Love Can Be a Battle or a War Part 1
Hermione Granger, age twenty-one, had graduated Hogwarts three years ago with the highest marks of the past fifty years. She had been highly sought after by various wizarding colleges, but surprised everyone by deciding to serve for a few years as a soldier of the Order, before continuing her education.
Lord Voldemort was dead, having been killed by Harry Potter in his seventh year. The Boy Who Lived accomplished this feat with the use of an ordinary muggle mirror, which he used to reflect a deadly hex back at the Dark Lord, killing him instantly in a one on one showdown. The expected Final Battle never occurred.
But the deatheaters remained, operating like a terrorist group, with cells throughout the wizarding world, causing death and mayhem among innocent people, all in the name of the Dark Lord. Hermione felt it her duty to fight against their evil and enrolled in the Order two weeks after graduating. She still worked for the Order in other capacities, but she was a soldier first and foremost, a trained and skilled warrior.
She had trained under Kingsley Shacklebolt and Nymphadora Tonks, and had shown, after a rocky start, that she had the ability to be an effective hand-to-hand combatant. Though short of stature, she knew how to use her size to her advantage, and could take down an opponent many times her size. When she initially joined the Order, for the first few months she was treated roughly by her fellow Order members, all of whom believed that the young woman had no place in their ranks, being an intellectual, a researcher and in short, a bookworm. They saw her as a possible liability, someone they would have to protect while battling deatheaters, thus a distraction that could cost good men and women their lives.
So when the veteran members trained with Hermione, they would take her down with vicious intent, and every night she was to be found bruised and aching, soaking in a tub of restorative herbs. But she would never give up. Every night of practice, the Order members would gather hoping that the witch got the message she wasn't wanted and wouldn't bother showing up. But she always did, to be subjected to the same treatment again and again. Her nose had been broken several times, as well as her ribs. On several throws, her sparring partners had checked her in mid-air dislocating her shoulder repeatedly. When it came to weapons usage, such as the staff, and blunted short sword, she was subjected to many painful blows and thrusts, most of which dropped her immediately. She was left gasping to recover as best she could. Not one Order member gave her any quarter.
Hermione never complained to either Kingsley or Tonks about the treatment she was receiving. She refused to be seen as a crybaby. Both Aurors knew her fellow Order members were giving her a difficult time. Neither would interfere. If Hermione could not stand up to the stress of being targeted, she might not be able to handle herself out in the field. If she were one to break and run, it would be better to find out now, rather than when she was involved in real battle
It was the night that she blocked and viciously broke the arm of Order member Cedric Franklin, a particularly vocal opponent of her acceptance into the Order, that she began to gain some respect. And as her fighting skills grew, Hermione exacted her revenge in a cold and calculating manner. She was hard, she was brutal, and showed no mercy to any opponent. She left a trail of shattered bones and busted heads behind her. All of her sparring partners knew when Hermione Granger took her defensive or offensive stance, she meant business. She meant to take them out.
Harry never joined the Order. After the death of Voldemort, he left to rejoin the muggle world for a time, to live a normal life for the first time. He was tired of being famous and a hero. He hadn't abandoned the magical world completely, but had his fill of it, and needed time to find out who he really was. Harry's choice was accepted and respected. Hermione missed him very much and understood what it was like to step outside the box of others' expectancies and live your own life. She had disappointed many people by her decision not to attend university immediately, her parents and professors among them. But there still was evil in the world, and she felt it her duty to actively fight it. This was her life and she would live it as she saw fit.
Her first time in the field, Hermione made an impressive showing, battling two armed deatheaters hand-to-hand and managing to take them both alive. The two prisoners eventually gave valuable information to the Order concerning the operation of their group. Hermione carried with her a permanent memento of her first battle. A small, two-inch scar carved into her right cheek by the blade of one of deatheaters she took down. Now, three years later, she was a seasoned veteran of the Order, accepted by all members. All that is, except one.
Order member Severus Snape.
The Professor never participated in the unified effort of the other member to oust the Gryffindor witch. His methods were much more insidious. He often served in the capacity of medi-wizard, healing broken bones and injuries. Hermione came to him often those first few months, and he employed his gift of sarcasm, mockery, derision and disdain, to work away at the witch's nerves when forced to treat her.
The Professor never missed an opportunity to rankle the witch. He seemed to delight in upsetting her. His constant picking drove Hermione into fits of frustration. One night, after the Professor insinuated that her fighting skills were greatly exaggerated, Hermione furiously challenged him to engage in hand-to-hand combat with her, one-on-one, anytime, anyplace. To which he laughed at her uproariously.
"You would never be able to handle me, Miss Granger," he said silkily, looking at her with a deadpan expression. I would snap you like a twig."
His comment angered Hermione so greatly, that she attacked him…only to find he wasn't standing where she struck, but behind her. She found this out when the Potions Master kicked her in the ass and sent her crashing into the far wall of the living room at Order Headquarters so forcefully she was left dizzy and disoriented, unable to fight any further. Her last memory of that confrontation was him smirking at her, then striding away.
How she hated the man. The death of the Dark Lord did nothing to sweeten his disposition. He was just as hard and cold as he was when he was suffering for the Order.
After the death of Voldemort, the Professor had been invited to be the Guest of Honor at a special ceremony where he was to be presented the Order of Merlin for his service to the wizarding world by the Minister of Magic himself. This invite had been issued once his role as a spy was revealed by Albus Dumbledore, after the Aurors arrived at Hogwarts to take the Potions Master into custody. The Professor went through numerous interrogations, examinations and grillings by the Ministry before he was left alone.
Albus insisted the Potions Master attend the ceremony. The dark wizard stood stoic and stone-faced as the Minister gushed about his sacrifices to the audience. When the official offered Severus his hand, the wizard looked at him coldly, turned and strode from the dais, neither accepting his handshake or the Order of Merlin medal. His snub was written up in all the local wizarding newspapers. He returned to his dungeons and teaching. And continued his service in the order, now creating elixirs and identifying deatheaters.
Hermione had heard about the Professor participating in raids on deatheater strongholds, but had never seen him in action. Tonks confided that the Professor was one of, if not the most deadly and vicious fighters in the Order and had the skills of an assassin. Hermione didn't doubt the wizard was vicious. He had so much hatred in him, he could be nothing else. But she would love to have the opportunity to break his big nose anyway.
To make matters worse, the Professor stayed at Order Headquarters during Hogwarts' summer break, and he and Hermione had petty confrontations daily. Things as simple as neither wanting to step aside on the stairwell when going up or down, or outright rows about lab usage. There was only one lab at Grimmauld Place, and Professor Snape believed it belonged to him. Hermione steadfastedly claimed it was the use of any Order member with the skill to use it. Albus tried to mediate, but they still continued to clash about it. These small personal wars had been occurring for the past three years, ever since Hermione joined the Order. Another thing that irked the Professor and brought Hermione extreme satisfaction was her use of his first name.
"I am no longer a student. I am an adult and your fellow Order member. I will not continue to call you Professor, Severus," Hermione would say as the Potions Master grew red with rage. Hermione would often revert to child-like taunting. "Severus, I will call you "Severus" whenever I need to address you, Severus," she'd say with a grim little smile as his black eyes flashed at her. There were times she thought he might attack her, he would be so enraged.
The Potions Master was still as slick and shady as ever when it came to sniffing rule breakers out. He didn't sleep well, and often could be found walking the halls of Grimmauld Place at all hours of the night, though he was so quiet no one really knew this. One night he was up due to his insomnia, sitting in the living room reading and heard someone descending the stairs. He cast a disillusionment spell on himself and waited quietly to see who was up after hours. He was surprised to see Hermione, dressed in sweats, trainers and a t-shirt, creeping down the stairs and entering the cellar that led to the Order's specialized Room of Requirement. He didn't follow her, but hung around to see when she returned. It was three hours later. That explained the change in her sleeping patterns that he had noticed lately. Normally she was an early riser, but had taken to sleeping past ten on certain mornings. What was she doing down there?
The Professor began to watch for her each night, and discovered Hermione visited the room three or four times a week, and when she returned, most of the time she was filthy, covered in mud and dirt. Obviously, the witch was training, but for what? She could train anytime. Why the middle of the night? Severus was curious. He knew the witch was up to something she shouldn't be.
The Professor was determined to find out what that was.
"Kingsley, when do you think they're going to realize that they're attracted to each other?" Tonks asked her lover as they sat on the sofa in the living room lacing up their trainers and listening to the row going on in the kitchen between the Potions Master and Hermione about who would drink the last cup of coffee.
The Aurors watched as a scowling Severus strode quickly from the kitchen, heading for the foyer and the front door.
"You want the last cup of coffee, Severus? Well, here!" came Hermione's shrill voice.
A full cup of coffee was launched out of the kitchen door, flying toward the Professor. Without looking back, the Professor neatly ducked, the coffee cup crashing harmlessly into the wall and staining it with the rich, brown liquid.
"You'll have to clean that up, Miss Granger," Severus called back as he made for the front door, "Hopefully your cleaning skills are less sloppy than your fighting skills. I have no doubt you'd make a better maid than a soldier."
A little scream from the kitchen followed his comment. The Professor smirked and exited headquarters, robes billowing.
Tonks and Kingsley looked at each other as an irate Hermione Granger stalked out of the kitchen, wand in hand, looking murderous. She saw the two Aurors sitting on the sofa watching her with amusement.
"Where is he? Where is the black-hearted bastard?" Hermione seethed, looking around.
"If you mean Severus," Tonks said, "He's gone. Went out the front door."
For a moment, it looked like Hermione was going to run outside after him. But then her shoulders slumped. She looked at the broken coffee cup on the floor at the base of the wall and the coffee stains, and quickly scourgified the mess. She looked blackly at the front door, and stalked back into the kitchen.
Kingsley looked after her for a moment, then looked at Tonks.
"How long have they been at this now?" he asked her in his deep, rich voice, his brow furrowed
"Three years," Tonks replied, "Though I really think it started back at Hogwarts. I heard they used to have it out there all the time."
Kingsley stood up, his muscular, six foot four inch frame towering over Tonks. He rubbed his black, bald head thoughtfully as he looked down at Tonks, noticing for the first time today that her spiked hair was actually not striped but had a bull's eye pattern, the red center of which was in the top of her head. Tonks was a bit eccentric, but a hell of a good trainer/fighter.
"And lover," Kingsley thought, grinning to himself as he remembered last night with the Auror. She had metamorphed an extra set of arms and hands during foreplay, and did things to him no woman had probably ever done to a man all at once before. He let out a long, slow breath, his brown eyes fixed on her.
"What?" Tonks asked, feeling his eyes on her and looking up, her eyebrows raised. The slim, hazel-eyed Auror had the mischievous face of a pixie. She always looked as if she were up to something. Which she usually was.
Kingsley smiled at her. "Just thinking," he said.
He wouldn't tell her he was thinking about last night. Tonks had a very high sex drive. So high, that Kingsley's nickname for her was "Rabbit". That's how bad she was. One mention about last night and Tonks would have him back upstairs and between the sheets within ten minutes. Not that he would have minded, but they had training schedules to do.
"You know Tonks, three years is a long time. Maybe you should go talk to Hermione and help her see what's really going on with her and Severus. Every summer they go at it, fighting from the first day Severus arrives until the day he leaves. They need to resolve this," Kingsley said.
Tonks stood up, and her mouth quirked.
"Yeah, right. I'm just going to go into the kitchen and tell Hermione she needs to shag Severus," Tonks said to the black Auror.
Kingsley could tell though, that the idea appealed to her. Tonks liked to shock people and start interesting situations. Telling Hermione she needed to shag the Potions Master, was right up Tonks' corridor.
"Why not. You've told people worse things," Kingsley replied.
Tonks looked up at him. A sly expression washed over her face.
"All right. I'll do it," she said, "IF you tell Severus the same thing about Hermione."
Kingsley's brown eyes went wide.
"Severus would blow a torchlight," Kingsley replied.
"Don't tell me you're scared," Tonks said, grinning at him.
Kingsley scowled. "Of course I'm not scared. But you know how Severus is when it comes to his personal life," he responded.
"Yeah, but this constant fighting between them affects everyone at Headquarters. They start first thing in the morning sometimes, waking everyone up. This is a public issue," Tonks said, "Besides, I don't think the man's been laid in the past decade. It's probably why he's so fucking sour. It's just not natural."
"I don't know, Tonks," Kingsley said doubtfully.
He had always liked the dark, sarcastic Potions Master. He thought the wizard was one of the most courageous men he had ever met. It would be nice to see him happy…but if they tried to set this up, he knew that things would get a lot worse before they got better. Falling in love was often a battle for ordinary people, one that required concessions and compromises. With these two stubborn individuals, it was bound to be a war.
"All you have to do is put the idea in his head, Kingsley. Severus isn't stupid. He'll go in some dank, dark place and brood over it for a while, and figure it out for himself," Tonks said with the wisdom inherent in all females.
"How would I even approach him, Tonks?" Kingsley asked. This wasn't a common subject after all..
"Just ask him did he ever stop to think that he fought with Hermione so much because he was attracted to her. Then run for cover," Tonks grinned at him.
Kingsley still looked hesitant. But Tonks was now in matchmaker mode, and she was determined that this wheel would start rolling immediately. She knew how to push it downhill.
Tonks moved in very close to the black Auror and said in her most seductive voice, "If you talk to him, Kingsley, I'll do the whole Durga fantasy you've been asking for. Multiple arms, the weapons, everything."
Kingsley looked at her, his brown eyes glinting.
"Really?" he asked her.
Tonks nodded. She wasn't above using sex as an incentive. And Kingsley wasn't above falling for it.
Durga was an ancient Hindu Goddess, the Ultimate Warrior Goddess to be exact. She fought the cosmic bad guys when all the other gods had failed to beat them. The goddess had captured the Auror's imagination years ago. He looked at Tonks hungrily.
"I'll do it. Next time I see him," Kingsley said, completely taken in.
"Good," Tonks said, standing on tiptoe and kissing him on the cheek, "And when you do it, then we can talk Durga."
The Auror smiled at his lover. Severus might get miffed, but hell, it would be worth the wrath of a thousand Potions Masters to wrestle (and overcome) Durga.
Tonks took on a business-like demeanor.
"All right, Kingsley, you go ahead and get started on the training schedule for next week, and I'll go talk to Hermione," she said, running her fingers through her hair, making it stand up even more.
"All right," Kingsley responded. He was in a good mood as he headed for their office in the cellar. He had a fantasy to plan as well.
Tonks smirked after him. It was always too easy with that man. The Auror turned toward the kitchen and took a deep breath. With a rather evil grin, Tonks marched toward the door, and the unsuspecting witch behind it.
This was going to be fun.
Hermione was in the kitchen washing dishes by hand. Whenever she got upset, she found doing things the muggle way provided some relief. Working with her hands helped to relieve the stress. Just like battling the golem-Snape in the Room of Requirement a few nights a week helped her work out her frustrations against the Potions Master, though she hadn't beaten the golem yet. It was almost as skilled as the real Severus, and kicked her ass royally every time she fought it. But she was getting better, and at least managed to get in a couple of blows now.
When she first got the idea to use the Room of Requirement this way, she was very angry and had gone down to the room to work out her aggression, with some ordinary training golems. The room provided her with a forest clearing, which was her preferred scenario. But instead of generating training golems, Severus Snape walked from between the trees.
Hermione had been shocked, but decided to fight the golem, only to discover that the golem did not fight back. She beat it unmercifully anyway. Later, she figured out that the room of requirement had provided her with a passive Severus because all she wanted to do was kick his ass. It had been satisfying kicking the shit out of the golem, but because it didn't fight back the way the real Severus would have, it was a rather empty victory. Later, she felt dissatisfied. She decided she would have preferred a Severus that fought back.
When she returned to the ROR two nights later, the room again generated the forest clearing and the Severus golem. But this golem took an immediate defensive stance. It was not passive. It's black eyes glinted with challenge as it made a "come and get it" motion with its pale hands. When Hermione attacked, it deftly stepped aside, whirling and kicking her in the ass, just like the real Severus did, sending her flying face first into the dirt, and smirking at her. The golem couldn't speak…it was just as well. Hermione could imagine what snarky remark it would have had for her.
Hermione had fought the golem valiantly, but it easily defeated her time and time again, always with that smirk and arched eyebrow when she would leap to her feet and come at it again. Although she couldn't defeat the Severus-golem, she felt immense satisfaction trying. The first time she got a blow in, an elbow to its nose, breaking it she felt as if she were on cloud nine. But her victory was extremely short-lived. The golem seemed to have Severus' temper too. It immediately went on the offensive and returned the favor. Luckily for Hermione, the ROR also provided viable healing golems, most of whom looked like Madam Pomfrey, who repaired the worst of her damages. At the end of the scenario, or sometimes in the middle of it, the medi-witch would walk through the trees and attend her with sympathetic eyes, as the Severus golem folded its arms and waited, its black eyes glittering.
As Hermione attacked a particularly crusty pot, she hoped that the ROR would recreate today's kitchen fight, this time with her successfully crowning Severus with the thrown coffee cup and knocking him cold. The kitchen door opened, and Hermione whirled, thinking it might be the Potions Master returning to the fray. But it was Tonks. Hermione looked a little disappointed.
"Hoping I was Severus, eh?" Tonks said, smiling.
Hermione snorted irritably at the mention of the Potions Master's name.
Tonks sat down at the kitchen table.
"Stop washing dishes and come have a sit with me, Hermione. I want to have a little girl talk," she said to the witch.
Hermione put the pot into the soapy water, wiped her hands on her sweats, walked over to the table, and sat down across from the spiky-haired Auror. Hermione liked Tonks. She was fun, and a skilled fighter. They sparred at least twice a week. She could almost beat the Auror, but not quite.
"All right, Tonks. What are we talking about today? Kingsley again?" Hermione asked her. Tonks loved to talk about her wizard, sharing details that made Hermione turn colors. It also made her a little envious. For Hermione hadn't had a love interest in two years. And that was more of a lust interest, one that turned out to be very disappointing.
He had been a wizard from Bulgaria named Sergio, who was visiting Britain for the first time. He met Hermione in a bookstore, and instantly desired her. Sergio had amazing blue eyes, dark hair and a beautiful accent. To Hermione he was exotic, handsome and extremely seductive.
After about two weeks of friendly outings, Sergio had taken Hermione's virginity in a rather rushed manner after plying her with wine and sweet words. He was so excited he didn't last long, so Hermione never climaxed. She was unwilling to try again and Sergio returned to Bulgaria shortly afterwards. After the unsatisfactory experience, Hermione decided sex was over-rated and threw herself into Order work.
Tonks thought this was a shame, as did quite a few of the male Order members. Hermione was a lovely young woman, with a killer body, due to all her working out. She had lovely amber eyes, long curling chestnut hair, and a mouth just made for kissing. It didn't make sense for her to be alone. Many of the men secretly believed Hermione was such an aggressive fighter because she needed a good, stiff shag. Any one of them would have been willing to help her let off some steam, preferably with her on her back. But Hermione turned every attempt at courting her down flat.
Tonks looked at the witch.
"Hermione, when's the last time you got laid?" the Auror asked her.
Hermione flushed.
"Two years ago," she responded quietly. She didn't like this topic.
"Was it good?" Tonks asked her, suspecting it wasn't. If Hermione knew how good sex was, the witch would be engaging in it.
"It was fast. Good? Not really," Hermione replied.
Tonks looked at the witch sympathetically.
"Bet that's what threw you off the wagon," the Auror said, "Bad sex is enough to make anybody go cold."
Hermione frowned. She wasn't cold. She just wasn't interested in having some man grunting all over her.
"I'm not cold," she said, leveling her amber eyes at the Auror. "I just don't have any interest in anybody."
Tonks smiled at her. Hermione found her smile a little disturbing.
"I wouldn't say that," the Auror said. "I think you are interested in somebody. Somebody in the Order."
Hermione did a quick mental evaluation of Tonks.
"Tonks, I rarely even talk to any of the males in the Order, you know that," the witch responded.
"You talk to one of them all the time," Tonks countered, "though the word 'talk' doesn't quite cover it. 'Scream' might be a better word."
Hermione's eyes widened. Tonks certainly couldn't mean Severus. He was an ass. An unbearable, sarcastic ass.
"Tonks, have you been doing Stripe again?" Hermione asked the Auror.
Stripe was a recreational wizarding drug Tonks was known to indulge in from time to time. It was a bit like acid, but could be turned off with an incantation. Tonks was the original wild child.
"No, I haven't been doing Stripe," the Auror said in a nasally voice meant to mimic Hermione. "I'm just trying to point out to you that you fight with Severus so much because you're attracted to him," she said.
"And how in the hell do you come to that conclusion?" Hermione asked her, frowning.
"Hermione, you are normally very cool and collected. You've been locked down under fire by almost a dozen deatheaters and never lost it. You've mediated disagreements successfully between other Order members that no one else could get them to budge on. You were mistreated for months when you first joined the Order and never once blew up. But Severus can say one word to you and you are ready to get physical. Why is that?" Tonks asked her.
"It's because he makes me so mad," Hermione replied.
"Other people make you mad. You don't react like that," Tonks responded.
"But he's been making me mad for years," Hermione retorted.
"You think you'd be used to it by now. Learned how to handle it. If I remember correctly, Ronald Weasley used to set you off, but you learned to ignore him. Why can't you ignore Severus?" Tonks asked her, a knowing smile on her face.
"Because," Hermione said lamely.
"Because what?" Tonks pressed her.
"Because…because…hell I don't know why I can't ignore him. He just gets under my skin," Hermione said, scowling.
"My point exactly," Tonks said, "Maybe he needs to get under your sheets."
"Tonks! Are you fucking insane?" Hermione gasped, "Why in hell would I want to let Severus Snape shag me?"
"To kill that urge for physical contact for one reason. You think you want to fight with him, but you really want to sleep with him. Trust me, I know the signs," Tonks said, her hazel eyes serious.
"Tonks. You're crazy," Hermione said, standing up.
"Listen. Severus may not be the easiest wizard to get along with, but he is a good man. He nearly sacrificed everything to try and save the wizarding world from Voldemort simply because it was the right thing to do. Plus, he's brilliant…probably just as brilliant as you are. He's got a mind that you can deal with, not like these other wizards who are trying to get in your knickers. You wouldn't be bored with him. And he's damn sexy too," Tonks said.
"Sexy? Severus Snape? Ew," Hermione said, wrinkling her nose.
"You ever look at his eyes? Listen to him talk? I mean really listened to his voice. It's so silky, smooth, just damn seductive. He's got the kind of voice that goes right between your thighs. I bet he could talk a woman to orgasm," Tonks said, looking a bit dreamy. "And that nose. It's huge. You know what they say about wizards with big noses…"
"Tonks! You talk like you want to sleep with him!" Hermione said, looking at the Auror with wide, disbelieving eyes.
"Before Kingsley, I sure did. He's so dark, delicious and dangerous. But now I've got a dark, dangerous man of my own. But I would've done Severus for sure if he wasn't so damn cold and untouchable," Tonks confided, "but I don't think you would have that problem. You get a rise out of him. He heats up when you're around. You get under his skin too."
"He heats up all right, but trust me…it's not that kind of heat," Hermione said. "If he were a dragon, I'd be fried by now. That's the kind of heat I inspire."
"No," Tonks said, "You do something to him. I can tell. He doesn't fight like that with anybody else. He usually just snarks them with something sarcastic and keeps going. He doesn't hang around to keep arguing. I'm telling you, Hermione…there's sparks between you two. If you got past the fighting, I bet the sex you two could have would be awesome."
Hermione scowled at the Auror.
"So now you're telling me, that not only do I secretly want him, but he secretly wants me too," Hermione said.
"Right in one," Tonks said smiling at the witch.
"Tonks, I think you've taken one too many blows to the head," Hermione observed, heading for the kitchen door, "You are wrong about this. Completely, undeniably wrong!"
Hermione left the kitchen.
Tonks leaned back in the kitchen chair, and smiled. She knew that Hermione would worry what she said like a bone, turning it over and over in her mind. Then she'd see the logic of it. You only had to plant the seed in fertile ground, and it would grow. Hermione's mind was definitely fertile ground.
Tonks wondered how Kingsley would do with Severus.
Kingsley Shacklebolt was not only an Auror and a trainer. He was also a strategist. It was Kingsley who planned most of the attacks on deatheater strongholds. It was he who plotted the safest way to move into dangerous situations with the least amount of damage. Well, talking to Severus about a possible attraction to Hermione Granger was pretty dangerous. Kingsley had found out long ago that sometimes the best way to move on a target was in a roundabout way. He decided not to use the direct approach with the Potions Master. There was another way.
That evening, when Severus returned, Kingsley approached him. The Potions Master often spent time with Kingsley, chatting over a couple of firewhiskeys. When the Ministry was investigating Severus, it was Kingsley who made sure no one abused the wizard during the interrogations. The Auror made it clear just how serious he was that Severus not be touched, when he collared a fellow Auror who slapped the Potions Master, and proceeded to give him the same treatment several times over. Severus Snape was treated with respect after that. The Potions Master never forgot how the Auror stood by him in his time of need.
So when Kingsley invited him to have a couple of drinks with him, Severus agreed. The Auror brought a fresh bottle of Ogden's Firewhiskey VSOP, two glasses and a bowl of never-melting ice and the two wizards took a seat in front of the fireplace and talked about a number of topics, imbibing freely. Kingsley was waiting for an opening to broach the topic of Hermione, when the witch walked by the living room, headed for the kitchen. She narrowed her eyes at Severus as she passed, and the Potions Master scowled after her.
"A very pretty young woman, that Hermione Granger," Kingsley commented.
Severus didn't respond. He just glowered into his firewhiskey.
"Why do you think she's not involved with anybody?" Kingsley asked the Potions Master.
Severus looked at him.
"Because the woman is pure poison, that's why," the Potions Master replied, "She's a terror."
"I've noticed you and she don't get along all that well," Kingsley commented, taking a sip of his drink.
:"I despise the young chit. She is arrogant, rude, sarcastic and thinks too much of herself," Severus said sourly.
Kingsley smiled.
"I daresay she'd say the same about you, Severus. Seems like you both have something in common," the Auror said, warming to his role.
"We have nothing in common," Severus snapped.
The Auror went silent for a bit, letting Severus brood a little. Hermione's appearance had made him go instantly sour, even though the witch had just walked by. Kingsley knew this was a sign that the young woman truly affected Severus.
"Why do you let her get to you, Severus?" Kingsley asked him.
Severus looked at him. The Potions Master definitely had a little buzz on.
"Who?" he asked the Auror
"Hermione. She gets to you," Kingsley observed. "She only has to walk into a room and you instantly go on point."
"That's not true," Severus said, pouring himself another drink.
"I've seen it for myself, old boy," Kingsley said. "She doesn't have to be doing anything, and you will say something to get her started."
"I like to get her upset. It amuses me," the Potions Master said, "Her eyes start flashing, she turns red as a salamander, her breathing starts getting heavy, she loses all control…"
"Sounds like you're describing her having an orgasm," Kingsley said, smiling.
Severus looked at Kingsley, startled.
"It does not," he said, scowling.
"How long has it been since you've seen a lovely woman orgasm, Severus?" Kingsley asked him.
"It's been a long time," the Potions Master said quietly.
"Trust me, I know. It looks just like what you described you like to put Hermione through day after day." the Auror said. "A little substitution, perhaps?"
Severus sat straight up in his chair, scowling at the Auror.
"What are you insinuating, Kingsley? That I like to make that..that…hellcat upset because it stimulates me? Because it simulates her orgasming?" Severus asked the Auror, his face black.
"Come on, Severus. You're attracted to the witch. You've been attracted to her since she joined the Order, if not before then," Kingsley said, diving in. "You fight with her because you don't know how to approach her."
"I assure you I know how to approach a woman, Kingsley. I wasn't always alone," Severus said, frowning at the Auror. "I don't approach Hermione because I am not interested in her that way. I just haven't approached any women because I have found none that interest me. Most are air-headed and shallow."
"Of which Hermione is neither. She is a brilliant young witch, Severus. She was your student. You know this. She's also a scrapper, not anyone's doormat. She stands up to you every time you take a go at her. And you like that. That's why you constantly aggravate her. I'm telling you, you have a thing for the woman. You need to recognize it and act on it," Kingsley said, bringing it home. "Not to mention she is beautiful, has a body that most men would kill for, and probably has a thing for you too, by the way you set her off all the time. Both of you need to face what's really going on here. This may sound crass, but instead of fighting her, Severus, you should be shagging her. Put all that energy you're expending to better, more pleasurable use."
Severus stood up, a little unsteadily after six firewhiskeys.
"I believe this evening is now officially over, Kingsley," he said, looking down at the Auror. "I assure you that I have no interest in Hermione Granger beyond the amusement she brings me. And certainly no interest in touching her."
"That's what your mouth says," Kingsley said, his brown eyes flickering towards Severus' tented robes. The Potions Master had a noticeable erection. "Amusement generally doesn't do that." Kingsley chuckled.
Severus scowled at him and strode away. Kingsley finished his drink.
Mission accomplished.
"Tonks is just crazy," muttered Hermione as she pulled on her flannel pajama bottoms. She had just taken her shower and was headed for bed. Grimmauld Place only had one bathroom located off the second-floor hallway. The witch put on her top and buttoned it, gathered up her things and headed for her room.
"Kingsley doesn't know what he's talking about," Severus said as he climbed the stairs to the second floor, heading for his room. After six firewhiskeys he doubted he'd be wandering headquarters tonight. He'd sleep well. He turned down the hallway with a billow of robes.
The Professor and Hermione saw each other at the same moment. Both of them stopped. Severus' eyes swept over her flannel pajamas. They didn't look anything like what a young woman should be wearing to bed. A young boy perhaps, but not a young woman. He started walking toward her.
Hermione paused when she saw the Potions Master appear from the stairwell. She scowled as he stopped and looked at her. Then he started walking toward her. She imagined he was on his way to bed. She started walking too. The Potions Master stopped about ten feet away from her.
"Nice nightwear," he sneered, looking her up and down.
"It's probably more comfortable than anything you wear to bed," Hermione retorted, scowling at him.
"I highly doubt that, Hermione. I sleep naked," Severus replied.
Hermione turned bright, bright red.
"Whatever," she said, and rushed off to her room, slamming the door behind her.
Severus looked after her for a moment. A long moment. Then he walked to his room.
"Kingsley is crazy," he muttered as he let himself in the door. He walked into the room and immediately divestoed his clothing. He climbed into bed, and lay there, scowling at the ceiling.
Imagine. Kingsley suggesting that he wanted to have sex with such an irritating tart as Hermione Granger. Preposterous. Impossible.
So why hadn't his erection gone down? What was he even doing with an erection? The only time he usually got one was when he woke up in the morning, and that was because he usually had to take a piss.
It was Kingsley fault. He brought up the subject of women and orgasms. It had the normal effect such topics had on any red-blooded wizard. That was it. A titillating topic was the cause of his inflation, NOT Hermione Granger.
How dare the Auror suggest that he taunted the woman because her physical reaction simulated orgasm? Kingsley was really reaching with that "substitution" idea. He didn't care to know what Hermione looked like when she orgasmed.
Suddenly the Professor found himself helplessly imagining what the witch might look like in the throes of climax. It was quite an erotic image. Horrified, Severus pushed it from his mind, turned over and tried to go to sleep, his erection pushing uncomfortably against his belly.
Damn Kingsley.
Hermione slammed the door to her room and quickly got into bed, shaken by her reaction to the Potions Master telling her he slept naked. She had blushed from head to toe. She couldn't remember the last time she blushed about anything. This was horrible. She was NOT attracted to Severus Snape. The fact that he chose to sleep naked had absolutely nothing to do with her. Who cared if he slept naked? She didn't, that's for sure.
And his comment about her nightclothes. What right did he have to say anything about what she slept in? Well, that was typical Severus. He couldn't pass her by without saying something snarky. She should have expected it. But the bad thing about this was, when she saw him coming, she wasn't prepared as she usually was. She felt apprehensive and out of sorts. Tonks had thrown her off her game with her insinuations.
What disturbed Hermione the most about Tonks' claim was as wild as Tonks was, she generally was very perceptive about what she saw going on around her and caught the gist of situations quite quickly. Hermione had come to respect her opinions and observations. But this? Being attracted to Severus Snape? The Auror had to be wrong, she just had to be.
She turned over in her bed, scowling.
Yes, they argued. But that didn't mean that there was some other reason for it than the man was simply infuriating.
Naked. He sleeps naked.
Hermione sat up in the bed and shaking her head as if she could physically shake the thought of a naked Severus out of her mind. Damn, Tonks. She had put this…this ludicrous idea in her head and now she couldn't get rid of it.
What was she going to do?
She knew. She'd go down to the ROR and fight with the Severus golem. That ought to get her right. Hermione hopped out the bed and began to dress.
Despite imbibing six firewhiskeys, Severus found he could not sleep. The alcohol was making him feel slightly nauseous now, so he went to his portable potions store and drank a vial of sober-up potion. He felt immediately better, but now he couldn't sleep. Oh well, back to prowling the hallways.
The Potions Master rolled out of bed, pulled on his silk boxers and put his robes on over them. He opened his door and heard another door opening and pulled back slightly. He peeked out. He saw Hermione dressed in her workout clothing stealthily heading down the stairs. After a moment, he placed a disillusionment spell on himself and quietly followed her. He'd find out what she was up to in that room. He silently padded down the stairs and quickly caught up to her. Suddenly, Hermione paused and looked back, suspiciously. Severus pressed into a shadow. A disillusionment charm was not total invisibility. It merely bent light around a wizard. There was a telltale shimmer that could be observed if focused on.
Satisfied she wasn't being followed, Hermione continued to the cellar door, opened it and entered, quickly running down the stairs. Severus caught the door before it closed, slipped in and followed her. She was a quick little thing. Severus had to gather up his robes as he ran to keep up. They were billowing too much and slowing him down.
He followed her through the first padded training room to blank wall where the door to the ROR was hidden. Hermione made a number of passes over the wall, and a thin vertical line appeared, that widened to an ornate wooden door. Hermione pushed the door open and Severus caught that too, and sidled in.
The Potions Master looked around. The ROR had created a forest clearing. There was a large open area that was mostly dirt. There were a few rocks and a sparse spattering of tough grasses that had survived the trampling. Surrounding the clearing was a forest. He dipped behind a tree and watched as the witch entered the center of the clearing.
"Come on out! I know you're waiting for me!" Hermione yelled, scowling.
Severus watched as a tall shadow moved in the forest, it was moving from tree to tree. Hermione started backing up. A golem stepped out into the clearing. Severus did a double take. It was an exact replica of him! The Potions Master watched amazed as the golem strode into the clearing, its black eyes leveled at the witch at the other end. It stopped and stood there, staring at Hermione, challenge in its body language.
Suddenly, they both charged each other and began to battle furiously, throwing kicks and blows. Severus noticed with some satisfaction that his golem was winning, connecting with the witch time and time again, finally knocking her to the ground with a hard right cross. Severus winced. It had been a hard blow, much harder than what he thought the witch could take. The Severus golem backed up a few feet and smirked at her, crossing its arms. Surprisingly, the witch got up off the ground, wiped her nose and took up a defensive stance. She was going to keep fighting, even though it was obvious the golem was more skilled than she was.
Severus shook his head. Hermione certainly was tough. So this was what she was doing. Coming down to the ROR to battle his golem a few nights a week. The Potions Master realized his taunting must really get to the witch for her to go to this extreme to get some satisfaction. He wondered if her purpose was to learn how to defeat the golem so she could challenge him to a fight. The golem was really quite skilled, and did many moves he himself would do. Of course the ROR could generate a golem that imitated him. He used the room quite a bit. It had familiarized itself with his technique in order to generate suitable training golems for him to battle. Most likely it drew on that to create a golem for Hermione.
Severus watched as the two combatants clashed again, this time in close proximity, their bodies straining against each other. Hermione managed to throw the taller golem over her back. She danced back, a broad smile on her dirty face as the golem slowly got up off the ground and brushed itself off. Suddenly, it charged Hermione, catching her offguard and taking her straight down. It was lying on top of her, holding her down by the wrists, her arms extended over her head. Severus couldn't help but feel a bit of a throb as he watched his double hold the witch down in such a compromising position. Hermione was bucking her body up, trying to throw the golem off. The visual effect was quite…stimulating. The Potions Master's eyes narrowed.
Suddenly, the golem lowered its head and kissed her.
Hermione danced back from the thrown golem, smiling broadly. She had flipped it! This was a first for her. She was getting better at fighting it. The golem got up off the ground and brushed itself off. It looked at Hermione, scowling. Suddenly the golem charged her, knocking the witch to the ground and pinning her arms above her head. Damn it. She should have been paying more attention rather than gloating. The golem had done this before and she had never managed to break its hold or throw it off. She always had to end the simulation and restart.
The witch tried to throw the golem off. It just held her, looking down at her with a smirk on its face. She didn't know if golems retained memories, but it seemed like this one knew it had her. Its body lay stretched out on hers, and suddenly, she was aware of the hardness and leanness of the form through its robes. Was this how Severus actually was built? Suddenly Hermione felt very vulnerable under the golem as she looked up at it. The golem looked down at her, and its expression changed, the black eyes taking on a heated look.
Hermione watched as the golem lowered its head, and pressed its warm lips to hers. Horrified, she began to struggle, but the golem continued to hold her down, moving its mouth against hers sensuously. Suddenly, Hermione was kissing the golem back, feeling a rush of heat wash over her body. The ROR created golems that were fully functional, and this one was showing distinct physical signs of arousal. The golem deepened the kiss, slipping its tongue into the witch's mouth and possessing her. Hermione found herself surrendering as delicious feelings began to bubble through her. The golem started to move against her, its hard body pressing into her. It was when she felt its erection grinding between her thighs that she panicked.
"End simulation!" she gasped against its mouth. Suddenly, the golem was gone and Hermione was left lying on the ground, her breasts heaving, her entire body tingling. She was flushed and disoriented. Merlin's balls. What the hell just happened? Was she almost shagged by Severus Snape's golem? She got up off the ground, looking flushed and out of sorts. The exit door appeared and she ran for it, throwing it open and jetting through.
Severus stood holding the tree he had been hiding behind, trying to process the scene he had just witnessed. Judging by Hermione's reaction and quick departure, the scenario he just witnessed between his golem and the witch had never happened before.
The still disillusioned Potions Master walked towards the door, opened it and exited the ROR. He walked slowly up the stairs, his black eyes shifting back and forth as the image of the golem kissing Hermione and Hermione kissing it back filled his mind. She had responded to his double, quite heatedly too. The kiss had quickly escalated and the golem was definitely pressing into the witch's body before she ended the simulation. She looked extremely excited, flushed and confused. She also looked quite aroused and shocked at herself.
Severus exited the cellar and mounted the stairs leading to the second floor. He walked down the hall and paused for a moment outside of Hermione's room, looking at it quizzically. Then he continued on to his room, wondering if she had run all the way back to the safety of her bed and was now hiding under her sheets, terrified by her own reactions. As he divestoed his clothing, Severus' mind turned back to what Kingsley had said earlier about Hermione probably being attracted to him because of how easily he got to her. Well, he had just witnessed proof that she was more than attracted. She had surrendered to the golem's kiss. It was the first time Severus had seen Hermione Granger surrender or submit to anything.
For all intents and purposes, that golem was Severus' double. If she surrendered to it, it was just as if she had surrendered to him. He found the idea of the fiery Gryffindor witch's surrender quite arousing. For the first time, he allowed himself to look at Hermione as a woman of potential interest. She was smart, beautiful, tough and challenging. She was also very intelligent. And from what he had seen tonight, very passionate.
Severus climbed into his bed, again with an erection…larger than the first one. But this time he knew why he had it and who had inspired it. Maybe Kingsley had a point…maybe he shouldn't be fighting her. Maybe there was another more pleasurable way to deal with Miss Hermione Granger.
Hermione sat in her bed with her knees drawn up to her chin, still in her training clothing. The Severus golem had kissed her and she had responded. The golem was programmed to fight like Severus. Did it also kiss like him? Move like him? She shuddered at the remembrance and began to try to figure out why the golem kissed her in the first place.
The purpose of the Room of Requirement was to create possible scenarios. Although it was used for training, the room was not limited to training scenarios. The way the room operated was to divine the needs of the person utilizing it, and produce a scenario tailored to that particular individual, providing as many possibilities as possible.
The ROR must have incorporated the new possibility of Hermione's secret attraction to the Potions Master when it created the golem, and when the opportunity arose for exploration of this possible attraction, the golem had acted. One of two things could have happened. She would have either been repulsed or aroused. And it had been the latter. In a matter of minutes the ROR confirmed to Hermione the truth of what Tonks had said. She really was attracted, physically attracted to Severus Snape. This was terrible. The world had just ended.
What was she supposed to do now? The minute she saw Severus the golem's kiss was going to pop up in her head, along with the question whether the real Potions Master could make her feel the same way if he kissed her. Even now her body was reacting to the memory of the golem's warm lips on hers, kissing her, tasting her. She could almost feel the weight of its body, and how wantonly she welcomed it before realizing what the contact was leading to and breaking the simulation
Hermione hadn't had feelings like this since Sergio. But she had a feeling that if Severus had a sexual interest in her, it wouldn't end up quite the same way. Severus was a mature wizard. Even though he didn't seem to have dealings with women currently, she was sure he must have at one time or another in his life. For the first time, she allowed herself to think about Severus as a man. He was commanding, confident and sure of himself. He was also quite precise, meticulous and thorough whenever he focused on a task. What would he be like if he was focused on her? She shuddered again, but it was a delicious kind of shudder that rippled through her, and pooled in a place it shouldn't have.
Oh, this was just great. She had a thing for a man who hated her guts. She couldn't even imagine trying to make goo-goo eyes at the man. He would probably tell her she needed to get her eyes checked. Besides, she wasn't one for goo-goo eyes. The truth was, she had no idea how to get a man's attention. Sergio had put the moves on her. She had never been in the position to pursue a man. And Severus was not an ordinary man. She couldn't say two words to him without a row breaking out.
There was only one thing to do. Avoid him and suppress this urge. Now that she knew she was really was attracted to the wizard, she could work on breaking that attraction. A witch with a mind as strong as hers should be able to tame those urges. It was simply mind over matter. There was enough to dislike about Severus to make this possible over time. Yes, this was the solution. She would apply her logic and her restraint, and kill this dragon named Desire, before it burned her up completely.
And no more Room of Requirement.
Severus was in the living room with Kingsley, transfiguring some of the furniture into tables and chairs when he saw Hermione walking slowly down the stairs carrying an armload of plates and glasses. His eyes narrowed. As the witch stepped off the staircase he started to crook a finger at her. Kingsley grabbed his hand.
"Don't you do it, Severus," the Auror said, a smirk on his face.
The Potions Master looked at the Auror, then shook his head ruefully.
"You spoiled it, Kingsley. It was such a perfect opportunity," he said looking longingly after the witch. "I was just going to make her stumble a bit."
"Then she would have spent the next half hour repairing the dishes," Kingsley responded.
"It would have kept her in one place longer than ten seconds," the Potions Master muttered as he transfigured an end table into a chair. "How many Order members are we expecting tonight?"
"About thirty. Just the squad leaders. Albus is going to give us an update on the latest information that's been gleaned from the deatheaters we caught in the last raid. Then we'll have the mixer. A few more people will be arriving then. There will be some music too, for dancing and such. Albus thinks we aren't having enough fun."
"At least he isn't decorating this time," Severus said, "Doesn't the man realize there are other decorations besides hearts and cherubs? Gods."
Kingsley chuckled.
"Albus is a romantic, Severus. He likes to spread the love around," the Auror said.
"All he does for me is spread the nausea," the Potions Master snorted.
They finished setting up the living room. It now held two large long tables with chairs lining both sides, a podium where Albus would deliver his information, and several rows of chairs in the back of the room. Severus looked toward the kitchen.
"I believe I'll see if the ladies need any help," he said walking toward the kitchen door.
Kingsley shook his head. He wondered how many seconds would pass before Hermione came flying out the kitchen. He watched as the Potions Master pushed open the door and entered. The Auror waited. And waited. And waited some more. Hermione didn't emerge.
Tonks must have given her quite a talking to.
Hermione had scourgified all the plates and glasses collected from her room, and magically stacked them in the cabinets. She was helping Tonks make some snacks and sandwiches when Severus entered the kitchen.
"Hey Severus," Tonks said, smiling at him as she flicked her wand at a pile of cold cuts that neatly rolled themselves up and arranged themselves on a platter.
"Good afternoon, Nymphadora," Severus replied, smirking as the Auror scowled at him. He wasn't above picking at Tonks either. She hated her name. Hermione didn't speak to him. She was slicing tomatoes for salad with a knife, the muggle way. Her cuts became a bit more vicious. Severus walked over to where she stood, standing unnecessarily close.
"I see the fox has finally come out of her den," he said, smirking at her.
"And I see the snake has slithered out from under his rock," Hermione replied, picking up another tomato and not looking at him.
Severus raised his eyebrows. This was the first thing the witch had said to him in days. He stood there looking at her. Finally she turned to him.
"If you're going to stand around in the kitchen, Severus, make yourself useful. Fill up the pitchers with pumpkin juice," Hermione said, gesturing to several pitchers on the table and a huge container of juice. There was a bowl of never-melting ice next to it.
The Potions Master scowled at the witch for attempting to order him around.
"Do I look like a house elf to you?" he asked her, his nostrils flared.
"No. A house elf is much more attractive," Hermione replied, "and useful."
Tonks snorted loudly. The Potions Master scowled at the Auror.
Severus was tempted to tell Hermione she found him attractive enough in the Room of Requirement, but held his tongue. So the witch had found her nerve again. Fine. He actually preferred her like this. Making her flee him had been enjoyable because she was normally so unflappable, but it didn't allow him to try and test the waters. It is hard to talk to someone who is constantly moving away from you. Instead of filling up the pitchers, the Potions Master shouldered in next to Hermione at the counter.
"What are you doing?" she said frowning at him, trying to ignore the tingle in her arm where he had pushed against her. The Potions Master picked up a knife and a head of lettuce, and expertly started chopping it.
"Helping you make the salad. At the rate you are preparing the ingredients, the mixer will be over before it is completed," he responded, making short work of the head of lettuce and picking up another one.
Hermione didn't respond. He was standing so close to her. She studiously sawed at the tomato. Suddenly she felt a pale hand covering hers.
"You don't saw at the fruit like it's a tree trunk," Severus said. He took her hand and showed her how to cut the tomato with one stroke, "You have to do it slow and easy. Pierce the flesh and pull back. Pierce the flesh, pull back." he said silkily, helping Hermione cut the fruit in time with his voice.
Tonks made a choking noise. Severus was something else. Only he could make slicing a tomato sound like sex. She was dying. Poor Hermione.
The Potions Master took his hand away. Hermione was staring at him.
"Think you can handle it?" he asked the witch, rather suggestively, his black eyes glinting at her.
Tonks choked again.
"Excuse me," the Auror said in a strangled voice, almost running from the kitchen.
The Auror ran into the living room where Kingsley was, holding her hand to her mouth so the couple in the kitchen wouldn't hear her hysterical laughter.
"What's wrong with you?" Kingsley asked her, his eyebrows raised at the tears streaming from the Auror's eyes.
It took a minute or two, but Tonks managed to stop laughing long enough to tell Kingsley what Severus was doing in the kitchen.
"He's using salad to seduce her," the Auror laughed. "He's good at it too."
Kingsley shook his head.
"You know, I suspected that Severus wasn't with anyone because he might be awkward around women. I guess I was wrong," he said
"So, so, wrong, Kingsley," Tonks replied, "I better get back in there before he does her on the kitchen table and ruins the food."
When the Auror returned to the kitchen, she found Hermione at the kitchen table, pouring the pumpkin juice, and Severus still working on preparing the salad. Hermione must have managed to pull away from him. She looked a little flushed though. At least she didn't break and run.
Tonks walked over to the cooler and took out another pile of cold cuts and brought them over to her side of the counter. She looked at Severus. He was slicing cucumbers now, but seemed to be mulling something over as he sliced the long green vegetables.
Hermione was done pouring the pumpkin juice and covered all the pitchers with their tops and carried them two by two over to another part of the kitchen, setting them up neatly on the counter, ready for consumption. She then wiped off the kitchen table and looked at Tonks.
"Anything else I can do, Tonks?" she asked the Auror.
"Yes," Tonks replied, her mouth twisting slyly, "Go back over there with Severus and help him finish cutting up the veggies for the salad."
Hermione scowled at the Auror.
"You can scrape the carrots," the Potions Master said off-handedly, "Ought to be right up your alley, since you've been running through Grimmauld Place like a rabbit lately."
Hermione frowned at him as she stalked over next to him and picked up a bunch of the freshly washed carrots. She picked out a large one, picked up a knife and started scraping it rather viciously. The Potions Master looked over just as she savagely chopped the top off of it.
He winced.
"I'm not running now," she said, smirking with satisfaction at the uncomfortable look on the Potions Master's face. She bet he was thinking about her knife and his private parts. Severus' black eyes met her amber ones for just a moment, then he looked back at the job at hand without comment. She had made her point.
She could handle him.
A/N: That's the end of "Love Can Be a Battle or a War Part One. There is one more long chapter. Thanks for reading.