The Burning Pen

The Ring

by Ruth Solomon

The story content is adult in nature and can contain graphic sex and violence.  Those under the age of 18 are asked to leave this site immediately.  You are not welcome here.  The author is not responsible for those under-aged who view these works.

CHAPTER 24

Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to JKR. All situations are mine. No $$$ is being made from this fanfic.
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Chapter 24 ~ The Return to Hogwarts

Hermione, Snape and Raucous appeared in front of the main gates of Hogwarts. It was late in the evening. Probably about eight o’clock or so. Not many people would be about so close to curfew. A full moon shined down, illuminating the school grounds. The Professor released Hermione and drew in a deep, cleansing breath. He was home. Home. His pale hand touched the gates, tracing the bars. Hermione thought she saw a bit of wetness in his eyes.

“It’s nice to be back, isn’t it, Professor?” she asked him softly.

Snape’s eyes drank in the sight of the landscape stretching beyond the gate.

“Yes. Yes it is, Hermione,” he replied. Then he unwarded the gate and pushed it open, gesturing for Hermione to enter. He followed her in, closed the gate and re-warded it. Raucous took off, flying towards the castle, cawing happily.

The couple started across the grounds at a good clip, Snape taking long strides and Hermione hurrying to keep up with him. She didn’t complain, however. Obviously, the wizard was happy and anxious to get to the castle.

Snape was. He hadn’t realized just how much he missed Hogwarts, and even his students. They irritated him to no end, but they were his pupils, the enlarging of their minds entrusted to him. If they managed to hold on to one thought, one new idea when they left him at the end of the year, he had made a difference. He realized just how rewarding that was.

He also found he looked forward to seeing Albus and McGonagal. Most of all, he was looking forward to the shocked faces that would be plastered all over everyone when his return was announced, particularly his students’. He imagined their shock would be mixed with dismay. He hoped that the substitute had stuck to his lesson plan. If she hadn’t, the students would be in for a large amount of makeup work. He hesitated.

Albus thought he was dead. He may have very well given the substitute his job permanently…and his rooms. He looked over at Hermione. Damn, if he didn’t have his rooms…then he would have no place to deflower her. Then again, he could do it just as well in her rooms as his own. But he wanted to take her in his bed. His domain. He wanted her sliding between his sheets, her body writhing on his mattress, her cries of passion echoing off his walls. It shouldn’t matter where he took her, he knew…but it did. He wanted to bring his woman to his bed.

He sighed.

“What’s wrong, Professor?” Hermione asked him, her brow wrinkled.

He looked at her.

“I was thinking that my rooms may have been taken over by the new Potions Master,” he said.

“Potions Mistress,” Hermione replied, “Your replacement is a witch.”

Severus scowled as he imagined his rooms filled with flowers and knickknacks, and knickers hanging in his bathroom, while perfumes and facial creams lined his dresser. His bedroom was probably repainted in pastels, and frilly coverings on his bed. This wouldn’t do at all.

“I wonder if Albus has given her my position,” he mused out loud. He looked at Hermione. “It could well be that I am out of a job and will have to seek employment elsewhere.”

Hermione felt her belly clutch at this statement. The Professor no longer at Hogwarts? How would they…gods. She hoped he still had a position. She wanted him near her, not someplace else.

“I’m sure it will work out, Professor,” she said in a comforting voice. The Professor looked at her. He could tell the idea of him not being at Hogwarts disturbed her. It was a good feeling to know she cared.

“Don’t worry Hermione,” he said gently, “No matter where I go, I will never be far from you.”

“But I don’t want you to go anywhere else!” Hermione blurted out.

Snape looked down at the witch and stopped walking. He caught her chin gently in his hand.

“You have no idea how good it makes me feel to hear you say that, Hermione,” he said softly.

He allowed himself to place a soft kiss on her lips, though inwardly…he burned for her. Her admission meant so much. Knowing she felt that strongly about needing his presence made his heart swell. Damn. He wanted to be inside her so badly.

He released her chin. Hermione felt a tingling where his hand had touched her face. How much more would her body tingle beneath those hands? She felt a strong burst of desire flow through her. Snape saw it in her eyes and drew in a breath. This was torture.

“Come,” he said tightly, “Let us get to the castle and get our answers.”

He started striding again as Hermione fought back her feelings and followed him. Presently, the castle came into view, and Snape’s eyes glittered.

“Hogwarts,” he breathed.

They hurried across the grounds and walked up the stairs to the main doors. They hesitated, aware of the furor they would create if anyone was about when they walked in. The couple looked at each other.

“I hope Albus doesn’t have a heart attack,” Hermione said to the Potions Master. Snape arched an eyebrow.

“More than likely I will be subjected to numerous embraces while he soaks my robes with tears of joy,” he replied. “Then McGonagal will finish me off, her tears and embraces punctuated with kisses.”

Hermione chuckled. He was probably right. She placed her hand on the door.

“Ready?” she asked.

“When is one ever ready for assaults on their person?” he responded, staring at the door as if it were the first step to the waiting gallows. “But yes. I am ready to descend on Hogwarts.”

Hermione grinned a little wickedly.

“Let me take my backpack, Professor. It will make you easier to hug.” she said.

Severus scowled at her, but slipped off the backpack and handed it to her. Most likely the Headmaster would hug it too, pressing it into his back uncomfortably. Hermione slipped it on, opened the door and walked through. Snape drew a deep breath, then followed her.

He had been right. There was no one in the main hall.

“I think we’d best contact Albus through the main floo,” Snape suggested. He was glad there would be no public scene.

He and Hermione walked over to the floo. The witch took a handful of floo powder from the box on the mantle and tossed it in. The flames turned green.

“The Headmaster’s office,” she said, then called, “Headmaster? Headmaster!”

At first there was no answer. Then a joyous “Miss Granger? Is that you?” from the Headmaster.

“Yes, sir. I’m back,” she said.

“Come up!” the Headmaster replied.

Hermione looked at Severus, who had a strange look on his face. Hearing the Headmaster’s voice had an effect on him, and he was trying to hide it. Hermione wasn’t fooled however.

“Let’s go,” she said gently, “I’ll go first. You hang back a little.”

Snape nodded. Hermione stepped through the floo. The Professor waited several seconds, then followed her, just as two fourth years students entered the main hall. One saw the Professor as he stepped through the floo. The other didn’t.

The student who did see him stopped dead in his tracks, his face going pale.

“What’s wrong with you?” the other student inquired, looking at the boy’s stricken face.

He lifted his hand and pointed at the floo as if that would explain it all.

“What?” the other student said impatiently.

“I…I…I saw Professor Snape. He was entering the floo,” he stammered.

The other student looked at him as if he were crazy.

“The Professor’s dead,” he said firmly.

The shocked student looked at his friend, his blue eyes wide.

“I’m telling you, Professor Snape just walked into that floo,” he said running up to it. “Look, the flames are still green. The other boy walked up and saw the green flames before they turned back to their original color.

“Hmm. Somebody went through, that’s for sure. But Professor Snape? Come on, Wayne,” he said.

“I’m telling you, Radcliff…Professor Snape went through that floo, and it wasn’t a ghost. He was as solid as you or I. He’s back,” Wayne said firmly.

“I’ve got a galleon that says you’re wrong,” Radcliff said, fishing in his robes pocket and pulling out his coin. Wayne looked at him.

“Easy money. It’s a bet. You’ll see tomorrow. Dumbledore will be announcing his return at breakfast,” the boy said, showing his own money.

“Yeah, right,” Radcliff snorted. “Come on, let’s get to the dorms.”

The young wizard headed for the main stairwell. Wayne stared at the floo for a moment, then followed him, thinking about Potions. The new Professor had been giving them all high marks to make herself look good. With Snape back, the easy ride his students had been taking in Potions class would be over. Damn it!

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A/N: I wrote this chapter at my friend’s house. I am tuckered out and heading home after this post. Well, they are back in Hogwarts and going to see the Headmaster. This ought to be interesting. Please review.

Firewall: No, she’s not a Harry Potter aficionado. She’s also a big prude. Lolol. She can’t read erotica. Poor baby. Makes me wonder how she ever had kids.

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