Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Broken Dreams	By : onecelestialbeing Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Snape/Hermione Views: 34536 -:- Recommendations : 4 -:- Currently Reading : 13
Disclaimer: I make no money from this story, own nothing of Harry Potter, haven't met any of the people (except Alan Rickman and sadly that was brief)

Chapter List
- 6
- 7
- 8
"Ugh, my head feels as if it's going to explode," Ginny complained, roughly flipping through the pages of the text in front of her.

"Better not let Trelawney hear you; she'd be upset that she wasn't able to predict your death herself," Hermione snickered.

Hermione, Ginny and Luna were sitting together in the great hall during independent study. Hermione had been walking around the room, offering help to anyone that needed it. She'd been sitting among a small group of first year girls, helping them with their Charms work, when her two mates slid into place next to her.

"You're going to be a great professor, Hermione," Luna said after the beaming girls slid down the bench to work on their own.

"You are," Ginny agreed. "You have the patience of a saint."

"Thanks. Really, thank you," Hermione said, her cheeks slightly glowing. "Although, I think the seventh years would be disinclined to agree with you," she continued with a chuckle. "I've had to take off more point and assign detentions with half of those miscreants. And let's not discuss how many times they've nearly ruined the laboratory with their mucking around."

Ginny shook her head, looking across the room to find a handful of the said miscreants, three of the young men paying attention to everything except their books. "That's because they're prats, Hermione. At least you can assign detention."

"I'd much rather get on with the lesson instead of being interrupted every so often," Hermione grumbled. "Although, it was funny to hear my wrath described as being close to Professor Snape's. The Slytherins were complaining that I was going to cause them to lose the House Cup."

"Those daft twits. If anything, Gryffindor will be holding that honor at the end of the school year," Ginny lazily replied. "Hah! Good for them," she suddenly chortled, amusement coloring her brown eyes as she looked across the room.

Luna and Hermione followed the redhead's eyes to see the headmaster quietly walking up behind the misbehaving youths, causing them to jump when his hands came down on their heads, forcing their attention back towards their work, just as he'd done to Ron and Harry in their fourth year.

Hermione couldn't help but smirking. Severus was chastising students from his own house. The three young men grudgingly went back to studying their texts as the headmaster silently stalked away. He didn't look in Hermione's direction but she didn't feel slighted in the least bit.

It had been three weeks since they'd first shared a bed. She'd asked to come back after the first night, only for Severus to nearly yell a resounding 'No!' at her. Completely relentless, Hermione sent the headmaster owl after owl until one night the flames in her hearth glowed green, the dark wizard striding through into her private chamber with a murderous look on his face.

Severus had given her five minutes to collect whatever it was she needed for the evening before leading her back to his room. After that, she'd spent nearly every night in his bed, causing the phrase 'strange bedfellows' to linger on the tip of her tongue at any given moment.

Once dinner was over with, Hermione helped usher the students along to their dormitories before dashing off to her own. She'd wait an hour, then would use the Floo that Severus had allowed in her room to travel to his.

Before bedtime the two would read quietly in his sitting room, Hermione using the time to prepare for her upcoming Potion Master's exam. One night she'd worked herself up into a tizzy, fretting over the possibility that she would fail.

Severus had grumbled for her to stop her whinging; that she was a bloody over-achiever and perfectionist at everything she did, and that she'd pass just fine. He then told her that she was free to reference his books whenever she wished, with the exception of any tomes deemed not suitable.

"Hermione, have you heard from my brother?" she heard Ginny ask.

"No," she answered, relieved that she hadn't. "Why?"

"Just curious. But if you do and he pesters you about my activities outside of school, do me a favor and lay into him all right?"

"Duly noted."

"Thanks. He's been owling me nearly every week; I'm surprised he hasn't sent me a ruddy Howler yet."

"His concern is misplaced," Hermione said. "Maybe if he was off shagging someone else he'd be too busy to harass you." She slapped both hands over her mouth after the brash statement.

"Hermione!" Ginny shouted, fighting to keep from bursting out into loud laughter.

"I'm sorry, but it's true!" she replied, burying her face in both hands, giggling uncontrollably. "I know how your brother is and I've only known him since we were eleven. You've been related to him your entire life."

"Tell me about it," Ginny said, rolling her eyes. "Oh my goodness, look!" she continued, pointing towards the wall furthest away from them.

Twisting round in her seat, she furtively looked around, seeing nothing but abandoned rucksacks strewn about on the stone floor. "What?"

"It looks like someone's kitten is lost," Ginny explained, her eyes still searching the area.

"Gin, I think you've gone mental, I don't see any k-"

"Oh look! There it is!" Luna cried, her blonde head disappearing under long table. "Oh no, it ran away," she said after coming back up.

The girls heard the other end of their table suddenly burst into giggles and squeals, a few fifth year students abandoning their books to grab at the kitten that was weaving between the legs beneath the table.

"I still don't see anything," Hermione said. "Besides I wonder where it came from? That seems a bit odd."

"Hagrid found a cat in the Forbidden Forest," Luna explained. "He thought it was a male until I told him that it was pregnant. I expect I was right."

"Hagrid and his animals," Ginny said rolling her eyes.

"At least it isn't a dragon," Hermione hissed underneath her breath, remembering how he described Norbert as 'cuddly', right before he hiccupped and nearly burnt down his kitchen table.

"Back in your seats unless you want detention for the next month!" a familiar voice echoed throughout the great hall.

Hermione turned her head to see Severus glaring down at the group of shrieking students. They'd immediately began scrambling to sit back down when they heard the headmasters voice.

When silence finally reigned over the area, Severus sharply turned back around and strode out of the room. It was then that Hermione saw the tiny kitten that was barely bigger than her foot, calmly tottering in behind the headmaster.

As usual, Hermione found herself at Severus' daytime office after dinner. She held her rucksack in one hand, shifting her weight on both feet, waiting for the gargoyle to allow her entrance.

"Miss Granger," Severus curtly greeted after she'd taken her place on the sofa in the sitting room.

"Good evening sir," she replied, bending down to pull out the thick stack of parchment that her rucksack held. "Wonderful, the favorite part of my day," she continued wryly, setting a well of red ink and a quill in front of her.

"Slughorn has you grading his exams as well?" Severus asked from over his book.

Hermione looked across at the headmaster. "Well, it was you that told me if I wanted things done in a proper way it was best if I did them myself," she replied blithely.

"So I did," he admitted, his lips twitching slightly.

"I just hate how bloody long it takes," Hermione groaned, pulling half of the stack onto her lap.

"You'll get used to it," Severus easily told her, peering back down at his book. "Of course, it helps when you have a self-correcting and dishonesty detecting charmed quill."

Hermione's jaw nearly fell open. "What? Do you mean there's any easier way to get through this muck without me losing my mind in the process?"

With what looked like another smirk, Severus wordlessly conjured up a long, ornate looking light brown quill and handed it to Hermione.

"This isn't against the rules...is it?" she asked warily, the quill motionlessly poised above the parchment.

"Well, even if it is, I wouldn't worry about it much," he answered without looking up.

Taking a deep breath, Hermione began correcting the exams, relieved when she found that it was going much faster than before.

Ten minutes later she was placing the corrected stack down on table, reaching for the unmarked ones when a small, black ball of fur leapt onto the table and brushed against her hand, making her scream shrilly.

"Really, Miss Granger? You've battled in hand-to-hand combat and become unnerved that easily by mere cat?"

The small, black kitten flinched and ran away, scampering behind Severus' armchair.

"Well it scared me!" Hermione snapped. "That's the kitten from the great hall earlier, isn't it?" she asked after her heart began normally beating again.

"Yes. Apparently the little blighter is one of Hagrid's strays. It followed me all the way to my office and refused to leave," Severus replied conversationally. "The damn thing kept up its infernal yowling and mewing until I let it in. I expect that if the gargoyle had a wand he would have hexed it."

"He was probably hungry," Hermione said in soft voice, noticing that the kitten had now left its hiding place and was gingerly approaching her. The kitten closed its blue eyes and purred appreciatively when she ran her fingertips across his furry black head.

"Naturally. Which is why I had Filch feed the little bugger. And not that you'd care, seeing as how you've gone all soppy, but I checked it, and it seems to be your everyday, normal house cat."

Hermione then tried to pick up the little feline, only for him to delve out her grasp and run across to Severus. He deftly leapt onto the back of his chair and curled up in place, looking over Severus' shoulder as if they were sharing his book.

"It looks like you have a new friend," Hermione said teasingly.

"Hmph," he grunted. "It seems that all annoying things of a small stature have a tendency to cling to me."

"Oh, shut it," she grumbled quietly, turning back towards her work. Hermione missed the somewhat amused look Severus shot her over the top of his book.

Severus was a contrary man by nature, yet he found that he was growing fond of the little bushy-haired witch. She'd finally gotten the hint that every minute didn't need to be filled with chatter. Though, if she did have something to say, thankfully it was never any trite sentiments. He'd had enough of dealing with dimwits on a regular basis and hadn't the need to do so on his personal time.

The irony of it was that when Hermione was a student, she would bury her face in a book and woe to anyone that dared to interrupt her. Severus noticed that a certain redhead was often on the end of her wrath when he intruded on her reading time, which was nearly every moment of the day.

It was their age difference and unequal standing made it difficult for things to go any further. Before his thoughts went any further, Severus balked inwardly, telling himself that Hermione had no use for an old wizard with a shady past.

Of course she hadn't mentioned it, but Severus knew that the youngest Weasley boy still had his sights set on the Potion's apprentice. That fact alone turned his already tart disposition even more sour. He hadn't told her, but Hermione had one of the most brilliant minds he'd ever come across.

Ronald Weasley, on the other hand, gave new meaning to the phrase 'bone-idle'. Severus knew that the boy had always begged Hermione to do his work for him, and after much groveling she would usually concede.

He'd made sure not to pair the two together when he taught Potions. Despite the young witch consistently hissing directions under her breath at Neville Longbottom, Severus had to admit that at least the bumbling young wizard was making a attempt compared to his lazy classmate.

Severus constantly took points for Hermione helping Neville, but he actually preferred her offering succor as it meant less chance of explosions in his classroom. It had been all he could do to not kick Seamus Finnigan out of his class as mishaps were a regular occurrence for him.

Thinking back to the Weasley lad, Severus knew that if Hermione ended up with him she'd either hex him when he began working her last nerve, or check herself into the mental ward at St. Mungo's. While the young man didn't seem to ever have malice in his heart, one had to admit that he was still very much selfish - not to mention close minded.

In his eyes, the dark haired, green-eyed leader of their trio hadn't been any better, strutting about with a cocky disposition, but after the war the two held a begrudging respect for one another.

"Come, little darling. At least you like me," Severus heard Hermione murmur. Looking over his book he found that the kitten had abandoned the place behind his head and was now pawing at Hermione's feet.

"What are you blathering on about, Miss Granger?" he was unable to keep from asking.

Hermione looked up from the little black feline, whom was now curled on up her lap enjoying the gentle hand caressing his body.

"Excuse me?" she asked.

"I said, what are you blathering on about. If you feel the need to throw yourself a pity party, then I advise you Floo to your own chambers to do so."

"I'm not being down on myself if that's what you're getting at," she answered defiantly. "But it's not as if I'm exaggerating, am I? How many blokes do you see knocking at my door?"

"Besides Mr. Weasley?"

"Ronald is just a friend," Hermione answered a little too hastily.

"Well, we can always send an owl to McClaggen at your leisure, or perhaps the brawny bloke from Bulgaria?"

"Professor!" she nearly screeched, wondering what the hell had gotten into him. Her amber eyes throwing daggers across the room, Hermione noticed the corner of Severus' mouth lifted slightly.

"That is not funny," she grumbled. "Those sods, ugh! It turns out Viktor and I had as much in common as as a Thestral and a Goblin, and as for McClaggen? Let's just say that I still haven't forgiven him for groping me at Slughorn's do. if I ever see him again, I should hex him for the hell of it."

"You'll do no such thing," Severus interrupted. "Besides, I was very much privy to that little whelp's shenanigans that night. Why do you think I gave him a month's detention?"

Hermione's mouth fell open. "I thought you only did that because he vomited on your shoes?"

Severus put his book down and looked pointedly at her. "I've been a professor since I was twenty years old. Do you really think I've never had a student become sick on me?"

"I hope you didn't take points from them!"

"Not that many."

"Why am I not surprised? You took points when I gave the correct answer in class - even after you asked," Hermione said, grumbling the last bit underneath her breath.

"That's because as keen as your insight is, you've always failed to pair it with restraint, calling out of turn at every chance."

Hermione sighed, looking down at the sleeping kitten across her lap.

"You're a foolish chit to let first years brandish their wands at you," Severus continued, turning the pages of his book.

Hermione peered down at her right hand. She'd forgotten about the glamour charm that she'd taught to the small group of first year girls. They'd giggled and asked to practice on her, charming her fingernails a pale shade of pink.

"I didn't mind. Those children were actually quite sweet. It was nice for a change," she replied, eyeing the slightly wonky paint job.

"You wouldn't have thought it so nice had their spell backfired," Severus told her.

"I wasn't worried. I could have always gone to the omniscient headmaster and gotten sorted out if I needed."

Severus shut his mouth at Hermione's compliment that had been laced with a smidgeon of sarcasm.

"Insolent witch," he drawled out, enunciating each syllable.

"Surly wizard," Hermione shot back.

"You are entirely too easy at the mouth, especially considering that you sleep so soundly."

Hermione shrugged her shoulders, fighting back a laugh. Was he threatening her?

"I trust you," she ventured. "I don't believe that you'd do anything deliberately harmful to me."

"An insightful yet foolish sentiment."

"Well, you didn't refer to me as a 'bloody sentimental Gryffindor' for nothing, I suppose."

Severus scoffed, setting down his book and standing up. "It's time for bed. You can bring your cat with you, but he has to stay in the sitting room."

"My cat, professor? You're the one he followed here," she replied, shoving everything in her ruck and slinging it over her shoulder. Picking up the kitten, she followed Severus to the Floo where they disappeared to his private room.

Hermione wasn't aware of the time. All she could focus on was the pitch black of the room and the sensation of being prodded out of her sleep.

"Hermione, get your damned cat," Severus grunted, his voice laced with sleep.

Becoming more lucid, she was able to hear a persistent mewing followed by a soft scratching at the bedroom door. Hermione slid one hand beneath her pillow, withdrawing her wand and forcing herself to sit up.

As soon as she opened the door, the kitten was at her feet, and she had to point the lighted tip of her wand down to the floor to make sure she didn't step on him.

"Oh, no you don't," she told it when he tried to scamper into the bedroom. Deftly picking him up with one hand, Hermione walked into the sitting room and aimed her wand at the hearth, making the fire burn more lustily.

"Are you hungry?" she asked the kitten whom was restlessly squirming about. Conjuring up a saucer of milk, she set the kitten down and he immediately began lapping at it. 'It has to be past midnight,' she thought to herself with a wide yawn.

With the kitten now appeased, Hermione realized that her feet were freezing as she'd forgotten her slippers. Dashing back to the bedroom, she put out the light on her wand and crawled back into bed.

Her bed partner seemed to have no trouble falling right back asleep, and was lightly snoring and sprawled out beneath the duvet.

Unable to resist, Hermione inched closer to Severus, inhaling his familiar and comforting scent. She was practically lying on his pillow, her fingers grazing his soft black hair when his head shifted slightly.

"I didn't know you were into somnophilia, Miss Granger," Severus said without moving.

"Your hair is soft; softer than mine," she commented, her fingers now bolding carding through his tresses.

It was the second time that Hermione had taken liberties in the dark with the man, although, it seemed as if he didn't mind.

"Severus, can I ask you something?"

"Only if you make it fast. Some of us have a school to run, juvenile delinquents to keep in line," he grumbled into the pillow.

"Why did you make me leave the classroom after we kissed that night?" she queried. It was an event that was forever burned into Hermione's mind, yet it left a large amount of unanswered questions behind.

"Why do you think?" he replied after a while.

"I have no idea. That's why I'm asking you," she answered without any trace of sarcasm in her voice.

Severus took a deep breath, shifting his body around to face her in the dark. "Suffice it to say that the headmaster of a school shouldn't be lurking about in a darkened room with his too young apprentice pressed against the wall."

Hermione swallowed hard, wondering if she should utter her next statement. "But-I didn't mind," she finally admitted.

"That's my point," Severus replied bitterly.

"I still don't understand."

"Dammit Hermione," he snapped sounding more awake, sitting up in the bed. "For a witch that's intelligent enough to finish two years worth of coursework in nearly one, not to mention the rest of your accomplishments, you still have a lot to learn about life."

Hermione shuffled back on the mattress, coming up on her knees and rigidly holding her body into place.

"Yes, I will admit that I find it a comfort when you sleep next to me, but in case you've forgotten I'm no saint. I'm still a man. A man with needs and desires just like the rest of the world."

Hermione sat upright in the dark, pondering over his words. "So do you mean..."

"What I mean, is that had you lingered behind in the classroom that night, to hell with propriety, I would have taken you against the wall or on one of the tables. You are not a whore in Knockturn Alley anymore than I'm a rutting seventh year trying to get his first shag."

"But all I wanted was a kiss," she told him, her voice wavering. Hermione then yelped, feeling Severus' warm hand enclose around her wrist before she was yanked down on the bed, his body cradled between her nightgown covered thighs.

"A kiss? What if I was prepared to give you more than just a kiss?" he asked her gruffly.

Trying to control her suddenly racing heart, Hermione drew in a shuddering breath. "I don't know," she answered honestly.

"Exactly. Now, since you're not one to mince your words, I won't skirt about the issue either. You need to believe me when I say that you are not ready for what I have to offer."

"And what is it that you have to offer?"

Hermione waited for an answer, only for Severus to press his lips against hers, his warm, moist tongue flicking at her mouth until she granted him entrance. It wasn't the forceful kiss that they'd shared in the laboratory, nor the fumbling, awkward ones that she'd experienced with Ron.

Severus moved his tongue and mouth against hers as if he was making love to the warm, oral cavity. The sensation alone had sent a jolt of pleasure shooting to the pit of Hermione's stomach, leading directly down to her clit.

Moaning softly, she arched her back, feeling her body pressing against Severus'. Winding both arms around his body, she clutched onto his hair, neck, and anywhere else her hands were able to reach.

"Now do you see?" he asked throatily, moving his mouth down to gently bite at her neck. "A few kisses, a couple of caresses and already you're eagerly writhing beneath me. I'd take you apart from the inside out."

"What if that's what I want?" Hermione asked, wondering where the sudden brazen attitude had come from.

Severus merely chuckled, gently fisting her curls in one hand. "Hermione, you do not want the likes of me between your sweet, little thighs. If all you're looking for is a quick shag you'd fare better off with one of those squidgy blokes that will spend their hours pandering away at your feet."

No sooner than his last statement Severus instantly regretted it. The thought of another man laying a finger on the young witch beneath him set his blood boiling.

"That is not true and you know it!" Hermione snapped, her fingers now clutched onto Severus' forearms. "I'd run circles around them and besides, there's only one wizard I have my eye on. And it's definitely not just for a quick shag."

"Is that so?"

"Yes."

"I know you have some sort of heroine complex, but what the hell are you out to prove, Granger?" Severus nearly growled, kneeling up between her splayed thighs. "Have you gone mental? Or perhaps you've been exposed to fumes from Longbottom's exploding cauldron one too many times."

Hermione nearly felt the wind letting out of her sails when she heard Severus call her by her last name. "Why is it so hard for you to believe that I want you?"

Severus scoffed with indignation. "I'm sure that's rhetorical," he said, thick with sarcasm.

"It's not as if I expect an answer. I'm not that daft."

"Sure about that?"

"You are positively infuriating, do you know that?" Hermione huffed. "Listen, I know that you trust no one - big surprise there - but, call me selfish, call me foolish, but it doesn't change the fact that I fancy you."

"You should have been sorted into Slytherin, willing to achieve your means no matter who you inconvenience along the way," Severus grumbled. "While we're at it, you should know that I, too, am a selfish man and not inclined to share. So you need to think long and hard on what it is you really want from me."

"You aren't telling me anything I haven't already figured out. I'm sure that if you were able to put a stopper in your privacy, you'd have done so years ago."

"What did I tell you about your cheek, little witch?"

"Nothing. You just delivered an ominous hint." Hermione tentatively reached out, feeling for the front of Severus' nightshirt. She tugged on the fabric until she felt him move closer, leaning forward for another kiss.

Hermione was surprised when Severus complied, his body urging hers back down onto the bed. His lips moved gentler against hers this go around, his fingers knotted through her thick curls.

Feeling as if she was melting beneath his touch, Hermione tilted her hips up, feeling a large, erect bulge brushing against the juncture of her thighs. Moving her lips to trace along the underside of his slightly bristly jaw, Hermione daringly went further, pressing kisses down Severus' throat and collarbone.

He flinched when she grazed against the slightly rougher skin - remnants of the night he nearly died. If Hermione noticed it, she didn't say anything.

"Before we continue, I have to tell you that..." her voice trailed off nervously.

"Brevity was never your strong point," Severus told her, feeling her lips move to the other side of his neck. "Spit it out."

"My experience with...this is mainly theoretical. I haven't actually done it before."

"I guess I shouldn't be surprised if you're referring to sex as 'it' or 'this'," he countered.

Inwardly Severus was in a state of disbelief, something that was rare for him. The little witch that managed to get under his skin, slither her way into his bed - hell, into his life - was a virgin. He had limited experiences with virgins, but thought that they weren't usually so forward.

Then again, Hermione had never been one to dither about.

"Not to worry. I have no intention of despoiling you tonight," he finally told her.

Hermione had her face buried at the exposed patch of skin above his collar, unable to get enough of his delicious scent.

"What? Why?" she asked in a muffled voice, sounding completely affronted.

Severus nearly choked back on his laughter. Was the little witch truly incensed that she was being denied sex?

"Then when?" she pressed on after Severus remained quiet.

"Once you've finished your apprenticeship and not before. That is, presuming you don't come to your senses beforehand."

"That is not fair," she griped.

"Believe me, that is not something you are ready for."

"How would you know?" Hermione shot back. "It seems like you're more than ready," she went on, one hand attempting to reach down to grab Severus' erection through his pajama bottoms. He'd realized her intentions and easily caught her wrist in the dark before she was able to delve lower.

"No. Now, it's time to go back to sleep."

Hermione bristled, feeling as if she was a child being told that it was her bedtime.

"Hermione, don't argue with me. This is my bed and I'm telling you that we're going back to sleep."

Without another word Severus repositioned himself beneath the eiderdown, waiting for Hermione to move next to him.

"Like I'm a bleeding five year old," she grumbled petulantly as she slid underneath the bed sheets.

"You act like it sometimes," Severus told her, inhaling sharply when Hermione's soft bottom brushed against his semi-hard penis. He'd been willing it to go down, a feat proving most difficult especially after the witch voiced her desires.

Hermione opened her mouth to protest only for Severus to bring a hand around her head and place it over her mouth.

"Do as you're told, Hermione," he said in an uncanny professor voice that was reminiscent of his days in the classroom.

Hermione heaved a sigh but let her body go lax, after which Severus removed his hand. His arm was still draped over her waist when they both fell back asleep.

That upcoming Saturday, Hermione found herself traipsing through the snow on the way to Hogsmead with Ginny. Luna stayed behind at the castle, claiming that Hagrid invited her for tea and to play with the litter of kittens.

"Tell me again, why are we going to meet Ron and Harry?" Hermione asked.

"Well Ron has been asking about you - don't know why he didn't just send you an owl - and Harry said he wants to talk."

"Hmm, good talk or bad talk?"

"Dunno," Ginny answered nonchalantly, sliding her arm through Hermione's. "Either way, I need you there as moral support."

Hermione snorted. "Since when did you need backup?"

"Since something tells me my wand hand might get the itch to throw a hex in my brother's direction if he annoys me."

"All right, you have a point. Your brother does need someone with a firm hand to handle him, as he thinks he can get away with anything since you're his baby sister."

"See? My dilemma in a nutshell."

"Well then, let's go and get this over with."

The two girls met Ron and Harry again at the three Broomsticks. Hermione greeted Harry with a hug before moving to Ron, whose arms lingered around her waist a little too long for her liking.

Hermione noticed that Harry seemed tense, a force smile on his face that didn't quite reach his green eyes. The four sat awkwardly at a table, Hermione grateful for the interruption of their order being taken.

In spite of sitting at a table with three of her friends, Hermione found her mind wandering to the night before.

Even though Severus kept fussing about Hermione's insistence on sleeping practically underneath him, he was mollified when she told him that he smelled good and buried her nose in his chest. She could hear him shaking his head on the pillow, but he'd still put an arm around her and kept her close against him.

He still wouldn't touch her in the places that she craved most, but throughout the night his fingers would end up in less conspicuous places like the small of her back or the nape of her neck. It was those little touches that Hermione realized were just as intimate compared to him caressing her breasts or between her legs.

Something unspoken had clicked between the two, but Hermione knew better than to prattle on and badger the dark wizard to put a name to it. She ventured that their time spent together was the closest he'd gotten to another witch, or anyone else for that matter.

Severus still refused to speak about certain things, such as the war and thereafter, but Hermione found that she didn't mind, as the memories still left her uneasy. They both suffered from the occasional nightmare, and out of it developed an unspoken gesture of comfort.

The few times that Hermione woke up with a start, her heart pounding furiously, she'd feel Severus' warm hands ghosting over her back or hair until she grew less tense. When Severus jolted awake, Hermione knew to gently pry his hand away from his pillow under which he kept his wand. She would then gently run her fingertips over his brow and down his face where she knew the lines of stress would form. When his breathing finally evened out, her hands moved to his hair, falling asleep with her fingers still woven into the thin silk.

Hermione was so focused on her ruminations that she didn't realize Ron had been calling her name for the past minute.

"Yes?"

"D'you want to go outside?" Ron asked, glancing over at Ginny and Harry whom seemed to be glowering at one another.

Hermione frowned slightly, wondering if she'd missed something in the midst of her daydreaming. She didn't really want to go outside with Ron but figured that the two wanted to talk as privately as they were able to in the semi-busy pub.

"All right," she conceded, pulling her cloak back around her shoulders and leaving behind her half consumed butterbeer.

Once the two were outside, Hermione swiftly found a bench and directed them over to it. She left a generous amount of space between her and Ron, paying more attention to the students running past instead of him.

"How are things at the Ministry?" Hermione finally asked, realizing that she was being rude.

"Getting a bit easier, which came at the right bloody time," he answered. "It nearly reminds me of being back at Hogwarts - the endless supply of books and parchment and chalkboards. I was half expecting Snape to come thundering through the classroom, assigning us detention left and right."

Hermione gave a small laugh at Ron's griping. He hadn't changed a bit, a fact that was comforting yet somewhat disturbing.

"Speaking of the greasy git, what's he up to? Still terrorizing everyone?"

"Headmaster Snape is well," Hermione answered. "And he only terrorizes the students that don't do as they're told, particularly the ones trying to skive off with their schoolwork. Remind you of anyone?"

Ron had the nerve to break out into a wide grin. "Yeah, a bit," he conceded.

Hermione shook her head. Peering over at Ron she saw that he nearly looked the same as their last year in school. He still had the tall, muscular build of an athletic young man, which was almost a wonder considering his never-ending appetite. He'd grown his red hair back out and his hung to his shoulders, framing the familiar bright, blue eyes and freckled face.

There had been a point where Hermione thought he was the most handsome boy she'd ever laid eyes on. Perhaps that was the reason she'd let him get away with his antics, fussing at him when he didn't finish his homework only to let him copy hers in the end.

However, she found that she now favored a certain wizard with raven hair and obsidian eyes.

Ron's next statement nearly made Hermione wonder if he was adept at unobtrusive Legilimency.

"So...I was wondering if you were dating anyone."

'Oh please, not this again.'

It wasn't as if she and Severus had established a relationship. It seemed a bit odd calling the thirty-nine year old headmaster her boyfriend. Still, she surmised that Ron didn't need to know the hairy details.

"Yes, I am. Why do you ask?"

His blue eyes seemed to hold the slightest flicker of disappointment. "Oh, well I thought we might try to pick up where we left off."

Hermione was nearly on the verge of feeling guilty for some unknown reason when irritation took hold. Pick up where they took off? Did he think she was some sort of placeholder to be summoned at whim? The little prat, he surely was the same Ronald Weasley that she'd grown up with.

"Well, it's not serious, right? With you and this bloke. You see other people I'm sure."

Hermione's head snapped to the left so fast she thought she'd get whiplash. "Ronald, what the devil do you mean by that?" she hissed.

"We're only twenty years old. I don't think you're ready to be shackled to some random bloke just yet, right?"

Hermione was so incensed by Ron's insensitive remark that she hadn't realized he'd slowly inched his way closer to her on the bench.

"What, you weren't close enough to insult me again?" she asked, her posture gone rigid.

"Why are you acting like that?" Ron asked, his pale red eyebrows knitted closely together.

Hermione looked back at her friend as if he'd suddenly sprouted two extra heads. Had he always been this thick and she never realized it?

"It doesn't matter," she answered, pulling her cloak around her and moving to stand up. "I'd better go check on Ginny."

"They're fine," Ron said, holding onto her wrist and gently tugging her back down. Before Hermione realized what was happening, he leaned over and pressed his lips flush against hers.

"Ronald!" she yelled, roughly shoving him away.

"What? I thought maybe I'd be able to convince you otherwise...like we did before."

"Oh, for goodness' sake!" she shrieked. "Don't you know better than to go around kissing witches as if you have some sort of claim on them?"

Looking up, Hermione realized that two fourth years from the school were standing a few feet away from them, gigging and whispering to one another. She desperately hoped that they'd missed her and Ron's little display.

"Hermione, you act as if I've just violated you," he grumbled. "We kissed more times than I can count on one hand if you remember."

"Yes, and that was over a year ago and definitely not in front of students that I have to teach!"she hissed underneath her breath. She looked back over, somewhat relieved when she realized the students had run off.

"Hermione-" he began only to get cut off.

"I can't do this," she continued. "I have to go. I have to go right now.

Hastily pushing to her feet, Hermione stalked back over to the Three Broomsticks to see if Ginny was ready to leave. To her consternation the redhead came storming out of the pub soon as she reached the door.

"Nearly ready?" she asked, ignoring the stormy look on her friend's face.

"Yes," Ginny answered coolly. "Are you?"

"Ready as I'll ever be."

Awkwardly saying goodbye to Harry and shooting Ron a withering glance, Hermione tugged on Ginny's arm as they stalked back in the direction of Hogwarts.
- 6
- 7
- 8
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Broken Dreams