• 1-Lions, Snakes, and Traitors, Oh My.
• 2-Chapter Two
• 3-Chapter Three
• 4-Chapter Four
• 5-Chapter Five
• 6-Chapter Six
• 7-Chapter Seven
• 8-Chapter Eight
• 9-Chapter Nine
• 10-Chapter Ten

Hermione was unable to move.  What was she thinking?  She nearly had sex with a professor. 

She’d never thought of Snape in that way, and when he touched Hermione, her traitorous body betrayed her—she felt dirty, but admitted to herself that she’d wanted to kiss him back.  The question shouldn’t have been what was wrong with Snape—but what was wrong with her, that she enjoyed their little exchange so much?  And, if Harry, Ginny, or Ron ever found out, they’d probably never speak to her again.

Snape even pointed out that what they’d done was wrong; it was a mistake. 

Perhaps he should Obliviate her.  It would be better for both of them.

But…did she want to forget how that kiss made her feel?  His hands, nearly taking her over an edge she didn’t know existed…? 

It wasn’t as if Hermione never experimented with touching herself, but someone else involved, taking the situation out of her control, was something entirely new.

Viktor Krum was a pig and his big, clumsy hands didn’t quite know what they were doing—they couldn’t seem to follow the instructions Krum thought his head was sending them.  His kisses were sloppy and he tried on more than one occasion to devour her tongue completely, rather than caress it with his own—something that Snape apparently didn’t have trouble with.  Ron was inexperienced though it was no fault of his own, but he was also utterly clueless as to her needs and desires.  It didn’t help that she’d grown up with him all these years—though he did try, she ended up seeing him as more of a brother than a romantic interest.  Hermione let him down as easily as she could, but he was hurt and didn’t talk to her for the entire summer break, even though she spent several weeks at the Burrow, with Harry and the rest of the Weasley family. 

Yes, she was seventeen.  Legal.  She could make her own decisions.  And yet, Snape was nearly twenty years her senior. 

He was also a former Death Eater-turned-spy, recovering from an attempt on his life by a murderous snake, and on the run from the most dangerous man on the planet.

‘You’re the levelheaded Gryffindor.  You never do anything without good reason—without thinking it through.  This is what happens when you do something on a whim, Granger.  You’re a bloody fool.’ She berated herself. 

Though it was probably the best option, Hermione knew she couldn’t bring herself to ask Snape to Obliviate her. 

So, detention for the rest of the year with him was better?  What did Snape think she would do?  Tell Dumbledore the Potions master assaulted her?  Did he fear he’d be labeled a paedophile for kissing (among doing a few other things) a seventeen-year-old witch—robbing the cradle, as it were—who enjoyed it? 

He was a man.  He lost control of himself, and while Hermione initially wanted him to stop, she changed her mind.

Was it wrong? 

So many conflicting feelings—it was like being pelted with stones.

She paced back and forth, chewing on her nails, unable to contain the anxiety that made her stomach flutter.

How could she possibly make any sort of decision?  Why couldn’t they just part ways and be done with it? 

Why couldn’t she kiss him again?

She felt frustrated and exhilarated; giddy and disgusted.  This wasn’t fair. 

For once in her life, Hermione didn’t have an answer.  She didn’t know what to do.

And so, she curled up in the oversized leather chair and cried.

___

Snape was furious.  He stormed through the halls, heading back to the dungeons, and caught a total of six students in different parts of the building having snogging sessions after curfew.  Each one received a tongue-lashing, a deduction of house points, and a long detention sentence with Argus Filch.  The squib hated children, but he loved to put them to work, cleaning the castle without the use of magic.

After the Veritaserum was administered to every current member of the Order, not one of them was discovered to have betrayed his role. 

He was suspicious of Mundungus Fletcher especially, because of his shifty nature.  But even he passed the round of questions.

Dumbledore assured Snape that the Veritaserum hadn’t expired or been faulty—though he knew it couldn’t be true because he’d made a fresh batch himself, a fortnight ago. 

All of the possibilities flew out the window—no one in the Order had given his position away. 

His mind turned then to the students in his House.  They spent the most time with the Potions master—Draco included.  Trying to impress Voldemort was the highest priority on the younger Malfoy’s list.  His father was currently stuck in Azkaban after being caught trying to steal the prophecy—which led to the battle in which Bellatrix killed Sirius Black using Avada Kedavra. 

It was at the urging of Narcissa that Draco prove himself worthy of the Dark Lord, in order to get the Malfoy family back into his good graces.  Snivelling little cowards.

 The danger was far from over, and Snape knew he had to be very careful from now on. 

___

Hermione cried until no more tears would come.  Her heart ached, and she felt faint. 

She drew her knees up to her chest and hugged them tightly, wishing she could see her mother, who always knew what to say. 

It felt like she’d been confined to Snape’s suite for hours on end when the door finally swung open. 

He strode in slamming the door shut behind him, ignored Hermione as he stalked over to a bookshelf, and poured himself a scotch from a decanter.   The throbbing in his head was eased by the scotch and he was grateful. 

Watching from behind her folded arms as he quickly downed the scotch, she wondered what happened in Dumbledore’s office that clearly upset him so.

Unfortunately, her throat was raw and she didn’t think she could find the voice to question him.

It didn’t matter; her curiosity was sated.  A second later, he whirled around to face her and spoke.

“The traitor is not within the Order.  It seems we have a new problem entirely.  Someone has been spying on the spy.  How ironic.  I’m not at liberty to discuss with you the plan of action.  As it is, you know too much already about what has taken place.”

Walking over to Hermione, he noticed her reddened, damp cheeks and bloodshot eyes.  She gazed at the floor behind Snape, afraid to look him in the eye.

“Have you made a decision, Miss Granger?”  He readied his wand.

What came next was a jumble of words. “I’m so confused.  What we did was wrong.  It was all wrong!  But…I liked it!  You’re so much older than I am…you should have known better.  I should have known better.  This isn’t like me, to make rash decisions or not think things through.”

Wand raised, he sighed. 

“Close your eyes.  It won’t take but a moment.”

“Wait—why have you raised your wand?  Are you going to Obliviate me?”

“Obviously.”  He sneered.

“I didn’t say I wanted that.”

“Then what in Goddess’ name do you want?”

“I don’t…I don’t quite know.”

His headache was returning slowly.  It would be easier—safer—for both of them.  He knew what he had to do.

Before she could protest, he'd raised his wand again.

“I’ll make it easy for you, then.  Obliviate!” 

___

A/N: Oh no he didn't! 

Hermione is a seventeen-year-old, and I wanted to show her conflicted feelings.  Young adults are known for their stupid decisions or poor-decision-making skills.  She isn't exempt from that. 

Snape did what he thought was best and we'll see what happens next...

THANKS FOR READING!