Unforgotten Past

At half past three in the morning, Severus Snape and Draco Malfoy apparated into the dark street outside of the apothecary. Eyeing the broken door, Severus gave Draco a withering look. "You couldn't find another way to get in?"

Draco rolled his eyes, "Ginny set the wards. Nothing else could get through."

Severus grunted and continued into the shop. He wryly admitted it was a well-to-do place, something he pictured himself running should he ever leave Hogwarts. On the counter he found several business cards listing Sarah Kendall, Potions Mistress, and Emily Mills, Mediwitch, for the Brisbane Clinic and Apothecary. The idea was unique for the wizarding world but not for Muggles, so he assumed that Ms. Granger had been responsible for this endeavor.

'Not a bad idea, quite logical'.

Heading up the stairs, he entered the office where Draco had found the parchment. It was obvious that something had been moved, most likely a potions workbench. This was Hermione's office, very clean and orderly just like the woman he had known. There was a couch in the corner away from the workbench.

' Looks comfortable enough to rest on if she is working late, or brewing a potion.'

The far wall was covered in bookshelves, each one completely full, and several stacks of books lay about the room.

'And she hasn't lost that love for knowledge either.'

Sitting down on the couch, Severus's thoughts went back to the last time he had seen Ms. Granger.

Night of the Leaving Feast

The graduating parties had left the Great Hall and moved to their respective towers. Severus had taken his leave from the feast early on and had headed back to his dungeons for the night.

'Another year has finally ended, and I have three months of peace before the next crop of dunderheads arrive. At least this was my last year of Weasleys,' he thought wryly.

Pouring himself a glass of fire whiskey, Severus stared into the fire, trying to lose himself in the warmth. Unfortunately, he was brought out of his reverie by the banging at his door. "What is it? Do you have any idea what time it is?" he growled.

Flinging open the door, he was surprised to see Miss Granger, his apprentice, standing there. "Is there something that you need here?" The sarcasm laced voice almost made Hermione change her mind and go back to her room, but she was determined to speak her piece before the morning.

"Hello, Severus, I need to speak to you." He glared down at the young woman standing in front of him.

"I am certain I misheard you. You mean Professor Snape." Hermione rolled her eyes and pushed past him into his chambers. "By all means, Miss Granger, make yourself comfortable."

"Oh I intend to, Severus." Severus had practically growled at her in irritation and grabbed at her arm.

"What do you think that you are playing at you silly girl?"

Hermione grinned up at him. "Who said I was playing?" She looked at him in all seriousness. "I need to speak to you seriously before I leave tomorrow. Will you please listen?"

Severus had sighed but acquiesced to her request, lowering himself into his overstuffed leather chair. To his surprise, Hermione came and sat at his feet. Chewing at her lip nervously she looked up at him and spoke in a low tone.

"I have wanted to tell you this all year. I have really appreciated the opportunity you gave me allowing me to stay here and be your apprentice. However, my close proximity to you has led to a new development." Her eyes fell to the ground and a blush colored her cheeks.

Finally she knew she just had to blurt it out. "I am in love with you!"

The dark man looked down at the woman at his feet and sneered at her. "You think you're in love with me? That is ridiculous. I will not be a part of your teenage hormones." He attempted to stand up but Hermione was faster and she pushed him back into his seat and firmly pressed her lips against his. Severus immediately pushed her away, although his body had already started to respond to her advances.

"What do you think you are doing, Miss Granger?"

"Loving you, Severus. We only have tonight, and after that we could both be gone from this earth. Is loving me for one night that awful?"

Severus looked into her deep brown eyes and groaned before pulling her to him in a hungry embrace. "This is only for tonight, understand?" She nodded and went back to kissing him while her hands roamed over his expansive chest.

Severus groaned in her mouth. His mind really wasn't wrapping itself around what was going on. Under Veritaserum alone would he admit that he had fantasized about this very situation; he never thought his apprentice would be so willing outside the confines of his imagination. But with the war going on, there was too much going on for him to consider pursuing anything. Chances were he wouldn't survive the war, and he didn't want to get involved when there was so much at risk for the both of them. She didn't know, but he was the main supporter of her and Ginny being sent to America. It would make it easier knowing she was safe.

Hermione was a fast worker; she quickly had his shirt off and was running her fingers through the sparse hairs on his chest. Gently he picked her up, feeling her legs wrap around his waist instinctively. Hermione ran her fingers through his hair, finding the strands silky, not greasy as most suspected. She worked her kisses along his jaw line to his neck as he carried her to his bed. 'Finally I'll have him, if only for tonight.'

With a flick of his wand they were both naked and he laid her onto his bed. Her creamy skin stood out against his dark silk sheets. In his mind she looked like a wanton goddess that he wanted to worship. 'It's only tonight.'

He kneeled between her legs and ran his finger over her slit, surprised to find that she was already wet for him. He usually didn't arouse women. Between his looks and his attitude, they were usually turned off. Her scent was intoxicating to him, and he ran the tip of his tongue between her lips to gauge her reaction. Immediately, Hermione's body arched and she moaned loudly. "Oh gods yes, do that!" Hermione ran a hand over his head, her other hand was twisting her hardened nipple. Severus allowed a small smile hearing her pleasure at his touch and went to work sucking and nibbling on her clit at the same time he slowly pushed a finger into her, marveling at the tight wetness of it all. Hermione writhed and moaned on the bed above him and finally she couldn't take it anymore. Her body tensed as the orgasm flowed over her, and she let out a yell. As she panted on the bed, Severus climbed up on the bed next to her, feeling quite pleased with his performance.

Slowly, Hermione came down off her high and crawled over to him with a wicked smile on her face. "Now, it's your turn."

She sat at the lower end of his body and leaned over taking his cock into her mouth in one gulp. Severus nearly jumped out of his skin, as he wasn't expecting her to do anything like that. 'Well they are right it's always the quiet ones.'

Hermione was having a fun time sucking and tonguing Severus. He was larger than she expected, but nonetheless it was a good time. Severus panted and moaned, trying to keep from losing control, he wanted to be inside her for that. Suddenly he panted out, "Stop, please, slow down."

Slowly, Hermione released him from her mouth and looked over at him.

With cat like reflexes, Severus had Hermione on her back as he laid over her. Looking at her deeply, he whispered, "Are you sure you want this?" Inside, his mind was telling him not to give her a choice, but his honorable nature won out. To his relief, Hermione only pulled him closer and nodded as she opened her legs wider to take him in. Carefully, he placed himself at her entrance and slowly entered her. It was like silky pool of molten lava, taking all of his restraint. To his relief, she wasn't a virgin but a jealous thought briefly ran through his head. 'Who had she been with?' Then all thoughts were gone. They started a rhythm that had been in practice since the beginning of time, murmuring soft words of love and affection. He would only admit it later, but he did love her. Then they fell into a peaceful sleep together.

The next morning Hermione stiffly crawled out of bed and got dressed. She took one more look at the sleeping man that she loved, and a single tear ran down her face. Before leaving, she placed a note and a chain with a triquetra shaped pendant on the pillow next to him. She kissed his cheek and slipped quietly out the door, careful not to wake him.

Dear Severus,

Hermione

Back in the office Severus looked down at the charm in his hand, almost bemused that he still had it. At first he had told himself it was just to remind him of their night together, but later knew it was love, apparently no longer a lost love at that.