So, this story sticks not at all with HBP or Deathly Hallows. In fact, it's part of my own special little alternate universe which some of my old readers (if any of you remain) might remember.
Here's the deal: this is the first chapter of what would have been a sequel to "If Life was Normal, What Would We Do For Fun." I was going through my hard drive and decided to post old stuff that never made it but this one's a little different. It's not finished as of yet but it's close--I started it a loooong time ago but abandoned it. If I get any feedback asking me to finish it, I will. Otherwise, I'll ditch it and not spend the time finishing it up.
As usual I own nothing and it's not a literary masterpiece. Characters are not canon. There's probably graphic sexuality ahead. And with that, consider yourselves warned :)
--aimes
The woman sighed as she shifted in bed. Exhaustion swept through her at the slight movement; the almost negligible expenditure of energy. She was, she realized, sick. Very sick, in fact. She felt a cool hand on her chest, calm and soothing. The woman relaxed and let the exhaustion pull her under. Sweating, feverish, the woman fell into a fitful rest.
Two Days Earlier:
"Mmm…morning, love." Callah Riese-Snape grunted and snuggled into the owner of the voice.
"No, darling, I've got to get up. A new day, the same batch of idiots to teach," Severus Snape admonished gently, knowing perfectly well that he was fighting a losing battle.
"Oh piss off. It's only seven. Your first class isn't till eight-thirty. You have lots and lots and lots of time to snuggle with me and still be fashionably late to it," Callah replied.
"What makes you think I want to snuggle with you?" he asked sarcastically.
"Mmm," was her only response as she burrowed through the blankets to rest her face on his chest. He smiled in content.
"Are you feeling well?" he asked suddenly, smile faltering. "You feel feverish."
"I'm a bit tired. Maybe I'm just under the weather or something. My body's way of forcing a vacation."
He pulled back from her and studied her carefully. She did look tired. Her eyes were smoky and hazy instead of their usual clear grey. She looked up at him and smiled wanly.
"Don't worry, I'll be fine. You should get up. Maybe you can actually make it to breakfast for once," she teased.
"I'll have the house elves send something down," he said seriously. "Let Poppy have a look at you." He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close.
"Really, Severus, it's nothing. I'll just sleep all day and feel fine in the morning. If I don't, I'll let Poppy have at it, okay?" Callah sighed and relaxed in his arms, letting herself drift.
"Okay," he said reluctantly. "Let me get you some tea and toast at least."
"I'd love some tea and toast," she responded reassuringly, trying to focus. "I'm ravenous."
With one last caress and a worried frown, he rose from their bed, pulling pants on. Callah settled back into the pillows and drifted off as Severus went to make some tea. Tea he intended to lace with generous amounts of general healing potion. Severus Snape was not the worrying type, but when it came to his wife, he was a veritable mother hen. The kettle whistled and he let the tea steep for several minutes. Weak tea was a punishable offense in his opinion. In many cases breathing near him was a punishable offense. Especially breathing before he'd had his morning tea. He spread marmalade on a slice of toast, set it on a plate with a cup of tea (laced with potion as intended), and went back to the bedroom.
"Callah? I've got tea and toast," he said in a gentle tone that would give most who knew him a heart attack. Callah merely cracked her eyes open and struggled into a sitting position. Severus sat on the edge of the bed and helped her, gazing at her with concern.
"Thank you," she whispered tiredly, taking a sip of the tea. The warmth suffused her body, relaxing her instantly. "That's wonderful," she sighed. Snape's frown deepened as he watched her. She seemed so tired that she could barely hold on to her cup.
"Eat some toast," he urged.
Callah took a few bites, finding that the energy required to eat was a bit much.
"You know, love, I'm just going to take a nap and finish the toast when I wake up, okay?"
Severus frowned once more.
"If you insist," he replied reluctantly, leaning over to kiss her gently on the forehead. "I'll continue to check on you throughout the day, my dear, however I really must get to class before anything's blown up." Callah didn't reply, already dozing, mind shutting down in a haze of aches. Snape pulled the covers up and tucked them around her, brushing her hair from her face. He watched her for a moment then strode to the fireplace.
"Dumbledore's office," he said quietly and distinctly, before stepping into the fire.
He stepped out directly into the Headmaster's office and waited to be acknowledged.
"Ah, Severus, what can I do for you?" Dumbledore twinkled down his glasses at the somewhat dour looking Snape. He raised an eyebrow, noting that the Potions Master looked worried. He gestured to a chair but Snape waved his hand impatiently.
"Would you cover for my classes today, Albus? Callah is ill."
"Certainly. Is it serious?" Albus poured two cups of tea and offered one to Snape, who refused with a slight gesture.
"I am not sure. I have never seen her ill before," Snape admitted. "Callah is usually the picture of good health."
"Perhaps you should have Poppy take a look at her," Albus suggested. "Just in case?"
"Yes, I believe I shall, thank you." Snape looked disturbed.
"You do not believe this to be a typical illness, do you, Severus?" Albus pushed gently. "Just because I am an old man, it does not mean that I am completely oblivious."
"I would never imply that you were. It could be a simple case of the flu and nothing more…but I suspect it is not. Perhaps Poppy can tell me more," Snape said softly.
"Indeed. Go care for your wife. I shall ask Poppy to visit your quarters as soon as she is available."
Snape nodded and grabbed a handful of Floo powder. Within moments he was back in his quarters, thoughts on his ill wife. He looked in on her, noting that she had gotten tangled in the covers. He went to her and straightened the sheets and comforter, kissing her gently and stroking her hair. Callah mumbled incoherently in her sleep before shifting onto her side and falling into a deeper sleep. Snape furrowed his brow and headed for his personal library.
________________________________________________________________________
Hermione Granger had awoken that morning with a smile.
"What's the silly grin about?" Remus Lupin teased her. "I know I'm good, but I didn't think you'd still be smiling."
Hermione snorted and smacked him playfully. "You wish, werewolf! I'm smiling because this is the first morning in a long time that I've woken up in my bed at my leisure with no life-threatening expeditions planned in the near future."
"Hmm, that is pretty nice," Remus agreed, kissing her bare shoulder. Hermione snuggled against him with a happy sigh. He nuzzled her hair and yawned, adjusting her in his arms as he began to doze again.
"Lazybones," Hermione teased.
"Mmm," he responded. Hermione laughed and poked him.
"I have to get up, love."
Remus cracked an eye open and peered down at her. "What happened to waking at our own leisure?"
"This is my leisure," she replied cheekily. "Besides, I'm supposed to meet Callah for lunch today. Just because there are no life-threatening expeditions planned for the day doesn't mean there aren't any expeditions planned. Besides, you know how much energy it takes to apparate to Britain…I need to have a lot of coffee in me!"
"Ah, well in that case…" He leaned down to kiss her, coaxing her mouth open to taste her. The kiss was long and lingering; unrushed. They explored one another with the familiarity of long-time lovers but every touch and caress felt new. It was something that perpetually amazed Hermione: that every time his hands stroked her skin it was as though no one had ever touched her that way before—stimulating, arousing, intoxicating. Remus shifted to cover her with his body, and Hermione felt his arousal. They broke the kiss for a moment to catch their breath.
"I guess you should be going," he teased.
"Smartass," she laughed, pulling him down to kiss him again. "If I tried to leave right now you'd explode."
"That's quite possible," he agreed seriously, as he positioned himself at her entrance. "And the exploded bits of me wouldn't match the rest of the décor."
"The un-exploded bits of you don't match the décor either," Hermione pointed out, her laugh turning into a gasp as he thrust into her.
"Un-exploded isn't a word," he managed to growl as he moved atop her. He reached with his free hand to brush a stray curl away from her face before leaning in to kiss her lightly on the lips, trailing down to suck on the sensitive base of her throat. "And I match the décor perfectly."
Hermione moaned as she felt herself beginning to drown in sensation. "Un-exploded…is a…word…if I say…oh, hell…Remus!" She came hard, the orgasm vibrating through her and she felt him come with her, a new wave of pleasure rocking through her. She could vaguely hear him groan her name in pleasure. Remus collapsed against her, resting his head on her chest and listening to her heartbeat as it began to slow back to its normal rate.
"I love you," he murmured, kissing her chest lightly.
"Mmm…I love you too," she replied, one hand tangled in his hair. They lay together for a few moments, lost in their thoughts.
"I really should go," Hermione said finally.
"Does that mean I have to move?"
"Yes. It seemed more polite than saying 'get off me, you great lump of lazy werewolf.'"
"Has it ever occurred to you that maybe I have a complex about being a werewolf related to the extreme prejudice I've encountered over the years and that maybe I don't appreciate being called a lazy werewolf?"
Hermione stiffened. Good job Hermione. The girl who fought for the ethical treatment of house-elves has been inadvertently insulting her lover for the last year.
"I'm so sorry, Remus! It never even crossed my mind…I always just used it like a pet name." PET NAME? Smooth, Mya. Really. You have reached new and unparalleled heights of utter stupidity. "Oh no, I'm making it worse. Remus, have I really been offending you all this time?"
Remus had been silent till now and Hermione desperately wished she could see his face. I will not resort to telepathy, I will not resort to telepathy. Just because you're a moon-witch and he's a werewolf and that allows you to communicate telepathically, it does not mean that you will use the telepathy to avoid real communication, Mya. Unless you've really put your foot in it.
Suddenly she registered the vibrations and the low rumble emitting from Remus: laughter.
"You bastard!" She shouted, smacking at him. He rolled off her and cowered, laughing uncontrollably. Hermione picked up a pillow and started beating him with it. He controlled his laughter long enough to grab the pillow and flip her over, pinning her.
"Sorry, couldn't help it," he said sheepishly. When she persisted in a pouting glare, he reached down to kiss her. She was still glaring when he pulled back. "I'm going to keep kissing you until you stop glaring at me," he warned, kissing her again.
"You're terrible," she informed him, trying not to smile. "An absolute bastard, preying on my better nature."
"You're right," he agreed readily. "You're far too good for me, but you put up with me anyways." He kissed her again, nipping at her bottom lip. "I love you." He gave his best puppy dog look.
"Damn that's good," Hermione admitted. "You've been practicing."
Remus shrugged. "Well, I am a werewolf. I have an unfair advantage at making puppy-dog eyes."
Hermione gave him a reluctant grin. "I hate you. I can't stay angry at you. It's hell on a girl's pride."
"You love me," he disagreed, rolling off her and helping her up. "You love me and you can't live without me."
"True," Hermione sighed as she stretched. "Of course you can't live without me either, and if I'd started crying you probably would have done just about anything for me."
"I'd do just about anything for you anyways," he responded wryly as he headed for the bathroom. Hermione sprinted and made it just before him, darting in and jumping into the shower.
"Oops, sorry love, shower's already engaged!"
"I'll let you have it this time. But only because I feel bad about my mean, horrible, practical joke," Remus replied, grabbing his toothbrush.
"As you should," Hermione agreed, as she shampooed her hair.
There was silence for a couple of minutes as Remus brushed his teeth and Hermione washed her hair.
"So what're you seeing Callah for today? Business or recreation?"
"Bit of both, I guess. I've been hearing rumours about her and Severus. I think they're being targeted by some of the New Movement."
"That post-war pro-Voldemort fringe group?" Remus splashed water on his face and turned, leaning against the counter as he waited for her to finish in the shower.
"That's the one," Hermione confirmed as she finished soaping up her body and began to rinse off. "The ex-Death Eater and his not-exactly-a-witch wife are natural targets, and the jobs they've taken have relocated several upper level leaders in the group to Azkaban. Harry's probably the only person they hate more than Severus and Callah, and I'm sure we're high up on the list."
She turned off the water and stepped out of the shower. Remus handed her a towel, a faint smile gracing his face as his eyes wandered her body, making her blush.
"Stop that," she admonished.
"A man can't reflect on how beautiful his love is?" he asked innocently. Hermione wrinkled her nose at him and pushed him toward the shower.
"Anyways," she continued. "I'm going to warn Callah to keep an eye out."
"Okay. Will you be home for dinner?"
Hermione laughed. "Of course. Are you cooking?"
"Only if you take care of dessert," he replied with a grin.
"Deal," Hermione tossed back as she finished getting dressed and grabbed the Floo powder.