To Be Alive | By : Snapeoutofit Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Snape/Hermione Views: 10431 -:- Recommendations : 2 -:- Currently Reading : 5 |
Disclaimer: All characters and settings are the creation of JK Rowling. I own nothing of Harry Potter and make no money from this story. |
Several hours later the lab was unrecognizable. A pearlescent liquid bubbled away in the cauldron at the center of the room. Hermione and Severus sat on stools nearby, dripping in sweat and cloaked in the various stenches of potion making. Hermione’s hair was secured in a low bun at the base of her neck. Severus found it to be beautifully loose and free. He studied the cauldron from afar to keep himself from staring.
“So, it seems to have worked,” Hermione said with a tired smile. She pushed a rogue curl behind her ear as he turned to look at her.
“It will need to be tested, and put through trials, but yes, I believe it is acting exactly as anticipated. I have several contacts in the medical research field who are dying to give this a trial. There is so much need for a potion like this,” he explained with a subdued smile.
Hermione looked dumbstruck. “You told people about the potion? And they want to use it?”
Severus suddenly looked nervous, as if he’d done something wrong. “Wasn’t that the point?”
Hermione placed her hand on his arm and smiled to relieve his tension. Then she laughed. “Well yes, that is the point. I am just shocked. And thrilled. I hadn’t thought too much beyond brewing to how I could actually get this out to test. Thank you, again. For all of this.” She gestured around the room with her free hand.
He moved the arm she’d been holding away and stood up. “We haven’t eaten. You must be famished. I’ll order some takeaway, if you’d like.”
“That would be lovely, thank you, but I really must take a shower. I’m sure I look and smell horrid.”
Oh, if only she knew what he wanted to say to that.
He looked her up and down. “Consequently, I have a shower. You’re free to use it. I’ll tidy up and phone in an order.”
Shocked as she was, Hermione saw no reason to leave. She had immensely enjoyed brewing with her old professor. They barely spoke through the process, and she felt as if she had just engaged in a perfectly intricate dance. Considering how many times they’d literally toppled over one another, she was surprised to realize they hadn’t had a single misstep in the lab. She nodded in acknowledgment of his offer.
“All the way upstairs, first door on the right. There are towels and things in the cabinet.”
“Alright,” she slowly replied. “Thank you” and she ascended the stairs.
Once she was out of view, Severus let out the breath he did not realize he’d been holding and raked his hand across his face and through his hair. Then, he began busily setting the room back in order.
SSHGSSHGSSHGSSHGSSHG
Hermione’s shower had been incredibly relaxing. She let the steamy water fill the room and roll over her skin.
What on earth is happening? She thought nearly the entire time she washed with the sandalwood and sage scented soap that was available in the shower. Not only was her potion making aspiration coming to fruition, she was doing it with one of the best position masters in England. Hell, in the world. And she had enjoyed every moment of working with Severus. He was thoughtful, sincere, and delightfully awkward. And now he was ordering food for them? Her smile beamed in reaction to it all. How could she feel so good?
After using her wand to dry her hair and cleanse her clothing, she dressed and made her way downstairs. She peeked in to the sitting room and noticed Severus before he noticed her. He was looking relaxed in his wingback chair, reading. He had a pair of spectacles perched on his nose and had removed his socks and shoes. His clothes and body looked refreshed and clean; his cotton sleeves still rolled up to the elbows.
“I didn’t know you wore glasses.”
Severus jumped slightly at the sound of her voice. He closed the book and placed it down. “Just for reading.”
He took in the sight of her longer than he knew he should have before turning away. She was dressed in the same clothes as earlier, obviously, but she looked comfortable padding barefoot down his staircase. Her jeans hugged her curves perfectly and the loose, open neckline on her blouse gave him a beautiful glimpse at her throat. She wore a silver pendent that settled just above her breasts. How had he not noticed it before?
He stood and gestured towards the kitchen table. “I assumed you’d like pizza. Most people do. And a salad. Would you like tea, too? Or water, perhaps?” The box and takeaway salad container sat on the table and two places had been set.
“Water would be wonderful, thank you. And I do like pizza. I’m starved.”
Severus retrieved two glasses of water and joined Hermione at the table. The pair did not speak; the only sound was the clinking of utensils and faint chewing.
It was Hermione who broke the unbearable silence first with hysterical laughter. Severus looked at her in shock.
“What the hell is the matter?” He asked. Frustration and confusion, and possibly a little fear, visible on his face.
Hermione coughed to stop herself from laughing and took a sip of her water.
“Nothing. Absolutely nothing is the matter.” She laughed a bit more. “It’s just, what on earth are we doing here?”
He stared into her beautiful, brown eyes. “Eating pizza.”
She laughed again. “Yes, I know we’re eating pizza but what I mean is you hated me for years and now we’re brewing together and you’re ordering dinner for us and I’m actually enjoying spending time with you.”
Severus leaned back in his chair. Hermione watched his face fall and her smile dropped too, suddenly regretting her words.
“Is it so surprising that you might enjoy spending time with me?” He asked, without making eye contact.
A lump moved into Hermione throat. “Well no of course not” she sighed. “..I mean yes, I am surprised. This is something I’d never have expected. All of our history at school, and our run ins. I’m sorry, that all came out wrong. I’m happy to be having a good time with you.” She smiled brightly, trying to save it.
Severus looked up and leaned across the table, opened the pizza box, and placed another slice on her plate. “If it’s any consolation, I always knew you as brilliant. I just couldn’t let you know that I knew.” He settled back in his chair and raked his hand across his face. “It was a difficult time.”
Hermione smiled at him. “I understand,” she offered with a smile, and took a bite of her pizza.
SSHGSSHGSSHGSSHGSSHG
After their dishes had been cleared, Severus welcomed Hermione to browse through his books as he finished the washing up. After selecting a book, she sat back in his brown wing back chair and began to read by the warm fire. The sun had descended and the sky was a decadently rich shade of deep purple. She didn’t know how much time had passed when she looked up to notice that Severus was sitting on the loveseat across from her, engrossed in his own reading.
She watch him in silence and smiled to herself. What was this feeling she was having? It felt like too much to try to understand.
When he felt her looking at him, he looked at her over the rims of his glasses. She smiled at him and resumed reading, and he returned to his book. The pair stayed like this for the better part of an hour.
Hermione spoke next. “I really ought to be going. It’s getting late. This has truly been a wonderful day, Severus. Thank you.”
He smiled at her as he got up to retrieve her cloak. As he helped her slip it onto her shoulders, he let the fabric fall around her and clasped it at the front. Without thinking, and unable to resist, he twirled one of her rogue curls that had fallen out of place with his finger and tucked it back behind her ear. He let his fingers trace the curve of her cheek and chin before letting go of her face. Hermione missed the contact the moment it stopped.
Hermione had closed her eyes as he touched her, but she now gazed up at him. Her breathing was shallow and when she spoke her voice was only a breathy whisper.
“Do it again” she said; her quiet voice full of repressed need.
“Do what again?” He asked in a whisper. His face was so close to hers she could feel his breath as he spoke and Hermione relished in the slow, strong sound.
“Touch me again” she pleaded.
Severus took a deep breath. He reached back to pull the band securing her hair and watched as it loosened, her hair cascading over her neck and shoulders. He took both hands and raked them through both sides of her head, gently massaging her scalp. Hermione had let her head fall back and a contented purr escaped her lips. It took all of his resolve not to lean in and capture her lips with his and greedily accept her purrs into his mouth. She looked so damn beautiful with her eyes closed, mouth slightly open, and head tipped back to be cradled by his hands.
Hermione felt as if she were floating. She had no sensation of her body being connected to her brain as his hands put gentle pressure against her scalp. She suddenly wanted to lean against him. She wanted to feel all of him. She wanted to be enveloped in his arms.
“Severus?” Her voice was a whisper and a moan and it struck him how much he liked the sound of his name when it was dripping from her lips.
“Hmm?” He replied, smoothing her hair down her back with his hand.
“What are you thinking about?”
He brought his hand to her chin and tilted her face to look at him. His onyx eyes bore deeply into her. She couldn’t have looked away if she wanted to. She felt captivated. He was enraptured.
“That the last thing in this world that I want is for you to go.”
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