Chapter 36: A Pleasant And Unforeseen Interlude

The Hunting Grounds...

The Father of Man-beasts had been prowling his lands. The mortal Hermione Granger seemed to make all the more an interesting prospect. Like Severus she possessed magical abilities, keen intellect and a disposition for asserting authority despite her nature to follow orders. She was also given to the wild notions of passion and possession. A smile crept across the face of the Prince of The Hunt. She was going to be come quite a talented daughter.

The father of Man-beasts sat upon his throne peering into the lives of mortals with a smile still firmly in place. Severus Snape was proving to be quite the asset in terms of a son. A feat the Prince of The Hunt had known would be well received upon his choosing. He had been strong enough thus far to combat the adolescent urges of the wolf-spirit inside him but he would need it to reach maturity in a bid to completely be one with it.

Hircine had not known why he chose such a young spirit to inhabit Snape, truth be told it seemed the more entertaining of the option considering how reserved the Potions Master had been despite his own apparent youth. Watching him day in an day out proved that he lacked the spark that would ignite the notion of leadership. The wolf however did simply lacked the ability to command. The dynamics of the two were entertaining to watch.

The Father of Man-beasts eye remained watchful on Hermione Granger. She clearly had no idea she possessed such a wolfish passion buried deep within her. The smile remained upon the face of Hircine. She had no idea at all what was in store for her.

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Elsewhere...

Severus Snape was once again treated to the sight of amber eyes upon his awakening. The place he had been in looked all too familiar and the pulsing of magic had been evident. At a guess The Potions Master would have declared them to be in Hogsmead Village just outside of Hogwarts. At a further guess he would have noted the stench of goat and overbearing drunkard and said it was Hogshead Inn they were hold up in.

Hermione had been relieved to see that he had awakened. She eagerly crushed her soft pink lips into his pale ones.

"Severus." she said stroking his sallow pale cheeks.

He shifted some in whatever bed he had been laying in.

"Where am I?" he asked needing to confirm his suspicions.

"Hogsmeade Village." replied the bushy haired witch.

"How did I get here?" asked the dour wizard.

"Some hunters shot you." explained Hermione. "We were on the way to a muggle village with them for aid when suddenly Harry, you and myself were brought to Hogsmeade...I can't really tell you how the rest happened I am still trying to figure it out myself."

Snape observed her for a moment and noted that she had been clutching something in her other hand. A wand perhaps? He took in the full detail of the object and arched an eyebrow at her. Her wand.

"Where did you find your wand?" he asked.

Hermione opened her mouth to reply, but before she could get the chance to speak Snape simply groaned and his face contorted in a grimace. The scent of lemon and pleasantness was over powering. He knew that scent rather well despite it's pungency. It belonged to a blue eyed, buffoon with the silly notion that his presence was a boon to the nation. Of course the buffoon happened to be his long absent employer.

"Albus." he said annoyed. "I should have known you wouldn't have gone too far from the school."

The twinkling blue eyes of none other than Albus Dumbledore came into view and Hermione turned around in shock. Harry Potter had been asleep in a nearby chair having too much excitement for one day.

"Professor Dumbledore?" said the bushy haired witch stunned. "H-Have you been here the whole time?"

Dumbledore smiled and made his way over to Snape who rolled his eyes when the elder wizard placed his hand on his sweat blasted forehead.

"Severus, should I be concerned about this closeness between you and Miss Granger?" he asked in a father like tone.

Snape looked at him and rolled his eyes.

"No." he replied in his usual emotionless tone. "Now would you mind explaining what is happening to me?"

Dumbledore looked him for a moment noting that Hermione had still been clasping his hand. Then thought it best to explain the situation. He needed Snape's help now more than ever if he was going to get back into the school.

"Severus, I happened upon you after word was sent to the Order members of your collective disappearances." said the elder wizard. "There was rumor of suspicious werewolf activity in the forest so naturally I came to investigate...imagine my surprise when I found all three of you at the mercy of wolf-hunters."

"And I take it one botched rescue job later we ended up here?" asked Snape.

Dumbledore smiled pleasantly at him.

"Something like that." he replied.

Snape sighed and looked at a sleeping Harry Potter in the far off chair.

"He's still a pain in the arse." said the Potions Professor.

"And you did well in looking after him." said Dumbledore. "Rest up Severus...we have much to talk about come morning...I shall attend to Mr. Potter, Miss Granger come along...the Potions Master does need his rest if he is to be of any use in regaining Hogwarts."

Reluctantly, Hermione released Snape's hand and made her way to the door, promising to return once she evaded the elder wizard. Snape let her go and closed his suddenly heavy eyes. It didn't take him long to note that Dumbledore had hit him with a sleeping charm.

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Later...

Hermione Granger awoke in the middle of the night to find a lone figure warding her door heavily. She had been about to protest when she caught sight of the red glow from his eyes and the scent of herbs and fresh earth surrounded her. As quick as a cat, Severus Snape climbed into her bed and maneuvered until he was between her slender thighs. The bushy haired witch giggled feeling his finger run along her middle and he captured her mouth in a heated kiss. She let out a soft moan feeling him shift until he was at her entrance.

"Severus." she whispered.

The Potions Master whispered a charm that dispelled their clothes and in one thrust he entered her. She let out a shriek feeling him move inside her. He kissed her on the lips and feverishly as she leaned back against the mattress of her rented bed. It had been so long since they were together in this way, so long since it had only been the two of them in the darkness of whatever room they occupied during their act.

"Her-mi-on-ee." growled Snape thrusting into her slowly at first then increasing his speed as his need for her took over.

The bushy haired witch's body jerked in response.

Visions of Reka trying to seduce her wizard flooded Hermione's brain and she opened herself up to him completely in the hopes of erasing the she-wolf from his memory. Snape bit lightly at her neck sucking the sweaty flesh absently. A series of loud moans escaped the witch as she began to lose herself in the sensations her lover was creating throughout her body.

"Severus." she said again loving the feel of him.

Snape groaned grasping the mattress below her.

His heart was pounding thunderously in his chest as visions of Hircine's Hunting grounds came into view.

The blood red moon, the dusk frozen sky orange and pulsing, and the scent of wild beasts running a muck amid the tall golden grasses. Rivers of blood flowed in the distance and the grounds were ripe with prey. It was a beautiful world, a truly wondrous place that made his bestial heart swell with pride. He wanted to share this world with his lover, wanted her to feel the wind upon her back as she ran with him on the hunt, wanted her to know the passion so untamed that it could only belong to a wolf.

Snape let out a wolfish howl as he continued to thrust into his willing young witch.

Hermione dug her fingernails into the pale flesh of his back like before. Her body scorching from the heat they were creating. Snape looked down at her noting the sound of the blood rushing threw her veins as she tilted her head against the pillow exposing her lovely neck to him. On impulse he kissed it nipping at the soft warm flesh.

As his thrusts grew more powerful and frequent she arched into him lost in his control over her body.

"Yessss." hissed Snape licking at her neck while he continued to thrust inside her warmth. "My witch...mine."

Her heart was pounding in her chest as she continued to ride the waves of ecstasy he had been creating.

As the hours passed Snape continued to have his way with his witch unbeknownst to Dumbledore who had been sleeping rather soundly in his respective room and Harry Potter who had been doing the same.

When Snape finally reached his end he pulled Hermione right along with him. The two of them looked up at the ceiling completely spent from their respective efforts.

"I-I think my head's clear." said Snape trying to catch his breath.

Hermione smiled sleepily at him.

"Good to hear." she replied. "Does that mean you'll be ready for tomorrow?"

"Of course." he replied. "Umbridge has gone way too far."

Hermione rested her bushy head against Snape's exposed pale chest. She kissed the scar from where the bullet had stuck him. He ran his fingers through her bushy hair and sighed.

"It's a shame we have so little time together." she said. "I rather like having you in my bed."

"Yes." he replied sleepily as well. "But we must keep up appearances if only to survive to see the end of this war."

Hermione sighed and sat up moving to kiss him softly on the lips.

"You still need to learn to control yourself." she said. "What happened to day cannot happen again especially if you have to be around Voldemort."

Snape hissed at the mention of the despot's name.

"It was not my intention to be unruly." said Snape. "It seems the wolf spirit that inhabits my body is an adolescent."

Hermione looked at him with an arched eyebrow.

"A...teenager?" she asked confused.

"Yes." replied Snape with a smirk. "I suppose Hircine does enjoy his attempts at irony."

"If you are a teenager then no wonder you have very little control over your emotions." said the bushy haired witch.

Snape shook his head.

"That's not all I seem to have very little control over." he replied.

Hermione grabbed a pillow and struck him with it.

"You would find time to make a sexual joke." she said.

Snape grabbed the witch and pulled her into his kiss.

"Another thing you can chalk up to adolescence." he said.

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The Next Morning...

Dumbledore had been puzzled as to where Snape had gotten off to. He awoke a grateful to see him Harry Potter and the two began searching for Snape together. Hermione had been the first to awaken after hearing the knock on her door. Snape had still been asleep given all his efforts the previous night she couldn't really blame him. The Potions Professor had been snoring lightly as he lied in her bed as if blissfully unaware of the impending situation of being caught.

"Severus." said Hermione giving him a gentle shake. "Severus wake up...Dumbledore is here."

"Sod Albus and Potter." replied Snape grumbled in sleep. "I'm trying to sleep."

Hermione shook her head. As much as she loved his sleeping in bed with her until dawn she in no way wanted him to lose his job at Hogwarts because Dumbledore found out about their relationship.

"Get up, Severus." said the bushy haired witch. "We don't have time for this."

"Leave me alone woman." he said batting her away as he continued to close his eyes.

Hermione narrowed her eyes.

She grabbed her wand off the night stand and waved it.

Before Snape knew it he was suspended in air and redressed in his usual trademark attire. She had him up on his feet and awakened by the time she was able to dress herself and make the bed via magic. Dumbledore knocked once more and Hermione opened it appearing as if she and Snape had merely been in the midst of a discussion than being in bed together.

"Mione, you're awake." said Harry pleased that she seemed to have rested over the course of the night. "And you found the git."

Snape narrowed his obsidian eyes at Harry.

"Barely morning and already I'm surrounded by idiot Gryffindors." he sneered.

"Better than being surrounded by gutless Slytherins I'd say." countered Harry.

Snape growled dangerously.

"Do not start with me Potter." he said annoyed. "I haven't even had my morning coffee."

"Like that makes you any better to deal with through out the rest of the day." replied Harry offhandedly.

"Why you insolent little..."started Snape before he was cut off.

"Enough you two." said Dumbledore with the unnerving twinkle in his eye. "We have pressing matters to discuss."

"Like getting back into Hogwarts." said Hermione knowing where he was going with this.

"Indeed." agreed Snape. "So what has the wicked witch of the proverbial west done this time?"

"She's implemented a lock down of Hogwarts castle." said Dumbledore. "Little to no news passes through the halls and I am worried about Minerva."

"Last I saw of her I entrusted her to Poppy." said Snape bitterly thinking back on McGonagall being hurt.

"I know." replied Dumbledore. "And I am very grateful that you were there to assist her."

Hermione looked at Harry noting the gravity of the situation back at the school. Their thoughts drifted to the same conclusion they had been ignoring for quite some time.

"Ron." the both said in unison.

At the mention of the youngest Weasley boy coming from Hermione's lips Snape turned his attention to her. He had known how she felt about the young wizard prior to their relationship, still he couldn't help but feel a little jealous of her unwavering concern for him. Her amber eyes flicked over toward him and she gave him a half smile noting the spike of jealousy run through him.

"As of right now we can only assume that Mr. Weasley and everyone inside Hogwarts has come up with a way to protect themselves." said Dumbledore.

"With Greyback prowling the halls who knows how long that will last." said Snape getting to his feet. "Alright Albus, we've wasted enough time...let's use your "not so loving" little brother's tunnels to get back into the school."

Harry looked at Snape in shock.

"Tunnels?" he asked.

"Of course Potter." said Snape with a smirk. "That is why Dumbledore has graciously used his magic to bring us to this place...it's our best chance to return to Hogwarts."

Dumbledore sighed.

"Getting a bit impulsive these days are we Severus?" he asked.

"Sod off old man." replied Snape annoyed. "The last thing I want is that wretched bitch pawing over my things in the dungeons."

Dumbledore chuckled at this.

"Of course not." he replied. "And this has nothing to do with you wanting her out of the school completely to reclaim your territory from Greyback?"

Snape rolled his eyes.

"Think what you will old man but we've got pressing business." he said.

Harry and Hermione got to their feet.

"Ready when ever you are Professors." said Harry.

Hermione readied her wand.

"As am I." she said.

Snape's obsidian eyes flicked toward her.

"Steer clear of Greyback." he warned. "I am not worried about Umbridge, you both can hold your own with that shrill harpy but steer clear of the werewolf understand?"

"Yes Professor." said Harry.

"Yes Sir." replied Hermione.

Everyone filed out of the room and made their way toward the tunnels. On the way down the stairs Snape grabbed Hermione by the arm and pulled her close to him.

"I meant what I said, stay clear of him." Snape added low enough for only her to hear.

"I will Severus." said Hermione.

Snape gave her a quick kiss on the lips and they rejoined Dumbledore and Harry before either of them grew wise to their lagging back. Snape stood silently as Dumbledore spoke with Aberforth. The Goat man and The Potions Professor had a long history that had been punctuated by Aberforth delivering a heavy blow the younger wizard's face for his efforts in aiding the dark lord in the previous war and eavesdropping on a private conversation in his pub.

When they were done speaking, Dumbledore lead the others into the tunnel.

The four of them were set to combat Umbridge and whatever werewolf forces she had managed to bring with her. As they made their way back to the castle, none of them were prepared for what the deranged tyrant had made of the place.