CHAPTER 62
Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to JKR. All situations are mine. No $$$ is being made from this fanfic.
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Chapter 62 ~ Beneath the Obvious
Hermione stared at Severus as he fell silent. He had talked for about two hours…often hesitating and having to stop as he told her about his upbringing and his parents’ deaths. He also went into detail about just how cruel and hurtful Harry’s father and his friends had been, but they weren’t the only ones who harassed him.
He told her about his father’s abuse of his mother, and her subsequent death at his hands and the suicide. Hermione’s heart went out to the wizard…how horrible for him. He was a lonely child without playmates and he had to find his own entertainment, which was collecting and growing herbs and making simple potions from books. He became quite proficient, even as a youngster, and pored over ever Potions book he could find. He was a very intelligent and self-motivated child. He liked to make perfumes for his mother. He stopped liking to smell any kind of scent on a woman when she died. It made him think of her.
The first words anyone had ever said to Severus when he arrived at Hogwarts were, “What’s the matter with your nose? It’s enormous!”
A first year witch had said this and made all the other students laugh at him. Then they began to tease him about his pale skin and his greasy hair. From his first night at the school, Severus was a target for cruelty. He was a sensitive child too, one who would never insult anyone purposely. But he soon learned to fight back verbally with scathing comments of his own. He was quite well-spoken which only added to the acid of his replies. He could make other students cry or want to fight with his words. The little wizard learned how to go right to the heart of their shortcomings and twist the knife. He was soon left alone by the others.
On several occasions he had made friends, or thought he had…only to find them talking and laughing about him behind his back. After a couple of experiences like this, he started cutting them off, focusing on his studies to the exclusion of all else. But when he went home on holiday, his mother lavished him with love, and so restored him somewhat. He had her to fall back on until his third year, when she was killed by his father, whom he also lost.
Then the harassment from the Marauders began in earnest, starting when Severus was walking up the stairs and Sirius cast a tripping spell on him. The young wizard’s nose was broken for the first time as a result, and his face badly bruised. They didn’t use glamours in those days and for over a week he was laughed at and teased because of the condition of his face…which Sirius claimed was an improvement.
For the first time, Severus used magic to get someone back. He cast an antler spell on all four of the Marauders as they entered the Great Hall. They found out what it was to be laughed at. Then the war began, with James and Sirius the main antagonists. Peter was too afraid of Severus to actually hex him or torment him, but he was always ready to laugh at him. Remus didn’t participate either, or laugh…but he was still with the others and to Severus that made him one of them. Alone, without friends or family, Severus became cold, bitter and downright mean. Students called him the blackest wizard at Hogwarts…and he lived up to that name. He was a true wizard at Potions, and caught the eye of Tom Riddle who had heard about his talents as well as his situation. Tom figured that he might be able to draw the wizard in with promises of support and power. After a few meetings, and a lot of praise and false understanding, Severus joined his ranks. Everyone wanted to “belong” and Severus…despite his coldness…was no different. And the rest…well that was history.
He also told Hermione about his contact with witches. Until he joined the Dark Lord, his sex life was non-existent. That changed when witches who wanted access to Tom Riddle began to come to him and offer him favors in exchange for introductions to the wizard. Severus obliged them. But not one wanted him for him. He became bitter toward witches too, and saw them as being devious and plotting, willing to do anything to get their way. They were only good for one thing. Climax. His opinion didn’t change when he got older. Sex was something he engaged in for release and nothing more. Who he fucked didn’t matter, long as she was wet, tight and without STDs.
Still, he caught one once…a horrible wizarding version of the clap that literally set his cock on fire when he pissed. Poppy was able to cure it with a simple spell, but the wizard began to practice celibacy after that…only fucking on very rare occasions after checking the witch out thoroughly with a number of spells he had learned for just that purpose. When Hermione came to him, he didn’t do all of the spells because he was aware of the witch’s overall nature.
Both witch and wizard sat silently in front of the fireplace. Hermione didn’t comment on what he told her, other than to say, “Thank you, Severus.”
The wizard nodded, and they sat together that way for another two hours before Hermione suggested they retire.
Severus rose and together they went to his bedroom and prepared for bed. Hermione put on a nightgown and climbed in. Severus slid in beneath the cover next to her, dressed in his boxers. They lay there for a while, looking up at the ceiling.
Finally Severus turned his face toward the witch.
“Would you mind terribly if we did not engage tonight?” Severus asked her.
Hermione looked at him.
“No, Severus…I don’t mind. We don’t have to have sex every time we’re in a bed together. We can just sleep,” she said softly, placing her hand on his arm comfortingly.
Severus’ black eyes flicked down to where her small hand rested on his pale arm, then back to her face. Suddenly, he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled the witch in tight against him, his lips resting lightly against her temple.
“Thank you,” he said softly, pressing his lips against her skin and settling in with a sigh. Presently, he was asleep.
Hermione lay within the Potions Master’s embrace, looking at his profile as he slept. He never once released her…in fact, every time she moved, he would frown in his sleep and hold her tighter. This wasn’t the reaction of a man who didn’t care. The fact that he was asleep and still so possessive told the witch he did find her important, and did need her presence.
Also, this was the first time he didn’t fuck her when he had her in his bed. Something had changed tonight. Hermione could feel it.
And something had changed. When Hermione told the wizard what she wanted out of life, where she wanted a relationship with a wizard to go…it was sobering and eye-opening. She was well within her rights to want more than a stiff cock and a man that wouldn’t commit to her. Hermione became in that moment, more than an intoxicating pleasure and sexual partner. She became a complete woman who deserved more than he was offering her.
Severus felt that a physical relationship with Hermione had greater connotations now. Whether or not he realized this on a conscious level was a matter of conjecture. He only knew when he looked down at her in his bed, he didn’t want to do the usual. He needed to show her something different about him. That it wasn’t all sex…even if he couldn’t say it or admit it to himself. So he decided to sleep with her in a conventional sense. And that simple act seemed even more intimate than sex to the witch.
Hermione’s eyes grew heavy, and Severus’ profile blurred. She yawned and his arm tightened around her, his face turning toward the witch, though he didn’t wake. Hermione smiled sleepily, kissed him on the tip of his big nose and contentedly fell asleep.
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The next morning at breakfast, Hermione decided to broach the topic of Playwitch.
“So Severus,” she said brightly as the wizard took a bite of his toast and jam, “How did the interview with Playwitch go?”
Severus looked up at her for a moment before answering.
“It was…quite different from what I expected. Miss Fitzworten offered me thirty thousand galleons flat for four nude photos,” the wizard said.
Hermione’s heart dropped. Thirty Thousand galleons for four pictures? That was a lot of money, and Severus loved making money. He was good at it…it almost seemed a game for him. He didn’t spend much of it…just liked to let it grow.
“That’s a lot of money, Severus,” Hermione said slowly. He could hear the disappointment in her voice.
“Yes, it is,” he replied, cutting into his sausage, “but not enough for what I would have to go through. I told Miss Fitzworten I wasn’t interested.”
Hermione’s eyes widened. He turned them down?
“Why? What would you have to go through?” Hermione asked curiously, “A room full of people watching?”
Severus shook his head.
“No. The opposite. It would have just been me and the photographer,” he said with a slight shudder.
“That doesn’t sound so bad,” Hermione said, feeling she could talk freely now that Severus said he wouldn’t pose nude. She was very happy about that.
Severus made a face.
“It would have been bad, Hermione. Extremely bad, believe me,” he said, not wanting to tell her about Adam Sweetmeats.
“But it would have been better, wouldn’t it? I mean, you could be more comfortable that way,” she pressed.
“Hardly. Even when I spoke to the photographer I was extremely uncomfortable,” the wizard said, taking a sip of coffee and shuddering again.
Hermione caught the shudder. Not many things made Severus Snape shudder. She just had to know more.
“What was wrong with the photographer?” she asked him, enthralled, leaning forward eagerly over the kitchen table. Severus looked at her.
“I would rather not talk about it,” Severus said.
Hermione scowled at him.
“Severus, you told me you would discuss this with me. Even though you’ve decided not to pose, I still want to know what happened,” the witch said.
Severus looked at her for a moment. Hermione’s jaw was thrust out determinedly.
Severus sighed.
“All right. The photographer was a gay and very flamboyant Vampire Queen named Adam Sweetmeats.”
Hermione sucked her lips in to keep from laughing at Severus’ stricken expression. Finally after she thought she had a bit of control, she repeated, “Adam Sweetmeats? Severus…you HAVE to be joking.”
”Trust me, Hermione this is no joking matter. The vampire’s name is Sweetmeats. He is a part time photographer. Apparently he runs a beauty shop called “Love Bites,” the wizard said darkly. “He appears to be a civilized vampire. He has a death partner named Victor. A very jealous fellow I might add. He looked as if he wanted to tear my throat out the entire time I was there,” the Potions Master replied, grimacing.
“Why Severus, I never took you for a homophobe,” Hermione said.
Severus scowled.
“I assure you, I am not a homophobe. I am more of a…Sweetmeatsphobe. The vampire was out to do more than shoot me. I think he wanted me to do the shooting. As a Queen, he has the power to compel humans to do what he wants, Hermione. I refused to be alone with him, but he claimed that was the only way he could “focus.” Well, I didn’t want his focus on me. So I declined. End of story,” the wizard said blackly. “I don’t care if they offered me one hundred thousand galleons. It’s not worth fucking a male vampire.”
Hermione stared at Severus for a long moment, then burst out into hysterical laughter as Severus looked on, scowling. He didn’t find anything remotely funny about the situation at all. He could have been severely compromised.
Hermione gasped, trying to breathe.
Gods, she’d have to send this Adam Sweetmeats a thank you note.
The vampire had really saved the day.
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A/N: So, Severus decided not to pose…but not because of Hermione’s feelings, but because he was worried Adam would make him perform behind closed doors. Lololol. Too funny. A Sweetmeatsphobe. Hahaha. Well anyway there are some changes happening. He didn’t touch her sexually, but kept her close. I think he’s almost ready to take the plunge. But…I could be wrong. At any rate, please review.