A Crown of Thorns

**DISCLAIMER** All characters etc. belong to J.K. Rowling and I am making no money from this. Don’t sue because I’m sure that I don’t have anything that you’d want anyway. The basic plot for the story was a challenge presented by ArienAstera.


A/N - Computer is up and running, go me! Thanks again to all of those who have taken the time to read and review.


Chapter Fifteen - Sweet Dreams

Severus gazed at the glowing embers settling in the fireplace as he eventually gave up trying to read the latest installment of the monthly Alchemy journal. He had barely slept more than a few hours in the past two nights, anticipating Hermione’s safe return.

Since her abrupt departure, Severus had made every attempt to avoid Voldemort, knowing that Hermione was all that stood between the two wizards. Busying himself with various tasks, Severus began to prepare one of the spare rooms to be turned into a teaching laboratory, anything to keep his mind off of her. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn‘t bring himself to understand how this girl that he once loathed the very sight of, managed to reduce him to feeling like a lovesick teenager. She consumed his thoughts during the day and haunted his dreams at night and it was slowly driving him mad.

For it had been far too long since Severus had dared to let himself feel this way about another person. In fact, the last person that had made him feel this way was…well, it didn’t matter. Feebly attempting to push the thoughts out of his mind, Severus admonished himself for thinking about her that way. Hermione was his student, and he was her teacher, nothing more, nothing less. And besides, she would never want him in that sort of way. Over the past two years she had grown to be a very powerfnd vnd very beautiful young witch who would make some young wizard very happy one day. Why on earth would she want a cranky old ex-Death Eater who sported an overgrown nose and greasy hair?

Severus si, re, realizing that he would have to be content with his dreams of her, no matter how inappropriate, and for now that was good enough for him. He dragged himself out of the chair that he had been occupying for the better part of the evening and made his way to bed, falling into a deep slumber.

**** “Severus, wake up darling.” the sweet voice whispered, warm breath tickling his ear.

She slid closer to him under the cool silk of the sheets and snaked one arm around his waist, letting her soft hand caress his naked chest. Her lips trailed slowly along his shoulder blade as her hand moved down his abdomen, stopping just short of his waistband.

“Severus,” she whispered, “look at me my love.”

He rolled over to find himself staring into a pair of lovely brown eyes complimented by long, dark lashes. Her mouth was exquisite; soft, full lips that curved up slightly at the corners, beckoning to be kissed. Her heart shaped face was framed by a tangled mass of unruly brown hair that suited her perfectly.

And then she smiled at him, in the way that only she could, making his stomach flutter just a bit.

He reached for her then, gently pulling her towards him and pressing himself against the warmth of her soft body, running his hand along the curve of her hip. She tilted her head to him, inviting his lips to hers and he tasted her mouth, gently at first, gradually becoming more insistent as he felt her tongue parting his lips. She nipped playfully at his bottom lip and he pushed her back onto the soft pillows, straddling her thighs. She gazed up at him with as lazy grin and lifted her arms up until they rested above her head, allowing him a full view of her naked body. She was magnificent.

Knowing what she wanted, he dipped his head down, taking one of her hardened peaks into his mouth, alternately licking and sucking while his hand cupped her other breast. She arched her back, moaning as his tongue flicked over her sensitive flesh. He could feel his cock pressing against the confining material of his shorts as it grew hard, and he let his mouth travel along her stomach as he slid down between her legs. He pushed her thighs apart and trailed his fingers through the silky nest of curls, feeling the heat rising from her core. Parting her folds he let his thumb barely brush over her already swollen clit, eliciting a muffled cry of pleasure. He smirked as she raised her hips in a desperate attempt to find some source of relief. Sliding one finger into her, he lowered his mouth to meet her, creating a featherlike sensation with his tongue that caused her to writhe beneath him. He lapped at her now with longer, more firm strokes and rhythmically thrust his finger into her, first one, then two, relishing the feel of her velvety walls gripping him.

He looked up at her, watching her response to him. Her eyes were closed and her mouth was slightly parted. Severus watched in fascination as her hands instinctively traveled up her abdomen until they found the curves of her breasts, and she kneaded the soft flesh, pinching her hardened nipples between her fingers, bringing herself even more pleasure. Not able to withhold any longer at the sight of her cares her her own body, he withdrew his fingers from her and raised himself to his knees, pulling off his shorts. Her eyes were open now and dark with lust as she spread her legs apart wider, welcoming him into her. He leaned over her, supporting himself on one elbow and positioned himself at her entrance, feeling the moist heat envelope him as he pushed into her. Her head fell back to the pillows and she moaned as he thrust himself into her over and over, tangling his hands into her hair. He pulled her face to his and roughly took her lips, feeling her soft tongue against his own. Her hips lifted to meet him and she wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling him into her.

“Harder.” she growled into his ear, dragging her nails across his back. He raised up, grasping the backs of her thighs and pushed her knees up to meet her chest. From his vantage point he watched himself sliding in and out of her, slick with her moisture. He pounded into her ferociously and felt her begin to tighten around his cock as she bucked wildly beneath him, reaching her peak. Pushing into her with one final penetrating stroke, he fell swiftly over the edge with her. Collapsing on top of her, he buried his face into the crook of her neck, inhaling her sweet, musky scent.

“Severus,” she whispered, gently stroking his back, “I love you my darling.”

He lifted his head so that he could look into those intoxicating eyes once more, and whispered, “I love you too, Hermione.” ****

Severus’ eyes flew open and he sat up, covered in a thin film of cold sweat and found himself to be slightly disoriented. Looking down at the empty spot next to him in the bed, he felt a strange mixture of relief mingled with an intense longing as he realized that once again, it had only been a dream.


~~~~

Hermione paced the entrance hallway of Malfoy Manor while waiting for Lucius.

‘He’s worse than a bloody woman.’ She thought as she looked impatiently at the clock hanging over the doorway.

Minutes later a timid looking house-elf appeared and instructed Hermione that she was to wait for Lucius in the study, apparently he had some unexpected Ministry business that needed attending to.

Furious at being kept waiting for so long, Hermione went to the study and threw her cloak down on one of the chairs. Examining the shelves she found a halfway decent book and settled in on the large couch. Only a few minutes had passed and when she heard the door open she looked up expecting to see Lucius. Her breath hitched in her chest when she saw that it was not Lucius, but instead, standing before her was Draco.

She eyed him cautiously before nodding at him, “Hello Draco.”

He looked at her earnestly and turned to shut and ward the door. Hermione instinctively reached for her wand, prepared to defend herself. Not that he was much of a threat to her, everyone knew that Draco lacked any sort of magical skill. But still, he was a Malfoy.

“Hello Hermione, do you have a moment? I need to speak with you.” he crossed the room and sat beside her on the couch.

She sighed, not having the desire or the patience for this, “What do you want Malfoy?”

“I have something for you.” he reached into his cloak and pulled out a sealed parchment. She looked at it and then at him suspiciously. Every instinct she had was telling her not to trust him, but as always, her curiosity got the best of her, and reluctantly she reached out and took the scroll.

“Who is it from?” she asked, turning it over in her hands, searching for some clue as to the sender.

“I’m not sure that you would believe me even if I told you.”

“Try me.” she challenged.

“Professor Dumbledore.”

She looked at him with wide eyes and realized quickly that this must be another one of Lucius’ games to test her loyalty. Glaring at him she tossed the parchment aside and stood to leave.

He grabbed her by the wrist, “Please Hermione, let me explain. I want to help you.”

She snatched her arm from his grasp and narrowed her eyes, “And what makes you think that I need helping?” she hissed.

“Hermione, listen to me, please, we don‘t have much time, my father will be back soon.” he was almost begging her.

Shood ood there for a moment, contemplating hetiontions. Thinking quickly, she realized that even if Lucius was setting her up, Voldemort would no doubt believe whatever explanation she gave for agreeing to speak to Dumbledore, no matter how ridiculous. She held the confidence of the Dark Lord now, not Lucius.

She reached down and retrieved the discarded parchment and drew out her wand, touching the tip to the seal. The tightly sealed scroll unfurled, revealing a blank sheet. She looked at Draco questioningly.

He nodded at her, “Go on then, touch the surface with your hand, he said that it was charmed so that only you would be able to see what was written.”

Gingerly she laid her hand flat on the parchment and instantly she recognized Dumbledore’s loopy handwriting:

Hermione-

If you are reading this then I find it safe to say that you are well. I realize that you and Draco have had your differences in the past, but now is the time to set aside those differences. You must trust me and trust him, he is on our side and wants to help you. I will communicate with you through Draco, I implore of you, work with him so that we can bring you and Professor Snape home safely.

I have sent something for you, in hopes of establishing some trust. Draco will inform you of the rest of the details.

Please be careful and take care of Severus, he needs you now more than you will ever know.

-A.D.

She looked up at Draco who was holding out a small box to her. She took it and lifted the lid, revealing a small, silver heart shaped locket that held two pictures, one of her mother and one of her father. Hermione recognized the necklace instantly and knew that the only way he could have gotten it was from Molly Weasley. Three years ago for Christmas, she and Ginny had given this necklace to Molly, and Hermione knew that it had been heavily charmed so that it couldn’t come off unless Molly took it off. And the photos of her parents were pictures from one of Hermione’s own albums that she had stored in the attic at the Burrow.

Hermione knew that she couldn’t wear this around Lucius or Voldemort, so she took one last look at her mother and father’s smiling faces and wiped the tears from her eyes as sheced ced the necklace back into the box and tucked it safely into an inside pocket of her robes.

Crumpling up the parchment in her hand, she tossed it into the fireplace and watched it disappear with a swirl of smoke. She turned to Draco, who was watching her carefully, “So Malfoy, what do we do now?”