Chapter 13: The Potions Master's Ire

The Infirmary, Hogwarts...

There was only silence between Professor Snape and Hermione as Madam Pomfrey looked them both over carefully. The Potions Master had been more than a little bitter about what happened earlier that morning but he had secured an oath of silence from the bushy haired witch just before they entered the gates of Hogwarts. He had been surprised at how readily she agreed to it but figured it wasn't an event she would have wanted to get out either. Madam Pomfrey glared at Snape who was in the process of refusing to take his frock coat off in front of Hermione. The young Gryffindor witch fought to keep from smiling at the comment in her head about seeing and a lot more of him than he realized. She refrained from speaking or smiling as he glared at her murderously.

"Knock it off Severus, Miss Granger told me you've injured yourself saving her from the river and I need to see if you've broken anything." said the old Med-witch.

When he took his precious time about unbuttoning his coat she threatened to remove it herself. He narrowed his obsidian eyes at her and proceeded to take it off. He wore a white long sleeve shirt beneath his coat but had always felt bare in a room without it no matter the weather. Hermione busied herself with thoughts of revealing the Rivermist plant to him. She figured it was something that could brighten his mood given all he had to endure as of late.

The bushy haired witch smiled as she listened to Snape and Madam Pomfrey continue to argue over wither or not he was well enough to go back to his quarters. He nearly lost it when she suggested he speak with Lupin about the side effects of a werewolf transformation.

"Will you leave me alone old crone." said Snape annoyed.

"Oh stop whining." said Madam Pomfrey still checking him over.

A low growl rumbled in the Potions Master's throat that gave the old witch pause but that was about it.

"Honestly Severus, the way you carry on someone would think your allergic to human contact." she said annoyed.

"Haven't heard the latest gossip?" he asked with an arched eyebrow. "Apparently I am allergic to that and sunlight."

Shaking her head at all the nonsense once she was done looking him over, Madam Pomfrey turned her attentions to Hermione. It seemed the witch would do just fine with a bit of rest given what they had to endure the previous night.

"You'll both be just fine it seems." she said pleased. "Only I will recommend Hermione stay for a while and you as well Severus for observation."

"That will not be necessary on my part I have too much to do." he replied. "Good day ladies."

Hermione watched as he walked over to the floo and disappeared through the green flames after throwing in a handful of powder. She figured she'd bring the flower up possibly after potions class tomorrow.

Then maybe he wouldn't be so grouchy...who was she kidding he was always grouchy.

The witch reflected on the morning and how she noted his impressive erection. Well maybe not always.

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Snape's Quarters, Slytherin Dungeons, Hogwarts...

Snape stepped through the emerald flames and into his private quarters. He had been much more exhausted than he let on while at the infirmary and made his way toward his bedroom. The Potions Master disrobed quickly and slipped into his large black four poster bed. His body had felt as if he had been running a marathon and his joints ached from sleeping on the cold hard ground. His pale eyelids grew heavy and soon he found himself drifting off into a deep sleep.

Elsewhere...

The blood moon hung high in the sky as the distant howl of the beast's brothers beckoned to him. The scent of blood and death had ripened the air. The thunderous beat of it's heart against the cage of ribs in it's chest had been distracting. Luna's song filled his ears as The Father stood before them. Everywhere bodies of the hunted had lined the grass as the wolves fed in glee. Rivers of blood continued to flow beneath the red sky. The beast lounged about gorging on a freshly made carcass amid the tall golden grasses.

It was a happy occasion.

As he fed the beast caught the scent of the female. She had been washing in the river of blood. It left it's meal to watch her. She had been almost a beautiful as Luna. Her soft fair skin like milk beneath the waves, her lengthy hair brown like the the richest bark from the trees. The scent of jasmine had flooded the beast's senses. Her supple breasts glistening with the small red droplets from the river. Her beating heart like music as it beat against her chest.

She looked at him.

Her amber eyes ablaze with fire that could not be contained. Before the beast knew it, he was approaching her. The night sky looming above them like black velvet and the stars like diamonds against it's surface. A cool breeze made goose-pimples appear on her smooth water slick flesh.

The beast felt itself become aroused.

The closer it got to her it began to change.

A pale hand reached out to trace the now clear droplets of the river's water along her naked flesh. She let out a gasp but leaned into his touch. When she tilted her head sideways in relief Severus Snape gripped her as he pressed his own pale naked form against her. His equally pale lips grazing the flesh of her newly exposed neck.

She leaned back into him her scent intoxicating.

He could feel the warmth of her slender form despite the water and the breeze. She reached up with wet hands running her fingers through his lengthy raven hair. There were no words between them as they soon ended up on the ground amid the golden grass. The scent of the earth fresh all around them.

Snape towered above the willing woman feeling her warmth all around him. It was a pleasure that had been indescribable as he began to thrust into her. The soft moans that escaped her soft pink lips like music as they continued well into the night. Caught in the effects of pleasure, he had barely noticed the female become more and more like the bushy haired witch whom he often taught in Potions.

When Snape looked down at her still reeling from his need, she smiled up at him.

"Professor." she had said.

Overwhelmed by shock the moment had shattered.

Snape tossed and turned in his sleep. Upon hearing the familiar title on the lips of one Hermione Granger he sat up abruptly covered in sweat. The taste of blood on his tongue and the need to hunt boiling his blood. It had only been mid-day and already he heard the moon's call. Scrambling out of bed, the Potions Master made his way into the bathroom. There he emptied his stomach of all it's contents before taking a rather lengthy cold shower.

He had just dreamed he was bedding Hermione Granger.

His student Hermione Granger.

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Later...

Hermione had done her best not to aggravate Snape any more than she could help. She had still planned on sharing the Rivermist plant with him since he had been the reason she had found it. It was strange to be in possession of one of the rarest ingredients in potion making and not be able to shout it to the roof tops.

She had stayed after class that afternoon as all the other students had run out. Snape had done his best to ignore her. Unbeknownst to her the dream he had was much too vivid and it had shaken him a good deal. The scent of jasmine had been over him long before the young Gryffindor witch reached his desk.

"Professor Snape." she said more than a little nervous about his reaction.

He had not seemed to be in all that good of a mood as of late.

"What pray tell is the reason you have decided to grace me with your presence Miss Granger?" he asked without looking up from his parchments.

She had not known it was because he did not trust himself. The image of her face twisted in pleasure as he thrust into her during his dream had been overwhelming.

"Well." said Hermione. "I know you don't wish to speak about this morning in the woods...but I have been meaning to tell you something..."

Snape's eyes widened at the mention of the woods.

Had he done it?

Had he taken the girl that night?

He certainly didn't recall doing such a thing.

He looked up from his parchments afraid of what she might say next.

"I wanted to show you this." said Hermione.

She went into her knapsack and pulled out a containment jar with a perfectly preserved plant inside.

When he got a look at it he could hardly believe it.

"Is that a Rivermist plant?" he asked astonished. "An actual Rivermist Plant?"

Hermione smiled noting how his eyes seemed to dance with excitement at the prospect of the plants identity.

"Well, since you saved me from the river I thought it only fitting that you receive half the credit for finding it." she said with a pleasant smile.

Snape had not known what to say.

"I-I am honored that you would grant me such a..." he had not the word to describe what she had been willing to do. "You're the first person in history to have ever collected a Rivermist Plant...you could be rich beyond your wildest dreams and yet you want to share your discovery with me?"

Hermione nodded.

"It seems the fair thing to do." she said.

"How very Gryffindor of you Miss Granger." said Snape.

"I know." she replied with a smile. "If you don't mind I'd like to leave it with you...you'd have better means to take care of it than I do at the present time."

Snape nodded. Of course it was the wisest thing to do. He did have the lab and the means to care for the plant until ingredients could be extracted. He could even put it under stasis for the time being.

"Very well Miss Granger." he said. "I suppose I would have to suffer through your company until this could all be recorded."

Hermione nodded.

"I thought as much." replied Snape. "Now if you don't mind...I have another class to teach."

The young Gryffindor witch nodded.

"See you later Professor." she said pleasantly.

Then took off out the door after her friends. Snape found himself watching the door for a moment after she had gone. He shook his head and forced himself to look at the parchments. After a while he glanced at The Rivermist Plant. She was really an amazing witch to have captured such an elusive treasure.

Upon noting his obvious praise for the young witch Snape turned his attention back to the parchments. After all, they weren't going to grade themselves.