Disclaimer: Not mine.

HG

Waiting for the sun to set while stuck underground has got to be one of the most agonizingly slow pastimes ever, Hermione decides as she paces back and forth by the fire.

"Could you please stop trying to wear a hole in my rug with your incessant movement?" Severus asks annoyed, glancing over the top of his book to give her a sneering look.

"Sorry, I'm just anxious."

After he agreed to take her to see Harry, Severus told her they would have to wait until dark. He didn't want her drawing a lot of attention.

Hermione stops pacing, sighs loudly, and crosses her arms over her chest before starting to tap her foot.

"Merlin, witch! You are going to drive me insane!"

He closes the book dramatically and places it on the coffee table in front of him, then leans back into the love seat eyeing her thoughtfully.

"If you truly require a way to release your stresses, I'm sure we could find a way. I would be more than happy to… assist you," Severus purrs, patting the seat next to him.

Hermione shoots him a sarcastic look, a witty retort ready on her lips. She is positive he is messing with her, but is shocked to see the fire in his eyes.

This could be it. We could do this, she thinks.

She rocks back and forth on the balls of her feet, unsure if she can walk into this so freely.

You reacted 'freely' all the previous times,the Other voice reminds her.

That was different. Those times were all in the heat of the moment. Can I really, consciously, decide to fool around with a possible Death Eater without even the excuse of uncontrollable lust?

Hermione searches his onyx eyes for an answer; she doesn't find one. She bites her lower lip and slowly approaches the couch to sit beside him.

Severus reaches out and gently takes her chin between his thumb and forefinger, turning her head to face him. Hermione releases a breath she didn't know she'd been holding and parts her lips.

That is, apparently, his cue, because Severus immediately leans in to kiss her. This time it feels different, she notes. In the past every time they kiss her lips feel seared from the heat, but this time it ignites a slow burn starting in her stomach and gradually making its way throughout the rest of her body.

She revels in this new feeling and snakes her hands up into his silky hair. Severus starts trailing kisses across her jaw and down her throat, nuzzling into the hollow of her neck.

Hermione lets out a sharp gasp, his kisses are leaving a path of fire behind them.

"Is this wrong?" she pants, just as his hand comes up to cup her breast through the silky robe.

"Hmmm?" he asks, distracted by his ministrations and the fact that she is arching her chest harder against his open palm.

"Is it wrong to need this, to want to feel again so badly, that I don't care if I can trust you? What does that make me? What does that make us?" she begs.

Severus reluctantly pulls his lips from her delicate shoulder, and looks her in the eyes, his expression tinged with sadness.

"Broken," he tells her. "It makes us two broken human beings searching for any form of comfort in a harsh and unforgiving world."

Hermione's eyes tighten at his explanation, but she nods, recognizing the truth of his words. She carefully wraps her arms around his neck and rests her head against his shoulder.

Severus puts one arm around her back and uses the other to scoop up her legs. He carries her across the room effortlessly and gently places her on the four-poster bed.

"Take that off," he tells her, nodding at her robe.

Hermione quickly complies. She scoots into the middle of the bed and pulls her knees up to her chest, feeling oddly self-conscious. She watches as Severus removes his clothing; first his robe, then his jacket, his fingers flying over the buttons expertly, it doesn't take long until he is standing before her completely naked.

She can't believe the perfection that has been hiding under his robes all these years.

His alabaster skin practically glows in the dimly lit room. Hermione studies him hungrily, her eyes tracing over his subtly sculpted chest. His body is long and lean, a collection of perfect angles.

Hermione holds her hand out to him, beckoning him forward. Severus approaches slowly, apprehension in every step. She can tell he is surprised about how quickly things are progressing.

He's just as nervous as I am.

Severus takes her hand and crawls on the bed beside her. They both lie down on their sides, and just stare at one another. Hermione shivers pleasantly as he reaches out to trace his long fingers down her arm, and back up to her collarbone.

"You are beautiful," he whispers.

"So are you," she says, truly meaning it.

Severus cups the back of her head and kisses her gently, rolling her onto her back, so he is lying halfway on top of her. Hermione lets out a soft moan, relishing in the skin-to-skin contact. She wraps her arms around him, and runs her hands down his back.

She breaks their kiss and lets out a startled gasp as she feels dozens of raised scars on his back.

"Oh, Severus! Are you all right?" she asks.

"Yes. They do not hurt. I apologize for not warning you. I am sure you want to stop now, correct?" he asks, and begins to pull away.

Hermione tightens her grip on him.

"Why would I want to stop?" she asks, confused.

"My scars are… rather unsightly."

"Severus," she says softly, "we all have our scars. Perhaps it would be you who would rather stop if you knew of mine."

"What scars do you bear?" he asks.

Hermione looks away, embarrassed and unable to meet his eyes.

You can tell him. He already suspects you slept with Harry, so it won't be much of a shock.

"I'm not a virgin, and I hate myself for doing what I did."

Severus' face grows cloudy, and she wonders if he is disappointed that she is not a virgin.

"How many times have you—?" he starts to asks, but lets the question die off.

"Just once," she whispers, "but I regret it. I wasn't ready, and he… wasn't worth it."

SS

Severus stares down at the beautiful young witch in his arms, and feels his stomach drop at her confession.

She has only had sex once… but the spell said she has been raped.

"Hermione, I know this probably isn't the best time for this discussion, but I can't let you make it sound like it was your fault," he tells her.

"What are you talking about?"

"I know you were raped, Hermione. I had to perform a diagnostic spell on your sexual activity, and it showed you were… forced.

Her eyes widen and she shakes her head.

"No. No, I wasn't raped. I may not have particularly enjoyed it, but I—it was— I let him."

"The spell doesn't lie. I don't want to push you on this, but can you tell me what happened?" Severus asks.

He reaches down and brushes a few loose curls from her face, waiting patiently for her to begin her story.

Perfect timing as always, he admonishes himself. She is naked in your arms, and you thought this was the topic you should bring up?

Severus tries to ignore himself. There is no way he could continue, knowing that Hermione seems to blame herself for what happened.

"It was during the Yule Ball," she starts, quietly, "in my fourth year. I don't know if you remember, but I went with Victor Krum."

Severus nods, keeping his face clear of emotion.

"Yes, I remember. It was quite the scandal. Potter's best friend going out with his opponent."

"Yes, well, we snuck out of the dance. V—Victor wanted to go for a stroll by the lake. We ended up on the furthest side away from the castle. He summoned a blanket for us to lay on," Hermione pauses, taking a deep breath. "It was too dark for anyone t—to see us over there."

Severus feels his jaw clench and throat dry out.

You were patrolling that night. You could have found them if you hadn't been caught up with that bastard Karkaroff.

"We started kissing. I was enjoying myself; I had never done anything so exciting before. Most of the time when I found myself breaking rules it was to do something dangerous, I was happy because this w—wasn't supposed to be dangerous." Her voice drops lower, and Severus strains to hear the rest of her story. "He started touching me, and it wasn't b-bad at first, but he started getting carried away. He pushed my skirt up to my waist, and started tugging on my knickers…"

Severus feels anger, and surprisingly, devastating sadness wash through him. In his mind an image appears that he didn't realize he even remembered. It is Hermione sweeping into the Great Hall on the arm of Victor Krum. She looks so young, and innocent in her pretty, periwinkle blue, dress robes.

You should have protected her.

"I told him to slow down, that I wasn't sure I was ready, but he just pulled my knickers off anyway. He told me that I was beautiful, and that he could have picked any girl, but he chose me. Then he u—unzipped his pants, and c—climbed on top of me. I said wait once more but he didn't hear me. I didn't fight him, or say no, I just cried while he did… it." She turns her face away, refusing to look at him. "He may have gotten carried away, but I let him. He didn't rape me… it was my fault."

"Hermione," Severus whispers, reaching up to turn her face back towards his. "It was not your fault. You said wait, and he didn't listen. You can't blame yourself. You didn't fight, but that was probably best. You don't know how he would have reacted if you had. Please, don't blame yourself."

She stares up into his eyes and Severus can sense her wish to believe him.

"Thank you, I appreciate your concern, and you may be right, but I think I'll need some time to come to terms with that."

"Who else have you told?" he asks.

"No one. I was… am… too embarrassed."

"You have nothing to be embarrassed about," Severus assures her. "He should pay for what he did."

"I really don't want to think about that right now," Hermione tells him, reaching up to stroke his face.

She reaches around the back of his head to pull his face down.

"Are you sure?" he asks. "I'll understand if you want to stop. I'll hear you."

"I know you would, and that's why I don't want to stop. Please, Severus, I want this. I want you."

Needing no further encouragement, Severus quickly leans in to claim her lips. He finds his passion equally matched, and possibly even surpassed.

She said she wants me.

Severus pulls away from Hermione, despite a groan of protest on her part. He begins trailing kisses down her neck, over her breasts, and across her stomach. When he finally finds himself between her legs, Hermione is no longer protesting the loss of his lips, but instead bucking her hips towards him begging for more.

"There!" she cries, as he finds that most sensitive of places.

A devious smile spreads across Severus' face as he nips and teases her.

"Please," she begs. "So… close!"

Hermione has her hands fisted into the bed's comforter, and her legs are quaking on either side of Severus' head. Just as he dips his head back down to bring her to completion, she jerks away.

"Wait," she pants, "let's finish together."

Could she be any more perfect?

Severus sits back on his knees, and positions himself between her legs.

"Are you sure?" he asks.

"Yes, I am."

She is staring up at him, eyes glazed with lust and longing, lips plumped from his kisses, and her chest slightly heaving.

So beautiful.

"I know you aren't a virgin, but this still might be a little uncomfortable," he explains.

Hermione lets out a low growl and sits up. She wraps both her arms around him and pulls him back down to the bed, on top of her.

HG

She isn't sure where her boldness is coming from, but she knows they cannot stop this time.

If he stops, I think I will die of longing.

Severus continues to shower her with kisses as he positions himself. She is somewhat distracted by his lips and hands, but she feels it as he presses against her.

So much heat!

She feels a sharp stab of pain as he enters, just as he warned, and lets out a gasp.

"Are you alright?" he asks, pausing his movements.

"Yes, don't stop."

This time when Severus moves above her there is only pleasure. Hermione finds herself arching up to meet him with each thrust.

Severus reaches his hand down between them, easily finding what he is looking for. The added pleasure of his fingers teasing her sends Hermione over the edge. She feels Severus finish with her and they both pant with exhaustion as they come down from their high.

"That… was… perfect," she says between breaths.

"Mmm," is all Severus manages in response.

They lay silently, still wrapped around one another, for quite some time. Neither of them wants to be the first to move.

Hermione has her fingers in Severus' hair, gently playing with the strands, when he finally speaks.

"It is probably late enough, if you still want to go pay your respects," he murmurs sleepily into the hollow of her neck.

"Really? I didn't realize how much time has passed."

Severus reluctantly pulls himself up and away from Hermione, and she is struck cold by the sudden loss of his body. He begins to dress quickly, and then as if realizing she has no appropriate clothing, he conjures a set of robes for her.

"Thank you," she says, hurrying to get dressed.

"Are you sure you want this?" he asks.

"Yes," she answers, amazed at how firm her voice comes out.

"Then follow me."

Severus removes the wards from the door, and opens it. He signals Hermione to exit first, and she takes a deep breath before doing as he instructs.

I'm coming, Harry. I'm just sorry it's too late.

Author's note: Thanks to LadyDunla for the beta! I hope you guys liked this chapter despite the semi lack of plot progression. Please let me know what you think, I don't usually write these type of scenes. Also, I will updating about once a week now. My school semester is starting to get hectic!