Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Book One - Master Mine: A Lesson in Submission	By : Lissa & snowblind12 Category: Harry Potter AU/AR > Threesomes/Moresomes Views: 58471 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 8
Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with JK Rowling or The Harry Potter franchise in anyway. I make no money off my stories.

Chapter List
- 23
- 24
- 25
Chapter Twenty-Four
Unwelcome and tenacious light drew Hermione reluctantly from her slumber. Burrowing her head under her pillow she willed the dawn to pause its invasion as she fought impending consciousness. It couldn’t be morning yet, she had just gone to bed! As awareness slowly took hold, she recalled the night before and then remembered it was Saturday. She couldn’t contain the small smile that blossomed into a full blown toothy grin as she stretched and tossed the pillow aside. Today had finally arrived. Her second date with Severus. Twelve-thirty. He would arrive at twelve-thirty. It felt as though it had been an eternity since their dinner. Well, it had been over two weeks. They were supposed to have seen each other the prior Saturday, but Severus had to postpone due to an issue at the club. It was just as well because Hermione had ended up working Saturday and Sunday anyway. He had suggested they get together this past Thursday evening, but Hermione had plans at the Burrow. So, they agreed on Saturday lunch and Hermione could barely contain the butterflies and her racing heart – it was finally happening.
Anxious to get the day started, she edged to the side of the bed and sat up. A groan escaped her lips as her body resisted. Everything ached; her shoulders, her stomach muscles, her thighs, and calves. Even the tissue between her thighs felt tender. Not to mention her bum. Lucius had warned her she would feel this way but like a fool she had doubted him. Not to his face mind you, but she had felt like a wet noodle when he saw her home the evening before. Having tense and tender muscles had seemed highly unlikely. However, she was feeling it now. Balancing herself over Lucius’, Etan’s and M’s thighs had clearly been more of a workout than she had anticipated…not to mention a few drapes over the bench as well. At the time, her adrenaline had kept her limber and unaware of the strain. Lucius warned you! Smartest witch of her age? Hardly!
After a brief pause to stretch, she padded in her bare feet to the kitchen. Coffee. Coffee would make it all better. Coffee and a pain potion – and maybe a soak in the tub. The clock read seven-thirty as she sat at the table and stirred cream into the steaming cup. Lucius had left around midnight after spending a significant amount of time holding her and talking with her about the scene. They would talk more during their dinner on Sunday, but he had felt it would be best to discuss the scene while it was fresh.
It had surprised her how very arousing and stimulating the whole experience had been. Lucius had known she would enjoy being displayed in such a way. He had known being publicly spanked and humiliated would take things to a whole new level for her. The man understood this part of her so much more than she did. She had proceeded to have the most intense orgasms of her life on that stage because of him and his understanding of what made her tick.
Hermione had explained to Lucius that she really enjoyed how each spanking was different in not only who delivered it, but how it was delivered. They were each wonderful in their own way. The highlight of the evening, hands down, had been the dual spanking from Lucius and Severus. Lucius had told her she had squirted a good two feet. She felt certain he was exaggerating or teasing, even though he insisted he wasn’t. Hermione had asked him what had compelled him to allow Severus to participate. He had simply shrugged and said because he knew she would enjoy it, and the night had been about her and what she needed. He also knew it would make Severus happy and it was his intention to see Hermione and Severus both happy.
Hermione was beginning to wonder if Lucius Malfoy was her guardian angel. A blond, wicked angel who took care of her sexually and emotionally and what’s more … he loved her. Just before the scene, he had whispered that he took great care of his possessions and the people he loved and that she was both. It had been hard to maintain her composure. If she had not been distracted by what was about to happen, she would have crumbled at his sweet words. She had held it together, though, and told him that she loved him as well. And she did – very much. The man had become her best friend.
He had confided to her that he had contemplated insisting she not wear the mask for the scene, but after careful consideration had decided it needed to be her choice. Even though he knew she would get more out of the experience if she wasn’t hiding behind the mask, he knew it was best if she came to that realization on her own. He’d been so proud of her after the scene and she’d been proud of herself as well. Removing her mask had felt liberating. She just hoped it wasn’t a mistake. The jury was out on whether or not she would come to regret that impulsive decision. In truth though, Severus and Lucius were not only Dominants – they owned The Dungeon. Hermione had never heard a peep about either of them and their extracurricular activities before showing up at the club. She felt confident the members took the NDA very seriously.
After they had finished discussing the scene, he had removed her plug and enlarged it a small amount. He would be enlarging it every week until he was confident she could handle his cock comfortably. Since she had been wearing it all evening, he instructed she not sleep with it inserted that night. Anal sex was something she was anxious for and Lucius confessed his eagerness as well. However, he insisted she would not enjoy it if she wasn’t prepared properly.
She had been hoping he would just bugger her, maybe cast a numbing charm or something. He had dismissed this notion entirely telling her that numbing charms would take the pleasure away for her. She would feel nothing. That, in turn, would take away his pleasure as well. He insisted that when he was in her arse, he wanted her to know it and wanted her to relish every inch. He asked her to trust him in this as in all things involved with her training. There was no question she trusted him, and considering how sore she was right now, she would not make the mistake of doubting him again.
A few sips into her coffee, Hermione almost dropped her cup when an owl tapped loudly at her window. As she approached the window, a second owl flew in next to the first. They each held a small, paper wrapped package. She let them both fly in and rest on the incoming owl perch while she pulled the bag of Emporium’s Owl Treats from the cabinet and gave them each two after untying the packages. They were off and out the window the second their little gullets had pocketed the treats.
She sat down at the table and opened the smaller package first. A vial with a cork had a tag which read; Drink me, now. The handwriting was unmistakably Severus’s. A second vial read, Drink me at noon. After a brief pause, she popped the cork from the first bottle and swallowed it. A tingly feeling started in her mouth and worked its way down her throat and into her stomach. Within a moment, the sensation stopped, and her body instantly felt relaxed. Her bum no longer felt tender and her muscles were no longer tight and sore. It was instant relief. She couldn’t contain her smile that Severus had sent her something so thoughtful. I wonder if this is something he gives all his submissives?
She bristled at that unwelcome thought. Her mind then drifted to Britt. The witch had seemed quite distraught last night. However, Hermione couldn’t help wondering if she had misunderstood the situation. She couldn’t suppress her curiosity about the redhead. Visions of the shared New Year’s kiss she had witnessed between Severus and the witch popped in her head, as did the memory of Severus caning and then fucking her on stage. It made Hermione tense as unwanted pangs of jealousy overcame her. Today was only her second date with the taciturn wizard, but this was a topic she needed answers to. What exactly did Britt mean to him and would his shutters come down if she asked?
Forcing that thought from her mind, Hermione opened the second package. The familiar, elegant script made her smile:
Doll,

Enclosed are calming bath crystals. Run a hot bath and add two scoops. Once the crystals have dissolved, the water will turn lavender. Soak for one hour and then take a nap. When you awake you will feel refreshed for your date today. Obey me in this as in all things, my dear.
I would like to hear about your date via a journal entry this evening. A brief synopsis will suffice. I look forward to our dinner tomorrow evening. I will remind you that Wednesday evening you will collect your reward for being such a good girl last night.
Have a wonderful time today!
-L
Hermione felt completely relaxed and wondered if perhaps the bath crystals were unnecessary, but Lucius had been kind to send them. She would obey him, of course.
As the bath water ran, she slipped off her sleep shorts, knickers, and camisole. The tub filled quickly, and the crystals dissolved within a minute. As soon as the water turned a soft lavender, she stepped in and slid down into the caressing heat. She let out a sigh as the flowery scent wafted through her senses leaving her feeling almost high. Where Severus’ potion had left her feeling refreshed and no longer sore, Lucius’ bath salts left her feeling like Jell-O. With each passing minute she felt more and more relaxed. I could get used to this! She picked up her wand from the tub’s edge and placed a stasis charm over the water. The temperature was perfect, and she didn’t want it growing cold on her. Feeling as though a nap would be just the thing, she closed her eyes. Visions flashed before her them as she felt herself drift off.
Steel grey eyes.
Red-leather Chairs.
Long red nails.
Paddles.
Riding crops.
Onyx, obsidian gazes that looked right into her soul.
Voices began to mix with the visions.
“Is that hard enough, my sweet?”
“Only the sluttiest of naughty girls would come from being spanked. “
“Your juices are dripping down your thighs.”
“Miss Priss? Do you like my fingers slapping your cunt?”
Hermione felt lost in the sights and sounds of the recesses of her mind. Visions that were less like memory and more like fantasy began to push forward.
Dressed in her Hogwarts uniform, bent over Lucius’ desk in his study which morphed into being bent over her classroom desk in potions as Severus fucked her from behind in front of the class. “Dirty little whores must be fucked.” The classroom morphed again from Hogwarts to one of her graduate classes at Cambridge. Her Advanced Community Law professor watched with shock and disdain, yet also with flushed cheeks as the wizard in black continued his assault from behind.
Draco chasing her through The Manor, capturing her and ripping her clothes off before bending her over the dining room table. The thrill of his chase and her capture eliciting pretend cries of indignation as grunts and groans of ecstasy were muffled into the cherry wood.
Lucius with the snitch and leering at her as he said, “Your newest butt plug, my dear. Hold it in.”
Snuggled in Lucius’ arms, whispers of love from his perfect lips.
Draco furious. “I asked you not to hurt him, Granger!”
Something felt wrong. She didn’t want Draco to be angry. She wouldn’t hurt Lucius! It was a dream. Wake up, Hermione! She knew she needed to wake up. She was aware she was fighting for consciousness and yet her eyes wouldn’t open. It was a scary feeling. I need to wake up. This is all just a dream. Why won’t my eyes open?
Severus floo’d to Hermione’s at precisely twelve-thirty. Connecting his floo to hers had made everything so much easier.
Not finding her in the living room to greet him, he spoke loudly. “Hermione?”
Something was wrong. Something was very wrong. He felt it. Years of being a spy had left him with a finely tuned skill of sensing trouble or danger. He quietly stepped further into her flat, his wand at the ready. “Hermione?”
As he moved through the hallway, he could hear water splashing and unintelligible mumbling. Not wanting to look for fear of what he might see, yet needing to look for fear she was in trouble, Severus pushed the bathroom door open.
Her face and skin were beet red as she seemed to be thrashing in the tub. Disjointed mumbles escaped her mouth as her head moved from side to side. “N’to ‘ake…N’to ‘ake up.” Her words were gibberish, but it was clear she was dreaming. By the looks of it, she was drugged.
Dashing forward, Severus scooped the water-logged witch from the tub. Her skin was red and pruney, and it felt as though she were on fire. He carried her to her bedroom and dried her off as he whispered urgently, “Hermione, wake up!” He gently patted her cheek. “Wake up, princess.”
When she didn’t stir, he tossed his cloak over her and dashed back to the bath. It was then that he spotted the familiar jar of crystals on the ledge of the tub. “Oh, surely not!”
He slammed open her medicine cabinet, relieved to see a couple vials of invigoration draught. He grabbed them both and dashed back to the witch’s side. “Hermione, open your mouth. Open your mouth, now!”
Pulling her bottom lip from her teeth, he easily slipped his forefinger between her upper and lower jaw. Holding her mouth open, he dripped very small droplets under her tongue. Pulling his finger from her mouth, he watched as she swallowed. After a moment her eyes fluttered.
“Hermione, you need to drink this.”
“Wha?” His heart clenched momentarily when her hand limply reached up to his face. “Seve…” Her eyes fluttered closed as her hand fell to her chest.
Blasted girl! His patience was slipping. “Damn it, Miss Granger! Open your eyes this instant!”
Her eyes opened to slits. “Yes, Profess…” The minute she opened her mouth to speak, he dripped a couple more drops in past her lips. He watched as her eyes fluttered closed and her throat moved to swallow.
Less than a minute later, her eyes opened fully. “Severus?”
“Yes. I need you to drink this. You’ve overdosed on calming draught.” He tried to keep the frustration out of his voice. It was not her fault and it would not be a good start to their date if she woke to him yelling at her.
Her forehead crinkled, and her voice still sounded far away. “What?”
He shook his head not wanting to explain. “Open your mouth, Miss Granger or I will be very displeased.”
She blinked slowly and did as he insisted. Severus poured the entire vial into her mouth. Stepping away from her, he opened her dresser and pulled out a pair of sweats and a t-shirt. Opening a couple other drawers, he found her underwear and grabbed a pair of knickers.
By the time he was back at her side, her eyes were open fully. He tossed the clothes next to her. “Here. Put these on. I’ll be in the living room.”
He let out a heavy breath and tried to calm himself as the reality of what could have happened took hold. He stepped into her kitchen and poured them each a glass of water. Drinking his down, he spotted the wrapping from his package on her counter next to the second vial which she had not taken yet. Thank, Merlin! Next to that he spotted the other wrapping and Lucius’ writing on a card.
Two scoops? No wonder she was so out of it! If she had merely drank the potion or used the bath crystals, she would have been fine, but combining the two had brought the levels of the draught to potential coma or overdose. Of course, no one knew this except himself because the draught was his own recipe and the crystals he had made as well. He would have to start labelling and including warnings on his homemade concoctions. It had been reckless of him.
Carrying her glass back into the living room, he only had to wait a moment before she came out to join him. Her eyes were still a bit glassy, but her skin was no longer beet red. Rosy would be a better description. Walking towards her, he handed her the glass. “Here, drink this.”
Hermione sipped it as her eyes trailed up and down the wizard before her. She sucked in her bottom lip and her eyes twinkled. “You’re a sexy man, Severus Snape.” Her eyes grew wide and her free hand shot up to her mouth, as though to conceal her giggle.
“You’re still drunk on calming draught, I see,” he mused with a light smile. Stepping towards her he handed her the second vial of invigoration. “I think you need to drink this if our lunch date has any hope of happening.”
She took the vial from him and smiled. “Is it time for our date? Is it already twelve-thirty?” She asked with little concern as she swallowed down the vial.
“Well, it’s almost one actually.”
“Really?’ She asked with a lazy voice and a stretch.
Severus’ eyes immediately went to her taut, flat stomach which was exposed. Taking a good look at her, he realized he should have paid a bit more attention to the outfit he had laid out for her. The grey Spice Girls t-shirt was at least two sizes too small and the fabric was very worn and thin, it was practically see-through. Without a bra, her breasts were in their beautiful, natural shape and her pert nipples were easily visualized. He shifted his stance as his cock began to swell. Get it together, Severus.
He gave her a small smile and knew when the second draught kicked in.
A panicked look came over her and her eyes flew to the clock on the wall. “Oh Merlin, Severus! I’m so sorry!” Her hands flew to her head and grabbed handfuls of hair as her alarm continued to escalate. “I…I don’t know what happened. I took a bath…” Tears of frustration were beginning to pool in her beautiful eyes.
“It’s quite alright, Hermione. It was not your fault.” When her eyes remained misty, his words clearly not calming her, he surprised himself when he stepped towards her and pulled her into his chest. He was speechless for a moment when her warm, little body felt so good in his arms, like she belonged there. He whispered lightly, as his hand rubbed the back of her head. “It’s alright. It seems Lucius and I were of the same mindset this morning. Unfortunately, our combined remedies almost caused you to overdose on very potent calming draught. Both concoctions are my recipe and are perfectly safe independently, yet dangerous when combined. I should have checked with him before sending you the package this morning. Knowing him as I do, I should have realized he would provide you with something.”
Reluctantly, he pulled back from her, his concerned eyes on hers. Her look was lightly dazed, almost as if his holding her had re-manifested the effects of the calming draught. Thinking she needed some direction and feeling the need to take control of this messed up situation, he spoke firmly but kindly. “Why don’t you change, and we’ll discuss where to take our date from here after?”
She nodded up at him, her face still slightly flushed. “Yes, that sounds good. I’ll be right back, Severus. It won’t take me long.”
And it didn’t. Severus was surprised that it was less than five minutes before she was back at his side.
She was beautiful. His eyes stroked from her head to her toes and back again. Dressed in an emerald-green, cashmere sweater and black jeans with black boots, she was smiling radiantly. Her hair was down yet pulled back from her face with a simple headband.
They stared at each other awkwardly for a second. “I have some fresh lemon-lime aide. How about I get us some and we can figure out where we want to go from here?”
He nodded. “That would be very nice, Hermione.” He followed her as she headed into the kitchen. Knowing he needed to say the uncomfortable words now or they would never make it out of his mouth, he swallowed and said simply, “The cake you made? It was delicious – thank you.” Severus meant it, too. For all his swearing off the cake and plans to give it away, he had taken it back to his flat and proceeded to eat the whole thing (over the course of several days) without sharing a single piece.
Hermione looked back over her shoulder as she poured their drinks. “Really? You liked it?”
“Yes, it was a treat. One I am not accustomed to.”
She beamed up at him as she handed him his glass. His hand stroked hers and a shot of tingly desire went from her fingertips to her core. His slight smirk told her he had touched her on purpose. She laughed lightly as his smile grew wider. She leaned her hip against the counter behind her, her cool glass pressed to her still overheated cheek as she spoke. “You know, Severus. I was rather terrified bringing you that cake. I half expected you to take house points.”
Hermione was completely taken by surprise when he erupted into a hardy laugh. “Yes, well…I suppose I don’t make it easy. And I can’t promise I ever will, Hermione.”
Now it was Hermione’s turn to laugh. “Well, Severus, you wouldn’t be you if you weren’t at least moderately difficult most of the time.” Still smiling she walked past him back into the living room.
She led him to the sofa where he paused. Laying on the table by the floo, was a small bunch of violet tea roses. It was a color variation she had never seen before. He held them out to her. “For you.”
His eyes shifted to the window as she took them. It was obvious he felt a bit awkward. “Thank you, they’re beautiful,” she responded softly. He had given her the same type of roses on their first date over two weeks ago. She had thought it had been a random thing, him giving her flowers during their walk and choosing her favorite – the tea rose. But now that he was repeating the gesture she found herself wondering if it had been intentional all along. She went back to the kitchen and placed them in a vase with water before bringing them with her to the living room and placing them on the coffee table.
They sat on opposite ends of the sofa and a brief pause passed. It was just about to become awkward when Severus, finding his courage, said what he had practiced. “You were very clever, hiding the silver bookmark within the cake.”
Hermione sipped her drink and shrugged, the corner of her mouth lifting in a teasing smirk. “Well, I wanted to leave with all my limbs attached, didn’t I? It was best I was long gone when you made that discovery.”
His light chuckle, followed by a light leer as he stroked his eyes over her arms and legs, caused her to shift nervously. He spoke slowly and suggestively. “I find I like your limbs just as they are, Hermione. Attached to your delicious, little body.” After a second, he continued, “While the Plato quote was…nice, it was the Walt Whitman quote on the other side that caught my attention. ‘Resist much, obey little.’ Tell me, was that a warning? Was it advice? Is that what I should expect from you? Defiance?”
Oh Merlin. Fuck! He’s going to kill me nice and slow with just his voice and eyes. Not answering him, she nonchalantly waved her wand at the ceiling fan. It slowly began to spin – it’s first time being turned on in months. It was January, after all, but the heat was stifling. After a second, she turned it up to the high setting.
A knowing smile on his lips, he continued his torture. “So, tell me – how did you feel about being displayed at the club? Did you enjoy your spankings and lewd display? Or are you done with public displays for eternity?”
Hermione felt the heat of the fiery blush that was surely making her look like a tomato. “You just had to bring that up, didn’t you?” She picked up a sofa pillow and pulled it close to hide her face.
“No, no, Miss Granger. No hiding from me.” He leaned towards her and pulled the pillow away. He delighted in the vibrant twinkle of her eyes. A flirtatious twinkle which clearly belied her embarrassment. “You certainly don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to. I’m curious, but I have no desire to make you uncomfortable and blush like a schoolgirl. Well, at least not today,” he teased. His eyes darkened as he added with a lecherous stare, “But rest assured, when you are mine there will be no escape.”
She had pulled her knees to her face and was peeking over them at him. Her voice was soft and honest, and it shot a laser beam of desire right to his groin. “I have no desire to escape, Severus Snape. I think you know that.”
“Well, then. What are you doing all the way over there? Hiding behind those exquisite knees?”
Meeting his challenge, Hermione tossed the pillow to the floor and fell forward onto her hands. She crawled to his end of the sofa without hesitation, her eyes remaining glued to his.
A devilish, crooked smile met her and when she was close he tapped his lap. “Well, come sit on my lap, kitty cat.”
She smiled coquettishly as she climbed onto his lap so that she was straddling him. “I think we’re heading into dangerous territory, Severus.”
He tenderly stroked the hair from her face. “Hmm, yes. We’ve been treading dangerous water since you first stepped foot into the club.”
His hands felt like home. She nuzzled her face into his left and kissed his palm. Snape’s reaction was instant. Strong arms were around her and she was flipped onto her back on the sofa as his mouth pressed against her hers. His sudden movement and display of Dominance had left her expecting power and force, but what she received was tender and soft. Soft lips that touched hers and lazily left a trail of kisses from her lips to her left ear where he nibbled delicately.
Words whispered breathlessly left her trembling with voracious yearning. Her lithe body writhed and stretched beneath him as his feverish statement tormented her with what she wanted and couldn’t have. “You are a temptress to my dark soul, Hermione. You have no idea what I want to do to you right now.” He kissed her neck softly as he continued his verbal seduction. “You were exquisite last night. Perfection personified. Beauty, innocence, and decadence…a siren leading me to the depths of the sea.”
He placed a light kiss to her lips and pushed himself away, leaving her befuddled and pining for more. Pushing up on her elbows, Hermione’s heart pounded wildly as he stood and walked towards the window. He was facing away but she could see the swell and lift of his shoulders due to a calming breath.
She sat up and reeled in her racing thoughts and emotions. It was a good thing he had pulled away. She didn’t think she would have had the will power to stop him if he had wanted more – and then she would hate herself. She couldn’t disobey Lucius, she couldn’t betray his trust. Her resolve of resistance renewed, she picked up both their iced drinks and approached him. They could both do with some cooling off.
Thirty minutes later found them walking through the Muggle streets, enjoying what was an unusually sunny day given the time of year. When they arrived at the bakery café, they were seated next to the window where the solar warmth and view of the blue sky was soothing. They sat across from each other this time, both realizing the danger of sitting next to each other where wandering hands and snuggles could potentially lead to a total lack of control. Hermione didn’t think it would take much for them to lose themselves. She laughed internally as she imagined them having to obliviate everyone in the café to avoid the summoning of police for their debauched and illegal display.
They looked over the menu, each agreeing on the special. When the waiter arrived, Severus ordered their lunches as well as a bottle of Sancerre which led to a discussion of the Loire Valley of France. Hermione described the fields of orchards and vineyards as well as the abundance of chateau’s. After a while, Severus found himself lost in simply watching her. She spoke passionately about the vacations of her youth. Her eyes were alight, and her expressive hands moved with excitement as she told anecdote after anecdote of her travels throughout France, which was clearly her favorite place in the world. He did not grow bored even though after a while he had stopped paying as much attention to her words. She was magnificent, and he could watch her for hours.
When the waiter arrived with the Sancerre, Hermione realized she had been talking non-stop. A slight flush of embarrassment was calmed by a deep breath and a sip of the crisp, delicious wine. She looked up and was surprised to find he did not look bored and found herself relieved. She had been sure he would have thought poorly of her droning babble. Instead his eyes reflected amusement and warmth, two expressions she would not have thought the wizard capable of until very recently.
“Your descriptions have left me intrigued. While I am not one for exploring the countryside, I certainly enjoy a lovely view and a good book. Perhaps we can venture their together sometime?”
His words excited her, and she could feel her stomach doing flips. The thought of traveling with him and the fact that he suggested such a thing proved to her his interest. “I would like that very much, Severus.” She watched him as he perused the dessert menu. Feeling emboldened, she proceeded cautiously. “Severus, may I ask you something rather…personal?”
His eyes shot from the menu to hers, a small touch of warning not hidden in their depths. “I suppose. I may not ordain to answer, however.”
She didn’t hesitate. “What’s the story with you and Britt?” When he didn’t answer right away, but simply continued to watch her, she rushed to add. “It’s just I saw you two perform on stage that night and the chemistry you share is palpable. And I’ve seen you with her since then and…”
“Hermione,” he interrupted. It still pained him to remember how he had tried to push Hermione away that night. Using Britt to torment and dissuade the one he knew in his heart he wanted but felt he couldn’t have and simply didn’t deserve.
Hermione stopped speaking immediately when he said her name. Her nervous and tight expression relaxed as he spoke. “Let me start by saying I have ended things with Britt. I did so not long after you and I had dinner.” Hermione didn’t say anything and maintained a calm façade as her heart pounded mercilessly against her ribcage. Can he hear that? She hoped if she were silent he would keep talking. She wanted to know more.
Severus contemplated. This was not something he wanted to discuss, but he knew for this relationship to have a chance he would need to make an effort. He would have to try to be open and share pieces of himself that were more than just the physical parts. It was not something he did easily. He sipped his wine and considered his response.
“Britt is…she’s an exceptional submissive.” Hermione felt her insides crash to floor. It was nothing she didn’t already know but hearing him say it left her feeling hollow and like she couldn’t breathe. Sensing her distress, he reached across the table and took her left hand into his. Softly rubbing the back of it with his thumb, he continued. “There was a time I thought she might mean more to me than that, but it passed as the war raged. After that, she was…comfortable. I regret that while my feelings had evolved away from what we had once shared, hers…had not.”
He paused before continuing. “I should have ended our scenes a long time ago. I certainly never lied to her with words or promises, but my actions were unfair. I feel I led her on. If you hadn’t come along, I would still be doing so.” He released her hand and sipped his wine. “But you did …come along. It became apparent and obvious that I should not be scening with her when I knew she had feelings I could not, and would not ever, reciprocate.”
“You ended it…because of me?”
“I ended it because she will never be what I truly want. You were the impetus that made that realization crystal clear.”
“Are there others? Other submissives you have a particular attachment to?”
“No. That’s not to say I don’t scene with other witches – I certainly do – but I am not attached to any of them. They are consenting adults with like-minded desires. That is all.” He watched her for a minute. “Does that bother you? That I still – ?”
Hermione sighed and shook her head. “I have no right to ask you to not scene with others, Severus. I’m contracted to another wizard. How could I possibly ask from you what I cannot give in return?”
She swallowed heavily when his unblinking eyes left no doubt to the truth of his accompanying words. “I think…I think if you asked it of me, I could give them up. If it was something you needed. It’s my fault you are contracted to Lucius. If I had understood…if I had listened. If I had – ”
“Severus.” This time it was she who reached out for his hand. “It’s ok. It’s…I don’t regret that Lucius is training me. I don’t know how things would have transpired if you had accepted my offer. Who’s to say something terrible and implosive wouldn’t have happened? As it is, I am dating you. Dating the wizard I am beginning to see glimpses of a real future with. We might not be where we are now if things had happened differently. How can I possibly regret anything in my past that has lead to where we are right now; sitting in this café, drinking delicious wine, and talking of a potential future together? I think I’m the happiest witch alive right now.”
Hermione could see the shift. He looked away as he spoke. “Lucius is a much more patient wizard than I. I’m quite certain you could not ask for a better training Master.” It was obvious to Hermione he was steering the conversation away from emotional declarations, and that was fine. She respected his boundaries. It was only their second date after all and she tended to be a tad too forthright sometimes.
Following his lead, she replied, “I love Lucius. He is an exceptional man and a wonderful Master.” When Hermione saw the jaw muscles tense and the shoulders go rigid on the wizard in front of her, she quickly added. “I love Lucius as a friend, Severus. I’m not in love with him.”
“Is there a difference?” His tone was slightly petulant.
Her voice was soft, almost a whisper. “I think I could easily fall in love with you, Severus. If you let me."
It was right then that the waiter arrived with their meals. They had each ordered the special; French onion soup with a pear salad. They looked at the plates before them, but their minds were heavy with the turn of the conversation.
Wanting to move the conversation in a completely different direction, Severus pondered other topics. He waited for her to begin eating and then cut into his salad. “So, you mentioned France and the wonderful vacations growing up. Do you still vacation with your parents?”
Hermione was unprepared for the question. Years of practice and experience had taught her when to expect questions like this and how to respond. Severus had taken her completely off guard. Somehow, she had not anticipated him asking about her folks, although it was a perfectly reasonable topic of conversation considering they were getting to know each other.
She sipped her wine to steady herself and prevent the tears that were always on the verge of falling when she thought of them. “My parents don’t even know they have a daughter anymore.”
Severus paused mid chew and drew his brows up in question.
“The summer before what should have been my seventh year at Hogwarts, I obliviated them and gave them new identities to protect them. They live in Australia now.” She smiled at her plate.
“They adopted twin boys.” She looked up, her eyes glistening. “The boys are five now.” She moved the food around on her plate. Feeling the need to justify her actions, she added, “I had to do it. They were in danger. I almost didn’t save them in time. When I got back home from sending them off at the airport, posing as their travel agent, I found the house had been ransacked. Mad Eye and Lupin had just arrived before me and the Death Eaters had just left.”
Severus knew he should be comforting her, but he was too shocked by what she had accomplished at such a young age. “You obliviated them? You performed a scaena tres obliviation? As a seventeen-year-old?”
Hermione shrugged as she perforated the cheese on her soup, causing a wisp of steam to escape. Her voice was soft. “It was a scaena quattuor, actually. I had to preserve what memories I could of their lives together and just remove myself. I had been gone except for holidays and summers since I was eleven, so that helped.”
Severus was completely flabbergasted. He put down his fork. “Miss Granger, do you even realize what an achievement that is? Do you even know how…exceptional you are?”
Hermione swallowed and looked up at the man who resembled her professor in this particular moment more than he had since she had left Hogwarts. Except now, for the first time ever, he was praising her. In the six years he had taught her he had not once complimented her or given her any acknowledgment of her academic prowess. Her emotions flipped quickly. The tears were no longer from sadness, but from sheer joy. His words gave her strength and his praise gave her pride and reassurance. Something she found she needed when it came to the guilt she still harbored daily.
“You did what you had to do, and in the process, you performed a master level Obliviation. I’m so incredibly proud of you, Hermione.”
That did it. Tears rolled freely down her cheeks. It was the release of a long-held desire and wish – to be praised by this man in front of her. How could his opinion affect her like this? Why did she care after all these years? She felt ridiculous and juvenile. She did not need this man’s approval to feel good about herself or to feel justified in her actions. She knew she had done the right thing, and frankly she knew she was a bright and exceptionally competent witch. No, she didn’t need this man’s praise, but Merlin if she didn’t want it. And now that she had it, she was crying like the schoolgirls she knew he abhorred. She scolded herself as the wetness blurred her vision. Get it together, Hermione! The truth was his praise had merely been the crack that busted the dam. She hadn’t had a good cry about her parents in a long time. She was overdue, and the conversation capped off with his unfathomable words had simply been too much.
She gently wiped her nose and dabbed her eyes with her napkin as she calmed. The breakdown had taken less than half a minute, but she was embarrassed all the same.
Severus felt his heart constrict when anguish and despair overcame his witch. He was not good at comforting, not unless it was after a hard spanking. Physical pain he understood. A submissive’s cry because of punishment or a scene? - That was a language he excelled at and could handle. This was entirely different, and he felt lost and simply ill-equipped which made him frustrated and uncomfortable. Why did you have to ask about her parents?
Being who he was and not understanding that his praise had been the catalyst, he of course assumed the wisp of a girl was simply mourning her parents. He swallowed as the foreign words exited his mouth reluctantly. “I’m sorry to have…brought up a topic that causes you pain, Hermione. It was not my intention.”
“No, Severus. I’m sorry. It’s not that. It’s not the topic.” She looked up at him. She had promised herself she would always be forthcoming and honest with him, she would leave no room for a misunderstanding between them if she could help it. Never again. “You don’t understand the impact your words have. You don’t understand the impact your lack of words have, either.” He looked lost and she laughed.
“Your praise, Severus – simple words that I craved as a schoolgirl. You were my only teacher – well, besides Trelawney, but she didn’t matter – who never once offered a word of praise. I tried and tried but I was running on a hamster wheel where you were concerned. And here we are, ten years later and I’m that schoolgirl all over again.”
Severus stared at her with impassive eyes. After a minute and just before Hermione began to regret having been so honest, he spoke. His words taking her completely by surprise. “Let me make something perfectly clear, Miss Granger. You are beautiful, you are wise, and you are brave. You are brilliant, you are interesting, and you are kind. You have a warmth within you that could bring an army of inferi back to life.” He cocked a brow. “Please don’t by the way.” She laughed lightly at his tease.
His smile faded, and his expression was contemplative. “I’m sorry. I can’t change the past, but I can tell you now that you are exquisite, and I have a tremendous amount of respect for you and what you’ve accomplished in your short life.” After another brief pause, he added, “Now, back to you being a schoolgirl all over again. I find that notion very interesting. Let’s expand on that topic.”
Over an hour and a half and two glasses of wine later, Severus and Hermione were standing at the entrance to her building. “Severus, please come up. Just for a little while. I’ll make tea and we’ll behave. With our schedules, who knows when we’ll get to spend time together again.”
He was peering down at her, clearly weighing out his options. She batted her eyelashes playfully and he rolled his eyes. “If you insist.”
As soon as they were inside, Severus wrapped his arms around her, pulling her back to his front. His hands rubbed her arms when he felt her tremble. “Are you cold? You left that blasted fan on.”
She spun around in his arms and popped up on her toes, kissing his cheek. “Thanks for coming inside. You turn off the fan and I’ll start the tea.” She flounced towards the kitchen.
“Yes, ma’am,” he responded to her command.
“Good boy,” she chirped from the kitchen. He shook his head, contemplating what Lucius would do to him if he spanked the impertinent witch. “Best not to find out,” he whispered to himself as he approached the fan.
“What was that?” she asked as she reentered the living room a couple inches shorter. He looked down to see she had taken off her boots.
“Hmmm, nothing. You should know I have a very good memory, Hermione.”
“I’m pleased to hear it, Severus. I realize you are getting older, but I wasn’t aware memory loss had become a concern quite yet.” She was looking quite pleased with herself and it took every ounce of control not to flip her over his lap.
“Yes, let’s see… schoolgirl role play, good boy comment, teasing about my advanced years… Just realize I may not be able to exert my will over you today, but the time is coming.”
Feeling daring she dismissed him with a wave. “That’ll be a while. I’m not worried. Besides, threatening with consequences for my actions…it’s like promising a dog a bone if he wags his tail.”
She let out a squeal when he pulled her onto his lap. He planted a light kiss on her shoulder. “Hmm, that makes me think of puppy play. Has Lucius given you a taste of that dynamic yet?”
Hermione pulled back and scrunched up her face. “No, not yet. Although it’s not something I’m too excited about trying. I would be ok if he skipped that particular part of my training.”
He let out a low chortle as he continued to kiss her neck and whispered. “I’ll be sure to remind Lucius of his deficiency.”
Hermione made to jump out of his lap in protest, but his arms prevented her from too much movement. “You know, Severus, Lucius may be your best friend but I’m your potential girlfriend.”
“Hmmm. Girlfriend. I kind of like the sound of that.”
She gave him a scolding look. “Yes, well. Betraying your potential girlfriend could be detrimental to that inevitability.”
His mouth continued its soft assault on her neck. “Hmm, you think so? You think suggesting something that would potentially give her tremendous pleasure would be ill received?”
“I just think that there is a certain degree of confidentiality that a woman should be able to expect from her suitor in regards to – ”
“You sound like a lawyer.”
“Well, Severus, that would be because I happen to be a lawyer.”
“Yes, I’m well aware.”
“Well, then you should also be – ” He interrupted her with his lips on hers. It started out soft and quickly escalated. She turned fully towards him and straddled his lap while her arms wrapped around his neck as she melted into his kiss. Where their earlier kiss had been soft and sweet, this one was frenzied, as though they were famished for each other. His hand was holding the back of her head as his lips ravished hers. As she pressed herself closer, she keened when she felt the hardness of his erection rubbing against her. Her breath hitched as her own desire was ascending to a dangerous level. The unwelcome whistling of the kettle caused them both to pause. His hands, which were on her lower back, froze. She let out a whimper as she pulled her mouth from his and collapsed her forehead onto his shoulder. Her words were breathless. “I think I’m losing my mind. I have no self-control when I’m in your arms, Severus.”
His hands moved to her hips and he patted her gently. “Up you get, princess. It’s time I take my leave. I’m due at work within the hour and we must stop before we lose ourselves completely.”
Hermione reluctantly stood. “Yes, you’re right.”
He stood and kissed the top of her head. “Yes, princess, you’ll find that to be the case infuriatingly often as you get to know me.”
She snorted a laugh as she looked up at him and quickly pressed her lips together when she found his expression serious.
She walked him to the floo. “Thank you for lunch, Severus. I’m sorry for my emotional outburst.”
Tiling her chin up, he kissed her tenderly. “Don’t ever apologize for such a thing, Hermione. Your honesty and openness is beguiling and refreshing. Thank you for your company. I shall be in touch soon.”
As soon as he was gone she stomped towards the kitchen to pour herself a cup of tea. Looking up at the clock, she wondered how the afternoon had flown so fast. How was it already five-thirty? She was due at Grimmauld Place in an hour. Tossing her tea into the sink, she headed to her room. She might just have time to write her journal entry about her date before she had to leave if she got a move on it.
Lucius put the journal down after reading her entry. Her lunch had been an emotional one, it seemed. Severus had told her he was proud of her and it had touched her to tears. She had told Lucius about her parents weeks ago during one of their dinners and it was a good sign she was now opening up to Severus as well. It seemed they were on track with their communication.
He stood and walked to the bar where he poured a small whiskey. He swallowed it down and walked back to his desk, glancing over her entry once again. Things had become heated at the end of their date. Lucius realized it would not be long until he would need to make some allowances between the two of them.
Letting out a heavy sigh he opened his desk drawer and pulled out her limits list. He probably should have her fill out a new one, he needed to be sure he was still on track. It seemed their time together might be coming to an end in a couple months’ time. He needed to up his game if her training would be complete.
Monday January 22^nd
8:56 PM

Good evening Doll,
We are going to change things up a bit, I think. Starting tonight you are being put on orgasm denial. It’s time to start practicing control, pet. Furthermore, every night before you go to bed, you will edge yourself three times. Just in case you are unfamiliar with that term, it means that you will bring yourself to the brink of orgasm and then stop. You may not come, Hermione. If you come on accident, there will be consequences. I’m taking your pleasure under my complete control. For a minimum of the next three weeks, your orgasms belong to me. Sleep well, love.
Yours,
Master
Hermione sighed as she put the finishing touches on the simple lunch of broiled pollock and salad she had made for her and Draco to share. He would be there any minute, and they were planning on spending the afternoon together watching a movie before her dinner with Lucius that evening. The moment Lucius crossed her mind, her lips twitched into a smirk. It had been quite the week. To start it, Lucius had sent her an owl with a new limits list to fill out, saying he wanted to make sure their training was still on target. At first, she had thought he was being a bit redundant, but was surprised with how much the list had actually changed with the more she’d experienced and had conceded to herself that a new limits list had been the right move.
In the two sessions since her stage performance had included much more anal play, breath play, and various types of restraints and clamps. Not to mention some seriously intense orgasms due to her nightly edging sessions. Her special Wednesday night scene had included no less than a dozen orgasms for her over about a three-hour marathon session. She had been almost useless the next day at work.
Lucius was happy to see that since he had broken the dam on her ability to squirt, it was happening more frequently. This apparently thrilled him immensely, but Hermione was undecided about how it made her feel. Her orgasms had seemed to intensify greatly, but the mess it made was a little embarrassing. She was trying to get over it, especially with how delighted Lucius seemed.
Their scenes had been a combination of arousing, terrifying, and captivating. Particularly being that she and Lucius had, somewhere along the line, completely lost any sense of decorum or inhibition and their already strong connection was deepening. He was no longer lecturing or teaching just to teach and train but using demonstration and “hands on” learning that was powerful and animalistic. He often left her not only speechless, but breathless.
Speaking of breathless…
Things with Severus were going so amazingly well that merely thinking about him made her feel fuzzy. They managed to sneak in a third date this past week. Unfortunately, with both their busy schedules, it was just a quick dinner. They had met at a little Muggle Japanese restaurant Thursday evening, talked and ate and had just enough time to walk to the Apparition point together where he chastely kissed her goodbye before disappearing in a swirl of black. They’d had a date set up for the day before, but Snape’s daytime manager had called out sick and Lucius had Portkeyed to France to tour a winery and vineyard he was hoping to acquire.
This had meant Snape was the only one available to cover the shift. Hermione had returned his cancellation owl with the knickers she had planned to wear that afternoon and her understanding. Snape had sent back a single red long-stemmed tea rose with his heartfelt regrets, his gratitude for the knickers, plus a request for a lunch date that week. He would be bringing her lunch to her Diagon Alley office on Tuesday and they had promised each other the following Saturday would be reserved for each other no matter what.
With those musings, she heard her buzzer and dashed through her flat to let Draco up. “Hey, Granger!” He grinned when she opened the door a few minutes later. “Damn! It smells good. You cooked?”
“Hey yourself,” she returned his smile with one of her own as he reached out and pulled her into a hug. “I did, hope you like fish!”
“Sure, I do.” He shrugged as he let her go, looking around her apartment. “I’m not picky at all, actually. Only thing I’ve ever eaten that I couldn’t handle was chives. Can’t stand the taste.”
She laughed. “No chives,” she promised. “Just some season salt, lemon, and garlic.” Hermione led him into the kitchen to see two plates on the table with fish and a rice dish and a couple of salads in bowls sitting next to them. She had a stasis charm on the hot food. “I wasn’t sure if you’d want to eat first or take everything into the living room and eat while we watch a movie.”
Draco moved up behind Hermione and rested his chin on the top of her head as he wrapped his arms around her collar bones from behind in a friendly gesture. “That looks really good,” he started before pressing a kiss to her head and letting her go. “I didn’t know people were allowed to eat in living rooms. Let’s do that!”
She laughed and nudge him playfully as he grabbed one of the dressings on the table to dump some on his salad before picking up his food. “You want a Coke?” she asked. “Water?”
“Coke sounds great!” he enthused as he disappeared from her line of sight. Hermione grabbed the drinks from the fridge before banishing them to the coffee table and joining him on the couch with her own meal.
Even though the whole couch was open, she chose to sit thigh to thigh with Draco, who was heartily eating his fish all the while making little sounds of pleasure in his throat. “You’re a good cook,” he complimented as she made herself comfortable.
“Thanks!” she replied. “I like cooking but it’s hard to cook for one.”
Draco shrugged. “Wouldn’t know, I’ve never learned.”
“That’s a shame.” They ate quietly for a minute before Hermione snagged a remote and started getting the telly set up to start the movie.
“My dad seemed really pleased with you Friday before last.” Draco started making small talk as she pushed buttons.
“Oh, he was!” Her tone was knowing, and Draco laughed.
“You got a good reward?” he guessed.
“Only unlimited orgasms for over three hours,” she waggled her eyebrows happily.
“Nice! How?”
Hermione wanted to laugh – he was going to hate her answer. She pushed play on the movie as she answered, “His mouth…anywhere I wanted. As many times as I wanted.”
“Uhg! Lalalalalalala! TMI, Granger! TMI!”
Hermione burst into giggles. “Well, your father has a very talented tongue!”
“Gaah! No. Seriously, stop it. Honestly, witch, you have no boundaries!” he groaned, miming gagging.
She raised an eyebrow. “You asked – what the hell does that say about you?”
That brought him up short. “You’re right…what the hell is the matter with me?”
“Ha,” she chuckled and sank back into his side after grabbing her food from the coffee table once again. She curled a foot under her bum before starting in on her salad. They ate in silence while waiting for the movie to start.
“Dirty Dancing?” he questioned a couple minutes later, when the actual movie started playing.
“It’s a classic, you’ll love it,” she murmured around a mouthful of rice. “It’s sexy.”
“You’re sexy,” he corrected. “This is just a movie.”
She laughed and elbowed him. “Stop,” she teased playfully. After that, they fell into silence and Hermione found herself contemplating her new-found friendship with one of her old rivals. They had been making time for each other frequently these days, often catching at least one lunch a week. After switching their chosen venues to Muggle instead of magical, they had easily avoided anymore tabloid gossip.
It had been effortless to cultivate their friendship. Draco was fun and funny, and they had a lot in common. They could talk for hours, simply going from one topic to the next without pause like a couple of beauty shop biddies. They liked to gossip, but also discussed politics and work. He was of a different intelligence level then most of the people she spent time with. Things that bored her other friends kept him engaged for hours. Recently they had decided they would start bringing each other books or articles to read that they had found interesting and then would discuss them at a different time.
The touching, teasing, and easy banter probably made outsiders think they were a couple, and Hermione couldn’t deny that there was an underlying attraction there. Both knowing what they did about they other, however, it was just ignored. They were aware that a relationship between them would be foolish. It couldn’t go anywhere. Neither would get what they wanted full time in the bedroom. Besides that, Hermione was in deep with Snape. She wouldn’t do anything to mess that up and both she and Draco knew it.
Instead, the affection they gave each other was more of a comfort thing. Their friendship, only months old, felt ancient. She felt as close to Draco most days as she did with Ron and Harry.
“Well, damn,” Draco whispered fifteen minutes later. Their plates were empty and sitting in front of them. “Can you dance like that?” he asked as he draped an arm around her shoulders and tucked her closer to his side.
“No,” she giggled. “Can you?”
“I’d be willing to find out!” he pulled back and wiggled his eyebrows at her.
She busted out laughing. “You’re insane,” she told him with a silly grin.
“Certifiable,” he agreed before pulling a pillow off the floor and plopping it on his lap. “Here.” He gestured for her to lay down and she did happily, sighing when his fingers dug into her hair and his other moved to rest on the concave of her side. They watched the movie in comfortable silence for a long time. Until the scene with Baby and Johnny in his little camp apartment and her impassioned declaration.
“And most of all I’m scared of walking out of this room and never feeling the rest of my whole life the way I feel when I’m with you!”
Draco contemplated that for a moment, watching with interest. He assumed some sexy sexy was coming shortly but was still caught up in the character’s little speech. Had he ever felt that way? No. Not with anyone. He’d dated Astoria Greengrass for a time after school, and he’d been fond of her, but he had never felt like he could live without her. Since then it had been little flings here and there with most of his focus being on Domme’s at the club. Once he realized that he wanted the dynamic of a D/s relationship in his everyday life, dating women in the “normal” population just hadn’t cut it anymore.
“Have you ever felt like that?” he murmured.
“Like what?”
“Can you stop this? Or does it mess it up?” he asked, suddenly wanting to talk more than he wanted to finish the movie.
“I can pause it.” She nudged her shoulder to indicate she needed to sit and Draco moved his arm off her waist. A second later they were facing each other.
“What she said – that Baby girl,” Draco explained.
“The whole ‘never feeling that way the rest of my life’ thing?” Hermione clarified.
“Yeah, that thing.”
Hermione was quiet for a long moment. “Not until recently,” she admitted. Draco was amused to see a deep blush creep up her face.
“Snape?” He wasn’t sure he could be more surprised.
“Yeah.”
“Damn.”
“I know, it’s … well it’s frustrating how one has no control over those kinds of reactions.” Hermione’s face became thoughtful. “I don’t think Severus has any idea just how much hold he has over my emotions. I’ve thought it before, I’m sure I’ll think it again, he could break my heart in a minute if he so desired.”
“That bad, huh?” Draco murmured pensively.
“Yeah.”
“Damn.”
“What about you?” Hermione inquired.
“No,” he answered. “Never. Although my gut reaction to Millie came as close to it as anything before. But…it’s Millie. I don’t think anything serious could ever happen between her and me. Too much history.”
“One could say the same for me and Severus – he was my teacher for Merlin’s sake!” This made Draco fall into another thoughtful silence, contemplating the truth of her statement. “Has she said anything to you?” Hermione prodded after a few moments.
“Not since your stage show,” he sighed. “She’s at the club a lot, but I’ve never seen her take anyone to play. People kind of rally around her and she always seems to be watching everything, but she hasn’t played with anyone that I know of. The only person I’ve seen her interact with is you.”
“So, she’s checking things out and getting to know people.” Hermione shrugged. “Draco, do you want her to want you? Now that you know it’s Millie? Are you still interested?”
Hermione was not surprised when her friend dropped his head into his hands and tugged on his hair in frustration. “I don’t know. I mean – you’ve seen her – she’s a total knock out. I certainly wouldn’t mind getting my hands on her delicious arse.” He paused when Hermione let out a light chuckle. “But I don’t know – it’s Millie! The girl who used to torment me – ”
“ – and me!”
“ – and everyone at school! She was a right ol’ nightmare, wasn’t she?”
“Did you ever think that maybe she did that to compensate?” Hermione questioned gently.
“What do you mean?”
“Well…people weren’t very nice to her, you know.”
“I don’t know – what do you mean?”
“Draco. She was not well liked,” she sounded impatient and realized she was lecturing him, yet seemed unable to stop herself. Yup, just like being friends with Harry and Ron…emotional range of a teaspoon. “She was overweight, had terrible acne, and was mean. People were always calling her names. You know in second year, I tried to sit with her in the library and make small talk. I felt bad for her – so I thought maybe she just needed a friend and she’d be more pleasant. She purposely knocked my ink over and sent a static charm at my hair – it took me a week to calm my hair down. You remember how terrible it was – imagine a damned static charm on top of it! The following week was that stupid dueling club with Snape and Lockhart, and she used the fight that broke out as an excuse to put me in a headlock and give me a wet willy! I never spoke to her again after that. She terrified me! If I’m being honest, she still terrifies me!”
Draco burst out laughing at her story, clutching his middle. “That absolutely sounds like Millie! She was a terror!”
“Seeing how she’s changed, I think it was a defense mechanism.”
This sobered Draco and he searched Hermione’s gaze thoughtfully. “Yeah, maybe you’re right,” he agreed begrudgingly. “I was a prat to her. Perhaps I deserved the name calling.”
“I remember,” Hermione said softly. “In fourth year, didn’t she ask you to the Yule Ball?”
Draco’s face paled alarmingly as the memory was dredged from the recesses of his mind. “Yeah…she did. I…I laughed at her.”
“I’m pretty sure I remember the words ‘Why would I take a fat pig like you?’”
“I really was an arsehole, wasn’t I?” The words were groaned out as he sank back into the davenport. “Fuck.”
“I think…” Hermione paused. “Forgive me if I’m being presumptuous, but I think you were an arrogant fourteen-year-old prat. You’re not that kid anymore, though, Draco.” She reached out and touched his knee lightly. “You’re a good man. If you think something great could happen with M, you should ask her out. Show her the grown-up you.” She blushed a little with her next words. “Anyone would be lucky to snag you, Draco.”
Draco took the opportunity to lighten the conversation. “Anyone?” he leered, slowly sitting up straight. Hermione’s brow crinkled at his change in tone, but she didn’t realize where he was going.
“Of course,” she smiled.
“You?”
Her eyes grew wide. “We agreed that would be a terrible idea, Draco…why would you sa–” She shrieked a little when he pounced at her, his fingers digging mercilessly into her sides, making the screech turn into gales of laughter.
“NO!” she bellowed. “Stop! I hate being tickled!” she gasped through more giggles as she squirmed and tried to get away. He didn’t relent, instead he threw his leg over her hips and straddled her as he continued his tickle torture.
“Ah!!!” More laughing – the deep, obnoxious, from-the-belly kind – poured out of her to the point where Draco started to laugh as well. Hermione got her hands between them and started tickling his side which caused his laughs to deepen and become a bit hysterical. Scrambling, he rolled them to the floor and landed on top of her as he seized her hands in his and pushed them up over her head. She was still screaming with laughter as he moved both of her wrists into one hand and continued to tickle her with the other.
“Ooooo, Draco!!” she half sobbed, half chortled. “Stooop!!! Hahahaha!!!”
“Get off her!”
It was a new voice – one that startled them both into complete silence with the exception their heavy breathing.
“Harry!” Hermione exclaimed, sitting up so quickly that she knocked her head on Draco’s chin.
“Fuck!” he exclaimed, jerking his face away from her.
“Draco! I’m so sorry!” Hermione grabbed his face in her hands and tilted his head to survey the damage.
“What the bloody hell is going on here?” Ron’s choked, horrified voice made Hermione freeze and close her eyes in exasperation. Just what she needed. Daddy Potter and his overprotective side-kick, Ronald Weasley.
“Up!” she told Draco, pushing him off her. “You’re fine!” she added when he mumbled something about “head butt” and “hurting” and “kiss it better”.
Draco settled himself onto the couch, smirking at Pot-head and the Weasel as Hermione picked herself up from the floor and brushed her clothing off. “Hi, guys,” she said a little too innocently. “What are you doing – oh, honestly! Put those away!” She added in an exclamation when she noticed both Harry and Ron’s wands pointed right at Draco. She glanced back at the blond to see him with a ridiculous smirk on his face. Wonderful, he’s going to be no help.
“Dropping in.” Harry answered her question through clenched teeth as Ron hesitantly lowered his wand, glancing from Harry to Hermione and then back to Draco.
“That’s nice of you,” Draco drawled, crossing his left leg to balance his ankle over his right knee while spreading his arms out along the back of the couch. “Doll always says she doesn’t get enough time with you two anymore.”
Hermione’s eyes widened at the use of her Dungeon nick name in the present company and her head swiveled to give Draco a death glare. She was pleased when her expression made him swallow hard and drop his sneer.
“I thought you were dating Snape?” Ron looked completely bewildered. “What is Ferret-boy doing in your living room? On top of you, no less?”
“We were watching a movie,” Hermione defended. “And I am dating Snape!”
“You’re dating Snape and Malfoy?” Harry’s eyebrows rose to disappear into his hairline.
“No!” she exclaimed, at the same time Draco confessed.
“I would never date Granger. Fuck her? Yes. Date her…no.”
Both Harry and Ron’s wands leveled at Draco again as Hermione shouted, “You’re not helping, Malfoy!” with a stomp of her foot. “Put your wands away! Now!” she continued in a roar at her friends who both started at her instant fury. After a beat (and after they complied) she started speaking again in a much calmer tone. “Draco and I are friends. We crossed each other’s paths recently and got to talking. Found out we have a lot in common and have been hanging out. We are not dating.”
“What was he doing on top of you then?” Ron said furiously. “What are you doing in your apartment alone with him? He’s a git!”
“You’re a git, Ronald!” Hermione said waspishly. “Enough, now! Why are you two here?”
“Molly’s doing dinner tonight, almost everyone is going to the Burrow,” Harry said, still looking back and forth between Hermione and Draco suspiciously.
“I’m gonna use the loo, Granger,” Draco said softly. He stood and brushed her arm gently before moving across the now quite crowded living room. “I’ll take my time.” She watched him disappear down the hall and heard the door click shut.
“He’s been here before?” Harry questioned, realizing Draco knew right where to go.
“Yes,” she answered simply. “We’ve hung out a couple times here.”
“How long have you been hanging out with him?” Ron asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm. Apparently, he didn’t believe her when she said they weren’t dating.
“About a month.”
“Why do I feel like you’re keeping something from us, ‘Mione?” Harry said so quietly both she and Ron had to lean in to hear him.
Hermione felt her stomach drop. What the hell was she supposed to say to that? She was keeping something from them, but her sex life was absolutely none of their business. “Do I have to tell you guys everything?” she inquired just as softly. “Can’t I have some things that are just mine?”
That brought Harry up short and his mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water before she continued. “I love you guys, but this stopping over unannounced and poking your nose and unwanted opinions into my dating and sex life ends now.” Both Harry and Ron flinched – probably the thought of her having a sex life with Snape. If only they knew… “You could have sent me an owl about dinner tonight – I feel like you’re trying to catch me doing something. You might want to rethink that. What if you had walked in here to Draco and I screwing? How would we all be feeling right now? Do I need to disconnect my floo from yours?”
“No, don’t do that, ‘Mione!” Ron answered adamantly even as he winced again at another unwanted image. “Luna and Ginny’d be pissed. We’re just worried about you, you know? You’ve been so…different lately.”
“Happy, you mean?” Hermione challenged. Both boys simultaneous shoved their hands into their pockets and Harry looked up through his messy hair sheepishly.
“We like seeing you happy, ‘Mione,” Harry told her. “It’s just a little flabbergasting that it’s Snape make you this way.”
Well…she mused silently…and Lucius…and we’ve gotta give Draco some credit, too. “Let’s just say the changes in my life have been positive. I’m crazy about Severus – he’s been wonderful. I’m really enjoying getting to know Draco better, and I’ve been spending time with Lucius Malfoy, as well. You know he and Snape own a small business together?” She cut Ron off before he could ask what kind of a business. “He’s a very interesting man,” she paused for just a moment. “I’m actually having dinner with him tonight to discuss some things. He and Severus are interested in putting me on retainer for their business as their old lawyer just retired. As Lucius handles the financial aspect of the business…” She trailed off.
Harry and Ron were staring at her like she had grown a second head. “What?!” She knew she sounded a bit defensive, but she wasn’t lying to them. The Dungeon’s lawyer had retired, and Snape had asked her if she had any recommendations because he didn’t care for the man’s partner. She had given him a couple names, and though she hadn’t really ever practiced any business aspects of law, it didn’t mean she couldn’t learn, so she also offered herself. It would give her something new to dig into and meant she’d spend an afternoon every week in his presence to go over books and legal paperwork.
“Nothing!” Harry said quickly.
“Yeah, no worries,” Ron added. “We’ll let everyone know you had a business meeting…”
“…with Lucius Malfoy,” Harry finished, eyebrow raised incredulously.
“You do that, then,” she sighed and dropped her defensive stance. She brought one hand up and ran it through her messy locks. “I have Thursday lunch free, can you two join me? I know it’s been a couple weeks since we’ve hung out.”
Ron relaxed, and a smile crept onto Harry’s face. “That sound brilliant,” Harry told her. “I’m free – Ron?”
“Yup!”
“It’s a date, then,” she told them before crossing the short distance between them and hooking her arms around each of their necks, hugging them to her. They squeezed her back for a moment before letting her go.
“We’ll leave you to … Malfoy … then.” Ron’s nose was wrinkled with disgust. “You really like spending time with him?”
“Yeah,” Hermione giggled at his expression. “I do. He’s not the same as when we were kids. You two knew that, though.”
“We did?” Ron pretended not to know what she was talking about while Harry jabbed him in the ribs with his elbow. “Oof…I mean, yeah. We know. Just didn’t expect you to become besties with the guy.”
“Neither did I.” Hermione started ushering them back towards the fireplace. “Funny how life takes unexpected twists, huh?” If only they knew how unexpected.
She sighed deeply when the green flames of her floo died. She heard Draco come out of the bathroom, but her gaze remained on the empty grate. “You all right?” he questioned gently, settling his hands on her shoulders. Hermione leaned back into him.
“Do your friends know? About you being a submissive?” She turned into him and Draco wrapped one arm around her shoulders before he dropped a cheek to the top of her head.
“Theo does,” Draco answered truthfully. “He comes to the club sometimes. Blaise doesn’t – but he wouldn’t get it. He’s a guy’s-guy.” He shrugged as she wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her face in his chest. “He wouldn’t understand my need to submit to a woman like that.” They held each other in silence for a few moments before Draco murmured against her hair. “I know they’re really special to you – Potter and Weasley – I get that. You three went through a lot together. Do you really think they have the right to know, though? Do they tell you about their sex lives?”
Hermione shuddered and wrinkled her nose. “No – and I don’t want to hear about it, either. What if they find out though? I think they’d be upset that I didn’t talk to them about it.”
“If they find out and you feel the need to explain yourself – I’d cross that bridge if it happens,” he suggested as he took the end of a lock of her hair between his thumb and forefinger and rubbed. He tugged it affectionately before pulling back from her. “There’s no need for an awkward conversations unless you have to, right?”
She gave him a tremulous smile and nodded. Then her expression darkened. “So…you’d fuck me, but not date me?”
Draco’s eyebrows shot up and he smirked playfully. “We’ve already established that, Granger. No need to look so offended.”
“Hmm,” she crossed her arms over her chest and gave him a speculative look. “Next time – don’t be an instigator. That could have gotten deadly.”
“I’m not afraid of the Potter and his Weasel.”
Hermione tried to remain stern but after a moment they were both laughing again.
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Book One - Master Mine: A Lesson in Submission