37- Taking Baby Steps

Standard Disclaimer goes here.

Author's Note: Check out my LJ (www.livejournal.com/users/pern_dragon) for all the reasons why this took so long to update this time. *rolls eyes* And, now more than ever, profuse thanks go out to Ladyofthemasque for her beta services, including real-time online betaing and ensuing discussions. Thanks to everyone who has left me so many supportive reviews and LJ posts and emails. I appreciate it more than I can say. Oh, and check out my Photobucket (http://photobucket.com/albums/y116/Good_Witch/) for more PoH goodness from Becky and tainted_sanity on LJ! And thanks to my posse: Lotm, Laela, SnivellusSnape, Horserider, and yutamiyu as always! *luff and hugs* And now, I point you to the smuttage...

Chapter 37- Taking Baby Steps

Hermione was once again grateful that it was dark, so Snape couldn't see the abject nervousness that belied her confident pose. Although she wanted to take the step that had sent him scurrying off, she couldn't help but feel anxious that she would "do it wrong." Not that she knew what would constitute "doing it wrong," of course. She just felt incredibly inexperienced, but she wanted to remedy that as much as possible under the circumstances.

Snape's breath caught at the feel of Hermione's hand on his arse again. He felt himself tensing in anticipation of her touch. All of his focus centred on her soft hand down his satin trousers, and he felt a tingle of relief at the tell-tale tremble of her fingers. At least I'm not the only one a bit unsure of all this...

In his musings, Snape had become distracted enough to cease responding to Hermione's kiss. Eyes snapping open in the dark, Hermione pulled back and queried, "Severus?"

Snape's attention shot back to Hermione and he quickly retorted, "What?"

Hermione's voice was uncertain as she said, "Is everything okay?"

Snape blurted, "Yes! Of course." Then, after a tiny pause, he asked, "Why?"

Hermione's hand stilled, and she murmured, "It's just that... you stopped kissing me back..."

Snape's mind raced. Shite! Way to go, old chap. Keep that up and you won't have to worry about doing things with her, since she'll just leave! Hastily, he squeezed his arms tighter around her and attempted a winning tone. "Did I? Well, I'll just have to remedy that." With that, he pressed a demanding kiss on her lips, his eyes rolling back in relief as he felt her respond. Pulling back slightly, he felt her smiling. His voice a throaty growl, he added, "Satisfied?"

Hermione laughed and lilted, "At least once already..." Snape snorted mildly at her quip and relaxed again as she pinned him with another fierce kiss.

By paying more attention to the passionate snogging, Snape managed to not tense up as much when Hermione began smoothing her hand over his arse and around his hipbone. Hermione pressed forward, tilting Snape's body back again. She cupped his hip as she settled him on his back, partially covering him with her torso. Anxiety flared in Snape's gut.

Hermione trailed light kisses over his jaw and down his throat, making him cant his head back. As she nibbled, she heard his breath catch. He seemed to be holding his breath for a beat, then exhaling heavily, only to gasp and hold his breath again. She could feel his chest rising and falling unevenly beneath her.

Gathering her courage, she nipped and licked her way back up to his ear, tracing it with her tongue as she ever-so-slowly slid her hand around his hip and over his taut abdominal muscles. When her fingertips grazed along the edge of his patch of wiry hair, she both heard and felt his sharp inhalation. She paused for a moment, waiting for his exhalation, but he held his breath. In the charged silence, she inched her fingertips hesitantly down, sliding through the hair until her fingers ran up against the erection once again tenting his trousers. As she touched his cock, his tightly-held breath exploded out in a harsh whoosh.

Snape flung his hands to his sides, gripping the bedspread. His heart was racing, between her stimulation and his nerves. Eyes squeezed shut in a supreme effort to maintain his composure, he swallowed against his now dry throat. Every muscle in his body was as rigid as the straining cock which Hermione was tentatively touching. Incredulous at the intensity of his desire to come again, Snape thought disgustedly, Bloody hell! You've come twice already this evening; you should have a little more control by this point!

Hermione dropped feathery kisses down his throat again, dipping lower to his chest. Laying her cheek on his chest, she could hear his heartbeat thundering. Good! I'm glad I'm not the only one nervous about this! As she slid her fingers along his erection, she marvelled at the contrast: hard, yet soft. She, too, held her breath as she carefully dragged her fingers along his hard length, sucking her lower lip between her teeth at the surge of wild lust that washed over her.

When she reached the tip, which was pressed against his trousers, she slid her fingers around to wrap against the underside, gently angling it away from the satin. Running her hand toward the head, she felt the moisture that had seeped through the fabric against the back of her knuckles.

Snape pressed his head back into the bed as she gingerly stroked his raging erection. A strangled sort of noise erupted from his throat. Hermione's head jerked off his chest at the sound, wary that she had done something wrong. He was panting shallowly. Worried, her hand stilled and she said, "Severus?"

Snape heard the anxiety in her tone and swallowed again, grinding out, "Everything's fine, love." In his head, he added, Trust me on this one...

Heaving a relieved sigh, Hermione resumed her explorations, taking his shuddering exhalation as a good sign. She wrapped her hand around his cock, feeling the soft texture of the skin sliding along the searing hot stiffness within. Holding him in a loose grip, she slipped her hand lower, once again coming in contact with his coarse hair. Very carefully, she opened her grip and gently trailed her fingertips over his balls, eliciting a deep groan from Snape.

Emboldened by his reaction, she expanded her target area. Lightly, she caressed his hips, the tops of his inner thighs, his balls, and eventually back up the length of his cock, the satin tight against her arm.

Snape felt dizzy from the rush of sensations. The combination of his erratic breathing, his fluctuating blood pressure, and the tickling bliss of Hermione's touch nearly overwhelmed him. As her fingers once again wrapped around his shaft, he was taken aback to hear a raspy "Good gods...", apparently from his own mouth.

Hermione lifted her head at his utterance, smiling in the dark. Ears straining to catch every minute sound that might come from the man within her grasp, she tightened her grip around the base of his cock. She was rewarded by a sudden bucking that rippled the abdomen pressed against hers. A thrill washed over her, making her giddy with a rush of accomplishment. I may actually get him to lose control! Oh, I wish I could see that... But something tells me that he wouldn't let himself go if it were lit in here. Hmmm... Small steps, Hermione, just a bit at a time...

Tightening her grip around the pulsing hardness, she heard a hiss followed by a low moan. Instantly releasing her hold, she whispered solicitously, "Did I hurt you?"

Snape's voice was thick as he growled, "Not at all." Hermione's hand squeezed again, and Snape's muscles seized, seeming to force out a strained, "Quite the contrary."

Hermione felt encouraged by his reactions and slowly drew her hand up his shaft, concentrating on the feel of his skin, the throbbing of the veins under her fingers, and the twitching of the whole thing in her hand like it had its own reflexes. As her hand smoothed up to the head, she felt the ridge against her skin, and heard Snape's harsh exhalations in time with the spasming of his cock.

She slid the pad of her thumb up across the tip, smearing the drop of moisture that had leaked out. Snape gasped and held his breath again. Hermione curled her forefinger up to meet her thumb and drew it over the tip and down the underside of the head, having released her tight grip around his cock. When her fingertip grazed the soft spot underneath the head where the ridge smoothed out, Snape's body gave a violent jerk, and a shuddering moan escaped him. Filing that information away for future reference, she decided that such a reaction was interesting and tried it again. She was surprised, on her second swipe over that spot, to feel Snape's hand fly up and clasp her shoulder tightly.

Swallowing against his dry throat, Snape panted, "Hermione."

Innocently, she queried, "Yes?"

Snape snorted involuntarily at her tone. Gritting his teeth, he rumbled, "Spare me the innocent act, impudent minx."

Hermione giggled. In a sugary voice, she lilted, "Whatever do you mean?" And with that, she pulled her fingers back from his skin and lightly dragged her nails down the underside of his cock, raking them gently over his balls.

Snape's grip tightened so much that he fisted the shirt she was wearing in his hand in his attempt to avoid bruising her shoulder. Arching his back in surprise at the sensation, he hissed. Head pressed back into the pillow, eyes rolling back in his head, he gulped in air as she continued to rake her nails along his skin...over his balls, under them, along the creases of his groin and legs, around the perimeter of his hair. His free leg twitched and bent at the knee, drawing up toward his body, allowing her easier access in her explorations. As his thigh rose off the bed, she slid her nails up the inside as far as she could reach within the confines of his trousers, letting her fingertips caress him as she swept back down to his crotch, feeling the goose flesh her touch had raised.

Snape's guttural moan made Hermione shiver, feeling a delicious throbbing, drawing sensation deep in her core. Her legs squeezed together of their own accord, reminding her of the slippery puddle of juices that had thoroughly drenched her knickers and his thigh.

The hand that wasn't threatening to rip his shirt from Hermione's body had flown up to his face, grinding his palm against his shut eyes and shoving his fingers through his hair, scratching along his scalp before gripping his hair and pulling. As Hermione once again wrapped her hand around his shaft, he was mortified to realize that his hips were shamelessly bucking into her encircling grip.

Hermione, on the other hand, was ecstatic that she had caused such a reaction. Crooning encouragingly, she took the tacit instruction and began stroking along his length, delighting in the hoarse groans and deep sighs that met her ministrations. She moved off him, lying flush against his side, dropping kisses on his chest and throat as she slowly slid her fist up and down his cock.

The soft sound of her hand stroking him seemed to roar in his ears along with his pounding blood. His left arm was tucked about her shoulders where she lay curled up against him, and his right hand was still tangled in his hair. Her slow pace was agonizingly exquisite. Waves of pleasure rolled over his body, rippling his muscles. His spastic reflexes calmed as she continued, lulling him into a state of euphoria, in which the deep desire to climax simmered as the heady sensations built.

Hermione noticed that his startled reactions had ceased, and, as he grew quieter and calmer, she started to worry that she wasn't doing things right, and that he had got bored. Leaning close to his ear, she whispered, "Severus?"

Snape was pulled from his euphoria by her voice and gently caressed her hair with his right hand, saying, "Shhhh..."

Hermione didn't know what to say to that and simply concentrated on his body. She maintained the slow rhythm she had begun, and every once in a while, she felt his hips rock, thrusting his cock deeper into her grip. Snape's hand rested against her hair, idly rubbing her scalp. All she could hear was the sound of their skin against each other, and their breathing. Everything seemed magnified in the utter blackness. After several moments of the same, at a gentle caress of Snape's fingers along her scalp, Hermione hummed in appreciation. That sound seemed to kick start something in Snape, and a low growl issued from his throat.

Lost in the erotic feel of Hermione's hand stroking his erection, Snape envisioned sliding into her virginal heat, slipping through her slick curls to rest deep within her. He could almost feel the sensual encounter of thrusting slowly into her clutching depths. So immersed in his imagination was he that he rocked his hips into Hermione's hand, picturing instead his cock enveloped in her cunt. When he heard her croon, a savage jolt of pleasure arced through him, and he felt his lust mounting.

His hand travelled down her shoulder and along her arm, squeezing and caressing in time with her strokes. Hermione could feel his focus and waited, senses heightened, for the next step in their venture. She stifled a moan when his hand snaked down to pull his trousers away from her arm, tugging them down below his balls, freeing her movements from the confining boundaries of the satin. Then, Snape's long fingers wrapped around her wrist and squeezed; at the same time, he barely breathed, "Faster."

Hermione eagerly complied and was startled by his vehement exhalation and the renewed thrusting of his hips. Stroking faster, Hermione was entranced by the sound of Snape's panting breaths, and the rhythm of his hips rocking into her grasp. Snape's fingers began clenching around her wrist in time with his movements, and she daringly tightened her grip in kind, squeezing and releasing at the same time his hand was doing so on her arm. A low, quavery groan issued forth at her attempt, and she smiled shakily in the darkness.

The tension increased as Hermione kept pumping Snape's cock in her fist. His breathing became faster and shallower, and every so often, a faint grunt would accompany a particularly energetic tilt of his hips. When Snape's hand released her wrist in favour of travelling over her hand and wrapping around hers, encompassing his cock, Hermione's eyes fluttered at the surge of lust that fired her veins and she moaned her appreciation.

Snape trapped her hand inside his as he guided her to stroke him exactly the way he wanted. He increased the speed, varying it every so often, squeezing and caressing, pressing her fingers against his skin. He could feel the tightening in his balls, the energy coiling in his gut. The roaring in his ears intensified as his blood pounded through him.

Hermione felt him rocking so hard that his arse was lifting from the bed and gasped at the surge in her centre as she thought of him sinking into her with those strong thrusts. His left hand was spastically clenching on her shoulder and back as she stroked him. She was mildly surprised to hear what sounded like keening whimpers emerging from her own lips as she delighted in the erotic abandon of Severus Snape coming apart in her grasp.

Snape's spine stiffened and his cock pulsed in Hermione's hand as he hit the excruciatingly divine peak of his pleasure. An inarticulate roar filled the room as he exploded, comparatively little come spurting out to drip on his and Hermione's hands since he had already done so twice in the previous few hours. As he came, he held Hermione's hand still, squeezing against the pulsing of his cock.

Hermione knew her eyes were wide with the impact of feeling his cock throbbing in her hand, spewing forth on her knuckles. Even after all that they had done, she knew she was flushed, both with excitement and embarrassment. Fighting the embarrassment, she froze, afraid to do or say anything until Snape had done so first.

Aftershocks coursed through him, rippling his muscles and making him buck against her. He felt his balls slowly retracting, his body relaxing from its fever pitch. As his breathing evened out, he became painfully aware of Hermione beside him. He could practically feel her avid interest, and it made him self-conscious again. Gently releasing her hand, he hoped she would follow his lead and let go of his deflating cock.

Hermione could feel his come cooling on her skin as he removed his hand from hers. Carefully easing her grip, she felt his cock softening, becoming more pliable and velvety. Unable to resist, she started touching him again, only to elicit a pained yelp. Again, she froze in uncertainty.

Snape's body had gone rigid again, and he swallowed before gritting, "No more. Not now." Hermione's hand mercifully disappeared, and Snape heaved a sigh of relief as he relaxed once again.

In the strained silence, he could sense the myriad of questions waiting to burst out of Hermione. In an attempt to stave some of them off, he murmured, "Too much." Then, he carefully reached for his wand, adding, "Give me your hand."

Hermione placed her hand in his, and he laid it on his chest, where he cast a cleansing spell on it before doing the same to his own flesh. He was taken aback by her soft sigh of disappointment. Perplexed, he queried, "What?"

Hermione seemed to toss her head on his shoulder before snuggling closer to his side. "Oh, nothing. Just... I didn't really get a chance to appreciate it before you magicked it away."

Snape's brows rose. Incredulous, he said, "What? There's nothing to appreciate when it dries, Hermione. It's just a sticky mess that's better got rid of."

Stiffening in his embrace, she asked dangerously, "So is that what I should do? Here, hand me a wand and I'll tidy up my knickers in a tick."

Snape recognized the warning note in her voice and sighed. Bloody hell, not again! Out loud, he ventured, "Stop that. Gods forbid I try to be as couth about this as I can, under the circumstances. This is not another double standard, Hermione. I'm simply trying to spare you an unpleasant experience."

Hermione stilled in thought, considering his explanation, and finally relaxed against him again. Still, her voice held a hint of pique as she murmured, "Fine, but you got a taste. I didn't!"

Snape's hands clenched violently as the meaning of her petulant comment sank in. Before he could censor himself, he rumbled, "Good gods, Hermione, what wouldn't I give for you to have a taste..."

Hermione's head shot up off his chest again, and Snape realized what he had just said. Closing his eyes in mortification, he cursed himself for his lapse in control.

When Hermione's lips tickled his ear, he froze, only to hear her trembling whisper, "You have no idea how much I would like to try that."

Snape groaned and gathered her in his arms, capturing her lips with his. As he held her close, she wriggled against him and he felt her smooth thigh against his bare crotch. They both gasped at the definite twitch of his cock on her leg.

Hermione made an inquisitive noise in her throat, and Snape pulled back to rest his forehead on hers, playfully purring, "Have mercy, woman! You wouldn't want to break me before you get a chance to partake fully, would you?"

Hermione smiled wickedly. "I thought a man of such power could certainly withstand the fumbling attempts of an innocent girl."

Snape inhaled sharply, his voice deep and intense as he retorted, "I told you to spare me the innocent act. What you may lack in experience, you make up for in natural aptitude. Sweet Circe! I assume you are pleased with yourself?"

Hermione's voice was husky as she said, "That depends on whether or not you were pleased with me."

Snape groaned. His tone sardonic, he said, "I thought that was obvious, love! I couldn't have faked that if I tried."

Hermione giggled in satisfaction. Wrapping her arm around him, she trailed it along the line of his back, down over his arse. His trousers were still bunched below his groin, and she bit her lip in curiosity. After a beat, she finally asked, "Why did you make me stop?"

Snape snorted and drawled, "Too sensitive."

She felt his pubic hair tickling her thighs as she pressed against him and asked, "Is it still too sensitive now?"

Snape considered his response carefully. Slowly, he said, "It's not over-stimulated as it was then, but it is still sensitive. I'm suffering no discomfort right now, if that's what you mean."

Hermione buried her face in his neck and mumbled, "Well, I just wanted to touch you again, if that's okay."

He contemplated for a long moment. Finally, he asked, "Why?"

Hermione's brows rose. "Why? Because I want to. What do you mean why?"

Snape felt his cheeks growing hot as he mumbled, "Well, it's far too soon for me to have a reaction again..."

She cut him off indignantly. "That's not the only reason why I would want to touch you! I like touching you. It feels good. Wait... Doesn't it?"

"Yes! Of course!"

"Then isn't that reason enough? I enjoy making you feel good. And I like the way you feel. Can't you understand that?"

Snape was silent for a few moments before finally sighing, "Yes. I can."

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing. I can understand that reasoning, as I feel that way about you. It's just... difficult for me to believe anyone could feel that way about me. Forgive me, Hermione, I'm still trying to get used to the unbelievable notion that you care for me."

Hermione reached up and caressed his cheek. Chest and throat tightening, she whispered, "Believe it, Severus. I don't just care for you. I love you. I am in love with you. Completely. Besottedly. So much so that it frightens me sometimes with the intensity. And everything I learn about you, or experience with you, just serves to further cement that feeling in my heart. Who knows how such things come to be? I can only be grateful for it and enjoy it with all my being."

Snape felt tears pricking his eyelids at her impassioned words, and he swallowed convulsively. His voice was ragged as he said, "My love... Hermione." He tightened his embrace and rained kisses over her face, finally claiming her lips with a kiss that expressed his devotion. A few drops managed to streak back to his temples from the corners of his eyes, and he sheepishly thanked the gods that it was dark and she couldn't see his weakness.

He didn't think to contend with her roaming hands, however, which eventually caressed his face and ran through the tell-tale traces of moisture. He could feel her concern in the stiffening of her body, and could hear it in her voice as she whispered, "Severus?"

Embarrassed, he said, "It's nothing. Ignore it, I beg you."

Hermione, however, would do nothing of the sort. Humming a soothing sort of sound, she rolled until she was straddling him, lying against his bare chest, her fingers smoothing his face as she murmured terms of endearment and kissed the tears away. Her voice low, she said, "Just answer one question. Were they brought on by something bad or good?"

"'Good' is not a good enough word to do it justice."

She smiled against his cheek and kissed him again. "Then they can happen all they want, and I won't mind a bit." At that, she kissed him deeply, tangling her hands in his hair.

Their snogging was both lazy and passionate, focusing on both giving and receiving pleasure. It went on for what seemed like hours, before Hermione let her hand snake back down to caress Snape. She gingerly slid her fingers through his wiry hair, kissing him harder when he started and stiffened in her embrace. Deliberately, she teased him with her tongue while she carefully threaded her fingers through his nest of tangled hair to caress his flaccid cock.

At the feel of her fingers, Snape pulled away from Hermione's kiss and rasped, "Hermione!" His tone bordered on plaintive, and he nervously grabbed at her hand.

Hermione set her teeth and resisted his attempt to pull her hand away from his groin. "Give over, already!"

There was a long pause, charged with their silent battle of wills. Snape gnashed his teeth and railed inwardly that he would fall for such a stubborn witch. Finally, after some rapid mental calculations, he growled, "Very well then. But, keep this in mind: I reserve the right to respond in kind." He smirked at Hermione's gasp of comprehension.

Slowly, she said, "That's only fair..."

His voice imbued with both a threat and a promise, he simply retorted, "Indeed."

Resolutely, he released her hand, allowing her to resume her explorations. Nimble fingers traced along his cock, gently cupping him. A tiny sigh escaped him, much to his chagrin.

She ran her fingers through his hair, feeling how prone it was to tangling, and gently pressed on his inner thigh, urging him to lift his knee. After a bare moment's hesitation, he complied, and she soothingly caressed his skin, rubbing with a firm touch. Another relaxed sigh drew up from the depths of his chest, and she allowed herself a moment of triumph.

Impishly, she pulled her hand away, only to approach again with one finger, lightly dragging the back of her fingernail along the crease of his groin, down under his balls, which were now nestled heavily between his thighs. He twitched and hissed. Stifling a giggle, she cupped his balls, lifting them gingerly and feeling the weight in her palm. A low moan of contentment rewarded her initiative. As she stilled, savouring the intimacy of his trust in her, she felt the skin shifting in her hand, drawing up tighter where it touched her palm, and releasing on the other side. Fascinated, she shifted his weight, once again feeling the contracting and relaxing. Damn! I wish I could see...

Snape forced himself to relax under her touch, holding onto his trust in her like a lifeline. When she calmly and gently began touching him, he could feel her simple wish to give him pleasure, and he succumbed to her desires.

Eventually, she drew her attention back to his cock, which was now quietly resting in its surrounding nest of hair. Lifting it, she marvelled at how different it was from before. Still, he gasped and held his breath for a second before exhaling harshly, but he wasn't burning hot and stunningly hard any longer. His skin was soft and velvety, and his flaccid penis was almost spongy under her tentative squeezes. The loose skin bunched and rolled as she stroked her hand from the base to the tip. Still, she could feel the ridge of flesh around the head, and she experimentally flicked her fingertip against the sensitive spot under the head, wondering if it would still get a reaction.

It did.

Snape was once again nearly overwhelmed by sensation. He felt like he was floating in a pool of contented relaxation, and his senses were being further dulled by Hermione's gentle caresses. Until she deliberately flicked that spot.

Muscles seized in reflex all along his body, making him buck and choke as he gasped. Hermione froze at the unexpected vehemence of his reaction. In the strained silence, she whispered, "Oops..."

Snape's lip curled and he rolled his eyes. Sardonic, he murmured, "So much for relaxed euphoria..."

Abashed, Hermione stammered, "S-sorry."

Snape heaved a huge sigh and reached down to carefully lift her hand from his body.

Hermione guiltily blurted, "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to ruin it..."

Snape cut her off, mildly saying, "Nonsense. You didn't ruin anything. I am merely invoking my rights."

Hermione blinked rapidly, trying to compute his meaning. Snape, meanwhile, had laid her hand on his chest and reached down to tug his trousers back up. Then, he rolled Hermione onto her back and propped himself up on his elbow to hover over her. Finally, Hermione figured it out, and a startled "Oh!" of comprehension burst from her lips.

Snape smirked wickedly in the darkness, ready to give himself over to returning the favour. He leant down to kiss her as his free hand cupped her cheek, slowly trailing down her throat and over her collar bone. As he released her lips to move back and suckle on her earlobe, he slid his hand down between her breasts, smugly enjoying her little squeals in reaction. Trailing his hand lower, his wrist caught against the shirt where it was still buttoned. Deliberately, he withdrew his hand from her person and slipped the button from its hole. Hermione gasped in surprise. He paused for a moment, allowing her a chance to protest, but when she didn't, he dropped to the last button and freed it, opening his shirt so he could bare her completely.

Hermione's breathing quickened, and Snape languidly dragged his fingertips back up her belly and between her breasts to rest his hand over her rapidly rising chest. His voice dripped with wicked intent as he purred, "Let me see... Oh yes, responding in kind. I believe I can manage that."

Hermione moaned softly at his tone, her heart thudding beneath his palm. Snape slowly pushed the panels of his shirt to the sides, baring Hermione's breasts and belly. As the fabric fell away, Hermione shuddered, feeling her nipples contracting.

"I remember this..." Snape leant down and kissed her ribs, nibbling up between her breasts. Hermione jumped, panting. He worked his way up to her throat, which he kissed and licked, smiling at Hermione's whimpers. Then, he paused, letting the tension grow.

With mock perplexity, he murmured, "Hmm, there's something missing. What is it?" In the charged silence he heard Hermione's shallow breaths. "Ah! Yes..." Hermione gasped and held her breath in anticipation, wondering what was next. Snape let the moment swell before finally acting.

He swiftly and determinedly slid his hand along her belly, his fingertips stealing beneath the waistband of her knickers. As his fingers travelled over her damp curls, Hermione arched her back, moaning. Snape inhaled sharply at the flash of lust swirling in his gut. Clenching his teeth and panting through his nose, he firmly stroked along her plump lips, sliding through her slick juices. His attention was diverted for a moment by Hermione's right hand scrabbling against his shoulder, digging her nails into his flesh.

He resumed his feathery kisses and nips along her chest, circling her breasts, at times moving onto the soft swell of her breast, but never closing in on the nipple. Hermione squirmed in torment, vainly trying to direct her stiff nipples into his mouth. After a few long slow strokes along her pussy lips, Snape dipped further down, completely cupping her mound in his palm, savouring the heat pouring from her flesh. His fingertips wedged between her thighs, and he pressed his hand against her, making her cry out.

When her hips rocked against his hand, he descended on her, pinning her to the bed with a savage kiss. As she thrust her hips up, her thighs parted, giving him the chance he wanted. Deftly, he pressed down, slotting his middle finger between her slippery lips, aligning his first and third fingers along the sides. She shrieked into his mouth, gripping his shoulder tight.

Sweet mother of Merlin, she feels so good! At her excited response, he felt his cock stirring again, and he wondered incredulously at his abilities of recuperation when with Hermione.

Snape slid his finger along her cleft, up one side of her clit and around to the other. Hermione writhed under him, moaning. He could feel her arousal building quickly, no doubt fired by her exploration of him and her successful attempt to get him off. His gut clenched at the copious amount of slick juices soaking through her knickers and drenching his hand. Once again dipping his head to feast on the bared flesh of her chest, he circled her clit with his finger, groaning at her heated cries.

Hermione's brain seemed to stall. All rational thought ceased at the sensation of Snape's fingers stroking the centre of her lust. A fleeting memory of a similar situation with Harry whipped through her, but it was quickly chased away by the pulsing waves of pleasure that rippled out from the hard nub being rolled under Snape's fingertip. Her head rolled from side to side in delight, and her right hand clutched at Snape's shoulder, digging into his skin.

As her breathing quickened, Snape increased the speed of his stroking. He could feel her hips twitching, tilting her pelvis up into his hand. When he slipped his finger down, she canted her hips up, and his fingertip grazed the edge of her sopping opening. He sucked in a breath and she voiced a ragged groan. Heart racing, he leant down beside her ear and rasped, "Hermione?"

She heard the unspoken question in his voice, and knew he had noticed her reaction. Head swimming, she gasped, "Gods, please..."

Snape panted at the surge of excitement that washed over him and closed the distance between them with a vehement kiss. Hermione instantly reached up and gripped his hair, holding him to her and crooning into his mouth. Snape pushed up onto his elbow and knee, pulling away from her kiss to trail his tongue over her jaw and down between her breasts as he backed away from her, still stroking her into a frenzy.

Hermione felt the loss of something to hold onto when he backed out of her reach. Grabbing the bedspread on either side of her, she felt as if all of her focus zeroed in on the sensations Snape was inciting between her thighs. As every tingle was suddenly magnified, she arched her back, grinding herself against his hand.

A guttural groan sounded from past her knees. Snape knelt between her legs, his hand still rubbing her swollen flesh. As he sank back onto his heels, he let his free hand trail along her body, sweeping over her breasts and down her ribs, coming to rest on the soft curve of her belly just above her pubic bone. After a pause, he hooked one long finger into the edge of her knickers and eased them down, away from his other hand. Hermione gasped and keened one long exhalation.

Removing his busy hand from its awkward position, he quickly twisted it to a more comfortable orientation and touched her again, rubbing his thumb in a circle around her swollen clit. His fingertips lightly traced along her pussy lips, nudging them apart. She arched, bucking against him.

He laid his free hand back on her belly, stroking her skin soothingly, quieting her; he could feel his heart pounding in anticipation of what he would do next. Never stopping his stroking of her clit, he gently used his first and third fingers to prod her slippery lips, opening them to allow his middle finger to trace along the hot flesh within. He could feel the slickness pouring from her opening, no doubt evidence of her earlier orgasm. Shuddering gasps met every tentative touch of his finger. As she unconsciously spread her legs further in invitation, Snape circled her opening more firmly, swallowing a groan at her ululating cry. Then, taking a deep breath, he pressed his fingertip in, sinking into her. His eyes closed involuntarily at the erotic bliss in her voice when Hermione rasped, "Oh, gods, yes!"

She was quivering around his finger, and he carefully slid deeper, past the first knuckle to the second. Her hips rocked, silently urging him further. He could feel the resistance of her hymen against the back of his finger and he hesitated, not wanting to hurt her. In an automatic response to her grinding hips, he rubbed faster around her clit. His free hand was smoothing over her abdomen in a lazy figure eight.

He could feel the clutching of her walls around his invading finger, and he wished fervently that he would know the feeling of her gripping his cock the same way. Cautiously, he slid his finger in and out, staying fairly shallow, constantly circling her clit. As she neared her second orgasm of the night, she made the same noises that Snape had come to recognize. A triumphant grin spreading his lips in the darkness, he stilled his free hand, resting it just above her mound. Finally, unable to stand the build-up any longer, he pressed down with his free hand, at the same time he slid his pumping finger in, curling it forward, pressing against her throbbing wall. Hermione convulsed in shocked ecstasy, completely overwhelmed by the intensity of her orgasm.

Blinding pleasure radiated out from the sensitive spot she didn't even know she had, but which Snape had obviously found, manipulating it from both inside and out. Coupled with the tingling from her clit, she shuddered and flailed, shrieking incoherently.

Snape felt her cunt clamping down on him, and bit his lip fiercely, maintaining focus on Hermione, drawing out her climax. She bucked and shivered, whimpering and keening in delight. He held her down as much as he could, pressing on her, still massaging her clit as he fluttered his finger against the spongy mass inside her body. Her juices coated his hand, pooling out into his palm. He was hit with a desperate desire to bury his tongue in those juices, lapping at her essence, but he fought it, knowing there was such a thing as too much. Gods willing, they had much to look forward to, and anything more in this moment would lessen the impact of what they had experienced already.

Slowly, Hermione floated down from the stratosphere, panting and swallowing against her parched throat. Her heart thundered in her ears, and she could sense the ringing that followed her deafening shrieks. Her body felt both weightless and extremely heavy. It was like all of her bones had disappeared...gods forbid, was Lockhart around?...and she was melting into the bedding. She could feel Snape slowing his movements, eventually stopping. She savoured the sensation of his hands on her, in her. As he carefully, lovingly withdrew, she couldn't help but sigh in disappointment. He had felt so good. When he leant back, separating from her entirely, she voiced a petulant whine.

Snape chuckled deep in his throat, steeling himself to regain his self-control. Resolutely, he tugged on her thong, slipping it back up her legs and easing it back into place. Hermione struggled to lift her hips to assist him, sighing deeply. When she felt the bed shifting, indicating that he was crawling back up to join her, she furtively adjusted the thong so it was more comfortable...well, as comfortable as arse-floss could be.

Snape settled himself back at her side, propping himself up on one elbow and resting his head in his hand. He was amazed to note that he was half-erect again. Shaking his head in rueful wonderment, he gently reached up and caressed Hermione's hair, drawing his little finger down her face and feeling the clammy skin where her sweat was cooling.

As his hand passed over her lips, Hermione could smell the scent of her arousal on his fingers. Colouring in embarrassment, she screwed her eyes shut. Snape couldn't see her reaction, but he felt her body tense, and he guessed the cause. Leaning over her face, he waited until she stilled, practically hearing her attention reorient on him. His voice was a seductive purr as he said, "I've told you before, Hermione... Delicious." He drew the word out on its final sibilant. Hermione's breath caught, and he dropped his fingers to her lips, covering them with his mouth.

His kiss was deep and sultry, his tongue snaking over his fingers, probing between them, to caress her tongue. He drew her own tongue out through his fingers, revelling in her taste, willing her to understand how much he loved it.

Hermione's stomach quivered nervously when Snape's damp fingertips alit on her lips, just after his comment sent a tingle of heat chasing through her core. When he descended on her, licking her lips and his fingers, giving her a sensuous taste of her ecstasy, she felt her heart pounding again, and her mind went spinning. As he pulled back a fraction, breathing heavily, she found herself sucking his finger into her mouth, eliciting a sharp grunt from Snape. His head rolled back and he groaned as she swirled her tongue around his finger, pushing it out and then sucking it back in. Faintly, she heard Snape choke out, "Unreal!" She smiled around his finger, and a moment later, he lunged back up, wrenching his hand from her mouth and pinning her with a demanding kiss.

Snape inched closer until he lifted his body over hers, propping himself up on his elbows and threading his hands in her unruly locks. One leg draped between hers, and he rested on his hip, letting his bare torso press against hers. Her nipples were hard between them, but her skin was softer than silk. Snape couldn't get enough of her, and feasted on her mouth, alternating between aggressively and languidly. Their soft sighs and croons blended with the moist sounds of their kisses.

After a while, their racing pulses slowed to a desultory, sated pace. Fatigue was creeping up on them, particularly after such a manic evening. Their kisses stretched out infinitely, savouring each other.

Snape was drawn from his contented haze by a short squeak from Hermione, followed by what felt like a jerk away from him. Blinking to clear his head, he paused, concerned. "What's wrong?"

Hermione was writhing in mortification. She felt like she couldn't keep up with him and his apparent wealth of experience. How to explain?

"Um... As much as I love kissing you... Well, it hurts." Hermione grimaced as she forced herself to speak.

Snape was taken aback, and he pulled away from her in worry. "Hurts? How?"

Hermione tossed her head on the pillow. Her voice was strained as she bit out, "My chin. It stings. So do my lips. My skin feels raw..." She was utterly stunned when Snape fell onto his back beside her, peals of laughter echoing off the stones. A bit put out, she snapped, "Why is that funny?"

Snape instantly composed himself, rolling back up to caress her face in apology. His voice still held a ripple of laughter as he spoke. "Dearest, I'm so sorry. I'm not laughing at you. It's my fault completely. You should have said something sooner, before my stubble rubbed you raw in my enthusiasm for your rather formidable charms." He murmured healing charms, and she felt the tingle of magic trailing after his fingers, soothing the abraded flesh. He rested his forehead against hers for a moment and rumbled, "I hesitate to even think how late it is, and it's obvious that it's been far too long since I shaved for the party. I should have been more mindful; I apologize."

Hermione let his words mollify her ruffled feathers, reaching up and sliding her fingers over his jaw, feeling the rough sandpapery texture of his beard growth. Wryly, she said, "Perhaps this is a sign that we should take a break for a little while?" Snape snorted and she smiled.

"Perhaps." He backed away to drop a gentle kiss on the tip of her nose. She giggled and walked her fingers over his nose so she could do the same. Snape huffed and grumbled, "Not like you could miss that target."

Hermione squawked in indignation and smacked his bicep. He yelped and jerked away. She snapped, "Stop that!"

Bewildered, Snape said, "What was that for?"

Hermione pushed him onto his back and aggressively poked him in the chest. "Don't insult the man I love, you hear me?"

Snape cottoned on and covered his eyes with his hand, muttering, "Oh, bloody hell..."

Hermione drawled, "I heard that..." Snape grunted in response and she giggled.

With mock asperity, Snape queried, "Are you quite finished abusing my person?"

Hermione stifled another giggle and leant near his ear, lilting, "Well, perhaps just for the night."

Snape groaned and wrapped his arms around her, squeezing. He drawled a long-suffering "Impertinence..." as he shifted her, tugging the covers out from under them. As he slid back down, pushing the covers below their feet at the end of the bed, he manoeuvred her to rest comfortably within his arm, smiling in spite of himself at her happy sigh when she laid her head on his chest.

Snape pushed her wayward curls away from his face and remained to stroke her hair as she pressed herself against him. His shirt bunched beneath her, and her breast was soft and warm along his side. She laid her arm across his ribs, idly rubbing his side and tracing the bones beneath his skin. When she flung her leg over his, her thigh rubbed across his satin-clad cock, making his muscles ripple at the sensation.

Hermione lay quiet, listening to the steady beat of his heart in her ear. She could hear his breathing as well, and after a long moment of calming herself to match his rhythm, she felt her emotions welling up at the simple joy of lying curled up with him. Her embrace tightened and she whispered, "I love you."

Snape sucked in a breath at the surge of love that engulfed him in response. He lifted his free arm to clasp her to him and kissed the crown of her head. His voice was thick with gratitude for the gift of her love as he murmured, "And I love you, Hermione."

There was a pause, filled with the unspoken devotions of the two lovers, and Hermione smiled in supreme contentment, wishing she could stay in his arms forever. That thought, however, spurred others, many of which were more troublesome. Recognizing her chance to finally talk freely with him, Hermione decided to broach some of the questions that had been nagging her ever since they had realized their connection.

In a low whisper, she said, "Severus?"

Snape felt more at peace than he remembered feeling in the rest of his miserable excuse for a life. At her tentative query, he simply responded with a "Mmmm?"

Hermione smiled at the vibration of his deep voice rumbling beneath her cheek, but her smile vanished as she posed her question. "What will happen when school is over?"

Snape frowned in the darkness. "To what, specifically, are you referring?"

"I mean, when school is over, we can come clean about our relationship, right?"

"Ye-e-es."

Hermione heard the hesitation in his tone and grimaced. "Well, I'm not so naïve as to think that there won't be repercussions. I just want to know: what do you expect those repercussions to be?"

Snape heaved a sigh from what seemed to be his toes and resignedly answered, "I won't lie to you and pretend that we won't cause a scandal. There will undoubtedly be an inquest to determine if our relationship affected your grades...not that there could possibly be any evidence to that effect. The headmaster will likely disapprove, and I can't say, with any certainty, that he'd be inclined to allow me to keep my position as a professor."

Hermione's voice was small as she choked, "I don't want to cause you to lose your job!"

Snape patted her shoulder consolingly. "Shhh. Hermione, love, think about it for a moment. The war is over. I no longer need this position to serve the Order. I am free to do whatever I wish for the first time in my life." His voice dripped with sarcasm as he said, "Has it never occurred to you, you maddeningly bright witch, that perhaps teaching was not my first choice in profession?"

Hermione blinked. "Oh!"

Snape snorted and stroked her arm. "Indeed. When this school year is over, I should like to take a new path. The mere thought of being spared a recurring multitude of dunderheads inspires me." He paused, letting his words sink in. Hermione was silent. His voice dropped to a wistful yearning as he said, "I have experienced so much that the wizarding world has to offer, but most of it has been on the Dark side.

"I have always been fascinated by how much we are able to accomplish by honing our natural abilities. My years as a Potions Master have provided me with a marketable trade, and with the downfall of the Dark Lord, I can make good use of it, outside of the walls of Hogwarts. My reputation has been cleared enough by the events of the Final Battle that I can find buyers for my wares. And, in my free time...about which I fantasize most longingly, contemplating the thought of not having classes to deal with...I have hundreds of ideas of things I would like to research, to expand our knowledge of the boundaries of our magical abilities..."

Hermione marvelled at the depth of feeling in his voice, showing how much he craved his freedom. Her heavy heart lifted. In an awed whisper, she said, "I had no idea..."

Snape chuckled dryly. "Of course not! I hardly dared entertain the notions myself until the war was over. I had kept my inclinations buried so long from sheer necessity of survival that they took a while to resurface." He paused for a long moment. Then, patting her shoulder firmly, he said, "I daresay things will be quite awkward and difficult when we go public, but you needn't worry that I will lose my job and we will end up eking out a living somewhere off Knockturn Alley."

He kissed her head again in reassurance, and Hermione hugged him, but she still couldn't completely quell the niggling anxiety in her gut at the eventual exposure of their true feelings.

Solemnly, she said, "You are a wonderful man, Severus Snape, and quite the enigma."

Snape made a rude noise. Scoffing, he retorted, "Not quite, Miss Know-It-All, but I appreciate the sentiment nonetheless. Of course, I daresay you're biased..."

He gave a wicked chuckle that sent a stab of heat straight to her centre. "Hmmm, I may be biased, but you don't give yourself credit. As for the enigma that is you, I hope to spend quite a long time unravelling your mysteries."

Snape closed his eyes as another wave of emotion crashed over him. His voice was low and fervent as he said, "I hope you do, my love. I sincerely hope you do." He held her tight for a moment, before relaxing again and sighing. "The alarm is already set. Fancy a turn in dreamland before you have to depart?"

Hermione smiled as she snuggled closer to him, making herself comfortable. "I feel like I already am in dreamland, since mine have come true with you."

Fighting a grin, Snape chided, "Now, now, beloved, be careful what you say, or I might become as conceited as that idiot Lockhart." Then, he teasingly added, "Oh, wait, you fancied him, didn't you?"

Hermione groaned in embarrassment. "Don't ruin the moment, Severus! Honestly, bringing up that prat when I'm as close to perfectly content as I think I can be! Hmph, see if I whisper sweet nothings to you anymore..."

Snape chuckled again and sighed, "My dear, you couldn't possibly whisper sweet nothings, as you never speak but that you say something." Hermione swatted his chest and he grunted. Catching her hand, he lifted it to his lips and kissed it. "Now, shall we fall asleep, or would you rather continue this charming little quarrel?"

Hermione finally gave in and giggled. In a tone of affectionate indulgence, she murmured, "Good night, dearest. Happy Christmas."

Snape relaxed and Summoned the covers over them. "Sleep well, even if it is only for a short while. Happy Christmas to you, my love." A peaceful silence descended upon them, blanketing them with comfortable drowsiness. Feeling safe, secure, and content, they succumbed to sleep in each other's arms.