Chapter 67: Muggle vs. Wizard

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

It had been a well thought out idea for Severus and Hermione to take young Austin with them on a trip to Muggle London. The boy had seen so little outside of Hogwarts it had really been sad. Since Severus was his legal guardian there was nothing to stop them. He spent much of the morning bouncing around Snape's quarters as they got ready for their trip. Hermione had been looking forward to spending some time with Severus again without the hassle of their busy schedules. It was another fine weekend and luckily for them, they were not up for Hogsmeade duty.

Hermione had indeed woken up later than she planned thought it had been no preconceived plot on the part of Severus Snape to make it so. Still it did not mean that he couldn't enjoy the most fortuitous occurrence that had been in his favor. The bushy haired witch had jumped into the shower thinking nothing of it at the time. She had been in such a rush to get the day started that she had forgotten that she had been in the presence of an opportunistic Slytherin. The Head opportunistic Slytherin at that.

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The Shower, Snape's Quarters, Hogwarts...

Severus put Austin to work filling a new book shelf he had constructed to keep the boy busy before they left for their trip while he and Hermione got ready. Of course the boy knew little about his guardians relationship with the witch but he was glad to have her company. Snape ventured back into his bedroom casting strong lock and silence charms before he made his way toward the sound of the rushing water.

The warmth of the shower hit Hermione's exposed skin and she immediately let it soak her entire body. She had been so engrossed with the welcome warmth of the water that she had not noticed when a second body slipped into the shower with her. The obsidian eyes of Severus Snape glinted with mischief as he took her towel and applied a good amount of soap to it.

He reached forward and began to scrub Hermione's back with it. At first she grew tense not knowing who had been inside the shower with her. With a castle full of ghosts and the mischievous Peeves it was no telling who it had been. She relaxed when she caught the familiar scent of herbs and fresh earth.

"Severus." she said finding herself breathless.

"It seems you've missed a spot, Miss Granger." Snape purred seductively as he continued to wash his back.

"I do not believe that I even started washing." countered Hermione playfully.

"Then it is most fortunate that I happened to pop in then." replied Snape.

"I would have to agree with you, Professor Snape." she replied.

The dour wizard continued to wash the bushy haired witch. Soaking nearly every part of her youthful body.

Once he had finished she took the towel and finished off the rest giving him a little show in the process. Snape did little to hide his apparent arousal given the state of things. He waited until she rinsed every last part of her and found himself kissing her neck. Hermione let out a soft moan and he continued pressing his erection into her soft form.

"Severus." said Hermione being swept by the heat of his passion.

"Beautiful witch." he said softly. "Only you can enchant me so."

He pulled her closer to him and turned her to face him. He lifted her off the shower floor with ease and pressed her body against the cold green tile. The bushy haired witch let out a gasp as the water fell down her chest and then into his raven hair. She gripped his shoulders as he positioned her against the tile until he had worked his body into position between her slender legs.

"Severus." she said breathlessly. "You opportunistic, Slytherin Git."

"Hermione." he replied. "You beautiful enchantress, Gryffindor."

It wasn't long before she felt him like so many times before. His groans matched her constant moaning but the sound had been drowned out be the rushing water of the shower. She had not known how long it had taken them initially. He always had a habit of catching her off guard when it came to matters such as this. Once the act commenced both she and Snape took time to bathe properly before exiting the shower. Snape had been clad in Muggle jeans and a long sleeve black shirt with his usual black boots. Hermione also wore jeans a white t-shirt and a pink hooded sweat shirt with white trainers.

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Front Room, Snape's Quarters, Hogwarts...

Snape had been surprised to see that Austin had taken the liberty of alphabetizing his entire book collection in the time span of their one shower. The Potions Master couldn't argue about the boy being efficient. He was quite a useful young man to have around. Hermione had been less than thrilled about him putting the young wizard to work to cover up his antics in the shower.

"You are most definitely a git for this Severus." she said.

"I simply asked him to stock the new shelf not alphabetize my entire collection." said Snape in his defense. "Although, I do have a record collection that needs some work..."

Hermione narrowed her eyes at him.

"I hope that you don't believe yourself to be intimidating." said Snape with an arched eyebrow.

Hermione placed her hands on her hips in true Molly Weasley fashion.

"How is this for intimidating..." she said. {"I won't let you touch me for a month...git."}

{You assume I cannot hold out longer than you can.} he replied.

{"Would you like to go for two months?"} asked Hermione in his mind.

Snape narrowed his eyes at her.

{Blasted temptress.} he said in her mind then turned his attention back to the business at hand.

"I believe we have a trip to get to." he said bitterly.

Hermione smiled.

{"I thought you would see reason."} she said rather smugly in his mind.

Snape rolled his eyes.

"Yes." she said triumphant. "I believe we do...come along Austin."

The young wizard had not known what had just happened but he was more than glad to get the trip underway. He had been happily sporting his own set of Muggle clothes, tan trousers and a long sleeve gray sports shirt with white trainers.

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Muggle London, England...

The evening was getting off to a good start with Snape being forced into every blasted store that caught the Insufferable witch's eye. She made a point to take Austin clothes shopping for Muggle attire and even dragged Severus along using threats to withhold sex as an incentive to get him in a shopping mood. The dour wizard rolled his eyes at her feeble attempts. She after all, had been the same young witch who taken it upon herself to burst into his quarters after a night of drinking with her friends and demand that he bed her.

The dour wizard was forced to pretend to be like any other Muggle to make a good impression on Austin. Snape had to admit that Hermione had been a curious sight as she made a point to bond with Austin. She had been more than beneficial when it came to dealing with the young wizard and it was a welcome change seeing the smiles on both their faces out amid the vast crowds of people uneventful Muggles.

In the back of his mind he knew that the fun they've had here today would be short lived once Hermione knew that McNair had escaped from Azkaban. He didn't foresee any more little outings such as this for quite some time until the deranged death eater was dealt with. Knowing all this was weighing heavily upon him, Snape kept more of a watchful eye on them both as they ventured through London.

Hermione and Austin had been all smiles when she went into a little souvenir shop and came out with a Muggle camera. Snape rolled his eyes at the giddy faces they made while snapping pictures with the infernal contraption. They had lunch at a small diner and continued to sight see. All seemed to be going quite well with Austin taking the time to enjoy himself despite not being able to use his magic.

They ventured toward a park where Hermione convinced Snape it would be the perfect place to read a few of the new books they had purchased at at yet another Muggle store. He allowed her to take him by the hand and escort him towards the park with Austin grasping the other in cahoots with the bushy haired Charms Mistress.

Snape couldn't help but smile at the sight of them pulling and tugging him along. They had even managed a laugh from him. It seemed everything was going quite well until Austin suddenly froze staring rather intently at a ragged looking Muggle dressed in brown leather with a newspaper in his hands. Snape arched an eyebrow at the boy's sudden fear. And turned to see that he had been afraid because his so-called uncle had been the Muggle he was staring at.

"Austin." said the average looking Muggle man with equally red hair and dark eyes. "I have been looking all over for you."

Hermione narrowed her eyes at the Muggle moving to place her hands on the terrified boy's shoulders.

"Severus." she said.

Snape whirled around taking a defensive stance.

"Get over here boy." demanded the leather clad Muggle.

"Austin stay where you are." said Snape in a dangerous tone.

The Muggle turned his attention to Snape.

"Hey buddy!" said the Muggle outraged and raising his fists. "I don't know who you are but you've got no business interfering with me and my kid."

"He is not your "kid"." said Snape still in a dangerous tone. "And you will treat him with respect."

The Muggle narrowed his dark eyes at The Potions Professor.

"Listen pal." said The irate Muggle poking Snape in the chest in a bid to intimidate him. "Why don't you and your little girl friend here go find some other charity case...Austin is my blood and you've got no business sticking your abnormally large nose in our affairs."

Snape sighed. Name calling. How original.

Hermione watched Snape closely as did Austin.

This bloke doesn't know whom he's dealing with.

I almost feel sorry for him.

Almost.

"Miss Granger, would you kindly take the boy back to the diner." said Snape not attempting to disguise his dangerous tone. "I believe this man and I have some thing to discuss."

"You don't go anywhere with that kid, bitch." said the Muggle man.

Before he knew it, an enraged Severus Snape leveled him to the ground with a solid right hay-maker to the jaw. Hermione could only stare at The Potions Master with her mouth agape much in the style of Ron Weasley whenever something exciting happened. Austin had been doing the same unable to take his eyes off Snape.

"You will show some respect to the lady." said Snape still in a dangerous tone.

The Muggle scrambled to his feet with rage in his eyes.

"You wanna dance buddy be my guest." he said balling his fists.

Snape took a fighting stance and did the same.

"This is your last chance to be on your way." he said.

"I'm not going anywhere without that kid." replied the Muggle.

"The boy stays with me." said Snape. "He doesn't belong to the likes of you...and he is not property to trade for money."

"Don't you tell me how to care for my brother's kid." said the Muggle. "What does a fancy gent like you know about being broke and penny-less."

"A great deal." replied Snape. "You'd be surprised at what you can live through."

The Muggle took a swing at Snape who dodged his blows. Hermione couldn't seem to take her eyes off the action. Austin had been terrified of his uncle and had not wanted the man to hurt his professor.

"It'll be alright Austin." said Hermione. "Professor Snape is a war hero remember."

The red haired young wizard nodded not understanding how she knew about his concerns.

"I'm right here." taunted Snape in true arrogant fashion. "Why don't you try hitting me like you do the boy."

The Muggle swung wildly missing every time.

Snape connected with two hard shots into the man's already bruised face. The Muggle tried to counter but continued to miss. Hermione had never seen Snape like this before. Something with this man must have struck a nerve with him. His obsidian eyes flared with rage as he glared at the Muggle who continued to try and fight him.

"What's the matter, no fun unless the target is someone too weak to fight back." said Snape with fury in his tone.

The Muggle still struggled to connect but kept swinging.

Hermione had been a little unnerved to see the wicked smirk on Snape's face as he taunted the Muggle man. Connecting with more blows into the man's face. She could just make out the swelling starting to come over his eyes.

"Severus." said Hermione becoming worried.

Snape smirked and stopped dodging the blows the Muggle dished out making it a point to stand and absorb them all. The Muggle man thought he had him putting all he had into the wild flurry of punches in a bid to do some real damage. Snape's expression had not changed the entire time he weathered the blows.

"I'm afraid you'll have to do better than that." he said. "I'm still standing."

The Muggle continued to punch him until he ran out of energy. He gasped for breath looking up into the bloodied face of Severus Snape. The Potions Master kept the wicked smirk.

"My apologies." he said. "This is where I ensure you get a good night's sleep."

Before the Muggle could say a thing in protest Snape leveled him with another right hay-maker sending him to the ground and out for the count. Austin couldn't believe what he had just witnessed. His eyes wide from the excitement of it all. Snape waved his hand over the out cold Muggle healing his injuries, but leaving him to lie on the ground. He waved his hand over himself and healed most of his own injuries and turned his attention to Hermione and Austin.

"I think we've done enough shopping for one day." he said his tone bitter.

Hermione nodded agreeing wholeheartedly that it was time to go back to Hogwarts. When they apparated back Snape talked to Austin for a few minutes and took off again leaving the boy in Hermione's care. The bushy haired witch had not known for sure where Snape had gone but she knew what happened with Austin's uncle had upset him some how.

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Spinner's End, Muggle London, England...

Fueled by firewhiskey and rage, Severus Snape landed at Spinner's End. The memories of his deceased bastard haunted him more than anything he had ever done while in service to The Dark Lord. Snape sat in the darkness of his father's living room nursing a half bottle of firewhiskey. He recalled all too well the times Tobias Snape had assaulted him and called him a freak due to his magical prowess. The years he spent wearing mismatched clothes with holes in them and worn old shoes were so vivid in him mind. He recalled going to bed quite a few nights without anything in his stomach.

His father spent much of his time drinking what little money they had left away. His mother spent a good deal of time scrubbing floors and selling potions just to put food on the table and keep the utilities going. Looking back he couldn't really blame her for wanting to get out a soon as possible. He had gone to Hogwarts were food and clean clothes were abundant. If she hadn't left then chances were she or Tobias would have killed the other.

{"Severus."} said Hermione's worried voice in his mind.

{Leave me alone.} he replied back.

{"Severus, come home."} said Hermione.

{Not now, Hermione.} he said.

{"Have you been drinking?"} she asked.

{It appears so.} said Snape.

{"Severus, I'm worried about you."} she said.

{Don't be.} he replied.

{"Please come home."} she said still very worried. {"If you don't come home, I'll come to you."}

{No need to trouble yourself Gryffindor.} said Snape. {I'm on my way...though I can hardly a test to the shape I'll be in once I arrive.}

He got up off the floor and made his way to the front door. He took one last look at Spinner's End before he left in a crack of thunder. In his drunken state he had forgotten that he could have used the floo to get to the school faster.

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

Hermione had been anxiously pacing the front room in her night gown when Snape arrived. He shuffled through the door and ventured into the bedroom. The bushy haired witch followed pleased that he had arrived in one piece. he passed out on the bed fully dressed and drifted off to sleep on his stomach. She vanished his whiskey scented clothes until he was in his usual boxer shorts and climbed into bed with him. Hermione pulled the covers over both of them and got comfortable beside him.

"I love you Slytherin Git." she said softly stroking his sleeping face. "You're the most amazing wizard I've ever known."

Snape groaned in his sleep and reached out for the witch to pull her closer.

"Her-mi-on-e." he said sleepily.

The bushy haired witch smiled and rested her head on his back. She fell asleep listening to the sound of his heart beat and light snoring. It had been an all together eventful day and they were glad that it had been over. Hermione more so than Severus as the night passed peacefully.