Trying Assertive Romance

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~o 41 o~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Trying Assertive Romance

He found her sitting crossed legged in an archway in the bailey that overlooked the courtyard, the same one he'd preferred as a student because, not only was it partially hidden by a huge camellia bush, it was at the end of the walkway and, therefore, very secluded. Her head was bowed as she read from the book propped open on her legs where her ankles crossed, and she held a notepad propped on her one knee with a quill in one hand – the same quill he'd given her at the start of term. The dappled light breaking through the leaves danced on her curls, giving her hair an angelic glow. Two Ravenclaws greeted her as they walked by, and she looked up, saying hello to them in return. Her head turned in Severus' direction when she caught sight of him, and he moved closer. "I was just passing by," he said and decided not to make excuses for his presence.

"If I didn't know you better, I'd think you came here looking for me," she replied. She laid the quill in the box it had come in and looked back up at him expectantly as she placed the notepad on top of her book.

"Who's to say I didn't?" he asked with a smirk. He stopped next to her and peered down at the book. He was going to play this Narcissa's way. "Transcendence theory?"

"Non-constant polynomial equations with rational coefficients in application with large numeric variables," she replied.

"You're using qualitative and quantitative equations from the fundamental theory that where a non-zero polynomial exists with intercoefficients the polynomial will have its root in the complex numbers."

"Yes. Exactly," she said, smiling up at him. "You took Arithmancy when you were a student?"

"I carried eleven courses my N.E.W.T year," he replied, returning her smile, checking in his peripheral vision if anyone was paying them undue attention. Most students were walking by quickly and avoiding eye contact with him, although one girl did wave at Hermione. "Arithmancy was one of them." Cringing inwardly at what he was about to do, Severus pulled a small vial and a pocketknife from his pocket. He deftly cut a twig off the camellia bush and uncorked the vial, sticking the twig into the pale orange liquid. Within seconds, tiny buds appeared on the twig, swelling extremely slowly as the twig began to absorb the liquid. "By tomorrow they will bloom." He handed it to Hermione. "It will only last about nine weeks."

Her eyes widened as she took the vial, staring at the offering, then looked up at him, her eyes wide and searching, questioning. "I thought that you didn't do flowers," she said softly, her expression still conveying her astonishment.

Her reaction was surprisingly worth the effort of brewing the elixir. "I made an exception."

"Thank you," she replied, still holding the plain glass vial as if it were a treasure.

He nodded and scowled at some students who were gawking at him. They scurried away quickly. He turned his attention back to his wife. "I would like you to have dinner with me, just the two of us. I've made arrangements." He'd asked Mispy earlier that morning to set up the same room he'd used the night he'd brought her here for dinner over the summer for a romantic setting for two. The elf had been delighted. He could only imagine what frivolity Mispy would consider as being a romantic setting, but at least he'd be alone with Hermione.

"I'd be delighted," she replied, smiling warmly at him.

The corridor of the bailey was filling with students, so he merely bowed slightly and walked away. She had lessons now anyway. He smirked at the idea of what would go through Minerva's mind when she saw the small token.

*

Hermione packed everything away as the bell tolled the hour. She held the vial carefully in her hand so as not to let the camellia branch get bumped, lest a bud break and fall off, as she hurried to Transfiguration. She set the gift on her desk before sitting and pulling out her things for class. Hermione looked up and saw Professor McGonagall's gaze flicker from the camellia branch to her with a questioning quirk of her eyebrow, but Hermione only smiled back at her.

"Okay, who gave you the leaves?" Alestra asked, sitting in the seat beside her and peering closer at the twig. "Is it – yes, it's got flower buds, hasn't it?"

"It's from Se-Professor Snape," Ginny said, having caught herself from making a faux pas and using his given name.

"That's a tricky elixir," Luna stated as she sat down beside Ginny. "It forces the twig or branch of a plant to go through a full cycle in only two months."

"Severus said it would take nine weeks," Hermione said, still smiling at the thought that he took the time to give her another gift. "It's a camellia branch."

Ginny chuckled. "Imagine him – flowers. Who knew? Next thing you know, he'll send you chocolates."

Alestra and Ginny laughed at Hermione's response of, "He's not the flower and candy type though, is he?"

"Apparently, you're mistaken," Luna stated, indicating the twig now sporting four flower buds. "I hope he sends you Doven's Doves. They're divine. Neville sent me some."

"Ladies, if I may have your attention, I'd like to begin class," Professor McGonagall admonished them.

"Sorry, Professor," Hermione, Ginny, Luna, and Alestra said, almost in unison.

~6, 7, 8~

Dinner had gone surprisingly well. Mispy had created a very elegant setting with candles and a table next to the window, much like their previous evening in the room. Only this time, the table had been set up more formally than before with a black tablecloth and napkins, the gold charger plates and goblets, and fine white china. Each course had appeared with perfect timing for a long, leisurely dinner.

Afterwards, he'd asked for their cloaks and had taken Hermione for a stroll along the battlements, even recklessly kissing her as if they were adolescents. Well, as if he were one; even though she was technically adult, she was still only nineteen. Standing on the battlement, watching tendrils of her hair whip around in the breeze had given him an idea. He'd cut a lock off and placed it in his handkerchief while he'd jokingly promised not to use it for any illicit purpose or for Polyjuiced transformations.

Severus now stood in a stairwell entryway that neither portrait in this section of the corridor could see, partially hidden by the statue of Paracelsus clutching vials of opium and mercury in his chubby fists.

The bell tolled, and he could hear the classroom doors open, the sounds echoing throughout the castle. Hermione would be coming by on her way to the library. He waited, smirking in anticipation. He spotted her as she approached and used a slightly ambiguous charm on her to make her walk along the wall so she'd pass right by him.

No sooner did she step around the statue than Severus grabbed her arm and pulled her into a hug and whirled her into the entryway, quickly casting the Dissimulata Charm. "I couldn't resist," he growled and kissed her.

"Severus!" she gasped against his lips and relaxed a fraction, her hands still pressed against his chest. That was all he needed to deepen the kiss, hungrily tasting her mouth as if starved. Slowly he eased back, his demanding kiss lessening into a sensual dance of tongue on tongue. He cupped her face, kissing her cheek and pulling her tight. "I missed you last night."

"I had prefect duties, and you were in a meeting with the Heads of Houses," she replied, her hands sliding around to his back as she embraced him.

He looked into her eyes, his fingers caressing her jaw with the gentlest touch. She shivered, took an uneven breath and closed her eyes for a brief second. He leaned forward and brushed his lips against hers with small soft, playful caresses. "We'll be caught," she mewed with her eyes closed.

He shook his head slightly, never breaking contact with her supple lips. "Today the stairs end at the seventh step into a wall of solid rock, so no students will be coming this way. Besides, I've added a Repelling Charm on the entry, to dissuade the younger years who won't remember. Don't you trust me, Hermione?"

Her robe now hung open, and he toyed with the buttons on her blouse, flicking them open at random, as he kissed her. What he wanted was to rip open her blouse and yank her knickers down so he could bury himself in her, an idea that spurred him to more ardent attention on her mouth. She moaned, sending a shiver through him to his groin. "Have you any idea the effect you have on me?"

"I – yes," she groaned, her bag falling to the floor at their feet.

He pressed himself against her, unintentionally rubbing himself on her, the friction even through his robes and trousers driving him nearly mad. Hermione shifted, her back pressed against the wall, her arms around his neck as she kissed him back. He slowly maneuvered himself downward, trailing kisses on her flesh as he leaned down to taste the skin of her breast. Her bra didn't open in the front this time, so he pulled it up and sucked on a nipple, releasing it with a pop. "Gods, you're so beautiful," he murmured, taking pleasure with her perfect breast, suckling while his other hand played with her other nipple. He marked her, knowing no one else would see it but her.

Her head rested on the wall, and her fingers toyed with his hair as she allowed him to savor her breasts. He straightened, his hands still clutching her, thumbs circling her nipples and looked at her face. He lay his cheek on hers and pleaded softly, "Please, stop denying me," in her ear in his silkiest voice. "I want you."

"Tell me you love me," she pleaded in return.

The words stuck. He kissed her instead, pouring all his desire for her into the kiss. She responded in kind, as if her desire matched his. Surely she knew, even if he couldn't yet bring himself to say it.

She pulled back and looked into his eyes, and he stared at the sadness in them. "I have to go, Severus. I'll come by tonight, but I have revision to do."

He gritted his teeth to fight back the remark that came unbidden to him, knowing that she'd not keep her promise if he spoke it: You always refuse me. He watched her adjust her clothing and then finger her hair to assure it wasn't too badly mussed. "Go, do your revision. I'll expect you at seven-thirty."

He released the charms as she turned to leave. "I'll come up an hour after dinner. I need to get a few books from the library for Charms and Herbology."

He watched her go with a sense of frustration. He knew what she was studying in Charms and Herbology. He'd go to the Malfoy library and borrow some books from Lucius. He swore softly; she'd left before he'd been able to tell her about the pair of plastic bottles he'd asked Mispy to place on her bed: one labeled a shampoo and the other conditioner. He hoped she liked the horse chestnut, lavender, and light, woodsy scent. He knew he would.

~9~

Hermione and Alestra were on the fourth floor, doing their prefect rounds for the night. Alestra checked the door and shook her head. Hermione checked the one across the corridor. It opened. She peered inside with her wand illuminated, then backed out, locking the door. "Nothing."

"So, how was dinner? You never told me how it went," Alestra said when Hermione caught up to her.

"It was lovely," she replied and then turned toward the nearest tapestry. "Apertum respicio," she said with a twisting flick of her wand to expose anyone hiding behind the heavy drape. "He had a table set for two next to the window in a room on the seventh floor. We could see the lights of Hogsmeade."

"Sounds so romantic," Alestra said with a sigh. "I always wondered about him, you know?"

Hermione turned to look at her, wondering what she meant.

Alestra laughed softly, the melodic sound reverberating off the stone walls. "He's so dark and moody, but have you ever noticed his attention to details – how he knew just where we were at in our brewing, who'd need help at the precise time they'd need it? I mean, everyone thought he was inattentive in class – but he wasn't. He would be right at the student's side just before the potion exploded or the student made a horrible mistake."

Hermione hadn't really thought about it. In fact, it was something she'd never considered. "I suppose I had always been too busy watching Ron and Harry, or making sure Neville didn't screw up, or that Malfoy, Crabbe, or Goyle didn't drop something into my cauldron – or trying to ignore Pansy's and Millicent's malicious comments..."

"I used to watch him all the time," Alestra admitted, before saying, "Lumos," with a flick of her wand, illuminating a doorway. "We have graffiti," she stated, laughing at the initials and heart carved roughly into the wood.

"This will have to be reported," Hermione stated, making the notation on her parchment pad.

Alestra nodded. "But, then, I've always liked the tall, dark, mysterious type. I just wish Professor Snape had been nicer to us, like he is now."

Hermione shook her head. "It's because he isn't teaching," she replied.

Alestra giggled. "Nope, it's because he's in love," she stated and flicked her wand, adding a firm, "Nox. Left or right?"

"What do you mean? Right," Hermione said, wondering what her friend knew. "We can cover that way on our way back down. What do you mean he's in love?"

The girls turned the corner and both lit their wands in the dim corridor. "Shh, I hear something," Alestra said, holding her finger to her lips.

A few yards away they found a couple, trying to hide in a recessed doorway to a loo while scrambling to fasten up their disheveled clothes. "Walters and Morgansythe, twenty points each from Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. Better go before Filch sees you. He's right down there," Hermione warned them. The pair left, grumbling. Hermione turned back to her friend. "Alestra, what did you mean, he's in love?"

The girl was reigniting the wall sconces. "It's the way he stares at you in the Great Hall. How he always wants you with him. The way he's been crossing your path between lessons. How he glares at the boys who look at you – I've seen him. He even put Lannister in detention for hugging you the other day."

"He wasn't hugging me – we collided, and he was making sure I had my balance before letting go," Hermione explained. She'd wondered why he'd had detention. Even he didn't know, and he wasn't really a troublemaker.

"And Blume – he'd been given detention for a month because you were in the hospital from the backlash of the Bedydrian Curse," Alestra stated with a smirk. "Then there is the Rudbeckia flower, the camellias, and the flossing mints, that divine smelling shampoo and conditioner..."

"Severus didn't send me the Rudbeckia flower or the mints; the mints came from Blake as an apology for the curse – as a friend." She paused, considering what Alestra was saying. Severus had been very attentive lately. The shampoo and conditioner were incredible. She loved horse chestnut and lavender... It smelled like... Well, green, as if she'd rolled around in an herb garden.

"All right, then who sent you the vial of Remembrance Potion or the Invigorating Draught? And I heard you and Ginny talking about the Felix Felicis," Alestra persisted.

One side of Hermione's mouth quirked, and her forehead creased in annoyance. "For your information, I brewed the Remembrance Potion and the Invigorating Draught, as well as the Draught of Peace and a Calming Draught for Sunita. The girl was getting overly anxious about her N.E.W.T.s and was driving me up the wall."

"And the Felix Felicis?" the girl persisted with a wink.

Hermione blushed. A school owl had delivered the small vial pendant of the pearlescent, molten gold liquid in a lovely green velvet pouch yesterday at breakfast. The note simply said, 'For a perfectly lucky day. SS.' "It was a gift."

"Ah-huh." Alestra winked knowingly.

"Oh, let's just finish our rounds, shall we? Tell me about Thornton Bronte. How are things between you two?"

Alestra blushed and began to tell her about their latest tryst. "I think he's going to invite me to his home over Christmas holiday," she admitted. "I'm so excited. Do you think you'll move into Professor Snape's home over Christmas?"

Hermione sighed. She wasn't going to relent about her relationship with Severus, much like Ginny, Wendlynne, Veronica, and Luna.

~10~

Severus had taken Ginny up on her offer of friendship by inviting her up to his office on the pretense of talking about the potions and had asked the girl what forms of evening entertainment Hermione liked. One of the things that Ginevra had told him was that Hermione enjoyed Scrabble and a game called Monopoly. He'd been surprised to learn that Hermione had introduced the Weasleys and Longbottoms to the games, and had played them with her friends at Grimmauld Place. Playing Scrabble was ingenious: a game that tested your intellect with a modicum of chance and one of Hermione's favorites. However, he hadn't wanted to go out into Muggle London and buy a new version of the game, he'd wanted a well worn box – as if he'd played it himself.

He'd brewed a batch of Felix Felicis a week ago. He had taken a small portion of the potion before he used his Floo to go to the Ministry of Magic. He personally dropped off a batch of correspondence for Kingsley and used one of the Ministry Floos to go to Diagon Alley to obtain some Muggle currency. When he exited the Leaky Cauldron to go out into the Muggle world, he removed his robe, folded it and shrunk it to fit in the pocket of his Muggle suit coat. He then paused on the pavement to allow the potion to direct his next move.

He relished in the exhilarating sense of tremendous opportunity and confidence the elixir gave him. He thought of his quest and felt a desire to go to Beacon County Park. Not sure if he'd ever been there, he Disapparated anyway and arrived near a large bush a few feet from the street.

Under the heady feeling of the potion, he knew immediately which way he needed to go, although, his first inclination directed him to a craft fair. Severus strolled leisurely through the booths, where he found a gold-flaked, persimmon-colored scarf and hat and a matching pair of mittens that would be lovely on Hermione, and a thick, dark navy blue cravat for himself. At another booth, he had purchased a necklace of Tunisian glass and amber beads that he'd thought would be pretty on Hermione. Not something he'd have normally done, but it felt like the right thing to do.

He then walked about a half-mile, or so, as he enjoyed the landscape and saw a woman arranging things in her carport for a rummage sale. Among her things he found exactly what he'd set out to find: a used version of the Scrabble game, worn but in good condition, with all the pieces, and a leather case that opened into a backgammon board with the chips and dice in convenient depressions. Thanking the woman for selling them to him, he turned and strolled into town. Further down the street he encountered a shop that served him an especially delicious cup of espresso.

He Apparated back to Hogwarts, leisurely strolling up the path, approaching at the greenhouses just as the doors to Greenhouse four opened and the students began to leave. He smiled, thinking, How fortuitous, just in time to walk Hermione back to the castle from her Herbology lesson.

"Severus!" she exclaimed.

The look of surprise at seeing him approach nearly made him chuckle. "Hermione," he replied with a knowing smirk. "How was your lesson?"

"It was fine," she replied, falling into step beside him. "What brings you out?"

"Business at the Ministry and a personal errand," he replied. "What did you do in class today?"

"We repotted young Mimbulus Mimbletonia shoots," she said with a laugh. "Neville had given a pair to Professor Sprout, did you know?"

"Yes." He was aware of it; Pomona had gone on about the gift for days. He hardly knew why the plants were so popular; the smell was wretched. However, Hermione must have been fortunate, or skilled with the young shoots, since she didn't stink. Felix made him say, "They produce Stinksap," as if she wasn't well aware of the fact, but it had just slipped out.

Nevertheless, it must have been the right thing to say because Hermione laughed softly and slipped her hand on the crook of his arm as she replied, "Yes, they do."

Although he'd have preferred to observe proper decorum, his potion-addled mind loved the way she leaned toward him as they walked.

"Neville had shown me his plant in fifth year, so I was acquainted with them," she said, and they walked all the way up to the fourth floor, chatting about the plant and its various uses in potions. He'd felt like an adolescent, but in an odd, pleasant way that seemed right.

"I'll see you tonight after dinner, all right?" she asked, smiling at him.

"I look forward to it," he said as he tipped her face up when they needed to part and gave her a slow, feather-light kiss. He smiled at the way her eyes remained closed and the momentary dreamy expression on her face. "I have something for you."

Her eyes popped open, and her face lit up. "What?"

"You heard me. I'll give it to you when I see you tonight." She opened her mouth to protest, and he kissed her briefly again. "Not until tonight."

She huffed and turned, hurrying off to her next class. Smirking to himself, he walked away in the other direction.

That evening, instead of having the coffee table set up for Hermione's revision, Severus had returned the table to its original size with his new Scrabble game on the surface next to her gifts. As he presented her with each of his gifts, he was delighted by the way her eyes lit up upon opening the wrapper, enjoying her insistence that he help her put on the necklace. They played two rounds of Scrabble: he won once, as did she. Afterwards, he sat with her curled up on the sofa beside him, one arm resting about her shoulders, as he read to her from a book of poems by Thomas Gray. It hadn't been his inclination, it'd been Felix's, but Hermione had been very responsive to his kisses afterwards. Although he'd have preferred to, he didn't try to undress her; the elixir, wearing off at the time, had warned him to be gentle and tender, and not to push things too far.

She left that night with a dreamy look in her eyes, and he went upstairs for a cold shower.

~11~

Unfortunately, Hermione had a heavy workload the rest of the week. He could see the strain in her eyes when she'd come up to his sitting room, and he allowed her to simply revise at the enlarged coffee table. At least she was spending her evenings with him instead of her common room or the library. Of course, his pile of books on loan from Lucius had delighted her immensely. He'd used their time together to catch up on his reading and search through Master Gruener's journals, hoping to find the clue for the Médousa Potion.

Severus set the journal down and pinched the bridge of his nose. It was eluding him. Reginald and he had discussed every potential seed used as a potions ingredient, positive that they'd solve the problem and find the one that would work and not throw off the balance of the complicated potion. So far, every attempt had failed. Feeling frustrated, he rose and headed for the library. It was late, but he didn't care.

He ignored the speculative looks of the few students revising at the tables and greeted Madam Pince as he passed by her desk for the Restricted Section. He saw Hermione in the Potions section, reading a book. He glanced around slyly, noting that neither the portrait of Ignatia Wildsmith nor Corcoran Maolduin could see him if he was in the aisle near Hermione, and flicked his wand at the two other students, mumbling, "Muffliato," as he approached her. He cast his Concealing Charm on her and himself, so they'd go unnoticed should anyone pass by, and added a Misdirection Jinx should anyone want to enter the aisle. Finally, he cast a Dissuading Jinx on the other end of the aisle just in case.

Hermione reached up and placed the large tome on the shelf as he encircled her with his arms from behind. "I've missed you," he purred in her ear.

She jumped, making her collapse against him. "You startled me," she exclaimed, turning her head to see him.

Holding her firmly with one hand on her abdomen, he cupped her face with the other and kissed her. "Quite fortuitous finding you in here," he said silkily.

"Hardly lucky," she said as he kissed the side of her neck. Even though she protested, "Severus, we'll be seen," her head angled to give him better access. She breathed in deeply and leaned against him, one arm reaching around to bury her fingers in his hair.

"When will you learn to trust me," he asked, making his growl soft and smooth. "Unlike these adolescents, I have knowledge of concealment, dissuasion, and evasion spells. We will not be seen." He slid his hand lower on her abdomen as he nipped her ear lobe. Her hiss was pure pleasure to his ears. Remembering the cue from his Felix induced encounter, he kept tight control on his desire to ravage her, but maintained a soft, gentle exploration of her neck, cheek, and mouth. Although his hand on her groin was firm, keeping her pinned against his front, his other roamed over her breasts in light caresses, simply cupping her through her clothes. Hermione was melting like butter, swaying slightly when he shifted his weight.

He turned her around and stepped forward so she moved a step backward and against the ladder. He leaned over her, one hand on the rung over her head, the other brazenly caressing her breast as he kissed her leisurely. Her hands on his waist slipped slightly past his belt, but not exactly to his bum. Her eyes were closed as she kissed him back, her breathing deep and even.

She stiffened when the bell tolled the upper-year's curfew. "Oh, my gods – Filch! I have to go!"

He laughed softly. He knew very well that Filch started his rounds in the corridor outside the library. "Walk with me," he said. He bid both Madam Pince and Filch good night as he guided Hermione out of the library.

Out in the corridor, he kissed Hermione chastely, bade her goodnight, and then watched her ascend the stairs. He growled softly and turned, heading for the sixth floor and the battlements to see if he could catch any students misbehaving to vent his frustration on.

~12~

Up in his sitting room, he waited patiently for her to finish the essay. They sat next to each other, his leg touching hers. Occasionally he bounced his foot, more to see her glance at him as he stared intently at the journal and book lying open in front of him.

Hermione tapped her quill as she dotted her 'i'. "Done," she sighed.

"Finally," he growled.

She turned to stare at him. "Pardon?"

"I want you to look at this and tell me what you see," he stated, pushing the journal toward her. She stared, squinting at the messy, linear handwriting and read aloud what he'd read repeatedly over the last few weeks. The writing was obscured in several places by footnotes, scribbles, and comments in the margin of a page and between the text, possibly made by a different writer, or writers, as well as what looked like doodles and childish drawings...

"What is this?" she asked, looking up.

"One of Master Gruener's journals," he stated. The directions of the Médousa Potion had to be in this one. It was the only one that described the testing of the potions and its success, but several pages farther back in the book.

"Does this mean that you're going to let me help you?" she asked, her eyes pleading with him and her expression hopeful.

"I don't want to distract you from your studies," he stated, reaching for the book.

She held it away from him. "It won't. Really."

He was going to regret this. "I may allow your assistance with the research," he relented. "On one condition..."

He never got to explain the condition. Hermione flung herself at him and kissed him soundly. He grasped her waist, since her hands held his face, and pulled her to him. He stroked her lips with his tongue, and she opened them, allowing him to deepen the kiss, her arms going around his neck. He held her tightly, her breasts crushed against his chest as he savored the passionate response from her. He allowed her to guide the kiss, responding to her as she normally did him. Her arms wrapped around his neck, her lips teasingly soft as her tongue danced, stroke for stroke, with his.

He rose slightly, turning as Hermione twisted in his arms, still holding onto him, and he lowered her so she lay beneath him. One of her hands tangled in his hair; the other clasped his shoulder as he savored her mouth, loving the taste of her.

He angled his head, nipping and kissing the soft flesh of her chin, jaw, neck, and the base of her throat. He opened each button on her blouse, gently kissing the skin exposed by his fingers. Her bra did not open at the front like his favorite bra of hers did. Frustrated, he ripped it with a carefully controlled Slicing Hex, amused by her shocked outrage. "I'll replace it," he growled, taking one pert nipple into his mouth. His hand snaked down to her thigh and upwards as he savored her breasts. She reached down to clasp his hand the moment he'd finally touched the cotton covering her crotch. Deny it all she wanted, it was soaked. She was as moist for him as he was hard for her.

"Relax and feel, Hermione," he purred silkily, knowing just how that particular use of his voice made her react. He placed her hand on his crotch, the feel of even that brief contact making his straining penis twitch and his balls ache. However, she didn't remove her hand, tentatively stroking him up and down his length, much to his delight. He kissed her as his fingers slid under her knickers. He teased her with caressing strokes, both with his tongue and fingers, enjoying her moans and whimpers, and ground himself into her touch. He sliced the fabric of her knickers with another carefully controlled, nonverbal Slicing Hex, never breaking his contact with her lips.

Now that she was fully under his ministrations, he stroked and circled her clit with his fingers while alternating his attention between her mouth and breast. She was clawing at him with one hand, grasping and rubbing his penis through his trousers with the other. She came eagerly, loudly, and he ground himself against her, literally coming in his pants like a randy teen. He carefully hid his embarrassment as he excused himself for the loo. When he returned, she was dressed.

She bid him good night and left him for her dorm, kissing him tenderly at the door. He wanted to hex something. He was frustrated to distraction. He took the stairs two at a time to the bedroom and opened up his wardrobe. Reaching into the back, his fingers brushed the fine well-worn leather of Consigliare ab Hector Savinien de Cyrano de Bergerac. He pulled out the book. "Magnanimous," he said, touching his wand to the cover. The small magical book opened to the page where he'd placed Hermione's shrunken knickers.

His first thought was, What am I doing wrong? but he banished the idea as words on the page started to become readable, then faded away before the suggestions were completed and disappeared.

Kiss her firmly, but press her not

Let her respond to you, want you

Fair maidens need...

Compliment her mind...

Maidens need to know how you...

Compliment her...

"How do I woo this witch into my bed?" he asked the book.

The words changed.

Be tender but passionate, be consuming but not demanding

Be ardent but not forceful, be sensual but not grasping...

Lower your voice and say soft poetic endearments sexily, silkily...

Chose carefully your words as you confess your love...

He scoffed at the suggestions, making sentences forming on the page vanish again. Poetic endearments? What else?

Tell her what she means to you, how important she is in your life

Acknowledge not that you want her, that you need her ...

Tell her not that you desire her, but that you love her...

He closed the book with a snap before the last lines of suggestions fully appeared. What in the bloody hell did the book think he was doing? He put the book back, carefully hiding it under his Muggle jumpers. He'd return the bloody thing to Narcissa in the morning.

~*~

Two days later, a pretty barn owl swooped down toward Hermione at the Gryffindor table and placed a pink and silver package delicately beside her plate. Hermione gave the owl a piece of bacon, and she flew away. Immediately after, a school owl landed, carrying a note for her in its beak. Severus' spiky writing on the envelope made her brow crease in confusion. The note simply read:

Hermione,

I'd really prefer if you did not open the package in front of your housemates.

Hermione shoved the package into her bag, ignoring the comments from her friends. Apparently, the pink and silver packaging of Persephone's Secrets was well known by the girls at the table. By the end of lessons, Ginny, Alestra, Wendlynne, and Veronica were itching to know what Severus had sent her. Even Sunita and Luna had inquired as well as Nadine and Deborah, her other dorm mates who hardly ever spoke to her otherwise. Caving in, she led her friends into their dorm room and opened her present.

Inside the box lay four bras in her size: one an iridescent shell pink, another black with black lace, one a creamy peach with tiny seed pearls and a bow, and a green one with black lace, all with matching knickers. Hermione stifled a laugh at the gift. All four bras had front clasps.

"Please tell me you finally believe he loves you," Ginny said as Alestra exclaimed, "Oh, my gosh – you're so lucky!"

"Lucky?" Hermione asked, perplexed.

"Persephone's underwires never poke, and her knickers never ride up uncomfortably," Wendylnne stated. "They're the very best."

"And cost a few good Sickles, too," Veronica said. She wrapped her hands around the bedpost. "Mum always gets gifts from Persephone's Secrets when Dad has to go away somewhere. It's cute that he sent you green ones."

"So, are you going to wear one for him tonight?" Ginny asked with a knowing glint in her eyes.

"Gin!" Hermione exclaimed then blushed. "He bought me these because, er..."

Ginny and Alestra started laughing as Wendylnne said, "Oh, yeah, er! Ah-huh, that pesky little er problem," with a huge grin.

Flustered, Hermione forcefully closed the lid of the box. "It's not what you think!" she exclaimed.

"Oh, of course not," Alestra said, shaking her head with a huge, shite-eating grin.

"No, I completely understand," Veronica said, trying so hard to control her smile she looked like she was going to burst.

Ginny paused laughing long enough to add, "Who do you think you're fooling?" She leaned in closer to Hermione as she sat on the bed. "He ripped them didn't he? And I blamed Crookshanks when I saw your knickers on the floor."

"No! Crookshanks wouldn't! Severus did – but it wasn't – but it's..." Hermione said as her shoulders sagged, and she sat one of the chairs. "I didn't want you to think he was abusive."

"It's okay," Ginny whispered. "Harry did it once; it was such a turn on."

Veronica, who looked rather perplex said, "He ripped – I thought it was just a romantic..."

"It's very romantic," Ginny said, touching Hermione's back. "Besides, he at least thought to send you the very best when he replaced them."

Hermione smiled and bumped her shoulder into Ginny's. "They are pretty."

"Merlin's stars, yes! They are pretty!" Wendylnne exclaimed as Alestra rolled her eyes, saying, "Duh. The best silks and satins, French and Italian lace, real pearls and crystals... It's the best!"

"Who cares why he sent them, well, I care, but really, as long as you are – you know – happy, then it's all good, right?" Veronica said, tilting her head to look at Hermione.

Hermione looked up at her. "Yeah, it's good." She smiled. "It's actually more than good."

"It's about time!" Alestra said as Ginny nudged Hermione's shoulder.

"So, tell us," Ginny prompted her, with a hopeful expression. "Things are better?"

Blushing, Hermione admitted, "Much better."

~13~

Severus tried using Felix Felicis once more, dipping only a thin toothpick into the vial and swirling it in his tea. It was just enough to give him the luck he'd need for twenty minutes. Minerva was becoming suspicious, accusing him of bending the rules of the school charter and his promise to refrain from illicit pursuits in the corridors. Not that he'd admit it to her, of all people. She was a stickler for the rules.

He intended to sweep Hermione off into a small classroom on the third floor between her lessons without being seen. The problem was not only the number of portraits on that particular floor but that the corridor would be quite crowded that time of day, so being sly wouldn't be enough; he needed all the luck he could get.

He walked casually down the corridor, stealthily casting the Misdirection Jinx on the intended doorway should anyone want to enter the room, as he hurried down to the second floor to leave a copy of the roster changes with Professor McGonagall. As luck would have it, she was standing at the back of the class, watching the progress of one of the third-years, when he entered the room. He was in and out in only two minutes.

Smirking, he turned and strolled casually back along the third floor corridor, casting the Concealment and Disillusionment Charms for good measure on the small classroom doorway.

"Did you forget something, Headmaster?" the image of Hegrella Wevernott asked as he walked by her frame.

"No," he sneered and slyly added the Dissuading Hex on the door of the intended room as well, knowing that Hegrella Wevernott's attention was diverted by a shout down the corridor. Now not even that mangy cat of Filch's would disturb them, he thought as he walked away.

He arrived, as luck would have it, just at the same time Filius was dismissing his students.

Hermione looked up from packing up her belongings and smiled at him as he walked by her desk. "Professor, the changes to the roster," he said smoothly, handing the diminutive wizard the folded parchment.

"Thank you, Headmaster," Filius stated, opening the parchment and smiling.

"I shall see you at lunch. If you have any concerns or conflicts with the changes, you can let me know at the meeting tonight," Severus said politely.

Filius, still reading, waved him off. "No, no, this looks fine." He looked up. "Thank you for bringing this to me."

Severus nodded and turned, pleased, but not surprised, to see Hermione waiting for him. He asked her about her lesson as they walked down the corridor. He cast the Dissimulata Charm on her and then himself as they turned a corner, nearing his planned destination. Smirking, he grasped her by the waist, pulled her quickly into the small room and locked the door.

"Severus!" she exclaimed as he pinned her to the wall.

"Yes?" he asked with a smirk. "Who else were you expecting?" He leaned over her. "I've been thinking about you all day. I didn't want to wait until tomorrow to do this." He caught her mouth with his, not roughly, only enough to tip her head back against the wall. Her bag fell to the floor, and her arms wrapped around him. He kissed her, savoring the moment and the excitement of having her alone.

Her response was fervent and yielding, exactly what he'd wanted. The effects of the potion were waning, the tiny voice in his head was gone and the sense of exhilaration was giving over to his lust for the witch before him. Knowing he only had five to eight minutes at best, he opened her robe, but decided to forgo the pleasure of suckling her breasts, fondling her gently through her blouse as he kissed her neck and the sensitive spot behind her ear. She groaned, her fingers splayed out on his back, the tips digging into his muscles like a cat. Recklessly, but knowing that she was feeling her own desires for him, he reached down and raked his fingers up her thigh and along the fabric of her knickers, smirking inwardly at the feel of satin not cotton. She hissed at the contact, and her fingernails raked down his back.

Grateful for his knowledge of nonverbal spells to easily undo clothing, he slipped her knickers down, sliding his fingers between her legs, seeking the moist center. She gasped and gripped his arms. "Tell me, yes," he said silkily, flicking her clitoris and sliding his fingers inside her.

She shook her head, "No time..." she said breathlessly as he flicked her clit, making her inhale sharply.

He slid two fingers inside her, still rubbing her clit with this thumb. Her fingernails dug into his arms, and she inhaled deeply and tensed up. In the most lovely sound to his ears, she whimpered as her knees gave, her vaginal channel clenching around his fingers. He held onto her until her shaking stopped and she was able to stand. "I want to taste you," he purred, licking his fingers as he looked down at her.

"I think you just did," she said cheekily, although still slightly breathless.

"I want you, Hermione; I want you like I've never wanted a witch before," he said, feeling the effects of the potion wearing off and the full clarity of his mind returning. If being in a daze of lust was being clear headed.

"Do you love me, Severus?" she asked.

"Blimey girl, what do I have to do to prove it to you? I'm falling in love with you," he growled and captured her mouth again.

Her responding hug and kiss was confirmation enough that he'd said the right things. "I am too," she replied when he ended the kiss so she could go to her class.

*

Hermione was amazed at the complexity of Severus' spell work. They'd left the small classroom completely unnoticed, even though the corridor was still occupied by students rushing to their lessons on the fourth floor. Severus had walked her to her next class, and when she'd stopped to greet her friends at the door, Ginny, Luna, and Wendlynne had all jumped as if she'd appeared out of nowhere.

The funny thing was she had heard the sounds of Severus' dragon hide boots as he'd walked away, but hadn't been able to see him.

At lunch, Severus had caught her gaze as he'd licked something off his fingertips, and the look in his eyes had sent shivers down her spine.

Even Ginny had noticed. Unfortunately.

~14~

Hermione met Severus at the gargoyle, dressed in a warm cardigan over her blouse, comfortable shoes and her traveling cloak, as he'd requested. They Apparated from the school gates to the beautiful and tranquil countryside in Tintagel, had a late lunch at the Cornishman Inn and strolled through some of the shops as they walked through the town to the island peninsula. The views from the coastal footpath to the inner walls of Tintagel Castle were breathtaking.

"The locals say that the castle is on an island, but as you can see, the peninsula is subject to erosion by the sea, creating a gorge that separates the island from the town," Severus said as they stood by the inner walls.

"I read that the castle is linked to the legends of King Arthur and Camelot," Hermione said, staring out at the coastal view.

Severus smirked and urged her to follow him. "The site may have also been a Roman settlement," he said, holding her hand so she wouldn't slip. "The ruins date back to the thirteenth century."

They climbed the steep steps to the castle's main gateway and gazed out at the ocean in silence. They walked to the cliffs and stared out at the ocean.

"Am I allowed to kiss you?"

She bit her lip as she tilted her face up. "Of course..." she said as he claimed her mouth in a demanding kiss while casting the Dissimulata and Sound-Deadening Charms.

If nothing else, he knew how to make her swoon and her knees weaken. With very little effort, a few roaming kisses on her neck, she was clinging onto him. Her hands grabbed onto him, slowly sliding on his frockcoat under his cloak as he deepened the kiss. He took her hand and led her back to the shelter of the castle ruins, pressing her up against an old stone wall. He kissed her mouth as his hand stroked her hair, and he moved to kiss the spot just below her ear, giving the soft lobe a lick before pulling on it gently with his teeth. Her knees buckled, and he supported her weight. He kissed her mouth and then the skin under her ear again, holding her firmly. The effect had her melting in his arms. After casting warming spells on their cloaks, he shifted, positioning himself over her while keeping his cloak around them like a blanket. He used his nonverbal spell to open the buttons of his frockcoat, smiling as her hands slowly slid on his shirt under his frockcoat and cloak as he deepened the kiss. He wandlessly undid her buttons as his fingers sought out her breasts, eliciting an exclamation of shock from her.

Her eyes opened wide. "W-what are you doing? We're in public..."

He chuckled against her throat. "I'm kissing my wife. No one is around for miles, and even if they were, we're still under the Dissimulata and Sound-Deadening Charms and would be unnoticed. I'm not an exhibitionist, Hermione. I could cast the Disillusion Charm as well, if you'd like, but, as you well know," he said. "I love watching you." He kissed her to silence her complaint as he unlatched her bra and gently flicked his fingers over her hardened nipples.

"We can't," she stammered.

"We can," he said smoothly, continuing his sensual manipulations on her body, relishing her responsiveness to his touch. Through her jeans, the only way he could tell if he was on the right spot was by her moans and sharp inhalations. "Tell me, yes. I need you," he said as he opened her jeans to put his hand inside them. "Let me." Circe, she's wet. His fingers slid along her warm flesh and through her tight curls. "I need you so much," he said silkily, flicking her clitoris and sliding his fingers inside her.

Her eyes widened in shock, and she quickly looked away, then back at him, her pupils dilated with desire, but her expression concerned. "Out in the open? We can't!"

"No one will notice nor care." He sucked on her nipple, sliding his hand back to her groin.

"Let me make love to you." He moved up to capture her mouth as he flicked his wrist, using a nonverbal charm to push her jeans and knickers to her knees. Smiling inwardly, he slid his hand up between her legs.

"I want to lick you, suckle you until you scream, and make love to you right here, right now," he said with a desirous drawl in her ear before kissing her, swallowing her muffled reply, his fingers deftly stroking her below. He fingered her, all the while kissing her neck and mouth. He withdrew his hand and licked his fingers as he stared into her eyes. "You are like ambrosia," he purred, "Simply delicious."

She tried to protest, but he silenced her by ravaging her mouth with his as his fingers sought her clitoris. The moisture he felt made him smile. "I love you, please stop denying me."

"I love you too." She moaned in pleasure and arched her back. "I can't believe we're doing this."

He took that as a yes. He flicked his fingers, and with a well-controlled, nonverbal spell, he rid her of her jeans and knickers, then opened his trousers. Her knees buckled, and he supported her weight, one of his hands holding her thigh as he rubbed himself against her moist lips, his other hand in her hair, holding her mouth firmly to his.

She strained against him. "This is insane," she mumbled, and he smiled, lowering his hand from her head to her bum.

"You drive me to such insanity," he admitted as he lifted her easily enough, pressing himself between her thighs, and her legs immediately wrapped around his waist. He ground himself into her heat, rubbing her entrance with his penis, stroking his length along her clit.

She started to squirm, her fingers sliding into his hair, moaning with pleasure. As she grew even moister, she began to buck her hips against his ministrations, saying, "Yes, oh yes!" repeatedly as he satisfied her, bringing her to orgasm with just the tip of his penis and his fingers.

Eager to feel himself inside her, he entered her in one stroke, smirking with satisfaction when she cried out loudly, "Ohmygods, Severusss!"

He rode out her orgasm with strong thrusts, trying to make his movements as long as possible to savor the feeling of plunging into her on each stroke. Gods, she was so tight, so wet, and warm, the softness of her nearly his undoing. She undulated under him, trying to match his movements as he ravished her mouth and neck until his balls tightened, and he knew he was close to coming. He felt her tighten around him, her nails digging into his arms as she tried to literally pull him into her with each of his thrusts, and he looked in her eyes. Her head rolled back, her mouth gaped open as she screamed his name again. Hearing her say his name again in ecstasy was his undoing.

He plunged into her deeply as his orgasm exploded though him, feeling himself empty into her, and he closed his eyes, barely able to breathe. As the feeling ebbed, he looked down at her, smirking with satisfaction at her labored breathing, flushed face and surprised expression. He braced himself above her as his euphoric bliss waned and rested his forehead against hers.

He smirked when she kissed his nose.

~ T B C ~>

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Author's notes:

I want to thank Arabellabloodgood, my alpha-reader, and my betas, thedoughymatron, vonHardenberg, and DuchessOfArcadia, for giving this a read and helping me clean up all my mistakes. I really appreciate it very much.

Thank you also to Jay for my beautiful banner. I really love it!

For those who forgot from chapter 19: Dissimulata is Latin meaning: concealing, to ignore, leave unnoticed.

If my description doesn't fit Beacon County Park or Tintagel Castle, please remember that I live in the US. I sometimes use Google Earth and the internet to choose my locations.