Playing the Game
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Harry Potter › Het - Male/Female › Snape/Hermione
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
8
Views:
9,842
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57
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Category:
Harry Potter › Het - Male/Female › Snape/Hermione
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
8
Views:
9,842
Reviews:
57
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Hot and Cold
Disclaimer: All hail JK Rowling who owns these characters. I have just borrowed them for some fun.
****
Chapter 4. Hot and Cold
Hermione slammed the door of her chamber; well, at least she tried to. The cushioning charms in place on the doors in the castle were put there to gently close them – rather a necessity to prevent drafts from catching them on a regular basis.
Denied that small pleasure, she threw herself onto the bed, feeling rather like the hormonal teenager she once was.
Well, I certainly got my kiss, she thought, not that it did me much good. The audacity of the man to accuse her of—, well it was despicable. Well, perhaps she had to face the fact that Severus was obviously unmoved by her. To be able to say such things after kissing her like that. He must be made of stone!
But what a kiss! Despite her impotent fury, Hermione could not help but relive every delicious moment of the 90 seconds in which his mouth had caressed hers. The memory rolled through her mind as clearly as if she were watching it in a Pensieve. The remembered sensation of his warm lips, and the wet heat of his tongue, caused a shudder of pleasure to run through her. The way he had pulled her into his arms, molding her against him as she pressed up against the hardness of his…
Hermione froze and re-ran the thought. No, she was sure of it. He HAD been aroused by her, very aroused if the strength of the evidence was anything to go by. So then why had he said—?
Oh, you idiot! She berated herself. Of course! She had caught him by surprise and if anything he was a man who liked to be in control of everything around him. No wonder he reacted so badly.
Ok, I can work around this, she thought, much calmer now. As her mind started working through the options she smiled, wondering if her tactics were perhaps slightly Slytherin after all.
Well, at least I didn’t tell him I’m still a virgin, she almost giggled nervously at the thought. He would really have run a mile!
***
The beautiful March morning of the Spring Equinox dawned in a flurry of flowers and garlands suspended in the Great Hall. His educated nose was appallingly sensitive to smells and the garish combinations of floral scents that attacked his senses made Severus wish he hadn’t bothered to attend breakfast that morning. He was tired, he was cranky, and he was not looking forward to the Spring Staff Picnic.
Gods! He had a horrible habit of repeatedly offending Hermione at each opportunity, as her face regularly revealed. While he was pleased that she seemed to bear it well, and it stopped her unsettling advances towards him, it made him feel strangely guilty that he could hurt her feelings so easily.
It was Easter Break, and that was about the only good thing about today. The bulk of the student body had finally gone home, leaving the castle mercifully empty, apart from the little brown-nosing prats who elected to stay on for the holidays. Rather like Hermione used to do.
Hermione.
She had said that she loved him and some small part of him actually missed her small attempts to seduce him.
I am NOT going to think about her. She had invaded far too much of his thinking time as it was over the past seven months, and enough was enough. I am not interested. I’m NOT! I am old enough to be her father and the stupid girl has probably decided to feel sorry for me and develop some bizarre Gryffindor need to rescue me. Perhaps it didn’t occur to her that I like the way I am. I like my solitude and I don’t want things to change! Precisely! Which is why you can’t stop thinking about her and every time you do you get a huge… ENOUGH!
***
An enormous blanket was set out on the Hogwarts lawns. There were only a handful of students left behind for the break. Most of the teachers elected to remain since it was only a two week holiday and they each had preparations to do for the student exams in June. He wasn’t sure if Hermione and Potter had stayed on or not. For his own sake, he hoped not.
Severus made his way towards the food. If I put in an appearance and eat, they can’t complain if I need to leave straight away. Some of the staff were already seated casually on the picnic blanket. Severus was the only one still wearing his teaching robes over his daywear. The strange formality only added to his aloofness.
Minerva caught his eye and waved him over. Casting a quick glance along the rug, he moved towards her purposefully. She was sitting in the shade of a huge oak tree and Potter and Hermione were nowhere to be seen. Hermione? When did I start thinking of her as that? Before he could follow that thought, Minerva was tugging on his sleeve, encouraging him to sit and take a plate.
It was pleasant in the shade, sipping wine and refilling his plate from the food-laden trays that kept refilling intermittently. So pleasant that he took a moment to close his eyes and lean back on the tree trunk, enjoying the warm spring air. This time of year was both pleasant and painful in his memories. It reminded him that the school year was nearly at an end, a time which, as a student, used to mean returning to an unloving home and unlovely house. As a teacher, however, it meant two uninterrupted months of research and solitude, without the blundering imbeciles that invaded his classroom every day.
He was completely lost in his thoughts when the delicate scent of violets touched his nose. His eyes snapped open to find Hermione and Potter had joined them. So she hadn’t gone home then? Her presence disturbed him more than he would ever care to admit, but he also took unbidden pleasure in the sight of her.
Hermione had taken a place on the rug a few feet to his left. She was listening to a lively conversation with Minerva and Flitwick who were regaling each other with amusing stories from their student days, and the animation on her face was entrancing. The shy sideways smile she sent him when she caught him watching her hit him right in the stomach and curled all the way down to his toes. He scowled at her, angry with his inescapable arousal and at her Gryffindor tendency to forgive him for being a bastard. His scowl only made her smile wider.
Minerva chose that moment to include him in the exchange.
“Severus! We were just discussing Hermione’s unique talent for memorizing every book she ever laid her hands on. Oh, to have such a phenomenal memory!” Minerva patted Hermione’s arm. “I always knew you’d do well, child. You certainly kept us on our toes. It’s not easy staying one step ahead of such a brilliant mind. Don’t you agree, Severus? You of all people appreciate a fine intellect, eh?”
Desperate not to have his physical state noticed by the others, Severus spoke without thinking.
“Indeed. Despite her aptitude, she certainly stands out as the most irritating student I ever had the burden of teaching.”
Even before the stunned silence fell, he knew he had said the wrong thing. It was one thing to think it, but another thing altogether to publicly insult a colleague, however provocative he might find her.
Hermione’s face was completely blank. She forced a laugh in an attempt to fill the astonished silence. She got to her feet without looking at him, excused herself on the pretext of checking on the handful of students over by the far wall who were heavily involved in a game of Gobstones, and walked away with her head held high.
“Goodness me, Severus, where have your manners gone?” Minerva McGonagall was glaring at him. But it was the look on Potter’s face that nearly undid him. Potter was laughing.
“Well done, Snape!” he chortled sarcastically, “That was excellent! I have spent the last six months trying to show Hermione what an unworthy bastard you are, but you know how stubborn she can be. I should have just trusted you to prove it to her all by yourself. Nice one!” He got to his feet and followed after Hermione.
“Well, Severus, you certainly know how to charm a lady.”
“Of all the things to say!”
“Are you feeling well, Severus, you look a little peaky”
The rest of the staff had finally regained their voices and were talking over the top of each other. Severus got to his feet with as much dignity as he could muster, and excused himself from the group. He cursed himself under his breath as he started walking back towards the castle. It was not like him to lose control like that.
Just before entering the giant stone archway into the quadrangle, he looked back. Potter had caught up to Hermione and now stood with his arm about her shoulder. She appeared to be leaning into the young man’s body. For a brief moment Severus wanted to tear Potter’s arm off her and put his own around her. He wanted to apologise for his thoughtless cruelty. He wanted to kiss that petal soft mouth again and feel her press her body into his. He wanted to do many things.
He chose to walk away.
In the dungeons, after arguing fruitlessly with himself for the better part of an hour, he pulled out parchment and quill and set himself down to write.
Hermione,
My comment to you today was unnecessary. You know perfectly well what my feelings are, however I should not have spoken them in front of the other staff members. Needless to say, they know my tendency to speak my mind and will not think on it again. I trust that you will not either.
That was as close as he would go to offering an apology.
On the other matter that has been regularly coming up between us, I appeal to you to let this disturbing issue drop permanently.
Your humble servant
S.S.
***
Hermione read the letter 14 times. No, that was definitely an apology! Awful man! Why did he have to blow hot and cold on her? Perhaps it was time to play her ultimate final card. Beltane was a month away…Beltane, the fertility festival. Hmmm. If Severus Snape said no to her after this, then she would walk away and never bother him again. Her dratted feeling would just have to get over it.
****
Chapter 4. Hot and Cold
Hermione slammed the door of her chamber; well, at least she tried to. The cushioning charms in place on the doors in the castle were put there to gently close them – rather a necessity to prevent drafts from catching them on a regular basis.
Denied that small pleasure, she threw herself onto the bed, feeling rather like the hormonal teenager she once was.
Well, I certainly got my kiss, she thought, not that it did me much good. The audacity of the man to accuse her of—, well it was despicable. Well, perhaps she had to face the fact that Severus was obviously unmoved by her. To be able to say such things after kissing her like that. He must be made of stone!
But what a kiss! Despite her impotent fury, Hermione could not help but relive every delicious moment of the 90 seconds in which his mouth had caressed hers. The memory rolled through her mind as clearly as if she were watching it in a Pensieve. The remembered sensation of his warm lips, and the wet heat of his tongue, caused a shudder of pleasure to run through her. The way he had pulled her into his arms, molding her against him as she pressed up against the hardness of his…
Hermione froze and re-ran the thought. No, she was sure of it. He HAD been aroused by her, very aroused if the strength of the evidence was anything to go by. So then why had he said—?
Oh, you idiot! She berated herself. Of course! She had caught him by surprise and if anything he was a man who liked to be in control of everything around him. No wonder he reacted so badly.
Ok, I can work around this, she thought, much calmer now. As her mind started working through the options she smiled, wondering if her tactics were perhaps slightly Slytherin after all.
Well, at least I didn’t tell him I’m still a virgin, she almost giggled nervously at the thought. He would really have run a mile!
***
The beautiful March morning of the Spring Equinox dawned in a flurry of flowers and garlands suspended in the Great Hall. His educated nose was appallingly sensitive to smells and the garish combinations of floral scents that attacked his senses made Severus wish he hadn’t bothered to attend breakfast that morning. He was tired, he was cranky, and he was not looking forward to the Spring Staff Picnic.
Gods! He had a horrible habit of repeatedly offending Hermione at each opportunity, as her face regularly revealed. While he was pleased that she seemed to bear it well, and it stopped her unsettling advances towards him, it made him feel strangely guilty that he could hurt her feelings so easily.
It was Easter Break, and that was about the only good thing about today. The bulk of the student body had finally gone home, leaving the castle mercifully empty, apart from the little brown-nosing prats who elected to stay on for the holidays. Rather like Hermione used to do.
Hermione.
She had said that she loved him and some small part of him actually missed her small attempts to seduce him.
I am NOT going to think about her. She had invaded far too much of his thinking time as it was over the past seven months, and enough was enough. I am not interested. I’m NOT! I am old enough to be her father and the stupid girl has probably decided to feel sorry for me and develop some bizarre Gryffindor need to rescue me. Perhaps it didn’t occur to her that I like the way I am. I like my solitude and I don’t want things to change! Precisely! Which is why you can’t stop thinking about her and every time you do you get a huge… ENOUGH!
***
An enormous blanket was set out on the Hogwarts lawns. There were only a handful of students left behind for the break. Most of the teachers elected to remain since it was only a two week holiday and they each had preparations to do for the student exams in June. He wasn’t sure if Hermione and Potter had stayed on or not. For his own sake, he hoped not.
Severus made his way towards the food. If I put in an appearance and eat, they can’t complain if I need to leave straight away. Some of the staff were already seated casually on the picnic blanket. Severus was the only one still wearing his teaching robes over his daywear. The strange formality only added to his aloofness.
Minerva caught his eye and waved him over. Casting a quick glance along the rug, he moved towards her purposefully. She was sitting in the shade of a huge oak tree and Potter and Hermione were nowhere to be seen. Hermione? When did I start thinking of her as that? Before he could follow that thought, Minerva was tugging on his sleeve, encouraging him to sit and take a plate.
It was pleasant in the shade, sipping wine and refilling his plate from the food-laden trays that kept refilling intermittently. So pleasant that he took a moment to close his eyes and lean back on the tree trunk, enjoying the warm spring air. This time of year was both pleasant and painful in his memories. It reminded him that the school year was nearly at an end, a time which, as a student, used to mean returning to an unloving home and unlovely house. As a teacher, however, it meant two uninterrupted months of research and solitude, without the blundering imbeciles that invaded his classroom every day.
He was completely lost in his thoughts when the delicate scent of violets touched his nose. His eyes snapped open to find Hermione and Potter had joined them. So she hadn’t gone home then? Her presence disturbed him more than he would ever care to admit, but he also took unbidden pleasure in the sight of her.
Hermione had taken a place on the rug a few feet to his left. She was listening to a lively conversation with Minerva and Flitwick who were regaling each other with amusing stories from their student days, and the animation on her face was entrancing. The shy sideways smile she sent him when she caught him watching her hit him right in the stomach and curled all the way down to his toes. He scowled at her, angry with his inescapable arousal and at her Gryffindor tendency to forgive him for being a bastard. His scowl only made her smile wider.
Minerva chose that moment to include him in the exchange.
“Severus! We were just discussing Hermione’s unique talent for memorizing every book she ever laid her hands on. Oh, to have such a phenomenal memory!” Minerva patted Hermione’s arm. “I always knew you’d do well, child. You certainly kept us on our toes. It’s not easy staying one step ahead of such a brilliant mind. Don’t you agree, Severus? You of all people appreciate a fine intellect, eh?”
Desperate not to have his physical state noticed by the others, Severus spoke without thinking.
“Indeed. Despite her aptitude, she certainly stands out as the most irritating student I ever had the burden of teaching.”
Even before the stunned silence fell, he knew he had said the wrong thing. It was one thing to think it, but another thing altogether to publicly insult a colleague, however provocative he might find her.
Hermione’s face was completely blank. She forced a laugh in an attempt to fill the astonished silence. She got to her feet without looking at him, excused herself on the pretext of checking on the handful of students over by the far wall who were heavily involved in a game of Gobstones, and walked away with her head held high.
“Goodness me, Severus, where have your manners gone?” Minerva McGonagall was glaring at him. But it was the look on Potter’s face that nearly undid him. Potter was laughing.
“Well done, Snape!” he chortled sarcastically, “That was excellent! I have spent the last six months trying to show Hermione what an unworthy bastard you are, but you know how stubborn she can be. I should have just trusted you to prove it to her all by yourself. Nice one!” He got to his feet and followed after Hermione.
“Well, Severus, you certainly know how to charm a lady.”
“Of all the things to say!”
“Are you feeling well, Severus, you look a little peaky”
The rest of the staff had finally regained their voices and were talking over the top of each other. Severus got to his feet with as much dignity as he could muster, and excused himself from the group. He cursed himself under his breath as he started walking back towards the castle. It was not like him to lose control like that.
Just before entering the giant stone archway into the quadrangle, he looked back. Potter had caught up to Hermione and now stood with his arm about her shoulder. She appeared to be leaning into the young man’s body. For a brief moment Severus wanted to tear Potter’s arm off her and put his own around her. He wanted to apologise for his thoughtless cruelty. He wanted to kiss that petal soft mouth again and feel her press her body into his. He wanted to do many things.
He chose to walk away.
In the dungeons, after arguing fruitlessly with himself for the better part of an hour, he pulled out parchment and quill and set himself down to write.
Hermione,
My comment to you today was unnecessary. You know perfectly well what my feelings are, however I should not have spoken them in front of the other staff members. Needless to say, they know my tendency to speak my mind and will not think on it again. I trust that you will not either.
That was as close as he would go to offering an apology.
On the other matter that has been regularly coming up between us, I appeal to you to let this disturbing issue drop permanently.
Your humble servant
S.S.
***
Hermione read the letter 14 times. No, that was definitely an apology! Awful man! Why did he have to blow hot and cold on her? Perhaps it was time to play her ultimate final card. Beltane was a month away…Beltane, the fertility festival. Hmmm. If Severus Snape said no to her after this, then she would walk away and never bother him again. Her dratted feeling would just have to get over it.