Disclaimer: I do not own anything from the Harry Potter series. The only thing I can claim is the plot.

A/N: Hello readers, this is the first story I've written in almost five years! I can proudly say that in that time, my writing has improved (atleast with avoiding typos and grammer errors!) Enjoy this story and please review! Thanks!

Tempted

By FictionCannibal

One

He had given her detention because of her persistent hand waving and over all insufferable nature... at least, that's what Severus Snape continued to tell himself as he waited for Hermione Granger to come down to the dungeon to serve her detention. Looking across the room, Severus smirked at the pile of dirty cauldrons he had let gather since the beginning of term. Making Miss Granger clean those - with no magic - would be torture for her...

And not a bad view for you… A voice in his head taunted.

Severus scowled. He refused to think of Grangers detention as anything more then it should be.

But you want to see her - you wouldn't have assigned the detention to be served with you if that weren't true.

Severus looked over at the dirty cauldrons again and an image of Granger popped in his head;

Granger, with nothing more then a black lace bra and her school skirt, bent over the cauldron scrubbing the inside - her breasts would bounce as she encountered a particularly rotted spot...

Severus shook his head. He should not be thinking about Granger in that way. She was his student for crying out loud!

Pinching the skin between his eyebrows, he tried to remember when he had first starting thinking of her in this way; it wasn't hard to find that moment.

It had been during the summer; Potter had just defeated Voldemort and there was a celebration ball right here in Hogwarts. Severus remembered seeing Granger for the first time in over a year since she had been on the run with Potter and Weasley. The battle had matured her - she no longer looked like the young girl whom he had taught for all those years. Her face seemed aged, and he could see that her body had developed nicely behind the royal blue dress robes she wore.

Severus had not approached her that night, and now he was thankfully he had not - only hours later, at that same ball, Potter had announced that he and his friends would be returning to Hogwarts to complete their seventh year.

Severus had scoffed and immediately drew his eyes away from Granger, feeling as if they had burned. He had never thought of any student of his in that way and Severus knew it would be best not to continue gazing at her delectable body, wondering how she would look without those robes...

A knock on the potions classroom door startled Severus out of his musing. He cleared his throat and fixed another scowl on his face.

"Enter."

When the door opened, Granger stepped in timidly and closed the door behind her. As she walked to the front of the classroom, where he sat behind his desk, Severus was glad to see that she had opted to wear her complete school uniform, which covered every inch of skin that could be considered provocative.

"What am I to do, sir?" She asked when she was standing in front of his desk.

Severus pointed towards the cauldrons. "Scrub those cauldrons until they are spotless. I have provided you with a toothbrush and a bucket of water. No magic."

Severus looked away from her and down to the essays on his desk. He heard her sigh and move away to begin her ghastly task. Resisting the urge to sigh himself, Severus attempted to clear his mind and not think - too much - about the girl who had –coincidently - plagued his thoughts since the beginning of term. It was a difficult task, seeing as Granger would be in the same room as him for the next two hours. Taking a chance while her back was turned, Severus glared at her before returning to the essays, scribbling T's on every other one.

...

Hermione Granger sighed as she walked over to the pile of cauldrons. On the table next to them, was a soft bristle toothbrush and a pail of water. Shrugging out of her cloak, revealing her gray school sweater and knee length skirt, Hermione set to work.

It took her exactly half an hour to complete the first cauldron, and with sweat on her brow, Hermione looked up to see Professor Snape still working on his grading. Placing the now clean cauldron on the shelf, Hermione grabbed another and before she started working on it, she found her eyes drifting back over to Snape.

It amazed her at how well he acted; sitting at his desk seeming at peace with grading dreadful essays. After all the had happened with the war - his close call with death, his double agent spying, and everything else - seeing Snape do something as simple as grading amazed her.

As she began scrubbing the second cauldron, Hermione couldn't help wonder if he was lonely. She remembered seeing him at the celebration ball; he had stood in a darkened corner for most of the night as to avoid giving any interviews. She remembered dancing and feeling his eyes on her, and when she had looked up in his direction, she had caught his eyes. Hermione swore 'til this day that his expression had been one of longing, acceptance, peace and desire. But what was it that he desired? Surely it wasn't her which he desired...

Ever since that night, all Hermione could think about was the desire in his eyes - in her dreams, that desire would turn to lust.

Sighing again, Hermione wiped her forehead with the sleeve of her sweater, not sure if the heat she felt was because of her work or something else entirely.

...

When Severus finally decided it was safe enough to look up, he was semi surprised to see that Granger had managed to clean four of the cauldrons using only the flimsy toothbrush he had provided. Looking at the time, he saw there were only ten more minutes of her detention left.

"Miss Granger, you may stop. Gather your things and get out." Severus said without sparing her a glance – he resisted watching her as she put her cloak back on.

When she suddenly came up to his desk, however, he had no choice but to acknowledge her once more. He looked up at the girl – woman – and saw she wore an expression of curiosity. Severus almost sneered. He knew that look – he had been on the receiving end of that look all throughout his trails with the Wizengamot. She wanted to ask questions (which wasn't unlike her) and he was in no mood for it. Fixing a glare in her direction, visions of her as a woman vanished and in its place was a girl who thought she had to know everything.

"Miss Granger, I believe my instructions were clear – gather your things and leave my classroom. At once!"

She nodded her head and squared her shoulders. "Professor… I was just wondering -"

"Please take your questions to someone else, Granger. I've not the time or patients for them or you for that matter."

Her eyes narrowed as Severus stood up and gathered his papers. He needed to leave her presences before he said – or did – anything stupid.

"Sir, I only wished to inquire about the potion you assigned us to research in class today."

Severus lifted his eyes to her once more and raised a brow. "Tell me, Miss Granger, when I speak, do I speak English or some other language you are unable to understand?"

He watched as her cheeks grew red with color and he stopped himself from watching her tongue as she quickly licked her drying lips. Suppressing a groan, Severus turned around and made his way into his office.

"Ten points from Gryffindor, Miss Granger. Get out."

…

Hermione's eyes widened as she watched Snape's retreating back. She had only wanted to be reminded of which book she was to read, but now, her mind was reeling. She had seen that look in his eyes again – desire. And it was for me…

Without thinking twice about what she was doing, Hermione followed quickly behind him and before he was able to slam his down shut, she place a foot down and the door swung forcefully against it. She cried out in mild pain and Snape turned around looking at her, bewildered.

"What in Merlin's name do you think you're doing, girl?" He asked menacingly. He walked up to her where she stood in the doorway and with only a few inches between them, he glowered at her. "Another thirty points, Granger."

Hermione gasped slightly when she felt him move closer, his long black robes nearly touching her own. With determination, she lifted her head and met his eyes. She knew if she stayed like this for long, her neck would be sore; he was so tall…

"I'm sorry Professor," she whispered.

His face moved closer. "For what, exactly, Miss Granger?" He said in a low voice that almost sounded like a growl.

Hermione gasped again – that voice… how had she never noticed what that voice could do?

"I – I…" She trailed off as her hands – traitors! – lifted and settled onto the front of his robes against his chest.

His eyes were so dark, and she was getting lost in them. He desired her and she knew it. She had known since the celebration ball, yet it took until now to fully accept it. Was this what Snape needed? Someone to be with… to love? Did she even want to be the person to give him those things?

Hermione nodded softly. Yes. She could be that person for him if he chose her. After everything he did for the Order… for everyone. He was smart, snarky, and though not the most handsome, he carried an elegant air, and that alone would attract any female.

Hermione felt her eyes close of their own accord, and could almost feel his breath on her cheek… so close, yet –

Suddenly, her hands were grasping empty air. Her eyes snapped open and she looked around Snape's office to find him nowhere in sight. Her heart began to pound as she hurriedly grabbed her bag and left the empty classroom. As she made her way to the Gryffindor tower, all she could think in her head was: What the hell was that?

…

Severus leaned against a wall in his living quarters. Never had he been so caught off guard in his life! What was that girl thinking? Tempting him like that? Offer her lips so willingly…

Severus grabbed the nearest piece of furniture – a wooden chair – and through it across the room, satisfied when one of its four legs broke off.

Hermione Granger was completely off limits. She was his student. Student! It didn't matter that she had fought in a war; she was young and deserved more than he could ever offer her. No. It would do well to stay away from her. There was no use it hurting her, or getting hurt himself. Severus was all too aware of the feeling of heartbreak…

Heartbreak? It's not as if I'm in love with that girl – woman! – If anything, all I feel is lust. I'm lusting after a nineteen year old girl…

Severus quickly walked over to the broken chair, lifted it up and slammed it back on the ground, breaking the remaining legs off. He would not become a perverted old man. He would not lust after her, and he would be the happiest man in the world the day she would be gone from Hogwarts for good.

Only eight more months to go…

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