Old fic repost (Love Potion no. 9, ch 3-4)

[redorchids]

Previous part

Chapter 3 - Detention

Hermione was released from the hospital wing the next day, after having had breakfast brought up to her bed by a curly-haired house-elf. She was grateful that she hadn't needed to go down to the Great Hall for breakfast - after the adventures of the night before, she didn't feel like sitting in the same room as either Snape or Harry, at least not until she'd figured out exactly what had happened between them.

She quietly sneaked down the stairs and made her way to her rooms. She rounded the last corner when...

"Hermione! Wait up!"

She turned around, a slight shiver running down her spine at the sound of the familiar voice.

"Hi Ron."

She felt herself go slightly hot in the face as she smiled at him. She noticed that Ron's ears were a little red.

"I was just going to the Hospital Wing to see you. I would've come sooner, but I ran into Snape as I was sneaking up there last night and he practically tossed me back through the portrait and gave me detention with Filch for a week! I've never seen the miserable git in such a vicious temper, wonder what had happened to him... Oh well, I hope it was something really bad!" he sniggered. Hermione felt herself go a bit redder and turned down her eyes. Ron took a step closer.

"I got really worried when I heard you had that accident. I'm afraid I came down a little hard on Neville, he was almost in tears after I'd stopped shouting." He smiled sheepishly. "I'm sorry I wasn't there with you last night. Will you maybe accept this as a small apology?"

He pulled a small box out of his robes and handed it to her with a nervous grin. She took it with a surprised smile, putting it in the pocket of her robes.

"Thanks Ron, that's really nice." Happiness was bubbling inside her. He'd just given her a gift! He was standing in front of her being a perfect gentleman, saying he'd been worried about her! She met his eyes and got the impression that he was fighting with himself over something.

"What's wrong?" she said, looking him deeply in the eyes. He blushed slightly and lowered his eyes. Then his body seemed to stiffen slightly and a determined expression settled on his face.

"Nothing, it's just... hrm... Hermione, would you want to come on a broom ride with me tomorrow?" His breathing seemed to have stopped as he waited for her answer.

"Sure Ron, I'd love to!"

He smiled and his courage seemed to pick up, because he gave her a saucy smile and stepped close to her, grabbing hold of her hair and kissing her soundly on the lips. His tongue firmly invaded her mouth, urging her to respond to him. Tentatively, she started stroking his tongue with her own, smiling inwardly when she heard him gasp into her mouth and tighten his hold on her until it became almost painful. After what felt like a long time, he let her go and looked at her with slightly clouded eyes.

"See you later sweet," he said with a broad smile, stroked her cheek lightly and made his way down the hallway. Hermione leaned against the wall for a couple of minutes while her brain processed this new surprising information. Ron had just kissed her, and rather passionately too...

Slowly, she reached into the pocket of her robes and removed the small, velvet box Ron had given her. Her eyes widened as she looked down at her gift - a pair of earrings in pink and gold. She carefully rubbed one with her finger and felt some of the "gold" come off, showing pink plastic underneath. She held it up, watching the dangling strands of pink pearls dance before her eyes. She gave an involuntary shudder and brought them up to her ears. She bit her teeth together as she forced the sharp, metal point through her non-pierced ears and blinked away the tears quickly as she secured the fastenings and put the box back into her robes. Her ears aching badly, and with a tingling sound surrounding her, she walked the last few steps to her door and quickly stepped inside.

***

"Oh my God!" Hermione gasped as her eyes fell on her living room table. On the white marble surface stood the most amazing flower arrangement she'd ever seen in her life. A bright red flower dominated the piece, which looked like a magical hybrid of a rose and an orchid. Arranged around it were an assortment of deep red roses, greens, golden leaves and beautiful silver baby's breath that seemed to sparkle of its own accord. It took her breath away and she stood transfixed, staring at it for several minutes before she noticed the card attached to a long rose stem.

She reached out and took it, noticing in the process that the flowers not only looked incredible, they also smelt sweeter than any other she'd seen before. With fingers that trembled slightly of excitement, she lifted it to her eyes and read:

Hermione,

Words cannot express how sorry I am for what happened yesterday. I never meant to do it, I swear to you. I cannot explain what happened to me, cannot explain what made my hands cause you such embarrassment. I can only assume that your beauty and grace finally broke down my defences and left me helpless against the tremors of my body, which until yesterday, I always managed to keep in check in your presence. I never thought to make this confession to you, but today, I somehow find myself compelled to be sincere.

I've admired you for a long time, not only because of your intelligence, but because of your strength, integrity and the vulnerability I can sometimes see on your face when you think nobody is looking. I've watched you more closely than you can imagine, hating myself because I couldn't stop thinking about you. I went back to the hospital wing just before dawn and just sat by your bed for a small eternity, while feelings of shame and desperation threatened to drive me mad because of what I'd done to you.

I know I don't deserve you, but I can't help but look at you with love and admiration. Please accept this small token of my unyielding love along with my deepest apologies.

She turned the card to see a name somewhere but found none. She read it again and then fell back on her couch. The note had deeply stirred something within her and she wondered who'd written the beautiful words. The confession suggested that the writer was under the influence of her potion and she had a sneaking suspicion that it might not have been such a good idea to brew it after all - her life was certainly becoming complicated...

She turned her head back to the beautiful flowers. The arrangement suggested incredible taste but also considerable riches. She immediately took Ron off the list, besides, he hadn't been able to get to the hospital wing, he'd said so himself... Snape had tossed him out in a fit of temper...

She sat bolt upright, turning from the flowers, which twinkled at her in a perfect harmony of red, green, silver and gold, to the card, where the formulations "I've watched you more closely than you can imagine, hating myself because I couldn't stop thinking about you", "feelings of shame and desperation threatened to drive me mad because of what I'd done to you" and "I know I don't deserve you," burned her eyes. She closed them and immediately saw black eyes looking into her very soul, felt her body grow hot and her breathing heavier as she remembered the way his hands had moved along her side, cupping her breast, a stray finger drawing a teasing circle around her nipple...

She let out a trembling breath and put the card in her pocket, grabbed her books and made her way to Transfiguration.

***

Hermione felt like she was walking through a dream for the rest of the day, too confused and emotionally shocked to really note what was going on around her. McGonagall gave her a worried glance at the end of double Transfiguration and Flitwick asked her if something was the matter at the end of Charms. She just shook her head, mumbling that she was fine and went down to dinner with the others.

During dinner, she concentrated on her food and didn't speak to anyone. Harry, Ron and Ginny weren't there because of delayed Quidditch practice and Neville had sat down next to Dean further down the table. He was looking very uncomfortable, Hermione thought, putting it down to the fact that Lavender and Parvati were discussing sexual positions right next to him. She caught his eye and gave him an encouraging smile. He smiled back and during the remainder of the meal, they shared knowing smiles whenever one of the girls said something particularly tasteless. When Lavender said something about the advantage of hairless nipples, she saw Neville blush and stand up, starting to make his way towards her end of the table instead. Hermione moved to create some space for him and he accepted it with a smile and a thanks, picking up a bowl of chocolate mousse and offering it to her. They talked and laughed for a while until a sharp, cold voice interrupted:

"Miss Granger, do you know how to tell time?"

She turned her head and met black fire staring down at her. Her heart made a small jump in her chest, fear making the hairs on her arms stand on end. Neville looked at both of them with worry.

"I'm sorry sir, I didn't realise it was so late."

"Well, as much as I regret tearing you away from your frivolous flirtations with Longbottom, I'd like to get your detention over with as soon as possible so that I don't have to suffer your company longer than necessary." The voice was deeply sarcastic and Hermione felt herself blush as she stood up and followed her professor out of the Great Hall.

***

They walked in silence through the deserted corridors, shoes clapping against the grey stone. Hermione couldn't help feeling like she was walking towards her doom. The tension in the air seemed to increase with every step and she could see Snape's back stiffen as they descended the stairs. At the Potions classroom he held open the door and let her walk past him before he followed and let the door slam shut. She took a couple of steps into the classroom, looking around the familiar environment. Her right hand stroked the surface of one of the desks in an almost dreamy way, when suddenly two strong hands grabbed her from behind and lifted her from the floor. She barely had time to register what was happening before she was thrown on her back on the desk she'd just been touching, feeling her back being pressed into the smooth wood as a strong, warm body pinned her down and his mouth claimed hers with almost desperate passion.

***

Clap, clap, clap... He heard his feet against the stone floor and tried to concentrate only on that sound. A word kept going through his mind "control... control... control," running in circles like a mantra. He was walking ahead of her because he didn't think he could suffer seeing her softly swaying form walk before him down the corridors. He could still feel her presence as acutely as if he'd been carrying her in his arms... He immediately suppressed the thought, cursing his body for betraying him so easily. His anger towards the girl walking behind him grew and he hastened his steps.

As soon as they reached the classroom he would confront her. Find out exactly what kind of witch's brew or spell she'd put him under to make him lose the things most important to him: his self control, dignity and the feeling of being the master of every situation and in control of his own life. The disgusting little know-it-all had managed to strip him of all that, making his mind and body betray him at every turn. The last 36 hours or so had been pure torture, her face, body, smell, forever on his mind. His hands had been tingling all day from the feel of her skin under them, her soft breast moulding itself to his touch, the wetness of her soft folds against his fingers... He closed his eyes and drew a deep breath. "Control... control," he reminded himself. His dreams had been a never-ending succession of erotic fantasies and he'd been hard almost constantly ever since he woke up. It was straining him sorely and his anger grew with every passing minute. He was in half a mind to just grab the girl and rape her right there in the cold stone passage, where her back would get scrubbed bloody against the rough stone, to let her take the full consequences of her actions... He clenched his teeth and reminded himself that teaching the little bitch a lesson was not worth losing his job, position and -quite possibly- his life over.

He reached the classroom door and opened it, intending to just walk inside. She was quicker however, and he found himself standing there, frozen like some stupid, lovesick boy, just following her with his eyes as she walked past him, coming so close he could feel the heat coming from her body. He clenched his teeth harder and let the door slam shut in frustration.

She was walking into the room, looking around at nothing in particular it seemed. He followed in her steps, preparing to ask his first question when his eyes inadvertently caught hold of her fingers stroking the smooth, wooden surface of one of the desks. He was standing close enough to hear her breathe and the sensual gesture became his undoing. Before he could pull himself together he felt his arms grab her and throw her on the desk, onto which he followed, coming down hard on her body and claiming her soft lips while blood pounded in his ears.

The feel of her body under his was intoxicating and he pressed himself harder against her as one hand went for her soft breast. She moaned and arched against him as he caressed the soft flesh and pinched the nipple teasingly. It enflamed him even more and he deepened the kiss, letting one hand lose itself in her curls as the other hurriedly undid the buttons in the front of her robes, laying the smooth skin bare to him. With a groan, he reached inside and explored the bra, finding it a simple model that was hooked in the front. He almost ripped the fabric as he undid the clasp and let his hand find what it'd been craving to touch for so long. She gasped and pressed her breast into his hand, kissing him back with feverish passion, wrapping her legs around his back and pressing his straining erection even closer against her.

Severus Snape couldn't believe what was happening. Not only had he completely lost control of his own body, but the girl seemed to have lost hers to the passion that enveloped them as well. Her hands were now at the front of his robes, her fingers working with fervent determination to release his upper body from the black fabric. When her hands first came into contact with his bare skin, his mind stopped working altogether. The only thing that mattered now was touching her and being touched, and his kisses became even more insistent as his hands worked to open her robes all the way down her body. She was obviously set on the same thing, for he heard the sound of ripping fabric and figured she'd lost patience with the buttons. He smiled into her soft, wet mouth, which was battling his with fervour. He couldn't recall ever having been with a woman who displayed such mind-blowing passion as this young girl.

Their movements became more determined and he heard her cry out as he took one of her breasts in his mouth and started drawing greedily on the nipple. He continued to stimulate her breasts with his hands, letting his mouth and tongue wander down her body, nipping at her skin and drawing intricate figures on her stomach and down towards her thighs. She moaned louder and entangled her hands in his black hair, urging him on further. He swiftly complied, one hand ceasing its play with her hard nipples to pull off her knickers and caress the silken skin on her inner thighs. He kissed, nibbled and licked along her thighs and stomach until she trembled with need and her grip on his hair was becoming truly painful before he let himself taste her, running his tongue over her wet folds and letting it vibrate over her most sensitive point. Her reaction was explosive, making her voice her passion through moans and gasps, pleading with him not to stop. He entered her with two fingers and felt her body arch and shudder again. She was very close, he realised, and he wanted to be inside her when that moment came.

With a swift movement, he pulled off his boxers and came to rest completely on top of her again. His mouth hungrily sought out hers as he rocked his erection against her wetness, feeling her rock back against him eagerly. The feel of her naked body pressed against him was truly incredible and when she deepened the kiss and wrapped her legs around him while one hand grabbed his sex and stroked it lightly, he choked on his breath and rubbed feverishly against her, kissing her neck and sucking on her earlobes. He felt her soft hand guide him to her entrance, his tip brushing against her moist curls. He was helpless against the need of his own body, and with a groan he captured her lips for another searing kiss and drove himself firmly into her.

He thought he heard her whimper softly against his mouth but the feeling of being fully inside her was so incredible, it shut out everything else. He started moving against her, filling her with powerful strokes, his hands caressing her everywhere, his kisses urging her to respond to the movements of his body. He moved one hand in between their bodies and started stimulating her nub again, drawing immediate response from her. Very soon, she was moving desperately beneath him, urging him to quicken the pace, hands kneading his back and mouth pressing wet kisses along his neck and chest. Their breathing became one as their bodies moved together in passionate pursuit. He intensified the movement of his hand, moving his mouth back to her breast to tease the delicate flesh. He soon felt her body stiffen and contractions started squeezing him as he drove madly into her and heard his own cry mix with hers as he exploded within her body.

They lay panting together for a while, unable to move from the intensity of the passion they'd just shared. After some time, Hermione felt his hand enter into her hair and grab her curls in a rather painful grip. She opened her eyes and looked into black eyes which shone with confusion, wonder and an increasing anger that sent shivers down her spine. He swallowed, and when he spoke, his voice didn't quite achieve its normal, cold quality, though the deadly softness was present enough, as he gave her the most piercing look she'd ever seen and snarled:

"What the hell have you done to me?"

***

Hermione felt her eyes widen in surprise at the aggressive question. The intensity in his eyes scared her.

"W-what do you mean?"

Painfully aware that he was still firmly settled inside her, she tried to avoid his gaze by turning her head to the side and closing her eyes. Straight away, a firm hand grabbed her chin and turned it back to face him.

"Look away from me again and you will sorely regret it, I promise you." His voice was making the hairs on her arms stand on end. "Now kindly tell me just what bloody spell or potion you've put me under so that this farce can come to an end!"

"Sir, I don't understand, I-"

"Don't lie to me." His voice had been reduced to a deadly whisper. "I assure you it won't work, seeing as I lie for a living. Now tell me what you've done to me."

She looked him straight in the eye, her eyes defiant.

"I've done nothing to you, sir. What on earth makes you think that I'd want to do something so repulsive as putting you, the most abhorrent teacher at Hogwarts under a love spell?"

He let out a disbelieving laugh and lowered his head until their faces were but a fraction of an inch apart. She felt her body start tingling again and drew a deep, shuddering breath, which seemed to distract him momentarily before he said:

"What on earth indeed? Well, incredible as it might seem to you - arrogant as you undoubtedly are - tumbling your precious self on a hard desk in my classroom isn't exactly my life ambition." His voice was heavy with sarcasm and took on an aggressive tone as he continued: "It so happens that my life, job and role in the war are far too precious to me for me to risk it all for a taste of your... favours." He smirked at her. "Add to that that my symptoms began just a couple of days after I personally caught you removing a book of very potent love potions from this very classroom, that I know for a fact that you've been attracted to me for quite some time and that even now, I can't seem to bring my body to part from yours..." He moved slightly inside her, feeling his length start to harden again and enjoying the sensation. He smiled knowingly as he felt her hips move to meet him and watched desire rekindle in her eyes. "It all makes for a rather convincing argument, don't you think?" He moved lazily inside her, a hand making its way down to a plump breast, pleased to feel her pulse quicken under his touch. He smiled again, feeling incredibly strong now, his earlier release having given him back some control over his body. "So, Miss Granger, which potion did you actually make and how did you manage to get it into my system?"

The question penetrated the fog that seemed to be clouding her mind, and she tried to clear her head to find an answer. Her mouth was completely dry and she swallowed and wet her lips in an attempt to get her voice back. Instantly, his eyes flashed at her.

"Can't seem to find your tongue, can you? Well, let me be of assistance."

Once again, his mouth claimed hers and set her senses reeling. She couldn't even remember what it was he'd asked her anymore as her full attention was brought to the incredible sensations he was stirring inside her. With a soft tug at her lower lip, he raised his head and eyed her expectantly.

"No? My, my, this must be the first time I've caught you speechless. Maybe I should employ this technique in class..." Apprehension and shock was written on her face, along with something else - a growing blush, revealing to him that the image had set her imagination to work as it had done his.

"Sir, you wouldn't -"

"Of course I wouldn't!" he half snapped at her. "I'm not a bloody exhibitionist. I like to keep my affairs private thank you." He moved inside her again, silencing her moans with his mouth. He could feel her losing control and decided now would be a very good time to get the truth of the matter out of her. With a grin on his face, he withdrew from her mouth and started drawing a teasing circle around her nipple with one, soft finger.

"Now, which potion did you use? The Ardent Desire? The Simply Irresistible? No...? Well I know you couldn't have used the True Love Revealed as you claimed you would –“

"I-I did." Her voice was barely more than a whisper.

"Miss Granger, don't take me for an imbecile," he said harshly as he pinched her nipple and pushed himself deep into her with long, hard strokes. "There are three perfectly obvious reasons to why you cannot have used that particular potion." He drew back so that only his tip remained inside her, wagging it slightly from side to side. "One" He pushed deeply into her, her cry of pleasure ringing like soft music in his ears. "The True Love Revealed must be taken willingly and cannot be tricked upon its drinker. And I certainly would never drink it, even if I knew it would not affect me. --- Two" He accentuated the word with another deep stroke. "The potion is only to reveal feelings that are pure and noble, and I think you will agree that the ones that have been haunting me for the past two days are very far from being feelings of polite, courtly love." He chuckled lightly at his own words and saw a smile spread on her face also. He put his lips to one hard nipple and allowed himself the time to tease her until she was pushing her hips as high as she could, her body begging him to come back to rest fully inside her. "Three" Her body was shaking with desire now. "The potion only reveals feelings already existent, and I assure you that until yesterday, the only feelings I had for you were annoyance and distaste." He was being cruel to her and he knew it, yet felt an odd satisfaction at her defiant expression. He would have expected her to show some distress, and perhaps even some tears by now, but she just looked back at him with an almost smug expression. The unexpected look unnerved him a little, and he noticed to his dismay that she was trying to take control over the situation, her legs coming up to wrap themselves tightly around his back, pressing him against her.


"I changed it." The voice was husky as she spoke and her hands grabbed his head to pull him down for another kiss. He resisted.

"Changed it? It's partly a truth potion, you cannot change it."

"Well..." She looked very smug now. "that is correct, I couldn't change the part about sincere feelings or a willing drinker, so that's not what I did." She spread little kisses along his neck, sending little jolts of electricity through his body.

"Then how?"

"I Transfigured it so that the roles of the drinker and the brewer would be reversed. Instead of making the person who drank it reveal his true feelings -which could have concerned any one person I might add- I made it so that people who harboured feelings for the person who did drink the potion would be affected by it. I took the potion myself, and quite willingly too." She flashed a mischievous smile at him. Her hands were snaking themselves around his shoulders, sending shivers down his spine. "Which means..." She rocked herself slowly against him, arching her back so that her nipples would caress his chest. "... that even though you might not have known it, you do have feelings for me."

"You forgot the part about the pure feelings." His voice was shaking slightly with desire as he fought to keep control over his body. Her touch was truly delicious and the way she rocked against him made him throb inside her. With a groan, he took hold of her soft hands and pinned them down over her head where they wouldn't be able to do any more mischief. To release some of the tension, he let himself nuzzle at her neck, drawing in her scent and bite her shoulder in frustration. She let out a moan and pressed herself closer against him.

"I-I had a dream." She was panting, and he could see a soft blush tint her cheeks. She wriggled a little and let out a laugh "I guess I should have realised who the mysterious man really was... it's really only the silk ropes that are missing..." Shock made him loosen his grip on her hands and they immediately pulled his face down to hers, allowing her to claim his lips in a fiery kiss.

For a moment, he couldn't think, then it all became clear to him and he pulled his lips free and stared at her in disbelief, worry written on his face.

"You mean to say, that the sexual impulse that spoiled the potion's purity was inspired by me?” He narrowed his eyes and stiffened as she nodded, her eyes watching him intently.

"Why would that be important?"

"Tell me, do you know what a "true bond" signifies as far as Love Potions go?" He could feel his anger rise by the second, realisation sinking in.

"Yes of course, it's when a Love Potion affects two people equally, binding them together in an unbreakable union as long as the potion is in effect. The most prominent example is the mistake that provoked the Muggle legend of Tristan and Isolde - they both drank a potion which bound their hearts together for three years," she recited, sounding like she'd swallowed a textbook. "I don't see why that should have anything to do with this potion however, seeing as I was the only one who drank it..." She searched his eyes for an answer, having momentarily ceased her assault on his body.

"Well, isn't this the day. I get to see you both speechless and at loss for an answer. Perhaps there's hope for you after all." His usual sarcasm was creeping back into his voice. "Something you evidently missed in your research, however, is that a True Bond can occur even if both parties don't drink the potion in question. In this case, it was made possible through the combination of three facts: One, you reversed the relationship between drinker and brewer, which created a potential true bond as the potion was split in two - body and effect. Two: it was a sexual fantasy about me which ruined the potion's purity, which dictated the condition for a true bond to occur. Three: you and I just fulfilled that specific condition through sexual intercourse, the conclusion being that we are now bound together for the duration of the potion's effective life span."

She looked back at him in shock, shaking her head silently in refusal.

"You don't believe me? Let me remind you that I'm one of the chief experts on Potion Transfiguration in the world. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if it was my own book you used to achieve this incredibly stupid project." He smirked knowingly at the look of guilt on her face.

“Well, well, Miss Granger, it seems like you've been impaled upon your own sword in this matter... or, actually…” He smirked and moved his face closer to hers, his tongue sweeping teasingly over her lips. “…perhaps ‘being impaled upon my sword’ would be a more accurate description..."

And with those words he ended all talk, claiming her lips firmly with renewed passion and letting his body have what it craved, moving fiercely inside her until they both collapsed in exhausted bliss, tremors shaking their bodies.

***

Hours later, Hermione stepped out of the emerald flames of her fireplace and sank down on her bed. Snape had allowed her access to the fireplace in his own rooms, pointing out that it would be very inconvenient if she were to run in to another teacher on her way back to her quarters.

She was elated, in total shock and rather pleasantly numb. A thousand thoughts swirled around in her head, demanding her attention. She shook her head and crept into bed - she'd think about it in the morning.

---

Chapter 4 - First Date

Saturday morning came with a shy ray of sun peeking through the curtains in the Head Girl's bedroom. Hermione groaned and turned away, unwilling to wake from the blissful slumber brought to her by utter sexual exhaustion. She knew she was supposed to get up and do some homework before breakfast, ("only 122 days left until the end of year exams!" her calendar shouted happily from the floor) but somehow, today, she couldn't seem to bother. With one hand she threw a pillow on the happily shouting calendar, muffling its sound somewhat, and went back to sleep.

She dreamed that she was floating on smooth waters, stretched out lazily under the sun. The wind was caressing her softly, teasing her skin... She opened her eyes and met now familiar black ones looking down at her with warm hunger.

"Good morning," he whispered before his mouth came down on hers and she stretched out her arms to pull him down on top of her...

***

She came down to breakfast only half an hour before it ended, looking rather flushed. Her friends were still there, chatting happily. They all turned to greet her when she sat down.

"Hi Hermione!" Ginny said cheerfully. Hermione thought for a second that her tone of voice was a little strained, but let it go at the sight of eggs and bacon sitting on plates before her. God she was hungry!

"We almost thought you weren't coming down to breakfast," Neville said, a frown on his face as he looked her over. "Are you ok? You look... I don't know... different somehow... Do you have a fever?" He leaned forwards to press a hand against her forehead. She brushed it away gently.

"I'm just fine. Really. I guess I'm just a bit tired... studied half the night. Only 122 days to end of year tests you know!" She tried to smile her usual "don't-you-just-love-school"-smile. "So, what are you guys up to today?"

Harry and Ginny mumbled something about having promised Hagrid to help feed his new "project". Hermione didn't even want to know what he'd brought home this time, she only hoped it wasn't too dangerous or too illegal - and seeing as it probably was, her main hope quickly changed to nobody from the Ministry discovering its existence.

"Well I know what my plans are for today," Ron said with a smile and put his arm around her shoulders. She shuddered involuntarily at the unexpected touch. "I'm going to take a gorgeous brunette I know out for a romantic broom ride over the mountains and lakes. Know where I might find one?" He poked her jokingly in the side, making her laugh and squirm to get away.

The other three people looked at them with stunned expressions on their faces.

"You two have a d-date?" Neville asked, his voice higher than usual.

"You betcha!" Ron said with a happy smile. He was playing with one of her earrings now, obviously pleased that she was wearing them. She wished he would stop, it really hurt when he touched them.

"Oh," Neville said, sounding disappointed. "Well, that's really great!... it's only... well... I'd kind of hoped that you might be able to help me with a Transfiguration problem, Hermione... but it's not important... I can manage on my own."

"Don't be silly, Neville, of course I'll help you! Why don't we take it tonight after dinner? Will that be all right with you?

"Sure, Hermione, that'll be great." He smiled shyly up at her. "It's actually for my special project with Professor Sprout, so it's out in the greenhouses. I'll probably bring some dinner with me and work on it there for most of the day, but how about I come pick you up in the Entrance Hall at seven thirty?" He looked at her with a hopeful expression in his eyes. She could feel Ron's grip on her waist tighten a little.

"Sounds fine." She smiled at him and turned back to her food, putting some jam on a piece of toast.

"You know, Hermione..." She looked up and met green eyes across the table.

"Yes, Harry?"

"Well, if you want, you could borrow my broom for the ride. Seeing as you don't have one you know."

"Thanks, Harry, that would be so nice!" She knew how much his broom meant to him, especially now that Sirius was dead and the Firebolt was the only solid trace left of him. Harry used to ride it every day and didn't lend it to anyone anymore, not even Ron, who luckily begged a lot less now that he had his own broom.

"Just promise you'll be careful, ok?" he added softly and stroked her over one cheek with the back of his fingers. He let the hand cup her chin and tilted it up slightly to look her straight in the eyes. "You promise?"

"I promise," she reassured him and they shared a glowing smile. Something seemed to move in his eyes, and for a second, Hermione thought he was going to lean in and kiss her, but then he seemed to remember where he was and pulled back in his seat, letting his hand drop from her face.

"Er, I have to go down to Hagrid's, I'm really late." The words stumbled out of his mouth as he left the Great Hall, eyes firmly fixed on the floor.

"What the hell was that all about?!" She turned her head and saw Ron looking at her angrily, his eyes going between her and Harry's quickly disappearing back. She turned her head and faced another angry Weasley sitting across from her. She felt cornered and swallowed hard.

"What do you mean? He was just making sure I'd be careful. We are friends you know, he does have the right to care about me." She was trying to make her voice as casual as possible, looking both Weasleys in the eye. They seemed to relax somewhat.

"Well, as long as he doesn't get any stupid ideas in his head," Ron said with a chuckle "I'd hate to duel with him for your attentions." He flashed her a saucy smile and squeezed her waist lightly.

"Seriously, Ron, what do you think this is? The 18th Century? I'm not some little prize you can just win in a duel!" she said, trying her best to sound affronted. "And even if you could, Harry would be the wrong opponent," she added silently to herself, blushing slightly. She hadn't looked towards the teachers' table once this morning, but she knew he was there, could feel his presence and his eyes resting on her from time to time. She swallowed a big gulp of orange juice and decided to change the subject.

"So, what were you guys talking about just before I came down?"

Her three friends sniggered and Neville piped up his head.

"Ron was describing his detention with Filch. He made him scrub the floor in the Entrance Hall with a toothbrush but Ron got back at him. Tell it again Ron," Neville said, letting out a small laugh.

"Well..." Ron said in a dramatic voice, happy to be the centre of attention, "so there I was, right, with the stupid toothbrush in my hand. And I thought ’What if I were to make this job a little easier on myself?’ So then, when he turned his head for a moment, a pulled out my wand... carefully so he wouldn't see it, mind... and multiplied my toothbrush into ten different ones. Then I put a charm on the nine I wasn't holding and made them run across the room, cleaning of their own accord. Filch of course went crazy and ordered me to stop, but I pretended I couldn't see any toothbrushes at all... And then, Luna comes through the doors... and guess what she says... Lord, it's totally wicked...”

Hermione let Ron's story fade into humming background noise, listening only with half an ear as it grew more and more dramatic. Suddenly, she felt tired of it all, tired of listening to Ron's hero stories about himself and being part of the cheering team. Weird, she used to find his energy and humour cute. Now they seemed childish somehow... She absentmindedly looked around the room, and felt her eyes being drawn towards the teachers' table. She met his eyes and immediately felt a shock of electricity shoot through her body. His gaze was intense and she felt branded by it, utterly unable to blink or look away as they conveyed their mutual desire without words...

"...and the git ran from the room screaming with a green toothbrush hanging from his nose!!!"

Hermione was abruptly pulled back to reality as her friends broke into hysterical laughter around her. She started laughing to, though she had no idea what had been so funny. She looked quickly back at Snape who was sending her an ironic glance, shaking his head slightly. She noticed Ginny was trying to capture her attention and turned to her friend.

"So, Hermione, I forgot to ask: how was your detention with Snape last night? Did he go hard on you?”

Hermione almost dropped the glass she was holding; a vivid memory of Snape, hard inside her, pressing her down on the cool wood, flashed before her eyes. She took a deep gulp of icy water.

"No, not really. It wasn't that bad." She even managed to smile and keep her voice normal. "So, Ron, should we get going?" She did her best to sound chipper and was relieved as he stood up and offered a hand to her. She took it and they made their way towards the exit, calling "See you later" to Ginny and Neville.

His eyes never left her as she walked down the aisle.

***

The sun was shining brightly as Ron and Hermione walked out of the castle, brooms in hand.

"Wow, perfect flying weather!" Ron exclaimed as he mounted his broom and kicked off. "Come on Hermione!"

She swung a leg over her own broom and winced slightly as the wood came into contact with her body. She supposed being sore was something to be expected. After all, it'd been her first time -times, she smilingly corrected herself- and her body hadn't exactly had the chance to recuperate. Memories from the latest session just before breakfast started to gather in her mind but she determinedly fought them back. She was on a date with Ron now -her dream guy- and she'd think only of him. She looked up and noticed how handsome he looked up on his broom, hair blowing in the wind...

She quickly drew her wand and performed a double Cushioning Charm before kicking away from the ground and soaring up into the clear air.

***

Sometime later they landed on a snow-covered plateau high up on the side of a mountain. The flight there had been awesome - fast and exhilarating. She really must thank Harry again for letting her have his broom, she thought. The Firebolt was incredible and made flying feel utterly effortless. She'd used to be a bit scared of flying in her first years at Hogwarts, especially after the ride on Buckbeak when she and Harry went to rescue Sirius. The ride on the Thestrals in her fifth had been a real nightmare too... She decided that she really didn't like flying horses. Brooms on the other hand... they made flying fun. Maybe she should even save up to get one herself...?

Her thoughts were interrupted when Ron put his hands on her shoulders and turned her around.

"Look Hermione!"

She looked and felt her breathing stop short in her chest. Before her was a panoramic view of white mountains, blue skies and glittering, partly ice-covered lakes and rivers. They were high up on the side of a mountain, the stone curving inward to create a sort of alcove, protecting them from the slight wind. Partly covering the right side of the plateau was a waterfall, frozen into a glittering crystal sculpture which formed a roof over a patch of green grass, which lay untouched by the snow.

"It's beautiful!" she gasped, unable to take her eyes off the incredible scenery.

"It really is," he breathed in her ear, his arms encircling her.

She leaned her head back to rest on his shoulder, thinking how nice it was to just stand there, looking out over the world. She felt so carefree and light, like there was no time and no space, only nature's beauty to be admired and enjoyed. She lazily watched a flock of birds make their way across the sky, sighing with contentment. This was so nice...

"I found this place last year, right after I got my broom and was flying all over the place, testing it. I've wanted to bring you here for some time now, to share this with you...”

"Thank you for bringing me here, Ron," she said, tilting her head back to get a glimpse of his eyes. "It's the most beautiful place I've ever seen, I think."

She saw him blush slightly, looking very pleased with himself. Then he let go of her and went back to his broom, taking the picnic basket hanging there. He walked over to the patch of grass under the glittering ice, spread a thick blanket on the ground and gestured that she should come make herself comfortable.

***

The picnic was very nice (the house elves had put in a lot of good stuff) and Hermione relaxed and enjoyed herself. She was warm and comfortable, her own blue waterproof fires glowing here and there around them. Hanging out with Ron was always fun and they talked about a lot of things, Ron telling her stories about his family and what they were up to. It seemed Mr Weasley had bought an old muggle dishwasher and was making it sing and burp bubbles when you turned it on. Hermione smiled as she imagined Mr Weasley singing along with the dishwasher and Molly stomping her foot in irritation. She made a mental note of getting him some detergent for next Christmas.

When all the food was gone and they were playfully throwing Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans at each other - trying to catch them with your mouth and looking out for really weird colours - Ron suddenly grew serious and got a little closer, apparently preparing to tell her something important. She eyed him expectantly and finally he said:

"Hermione, I'm sorry that I've been such a jerk lately when it comes to you. I shouldn't have snogged Parvati, I don't even like her... I mean, she's quite hot and stuff... no, no, wait, what I mean is that I like...well, you and I just wanted to make you jealous I guess... Anyway, I'm really sorry." He looked down at her with a guilty expression on his face.

"It's ok Ron, I quite understand," she replied, feeling slightly elated. He'd just said he liked her! The plan was working!

"You know, I think you're very pretty, Hermione," Ron said, moving a bit closer still. "You and this place suit each other..."

He lowered his head to kiss her and she eagerly tilted hers backwards to help the process. She was bubbling with the excitement of her plan going so well and with the thought that Ron, whom she'd fancied for so long, was practically her boyfriend. She sighed and wetted her lips, waiting for the swirling sensation to overtake her...

His lips made contact with hers and they started kissing. It felt weird. Hermione's mind immediately set to work, trying to figure out what was happening. It was... well... nice... very comfortable and just the right pressure and everything. Still, she didn't feel quite right. Her head wasn't swirling for one thing, and though her body was tingling quite pleasantly, it wasn't even close to what she'd felt when Snape was kissing her. His kisses had been consuming, sending fire down her skin. This was more like being curled up in a light blanket before the fire. Why didn't she feel more? Maybe she was just tired?

She deepened the kiss, put her arms around Ron and pulled him down on top of her on the soft blanket, trying to get her body to wake up and make her all hot and breathless. It did a little bit, but not anywhere close to what it had earlier. She shifted her attention to Ron, to see if he was feeling the same, and got a small shock - Ron was kissing her with almost the same urgency as Snape had when he first threw her on the desk. He looked completely oblivious to anything other than their bodies and his breathing was fast and ragged as if he'd been running for a long time. She tentatively let her hands stroke him down the back and press his buttocks lightly, making him groan loudly and press himself against her. Yup, he wanted her all right, no question about it... She felt almost giddy, realising the power she held over him. The fact that she could affect him so was deeply flattering and she stroked him tenderly over the shoulders, making him gasp against her mouth. His hands grabbed her breasts and she winced slightly at the unrefined touch. She closed her eyes firmly and tried to will her body into responding to his.

It half worked - his touch felt good and she could detect a wetness where his erection pressed against her. But it wasn't the mind-blowing passion she'd come to expect. Ron's hands were going a bit all over the place, missing essential areas, his touch either a bit too light or a bit too hard for the most time to have the desired effect. He shakily started to yank at her robes and she thought she'd better put a stop to things as her body obviously didn't feel like cooperating. She grabbed his hands and broke off the kiss with a soft "No, wait", trying to look shy as she looked into his eyes.

The look in Ron's eyes made her feel terribly guilty. They were burning, burning with desire for her, and she didn't even feel very excited. She quickly lowered her own gaze so that he wouldn't be able to read her feelings. Ron seemed to stiffen and he rolled off her with a quick movement, looking a bit guilty himself.

"Hermione," he said, his voice still a bit out of control. "Hermione, I'm sorry. I didn't mean for it to go so far. Didn't mean to push you..." His hand grabbed her chin and turned her to face him. "Hermione, listen, I'm sorry I went too fast for you... I should have restrained myself. It's just... you were just so soft and so nice to touch... I'm sorry if I scared you. Are you ok?" He looked at her imploringly.

She could have laughed if it hadn't been so painful. He thought he'd frightened her, that he'd touched her in ways she wasn't ready for. God, if he only knew how wrong he was... The fact that he put down her resistance to virginal shyness was just too much. Just too much... God, she felt so bad! Why couldn't her stupid body just get with the program?!!! Here she was, with the man of her dreams, one of her best friends whom she'd fancied for almost three years, who'd taken her on an amazing date and who genuinely seemed to like her. He was smart and funny and loyal and he'd make a really good boyfriend. So why, why, why didn't her body respond to him the way it should? She was near tears, her mind screaming in frustration.

Ron obviously felt really guilty, because he got up and quickly put the picnic things away in the basket and attached to his broom. He then came back to stand next to her where she huddled on the ground, grabbing her shoulders and raising her gently to her feet. She hugged him tightly and felt the pain and guilt burn in her chest as she fought furiously to keep herself from crying.

"I'm so sorry, I won't push you like that again..." Ron's soft voice came from above as he stroked her hair in comfort. "From now on, you set the pace, ok?" He tilted her face and placed a soft, tender kiss on her lips before he let her go.

"We should get back to Hogwarts if we want to get there in time for dinner," he said, handing her the Firebolt.

She nodded and smiled at him, making his expression considerably lighter. They kicked off and soared into the cold air, leaving the plateau behind them. The sun was setting in the West, painting the landscape in lovely pink, red, orange and violet hues. She let tears stream down her face, taking in the incredible beauty which now seemed to mock her, showing her what she could never have even though she desperately wanted it. Her heart was aching with guilt, frustration and sadness as she saw Ron fly before her, his hair tousled by the wind as before. How she wanted to want him!

The expression on her face hardened and she determinedly wiped every trace of tears off it with her soft glove. She might be under the influence of her own stupid potion the way Snape had explained, but she was going to prove, to him and to herself, that her mind and her determination were stronger than the fickle inclinations of her body. She loved Ron and she would have her perfect relationship with him. Her body would just have to come to terms with that... And maybe with some training and experience, Ron would come to have the same effect on her as Snape had, and she would be able to share that incredible passion with somebody who actually loved her. Yes, that's how it would be. She smiled and turned her face towards the sun, letting its last, warm rays stroke it, nature's beauty once again making her heart beat with hope and joy.

Next part