The Seduction Game

Disclaimer: All of the Harry Potter characters and the Harry Potter universe belongs to J.K. Rowling/Warnerbros. I am making no money.

Finally back! It\'s taken me a while, sorry \'bout that, but here\'s another chapter...
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CHAPTER FIFTEEN: A DAY OF ANTICIPATION


Hermione considered not going to dinner that evening, she still felt slightly nervous. But, then she remembered that she no longer had anyone to fear, and decided she might as well enjoy the evening - the gods knew the last part of the evening would be enjoyable.

Of course wae was nervous. It was only natural. Her Professor had promised her that at this time tomorrow she’d no longer be a virgin. That sort of thing seriously takes claim of most of your day’s attention.

Hermione spent the afternoon in her room packing - she’d planned to leave the following day, there was a lot to be done back in London for her.

Remembering this concerned her, though. What would happen with her and Snape, really? So far, nothing was certain between them. Hermione wasn’t sure if it would be even after tonight, and what would happen when they went home? Hermione had a schedule to keep, and she was certain that so did Snape.

She worked in London, he worked at Hogwarts. Would he even want them to think this through? Did he even care?

Did she?

What did she feel, exactly? She was attracted to Snape, that much was certain by now. She wanted him to take her virginity, she knew this too... But beyond it, what then?

Hermione’s work hours were flexible, and distance wasn’t really a problem in the wizarding world... She could Apparate, or go by the Floo... No, distance wasn’t the problem here. The problem was what both she and Snape felt.

What would they be after the conference? A couple? Dating? Friends, or... what?

Hermione shook her head slightly and returned her attention to her packing. So far, Snape’d had an answer to everything. Perhaps he’d have an answer to this too, in the morning... At least nothing was certain until then.

The afternoon passed, and at last Hermione got changed and went to the dining room. The minute she walked in, two familiar voices called out to her.

“Miss Granger! Oh, what a lovely surprise!”

“Come over here, Hermione, sit with us!”

Hermione was astounded to see two of her former Professors - McGonagall and Flitwick - at a table to her left. She moved over to them and took a seat in an empty chair.

“It’s so nice to see you,” she said happily and even allowed herself to hug them both.

“You too, Hermione,” said McGonagall. “I hope you don’t mind me calling you Hermione? You are no longer a student of mine, after all -”

“No worries,” smiled Hermione, “when even Professor Snape is willing to call me Hermione, then at least you two should.”

“You’ve met him?” asked McGonagall. “I hope he was behaving, he’s been rather in a foul mood recently.”

“He’s been behaving,” said Hermione happily.

“No wonder he’s been upset, though,” said Flitwick, adjusting the stack of pillows on his seat to he could sit up straight. “That old friend of his, Mr Malfoy, he’s been hanging around... Can’t be fun for them to reunite.”

“Severus hates him,” said McGonagall.

“Don’t we all,” muttered Hermione and reached for her glass of red wine.

“I didn’t know you’d been in touch with him,” said McGonagall.

“Barely,” replied Hermione - she really wasn’t about to discuss what had occurred between her and Lucius Malfoy with Professor McGonagall.

“Well, it’s all over and done now, anyway,” said Flitwick. “No one’ll have any more problems with him!”

“You mean - the rumours are true, then?” asked McGonagall shocked.

“Rumours? What rumours?” asked Hermione.

“They’re true,” confirmed Flitwick to McGonagall, “hpracpractically lost it. They say he’s been Obliviated... I spoke with Albus about it earlier, it appears there’s been no witnesses and no suspects.”

“What’s happened, exactly?” asked Hermione, acting curious and secretly rejoicing over the fact that there was no suspects.

“Rumours were going about that Lucius Malfoy had lost his mind,” said McGonagall. “Forgotten who he was... Now it appears the rumours were true. Mr Malfoy cannot recall who he is, nor, of course, how he became this way.”

“I say he was Obliviated,” stated Flitwick. “Every sign points to it, and I know a thing or two about such charms, after all...”

“Yes, well, it’s not as if your average witch or wizard cares about what happens to that man,” said McGonagall. “If you ask me, it’s all for the better. No one needs Lucius Malfoy, at least not him as he used to be... And who knows, maybe he even Obliviated himself! I say that man went a bit touched in the head after all this mess he got himself into after Voldemort’s fall.”

“Where is he now?” asked Hermione.

“Taken to St Mungo’s,” replied Flitwick. “They’ll attempt to restore his memory, but it’s a lost cause, really... I know a thing or two about this... A talented wizard would have no trouble permanently erasing Lucius’s being, thll bll be no restoring him...”

“Maybe he’ll become a whole new man,” said McGonagall with a wicked smile. “That would have been the perfect outcome of all of this. Can’t you just picture Lucius sitting at the front desk of the Ministry taking messages for Arthur Weasley?” she laughed.

“That WOULD have been perfect,” sighed Hermione, and hungrily attacked her supper.

They finished their meal, and Hermione found that she enjoyed the company of her former Professors so well she stuck around to have a piece of dessert with them. Just as the ice cream was brought to her by a stuttering house elf, someone else also appeared at their table.

“Severus!” said McGonagall. “Won’t you join us?”

Snape gave a slight smile in Hermione’s direction and took a seat in the empty chair next to her.

“Rare man to be seen out of his cave,” said Flitwick to him. “I heard you usually ate in your rooms?”

“Not always, no,” replied Snape. “And I didn’t today, as it was... I had some business with Albus, we ate together. At his request I came here afterwards to see if Ild cld catch a few minutes with my colleagues...”

“I’m glad you did,” said McGonagall. “Tea?” she offered.

“Please,” he said desperately, reaching for the cup. “Hours spent with Albus sometimes does too much good to a person.”

“You and Hermione have already met, haven’t you?” asked McGonagall, looking from Snape to Hermione in turn.

“Yes,” said Snape, catching Hermione’s eye, “we have.”

She gave him a slight smile and brought a spoonful of ice cream to her lips. It really seemed to catch Snape’s attention - his eyes were locked on the spoon as she licked it clean.

Hermione somehow felt she’d just been offered an upper hand - Snape’s reaction to how she’d treated the ice cream suggested that. Of course he would have the upper hand once they were back in his rooms... Enjoy this while it lasts, Hermione, she told herself - make him suffer, if only for a few minutes.

“I’m so glad,” said McGonagall, clearly oblivious to what had just occurred between Hermione and Snape. “She says you’ve been behaving, too... I’m glad to hear it.”

“I always behave,” said Snape, but his eyes didn’t leave Hermione’s spoon as she brought it up a second time, this time licking off the ice cream slowly instead of bringing it into her mouth.

“One can argue with that,” muttered Flitwick under his breath, hiding behind his teacup.

“Professor Snape,” said Hermione suddenly, making him jump in his seat, as though she pulled him out of a trance. “Would you like some of my ice cream?”

McGonagall and Flitwick’s eyes went wide. Snape’s eyebrows went up.

“You seem so interested in it, Sir,” smiled Hermione innocently and took up another spoonful of ice cream, offering it to Snape. “It’s very good.”

Oh yes, she certainly had the upper hand now! Hermione felt wonderful, the look of astonishment on Snape’s face said it all, she’d really given him a nice surprise...

She hadn’t expected his next move though, and it totally took her by surprise. In stead of taking the spoon from her, which was what she’d offered, Snape’s hand went to her wrist, gently raising her hand to his face and then licking the ice cream off the spoon without his eyes ever leaving hers.

Damn. Okay, now HE had the upper hand... Gods, that had been WONDERFUL...

McGonagall and Flitwick continued to stare, their jaws threatening to hit the table.

“It was quite good,” said Snape, now pulling Hermione out of her trance. “Though I’ve tasted something better.” His gaze shot to her lips for a second, and she found herself blushing uncontrollably.

“Er,” said McGonagall nervously, “I - er - didn’t know you liked ice cream, Severus?”

“I don’t, normally,” he simply replied, returning his attention to his tea.

Hermione found it was best to finish her ice cream in peace. Gods, he really knew what he was doing, didn’t he... NOT a good idea to play games with Professor Snape.

--

He was actually struggling to keep himself from smirking. Hermione had surprised him, Severus couldn’t deny it - he’d never expected her to be the slightly teasing, tempting type.

But clearly she’d thought she was on top of the situation then, as though holding him in her grasp, in total control... Well, he’d shown her, hadn’t he?

Her silence really said it all. Throughout the rest of the dessert, Hermione barely spoke at all, though she kept looking back at him. His little stunt with the spoon had certainly served its c.

.

Severus wasn’t really all that nervous about the upcoming evening. HE knew what he was doing, and he knew he would make Hermione enjoy it. The fact that she’d chosen him as her first, and was willing... HIM, of all people! Severus Snape! The very fact that she wanted it to be him was reason enough for Severus to make it memorable for her. He was going to make sure she enjoyed herself, no question there...

The rest of their time spent around the table was amusing. Hermione was rather silent, and both of Severus’s colleagues were clearly shocked at his behaviour, though they did their best to hide it.

At long last, however, all the tea was drunk and Hermione had finally managed to finish her ice cream without any more wild attempts at provoking Severus.

He put down his teacup. “As delightful as this has been -” his voice was dripping with sarcasm, “- I must be off. Hermione, I believe we had a matter to discuss regarding your lecture...?”

She looked up at him, bewildered for a moment before she understood what he meant.

“Yes, Professor,” she smiled and d wid with him, biding her Professors farewell and following Severus out of the dining room. They walked in silence through the longue and didn’t speak at all until he broke the silence as they reached the rooms’ corridor.

“It was quite a daring little attempt you made back there,” he said d.

.

She looked up at him, smiling slightly. “You handled it well, though... Did it bother you?”

“Not at all,” he smirked. They reached his room, and he opened the door to let her inside before him. He could practically smell her nervousness, and as he closed the door she turned to look at him, her face grave.

“I don’t...” she began, but seemed unable to finish her sentence.

He simply smiled and went over to her, placing a gentle kiss on her forehead and his hands on her upper arms, caring. “Not to worry,” he said. “We have all night - and if you decide to change your mind, just say so, I will understand.”

She smiled then, a genuinely happy smile. “Thank you,” she said and moved into his embrace, curling her arms around his waist.

Severus was lost. The feeling of holding her in his arms, so close and intimate... He hadn’t felt anything like this in decades. The very thought that he’d be holding Hermione Granger like this, kissing her... It was insane, really - but the good kind of insane.

He pulled back and caught her gaze with his. “What do you say we take a drink on the porch?” he suggested. “It’s a nice evening, and I doubt we will get another chance to enjoy it.”

“That sounds very nice,” she smiled, and they walked out onto his porch together, once again sitting down on the floor leaning their backs agains the wall of the Manor. All formalities were forgotten, and Severus had to admit he actually liked just sitting there, although it wasn’t at as formal and aristocratic as he was used to. Being an adult man, he hadn’t sat on the floor of any porch in years, except for the evening before with Hermione... He liked the feeling.

A house elf appeared seconds later with two glasses of scotch, and they both took them and drank in silence, just watching the Spanish mountains in the slowly setting sun. Severus had to admit it was a beautiful sight - but it wouldn’t have been as nice, watching it on his own. With Hermione there, it was definitely a lot nicer...

At last, the silence was broken.

“I really don’t know what to expect,” said Hermione, watching her glass as it refilled.

Severus raised an eyebrow and looked at her. “What do you mean?”

“I mean - later. You know,” she added with a slight smile.

Yes. He knew, and nodded.

“I don’t even know if it’s right for me to say this to you,” continued Hermione, “but I just feel like... I don’t know, I’ve never given it a second thought. I’ve been way to busy with other stuff, sex has just never been an issue...” She looked up into his eyes. “I have no idea what any of it is like,” she confessed.

He smiled at her then. “I’m glad you chose to say this to me, you needn’t worry about that,” he said. “And although I have to admit I am somewhat surprised that you have no ideas about it at all...” He smirked slightly. “That is quite alright. It is not as if I mind,” he added.

“You don’t?”

He shook his head. “Why would I? Thry fry fact that you even let me be your first amazes me, it is not as if a little thing like this would make me object... You know I am...” He paused, almost as though gaining courage to finish his sentence: “...very attracted to you, Hermione, you know that.”

She smiled. “I’m attracted to you too,” she said earnestly. “Wow, I just can’t believe I’m having this conversation with my Professor -”

“Former Professor,” Severus corrected.

“Former Professor,” she agreed.

Theyisheished their second glass, and Hermione moved in to lean on Severus’s chest, her warmth and closeness literally heating him up... Then, at last, she turned her head up to look at him.

He raised his eyebrows, expecting her to speak.

Finally, she did, her voice rather low, but eager yet.

“Can we move inside?” she asked with a smile.


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Reviews...? :) I know I kinda promised some smutty stuff in this chapter, but I felt it just needed a bit of building first... next chapter though (as is obvious in this chapter) will be the one...!