R & R

12 - R & R

"Oh, God, that was heavenly," Hermione groaned.

"You are far more easily satisfied than I would have believed," Snape commented, watching her with his chin propped on his hand.

"You have no idea what this does for a woman," she retorted.

"Apparently."

The remains of their luncheon feast littered the table, crowned by the chocolate cake about which Hermione was still rhapsodising. It was amazing that men never realised how absolutely incredible chocolate could be. Ah, well. Their loss. The girl closed her eyes, relishing the flavour on her tongue. When her eyes fluttered open again, she was disconcerted to find Snape still watching her. Flushing slightly, she tried to gauge his reaction; her best guess was that he was trying for supercilious and was merely succeeding in being amused. Of course, she could be reading far too much into it. And probably was.

Nervously, Hermione brushed back strands of hair that had escaped her ponytail. "So, um, what would you like to do now?"

"I believe I shall retire to my room and apply myself to my new acquisitions. And you, Miss Granger?"

"Hmm..." She hadn't really thought that far ahead. "I imagine I'll do the same down here. Um, you do realise that if my parents aren't back by dinner, we'll have to do this again?"

He nodded, then rose wordlessly and swept out of the room. Hermione blinked at the abrupt departure, then shrugged. "I should be used to it, I guess," she commented to Crookshanks. The cat meowed in reply, then jumped down from the counter. She followed the cat into the front room, where the two of them curled up in the blankets she had left there.

It was the chiming of the mantel clock that aroused her from her literary reverie. Blinking at it, she realised that the daylight was nearly gone and it had grown correspondingly colder, especially since she had absent-mindedly allowed the fire to die down. And, obviously, the central heating was still out. Hermione shivered slightly as she pulled more blankets up and around her; leaving her nest was not a pleasant option at the moment. Still, she would have to unless she wanted to end up in total darkness and icy cold. Before she could work up the will to do it, though, she heard footsteps coming down the stairs.

"Miss Granger, what on earth are you doing?" Snape's voice sounded from the doorway, where she could see his imposing silhouette. "It is bloody well freezing down here, you stupid girl. Don't you have the sense to warm the room?"

She bristled slightly at the insult, but decided to ignore it. "I certainly do, Professor. I simply lost track of the time and the temperature. I was just about to rectify the situation."

A derisive snort sounded richly through the cold air followed by a few muttered words. Several logs flew into the fireplace and burst into flames. "It will take some time for the room to heat properly, Miss Granger. And, as I have a vested interest in ensuring that you do not develop frostbite, I would ask that we both repair to my chamber; I have had warming charms placed there since I arrived."

"All right," Hermione agreed (with more than a little trepidation). "Just a moment." Wrapping a single blanket firmly around herself, she grabbed a book and scurried over. Snape took a single, snidely eloquent look at her, then led the way upstairs. Continuing to shiver (and seething somewhat at the deliberately slow pace Snape set), Hermione followed.

The bedroom more than made up for the chilly trip upstairs. Hermione revelled in the delicious warmth and the soothing witchlights bobbing overhead, but remained near the door, knowing that Snape would be annoyed if she presumed, even in her own room.

"Well, sit down, girl," he growled, removing his coat to reveal a meticulously tailored black waistcoat and subtly patterned white shirt. Hermione blinked, taking in the clean, sleek lines of the clothing and of the body underneath. "I would much prefer if you did not gape at me like a fish sculpture."

"What if I prefer to do so?" she shot back mischievously, recovering from her split-second revelation. "I should hope I am able to do as I please in my own home."

"If that is what you 'please'... and I cannot, for any reason, comprehend why it would be... then you may do so outside of my charms. I have no wish to expend energy on obstinate, irritating girls." At that, he turned and picked up the book he had been reading, then assumed the place he had occupied earlier: laying comfortably on the bed.

"Women," she corrected him.

"I beg your pardon?" Snape gazed down his nose at her, an expression that seemed to have lost its effectiveness.

"Women," Hermione repeated. "Due to my use of the Time Turner, I am over eighteen, which is considered in this society as adult, though rarely given such consideration. Therefore, you should address me as a woman, not a child or a girl. Or may I also refer to you as a 'boy'?"

"I shall call you a woman when you show me that you deserve the appellation, which is something that has yet to occur," Snape retorted. "Now sit down, girl, before I toss you back into cold."

"Such a pleasant man you are," Hermione drawled, never-the-less sitting cross-legged on a corner of the bed, which was more than large enough to accommodate the two of them. Her parents had bought it years ago in the expectation of numbers of giggling girls chatting until the wee hours. Needless to say, they had been disappointed on that score.

Snape harrumphed and pointedly returned his attention to his book. Nothing loath, Hermione did the same.

Time passed, quickly and silently in the upstairs room, the only regular sound being the turn of pages. Eventually, one set of pages slowed and finally stopped. Bemused, Hermione looked over the edges of her own novel and realised that Professor Snape had fallen asleep. She grinned slightly, remembering how she had found him on the window seat downstairs. He must be tired, though, she realised, to have fallen asleep so early on such a quiet day. And more trusting than she would have given him credit for, with her sitting here beside him. And why not? her mind told her indignantly. Still, in spite of it, she felt a strong surge of protectiveness, which she realised with icy shock. Disconcerted, she returned to her book, where people and emotions were much more reliable. Immersed in its pages, Hermione didn't realise that she, too, was tired, nor did she notice the overwhelming urge to close her eyes until all she saw was blackness.

It was full dark and the moon was high when the front door of the Granger house was quietly unlocked. "It's freezing in here!" Robert noted.

"She and Professor Snape must be upstairs, then, to conserve heat," Amelia replied calmly. "I imagine the utilities were knocked out."

"Lights aren't working, Mum," chimed Genie, flicking the switch back and forth.

"Fire's on in the parlour," said Robert as he poked his head in. "Kitchen's still cold, though."

"Genie, why don't you run upstairs and fetch your sister," Amelia suggested, hefting the bags she carried. "I'll see what I can do about getting everyone fed."

"Right, Mum," Genie agreed cheerfully, then pounded upstairs.

Hermione was very comfortably asleep, thank you very much, and warm and cosy. At least, she was until a thread of song came weaving its way into her dreams.

"Professor and Mynie, sittin' in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G..."

Hermione's eyes shot open at that, then closed immediately when she realised exactly where she was. She and Snape had both gravitated to the centre of the bed. He was still laying on his back, but she was now snugged up against his side, arm across his chest and head on his shoulder. From the flexing of his arm and fingers, she knew that he, too, was awake.

Genie finished her tune and opened her mouth again, this time to yell. "Mum! Dad!"

For lack of anything better, Hermione buried her face back in Snape's shoulder. "Oh, fuck," she muttered.

A rumble emerged from Snape's chest. "Given the circumstances, Miss Granger, I am not sure if that phrase is particularly apropos or in the most appalling taste."

Sighing, Hermione levered herself up. "And you are amazingly calm," she said, but was cut off from any further comment by the arrival of her parents.

"Hermione Jane Granger!"

_{AN - It occured to me, however belatedly, that y'all might want to know the original requirements of the challenge.}

WIKTT 2003 Christmas Challenge (by Megami-sama):

"Must take place during Hermione's seventh year around Christmas. Hermione discovers that Snape doesn't really have anyone around to celebrate Christmas with. Include: Hermione invites Snape home (SOMEHOW getting him to agree to come) OR She stays at Hogwarts and celebrate the holiday with him.

MUST INCLUDE:

Someone getting a 'snake' gift (ex. intertwining snake pens, snake boxers, snake locket, actual snake, etc.)

Someone(s) finding Hermione and Snape in bed together

Harry and Ron believing Snape gave Hermione a potion (Harry and Ron don't have to be the someone(s) who finds Herm and Snape in bed)"