you... that is, for what you have done for me. I don't know... how much... you know...."

"Sirius..." Hermione interrupted, lifting her palm. "It's okay. You don't have to explain."

Unbeknownst to each other, they both instantly remembered the fact that Hermione had wound the watch for him. Hermione felt a little embarrassed, but Sirius stared at her through harsh eyes.

"Why do you know... so much?" he questioned darkly. Sirius quickly slid off his desk. "No, let me rephrase that. What do you know?"

The only thing Hermione allowed to flinch was her heart. Was she allowed to tell him this? Is it what Dumbledore would want?

She opened her mouth and inhaled. "Now," she said reassuringly, "don't be angry... but I don't think Dumbledore meant to reveal anything...."

Sirius noticeably prickled at the mention of the headmaster's name.

"Most of it I guessed based on various hints!" Hermione added quickly. And saw... in the brothel. She groaned when Sirius' naked body instantly flashed in her mind.

"Guessed... what?" he snapped.

Too angry to think properly now, Hermione jumped from her seat. "I saved your life, if you remember, so you'd better watch how you speak to me!"

She was waving her finger in his face again. Somehow, Hermione's scolding always brought him back to his senses. Gazing at her meekly, he shrugged his shoulders, urging her to continue.

Taking advantage of the opportunity to put some distance between them, Hermione paced his office, refusing to look at him directly. "I know... that you received your... your pocket-watch on the... other side. I know you must constantly wind it to maintain your... health. And I know that if you don't wind it, you will... die."

Sirius had stiffened as she tried to speak but was now shaking his head frantically. "You knew all that..." he said to the floor, "and you still chose to help me? Can stand to be near me?" His head snapped up to gauge her reaction.

Hermione honestly couldn't understand the emotions behind this. "Why wouldn't I?"

Sirius darted towards her. Again, Hermione had the better sense not to recoil in the presence of a mad dog. "Do you even know what I am?"

"N-no," she said quietly, looking up at him. "Do you?"

Sirius paled, pulling back. "I could be a monster; I could be an unnatural atrocity...."

"Or," Hermione interrupted, in the hopes of calming him down, "you could be none of those things."

Sirius took a measured step toward her.

"What am I to you?" he asked huskily. His hands darted out, fighting against his instinct to touch her.

"A..." She swallowed. "A friend, Sirius."

He began shaking his head once more. "That's all?"

"We've already covered this...."

"But you know things about me that no one does. You want to know things about me that no one does. You understand things about me that no one can!" Finally following his emotions, he thrust his arms out in front of him, fingers wrapping around her arm.

Hermione stiffened.

"You helped me... where no one else could possible know what to do," he said, his voice growing deeper and quieter as he pulled her closer.

"Sirius, please stop."

"You don't know it yet...."

"Let. Go." Hermione finally attempted to jerk away.

He shook her. Hard.

It only made her flail twice as fiercely. Loosening his hold, his hand clenched around her jaw as he tried to draw her face closer. "But you'll love me... eventually."

Hermione could taste his breath, and it turned her stomach.

"No!"

A swift gust of wind blew Hermione's hair as Sirius' office door was kicked open.

Sirius instantly pushed Hermione away from him, turning toward the intruder.

Severus Snape malevolently hovered in the doorway, his robes billowing around him in his haste.

"Professor Snape!" Hermione's voice clearly gasped in relief, and it was obvious to everyone standing in the room.

Sirius' expression instantly twisted from panic to bitterness.

"Am I... interrupting something?" Severus drawled. Crossing and uncrossing his arms, he stood rigid with a wand in his hand that he hadn't been clutching moments before.

"NO!" Sirius took a step toward him. "So you can fly back to your cave the way you came!"

With every word Sirius spoke, Hermione moved an inch closer to her Potions master.

"No..." Severus repeated mockingly. "So you usually have young girls in your office who scream 'stop'?"

"How dare you make such insulting accusations!"

Severus' upper lip curled. "Then perhaps... I heard wrong." His head slightly inclined to the side as he said, "Miss Granger, I need to speak to Professor Black... alone. Please wait out in the corridor."

"But, sir..."

"I said NOW, Miss Granger!" he barked, finally gazing at her.

"Yes, Sev..." Hermione cleared her throat before correcting, "Sir!"

Chest heaving, Sirius gazed at Snape with a perplexed expression as Hermione exited his office. Either Black had caught Hermione's slip or he was covetous of the authority Severus had over her.

Both turns of the situation made Snape openly display a very pleased smirk.

"Go to Albus!" Sirius snarled nastily. "See if I care! I doubt he'll believe any of your ridiculous accusations."

"We aren't fifteen anymore... if you have cared to notice. I very much prefer solving my own... dilemmas." Casually glancing at the floor, Severus crossed his arms as he leisurely rounded Sirius. "Besides... you're the black-sheep, now." Severus' smirk grew nastier. "Fitting, isn't it?"

Vainly trying not to let Severus' words affect him, Sirius shouted, "How the fuck is this your dilemma?"

"Stay away from her!" Severus immediately barked, secrecy be damned.

Sirius attempted to smile knowingly. "Why would I want to do that?"

"Well... the fact that she was screaming 'no'... means without a doubt that she finds you absolutely repulsive."

"She does not!"

Severus dramatically groaned as he rolled his eyes. "It's like arguing with a five-year-old," he said dismissively, whirling to exit the office. "It makes no difference," Snape said dryly over his shoulder. "I'll just forbid her ever to be alone with you, anyway."

"Forbid her?" Sirius scoffed.

Severus completely ignored him as he stormed through the Defense classroom.

"What right do you have to make demands of her?" Sirius barked.

Knowing it would drive him mad, Severus continued to hold his tongue.

"Why would she even listen to you?"

The end of Sirius' hysterical tirade briefly echoed in the corridors as Severus exited the classroom. He slammed the door angrily, startling Hermione, who had been fidgeting outside.

Nostrils flaring, he sharply turned his head, silently glaring at her through curtains of lank hair.

Maddeningly chewing her top lip, she walked toward him, mouth open and ready for an explanation.

He quickly lifted his hand. "Do not say a word. Go to my office."

"Won't you even listen to me?"

Severus lunged at her but caught himself in time to search the corridors for prying eyes.

"In my office, Miss Granger!" he whispered harshly.

Hermione half-screeched in frustration and stomped her way towards the dungeon corridor.

---

Author's Notes: Of course, no teacher/student story is complete without inappropriate classroom sex. I have always wanted to write this hot and heavy cliché, yet still remind the readers that they are teacher and student.

-Story beta'ed by the very talented melusin.

-Chapter title taken from John Milton's Paradise Lost, Book ii. Line 90.

-Next up: The second half of this chapter.