Jealousy and Flowers

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~o 59 o~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jealousy and Flowers

Alestra, Wendlynne and Veronica had come up to the Headmaster's Tower to see Hermione after having been told by Madam Pomfrey that Hermione was convalescing in her quarters. Severus persisted in being the one to carry Hermione whenever Hermione and her guests moved from room to room. It amused her, not only because it meant that he spent his entire morning with Kazimir, Tatiana, Harry and 'the girls', but because it gave her plenty of opportunity to kiss Severus, or his cheek, affectionately, much to his embarrassed chagrin. Currently, they were all sitting in her parlor having tea when Hermione leaned over to Severus and muttered, "Er, Severus?"

"Yes," he said in an equally soft slowly tone.

"I need to use the loo," she tried to say as discreetly as she could.

He smirked. "Of course you do," he turned to the others. "If you'll excuse us, Hermione and I shall be back shortly." He picked her up effortlessly and swept her across the room.

"Not the one upstairs?" she squeaked in a tiny voice as he headed to the powder room instead of the round room.

"Why would we need to go up there? This is a perfectly acceptable lavatory and its closer," he stated as he elbowed the door open. She could see Alestra and Ginny both fighting back a smile, and Harry blushed slightly, so she clamped her mouth shut.

He set her on the counter and helped her bunch up her robes and remove her knickers. "The room has silencing spells, I assume," he said as he placed her gently on the toilet. "I'll be right back. Will three minutes be enough?"

Hermione sighed. "Gads, I can't wait until I can walk."

"Fine, I'll make it five," he said and slipped from the room. As if he'd been listening, he returned just after she patted herself dry. "So have you relieved yourself, Hermione," he asked as he swooped her up, allowing the toilet to flush, and literally plopped her on the counter.

"Yes, thank you," she replied, taking the sudsy flannel his held out to her and washed her hands, growing curious about the mischievous smirk on his face.

"Are you sure," he said, leaning over her so that she was forced to angle away from him. "I'd hate to think you haven't relieved yourself properly."

She gasped as his hands slid up her legs. "But you can't take advantage of – we have – they will hear us!" she uttered, trying to close her thighs as his fingers sought out her core.

"Do I have to remind you yet again that I'm no school boy? I told you there are dampening spells on the room, but by all means," his other hand pulled her knees apart, "scream for me. I love to hear you vociferating in the throes of passion."

She wanted to say no, but his mouth claimed hers in a rapacious kiss, making her head butt against the mirror as his fingers delved into her moist heat. It was divine. Fear intensified everything: her sense of hearing, the feel of his hand, the look in his eyes all adding to fuel her craving for what he was doing to her. However, her mind warred with the desire to give into him against the concern that her friends could hear her or worse, might walk in on them. Her body was tense with want, a trembling budding trepidation of need. She moaned into his mouth, realizing her body was reacting quickly even as the logical side of her mind seemed to shut down.

He chuckled softy as he pulled away and lowered himself. "How quickly do you think I can make you come," he purred as he lowered his mouth to her core.

Every sound seemed magnified, the touch of his ministrations seemed more arousing, the sensitivity of her own skin seemed heightened, more aware of him and the sounds of her utterances seemed to echo in the confined space. Hermione gripped the counter with both hands and sucked in her breath as the widespread excitement in her pubic region increased to a peak. She hit her head on the mirror again, biting her lip to keep from crying out as she came.

But he didn't stop. He looked up at her, but his fingers still stimulated her, making her even more sensitive. "Severus, please, enough..." she pleaded and tried to clench her legs together as she reached down to stop him, surprised by the tightening of sensation as it ebbed, grew, waned and returned. She closed her eyes, wanting him to stop and not wanting him to stop.

"Not until you come," he said, his voice thick and sultry.

"I did," she gasped.

"I didn't hear you," he stated, and his fingers stroked deeply inside her. "You're so wet. I want you, right here, right now."

"Oh, gods, Severus, please..." she begged, and he laughed as he bent down again. Merlin's stars it was torturous and so rude. Her friends were in the other room, most likely able to hear them and snickering – but gods he made her needy, made her want this. "Severus, lick me," she demanded, "use your voice to make me come like you..."

"Like this," he purred against her clit, and she stammered, "Oh yes, that's... Merlin, gods yes!"

He said something else while sucking on her clit, something erotic possibly, or not; it hardly mattered the way it made her body tense from the sensations it created, but then hummed, adding electrifying vibrations to the flicking of his fingers and tongue. She was sure, but her mind went blank as her body exploded, incredibly intense and unrestrained as he devilishly made her come for him a second time with his talented fingers and tongue. His lips curled up in a satisfied quirk, similar to the satisfied look of completion he had after he'd come.

"Oh, gods, Severus, but you didn't..." she gasped between breaths as she slumped bonelessly on the counter, her head sliding slightly on the mirror.

"Oh, but I did," he said with a smug look of accomplishment, and she felt the cool sensation of a cleaning charm sweep over her before he stood up, adjusting himself. "And I'll exact the other half later tonight," he said smoothly as he slid her knickers over one foot then hooked the other foot in. "I'll let you pull them up now," he said while sliding her knickers up to her knees. "But tonight I'm tearing them off you," he added, drawing them as far up her thighs as he could, his voice a lusty drawl. "And having a proper feast, taking you properly until you scream so loud you frighten the portraits."

His declaration sent a tremulous quiver through her entire body. "Thanks for the warning," she said breathlessly, struggling to pull her knickers up.

He handed her a hair comb. "You're welcome," he said and washed his hands as she fixed herself up. "Ready?"

"Barely," she said, sighing that her hair wouldn't lie back properly. It was fine, she supposed, but messy. She'd have to condition it well tonight. She let her skirts drop. "Ready."

He picked her up and carried her back to the sitting room.

Thankfully, if any of her guests had noticed their extended absence, or had heard her, no one commented, not even Ginny.

Alestra, Veronica and Wendlynne had been delighted about being asked to stay and have lunch with the famous wizards, Harry Potter, Kazimir Maschke and Tatiana Krainova, who it turned out, was a famous Moravian model. Hermione had been amazed when the small dining room in the Snape's family quarters seemed to swell in size again to accompany nine comfortably. And the girls stayed through tea, all chatting happily in Hermione's parlor.

"Gods, the time!" Ginny exclaimed, jumping up as Kirch cleared away the tea service. "I have Quidditch practice in ten minutes. Everyone will kill me for being late!"

"Her-mi-oninny, you could ask one of your house-elves to get Ginnie's Quidditch gear," Tatiana suggested as if this was completely acceptable.

"I couldn't possibly," Hermione started to say, then turned to look where Alestra was pointing in time to see both Kirch's and Dezzy's ears droop from where they peered around the doorframe, their excitedly expectant looks morphing into a sad acceptance. "Unless Dezzy wouldn't mind getting Ginny's things, of course." She turned back to her friends, both Alestra and Veronica burst out laughing at Hermione's resolved scowl and Tatiana's confused expression. "All right, all ready. I hate having house-elves enslaved to me – it's reprehensible!" she announced.

Ginny rolled her eyes, Severus made a humorous smirk, and Harry mumbled, "Spew."

"Hermione doesn't understand house-elves," Ginny said in way of explanation as Dezzy appeared with her Quidditch clothes and broom. "Do you mind if I use your room?" she asked Hermione, pointing at the door.

"No, go ahead," Hermione said with a flick of her hand indicating the way and a shake of her head, ignoring both Severus' and Harry's identical knowing smiles.

"Vhat's no to understand?" Tatiana asked. "They like to serve – ve give them a home to live in, and they pay us back vith service," Tatiana said, almost mimicking Talfryn's statement on the subject.

"The first house-elf Hermione knew about was Dobby, a house-elf who became my friend. He hated being a servant, and I freed him," Harry explained.

"And Winky! They were slaves, pure and simple," Hermione reminded him. "Look at how happy Dobby had been as a free elf – and Winky! – look how she had been mistreated."

Harry shook his head. "And she had been miserable ever since Mr. Crouch freed her, hadn't she? In fact, I heard she'd passed away from a broken heart," he pointed out. "So, are you coming with us to watch Gryffindor practice? Kazimir wants to go."

"Da, I vant to. Ve can carry you to the pitch, if you vant," he said as Ginny entered the room in her Quidditch gear.

Severus gave the Bulgarian a warning glare, but Ginny cut off his retort by exclaiming excitedly, "Oh, then you can give us pointers!" Thankfully the exchange drew everyone's attention, except Hermione's, from Severus' glare.

"No, Ginnie, I vill not," Kazimir said adamantly and narrowed his eyes so she'd not argue. "That vould be an unfair... ne snam, kak," he looked at Tatiana, "vantage, you say, I think, to your other teams and might hurt your standing, no? Disqualify you?"

"No, but it would be seen as a favoritism if I allowed you to do so," Severus stated. "Unfortunately, Hermione won't be able to go; I've other matters to attend to. So, if you'll excuse me and my fiancée..."

"But I want to go," Hermione said and turned to him. "Surely it will be all right, if I promise not to walk. Besides I'd only be sitting in the stands." But his expression, the one he used to show his indifference, masked his displeasure at the request. "I'm sure Kazimir could... levitate me..." Her suggestion faltered the minute his facial expression morphed into a blank mask and his eyes hardened slightly.

"You could use my broom," Ginny offered, coming to her rescue and holding up her Cleansweep five, her brother Charlie's old school broom.

Hermione really hated being an invalid, but she couldn't expect Severus to carry her everywhere, and he was apparently opposed to letting Kazimir carry her, not that she was at all surprised.

"Or we could make your chair hover and push you?" Ginny suggested.

"Kirch and Dezzy can makes the rug float; it can carry our mistress wherever our mistress wishes to go," Dezzy suggested and Kirch nodded. Almost immediately, both elves had their hands over the rug, and Ginny and Alestra both jumped back before it began to hover, but neither Harry nor Wendlynne moved quickly enough, and they almost lost their balance as they hopped off the animated rug. Between the two elves, Hermione floated elegantly from her chair to the rug and it rose higher.

Severus turned on Harry and Wendlynne. "Then I'll charge you to seeing that Hermione doesn't walk, not one step," he demanded firmly, and Wendlynne paled like a first-year under his stern glare.

"Really, Severus, it's..." Hermione started to admonish him, but he turned a stern glare towards her. "All right, fine. I'll fly my magic carpet, happy?"

"Ecstatic," he said.

Hermione had felt like a fool, sitting on a rug floating between her friends, listening them all talk around her, but she had to admit, the floating on the rug was comfortable. At least once up in the stands, when the rug draped over the bench, did she feel less conspicuous, although under other circumstances, riding a magic carpet would have been fun. Too bad they were considered an illegal magical artifact. She hoped Severus wouldn't get in trouble for allowing its use.

Kazimir sat next to Harry on the row above the girls, opting for the 'better view,' allowing Tatiana to sit with Hermione, Alestra, Wendylynn and Veronica, but Hermione secretly knew it was more for his fiancée to spend more time with her new friends than to watch the students practice, since he and Harry talked through most of the practice.

Hermione was surprised to see Baltazar Gonçalves sitting in the first row of seats stands directly below her, avidly watching the house team fly and busily scribbling away on a writing tablet on his lap. More than once, Hermione saw him use a Trigonometric scale slide rule with magnifier cursors, a magical three dimensional abacuses or a Wrentlock free dish-double cursor circular slide rule as he worked on his complicated number charts.

He looked so small sitting there, his Hogwarts uniform hardly hiding his thin, lanky frame. The first time Hermione had met him, it had been hard to believe he was sixteen – not thirteen. He turned his head as he watched the Chasers soar by, his eyes wide and biting his lip, as he followed their movements. The very last minute, Jack swerved under Ernie, taking the Quaffle from him, as they both flew toward opposite goal hoops. Warner Pietersen, a fourth-year, quickly swept toward the left hoop as Jack threw the Quaffle at the middle hoop. Pietersen angled quickly, barely blocking the Quaffle, and knocked it into Ernie's direction.

Hermione watched Baltazar shake his head and add something to his chart. She remembered overhearing Severus, Professor McGonagall, Bartholommeo Gonçalves and the teachers who were to have the new Portuguese boy in their lessons discuss the results of Baltazar's placement exams. The general consent was that, while Baltazar was significantly advanced enough to sit his O.W.L.s, there were a few of his lessons where it would benefit him to join the school year this term as a fifth year, mostly giving the boy time to pick up the magical skills he was not fully proficient at before he sat the exams and then advance with his new classmates. Bartholommeo Gonçalves had been concerned, considering that would make his brother older than the other students in his year, but Baltazar had been very happy with the arrangement, almost ecstatic, saying he'd not only have the term to broaden his magical skills but that it would ensure that he'd receive high marks on his exams.

Hermione stifled a laugh as both Severus and Bartholommeo Gonçalves rolled their eyes. "He's just like you – a swot," Severus grumbled to Hermione on their way to dinner after the meeting. "You should have seen his eyes when I showed them the library – he was salivating."

"I'm sure you're exaggerating," Hermione said, laughing at Severus' raised eyebrow.

"Want to bet?" Severus said drolly. "His comment was that he'd 'be able to read all of these' with eyes as round as an owl's."

Professor McGonagall had asked several students, Hermione and Ginny included, to volunteer tutorial assistance should Baltazar require it. However, Baltazar rarely, if at all, asked for any help, and neither Hermione nor Ginny had had the opportunity to work with him as they'd expected, although Hermione had spoken to him many times in the library. Her impression was of a shy and very intelligent boy with a very inquisitive and sharp mind.

Hermione was pulled from her thoughts as Ginny swooped over the stands to get out of Harold Weinberger's way of the Bludger and looked down. Though Ginny normally preferred to play Chaser with Jack Sloper and Ernie Coppersmith, she had been playing Seeker because she hadn't found a better flyer. Across the pitch, a fourth year, Jack Temlett was nervously anticipating which way Jack would throw the Quaffle. Hermione smiled as the barrel-chested boy made a nice block and threw the Quaffle to Ernie.

"Watch the pop pass," Ginny shouted as they flew by and below Hermione on the first row. Baltazar shook his head and made some more notes on his charts. Ginny swerved her broom closer to peer over his shoulder. "Whoa, what's all that?" she heard her friend ask as she landed next to him. Hermione saw his ears turn red, and he placed a hand on his tablet as he peeked up at her shyly.

Beside her, the girls were talking about the upcoming London Fashion Week in February. "Yes, I vill be modeling for Corazón de Voltaire..." Tatiana was saying, but Hermione really wanted to go down and join Ginny and Baltazar to see what the boy had been doing.

"Yes, but that looks complicated," Ginny said. "You've... those are Quidditch moves – and game plays, aren't they? May I see it?" she asked, and he handed her his tablet. Hermione leaned forward as Ginny examined the charts. From where Hermione sat, she could see that they were quite complex, but she couldn't make out the calculations because his numbers were so small. He shaded his eyes as Ginny turned the page and set down her broom, pouring over his diagrams. "These are amazing," Ginny exclaimed, and Baltazar seemed to light up at the comment, talking adamantly, then seemed to shrink into himself.

"No, show me!" Ginny exclaimed as she plopped down on the bench next to him and tapped his tablet. He handed her a chart and several pages of diagrams.

"Oh, do you think the Headmaster would let us?" Wendlynne asked, and Hermione fought the urge to ask, 'what?' "I suppose we could ask him," she said, hoping that they'd give her a clue about what they needed permission for.

Baltazar flushed and bowed his head as he looked up at Ginny timidly. "NO, please go on," Ginny said encouragingly, and he sat up straighter.

"Oh my gosh, really? Do you think he'll say yes?" Alestra exclaimed. "Mum goes every year, and I have to miss it because of school."

Baltazar made his charts float in the air in front of them, obviously explaining the Arithmancy to Ginny, then he bit his lip, looking at Ginny to gage her reaction. Hermione fervently wished she could be part of the conversation instead of listening to Wendlynne and Alestra talk about Faunita Surreal's shoes and handbags and Donatella Foxford's and Ashley Croft's robes.

Seeing Ginny's attentiveness, Baltazar continued, and Hermione could see that he was really trying to win Ginny over. She was glad; he'd been such a loner since coming to Hogwarts, and it was good he was trying to make friends; she only wished he would try making friends with those in his own year, too. Hermione smiled as she turned her attention to the conversation going on between the other girls, glad that Baltazar and Gin were getting on well.

When practice was over, Kazimir and Hermione tried to reactivate the spells on the rug as Ginny introduced Baltazar to everyone on the Gryffindor Quidditch team as their new strategy coach.

~*~

Madam Promfrey came by the Headmaster's tower that evening to check on Hermione. She was delighted by the progress of her ankles. She pronounced her ankles sound and gave Hermione ankle supports/braces to wear for the next few days.

By the time Severus announced it was time to go down to the Great Hall for dinner, Tatiana confided in Ginny and Hermione that now she was quite looking forward to moving to England, especially having made so many nice friends.

The Great Hall was in a buzz over the international Quidditch player, Kazimir Maschke, and the famous Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley sitting at the Gryffindor table with Hermione and Ginny. Sunita had her star-struck-gobsmacked-guppy expression firmly in place, and Nadine Graham, and Deborah Smythe appeared quite jealous as Alestra, Wendlynne, and Veronica chatted easily with the famous wizards and the Bulgarian beauty.

From where she sat between Ginny and Kazimir, Hermione frequently turned to look up at Severus at the staff table, but unlike before, he seemed relaxed, hardly concerned about her dining companions. Harry, Ron, Kazimir and Ginny, along with the others in the house who could talk about Quidditch endlessly, maintained a friendly argument over who was favored to win the World Quidditch Cup this year and which company would put out a better broom this summer for the upcoming season. On her other side, Alestra, Wendlynne, and Veronica were telling Tatiana all the best places to shop to buy the finest fashions.

Hermione sipped her pumpkin juice and wished privately she'd brought a good book as she pretended to care about either subject.

~o0o~

Kazimir and Tatiana said their goodbyes after dinner, but Ginny and Harry stayed with Hermione in the sitting room for a while. When Ginny slipped off for the loo, Hermione asked Harry, "So have you decided on a date?"

Harry looked sheepishly at Hermione, and the Rudbeckia flowers blushed pink. "No, not yet. It's not a matter of wanting to wait, it's the fact that the reporters keep dogging me and everything I do. I don't want my wedding to become a media circus. We've decided that it will only be immediate family and a very select group of friends: you and Severus, Luna and Neville, of course, and only those who have always been there for us, like Kingsley. I want to include Hagrid, too."

"Hagrid will be delighted," Hermione said. "Where are you considering having it? The Burrow hasn't been rebuilt, and the Phoenix House isn't suited for a wedding, is it?"

"I was thinking of having it at my grandparent's house in Glasbury, Drake Cottage. There is a nice back garden, and I can ask Neville for landscaping advice. It's a bit overgrown. That's where Ginny and I decided we're going to live. We've decided to keep the house in Scotland, the one on the Western Coast up near the Kyles of Bute," he said. "But we thought it would be too cramped for a wedding."

She looked up and smiled, seeing Severus enter the room. He paused, a frown almost forming possibly from Harry's proximity on the sofa next to her, and left without a word, going to his office. Hoping that Harry wouldn't think Severus rude, she turned to Harry, noticing the flowers still sitting on the coffee table and felt her face flushed and smiled. Between her feelings for Severus and Harry's feelings for Ginny, the blooms were almost a ruby pink. "Has Kreacher decided which house he wants to live in?" she asked, remembering how upset Kreacher had been Christmas day.

"He still hasn't said, and I feel horrible about putting him in this situation." He looked down at his hands, worrying his thumb. "Hermione," he began, then looked up, "Do you know how house-elves... I dunno, breed?"

"No," she said, feeling off-footed by the question. "I suppose the normal way. Why?"

"I have two more. They just showed up saying that they are Kreacher's family and are bound to serve Kreacher's family – I assume that means me," he said awkwardly and the flowers in the vase turned white like the roses. "I have to name them and everything. Apparently they are both taking over for Kreacher."

"Is Kreacher ill?" Hermione asked, concerned for the old elf.

Harry shook his head. "No, not that I can see, but both new house-elves are young males; one decided to stay with the Phoenix House, and the other says he is serving me where I go."

Hermione thought a moment. "I remember you saying that Dobby told you that Dobby and Dobby's family were to serve one family forever." She called Kirch.

"Yes, Mistress," Kirch said warily, bowing so low he bent his nose.

"Kirch, may I ask you a question about your kind," Hermione asked, hoping he'd enlighten her. There were not many books on house-elves in the library, and she had no idea how else to find out how inheritance occurred in house-elf enslavement.

"My kind, Mistress?" Kirch asked, his brow forming deep wrinkles as he narrowed his eyes at her.

"House-elves," Hermione clarified. "Please explain to me how house-elves come to serve their families? Do they choose a family or are you bound by your parents' oaths? And their descendants – are they bound by the same... enslavement to serve their sire's family?"

Kirch tilted his head. "Yes, Mistress. House-elves are to serve their families all their life. We serve one family. Our offspring replaces us so our family is always taken care of."

"If you have more than one house, which house does your house-elf live in?" Harry asked.

"Whichever house his family is in, sir," Kirch replied, clearly dumfounded by the question.

"But what if you have more than one house?"

"Then the house-elf takes care of all houses owned by their family, sir," he said and disappeared.

Harry shrugged. "Okay, so that solves it – I've inherited two house-elves under Kreacher's enslavement." He smiled as Ginny entered the room, and the Rudbeckia flowers blushed deep pink. "So, Gin, yes, you get to name my house-elves."

"Oh, great! The one with the little nose can be Baylie and the taller of the two can be Rylie!" Ginny said with a grin. "You know, the heroes from The Baleful Burrow." But Hermione didn't understood what she meant, and neither did Harry since he'd shrugged while he shook his head and a crease had formed between his brows. "Oh c'mon, you know – from the... You've both got to read your witchtales!" she exclaimed as she plopped down on the nearest chair and began to recite the story to them.

~S~

Severus turned right after the flames in his Floo died down after Harry's departure and mounted the steps two at a time to his sitting room. Never had he been more delighted to see anyone disappear in green flames before. "Good night, Ginevra," Severus said with a slow drawl upon entering the room.

"It's Ginny – Ginny, Severus," she stated, then turned to hug Hermione. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"For Merlin's sake," Severus said and narrowed his eyes. "You'd best hurry before Filch catches you out this close to curfew."

"I just have to run down the corridor to the Fat Lady," she replied cheekily. "In fact I could just ride my broom."

"You know the rules," he started to say, but she mimicked him as they said in union, "No running and no flying in the corridors."

"I know! I'd really hate to have to serve detention under you – I had enough of that last year. Good night, Hermione," Ginny said as she grabbed her broom.

"Night, Ginny," Hermione replied with a chuckle as Ginevra headed out. He followed her to the door. "Good night, Severus."

"That's Headmaster Snape to you, Ginevra," he said, trying to sound like his old acerbic self but the inflection in his voice lacked firm conviction, and she smiled at him before disappearing down the stairs.

How in the world have I become to be such a sap? He thought as he watched the door to his office close behind her, and then hurried up the stairs again to get to Hermione. I can't believe I'm friends with the very students that made my first year as Headmaster hell. He saw Hermione perched on the sofa, waiting for him expectantly and grinned wickedly. "It's all your fault, you know," he said as he stalked up to her.

Her smile plummeted into a look of shock. "My fault?"

"Yes," he said, leaning down over her, grasping the back of the sofa with one hand. "Your fault," he repeated, tipping her face up and kissed her, claiming her mouth so that he literally shoved her back against the sofa. She responded to him instantly, trying to match his ardor. It amused him and fueled his lust even more. He stopped to pick her up and carry her to their bedroom, smiling appreciatively that she was feeling amorous enough to kiss him all the way up to their bed. He set her down and began undressing her as if she were a child, lightly slapping her hands when they got in his way of disrobing her. As soon as her last sock hit the floor, leaving her in only her undergarments, he used his nonverbal Unfastening Charm to make his clothes open, shrugging his robe, coat and shirt off as his trousers fell to the floor. Smirking, he toed off his boots, pulled his pants down and slid off his socks, never losing eye contact with his witch. Her eyes widened when he stood and climbed on the bed over her, making her lay down beneath him.

He grasped her knickers, and with a wandless nonverbal severing charm, ripped the cloth right off her, making her squeal his name in indignation. "I did warn you," he said with mischievous mirth. He tore the front of her bra the same way.

"I'll have to replace those, you know," she chastised him as he took her nipple in his mouth.

"No, I'll replace them – and with a proper brassier," he said against her skin. "If you wore the right kind, I wouldn't have to destroy them," he added switching to the other breast.

"The right kind?" she asked, but having anticipated her question he added, "I hate the ones that hook in the back." He reached down and spread her legs. "You've driven me mad all day with your taunting, woman," he said smoothly against the skin right below her ear, making her quiver and suck in her breath. "Merlin, what you do to me." He slid a finger into her heat, pumping them only a few times before her moisture spread, pleased that she'd become wet for him so quickly. She moaned deliciously, and he hoped she was ready for him because he was so hard, so randy, he didn't think he would have much stamina. Jerking off in the loo while giving her oral sex had only increased his need, and he didn't want to wait through foreplay to make her ready. He thrust another finger inside her and increased the pumping tempo, trying to gage her as he suckled her breast. He flicked his tongue on her nipple, and she gasped as her hips rose up into his hand the same time her inner walls clamped tighter. Taking that as a good sign, he withdrew his hand and slid his arm under her thigh, using his other hand to positioning himself at her entrance. She made a deep throaty moan as he slid into her and thrust hard into her depths.

He stood up, tucking his other arm under her left thigh and pulled to toward the edge of the bed. The angle allowed him to be upright, so he could watch her while also folding her body, making thrusting into her easier. He smirked as she lay there watching him pump into her helplessly, her breasts jiggling enticingly with each thrust. Her hands were free, but she couldn't do much with them but grab the quilt as he bucked in and out of her.

Or so he thought.

Her hand slid to one breast, cupping the tender flesh as he thrust into her repeatedly. His gonads tightened when she rolled the nipple between her fingers as she stared at him, and her other hand slid down her front to where he penetrated her, her fingers tickling his shaft each time he withdrew. He stared at her, enthralled as she caressed and toyed with her breast and fingered herself increasing her own pleasure and enflaming his own concupiscence. His breathing quickened, his heart increased tempo and he became lost, watching her. He felt the spasms began to roll at the base of his penis and the pressure increased painfully in his balls.

She licked her lips, rubbed her clit, and he pounded into her hard, driven by the incredibly erotic scene she was awarding him. His gonads restricted, drawing tightly. He closed his eyes momentarily, trying to forestall his impending orgasm, but when he opened them, his gaze locked onto the sight of her hand pleasuring her clitoris and his cock sliding in and out of her wet cunt. His testicles relaxed and loosened in response as his own release broke, and he exploded, gasping out in euphoric bliss, cursing himself for his loss of control. His come squirted out of his shaft over and over, filling her.

Hermione's breath hitched, her fingers moved more ardently, forcing her to catch up and follow him over into orgasm. Even though he'd softened somewhat, seeing her desperately making herself come, made his penis twitch, just hard enough to keep moving within her. He watched, enthralled, as she inhaled sharply, holding her breath as her head rolled back. Her body jerked and arched, angling up to him, and she closed her eyes, giving herself into her release with a euphoric expression on her face. He loved seeing her come – loved how uninhibited she could be, how expressive she was. He managed to keep moving, watching her come, until her hand stilled and fell limply on the bed.

He dropped her leg and grabbed her hand, bringing it up to his mouth to suck on her fingers, relishing in the taste he never seemed to get enough of. "Gods, woman you're incredible," he said, dropping her other leg and leaning over her, taking in her wild hair splayed out on the bed, the sweaty flush of her skin and satiated look in her eyes. She was glorious.

She smiled up at him contentedly. "I could say the same thing about you."

Not caring about their clothes, he climbed into bed as she scooted to lay her head on her pillow. She turned to him as he reached out to pull her into his arms and sleep. He smiled tiredly when she kissed his nose. "Aren't you sleepy?" he asked, waiting for her to settle down.

"Not particularly," she replied, reaching up to caress his face. She brushed his hair back, and he opened his eyes. "You're not the dark, dangerous and brooding wizard you used to be."

He huffed in derision. "I can still make the first- through fifth-year students scamper out of my way and jump with only a word or cower with a mere scowl," he said in his smooth teaching voice.

"True," she replied. "Personally, I like this you, better." She kissed his nose again.

"Impertinent witch," he sneered softly, but his intended disdain was sorely lacking.

She laughed softly. "I've tamed the snarly, snarky, greasy git, bat of the dungeons," she said between giggles.

He wiped a hand on his face, and then wrapped his arm around her. "I'm still snarly, snarky and an acerbic git. I've simply relocated to higher accommodations. Now," he kissed her head, "go to sleep or I'll prove it to you."

She kissed his chest. "I love you, you know."

"I know." He leaned back and kissed her forehead, then relaxed into slumber.

~o0o~

Severus hated looking for her, but since she'd been given her own suite attached to their sitting room it seemed that he needed a tracing charm just to keep track of her. Their connection through the Bond came in helpful, he could always tell in which direction she was, so he'd ruled out the library or the potions lab she and Ginny used in the dungeons, but he hated the fact that the rooms off their sitting room only gave him a singular vague direction, not an exact pinpoint. Worse was when she'd been in the Room of Requirement with Ginny and Luna last week; he'd had a sense that she was on the seventh floor, but he hadn't been able to pinpoint her location. She was in the castle, rather there – but not there. It had been infuriating. He'd paced the corridor, his irritation mounting as the minutes had ticked by, snarling and snapping at the Gryffindors until Hermione exited through a door that had not been there previously with her two friends and asked him benignly what was wrong.

He entered Hermione's study, looking for her. The bouquet of Lucius' roses now sat on the table between the armchairs that faced the lounge. He'd been glad when he'd noticed that Lucius' flowers had been removed from their sitting room, but to find them here was like a punch to his gut. The large white bouquet made him scowl at Lucius' audacity: he knew that the white rose was a symbol of honor, reverence and new beginnings, white stock was the symbol of happy life and contented existence, and that the Rudbeckia flower, known universally as the lover's daisy, was a symbol love's strength. But Severus hadn't needed his friends intervention, he'd done well enough on his own; his gifts had been sufficient and well received.

He still recalled seeing the blooms blush the evening Hermione and all her friends had been together in the sitting room, and most recently when she'd been sitting here with Potter, heads together conspiratorially; the ridiculous blooms of the lover's daisies had been a deep, dark pink. Clearly after everything they had been through, she still harbored strong feelings for Potter. He felt the irrational urge to blast the flowers. Instead, he turned and stormed across the room; he hadn't needed the added insult and reminder of the flowers.

Calming himself first, he peered into her bedroom (not that she'd ever sleep in that room if he'd have his way) finding the room empty. So was her bathroom. Sighing, he turned and stormed into her parlor, startling the three occupants. "Severus?" Hermione asked, her wand still pointed at the black Shepherd sitting on the floor with its tongue hanging out and its tail wagging happily. "Is everything all right?"

Luna looked up at him with a serene smile while petting a black Labrador, and Ginny cocked an eyebrow at him, waiting for his response as he inhaled deeply. "It's fine," he said after quickly regaining his composure. He nearly tripped over a rock as he approached Hermione and stepped over a log. "I have a letter for you." He held out the letter Pepper had delivered and watched as Luna played with the dog, making it roll over so she could scratch its belly. He looked up at Hermione, adding, "And we've been invited to dine at the Malfoy's," with a definitive air and waited for her to argue.

"When?" she asked calmly, accepting the proffered letter.

"Tonight," he said, admiring the level of animation Ginny and Hermione achieved with the transformation. The two dogs behaved exactly as dogs should, the dogs even had limited improvisation of their movements without needing magical management or specifications as previously required. Naturally he knew of the girls' Transformation project, the transfiguration of an inanimate object into an animated one, and both had managed to make large leaps in the animation of a transfigured object, but he knew that Hermione was still unhappy with their results. "The Burkes were invited for dinner this Friday, and Sidney Burke apparently asked if we'd be included. Sidney indicated his daughter, Evelyn Ashby, wanted to meet you."

Hermione smiled, a reaction he'd not expected. "I'd be delighted to go."

He watched as Ginny terminated the spell, and the dog transformed back into a lump of basalt rock. "If you want, I can bottle up the potions," Ginny said as Hermione made her Shepherd revert back into a large piece of granite with a flick of her wand.

"All right," she replied absentmindedly as she read his great-grandfather's letter. If she was at all perturbed that he'd opened it, it didn't show on her face at all. She laughed softly.

"What does he say?" Ginny asked.

"Hermione, of course I received your letter," Hermione read aloud. "No, I don't do Easter." She chuffed a laugh. "I haven't bothered with the holidays since Eileen left for school." Her smile faded. "They only made Deidre cry so I stopped allowing the house-elves to mention them or to decorate. Besides, won't you be celebrating it at school with my great-grandson?"

She looked up and smiled at him, and he raised an eyebrow back at her in question. Of course they would be celebrating it together, but knowing his witch, she was hedging something, and he was certain he could guess what it was. "I am doing better," she continued reading. "Pepper still tries to feed me five to six times a day, and I've gained nearly a stone. Miss Alden is constantly hovering about, meddlesome witch. At least she's not trying to kill me, so yes, I'm keeping her around for a while. Thank you for the picture. You look happy, but why didn't my great-grandson smile?"

"Which picture?" he asked, wondering if the old man had put it on the piano with the others. He was still getting over his surprise that she was corresponding with his great-grandfather.

Hermione looked up at him with a glint in her eyes. "The one from the Ministry Ball. I had a few copies made," she said, folding up Talfryn's letter and placing it carefully in her pocket.

"And to whom did you send these copies?" he asked, dreading the answer.

"One is for my parents, if I can restore their memories. I sent one to Harry and another to Luna – she wanted one, and of course to Mr. and Mrs. Weasley," she replied, and he fought the urge to remark. "I also had a few nonmoving ones made for a few of my relatives."

"Which relatives?" he asked, realizing that he didn't know anything about her family at all. She of course, knew all about his family, well, the Prince side, but nothing about the Snapes. And it would stay that way if he had any say in the matter.

"Aunt Cynthia and Uncle Marciel, Uncle Christian and Aunt Maureen, and I have one for both my Grandmother Merle and my Aunt Julianne, but I'd have to restore Aunt Julianne's memories as well before I give it to her."

"Did you want them on your guest list?" Ginny asked, and Hermione shrugged.

"I always liked Aunt Cynthia and Uncle Marciel, but they were always wary of me because of my magical outbursts as a child, and my cousin, Jean-Alexandre, is afraid of me. I doubt they would come. My Uncle Christian, Aunt Maureen and two cousins might, but most likely they'll send an invitation for us to come to France instead. I haven't seen them in years – not since my summer holiday after my second year. My grandmother Merle has Alzheimer's, she won't be able to come. And then there are my parents – unless I can restore their memories and explain why I did it, they..."

Severus and Ginny both moved forward, but Severus reach her first. He put an arm around her shoulders and pulled her to him. It was awkward with both Luna and Ginny watching them, well, Luna was actually intently inspecting the log for something or other, but Hermione wrapped her arms around him and hugged him. "Thank you, but it's all right," she said. She looked up and gave him one more hug before letting go. "I always knew it would be awkward, me being a witch and not being able to tell them anything about magic or the magical world. I hated being told by the Ministry witch that I'd have to let them all go, but really, its hard hiding what I am and pretending to be normal." She looked at Ginny. "It's why your family means so much to me, like having a family that understands and accepts me for being me."

Ginny stepped forward and hugged Hermione. "You'll always have us," Ginny said, smiling at Severus over Hermione's shoulder as Luna came up and wrapped her arms around the pair. "You're practically an honorary Weasley!"

Severus suppressed a groan at the pronouncement.

"And you have Neville and me," Luna said ardently. "Friends forever, right?"

"On that note," he said, backing up. "I have correspondence to attend to and a staff meeting in an hour to discuss next year's marketing campaigns." He managed to escape before the girls became too sentimental, or worse – sappy.

~H~

Ginny and Hermione sat across from each other at the table Dezzy had put in Hermione's study. They had several validations to finish for Professor Reynolds and their progress report on their N.E.W.T. level Transfiguration project to complete. Beside Ginny's elbow was her N.E.W.T. level thesis and her report on her success for her charms that created animated cognitive responses in an inanimate object that had been transfigured into an animated object.

"Too bad the flowers are starting to wilt," Ginny said, eyeing them sadly.

Hermione paused to glance over at her bouquet from Mr. Malfoy. The flowers were finally starting to fade, the petals of the Rudbeckia flowers curling downward and they didn't change hue so readily anymore, and the roses and white stock were turning brown. She smiled wistfully. Hermione had decided to keep the large bouquet since, in a way, they were another reminder of the Malfoy's change of heart toward her, and it had been a very nice gesture on the part of Mr. Malfoy. She huffed a laugh, recalling Severus' reaction to the flowers, glaring at them each time they walked through their sitting room together each morning. For some reason he didn't like seeing the flowers, but Hermione loved the way they had blushed dark pink each time she'd thought of him. "Yes, it's about time to throw them away," she said sadly.

"Too bad they won't go to seed. Mum would have loved trying to get them to propagate," Ginny stated as she signed the validation report and rolled it up.

Hermione gaped at her friend.

"What?" Ginny asked, meeting Hermione's stunned stare. "She's always wanted some for the garden."

"They won't go to seed!?" Hermione said somewhere between a question and exclamation, her mind seemingly stuck mid-thought, trying to recall something that was just not coming to her. "Why don't they – why won't they?" She knew why. You can't get seeds from cut flowers due to the energy it takes – which the individual flowers can't draw from water alone! You have to let them go to seed before you cut them... She looked at the wilting flowers. The Rudbeckia flower – the lover's daisies. No, not a daisy, it's a plant species in the family Asteraceae! The species are herbaceous, mostly perennial plants, grown for showy flowers, used in perfume and... potions?

"Some flowers are easier to propagate from cut flowers than others... Hermione?"

But Hermione had set down her quill and was walking over to her bookshelf. "I – aren't Rudbeckia flowers used in potions?"

"Yes," Ginny said slowly, turning in her chair to watch her. "The flowers are used in potions as are the taproots..."

"The flowers; is it the bracts, florets, stamens, carpals, sepal, ovaries..." She opened one book after another trying to remember what was eluding her. She dumped Thomas Vaughan's Herbal Tinctures and Potions on her desk and then checked Spillitons' Grimoire of Arcane Potions, vol I and set it aside as well, opening the second volume. All three mentioned the roots and flower heads as ingredients. "Argh, it's not here!" She checked the list of flowers in Encyclopedia of Herbal Remedies, vol I and set it aside, picking up volume three, then volume four. Like the others, Jigger's Advanced Formulas and Drafts only mentioned the flower head and the roots.

"We have to go to the library," Hermione announced, setting down the book.

"It's less than an hour until curfew," Ginny called out, jumping to her feet and following Hermione as she ran from the room.

"I'm going to be library, Severus," Hermione said as she hurried past his desk. "I'll try to be quick, but I might be back right after curfew."

"Hermione?" he asked, then barked, "Ginevra," making Ginny stop. "Explain?"

"I can't! But I have to go, please don't expel me," she replied and hurried after Hermione. Ginny managed to catch up to Hermione in the corridor outside the library. "What has your wand in a knot?"

"Rudbeckia flowers – find any reference to the Rudbeckia flower parts used in potions. I have to know which part of the flower is used. The specific part," Hermione said, running for the shelves on potions. "Check that side and I'll check this one," she said, ignoring Madam Pince's admonishments.

"But what am I looking for?" Ginny asked in a loud hiss, grabbing the first book.

"You'll know when you see it," Hermione said, doing the same. She scanned the ingredient lists in one book after another, growing frustrated. There weren't that many potions that used the flower. She discarded several and piled up those that had lengthy descriptions. It was here, in one of these, she knew it.

"Nothing," Ginny announced as Hermione turned and said, "Keep looking, I'm going to the Herbology section."

Hermione searched through any book that mentioned propagation and germination of the Rudbeckia flower. She knew she'd seen it, but couldn't remember where. The pressure of finding it before Madam Pince threw them out was adding to her stress level. Why can't I remember...? she chastised herself as she set Beaumont Marjoribanks' Herbal Species of Great Britain and Ireland back on the shelf. Modern Magical Herbology by Derwent Shimpling only mentioned propagating Rudbeckias either by dividing the taproots or starting seedlings in peat cups in a greenhouse. She skipped One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore because she had a copy of it on her desk.

Shimpling's Harvesting Seeds From Magical Botanicals however, mentioned how to determine if the flower head held viable seeds.

In Tildon Toot's, Best Garden Tips Every Homeowner Needs, there were moving illustrations for the process of natural reproduction from the parent stock. Then on the next page, in the section for deadheading flowers, was the mention she needed, 'Allow several of the flowers to dry and turn brown. Select only those flower heads that are perfectly formed and snip the flower head and set in a tray until the seeds darken for use in potions. Hold each seed head over a pie plate and gently crumble the seed head, then blow lightly to separate chafe from seeds.' "Each flower head produces one hundred black seeds if fully formed," she read aloud with exuberant elation. She'd found it!

She marked the page with a slip of paper form her pocket. Finally she found it!

To be thorough, she checked Harvey Rosenbury's Cultivating and Harvesting Semi-Sentient Botanicals, vol II, Botanicals Specifically Used In Potions. There on page two hundred and ninety-four it specifically stated that the flower heads held exactly one hundred seeds per flower. She placed a marker and stacked it on top of Tildon Toot's and Shimpling's books.

Hermione turned to carry her three books over to Ginny, bumping into her friend at the end of the aisle. "Merlin, how could I be so stupid! The seed is a flower head!" Ginny exclaimed the same time that Hermione said, "They seed – the flower heads produce one hundred seeds!"

"Girls, the library is closing," Madam Pince scolded them. "You must leave now."

"Yes, of course, sorry, ma'am, I lost track of the time. Madam Pince, please, may I check these out before we go?" Hermione asked as sweetly as she could.

The librarian frowned but relented. "The liberties I allow you to make, Mrs. Snape," she said sternly. "Hand me your lending cards. I expect the books back within the proper lending period." She collected the lending cards and shooed the girls out of her library.

Hermione and Ginny ran all the way back to Severus' office and dumped their books on his desk.

"It's not a seed – it's a flower head!" Hermione said the same time Ginny said, "We found it – it's a flower!" ignoring his scowl at their intrusion.

"It's mentioned in the potions books as a flower, not a seed," Ginny said, opening one of her books the same time Hermione stated, "The Rudbeckia flower produces one hundred seeds" while opening Tildon Toot's book to her marker.

"See?" both girls said at the same time.

He stood and turned both books around to read the page. "That's why I couldn't find it anywhere, I was looking for a seed – not a flower head," Hermione said, opening up Shimpling's book.

"And all this time we've been searching, the flowers have been here under our noses," Ginny stated.

Severus looked up as Hermione opened Rosenbury's book to her marker. "Very good, I'm impressed," he said softly. "I'll run this by Reginald in the morning, and we'll do the calculations." He closed the book. "Now, you, Ginevra, are out past curfew," he said, his tone chastising. Hermione opened her mouth to retort as Ginny sighed dejectedly. "However, under the circumstances, I'll write you a note excusing you this time."

Both girls smiled at him. "Thank you, Severus," they said in unison.

He quickly drafted a short note and handed it to Ginny. She thanked him again, said good night to them both and hurried from the office. "We solved it," Hermione said, feeling elated. "Deductive reasoning and research..."

"You did well," he said, coming around his desk. "If the calculations prove correct, yes, you've solved the missing ingredient. But that doesn't absolve you from being out in the corridors after curfew."

"But..."

"No, buts; you've violated curfew," he said, and her heart sank.

"I'm sorry," she replied, looking down at his desk.

He tipped her head up, looking intently into her eyes. "Kiss me and I'll let it pass," he said.

She grinned happily, throwing her arms around his neck. "Gladly!"

~ T B C ~>

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Author's notes:

I want to thank Arabellabloodgood, my alpha-reader, Proulxes for adding a bit of British flare to my chapter, and my beta, FrankQ, 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!