Duodécimo

Forbidden Obsession

Duodécimo

That night Hermione found herself wondering the corridors of the school. She had to find Snape. Her heart ached for Remus, but it ached even more for Severus. She had to see him. She had to know he was safe. She had to know if it was a dream or if she really did have some kind of connection to him. Using the light from her wand to guide her through the dark corridors, she made her way down to the dungeons.

"Miss Granger," said a pleasant voice. Hermione spun around, nearly blinding the person with her wand.

"Professor Dumbledore," she squeaked.

"You are out late."

"I was just patrolling the halls, sir."

"Ah, at this late hour, Miss Granger?"

"I was just... making sure everything was safe... you know, for the students."

"Why don't you leave that to me, my dear?" His eyes twinkled as he smiled at her.

"Yes, sir," she said. Defeated, she turned and made her way back to her rooms.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The next day in potions class, the Hermione, Harry, and Ron were seated, waiting for the arrival of Professor Snape. The Headmaster ordered that classes resume as normal, explaining that it would keep the students' minds off of Professor Lupin's death. On cue, the door opened and in walked Snape. He moved slower than usual, but the stern look on his face was no different from what they had seen before.

Standing in front of the class, he turned to face his students. An instant chill went down to the pit of Hermione's stomach as she looked at him. His skin was pale and sunken, worse than she had ever seen.

Perhaps it was the toll of his taking Remus' life,' she thought. She looked at Harry and Ron to see if they noticed the changes. The only look in Harry and Ron's eyes was anger. They wanted revenge for Remus' death, but had sworn to Dumbledore that they would do no such thing. She then looked at Malfoy, who gave no regard to the appearance of his head of house. Malfoy was wearing a smirk on his face, though, displaying his support for Remus' death.

"Today you will be brewing a Blood-Replenishing potion," Professor Snape spoke in a low voice. His usual intimidating tone was astray, alerting Hermione that something was definitely wrong. He flicked his wand at the chalkboard and the instructions appeared. "You have exactly two hours to turn in your potions. Begin."

Hermione watched Snape walk behind his desk and sit down. Pinching the bridge of his nose with his hand while resting one elbow on the desk, he did not move for the rest of class.

Perhaps because it was a N.E.W.T.s class, the students brewed their potions without incident. Hermione glanced up at Snape often, both making sure he was okay and hoping for some movement out of him. At this point she would have welcomed his yelling or belittling of a student, but there was nothing. He didn't bother to walk around the classroom to oversee the brewing of the assignment.

At the end of class the students quickly bottled a sample of their potion and cleaned up, while Hermione procrastinated just enough until most of the students left, including Harry and Ron.

Pouring her potion into the bottle, she sealed it. Taking a steady breath in, she slowly let it out. She approached his desk where he was looking over the samples of potions the other students had left. Placing hers next to them, she waited.

"Class is over," he said harshly, not looking at her.

"I know, sir, but I just need..." Her words broke off. 'Need,' she thought. 'What do I need?' She needed to comfort him, tell him that Remus' death was not his fault. She needed to make sure that he was okay.

"Leave now, Miss Granger, or Gryffindor will suffer." He made his point. Hermione grabbed her book bag and left.

Severus watched the door shut behind her. Gathering his strength, he left to his private rooms. He needed to feed soon, but he also needed her for more than just feeding.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A week later, Hermione placed her stack of books on her desk in the Head Girl's rooms. She didn't know if she was more exhausted from the homework she had just completed or trying to keep Harry and Ron motivated to complete their own homework. The one thing she did know is that she was ready for a hot bath and bed.

Hermione pulled her hair up and tied it in a loose bun, sliding her wand through it to hold it in place. She stepped into the hot bath she had drawn. Adding the last of the sandalwood Tonks had given her, she closed her eyes and relaxed.

Inhaling the aroma, she began to feel a desire build between her legs. Her breasts began to tingle, and her breathing slowed. She inhaled and exhaled slowly, titillating the hunger enthralling her body and senses.

Hearing whispers around her, she was engulfed in darkness.

Drawing her wand from her hair she quickly opened her eyes and looked around. Her bathroom was fully lit and her door secured. Placing another ward on her door, she settled back into the water.

"Just relax, Hermione," she whispered to herself. Pulling her hair back up, then twisted it into a knot again. The ends of her hair dipped into the water. Closing her eyes once again, she leaned her head back onto the edge of the porcelain tub. As her body relaxed, she slipped into the darkness once more but this time she did not resist.

The whispers were indistinguishable, but there was comfort in them. The lascivious desire returned, captivating both her mind and body. Her skin ached to be touched as she brought her hand to her neck and slowly caressed her skin. Her fingers lazily drew circles down her neck to her throat. She ran her fingers along her collarbone, reaching across to her shoulder.

The whispers continued.

Her hand moved across her chest as her forearm brushing against her nipple. Sliding her arm back across her chest, her fingers brushed against her hard nipple, sending a chill throughout her body.

"Touch your breast," she heard. It was the first whisper she could comprehend.

Obeying the voice, her fingers circled her hard nipple. She was acutely aware that her breathing quickened as she rolled the nipple between her thumb and middle finger. Her other hand moved to her other breast. Her fingers traced its curve, sending a wave of excitement down the right side of her body. Slowly her fingers meander to her nipple and rolled it between her fingers. Her chest arched out. Her fingers flicked and rubbed her nipples while her hands kneaded her breasts.

The warmth increased between her legs, as did the salacious hunger that was building deep from within her core. One hand moved further into the water, down her abdomen to her pelvis. Sliding her hand further down, she laced her curls between her fingers.

"Touch yourself," said the whisper.

Her fingers traced the opening of her labia and carefully she opened the folds, feeling the warm water enter. A wave of passion a desire consumed her and again the whispering continued but this time she felt a warm breath against her neck.

"Touch yourself."

Her fingers slid further into her warm folds, feeling the slickness her body had produced. A hand covered her own, guiding its movements. Her fingers moved along her folds up to her clitoris and she inhaled sharply. Slowly she stroked her nub, first one finger, then two. Her strokes increased in speed while her body ached for release. She had never felt a hunger consume her like this. The hand covering her guided her every movement.

"Open your eyes," commanded a deep, silky voice.

Obediently, Hermione opened her eyes and locked onto the set of dark eyes. His desideratum for her immersed her senses and her orgasm overtook her body violently and instantaneously.

She rolled her nub between her fingers while her hips rocked in the water, splashing it over the sides. Her breathing intensified, remaining in sync with his. She felt his warm breath against her lips and face as her fingers thrust into herself. Her thumb rubbed against her clit, bringing herself to another orgasm. Her walls spasmed and she closed her eyes.

"Keep your eyes open," the voice demanded. She obeyed, gazing into the set of black eyes before her.

"Mine," the voice whispered, "You are mine."

"I am yours," she whispered.

Hermione awoke, finding herself in her bed with the covers drawn. Her room was dark with the only the moonlight coming through the opening in the curtains. She started to sit up when she realized she was not wearing any clothing. Her mind raced trying to remember what had occurred. All she could remember were his dark eyes and the erogenous desires that had been achieved.

Closing her eyes, she settled back into her bed and slept.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Severus sat in his leather lounge, sipping brandy. Once again his energy was restored, but at what price? He could have Hermione anytime he wanted, but for it to be complete, she must be the one to come to him.

He finished the rest of his brandy, and, with a wave of his hand, he snuffed out the candles.

~TBC