A Delicate Obsession

Chapter 16 –The Halloween Ball

It all belongs to Rowling, except what you don’t recognize


It was raining outside of the Little Library. And somehow, that made everything inside especially warm and snug. Hermione was in bed with Severus and they were making love.

Hermione adored the cottage and her time spent there. The week had been a blur of anguished waiting until she would again be with him. And since Harry’s announcement about Snape, Hermione had been even more anxious to feel him against her and inside of her.

They were lying on their sides, facing one another and he was easing in and out of her while occasionally kissing her throat and lightly gliding his fingertips over her breasts. She watched his eyes, which were half-lidded with desired. Hermione put her hand out to touch his face, enjoying the way he sighed at her touch.

enlyenly, he rolled over to his back, bringing Hermione on top. He gave a wicked smile. Hermione giggled and leaned forward placing one of her breasts near his mouth, teasing him to open and take it in. He suckled it and made a deep growling sound in the back of his throat. Then he released her to take the other one in. He gently bit down. Hermione gasped and gave his embedded cock a squeeze. He lifted an eyebrow and mouthed one word, ‘War’ and thrust his hips upwards into her.

Hermione ground her hips right back at him and soon they were kissing and nipping, pushing each other closer and closer to completion. Hermione felt her orgasm begin and she ruthlessly gyrated herself on his prick. Too soon, her body gave itself up to the delicious sensations and she came. Snape barely held himself back until he was sure that she had completely spent herself. Then he tipped her under him and fuplunplunged into her. After only a few quick thrusts he moaned and shuddered. He lay there a moment and then moved his weight off of her. Placing his hands behind his head, he stared up at the ceiling.

It was difficult to accept the fact that Snape in bed -- just wasn’t Snape. He’d often adopt a playful, relaxed persona, completely opposite to one one she’d known over the years. Ron had joked about the git needing to get laid on more than one occasion. Hermione couldn’t doubt that in the few weeks that they’d been lovers that he had changed. Sometimes he’d tense up and become his old self, but in general, and especially in bed at the cottage, he’d transformed into someone much younger and happier than the person she’d known as Snape.

Hermione was somewhat surprised when she noticed the expression on his face was no longer one of relaxation. He was brooding.

“A sickle for your thoughts,” she said gently.

“They aren’t worth even that.” His voice was smooth and dangerously quiet.

“Tell me what it is,” Hermione came closer but was afraid to touch him, not knowing what to expect.

“You aren’t going to the Halloween Ball tonight, are you?”

“No.”

“And when were you going to tell me?” he said again in the old silken tones.

“I’m not sure. Look I’m sorry, I can’t get away.”

“Why can’t anything in my life be normal?” There was no small amount of disappointment and bitterness to his voice.

Hermione laughed, “Define normal.”

He glared at her and sneered. “Maybe you should leave.”

Hermione’s hurt feelings battled with her rage. If she lost her temper, she would stay and fight with him. However the hurt prompted her to simply run for it -- and the hurt won out. She grabbed her clothes and left the room, slamming the door behind her. She went downstairs and quickly got dressed. Placing a stay-dry spell on herself, she left the cottage, not sure if the Knight Bus would be able to pick her up here on a well warded estate. She decided that she’d risk it. She walked down the path to where the unpaved road led to a drive. She stood there in the rain with her hand out feeling mildly silly.

Snape heard the downstairs door close. He hadn’t thought she’d actually leave. After all, she couldn’t Apparate out of th Th The rain was still coming down heavily, with the wind blowing it in sheets. He threw on his robes and didn’t even bother with his boots. Running down the stairs, he flew out the house, just in time to see the Knight Bus leave. Snape stood in the rain, cursing himself and getting soaked. Eventually, he began to shiver and headed inside.

&&&

“Where to, Madam?” said Stan the conductor.

Hermione removed the glamour, feeling sick and weary of the whole farce. “Wait it’s ‘ermione, Harry Potter’s friend. ‘Aven’t seen you in a while.” Stan said with amazement.

“Hogsmeade, please” Hermione replied, shocked at his keen memory.

“And would you be ‘aving ‘ot chocolate with that?”

Hermione stared at Stan and then stared at her surroundings and Ernie. Nothing had changed since the Christmas she’d taken the bus down to 12 Grimmauld Place. “Yes, hot chocolate would be lovely,” said Hermione as she burst into tears.

“Oh there, there. It couldn’t be all that bad.” Said Ernie over his shoulder.

“That will be 4 sickles, including the ‘ot chocolate.” Stan seemed determined to become more cheerful as Hermione became more distraught.

Hermione, rather dazed, handed over the change and accepted her hot chocolate. It was very bitter and very sweet. Tears still coursing down her face, she sipped at the cup.

She couldn’t believe she’d simply walked out on him that way. Not true, if she hadn’t walked, she would have slapped him. She was so used to the new Severus that she was totally unprepared when he dared to revert to type, especially in the bedroom. It hurt. It just hurt too damned much. And it was bad enough that he’d done it just after making love, but there was all the years of accumulated hurt as well. All the years of Snape’s sniping at her and her friends. She wiped her nose on her sleeve and sniffed. Well, of course Snape would like to have things normal. Wouldn’t we all?

“I shouldn’t have left.” She said out loud. Stan ogled her but said nothing until… “’ogsmeade,” announced Stan. He stared at her when she continued to sit and sip her chocolate, lost in her thoughts. “Um, Miss ‘ermione? This is your stop.”

Hermione looked up and saw they were indeed in the middle of Hogsmeade. The sun was peeking through clouds and it seemed the rain had already come and gone. Thanking the two busmen, she left.

&&&

That evening Hermione’s friends gave up on the girl. She’d been hysterically crying since returning from Hogsmeade. Harry, Ron and Ginny all took turns being the shoulder to cry on while at the same time trying to get ready for the ball. It was a forgone conclusion that Hermione would not be attending the ball in any guise. So it was with much surprise that about an hour before the ball was to end that Hermione did, indeed, suddenly appear. Her hair needed taming, her nose and eyes were red, but she had had the presence of mind to put on formal robes in royal blue.

The Great Hall had been lavishly decorated with an underwater theme, complete with giant squid and Merfolk charmed to gambol through the air. Hermione gave it all barely a glance.

“I wanted to see how he looks,” she explained to her Ginny.

“Well, there he is,” she nodded over her shoulder. “He looks about as miserable as usual.”

“Yes, he does, doesn’t he?” Hermione started up to the head table.

“Just where do you think you’re heading.” Ginny was alarmed.

“I don’t know. I just have to…” Hermione seemed in a daze.

Just at that moment, Ginny’s date, Colin, stepped up to her with a beverage. The two young people watched in horror as Hermione walked straight up to Snape!

“Professor.” Hermione said in a low, calm voice, which betrayed nothing of the shaking she felt inside.

“Yes, Miss Granger. No doubt you have a question for your Potions N.E.W.T.s? Well, it can wait until Monday.” Although his voice attempted to be smooth and cold as ice, Hermione heard some hoarseness. Goodness, was he coming down with a cold?

“You are mistaken.” She said evenly. “I’ve come to ask you to dance.” Through supreme effort she refused to flinch when he shot her a look filled with fury. “I haven’t a date and it looks like you don’t either.” Hermione explained.

“Of course, I do I’ I’m chaperoning.” There was a long pause. “Is this some joke that your little friends have put you up to?” his classic sneer was back. “Because—“

Hermione’s eyes flashed. “No, it’s a sincere request. However,” she turned to leave only to be stopped by a hand on her shoulder. She turned back to him. He was staring at her and for a moment she feared that he knew. The stupidity of it all suddenly hit her. What was she doing? She glanced down on the dance floor to see Ginny had been joined by Ron and Harry wer were also staring up at her in horror.

“Then I accept your offer.” Upon hearing this, she looked back to Snape. “Come along,” he said as he briskly led her onto the dance floor. Hermione felke hke her heart was about to stop.

She soon found, however, that Snape, in spite of being a social misfit, was a confident and accomplished dancer. It was easy for her to follow his lead. Scared of what her eyes might betray, she kept her regard on the dance floor.

“What? Scared I might step on your feet?” he said in a velvety snarl.

“I’m sorry?” she said.

“Miss Granger, you are staring at your feet.” Hermione looked up and into his eyes. “That’s better.”

Hermione gathered her courage and admitted, “I’m surprised that you accepted. I always thought you hated me.”

“And you are in the habit of asking people who hate you to dance?” He smiled smugly.

“Not at all. I just…” Her curiosity overcame common sense. “Why did you accept?”

“Professor McGonagall was upset that you hadn’t come to the dance. She seemed to be under the misapprehension that you had a new boyfriend. She’s been clucking her tongue about it all evening.” Snape sounded genuinely pleased to know that there was someone worse off than himself.

“So you took pity on me?” Hermione could not keep the astonishment out of her voice.

Snape gave one of him most malicious smiles. “Yes, I did.”

Hermione smiled back. “Thank you. You do have a heart after all.”

“If you repeat that to anyone, I’ll see you in detention for the rest of the term.” He was back to his basilisk-like stare.

“Understood.” Hermione relaxed and enjoyed the rest of the dance.

When it was over, Snape gave a little bow and swept out of the Great Hall. Harry came over to her.

“Feeling suicidal, are we?” he grimaced.

“I don’t know what came over me, I just felt so awful for him.” Hermione blushed.

“And what was his excuse?” Harry asked.

“He felt sorry for me! Can you imagine? After all these years of hating us?”

“He just wanted to humiliate you.”

“He was quite polite for a change. Maybe I should walk out on him more often.” Hermione said sadly.

Harry got a look. It was the ‘I have an idea’ look.

“Okay, Harry, tell me what you’re thinking.”

Harry’s smile got broader. “Come with me.”


A/N: My heartfelt thanks to my reviewers Saphiria, Karen and TeaRoses. Big hugs all around.

Please, please do read and review. Without the support of my reviewers, I wouldn’t be writing this!