Chapter 24: Hungry Like The Wolf

Hermione Granger found herself at 12 Grimmauld Place right along with Ron Weasley and Harry Potter. There had been a lot of changes over the course of the summer and with it at it's end everyone was gearing up for what was about to take place, all out war with Voldemort and his followers. The young bushy haired Gryffindor witch had been silent most of the night as the members of the Order of Phoenix awaited the arrival of Severus Snape. She had seen less of him since that afternoon in the dungeons with him and everyone else turning their immediate focus to the war. The later it got the more everyone started off for bed. It had been an unusually hot night even for the summer. The added heat only seemed to cause more discomfort before she finally decided make the journey toward the stairs to go to bed when she heard a loud and sudden crash coming from the kitchen. Strangely it had not awoken the entire house but ever the alert one, Hermione grabbed her wand gripping it tightly and made her way toward the kitchen.

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The Kitchen, 12 Grimmauld Place, Muggle World...

Hermione had been well on her way to firing a powerful hex when she caught sight of a figure wearing nothing but worn black trousers. She knew the pale frame of the culprit instantly as he raided the sighed and made her way inside still wondering what had caused the loud crash that had gotten her attention. She had barely gotten inside when Snape's voice shook her from her seemingly effortless trance.

"Are you going to stand there and stare at me all night, Miss Granger or are you going to get me something to clean up this mess?" he asked without looking in her direction.

Not at all surprised in the least that he knew she as there, Hermione made her way over toward the broom closet. She got out a mop and a bucket and quickly charmed it to clean the rather large bowl of gelatin Snape had knocked onto the floor effectively shattering the glass dish Mrs. Weasley had it stored in. As she neared the half dressed Potions Professor, she noted that he must have cut himself on the shard as blood had trailed from his pale foot.

Without giving it a moment's thought, she made her way over toward him and immediately set to work on how to assist him. Snape smirked when she got him to relax in one of the chairs at the counter and began running her wand over his torn pale flesh. When she had been finished healing the dour sod, her amber eyes met his.

"What were you doing raiding the fridge at this hour?" she asked.

"It's simple really Miss Granger." he said evenly. "I was starving."

She noted the heat behind his obsidian eyes as he spoke. It didn't take her long to note his wolfish nature bleeding into his human consciousness. It didn't help that his new rugged appearance sent chills down her spine.

"Well, you could have easily eaten with everyone else." she said. "You're the one who insists on brooding in the darkness."

Snape arched an eyebrow at her.

There was definitely something different about her then he recalled the last time he saw her. Her scent had been the same and she seemed to have mature a bit over the course of the summer. The Potions Master tilted his head in confusion as his brain connected the otherwise scattered dots.

"Y-You didn't..." he said stunned by his own realization.

Hermione looked at him innocently.

"I have no idea what you are talking about." she said.

Snape grabbed ahold of the young witch and brought her close to him.

He inhaled her scent deeply as he pressed her body to him.

"You did." he said with his eye wild in surprise. "How did you...?"

The bushy haired witch attempted to pull away, but he stood up and pressed her against the fridge.

"What did you do?" he asked with concern in his tone despite his wild nature taking over.

"I-I used a time turner." she admitted finally. "I-I couldn't take it anymore...no one else knows...I didn't think you could tell..."

Snape found himself unable to keep from staring at the young witch before him.

"That means..." he said trying to wrap his head around all that was happening. "That you're ..."

"Eighteen." replied Hermione biting her lower lip. "I've been eighteen since the last term's end."

"I-I knew it." he said as a low growl erupted from him. "I can't explain it, but that must be why I seemed to have lost my ability to control myself around you."

Hermione took a breath unsure how she was going to explain what she needed to.

"I-I'm sorry professor, I didn't think..." before she could finish Snape suddenly crushed his pale lips into her pink ones.

Before she could stop herself, Hermione found herself returning the dour wizard's kiss. Snape let out a low growl as he pulled away from the witch. He tried to catch his breath and calm his thunderous heart beat.

"I-I want you to be sure." he said with a serious expression on his face despite his beast blood screaming at him to claim her then and there.

Hermione kissed him again with heat behind her own amber eyes.

"I'm sure." she said pleased to finally be able to say those words and end both of their measure of torment.

Snape returned her kiss with just as much heat as she reflected and lifted the young witch off the floor with relative ease.

"I'm not a nice man Hermione." he said still attempting to warn the girl away despite the agony he was enduring just to have her.

"I know." she replied running her hands through his wild raven hair. "I have wanted to do this for so long."

Snape chuckled some as he held her smaller body close to his.

"What's the real reason you came down here in the middle of the night?" she asked kissing him still.

Snape sighed.

"I told you." he replied. "I was starving."

He had the presence of mind to put Hermione back down when he noted the mess he made had been well and truly gone.

"You know I'm feeling pretty hungry too." she said finding her growling stomach had a few demands of it's own.

Snape flashed a smirk and they turned their collective attention back to the fridge.

"Let's see what we can come up with." he said in a low tone.

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Later...

Hermione convinced the dour werewolf to allow her to accompany her into his room if only to enjoy the rest of their unusual picnic and enlightening conversation. The fascinating young witch stretched out on his bed, her eyes heavy from need of sleep. Snape had been nearly asleep as well lying back against the pillows.

Time seemed to have no concept beyond the large wooden door that separated Snape's bedroom from the rest of the house and possibly the outside world. They both drifted off effortlessly forgetting that Hermione was suppose to return to her own bedroom before the other guests at Grimmauld Place awoke.

In sleep the wolf embraced his mate. Hermione found herself resting her head against Snape's exposed pale chest and his equally pale arms were wrapped around her. The two seemed quite comfortable locked in a lover's embrace and almost naturally so.

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The Next Morning...

The foul stench of wet dog had been the thing that woke Severus as his obsidian eyes found themselves meeting the dark brown ones of Sirius Black. He had not realized that not only had Hermione been in bed with him, but she had been sleeping with her head rested against his pale chest. She had seemingly been at peace in his arms so much so that the presence of Sirius Black had not disturbed her in the least.

"What the hell do you think you're doing with that child!?" said Sirius with a look of disgust filed across his face. "I always knew you were as disgusting as they come."

Snape barely had time to register what was happening before the wolf in him reacted to the obvious disrespect the mutt was showing. He sat up nearly forgetting that Hermione had been asleep on his chest. He eased her onto the bed and got to his feet.

"Just what do you think you are implying?" asked Snape enraged.

"There is nothing to imply you being half naked with a young girl in your bed." said Sirius. "Just wait till everyone see how truly sick you are."

"I've done nothing dishonorable to Hermione." said Snape in defense of himself.

"Like you had any honor to begin with." said Sirius.

The dog's eyes were ablaze with malice.

"Stooping to taking innocent virgin girls now, Snivellus?" he said. "My won't your death eater mates be pleased, maybe Voldy will give you a medal."

Enraged beyond words Snape attacked Sirius beating the mangy mutt and ramming him into the crumbling walls. The commotion had awoken Hermione who had been enjoying her rest until this.

Remus Lupin had come down the stairs after picking up the commotion with his acute hearing. He swept in and put some distance between the snarling werewolf in the form of the Potions Master and Sirius who's doggish persona was bleeding through his human conscience Snape had been about to attack and possibly kill both Black and Lupin when Hermione came behind him.

"Severus." she said in a calm tone.

Immediately Snape registered her presence.

"Hermione." he said as his self-control reasserted itself.

In that moment Hermione had a good idea as to what was going on when she walked over toward him putting herself between the two older wizards and Snape. He watched with his breath ragged with rage boiling his beast blood as she tentatively touched his bare chest with her soft fingers.

"Severus, please don't." she said sweetly.

Snape closed his eyes at the feel of her touch.

In that moment she disarmed him. The beast had been quiet and Snape simply looked weary.

"I apologize Lupin." he said in a low tone. "I should not have attacked you."

"It's quite alright Severus." said Remus with a sad smile. "If I were in your place I would have probably done the same."

Sirius glared at him.

"Are you two best buddies now?" he asked. "Am I the only one who seem to think that there is something wrong with Snape bedding Harry's little friend?"

"We haven't done anything." said Hermione annoyed by Sirius' callous manner. "For your information, Severus was a perfect gentleman."

Sirius couldn't help but give an arrogant scoff at the mention of this. As far as he was concerned there had been nothing gentleman like about Severus Snape.

"Right and I'm the king of Siam." he said skeptically.

"Watch it Mutt." he said in a dangerous tone.

Remus turned his attention to Snape.

"If you don't mind my asking, what did happen?" he asked totally in the dark as far as whatever was going on had been.

"It's simple really." said Snape glaring at Sirius Black with murderous intent. "I fancy Miss Granger and she has reciprocated my affection."

Remus arched an eyebrow at this.

"I told you!" blurted Sirius with a self satisfied smirk. "Snivellus is preying upon that young girl."

"Shut up Sirius." said Remus now turning a furious gaze upon his own friend. "You are the last person that should dare to make any judgments...there is more going on here and I am not fool enough to jump to conclusions."

Snape smirked this time finding it strange that Remus would defend him even with all evidence pointing to Sirius being right.

"Remus?" said Sirius in a hushed tone.

He carried the look of a scolded dog if ever there was one.

"Shut it Sirius." growled the werewolf. "Severus I do not and will not believe you have chosen to pursue Miss Granger whom is half your age without reason."

"She is indeed half my age Lupin." said the dour wizard. "But you know all too well my connection to her."

"I do." confirmed Lupin still noting that there had been more to it. "But you've never acted upon it before."

"Quite true." replied Hermione. "And I would have to say it is my fault that he has."

Lupin and Sirius both turned their attention to the young witch.

"Go on." said Remus looking stunned by her admission.

"I-I wanted to be with him...I found that I've wanted it for longer than I could have ever imagined..." began Hermione. "But my age and his honor did not permit such a thing, so I went to Dumbledore and asked if I could use his time turner for extra classes."

"Didn't you use said time-turner to free me before?" asked Sirius now stunned that this all had merit.

"I did." said Hermione annoyed. "And right now I am regretting it."

Sirius looked down at the hard wood floor.

"Anyway, I used the time turner to advance my age another year just to be on the safe side." concluded the bushy haired witch.

"So you were already of age when you returned from..." started Lupin putting the pieces together.

Hermione nodded.

"And he just now figured this out now?" asked Lupin looking over at Snape who narrowed his eyes at him.

"Yes." replied Hermione. "I'll admit my plan was a little flawed, but...I think it was worth it."

"Foolish Gryffindor sentiment." said Snape folding his arms across his pale chest.

Lupin chuckled some understanding them completely.

"Well, I for one am happy for you both." he said politely. "Maybe now this one can stop trying to destroy everything in sight in a bid to get to you."

Snape rolled his eyes.

Hermione gave the werewolf a warm smile.

"Well, I'll leave you two to it then." said Lupin. "If you need back up you know where to find me...(turning to Sirius)...come along Sirius."

Lupin pulled his old friend out of the hall and down to the kitchens leaving Snape and Hermione once again alone with one another.

"Well." said Snape in his usual baritone drawl. "That was interesting."

"That's what you'd call it?" asked Hermione with a mischievous grin. "I'd say it was down right Nutters as Ron would say."

Snape chuckled some at this.

"The others will be up soon." he said. "I doubt they will be as supportive as Lupin given the situation."

Hermione nodded in agreement.

"See you tonight then?" she asked hopeful.

"Of course." he replied in as charming a tone as he could manage.

He wanted to kiss her then but thought better of it should one of the other guests or even one of the portraits take notice.

"See you soon." he said settling for the promise in his departure.

"The sooner the better." replied Hermione before she headed down the hall toward her room.

Snape watched her disappear beyond her brown door and made his way toward his own bedroom. It was going to be quite the day pretending to be nothing more than her disinterested Potions Professor when all he wanted was to steal her away and prove to her just how much he loved her. It was going to be quite the day indeed.