redemption - SOULBOUND I̲̅I̲̅ || SS/HG

11. Fragrance

A/N: Had so much fun writing this chapter.

Smut ahead and angst,
Hope you'll like it,

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No matter how hard Hermione tried to focus on class, it seemed that her mind would wander elsewhere, vagabonding in the depth of her imagination, propelling the very last bit of focus into an unreachable void.

It was inevitable, the lack of motivation and participation in class, the desire to escape what once used to be her new magical home. Startling her at first, the itch kept moving, crawling under her skin wherever it could, finding shelter mostly on her legs. Her nails would occasionally drag themselves frantically over the clothes, bitting away the uncomfortable sensation while irritating her skin. As her muggle watch would tick so would her patience, beckoning her to allow this itch to lead her far away, somewhere where she knew, somehow, she would feel safe again.

Whenever the day ended, Hermione knew the unexplainable pleasure she experienced whenever her body was drowned under the cascade of steaming water - claiming her skin in absolute bliss - would sooth down whatever panic she would experience.

Panic attacks were common for her now, like an unwanted enemy that somehow turned into a friend. It would take over her, whisper horrific words of torture while the hair at the nape of her neck rose in panic, making her overly paranoid. It happened almost every day when she had woken up, her whole body shifting into a startled beast ready to sprint away from her fears. However, as the sun and moon continued their eternal dance, Hermione would learn how to control these overbearing emotions whenever the voice would claim her mind, steadying her breathing while her eyes would still peer along her surroundings - reassuring her.

Today was not any different at the exemption of an uninterrupted shower, allowing her plenty of time to recover from yesterday's disturbance. Her breakfast had been light compared to the red-head devouring the food like a starved animal, and her hand would stay safely tucked under the table as the classes went by. But as a knock at the door interrupted her train of thoughts, Hermione's eyes widened when a tall cloaked man entered her potion class, his mid-long jet hair falling straight down his shoulder-blades and eyes murderous while her appeared to search for something behind her.

Straightening her back in response to his intense gaze penetrating her, Severus simply strolled passed the class no giving a second thought about the ongoing lesson.

"May I help you with something Severus?" Asked Slughorn from above the shoulder of a confusion student, "maybe I can be of some assistance."

Scoffing in response, Snape's cloak scrapped Hermione's arm while his fingers seemed to drawl on her lower back before finding their home on a tall shelf filled with potion ingredient. "I doubt that Horace, I'm after all in my classroom."

"Yes, yes of course." Stammered the flustered professor, his eyes instantly falling back on to the iron cauldron dripping with dragon breath, "make yourself at home."

A few students snickered at the unwanted double meaning, their noses nearly digging into their own concoction as Severus swirled around snarling at the amused student. "Instead of eavesdropping on adult conversation," he snapped, his iris pulsating as his gaze focused on every single student - aside from Hermione -, "focus that incessant attention on your soon-to-explode cauldron."

The snorting that erupted from beside him made Severus's lip curl in a snicker while his heart swelled with adoration - he made her laugh. "Anything you find amusing Ms Granger?" He drawled with his smooth baritone voice as he glided closer to her - his shoes resonating on the stone ground - before she could feel his warm breath on her cheek. "am I entertaining you?"