Something Much Darker II

Soon, far too soon, reality intruded. Severus reluctantly realized that it must be nearly time for students to return from Hogsmeade. If he kept Hermione any longer she would be late, and if she was, McGonagall was sure to notice. He pulled out of her, smiling a trifle smugly at her protesting whimper, and rose from the bed. Resisting the urge to simply stare at her, he instead gathered her clothing that was scattered about the room and handed it to her. With a grimace of regret, Hermione took it and began to dress, as Severus gathered his own clothing and did the same.

When both of them were decently attired once more, Hermione rose from the bed and flew to Severus’s outstretched arms. He held her close, loving the feel of her body against his, covered or not. “Hermione, you must go,” he forced himself to say. “We don’t want…”

“You don’t want,” she interrupted, “you don’t want anyone to find out that we’re lovers.” Her expression was half defiant, half shameful, and his heart broke a little.

“Not yet, Hermione. I’ve explained this, I don’t want you to suffer.”

“But, Severus, I am suffering. I want to be with you, I don’t want to hide the way I feel, the way I…” she bit her words off before she could say what seemed so natural to her, that she loved him. More, that she was in love with him, the way she had never been with Ron. With Ron, she had mistaken the deep love of a friend combined with a physical attraction for love. With Severus, it was different. She had fallen head over heels in love with him the night Draco had drugged her and Severus had helped her by bringing her to orgasm over and over, all without asking anything for himself, even though she had begged him to take her. She had known how aroused he was by her, and was still amazed at the will power he had evinced that night. Then, the night she had taken a leaf from Draco’s book and drugged Severus, the moment that he slid himself inside her body was like a revelation. The side of his character he had shown to her since was completely different from the snarky professor she had feared for seven years. To her, and only to her, he showed tenderness, affection, and, yes, lust. He was protective and possessive of her, and to her amazement she reveled in it. He treated her as his lady and fucked her like his possession, and she didn’t mind in the least. She minded having to hide it. And, a deep, insecure part of her wondered if he was a bit ashamed of her, of having a young, “mudblood” witch for a lover.

This was anything but the case, however. Snape pulled her even deeper into his comforting arms. He adored Hermione, was proud that such a lovely, intelligent, talented young witch wanted him. However, he too had his insecure side, and couldn’t really understand what Hermione could possibly see in him. Years of persecution by the Marauders and other school bullies followed by years of overhearing cruel remarks about him from students had combined to plant a great deal of self-doubt in his heart, though he allowed no one to see it. Deep down, he was afraid her feelings were the typical emotions of a deflowered virgin who becomes enamored of the man who makes her a woman. Yet, since she so obviously wanted him, he couldn’t resist her. What man could?

Hermione wasn’t ready to tell Severus that she loved him; Severus wasn’t ready to tell himself that he loved her. Yet both of them were edging closer to revealing their true feelings for each other, beyond those of lust and desire.

Severus sighed. Steeling himself, he put her from him, cupping the side of her face gently. He gave her the smile reserved only for her; it was met by her own. “Soon, Hermione, soon. As soon as you graduate, as soon as you are no longer a student, we will no longer have to hide what is between us. As for now, what do you think the reactions of some of the parents would be if they knew I was having an affair with a student, no matter that she is of age? Especially with my background?”

Realization dawned on Hermione’s face. “Of course,” she whispered. “They’d think you’d done it before, maybe with a girl who wasn’t of age. They’d demand that you be investigated, perhaps even sacked.”

Snape nodded. “People do love to believe the worst of me. It’s not exactly a secret that I was a Death Eater.”

“But you’re a hero!” she cried, and Severus smiled at her indignation. “You fought Voldemort himself in the Final Battle, you disarmed him so that Harry could kill him, and you were almost killed yourself!”

“True. But oddly enough it seems that what people remember best is that I was at the Dark Lord’s side until the moment he came face to face with young Potter. That, and the fact that I was believed to have killed Dumbledore.” His lips twisted ruefully. “Even you believed it, Hermione.”

She flushed, but answered, “Well, we were supposed to believe it, weren’t we? And it was on Professor Dumbledore’s orders that you were at Voldemort’s side!”

“Still, you know what I say is true, my dear.” She nodded sadly at this. “So we must keep this secret for now. It’s only for 2 more months.”

“It seems like forever,” Hermione said flatly. Severus couldn’t have agreed more. He leaned down and brushed her lips with his, intending to give her a brief parting kiss, but Hermione threw her arms around his neck and pulled him close, thrusting her tongue inside his mouth and grinding her hips into him, and his passion flamed once more as he returned her kiss, once more thoroughly exploring her moist little mouth. Gasping, he broke the kiss and pushed her from him once more.

“Little bitch,” he said with affection, and she gave him the same smile she had given him when she told him of her revenge on Draco, the one he thought of as her “Slytherin smile.”

“I wanted to make sure that you don’t take another two weeks to be with me again,” she said, and Severus smothered his laughter.

“I will do my best, my lady,” he said, and gave her a courtly bow. Hermione laughed at this, and Severus rose and offered her his arm. “Shall I escort you to the door?”

She grinned and curtsied gracefully before taking his arm. “Thank you, kind sir,” she said in a haughty voice that made his lips twitch.

~*~*~*~*~

Severus brushed her forehead with his lips once they reached the door, and glanced outside. There was no one there, but the quality of the light made him worry. They had dallied a bit too long; Hermione would be one of the last students back to school. He opened the door to allow her to slip outside. “You must hurry, little one,” he urged. She paused only to blow him a kiss, then ran towards the path leading to the castle. Severus watched her until she was out of sight, then closed the door and went to the trapdoor of the secret passage to Hogwarts.

~*~*~*~*~

Hermione slowed only when the school came into sight. She hadn’t met anyone else on her way back, and knew she must be the last one to return. She tried to slow her breathing and compose herself before reaching the school gates, but she was still panting slightly when she reached them. Her heart dropped when she saw McGonagall standing just outside the gates, her expression absolutely furious.

“You are late! Where have you been?” the head of Gryffindor house snapped.

“I…I was in Florish and Blott’s. I lost track of time,” Hermione answered. “I’m sorry, Professor.

“Don’t lie, Miss Granger. I was in Florish and Blott’s today, and you were not there. Furthermore, Professor Snape was nowhere to be found today. Now…” Professor McGonagall advanced on her. “Would you care to tell me just what is going on?”

Hermione opened her mouth, but absolutely nothing would come out.