Chapter 4: Fear, Fall, Floor

Severus found himself not angry, but nervous when he woke up on Saturday morning dressed once again in his robes. The prospect of spending an entire day with Hermione while wearing his abominable clothing made him anxious; Merlin knew what his robes might force him to do.

It was one thing to accidentally touch Hermione's boob mid-stumble; it was quite another to be forced to grope one like a breakfast muffin.

In front of his students.

In the middle of Hogsmeade.

Without invitation.

He considered for a moment not getting out of bed at all, but his frustrating sense of duty and the thought that Hermione might try to find him in his chambers forced him out from under the covers.

Hermione was waiting for him in the Entrance Hall after breakfast and they exited the castle together. The walk was peaceful, most students already gone on ahead in their eagerness to escape the castle, and the sky was a mixture of light blue and fluffy white clouds, the sun shining weakly upon the earth.

"We're lucky it's a nice day," said Hermione, who was wearing a dark grey cloak over eggplant-coloured robes.

"If one believes giving up a whole Saturday to watch children act like hormonal imbeciles in public is nice," drawled Severus, his heavy boots crunching on the snowy path that led towards the gates.

Hermione shook her head, but did not reply, which suited Severus just fine. She looked lost in thought for several minutes, and then turned to him with a curious expression.

"Severus, why did you volunteer to chaperone today?" she asked.

"My robes made me do it," said Severus baldly. He added a touch of sarcasm to his voice so that Hermione could interpret his words as a joke.

"Very funny, Severus," she said, rolling her eyes.

And yet, I have yet to find the humour in it.

"I assume that means you won't tell me?" Hermione asked, looking resigned.

"I assure you, I am not here out of the goodness of my heart," he said in response.

"So you admit you have one, then?"

"It is as black and shrivelled as a bezoar," Severus purred.

"And yet a bezoar can save a life," said Hermione, smiling at him with genuine affection. His shrivelled heart gave a small but noticeable thud in his chest. Severus said nothing in reply, choosing instead to glare at the footprints in the snow as they walked.

His robes, however, had other plans, and nudged him sideways so he was walking close enough to Hermione that the hairs on his arms raised in response. Severus took a step to the right again, reestablishing some space, only to be nudged a little more forcefully to his left.

Resigning himself to walking closer to Hermione than he was comfortable with, Severus scowled and trudged on, relieved when they reached the High Street and he could vent his frustrations by yelling at a pair of Gryffindors who were snogging in an alleyway beside Gladrags Wizardwear.

Why the fuck didn't I buy my robes there? Severus thought as the students scampered away.

"Should we split up to cover more ground?" asked Hermione as they continued onwards down the road.

Severus's robes were apparently worried about Severus's potential response to Hermione's question, for they shoved Severus forcefully next to her, causing Severus's arm to bump against hers.

"No, I think it would be better if we remained together," he said smoothly.

Hermione chuckled. "And here I thought you'd be pleased to stalk off alone."

"And be forced to part with such pleasant company?" asked Severus sardonically, even as he cursed himself internally for having to say it. He really would have preferred to spend the day alone; not because he disliked Hermione's company, but because it greatly reduced the chances for his robes to embarrass him further in front of her. His robes, however, were insistent he remain with her, and each time he lagged behind, they gave him a firm shove in her direction.

He could only hope she didn't notice him stumbling and jerking around her like a drunken vampire in search of her blood.

Besides the fact he was apparently no longer permitted to be further than two metres away from Hermione, his robes otherwise left him alone for much the day as they walked back and forth through the village, disciplining students who took a little too much liberty during their free time.

At six o'clock the students had all returned to the castle for dinner, and Severus was about to suggest they do the same when he found his wrist forcefully placed between Hermione's bicep and her torso, his fingers instinctively wrapping around her arm, and then his body pulling them both into The Three Broomsticks.

"Dinner?" he asked, attempting to appear nonchalant even as he was mentally cursing at his clothing.

Honestly, did the robes have no sense of gallantry? Dragging her forcibly out to dinner was not how he imagined courting Hermione; not that he ever planned on courting Hermione—there was only one way that could turn out, which was yet another reason to worry about his robes' interference. Having Hermione think he was a disgusting old pervert was not a part of his plans.

"Oh, that would be lovely, Severus," said Hermione, her face turning from shock to surprise and then her lips curled into a soft smile.

As they made their way towards a table at the back of the room, Severus's robes sent him careening towards the bar. Severus could only call, "I'll get drinks," over his shoulder as Hermione shook her head in amusement and sat down to wait.

He was actually surprised that he was able to deliver their drinks and menus and sit down without his robes doing something abhorrent like make him spill wine over Hermione's front, and dinner passed by in pleasant conversation.

When the bill fluttered over to land on their table, however, Severus nearly spilled his drink as his arm lifted and then slammed his hand forcefully down over it with a bang that echoed through the pub.

"It's on me," said Severus with a bitter smile, crumpling the paper in his fingers.

And after that embarrassing display, Severus found his hand at the small of Hermione's back as they exited the front door. He was surprised that she didn't flinch outwardly, but then she was always very polite.

After another too-close walk back to the castle, Severus was relieved to reach the Entrance Hall and the possibility, if not for peace, then at least the possibility of being embarrassed in private.

"You've been acting very oddly this past week, Severus," said Hermione offhandedly as they paused in the middle of the hall. "Why is that?"

"You can't even begin to imagine," said Severus dryly.

"Enlighten me, then," said Hermione.

"Trust me, you don't want to know," said Severus bitterly.

I rather wish I didn't either.

"Quite the mysterious man today, aren't you? I'm not letting you get off so easily, you know," said Hermione with a grin. "Walk me to my rooms?"

This was a request Severus knew his robes would allow him to not deny, and so he nodded and they began to climb the stairs towards the sixth floor.

"You never did answer my first question, you know," said Hermione as they walked down a darkened corridor.

"What question?"

"Don't act stupid, Severus, it doesn't suit you," she said flippantly. "Why did you come to Hogsmeade today?"

"I already told you," Severus said smoothly.

"Oh, yes, your robes, was it?" she asked with a roll of her eyes.

Yes, my bloody fucking robes, Severus thought, but to Hermione he only let out a huff of breath.

Hermione stopped in the middle of the hall and turned to face him full on.

"I also noticed you changed your seat to be next to mine during meal times," she said. "And you have these handsome new robes. And you bought me dinner and drinks tonight after pretty much forcing me into the pub. All together, you've really been acting in rather a Gryffindor way, wouldn't you say?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Severus said smoothly, his heart beginning to thrum nervously.

"Can I present a theory to you?"

Severus nodded, his face expressionless, though inside he was beginning to panic. Hermione was intelligent and intuitive, and he really had been acting like a Gryffindor thanks to his robes.

Hermione took a deep breath and met his eyes; he felt like her chestnut-coloured orbs were looking straight through into his soul, and he prepared himself for the worst.

"I think you like me," she said quietly.

"You are the least annoying of my colleagues, I admit," said Severus silkily, hoping he could steer the conversation away from its inevitable end.

Of course, his robes had a completely different idea about how to respond and Severus felt his whole body being pushed towards Hermione. He could only blink when he discovered his robes had pressed them both against the wall, Hermione trapped beneath his larger body, his forearm next to her head; he tried to move it, but of course the bloody appendage was glued in place.

If he'd been alone, he would have started swearing.

No, no… this can't be happening… Oh Gods, she's going to hate me!

He had no idea how to get himself out of this situation. His position made anything he might say completely inappropriate or downright laughable; it was hard to act like nothing important was happening when you were glued to a bloody wall.

He could feel the heat rising from Hermione's body, feel the space between them shrink every time she inhaled. His heart felt like it was about to give out. He stared at her forehead and tried to ignore the swell of her breasts and the fact his body was betraying him completely by getting aroused.

He'd resigned himself to being fired and forcibly expelled from the castle for sexual assault when Hermione's eyelids drooped and she stretched herself taller against the wall so their faces were closer.

"Is that all you really think of me as, a colleague?" she asked.

No…

"Hermione, I…" he began, his voice a low rumble between them, but he could not think of a way to finish his sentence.

"You know what I think?"

Don't say it…

"I think you like me as much more than a colleague," she said, her voice unusually husky. "In fact… I think you want me, Severus Snape."

It was only then he noticed that she wasn't screaming or pushing him away; nor was she telling him off or calling him a pervert.

Could she…? Was it possible…?

He swallowed the hard lump in his throat and forced himself to meet her eyes. He was surprised to find they contained no fear or anger; instead, they glistened with a mixture of nervousness, hope, and desire.

"Would you like to know a secret?" she asked quietly.

Severus could only stare at her, his mind unable to make sense of the fact that not only was she not trying to get away, but she seemed to enjoy being pressed so close to him.

"I feel the same," she whispered, and her hands came up to rest on his shoulders.

It was not his robes that made him lift his free hand and brush the hair back from her face. Nor did they make him lean forward, only to find Hermione tilting her head upwards and closing her eyes. They did give his neck a small nudge when he hesitated, causing their lips to meet.

Severus's first thought as he pressed his mouth against Hermione's was, I'm kissing her!

But any thoughts were quickly overpowered by the softness of Hermione's lips beneath his own and the way she was gripping his shoulders with her fingertips.

When Hermione began sucking on his bottom lip, the extent of his mental vocabulary became limited to single syllable words, like "Gods," and "fuck," and "yes," though he did manage to string them together into a short sentence.

His throat, however, only seemed to be able to make a soft growling sound as he tentatively angled his head and pushed the tip of his tongue out so it ran along Hermione's upper lip. Her response was an equally inarticulate moan, and then her tongue flicked out of her mouth, entangling with his own.

Eventually they both came up for air, staring at each other as they panted heavily, faces still inches apart.

"Do you like me Severus?" asked Hermione.

"Yes," Severus admitted.

"Do you want me, Severus?"

"Yes."

"Would you like to kiss me again?"

"Fuck yes," Severus growled, capturing her lips greedily. At this his robes gave him another push forward until he had truly pinned Hermione's body against the wall, his erection pressing firmly into her soft curves.

She squirmed against him, one leg wrapping itself around his thigh as her fingers carded into his hair at the back of his neck. Fireworks were going off in Severus's brain as their tongues entwined and he suckled on her bottom lip.

So fucking sweet. Beautiful. Everything. So good. Ah, Gods!

She was grinding herself up against him now, and he moaned into her mouth as bolts of pleasure travelled down his cock and settled in his balls, which were positively aching for release. He was so caught up in the wonderfulness of it all that he didn't even notice his arm detaching itself from the wall until his hand was scraping up her side and over her breast, making her hum into his mouth.

Hermione broke their kiss and panted, "Would you like to come back to my quarters?"

His robes shoved his hips forward, grinding his cock into Hermione's pelvis.

"I'll take that as a yes," said Hermione with a coy smile. Severus felt completely drunk, half-wondering if this was all a dream, but his robes nudged him backwards and then gave him a strong shove towards Hermione, who was already walking quickly down the corridor towards her rooms.

Severus had never been to Hermione's quarters before. They had always worked together in one of their offices, in the staff room, or in his laboratory. He was surprised but pleased to see they were not an abomination of red and gold like Minerva's, but dressed rather conservatively in soft greens and blues.

He didn't have long to take them in before Hermione had thrown herself at him again, and he wrapped his arms around her gladly, still not entirely sure how he had managed to get here.

"Oh, Severus, I've wanted you for so long," gasped Hermione, pressing her lips against his.

Severus pulled away from their kiss momentarily. "You have?" he asked incredulously.

"Yes, for years," she said. "But I didn't think you'd be interested. You've always been so aloof, and I was your student…"

"You haven't been my student for almost a decade," he said, his deep voice echoing between them. "I admit, I have wanted you for some time."

"What made you finally act on it?"

"I found I was no longer able to stop myself," he said smoothly.

"Mmm," Hermione hummed against his lips. "Well, thank Merlin for that."

Their passionate snog continued for some time in the sitting room, their hands running over each other's robes and grabbing at the flesh underneath.

"Shall we go into the bedroom?" Hermione asked, her hands skimming over his arse and then up to the buttons at his collar, fingering them lightly.

Severus eyes could only widen in horror at the question.

How was he going to explain he was stuck in his bloody robes until ten o'clock?

Was it possible this wasn't a dream, but a nightmare? Would she throw him out of the room when she discovered his robes were as firmly affixed to him as the Fat Lady's portrait was to the entrance of the Gryffindor common room?

He glanced at the clock as she kissed his jaw, apparently deciding she didn't need an answer immediately. It was only nine o'clock.

Think, Severus, he thought, though it was awfully hard with her sucking on his earlobe and rubbing her hand over his erection through his robes.

He supposed he would simply have to pleasure her for an hour until he could rid himself of the dastardly garments. That wouldn't be so bad, really, as long as she didn't mind. He intended to worship every inch of her body at one point or another regardless.

But then Severus found Hermione's delicate fingers peeling away his collar, deftly flicking each button through its hole until a deep V of his pale flesh was visible where the fabric had parted.

"Bedroom, Severus? Or would you rather fuck me on the floor like an animal?" asked Hermione.

Good lord, she had a wild streak! Not that he minded. Either of those two options sounded fine, actually, but for their first time together, he thought the bed was likely the better option.

"Bedroom," he purred, fighting the urge to laugh out loud in glee, and picked her up in his arms, eliciting a happy squeal from the witch.

He tossed her on the bed, quickly ridding himself of his robes as she did the same. As his clothes fell into a soft pile around his feet, he felt power and control once more.

Hermione was lying on her back on the bed, her naked body spread out before him and her eyes shimmering with desire. He'd never seen anything more beautiful in his life; he surprised himself by telling her so.

She smiled and lifted her arms, inviting him to join her, which he did gladly. Perching himself over her body on the bed, he kissed her passionately, then trailed his lips down her neck. Her skin tasted slightly salty from sweat, and he licked and suckled his way across her chest.

"Severus," she purred and arched her body against him as he took one of her pebbled nipples into his mouth, sucking it and flicking it with his tongue.

"No foreplay, Severus," she whispered huskily, her eyes drooping in pleasure as he ran his fingers over the curls that covered her mound. "I want you inside me now."

"Impatient witch," Severus muttered, ignoring her request and dipping a finger between her thighs. She was sopping wet, and he knew she was going to feel fucking amazing around his cock. But he wanted to ensure her pleasure first, so with his thumb he found the button he knew would make her scream. She whimpered as he began to rub it in small circles.

"What do you want, Hermione?" Severus purred, watching her face as it contorted in pleasure.

"You," she moaned, her hips bucking spastically under his hand as he applied more pressure to her clit.

"You want my cock inside you?" he asked, dipping a single finger into her hot clutch.

"Yes! Oh, Merlin, please!"

She was close, he could feel it, and he carefully added a second finger to her core, pressing both against the spongy spot towards her belly as he rubbed her clit with his thumb.

That was enough to send her over the edge, and he felt her clamp down on his fingers and shudder hard as she climaxed.

Severus didn't wait for her orgasm to wane before he positioned himself over her and guided his hard length inside her. She was slick and ready from his fingers and her release, and he slipped in easily.

"Fuuuuuuck, yessssss," she moaned as he buried himself to the hilt, her mouth forming a small O as he began thrusting inside her.

She felt like soft, hot, molten bliss around his cock, and he forced himself not to thrash wildly against her like he so desperately wanted to. Gritting his teeth, he pushed in and out of her slowly, allowing her to get comfortable with his length before lifting her legs over his shoulders. Her eyes went wide, and then fluttered shut as he began to thrust into her again in the new position. The tip of his cock hammered into the soft spot inside her, and it took only seconds for her to reach climax once more.

"Yes, come for me," Severus growled, not stopping his pummelling as her insides pulsed around him. "You feel fucking amazing. You're so fucking tight and wet for me."

"Severus!"

Fuck yes, he could get used to hearing her screaming his name.

He dropped her legs from his shoulders and allowed himself to hammer against her, feeling his damp balls slap against her skin as he pumped in and out of her channel, searching for his own release.

"Tell me you want me," he purred.

"Severus, I want you. Gods, I want you! Fuck me! Yes! Severus!" she shrieked, and to his utter pleasure climaxed again, her words slipping into incoherent moans and whimpers.

He could not hold back any longer as she shuddered beneath and around him, and he quickly spiralled into his own orgasm. Thrusting inside her deeply several times, pure pleasure exploded outwards from his balls and he sent his seed shooting inside her.

When he was done, Severus fell forward against her, still supporting most of his body weight with his arms. They panted breathlessly against each other for some time, Severus feeling drunk and weightless.

This must be a dream. A fairy tale.

Then he felt Hermione's fingers tuck his straggly hair behind his ears and his eyes focused on her face once more. She was smiling earnestly and her eyes shared only happiness and affection.

Severus allowed himself to smile back—a real smile, one that he never shared with anyone—and then he kissed her lips softly before collapsing to her side.

He didn't need the robes to help him fall asleep that night. The fabric remained inert, lying lifelessly on the floor, their spell broken by the actions of a witch. But curled up beside Hermione in her bed, his limbs entangled with hers, Severus found it quite easy to fall asleep.

The next morning was the first in a week he woke up without robes on. Not only was he as naked as he was when he'd fallen asleep, but Hermione was kneeling between his thighs, sucking on his cock.

"Merlin's glorious tits!" Severus growled as his brain registered that the pleasurable sensations emanating from his groin were the result of Hermione's lips and tongue bobbing over his length. He quickly tangled his fingers in her hair, guiding her mouth into the rhythm that he liked.

Gods… fuck… yes… OH!

He came hard and his eyes practically bugged out of his head as he watched Hermione suckle him until he was soft, swallowing his load as her eyes smiled up at him deviously.

Severus laughed softly as she curled up beside him and gave him a peck on the cheek.

"Good morning," she chirped happily.

Bloody fucking fantastic morning, he thought, curling his arms around her possessively. She snuggled into his chest, and Severus let his gaze wander to their clothing, which lay forgotten on the floor from the night before. Her eyes, apparently, did the same, for she said, "You know, Severus, as handsome as you look in those new robes, I think I prefer them on the floor."

"I could not agree with you more," said Severus with a smile.

They never bothered him again. But then, with Hermione, his life was very much improved.