Chapter 12
"This is disgusting, Severus Snape!!" Hermione couldn’t hide her disgust as she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. Even though she loved everything about her boyfriend, she just couldn’t stand his saliva.
"Oh wow," Snape raised an eyebrow, "says the girl who teased me. Hermione Granger, you asked me to feed you."
The Potion Master stood up, walking toward her. He gently lifted her chin with his long, thin finger, making her look up at him.
"S-stop!" Hermione's voice quivered slightly, and Snape noticed the fear in her eyes.
He pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, his touch surprisingly tender, before he slowly returned to his seat.
"Finish your meal and go shower," he said, his voice calm and controlled, leaving Hermione stunned and a little breathless.
"You—Urgh!" Hermione groaned in frustration. She hated how he always teased her and then acted as if nothing had happened.
They finished their meal in awkward silence, with Hermione feeling a bit rattled by the whole ordeal. As soon as they were done, she quickly excused herself, slipping upstairs to shower, hoping the warm water would help clear her mind.
As the hot water poured over her, Hermione tried to push the thoughts of the man’s teasing from her mind. But no matter how much she tried to focus on her shower, her heart raced. She knew Severus was unpredictable, and part of her loved that—his ability to leave her both exasperated and completely enchanted at the same time.
When she finally finished, she wrapped her hair in a soft towel and headed back down to find Snape sitting in the living room, as calm as ever. His eyes flicked up when she entered, a small smirk playing on his lips.
"Better?" he asked, his voice low.
Hermione blushed as she sat down next to him, unable to stop herself from rolling her eyes playfully. Snape smirked at her reaction before reaching out to remove the towel from her damp hair. With slow, careful movements, he began combing his fingers through her curls, gently untangling them.
They were facing each other now, Hermione nestled comfortably in his lap, her arms wrapped around him as he continued drying her hair. The warmth of his touch sent shivers down her spine, and she found herself relaxing into his embrace.
"Should we sleep, Granger?" Snape asked softly, his deep voice laced with amusement as he held her arms, making sure she didn’t lose balance.
"Yes… I’m tired…" Hermione murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
Snape pressed a lingering kiss to her forehead before standing up effortlessly with her in his arms. She let out a sleepy sigh, her head resting against his shoulder as he carried her up the stairs.
Reaching his room, he carefully placed her on the bed, adjusting the blankets around her small frame. She had already fallen into a deep slumber, her face peaceful and serene.
Snape lingered for a moment, watching her. A rare, tender smile crossed his lips as he brushed a stray curl from her cheek.
"Goodnight, baby girl," he whispered before settling in beside her, letting sleep take over.