That night Severus carried Ryalta back to her room and gently placed her in the bed and turned off the lights. He went back to the living room and took Hermione to their bedroom. Quietly they undressed and got in bed. Severus once again turned off the lights then curled himself around Hermione. He could feel her devastation. Her magic felt non-existent and her skin slightly cold to the touch. Never did Hermione or Severus consider Ron Weasley, a third of the trio, to do something like this. Yes Severus had heard of the things he did to Hermione while they were together and after they broke up but they were nowhere near as despicable as using an altered Polyjuice to effectively rape her. But for now Severus need not dwell on this. The idiot and coconspirator were caught and bound for Azkaban. Right now they both needed sleep.
The next day Severus woke to Hermione still in bed. She was awake but didn't move. She was still shocked at current events.
"I'll go make breakfast. Is there anything specific you want?" Asked Severus as he placed a kiss on her shoulder. He sat up and looked her in the eyes.
"I'm not really hungry." She answered. Severus let out a sigh and gathered the young woman in his arms.
"You need to eat something. I'll keep Ryalta busy so you can be alone if you want but you need to take care of yourself. Get up and at least shower and eat something. Please?" Hermione looked Severus in the eye and nodded.
"I will." It sounded so weak. Severus kissed her on the temple.
"I want you to know I love you and should anything happen to you or Ryalta I'll murder the person who caused it."
"Then why couldn't you let me kill Ron?" she murmured. Severus froze then pulled her away to look at her.
"If it was self defense I would have let you but it wasn't. He was unarmed and caught in a holding sell. If you killed him you would be sent to Azkaban, then where would Ryalta and I be? Do you understand? Ryalta would not have a mother and I…" Severus stopped. Hermione stared at him a moment.
"You what?" Severus couldn't find the words. This was a first for him.
"I wouldn't have you. It's been a while since I've actually been with someone I can share things with. I'm a very picky man if you hadn't noticed and I don't know what Ryalta or I would do if we lost you. And the little prick you call Ron is not worth your energy." For a moment Hermione sat there motionless, then a tear fell and she burst into tears and wrapped her arms around Severus. He scooped her up in his arms and let her cry then cast a silencing spell. No need waking Ryalta to the sound of her mothers' cries.
It was a while that they were like that until Hermione sat up sniffling.
"Thank you." She whispered. Severus took her head in his hands and kissed her forehead.
"We both need you, remember that."
"I will." Hermione whipped her face and stood up and removed her pajamas. "Severus?"
"Yes love?"
"I love you too." Hermione gave a slight smile then turned and headed for the shower. Severus sat there a moment. Hermione had just returned his sentiments. She was the first person since his mother to say I love you to him and he was stunned to stillness. So much so that he was in the same position when Hermione got out of the shower and walked out with her towel wrapped around her hair and completely naked. "Are you okay?" Asked Hermione.
"You…no one has ever said I love you to me." he whispered starring at her.
"Not even your parents?"
"Well my mother but she's long dead and my father was an ass. But a woman I love returned my feelings. I…I don't know what to do." Hermione smiled while at the same time feeling bad for the man across from her. Hermione squeezed the towel one last time and threw it to the ground and climbed on to the bed and wrapped her arms around Severus then kissed him. Severus hands grabbed her hips and held her close to him. She straddled his lap as he wrapped his arms around her. Her kisses were minty from just brushing her teeth, but her lips were still swollen from biting her lips. Hermione's hips moved back and forth causing her to grind on his quickly hardening cock. Severus lifted her and let her slide down on it.
Quickly he turned them over so he was on top and without hesitation began pumping in to her. Thankfully the silencing charm was still up allowing Hermione to be as loud as possible without alarming any of the other occupants of the house.
An hour later they were happily sated and dressed in comfortable clothing. Severus went down to the kitchen while Hermione woke, washed and dressed Ryalta. When they came to the kitchen breakfast was set and ready with a pot of tea on the table. They sat and listened to Ryalta talk about the dream she had being a fairy in a large forest.
