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And They Didn\'t Live Happily Ever After	By : ElizabethStump Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Snape/Hermione Views: 90306 -:- Recommendations : 2 -:- Currently Reading : 2
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.

Chapter List
- 58
- 59
- 60
“And They Didn't Live Happily Ever After”
Chapter Fifty-Eight
“Testing, Testing, Testing”
Disclaimer: The characters contained herein are not mine. No money is being made from this fiction, which is presented for entertainment purposes only.

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Ron had spent the night of Hermione's birthday at their flat, but voluntarily slept on the couch. He had successfully transfigured the slightly worn and definitely lumpy piece of furniture into a bed large enough to fit his entire length.

By the time Hermione woke up on Saturday morning, Ron was gone and the couch changed back, the flat returned to its previous state as if her husband had not been there at all.

Ginny arrived shortly after breakfast, having made their appointment at Madam Hope's Eternal Springs and Day Spa for ten o'clock, and hinting that it would be an all-day treat.

As Hermione handed Ginny the stolen boomslang skin, she mentioned she had plans later that day after the spa.

The red-head replied with a twinkle in her eye that Hermione should just bring everything with her that she would need after the spa, since they were probably going to be there a while.

Hermione didn't want to exactly tell Ginny she had plans to spend the night at Severus', but wondered if Ginny already knew.
As they entered into the foyer of the spa, Hermione inhaled deeply, smelling the mixture of various scents of floral and herbal body scrubs; she already felt herself beginning to relax. She thought about how she would be scrubbed herself within an inch of her life, making her skin soft for Severus. She knew how her face would be exfoliated, and the annoying little blackheads around the corners of her nose would be gone, making herself beautiful for her lover.

They were about to enter the women's side of the spa when Hermione noticed that the men's side was closed again. She wondered if it was always closed, or was it merely coincidence that the men's side was closed when she and Ginny came.

Inside Hermione’s dressing area – or undressing area – the wall had a panorama mosaic of an Italian palazzo amid the Campania countryside, with Mount Vesuvius in the background; it made her wish she could go to another country for real, she thought longingly as she undressed.

“I have a very special treat for you for your birthday,” Ginny spoke through the tapestry divider between the two cubicles. “I think you'll be surprised. Are you ready for me to come over now?”

Hermione had her towel tucked around her to cover herself since she wasn't as confident about her body as her more curvaceous sister-in-law. She pulled the curtain back and was surprised to find her friend fully wrapped in a towel like herself, since Ginny usually walked about the women's side with her upper torso exposed.

Sauntering into Hermione's area, the red-head pulled the curtain closed and gave Hermione a wicked grin. Standing next to the wall, Ginny gave it a gentle rap with her knuckles in a spot where the shape of a key hole was discreetly placed in the middle of the mosaic palazzo

A door quietly cracked open, exposing a portal large enough for one person to pass through at a time. Cocking her head, Ginny indicated quietly for Hermione to follow.

Passing through the dark and narrow corridors that snaked and turned with the walls, Hermione started to ask questions, but Ginny shushed her as they stealthily padded along. Ginny then nudged her head towards a door adorned with shells, indicating Hermione should enter.

“What about—” Hermione whispered quietly.

“You'll see,” Ginny said with a wink, before slinking off down the passage and around the corner out of sight.

Hesitantly, Hermione pushed the door open and stood agape at the grandeur of the grotto before her. The architecture definitely spoke of time long past, an era of romanticism and embellishment.

“I hope you find Ginny's present a suitable surprise,” said Severus as he emerged from around a screen, startling Hermione in the process.

He was standing there with a smirk upon his lips, dressed in nothing but a towel about his hips.

Hermione quickly rushed over to Severus and threw her arms about him, peppering his face with quick kisses. “This was unexpected, but certainly the best birthday surprise ever,” she said, beaming, when she finally stopped kissing him. “But this place?” she said, still in awe of her surroundings.

“Rebuilt during the Restoration period, with secret passages for royalty, high-level Ministry officials and the crème of wizarding society to rendezvous with paramours and courtesans,” he said, keeping his gaze upon her as she looked about. “We have the grotto from now until just after lunch, while Ginny and Draco go frolic on the men's side.”

“Wait, does this mean that every time I've come to the spa with Ginny, she's gone off for a rendezvous with Draco?” she asked. It would finally explain why every time she came she saw the men's side closed down, and also explain the long periods when Ginny was supposedly getting “treatments.”

“Yes, we have the whole men's side to ourselves.”

“But doesn't that cost a fortune to close down the whole men's side?” Hermione brought up, wondering the price of such a monthly stunt.

“Miss Brown is a silent partner of the spa. She has the men's side shut down monthly so Draco and I can do final testing, in secret, on products before they go to market. I will not go into all the various formulations of no-chip nail polish, dandruff-suppressing shampoo, body scrubs, moisturizers and other products Draco and I have tried over the years,” he confessed, dramatically rolling his eye up to the shell-encrusted ceiling.

Hermione suppressed a small giggle at the image of Severus having to wear pink nail polish. She stopped when she realized that she would be having to do the same things when she finally took her Potions apprenticeship, and she'd be the human guinea pig for Lavender's products.

In the grotto was a large reclining area that could double as an expansive bed or lounging couch, covered with firm pillows of various shapes and sizes, and soft white sheets used by the spa. It reminded Hermione of an extremely large opium bed.

“Do you think between now and lunch we'll have enough time,” Hermione said breathlessly, as the mood changed from admiration of the surroundings to arousal, being in close proximity to her lover.

Severus placed a vial of natural lubrication potion in her hand. “Then we'd better not waste any.” Though he had not taken any potions for his own arousal, his towel was already beginning to tent from his growing erection.

Hermione downed the lubrication potion in one go, as Severus released her towel and watched it slip down her torso, gliding along her hips and legs before falling to the floor. With one hand he guided her to the makeshift bed, encouraging her to lie down.

Propped up on her elbows, Hermione watched as Severus approached the bed with a hungry look in his eyes before discarding his own towel. Crawling on all fours, Severus had the look of a panther about to devour his prey. Positioned above Hermione, they kissed slowly, knowing they had all day to take their time. She noted the slight scruff on his face, which was a different sensation on her skin than the clean-shaven feel she was used to.

Severus kissed his way down Hermione’s neck, stroking the sides of her ribs in the way she taught him, making her gasp and shudder involuntarily.

Giving up on trying to prop herself up, Hermione fully reclined back. She luxuriated in the feel of Severus' hair tickling her skin as he nuzzled and suckled gently at her breasts before he continued his path down her body. He spent a while licking and nipping at her stomach and hip bones before finally settling himself between her legs to delicately kiss the folds of flesh that covered that precious pearl of her sex.

Using his fingers to part her, his tongue tentatively licked her clitoris, at which Hermione's head shot up as she gasped loudly, her body taut with anticipation. Severus dove into her more hungrily, and Hermione shouted wordlessly at the intensity of feeling as his mouth licked and devoured her, lapping at the juices the natural lubrication potion magnified.

Hermione gazed down to see a dark head of hair partially curtaining a pair of black eyes staring back at her. It was all too much for her. She laid her head back and arched her back, her hands grabbing fistfuls of Severus' hair as he continued until he brought Hermione to her first of many orgasms.

Before she could finish catching her breath, Hermione quickly spun around and guided Severus’ cock to her mouth as he faced her feet. Grabbing his hips, she began guiding the pace of his movements and encouraged him to slide into her mouth, indicating a depth and speed that was comfortable. Periodically, Hermione would very slowly guide him to shove all of him into her mouth as she felt the curve of his cock bend around the back of her mouth and down her throat, and then he removed himself slowly before her gag reflexes kicked in. In this position, the curve of Severus’ cock made it much easier for her to deep-throat him.

Severus had had many blow jobs in his days and even given instruction as a gigolo, but what Hermione was doing was quite incredible even for him. Her pacing was languid and nearly torturous in its drawing out of pleasure. He wanted nothing more than to pump himself furiously into her mouth, but knew he should relinquish control to Hermione and he should relish the moment despite his innate urges.

Hermione gently played with his sac with one hand while continuing to guide his hips with her other hand. She could hear from the rasping of Severus’ gasps that he was near.

“I'm...” he cried out, indicating he was about to orgasm and was going to pull himself from her mouth. But then she grasped his hips firmly and slowly shoved him all the way down her throat, wanting to swallow all of Severus' seed. He shuddered violently as he came, his cock throbbing with each pulse, and he spent himself in her.

Hermione swallowed as best as she could – some spilled out of the sides of her mouth – and choked a little bit towards the end. When she sat up finally, some beads of the pearly fluid still dribbling from the corners of her mouth, Severus then reached over and kissed her furiously and deeply. He could taste himself on her lips just as she could taste herself on his tongue.

Finally breaking apart from one another, Severus went to grab a towel to clean away the last of himself from her face, while Hermione fetched a couple glasses of water.

Laying back, entwined in each other's arms, Hermione asked, “So you get this place to yourself once a month, every month?”

“Yes.”

“That explains why Ginny loves coming here so often,” she surmised, not mentioning her observations that Ginny always looked very relaxed at the end of the day.

Hermione rolled over onto her stomach to regard Severus as he laid back, an arm tucked behind his head to he could regard the object of his desire.

Unbidden, the memory of the old Romani woman the night before flashed in Hermione's mind, as vivid as if she was there. 'If you have the opportunity to leave with your lover, do so. But if you do not leave with him, you will see him again in the future.'

The sudden change of Hermione's mood did not go unnoticed. One moment she was gazing sweetly at Severus, then as quick as a summer storm, trouble clouded her eyes and she buried her face in his side to hide her distress.
“What's the matter?” her lover coaxed her to unburden herself, lovingly stroking her hair.

She would tell him eventually, so there was no point in waiting. Hermione relayed the story of the trip to her parents’ house and her encounter with the palm reader, omitting the last two lines about fleeing with Severus. He was ready to dismiss it as she had, until Hermione informed him of her mother's trip to the hospital after she returned back to her parents’ house.

Severus stared at the back of her head as he curled up to spoon behind her, unable to form a response. What could one say to comfort Hermione, with the knowledge that a blood relation of hers could die within six months? The hinting at Severus and Draco's flight, and Hermione's new career. With Hermione not telling him the last two lines of her fortune, he took the palm reading to mean that cooperation of the weather for the final ingredient was a nebulous future that she could not see, which frightened him.

They lay curled together on their sides for a while until Severus began tenderly kissing Hermione's shoulders. Hermione arched her back, pressing her bottom into his lap while guiding his hand to cup her breasts. Severus felt the stirrings of his arousal. Wanting to see his face, she turned to lay on her back, throwing her top leg over his hip and settling the other one between his legs for him to grasp with his thighs, as she guided him into her, her body perpendicular to his as their loins met. It was a position that required little effort and allowed for an unhurried movement of hips.

The lovers knew that their time together would not last forever, that eventually he would leave. Hermione held the undisclosed knowledge that she had the option to go with him, but she wanted to fight her destiny and had already decided to stay behind to spite the Fates.

Severus increased the speed, eventually shifting above Hermione, as he propped up on his hands, with his arms stiff. Her body twisted, one leg still between his, the other leg braced against his torso, her foot just above his shoulder, partially supporting his weight. Gazing up, she marveled at the hypnotic sway of his hair as it framed his face, and the way the muscles on his torso flexed and tightened as he pushed himself deeper into her before withdrawing to return again, like the rhythm of the waves along the shore.

Since Severus had not taken any potions to enhance his virility, it took much longer for him to orgasm a second time. They had changed position many times and Hermione found one where the curve of Severus' cock stroked her just so that she rode him furiously with desperation. He helped bring her over the edge when he moved his thumb to stroke her clit, causing her to shut her eyes tight with an exquisite grimace upon her face. Enthralled with the beauty of her lost on pleasure, Severus surrendered to his own needs and came, growling as he held her tight.

After taking care of her bodily needs, Hermione joined Severus in the pool of hot water in the one corner of the grotto. Sitting on opposite sides of the tub, their feet grazing each other's legs, they sat silently, letting their bodies recuperate. When Hermione started feeling overcome by the heat, she removed herself from the warm tub to sit in the cold plunge tub, squeaking as the chilled water came in contact with her overheated skin.

Severus enjoyed watching her body react to the cold, especially as her flesh goose-pimpled and her nipples puckered tightly in response to the temperature change. Removing himself from the warm tub, he jumped in the cold plunge quickly, reacting little to the shock of temperature change.

“How can you handle that?” asked Hermione, implying the drastic change in temperature without physically cringing.

“Many years having to harvest ingredients from the lake at Hogwarts. Potions to keep the chill off the bones while diving don't last forever, and some people eventually can gain a tolerance to the cold,” he told her.

Hermione gave a shudder while remembering how cold the water was up in Scotland, especially that one time Ron accidentally knocked her into the lake. A drying charm had removed nearly all of the water then, but there was a dampness that chilled her to the bone that she couldn't rid herself of until she got back to Gryffindor Tower to take a hot shower, change clothes and get a cup of hot tea into herself before she was no longer cold.

Removing herself from the cold plunge, the witch went to recline on the bed, laying on her side, propped up on one elbow so she could continue to watch Severus soak.

“Care for a massage?” she offered.

Severus rose from the tub immediately. “Absolutely,” he accepted eagerly.

Lying face down, Hermione began to work on Severus’ back, reciting the various muscles and bones she had been working to memorize from her mother's old copy of Gray's Anatomy. There were a few muscle names that she switched, and he corrected her, but for the most part, she identified the parts correctly as she rubbed plain almond oil with care along his skin. By the time she had reached his feet, Hermione noticed he was softly snoring, having dropped off somewhere shortly after she worked on his calves.

Not wanting to disturb him, she grabbed a heavy cotton blanket that was placed along the side of the bed and covered him up; she was lying next to him, her legs touching his, but not cuddling so close as to wake him. Hermione allowed her own mind to drift off and sleep for a while until an unseen house-elf discreetly rang a bell to announce that lunch had been served.

Rising from their brief slumber, Severus and Hermione donned plush cotton bathrobes before padding over to the middle of the grotto, where beneath the skylight a table had been placed, filled with an array of fare.

“I hope you don't mind, but I instructed the spa elves to prepare a light lunch since we still have the pool, sauna, steam room and some latest product testing to look forward to this afternoon,” Severus said, as he helped Hermione into her seat.

“We are testing products?” Hermione asked, curious as to what was involved.

“By this point in the product development cycle, when Draco and I test them, we have worked out most of the kinks, but there is the trial phase to see if they work as planned,” he explained as he lifted the lid from the tureen of soup and ladled a cup of curried pumpkin soup into a small bowl before handing it to his lunch companion. “Be glad I have worked out most of the problems with the temporary hair dye solution and this is the final weekend of testing. It should take only one shampooing to rinse it clean instead of the four shampooings to get rid of the film it originally left behind. This will be part of your job working for Miss Brown as Dobmeir's apprentice. What we've done at my flat is what you'd be doing under a traditional Potions apprenticeship, plus other duties.”

As they sampled an array of sandwiches perched on a tiered stand, and the lightly dressed salad served up on delicate china plates accented with an aquatic theme, they discussed other aspects of the products they'd be testing and the process Severus went through while developing them.

When they were done, Severus extended his hand to help Hermione up, tucking her arm into his as they crossed the grotto before guiding her down the labyrinth of passage ways towards the men's side of the spa. Upon reaching a door, Severus rapped upon it in a particular pattern, signaling it was him.

“Just a moment,” Draco called out from the side of the door.

There was the noise of feet scuffling and the distinct sound of Ginny giggling before the door opened up to reveal Draco and Ginny in matching spa robes.

“Lunch should be ready and waiting by the time you reach the grotto,” Severus informed them as he and Hermione emerged from the secret corridor.

Hermione gave Ginny a brief hug. “Best present ever, thank you,” the older witch beamed.

Ginny returned a kiss upon her friend's cheek. “Happy birthday.”

Draco and his lover quickly passed through the door before it closed behind them to leave Severus and his own lover alone in the expanse of the men's side of the spa.

Severus dropped his robe and dove head first into the vast natatorium. Hermione slipped from her robe and gently toed into the pool, unsure if it was the same cool temperature that it was on the women's side. Sliding fully into the tepid crystal water, Hermione swam out into the middle to meet Severus.

Above the two, as they floated limply on their backs, the stained glass figure of Poseidon was getting rather frisky with the Nereids. His erection grew rather stout before he mounted one of the many coyly frolicking ocean nymphs, who protested before succumbing to her carnal desires in typical Greek mythological rape/comfort fashion. Once done, he would start the cycle over again, chasing after another stained glass Nereid, trapping her, then engaging in some non-consensual canoodling before she succumbed to Poseidon's sexual charms and “enjoyed” it in the end.

“Does Poseidon always behave like a sexual predator when the men's side of the spa is open, or is this mythological rape reenactment for our viewing pleasure alone,” Hermione remarked with little amusement. The whole scene reminded her too much of how she was not that enamored of Ron pouncing and then mounting her, while she pretended to enjoy their coupling for the sake of not raising Ron's suspicions.

“Poseidon usually gets 'inspired' after watching Draco and Ginny frolic, but otherwise he's usually well behaved.”

It was unnerving enough to have the stained glass figures watching, but considering all the things the portraits of Hogwarts watched Hermione engage in, there was little cause for her to be prudish.

They floated for a while in comfortable silence.

“Severus?”

“Hmm.”

“If you didn't go into Potions, what do you think you might have done for a career?”

“I've known from a young age I had always wanted to go into Potions,” Severus confessed. “I can't imagine myself doing anything else. But I suppose something involving Defense Against the Dark Arts. Perhaps an Auror, but considering my background and disposition when younger, that would have never happened.”

Hermione floated for a while, somewhat envious that Severus knew what he wanted to do with his life. She had felt herself drawn in a dozen different directions, pulled by many disciplines with the urge to learn them all. But even when her opportunity to apprentice in Transfiguration and Charms was removed, she had turned her attentions toward other areas of study in her pursuit of an apprenticeship. Perhaps if she was as passionate about one subject as Severus was about Potions, she might have been driven to find some avenue to master an area of study with more determination.

As she floated, she drifted closer to Severus.

“Hermione?”

“Hmm?”

“If you never were a witch, which Muggle profession would you have gone on to study?”

Hermione had recently discussed this with her mother, so it didn't take any time for her to contemplate an answer. “Something in the medical arts. Doctor, possibly. Maybe a dentist like my parents, or a research scientist.”

They floated for a while longer before she added, “I sometimes wonder how different life would have been if there had been no Dark Lord, no first or second war. But wondering and wishing can't change what has already passed.” She refrained from using Voldemort's name in Severus' presence, understanding how greatly it upset him to this day.

Hermione was getting tired of trying to ignore Poseidon and his repeated sexual assaults above her head. She suggested a change of venue.

The sauna on the men's side seemed to run hotter than the women's. It could be that the frequent use by others on the women's side – versus the few occupants using the men's side – allowed the sauna to build up more heat in between the opening and closing of the door. Severus was able to stand the heat longer than Hermione could.

She had chilled down in the cold plunge pool and was ready to visit the steam room by the time Severus emerged, glistening with sweat over his entire body. Hermione decided to rehydrate with some raspberry leaf and lemon-infused water, reclining on a chaise lounge while waiting for Severus. She handed him a glass to sip while in the cold plunge.

As they sat in the steam room enveloped by the sultry mist, Severus noted how much he was enjoying Hermione's company. They spoke periodically about various topics, but Hermione was also very comfortable to let long periods of silence pass without feeling the urge to start chattering in order to fill the void of conversation. In many way, she was a much more companionable partner during his day at the spa than Draco could be. Though Draco was not prone to idle rambling, he was a bit more chatty with a slight sophomoric streak of humor, but Hermione's level of verboseness at times, or lack of it, seemed to be a better match to Severus' own level.

After a few more rounds of the sauna, cold plunge and steam room, Severus was ready to show Hermione to the showers and treatment tables to begin testing products.

“Black? I'm dying my hair black?” Hermione asked, looking at the temporary hair dye solution Severus handed her.

“Draco already tried it, but we need to test it on someone with a different natural color and texture. I already tried various shades of brown and dark- to medium-blond.” Severus was in another stall, so she had no idea what color he got stuck with.

Hermione read the directions on the bottle twice and applied it with little difficulty, glad it would not stain her skin and stick only to her hair. Her mother dyed her hair and she remembered the use of Vaseline, gloves, plus the pungent stench of ammonia that followed with the Muggle mixture.

Emerging from her stall, she went to the nearest mirror to view her changed appearance. While noticing how much paler her skin looked now, she glanced at her reflection over her shoulder as a platinum head appeared behind her. Shrieking and grabbing a towel to cover herself, she thought it was Malfoy who had wandered in on her – only to finally realize it was Severus with a head of platinum locks.

“I thought you were Malfoy for a moment.” Hermione still held a hand to her chest while regaining her breath.

“I should take that admission as a compliment that the hair dye does a good job of covering my natural color completely. Though I'm not sure Draco would find it much of a compliment that you mistook me for him,” he joked lightly.

Hermione examined the coverage of the temporary hair dye with a closer inspection. “Amazing, it looks as if this was your natural color, though your eye brows really should be colored as well as there is such a stark contrast it makes it look like an otherwise very good bleach job,” she noted, as she twisted a hank of Severus’ hair and viewed it in the light of the men's shower area to watch how the highlights shone along the strands.

“You...” Severus began, his eyes alight. “This is a rather stunning color on you. Should you attend the Ministry's masked ball this Halloween, I highly recommend this color on you. It's quite fetching.”

He played with a damp tendril that had fallen forward and along the tops of her breast.

“I thought about dyeing my hair red like Ginny's once or a much lighter chestnut, but she said with my coloring, and with the latest additions to my wardrobe, I should keep my dark chestnut coloring.” Then Hermione suddenly remembered something. “Damn! Ginny and I were going to go to Madame Maurelle Mandel's to go dress shopping before we came here.”

“You can always go tomorrow,” he suggested as he slid behind her and dipped his head down to start nibbling on her ear. “And then you can always model for me whatever you purchase.” His breath was hot, and his voice low and rumbling. “Preferably something easy to slip from your body.” Severus' hand slipped down Hermione's back to caress her hip. “With matching knickers.” His hand slid further down to caress the top of her thigh. “Stockings.” One hand skated up her stomach to cup her breast. “And don't forget the matching bra.”

Leaning her head back against Severus’ shoulder, she caught the sight of two strangers in the middle of a seduction in the mirror behind the sink.

She knew it was her and Severus, but the dramatic change in hair color made them both almost unrecognizable even to her own eyes.

Noticing where Hermione's attention was directed, Severus met her gaze in the reflection. “You want to watch,” he whispered.

“Yes,” she breathed, feeling as if this was something esoteric. She couldn't stand the idea of her own husband watching her masturbate, but the idea of her lover watching while they performed in a mirror turned her on in ways that made a twisting curl in her belly throb in its forbidden allure.

“What else arouses you that you dare not admit,” Severus prompted her. The resonating sound of his voice bid her to confess what she had trouble admitting to herself in her own mind.

“I want...” she began, but stopped when her breath hitched as Severus reached his hand down to start stroking her labia.

“Yes,” he purred, making her reservations melt away.

“I want to be restrained.” She had mentioned this before to Severus, but it was under the spell of the libido-enhancing potion and therefore to be dismissed. This time she admitted it without the influence of the potion. She closed her eyes.

“Open your eyes,” he commanded her.

She obeyed, and she was rewarded with the stroking of her clit in the only was Severus knew how to touch her to slowly build the tension.

“How.” He wanted to know more.

His eyes bored into hers, locking them in place. Everything melted away around them except the vision of each other's eyes and the sensation they were causing in each other's bodies. Hermione reached behind her back and found Severus’ stiffening flesh, and she slowly began to stroke him as he continued on. This was better than the fantasy she had of “Calleo” that first night they met.

“You've captured me. And I resist, but you seduce me, make me unable to resist you, tease me until I beg you to take me,” she confessed.

“Do I whip you?” he asked.

“Would it be painful?” she asked, slightly nervous.

“Not unless you want it to hurt,” he assured her. “You'd be amazed at how the body, in a heightened state of sexual arousal, produces a phenomenal amount of natural painkillers.” He moved his head lower while nipping the top of Hermione's shoulder with his teeth lightly while keeping eye contact. “Imagine the bites I have set upon your neck before in the heat of passion, how those bites would have hurt had you not been aroused, had you not begged me to bite harder, digging my teeth deeper into your flesh.” Severus slipped two fingers into Hermione. “Marking this territory as mine. You liked it when I have claimed you in such a primal fashion, have you not?”

Hermione was finding it hard to keep her eyes open, but she maintained eye contact with Severus as he continued to seduce her. Her hand kept the same slow stroking pace.

“Yes, I have.” Hermione's mind, set loose from its normal confines of self-consciousness ventured on. “And tell me what you want to do to me that you have held back from asking. What do you want me to experience at your hands that I have never known before,” she asked, willing to entertain any idea that Severus put forth in her current state of mind.

Severus removed his hand from Hermione’s folds and brought his hands up to his mouth to lick her essence, before adding more of his own saliva to his fingers to bring down behind and part her cheeks, stroking his finger around her anus.

“This,” Severus professed. “I want you to experience the pleasure of an erogenous zone you have yet to explore.”

Hermione's eyes momentarily flickered wider with surprise. He could see the hesitation.

Ron and Hermione had attempted anal sex once; it was an unmitigated disaster filled with embarrassment, tears, pain and uncomfortable apologies. But this was Severus, the man who had brought her sexuality to bloom as a rose in the warm summer sun.

“I am willing to learn,” she gasped, trying to keep her nervousness tamped down.

In the basket nearby was an assortment of various potions Severus might find useful for his day at the spa with Hermione, besides the product they'd be testing. One of them was a bottle of lubrication he had packed just in case.

Returning behind Hermione, he relaxed her by going back to kissing her neck while gazing into each other’s eyes in the mirror. One hand slid down to return to her folds to rebuild Hermione to the level of prior arousal.

“We'll go slowly, very slowly,” he cooed in her ear.

Hermione began playing with her own nipples, enthralled by the tableau of eroticism she was witnessing.

Sensing she was relaxed, Severus applied the lubrication to one finger and slowly stroked the outer entrance of Hermione's anus. Immediately, he felt her tighten up.

“Shh, slow. Remember to relax,” he reminded her as his fingers on her front slipped into her vagina, making her gasp haltingly.

When he sensed that she had relaxed, he slowly introduced his finger into her anus and watched her face for her reaction. Her eyes went a little wider, but her eyebrow knit in that familiar fashion they did when she was lost in pleasure. Hermione's mouth opened to create a perfect circle.

A long low moan escaped her mouth.

This was nothing like what she had experienced with Ron. The intrusion of Severus’ finger felt strange, but also titillating, even risqué. It was slightly uncomfortable, but she eventually relaxed and no longer found the sensation bothersome, but welcomed.

Convinced that Hermione was now accustomed to the presence of his finger in her, Severus began to slowly move his finger in and out, matched by the rhythm of his other hand which was fingering her vagina.

Hermione found it very hard to continue to stand up straight, so she bent forward to brace herself along the edge of the sink, keeping eye contact with Severus in the large mirror.

Presented with Hermione's sweet backside, Severus removed his fingers from her vagina and replaced it with his cock.

The parallel sensations of Severus inside of her while his finger worked slowly in and out of her arse brought her to a slow but powerful orgasm, resulting in her voice echoing off the tiles as she screamed. Her eyes finally broke contact, shut tight to revel in the new sensations Severus had made her body feel.

Severus tried with all his might to not have his own knees buckle from underneath him. He leaned forward bracing his hands next to Hermione's on the sink, his sweat-bespangled brow resting in the middle of her back.

He knew that if he and Hermione were going to make love again later in the day, he'd need the help of the male enhancement potion to give him the fortitude and strength to perform. One or two orgasms in a day without the potion's assistance was not hard, but a third time was really pressing the bounds of his natural stamina.

Slowly he removed his finger from Hermione and went to wash up, while Hermione took care of her own needs.

They spent the next few hours trying the various formulations of body scrubs in patches on each other's bodies, noting the grittiness of one and the smooth texture of the other. Hermione was not fond of a particular astringent Severus seemed to like, so she suggested it be used for the Valiant Wizard line of products, since it was too intense for her skin, and probably most other women. There was a shaving crème Severus tried on his own face that Hermione used on her legs and raved about how it left her legs smooth, but he didn't care for the cool minty burn afterwards. Hermione was almost a little sad when they had to rinse the temporary hair dye. The blond hair wasn't that complimentary to Severus' color, but it did make for an interesting change.

Hermione finally mentioned her belongings left back in her cubicle on the women's side and her wand, but Severus informed her that the spa elves had already moved them to a cubicle on the men's side.

Severus was going to dress in the same cubicle as Hermione, but she shooed him out telling him it was a surprise. She had packed something a little special for Severus.

Emerging from her cubicle, her three-quarter cloak in place and her other clothes stowed away in her small reticule accented with glass beads, Hermione found Severus waiting for her dressed all in black with a matching cloak. They were all dressed up as if ready to head out on the town for the night to paint it red.

“If you didn't have dinner planned,” she said, “I might have suggested we go out together and hide out in the Muggle Theater District, finding some last-minute tickets to a Shakespeare play or a musical. But given that Draco and Ginny were spotted all those years ago, it's a pity that we can't. You certainly look fashionable enough, though.” Hermione surveyed Severus in his outfit. But all she would need was some witch or wizard wandering around Muggle London who recognized Severus and Hermione, and it would be over faster than you can say, “Rita Skeeter Exclusive.”

Severus' eyes raked over Hermione in her outfit as well, a sly smile spread across his face.

“I thought you said you didn't get a chance to visit Madame Maurelle Mandel's yet,” he said. He admired the dress and cloak combination and the application of make-up, noting it was just enough to accent her eyes and face, but not so much as he'd have the lingering taste of it in his mouth when he would kiss her.

“I didn't,” Hermione replied as she twirled around so Severus could see the outfit better. “This is the dress that Ron hates that caused all that trouble.”

“Ah, the infamous little black dress,” he remembered, his face lighting up as his smile broadened. “May I?” he asked, as he made to temporarily remove her shortened cloak and view the back of the dress.

“How about you wait to unwrap your present until we get back to your place?” she countered.

“Happy birthday to me,” Severus muttered under his breath as he guided Hermione towards the Floo that would take them back to the Red Ginseng.

Fortunately there was a discreet Floo on the men's side of the spa they could use, so Hermione would not be spotted out in the main foyer as they left.

Severus emerged first and made sure that there were no pesky Aurors hiding around the building before Hermione came through the Floo a few minutes later.

As they walked up the stairs together, Severus provided an arm to help Hermione while she walked in high heels.

Arriving at Severus' flat, Marf had set everything in place so they could enjoy the Beef Bourguignon Severus had prepared and placed in the oven before meeting Hermione at the spa. Marf had been left in charge to make sure it was pulled from the oven and kept warm; he also had orders to prepare the rest of the meal, which thrilled Marf to no end that he could finally employ his under-utilized cooking skills.

It was all Severus could do to remember they were about to start dinner when he helped Hermione with her cloak and saw what the fuss was about regarding her dress.

“And you left the party unmolested?”

“Barely. Though I think my conversation skills chased them away,” she said dryly.

“Their loss.” His eyes raked up and down her form possessively.

They dined by candlelight as twilight settled over the London skyline visible from Severus' flat. After the main course, a light salad to cleanse the palate was served by the elf before brandied pear tart with caramel sauce and crème Anglaise finished the meal.

After dessert, Severus presented Hermione with his present to her. It was a difficult-to-find Potions book he had procured for her. It wasn't exactly something to fit into the curriculum of an apprentice, but something for her once she reached her level of mistress, a silent admission that he knew she would succeed. Ron had offered her books for her birthday, but this held so much more meaning in that it was selected just for her.

As they relaxed on the settee, Hermione gave a long and satisfied sigh. Severus gave her shoulder a light squeeze in response, non-verbally signaling he was in agreement.

Hermione's mind drifted. She mentally pictured herself introducing Severus to her parents and how they might react to her having a 'significant other' so many years older than herself. Then her mind remembered what the old fortuneteller said, and then imagined how her parents might react to the news of her divorcing Ron.

Severus' own mind reflected on this perfect day. He had Hermione with him to satisfy him intellectually, physically and, yes, even emotionally – though he still had trouble coming to terms with that last aspect. Still, a vision of Hermione reclining in a hammock, gently swaying as the evening tropical breezes came in, book propped up on her lap while he was working on a potion in his personal lab painted a very appealing picture in his mind. He knew he couldn't ask her to come with him, but the thought was recurring to him with greater frequency.

“I believe I promised you dancing,” Severus offered. “Unless you'd like to pass.”

“Not a chance,” she replied, anxious to fulfill a fantasy she’d had since purchasing the dress – a fantasy of Severus' hands on her back as they danced.

Severus set the music box to something slow and sultry. “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” played, since it had quickly become one of her favorite requests.

As they danced, their feet barely moving, Severus' hand was placed delicately at Hermione's waist, but didn't remain there long as his hand began stroking along her spine, eliciting shuddering sighs from parted lips.

The next song was a tango, in which there was no restraint of their desires. Severus' hands possessively skated up Hermione's legs, appreciating the feel of the silk under his hands. He roughly brought her chest to meet his, his eyes burning with need.

Hermione didn't know how much longer she could dance without succumbing to her greater desire to disrobe and have Severus yet again. She snaked a leg around his, hitching it high up on the back of his thigh, skating it back down with increasing pressure, covetously clutching him to her like a clinging vine.

The song ended and another one began, but neither moved. Severus' hand went to release Hermione's dress from her shoulders, but found it resisting him.

Hermione breathed, “Finite Incantatem,” and the spell holding her dress in place ended.

Severus slipped the dress from her shoulders and watched as it fell to her hips. Gently pushing it past her hips, it finally fell to her feet.

Offering his hand, he helped Hermione step away from the dress, and stepped back to admire her in nothing but her knickers, thigh-high stockings and heels. Her wand was held in a small loop at the top of her stockings.

“Absolutely ravishing,” he breathed with awe.

It was only for the fact they had already made love many times he was able to take his time. Hermione, younger and with more energy, tried to keep the slow pace set by Severus.

She tried not to hurry as she undid his buttons, making sure to take time to suckle and play with his nipples. If it felt so good for her, it must equally feel as good for a man as well. Severus threw his head back and let an exhaustive sigh slowly escape his lips, aroused by the sensation of Hermione's lips on him.

Once his shirt was unbuttoned, Hermione led him over to the settee. She had enjoyed the sight of Severus looking up at her from between her legs earlier in the day, and she wanted to return the favor. After undoing his trousers and then removing his shoes and socks with slow purpose, she guided him to sit down before settling between his knees, kneeling before him.

There was something empowering to Hermione when she would perform fellatio on Severus. The swirl of her tongue around his head, alternating the intensity of suction, the intoxicating look of adoration he would give her as she glanced at him through lowered lashes before she engulfed him entirely in her mouth and watched his brow knit in overwhelming consternation. The way his hands would reverently play with the locks of her hair, sometimes gently guiding her pace with the coaxing of his hands, but never with force.

Severus was feeling his fortitude flagging and summoned two vials: one for himself to restore vigor, and one for Hermione since the lubrication potion had long worn off for her.

The rest of the night was spent making love by the light of the fireplace. Its light struck dramatic shadows against their bodies as they made love on the settee, on the floor, against the wall and in his bed.

After Severus climaxed the final time that night, he was asleep before Hermione could even remove herself from their tangled legs. Hermione walked as quietly as she could, though with great difficultly since she was feeling permanently bow-legged, and she was having trouble walking to the toilet to take care of her needs for the last time that night. Walking back to the bed to climb in along Severus, Hermione braced a hand against the wall for support, not minding the slight tenderness between her legs as she walked.

Feeling equally exhausted as her lover, Hermione slept deeply, but not enough so that she didn't notice the way Severus talked in his sleep or tossed and turned. It was normal for Severus to have a restless subconscious, but he had dealt with this pattern for so long, he was unaware of it, forgetting by morning the troubles that bubbled up as easily as others forgot their dreams.

That night, as Severus and Hermione slept, Hurricane Isabel, which had been threatening the fragile fluxweed crops, dissipated over Ontario, Canada after running roughshod over the southern and mid-Atlantic states. If there was nothing harvested during September's full moon, hopefully Hurricane Isabel did not ruin what might be harvested in October.

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A/N: I commissioned luxsidius, on DeviantArt, to do a bit of fanart for this chapter featuring Hermione and Severus dancing the tango with her wearing that infamous little black dress. You can view it here: http://luxsidius.deviantart.com/art/Snape-Hermione-567239887
On my Tumblr page, I have the fanart work, along with a GIF of the artwork as it's being created: http://atdlhea-betz.tumblr.com/post/137090218690/fanart-by-luxsidius-commissioned-by-me-for
Hurricane Isabel did dissipate on Saturday, September 20^th, 2003, same day Hermione went to the spa with Severus. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Isabel
And once again, thanks to be wonderful betas, JuneW and Rogue_Panda.
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And They Didn\'t Live Happily Ever After