The Serpent and the Lioness

Chapter 70

oO January 9 2006 Oo

"Hermione? Is everything alright in there?"

Severus stood at the door to their bathroom that had been suspiciously locked when he'd entered the room. He'd thankfully been able to make it all day without a single reminder that it was his birthday.

Hermione had been busy with Toris through most of it, the small child having caught himself a nice little ear infection making him uncharacteristically fussy. She'd taken him to the healers that morning and had gotten the necessary medicine but it hadn't helped the child's mood. Hermione had spent nearly all day pacing the house trying to console his small whimpers.

Severus had taken to caring for the child a little after noon when Hermione had returned looking completely knackered. He'd let her take a small nap while he kept the boy somewhat quiet. Crying children had never bothered him and he was easily able to drown out the infants soft crying with some research on an old project he had been working on since his time at Hogwarts. He'd kept the child close and had fashioned a rather nice sling to keep him in while he read and took notes.

Finally, the boy had laid down, having missed both his morning and afternoon nap. Severus was certain he would sleep completely through the night. Now, Hermione had locked herself in the bathroom and was refusing to answer his calls. He was growing concerned but when the lock on the door finally released he took a step back.

"Are you alright?"

"Fine...um...just wanted to uh..."

Severus' brow furrowed more, she sounded nervous, "What's wrong?"

"Just...can you...go to the bed?"

"Are you injured?"

"No! No, I'm uh...I'm okay."

Severus' jaw twitched but he did as she requested. Sitting down on the edge of their bed, unfastening the top two buttons of his coat while he waited.

There was a brief pause then the door finally swung open farther. His eyes turned into the size dinner plates and his throat suddenly grew tight. When she finally stepped out completely he could feel something else growing inside of him.

"Happy Birthday." Hermione blushed from head to her exposed toes. She had finally gotten around to using the gift Ginny had bought her for their first Christmas.

It was a rather revealing two-piece belly dancing outfit in Slytherin green. She'd taken some time, when Severus had been reading to Toris upstairs before his naps, to try and practice dancing, but she still felt as though she was a sporadic chicken.

Severus could barely swallow the lump growing in his throat, the sight before him was something he never thought he'd ever see, none the less, his body approved of the sight. His eyes took in everything with expert retention.

The small brassier that glowed in the lights above, with all its scarves and dangles accenting her in all the right places. The skirt hung low just under her hip bones, the bells and metal chains looping down over the long skirt that had two splits up the front. His heart started to race just a bit more when her thigh peeked out just enough between one of the slits as she took a slow step. The sound of bells jingling at her ankle sounding as though they were off in the distance.