Just a Note

This is the watered down version of Mask of an Elder. It was removed for being to graphic, so no more graphic. It is slightly more than suggestive but no parts or graphic imagry. So here it is reposted. I hope they don't delete it again.

Chapter 1: Mask of an Elder

Hermione's eyes shot wide as her potions masters lips took hers in a forceful kiss. It was all she could do not to push away, and strangely, also all she could do to not give in. Long moments passed between them and she felt herself begin to soften as his lips became entwined more gently around her own.

Finally he pulled back and for a moment she could see the vulnerability in his eyes. It made her jaw drop and as a result his eyes had quickly become ice once again.

"Good day Miss Granger," he scoffed, turning on his heal and skulking away.

What the BLOODY HELL! The voice inside her screamed as she too turned heel and fled to the head master's offices.

"Canary Cream" she muttered ascending the stairs.

She stood outside the door and with some resistance raised her hand to tentively knock, but before she could she heard a frail "enter." Screwing up all her courage she pushed open the vast oak door.

"Ah, Miss Granger, come come. Have a seat. Would you care for a cake?" Hermione looked at the lavishly decorated cakes on a silver tray that her head master was offering her and almost accepted one, but the thought of Snape's lips upon hers quickly took the hunger from her gut.

"Ah no, no thank you headmaster." He smiled a fatherly smile all alight with a twinkle in his eye and sat down behind his desk.

"Now," he said with a smile, "what do you wish to speak about?" Hermione hesitated. Surely Snape hadn't meant to kiss her. Or perhaps it hadn't been the Potion's Master at all this could all be an elaborate prank by the Slytherins… but no, she had to tell Dumbledore on way or the other.

"Headmaster," she began quietly. "I was just finishing up classes with Professor Snape. And I had left my quill in the class. I went back to get it and found him looming over me."

"Ah, you feel he has taken points from you unfairly, no doubt. Well I'm sorry to hear it Miss Granger but there is really nothing I can do about that…" he smiled kindly lifting one of the cakes to his lips as Hermione sighed.

"I wish that were all Professor. He kissed me." Dumbledore had never been caught so off guard. As he had already began to munch the cake he now became a mess of spattering crumbs and chocking noises. Hermione looked at him quite aghast took out her wand to help but he simply raised his hand and regained his composure. When at alat he could speak again he shook his head ruefully.

"I warned the man," he sighed. Hermione's eyes became the size of dinner plates.

"You knew?" She shouted. Dumbledore simply nodded. "How could you allow this to go on, really a grown man fraternizing with a child…" But Dumbledore shook his head.

"Miss granger, if you would please allow me to explain." With some effort Hermione calmed herself into a silent state if no less seething and nodded. "As you know Severus is a spy for the Order. And has been since he was ten years of age." Hermione scoffed. "Which as it turns out is not so long after all."

"Put Headmaster, Professor Snape is almost forty if not older. That's nearly 30 years." Hermione reasoned. Dumbledore only laughed.

"Well it's good to know that the charm worked so well as to even fool the brightest witch of her age." But now his eyes became serious, his smile fading. "Miss Granger, I am bout to make you privy to information that no more that a dozen people know. I must trust that you are going to keep this from even your closest friends," his eyebrows rose meaningfully, "until such a time as I deem fit for it to be disclosed. Do you understand me Miss Granger?" Hermione thought long and hard about keeping something like this from Harry and Ron. Would she be able to? But if it was this important to the Order maybe she could help… if she knew.

"I understand professor." With those simple words a tingling came over her and she knew herself to be bound.

"Would you care to know the actual age of your potion's Master Miss Granger, though it maybe rude to ask." She nodded slowly. "He is 22 years of age."