Disclaimer – I do not own any of the characters in this story, they solely belong to J.K. Rowling (sadly… maybe I'll convince her to give me just two of them…). However, I am borrowing for the occasion of writing a fanfic and I am not making any money for it, which is fine by me.

I just wanted to say thank you to my boyfriend of three years/beta reader extraordinaire for putting up with me sitting in bed with my computer on until four o'clock in the morning when we had to be at work at seven, and actually taking the time to read my 'odd obsession' : ) . So, readers… I hope you enjoy it….

Fluff, lemons, smut, whatever you call it, with a plot snuck in, here it is. Don't like it? Why read it? Reviews are welcomed wholeheartedly and highly appreciated!

Warning – Must be 18 or over to read. I am warning you now, for this story is only for 18 and up because of the mature content in it. Sexual scenes, drinking.

She was drunk. Very drunk. It was her twenty-first birthday and her friends had taken her into a Muggle bar and proceeded to feed her shot after shot after shot. It was two o'clock in the morning and the bars were closing for the night. The tall, dark bartender came to the table of five and pleasantly informed them of the bar's hours. The birthday girl wolf whistled as he walked away.

"Oh, no," one of the girls at the table groaned, "please tell me you don't find that attractive."

The birthday girl giggled drunkenly. "Nooo," she slurred. "But… it… it was funny."

One of the men at the table sighed. "Okay, birthday girl, time to get you home."

"Harry? Harry, you're so responsible." She giggled again. "Why are you soooo responsible? You're the CHOSEN one, Harry, remember?"

Harry rolled his eyes and helped her from her barstool, allowing her to place some of her weight against him. "Yes, Hermione, I know…. But that's all over with, remember?"

"Suuuuure it is!" She then mocked whispered, "But Harry, you're Potter… I mean… No… Harry Potter! Harry Potter, you are or were or… something…." She giggled and tried again in her mock whisper. "Don't worry, they'll never recognize you here."

Harry sighed and rolled his eyes. "Let's get you home." He shot a look back to see if Ginny, Ron, and Lavender were following.

"Okay," she agreed, leaning all her weight against him.

"Oh, dear," Harry mumbled. He reached down and swept Hermione off her feet, literally. She let out a shrill of surprise, but began giggling again.

"Harry Potter, if you weren't married I would call you mine," she informed him dishonestly.

"I know, Hermione, I know." He laughed. "If only, right?"

"Right!" She shoved a fist in the air, almost clipping Harry's glasses. "Whoopsy!"

"No harm, no foul."

"Where are we going?" she asked after Harry carried her through the doorway with help from the other three.

"We're taking you home," he reminded her.

"But I can't aperatate – aperlate – apurpleate… oh bloody hell, I'm drunk, aren't I?" she moaned, leaning into his chest, embarrassed momentarily.

Harry and the others laughed. "That you are."

"Well, take me home," she demanded.

"I am," he said patiently.

"How?"

"Apparating," he informed her.

"That's right!" she exclaimed.

Harry sighed and looked to Ginny, who smiled adoringly at him. "We'll meet you there," she whispered.

"Ginerva! Ginerva Weasley! Are you coming toooo?" Hermione asked.

Ginny laughed. "Yes," she said simply.

"Kay…."

Harry rolled his eyes for the umpteenth time that night and spun on the spot into impending darkness. When they landed at the correct apartment building, Harry set her down and quickly reached into his robes for a vial, which he produced and uncorked before pouring the liquid into Hermione's mouth.

"Swallow," he ordered. She did. He sighed, relieved.

"What was it?" Hermione asked as Harry lifted her back into his arms, carrying her up the large buildings stairs to her apartment.

"Anti-nausea potion. I always carry some on me, incase Ginny's morning sickness gets to be too bad."

"Oooooh," Hermione said, feeling her stomach calming from Apparation, but not feeling any less drunk. "Harry you are so lucky."

Harry quirked an eyebrow. "How so?"

"You have it allll," she informed him as he opened the door to her apartment and stepped over the threshold. "You have a wife and twins on the way and you have love. I want love."

"I love you," Harry reminded her.

"No, Harry," Hermione giggled. Harry placed her gently on the black leather sofa in the living room, which was wide and spacious, much like the rest of the place. "I want someone to be in love with me…. Like Severus." She sighed.

Harry paused halfway into sitting on the couch, his bottom not quite touching and looked at her with an odd expression. "Severus?" he asked. "As in Severus Snape?"

Hermione sighed sadly. "Lord, he's absolutely gorgeous."

Harry sat. This had to be a joke. "Excuse me?"

"Harry," Hermione began hastily, her eyes bugging a little. "Harry, you have to know. You have to know. How can you not know?"

"Know what?"

Ron, Lavender and Ginny were standing in the doorway, their eyes all mirroring shock, focused on Hermione.

"You must know how beautiful, intelligent, brilliant, wonderful, absolutely perfect, Severus Snape is. Everyone knows that!" She looked about the room and noticed her other friends. "Gin, Lav, tell him, please."

"Uh," Ginny started uneasily. "Hermione, I don't… I don't agree, exactly."

Hermione gave her an incredulous look. "Noooo," she drawled. "What about his silky, velvet, melt your heart and cream your pants voice?!"

Ron and Harry gagged and Ginny and Lavender burst into a fit of laughter.

"See?" Hermione exclaimed, feeling triumphant. "They understand!"

Ginny and Lavender pressed their lips together to try and stop laughing, but failed miserably.

"I have to tell him," she informed the room. "I have to tell him now. I need a piece of quill and a parchment... or the other way around… I don't know!"

She stood too quickly and Ron rushed forward and grasped her arm. "Easy, Hermione."

"Oh, Ronald," she said, patting his cheek affectionately. "Thank you. Now, help me find my stuff, wouldn't you?"

"Hermione, maybe this is a bad idea, you aren't thinking correctly," Ron said, trying to help her sit again.

"No," she said firmly. "I must do this. I've kept this quiet for ten years. Ten years! I have to do this now… or else… or else I never will. Now or never! Right, Harry?"

Harry looked at Ginny for help, receiving nothing but a shrug. "Uh… I don't know, Hermione…."

"See?" she said. "The Chosen One has spoken!" She pulled away from Ron and stumbled into the kitchen to find what she needed. The others stood there, not sure what to do.

O.o.O.o.O

Severus Snape paced around his large office, his black robes billowing gracefully behind him, occasionally glancing back at his desk where un-graded essays sat.

"Idiotic twits," he growled to himself. "Can't even tell the difference in ingredients between a calming draught and a headache relief draught…. Fifth years! Bloody hell, I need a drink."

And drink he did.

About an hour later, the Potions Master had returned to his desk, most of an empty firewhiskey bottle hanging from his hand. He glanced around the room through hazy eyes. "Shit," he muttered, blinking, trying to clear his head. It helped very little.

He looked back to the papers sitting in front of him and snorted. He had already decided to not even attempt to grade them now, but they still made his blood boil.

A tapping at his door caused him to jump at the normally silent dungeon. He laughed at himself. He stood, clutching the desk for support. He set the firewhiskey on the floor behind his desk, incase it was the headmistress.

He stumbled his way to the dark wooden door, trying to look sober. He opened the door and blinked a few times, confused. There was no one there. He looked side to side, still seeing no one. He was just about to shut the door when he heard a hoot. He looked down.

"Ah," he said to the bird. "Hello. Can I help you?"

Severus shook his head, wondering why on earth he was talking to a damn owl. The owl stuck out his leg patiently. "I am a bit tipsy, owl, care to come up a bit higher?"

Amazingly, the bird spread his wings and fluttered to the black arm chair closest to the door, holding out his leg again. Severus gently removed the rolled up parchment and looked back at the bird.

"Thank you," he said. "I don't have anything to give you, but if you go just up the hill over the way there's a spot for the school owls, there should be treats."

The owl hooted and flew out the door. Severus closed the door securely before laughing at himself aloud. He sat back in his desk chair and unrolled the parchment.

Dear Progressor Snape Severus

Severus snorted with laughter. He reread the first line and realized his mistake.

Dear Progressor Severus Snape

He reread it again. Nope, definitely Progressor, not Professor.

Dear Progressor Severus Snape,

Hello, sir, I'm sure you are quite wondering why I am writing to you after all these years. It's because I love you. That's about it. Thank you so very much to listening. Well, reading. Have a wonderful night.

Hermione J. Granger

He sat motionless, blinking at the letter. He reread it at least twenty times to understand it fully. When he got the point, he reread it again, sure he was mistaken. He even read it out loud, several times, coming to the same conclusion; even though there were a few mistakes on her part, the general message was quite clear.

After he was sure, one hundred percent sure, that he got the full effect of the letter, he read the signature once again. 'Hermione Granger, huh?' he thought. She came to the forefront of his mind, as though he were looking at a picture.

Her bushy but silky hair, her deep chocolate mixed with caramel colored eyes, her petite but curvaceous body, her round full breasts…. 'Curvaceous body? Round, full breasts?' he thought, mentally scolding himself. He paused, reminding himself that she was in fact, an adult now.

"Not to mention it isn't the first time you've noticed her body, you old bat," he loudly reminded himself.

It wasn't until she came back for her seventh year that he had noticed her physically. Sure, he'd known from the first day of her first year that she was well beyond her classmates, much more mature than even your average seventh year student, and when it came down to it, brilliant. He never told her that, of course; it would undermine his role as the evil Potions professor. Since stepping foot in his classroom, that first day of September the beginning of her seventh year, she haunted his dreams nearly every night for almost the past three years.

She had swept into his classrooms almost twenty minutes early, her robes and hair sweeping gracefully behind her, her arms full with books. She hurried to take a seat at the desk directly in front of his. Now looking back at it, maybe he had noticed a small flicker of something in her eyes, but thought it was just wishful thinking on his part. But now she was no longer a student, no longer a teenager, and just so happened to have confessed her love for him.

"Bloody hell," he mumbled, reaching for a fresh piece of parchment and a quill.

When he was done with his reply, he stood unsteadily from his desk and went to the classroom across the hall to fetch a raven that might as well be an owl.

"Jester, I need you to take this to a Miss Hermione Jean Granger, I am not sure her residence, but I have faith in you. I would like you to wait for a reply, if you will be so kind," he informed the bird whilst attaching the parchment to the raven's leg. The raven cawed and flew out the doors, into the hall.

O.o.O.o.O

Hermione was still in her kitchen, perched on a black granite counter top, trying to pay attention to what her friends were prattling on about. It wasn't working. After a moment or two, she did recognize one word.

"Severus?" she asked, perking up. "Did someone say Severus?"

Ron looked at her with an odd expression. "Yes. I was just asking these three how in the world you would ever have any kind of feeling other than hatred towards that evil prick."

"Ron!" Hermione reprimanded, still slurring her words slightly. "How dare you? He saved your lives! I mean our lives! Numerous times! How could I ever hate him? Not to mention having watched him die, and then having to suck snake venom out of him without killing myself kind of bonded us, wouldn't you say so?"

The other four sat, staring at Hermione, astounded. "Hermione," Ginny whispered, "you never told us that. You never told us how…."

Hermione looked cross. "What? Told you how I saved his life? Why does it matter? None of you wanted him to live anyway, did you?"

She glared at all of them in turn, daring them to contradict her. Harry was obviously feeling very daring. "Hermione," he started, sighing, "we didn't want him to die. I wish you would have told us what happened, but I know I never wanted him dead. No matter the issues I've had with Snape, I can almost understand why he was to me the way he was. But that still doesn't give him the right to be a bastard all the time."

The other three nodded their agreement. Hermione sighed. She was just opening her mouth to speak when there was tapping at her kitchen window. Ron turned to the side and propped it open, and in flew the black raven, landing next to Hermione, sticking out his leg.

Hermione hastily untied the parchment and grabbed a few treats from the dish to her right and set them on the counter in front of the raven, who munched on them in happy silence. She unrolled the paper quickly, feeling much more sober than she was.

Dear Miss Granger,

I received your letter. I am at quite a loss of what to say, to be perfectly honest with you. I don't understand. Not in the least. You love me? That's all? At first I thought perhaps it was some kind of joke; but after thinking about who sent the letter, I have come to the conclusion that you are not as cruel as most people who would egg you into sending that letter. I am flattered. I will not lie, I don't know if love is the correct term to be used when you cross my thoughts, which so happens to be more often than I would like to admit.

I am not quite sure why I am telling you all of this, perhaps it is liquid courage speaking. I would care to know as to why you have chosen now, at nearly three in the morning, as to any time to confess your feelings for an old dungeon bat such as myself, and also just why you feel that way in general I suppose. You have left me purely baffled. Kindly reply, Jester will wait.

Severus T. Snape

Hermione quickly reached for her quill and parchment and replied, her words were close together and looked very sloppy, but she didn't care. Her heart was beating as quickly as she thought it could possibly go without bursting through her chest. When she was finished, she turned to the raven and he stuck out his leg and allowed her to tie the parchment to it, flying back out the window without a single instruction.

"What did it say?" Ginny asked curiously, watching Hermione cautiously.

Hermione looked up, and everyone froze for there were tears in her eyes and handed Ginny the letter.

O.o.O.o.O

Severus untied the parchment quickly and unrolled it.

Dear Professor Severus Snape,

You may call me Hermione, you know, it has been quite a bit of time since I have been your student. I believe that it was also liquid courage that caused me to confess the deepest secret I have kept since possibly the first day I walked into your chilled classroom. It's my birthday today, my twenty-first, and as I sat with my friends in a Muggle bar, I realized I was indeed missing a large part to my life. Harry and Ginny are married and expecting twins. Ronald and Lavender are getting married in the spring. Lavender and I don't always see eye to eye and have had our rough spots, but we put on a good face for Ron. Why I am telling you this, I am not sure. I have a tendency to ramble, obviously.

You are not an old dungeon bat. I find you quite attractive for reasons not even I understand to be honest. You are not the typical gorgeous male, but I think you are gorgeous nonetheless. I find you brilliant and insightful and I believe that you have a heart somewhere underneath those thick black robes. Maybe it's just the fact that you were unattainable or the fact that I saw you die in front of me, but somewhere along those lines, I fell deeply in love with you. I know that I don't know you inside and out, and some people would probably tell me it's hero-worshiping or that I'm just plain mad, but I feel it. I think of you every moment I have a clear thought and long for the day I can awake with you next me.

I am curious as to why I cross your mind more often than you like and would kindly like to request a reply on that matter. When I read that, my heart fluttered, and I am flattered.

Hermione J. Granger

Severus wrote his reply hastily, attached it to the raven, and it flew without command again.

O.o.O.o.O

Hermione had ordered Ron to leave the window open when he tried to shut it. There was very little talk between the four. It was more like a shocked silence than anything else. Hermione gasped as the bird came soaring through the window, landing next to her.

Hermione,

Firstly, happy birthday. Secondly, your name has always been beautiful to me, as are you, and I gladly oblige your request to use it. I must say, when I read that my words caused your heart to flutter, mine did also. You are correct in assuming that I do indeed have a heart beneath my many layers. Ten points to Gryffindor. Because I am using your given name, I see no point in you continuing in calling me Professor, or sir. You are also correct about the part in which you admit to not knowing me inside and out. I have not always been the 'hero' in the fairy tales in which I am sure you have heard from numerous Order members. I have a dark, horrid past that I have no want to tell you about it in a letter. Perhaps someday, but not now.

I dream of you at night, Hermione. It used to bother me… highly bother me. It started the first day of your seventh year. At first, I thought it was just the stresses of a new year, but I was mistaken… highly mistaken. I used to take a dreamless sleep potion every night before I would go to bed. However, when school was done, and you were gone, I became uneasy. It took me awhile to figure out it was because I was missing you.

Every time a student would answer a question wrongly, I would look about the classroom for your hand to be in the air, and was disappointed every day. I stopped taking the dreamless sleep potion. You were the star of my dreams. Sometimes it was you in my classroom, sometimes we were in various places, just talking, and other times…. Do you recall when I said that maybe love was not the correct word? I would call it more along the lines of deep curiosity and … lust to be honest.

I want to make it quite clear that no thought of such a perverse matter occurred to me when you were under the age of 18. Perhaps a bit when you were 17, which is legal age, but it was your seventh year, making you 18 because you finished a year later than most because of the 'adventure' with Potter and Weasley. I do not want you to receive the wrong impression, Hermione. I have also wondered what it would be like to awaken with you next me after having dreams about you. To wake up and be able to look at the beautiful face that was my night. To have you as my morning would be, literally, a dream come true.

I do not believe I ever thanked you for saving my life that night. It took a lot of courage and that ridiculous Gryffindor bravery to be able to do that. I am forever in your debt. Thank you, Hermione. Please extend my congratulations to both the Potters and Mr. Weasley and Miss Brown.

Hermione, I am forever grateful that you decided today to tell me how you feel. Perhaps we could meet sometime. To talk. I do not want this to be a one night letter writing extravaganza that began with you, drunk, telling me how you feel, and I, drunk also, responding. I wish for this, whatever it is, to 'play out,' if you agree, that is.

Severus

Hermione felt lightheaded as she replied quickly.

O.o.O.o.O

Severus,

I have much to say. Thank you for everything that you said. I would be more than willing to meet with you…. What do you say about now?

Hermione

Severus took a moment to respond, thinking heavily on his reply.

O.o.O.o.O

Hermione,

Use my floo, I have opened it to allow you through to my chambers directly. I shall see you when you get this. I look forward to seeing your beautiful face.

Severus

O.o.O.o.O

Severus,

I will be there soon. I also look forward to seeing your beautiful face also.

Hermione

O.o.O.o.O

Hermione,

I will be in my office. I believe have a found a fitting present for you on a day like today.

Severus

O.o.O.o.O

Severus,

I am sincerely hoping it will be you, with a red bow on top.

Hermione

O.o.O.o.O

Hermione,

Now that is not nice, to ruin a good surprise. Are you stalling?

Severus

O.o.O.o.O

Severus,

The alcohol is still running high in my system, so please excuse my lack of… everything... when I get to you. May I come now?

Hermione

Severus paused, wanting to write 'not until after you get here' but decided it was not completely the right time.

O.o.O.o.O

Hermione,

I am also still quite being pushed by the alcohol in my system, but that does not mean I do not wish you to be here with me right now. I would care to see my dream girl in person. A bit cliché, I know.

Severus

O.o.O.o.O

Severus,

I like clichés. I shall be there soon. I promise…. Don't forget the red bow….

Hermione

O.o.O.o.O

Hermione ran into her bedroom, changing at top speed, threw a robe around herself and stumbled back into the living room to her awaiting guests. "You guys go home. I'll talk to you… later." Without another word, she stumbled to her large fireplace, murmured a spell, grabbed some powder from a bowl on the mantle piece, and stepped in.

"Severus Snape's chambers, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." She took a deep breath and dropped the floo powder.

O.o.O.o.O

Severus' breath caught in his throat as he heard the fireplace from the other room crackle. After what seemed like an hour, he heard coughing and sputtering. His heart started to race. He stood ungracefully from his chair, grasping the desk for support.

"Severus?" she called, her voice thick with something he didn't recognize coming from her plump lips.

He took a few unsteady steps towards his chambers. "I'm in here," he replied.

Hermione's heart was beating a hundred times a minute. "Could you come in here, please? I don't want to feel like I'm in detention." She rolled her eyes at her own words, feeling slightly stupid.

Severus slowly walked the rest of the way and stopped at the door to his chambers, taking a deep breath. He opened the door and looked to the fireplace.

She was breathtaking, even with soot in her hair. She wore a long black robe, her hair falling in her face. Her lips were slightly open and her chest was rising and falling with the deep breaths she was taking to keep herself calm. Her eyes were wide and beautiful, slightly glassed over from the alcohol.

Hermione stared at him, trying to remember how to stand straight. He was just as she remembered. Perfect. He was still dressed in his billowing black teaching robes, standing tall with his long black hair framing his face. But there was something different about his face; it was almost, dare she say it, soft? His dark eyes were glassed over like hers, still penetrating, but in a different way; a kind way. She took a step forward. Then another.

"Where's my red bow?" she asked huskily, breaking the silence.

Severus did something he never did in front of anyone… he smiled. Hermione gasped.

"Right here," he said in his velvety voice. Hermione would have closed her eyes to drink in his beautiful voice had she not been so curious. Severus reached into his pocket and produced a small rectangular box.

Hermione eyed him carefully, trying to read his face. He took a step towards her, and she towards him. They slowly walked to one another, each doing so cautiously. When they were standing face to face, only a foot apart, Severus held out the blue rectangular box to her.

"There's no red bow," she said lamely.

"Open it," he encouraged. She took it, not looking away from his opal eyes. "I actually purchased this for you the summer before you returned for your seventh year," he explained in a whisper. "As a thank you present for what you did for me. I just never had the courage to give it to you."

She smiled crookedly at him and looked to her hands. She opened the box slowly and gasped. Inside lay a simple silver chain. She lifted it from the box to reveal a sapphire stone surrounded by more silver, dangling from the chain.

"It's a necklace," he told her, then shook his head at the obviousness of his own statement. She smiled.

She raised her eyes back to his. "It's beautiful. Thank you." She held out the necklace to him. "Put it on me?" she asked at the confused look on his face.

He took the necklace. She turned around, bunched her hair into one hand and raised it, revealing her neck. Severus held the necklace in one hand and put his other through the hoop her arm holding her hair made, and grabbed the other end. He slowly placed the necklace around her neck and clasped it in the back. She turned to him.

"How does it look?" she asked, placing a hand on the stone and letting her hair fall. It hung just above her clothes covered breasts.

"Breath taking," he murmured, not looking at the necklace at all. Before she could reply, he brought his hand hesitantly to her hair, brushing off some of the ashes. She blushed. "You are beautiful."

Her eyes closed as he continued to run his hand gently over her hair. He took her in when her eyes were closed, wondering what was underneath the heavy robe she was wearing. He smirked. He took the box from her hand and closed his eyes and thought a spell. He opened his eyes and was pleased with the results.

"Open your eyes," he whispered. Hermione obliged.

Severus smiled as he held up his hand. She was almost too lightheaded by his smile to look, but forced her eyes to look at his hand. Held in it was a simple red bow. She reached out and placed her hand on his, covering the red bow.

Hermione met his eyes again and didn't hesitate as she would have normally. She closed the distance between them, stood on her tip toes and crushed her mouth to his.

The hand in her hair tightened for a moment, but then relaxed. He kissed her back with enthusiasm, deepening the kiss. Their tongues met hastily, both of them groaning at the contact, swaying on the spot. Severus brought an arm around her back, pulling her into him tightly. Hermione snaked an arm around his neck, her other hand finding his face, feeling, memorizing.

She whimpered as his hand brushed along her cheek, sending electric waves down her body. He slowly turned his hand and brushed the back of it along her jaw line and down to her neck, groaning at the softness of her skin and what it was doing to him.

Hermione slid her hand from his face to his chest and began undoing the buttons to the first of his many layers. Only when she tried sliding it off his shoulders did he realize what she was actually doing. He shrugged out of it, breaking the kiss, only to replace his lips at her neck. She gasped and put her hands into his hair as he placed a wet kiss on her sensitive skin. Seeing she was more than approving, he nipped her skin lightly and kissed it again to soothe it.

"Severus," she moaned, "please."

Her fingers went to his next layer, undoing the many buttons. "Why do you have to wear such damned difficult clothing?" she complained hoarsely.

Severus chuckled and raised himself from her delectable neck to help her. Two layers later, he stood before her in a simple white t-shirt. She was baffled and awed by the muscular chest and stomach the shirt clung to. She reached her hands to the hem of the shirt and looked into his eyes as she pulled it up and over his head, throwing it to the side.

He looked at her with worried eyes but was relieved when she gave him a radiant smile. His eyes closed involuntarily and he let out a moan as her fingertips grazed over his defined torso. He reached out and gripped her hips, trying to let her know how much pleasure she was causing him. After a moment of letting her explore he brought his lips back to hers heatedly.

Hermione moaned unabashed into his mouth as his tongue swirled fiercely with hers, his hands raking over her hips roughly. She slid her hands to the top of his black pants but he grabbed her hands. She pulled back and made a sound of disapproval. He smiled his beautiful smile.

"My turn," he said simply, reaching for the top of her robe and began unfastening the clasps. She blushed and looked away from him.

Severus thought he was going to have a heart attack when the two pieces of fabric finally parted. She was dressed in what could only be described as sexy lingerie. It was a two piece ensemble, the top almost a corset, held up by her breasts and two spaghetti straps. It was green with silver lacing up the sides and fell tightly to just above her hips, showing her milky skin. The bottoms were the same color and lacey material as the top and were obviously panties, but they were almost like little shorts, with just a bit of her round bottom peaking out of them, encasing just the tops of her beautiful, supple thighs.

Severus forced his eyes away from her perfect body to her face. Her head was hung in embarrassment. He put his fingertips underneath her chin and forced her to look at him. Their eyes met.

"For me?" he asked dumbly.

"All for you," Hermione panted seductively.

"What would you have done if we had not made it to this… scenario?" he asked curiously.

She spoke without hesitation. "I never thought that it wouldn't happen."

Severus groaned and brought her face to his, kissing her deeply. He shoved the robe down her arms, letting it pool on the floor. Hermione tried again to reach for the button on his pants, and was elated when he didn't push her back, but made a noise of approval.

She hastily unfastened his pants, pushing them down his hips. He stepped out of them, leaving him standing in nothing but a pair of black boxers that were tenting quickly. Hermione broke the kiss, raking her eyes over his almost-naked body. She moaned.

"Severus," she breathed, "I want you." She locked her eyes on his, both mirroring need, want, and desire.

"Yes ma'am," he muttered before leaning down and lifted her up to wrap her legs around him. She giggled and kissed him again, throwing her arms carelessly around his neck. They groaned loudly as Severus' skin met the lacey softness surrounding her body, his erection pressing against her.

Hermione tightened her legs around him, grinding against his swollen manhood, moaning into his mouth. Severus groaned and walked them to the bed. He placed her down gently and followed on top of her, her legs still wrapped securely around him.

"Are you sure?" Severus panted, his lips still against hers.

"Please," she begged. "I need you."

Hermione unwrapped her legs and brought her hands to his hips, pushing down his boxers. Severus raised himself off her just enough to slid the boxers off, then covered her gently with his body.

He kissed her again, but this time it was slow, hesitant… gentle. When their tongues met this time, it was sweet and sensual, and just as pleasurable as their other kisses. Severus was the one who broke the kiss, but started a trail of kisses from her forehead to her neck.

Hermione wiggled beneath him as he kissed her collarbone and just above her breasts. His hand slinked up her side, to her stomach and hesitantly brought it to cup her breast. She gasped, feeling his hand through the lacey material. He applied a bit of pressure, squeezing it lightly.

Severus slowly brought the material down, revealing just her beautiful fullness to him. He groaned at the sheer perfection of them and dropped his mouth to one of the already hardened little nipples, kissing each of them in turn. She moaned and withered underneath him, her hands buried in his hair, arching her back.

"Severus," she gasped. "Severus, please."

"Please what?" he asked before swirling his tongue around one of the cute nipples.

Hermione tried to form a coherent thought as wetness soaked into her panties. "I want you, Severus."

He smirked. "You have me," he whispered, swirling his tongue around her other nipple. Her hands tightened in his hair.

"Severus!" she practically yelled.

"What?" he asked innocently.

"I want you. I want you so badly, please. Take me," she moaned loudly.

"Hermione, I wanted to pleasure you," he purred in that silky voice that increased the wetness in her panties considerably.

Hermione tried to keep her head about her and forced herself to remember why she had spoken at all. "No," she said confidently. "I'll show you what will pleasure me."

She yanked on his hair just enough to get him to do what she wanted without actually causing him pain. She put her hand to his shoulder and shoved, causing him roll to his back. She wantonly rolled on top of him, straddling him. She leaned back, allowing her legs to stretch in front of her before slowly slipping off the panties.

Severus laid there in shock, watching her spread her legs back out, seeing her dripping wet core that was lightly covered in chestnut curls. His member bobbed involuntary. She threw them aside and put her legs back underneath her, kneeling above him. She hungrily brought her lips back to his, moaning as his hands roamed her body.

"I want this offensive piece of clothing off," he demanded, tugging on her top, his voice velvety and thick with want.

Before he gave her time to regroup her thoughts, his hands went to silver lacings on either side and undid them, loosened them, and pulled the fabric above her head and arms, groaning at the enticing site before him. His eyes drank in her soft curves, the fullness of her rounded breasts, the soft but flat stomach, and the defined features of her hip bones.

"You're perfect," he informed her, looking into her deep caramel eyes.

She blushed, looking down.

"No," he said quickly, "don't look away from me, Hermione."

Hermione suppressed a moan at his voice whispering her name. She obeyed, looking back at him into his clouded black eyes. There was something in them she didn't recognize but decided to find out later. There were more… pressing… matters to deal with right now.

"Are you sure?" Hermione asked, wanting to give him an option as he had done for her.

"I have never been more sure of anything."

Hermione kept her eyes locked on his as she lifted herself up and slid back, perched just above his large manhood. She gave him a small smile before impaling herself on it. They both cried out, their heads falling back as her tight wet sleeve enveloped around him. Severus grasped her hips, silently begging her not to move a muscle, wanting it to last more then a second. She understood.

When his grip lessened he guided her slowly up and down his shaft, both of them panting and moaning loudly. After a moment, Severus felt more in control and began guiding her faster. Hermione's breathing became faster, her walls pulsing slickly around him.

"Severus," she panted, "that feels so good, oh that feels so good."

He watched as she bounced up and down on top of him, needing no guidance. He felt the room getting fuzzy, felt as though he were losing the last strand of control he had.

"Hermione," he moaned, "I… I…." He stopped speaking, realizing what he was about to say.

She draped her torso over his, pressing her breasts against his firm chest. "You what, Severus?" she asked lowly, sucking on his earlobe.

He pushed against her hips, forcing her back up to look into her beautiful face. Her eyes were alit with desire, need, want, and…love. He pumped her faster, trying to ignore her question, trying to push the truth away from his own mind by pushing himself into her.

Hermione was tingling from head to toe, she could feel the orgasm building and building, but not giving yet. She placed her hands on the headboard to help herself, and rode him up and down as fast as she could, moaning in pleasure as he met her, thrust for thrust, filling her again and again.

Somewhere in the back of his brain he realized what was going to happen, but he didn't feel the need to stop it. "Hermione," he moaned, looking into her eyes again.

"Severus," she panted, feeling closer and closer. "Talk to me. Please, I need to hear your voice."

"Hermione," he purred. "I want you to come, Hermione. I want to feel it. Please. I… Hermione, I…."

Her head was thrown back, her breathing reaching almost hyperventilation.

"Look at me," he commanded again. She complied. He could feel her walls tightening around him, knew she was there. "I love you," he whispered, not breaking the eye contact.

Hermione came. His words sent her over the edge into a blissful orgasm, her juices running in tidal waves through her. She rode out each crest, listening to him tell her he loved her over and over and over until she called his name loudly as the last wave crashed, soaking his swollen cock.

"I love you, Severus, I love you," she called, feeling herself rolling into another orgasm, shocking her. He gripped her hips almost painfully and slammed into her, allowing her to pull through her second orgasm as he crashed over with her, slamming into her one final time, spilling himself deep inside her.

Hermione fell on top of him, both of them trying to remember how to breathe. Severus wrapped an arm around her silky body, holding her to him tightly. He brushed the hair that was stuck to her face behind her ear when she turned her face towards him.

"Tell me again," he whispered.

"I love you," Hermione whispered back, not hesitating. "Did you mean it?"

Severus looked deep into her eyes and wanted to tell her no, but he refused to lie. "Yes."

"Tell me." She smiled widely.

"I love you," he said, bringing his lips to hers to kiss her gently. He brought his hand to the necklace hanging on her chest, and let his hand to rest over it. "Do you like it?"

"Absolutely adore it," she replied. "But I liked my other present better."

"And what was that?" he asked.

She smiled and reached around him and held up the red bow. "This one." She giggled as she placed the bow on his forehead.

"Cute," he murmured, but left it there for her amusement.

Severus awoke the next morning to find Hermione still asleep on top of his chest. His heart swelled, watching the blanket covering them rise and fall with her breathing. He placed a hand to her face and caressed her cheek. Her eyes fluttered open. She blinked a few times and Severus suddenly had a worried feeling that she was going to start screaming 'rape' and run away from him.

He breathed a sigh of relief when she smiled widely, sighing contently, and nuzzling into his neck.

"Good morning, love," Severus whispered.

"Morning," she replied sleepily. "Mmm, someone's happy to see me."

Severus gave her an odd look, but she shifted her hips towards his growing hardness beneath the sheet. He smiled as she grabbed for something beside his head.

"Happy early birthday," she whispered, placing the red bow on her shoulder and bringing her lips to his.

A/N - Someone pointed out a mistake, so I went back through this chapter, online and cringed, so I just fixed a few things.