Plot, new characters, new magical terms and abilities etc. are my intellectual property. If you want to borrow then please kindly ask. JK Rowling's characters and Wizarding Universe are all uniquely hers. I don't make any money from this.

ALTERNATE UNIVERSE

Summary:

Snape learns a lot about real love, acceptance and support in the aftermath of Dumbledore's death - and the Wizard he sacrificed so much for. Inspired by "The Unconditional Vow" by Agnus Castus. SS/OC Aspberger's Syndrome

Author's Notes: Inspired by "The Unconditional Vow" by Agnus Castus on Occlumency . Sycophant Hex and ff . Net …

Chapter 010: Somewhere

A few days later Severus and Nerys were snuggled up in his bed, basking in the afterglow of making love for the first time. They had gone all night just sleeping in each other's arms only to be woken up by the latest rainstorm so typical for Wales during the summer months. Though barely awake, both had instinctively reached out for the other...touching, exploring and tasting before finally merging together in that special bliss that comes with being loved and accepted unconditionally and exclusively desired.

'Severus,' Nerys murmured, breaking the energy-rich silence between them. 'Would you mind if... how would you feel if...'

'What my love?'

'What if we re-arranged the house so that we lived more as the couple we were meant to be and really are?'

'You wouldn't mind?'

'No. I just don't want you to feel obligated.'

'I want us to be a couple as much as we can be under the circumstances – and I would propose that we make a fresh start. No decorative reminders of Hogwarts rooting us to a somewhat idealised and decidedly imperfect past.'

'OK...' Nerys sighed before reaching out to him and wrapping her body around his, wanting him yet again.

XxxxOOOxxxX

Nerys and Severus got down to the business of setting up home together just after brunch. The upstairs was transformed into an expansive master bedroom complete with an en-suite walk-in shower-room and a bank of large windows facing the reservoir. They decided on a champagne, plum and fern green colour scheme and used a Muggle magazine as a reference point to transfigure furnishings of oak and black iron, carpets, curtains and other accessories, giving the room a decidedly Edwardian air. They had spent a good deal of time just talking in the space that had been Severus's study and transformed it into a seating area where they could carry on. The bathroom across the hall received a make-over and now contained a large old-fashioned roll-top bathtub with claw feet, Belfast sink and toilet. It was their own personal sanctuary, designed to shut out the rest of the world.

The modern sitting room downstairs remained much the same as did the eat-in kitchen. Both now held such tender memories for Severus that he didn't want them to be changed. There was also the practical consideration that being the Aspie that she was, change wasn't something that came easily for Nerys. Too much change in so short of time could easily bring on a meltdown so it was best to leave some things as they were. Though he had been critical in the early days – Severus had to admit to himself that there was nothing wrong with the ground floor at all. Though Nerys claimed to not mind if he wanted to to change it, her partner erred on the side of caution and reassured her that he didn't.

The lower part of the house was where they really wove incredible magic. The workroom was combined with Nerys's old bedroom to form one large open plan L-shaped space. Severus now had his own set of tables, cauldrons and office space where the raised dais used to be and Nerys's was in the roundish turret that used to be her bedroom. The Potions Classroom and Ravenclaw motifs were done away with and instead the room reverted to its walls of natural Welsh stone and three large arched leaded windows adorned with stained glass facing the reservoir and two facing the orchards and woodland. Potions ingredients and books would be shared and they each had their own round desk and high-backed leather chair. The bathroom reverted to its original function as a cloakroom with toilet and sink.

They would be partners now in all things.

OOO

'This third door,' Severus said as they stood in the hall. 'I don't recall ever seeing it opened or you mentioning anything about what lays behind it.'

Nerys looked down at her feet, and Severus realised that she was embarrassed.

'You'll laugh at me,' she said in a small voice.

'I can scarcely imagine why.'

Nerys still wouldn't look him.

'It's very important to you, isn't it?' Severus asked gently.

There was only a slight nod in the affirmative.

'You've trusted me with everything else. I will not laugh at you or make stupid remarks. You have my word.'

Not wanting to hurt his feelings any more than she realised she had probably done, Nerys passed her hand over the lock and opened the door. She walked into the large windowless room and and with a wave of a hand several candelabras were lit before she took a seat on a rose-coloured chaise lounge.

Severus walked in and his mouth fell open slightly as he took in the details of the exquisitely decorated and very luxurious half-Regency/half-Edwardian drawing room. The wall to his right was lined with pairs of cream stained glass sliding doors and without thinking twice he went to the nearest set and opened them up. Inside was a rack of decidedly expensive dresses from the Regency era spanning the colours of the rainbow. He moved on to the next set of doors and again was a colourful rack of Edwardian style dresses. He moved down the room looking at shoes, hats, hair ornaments, jewellery and other accessories. On the opposite wall were several bookcases with works of history and fiction celebrating both eras. There were shelves of films and still more of music.

He was reminded of a passage from Tony Attwood's book from the chapter devoted to "Special Interests": "An essential component of the interest is the accumulation and cataloguing of objects or the accumulation of facts and information about a specific topic. The special interest is more than a hobby and can dominate the person's free time and conversation. One of the distinguishing characteristics between a hobby and a special interest that is of clinical significance is an abnormality in the intensity or focus of the interest."

Severus's mind wandered back to their day out on Anglesey and how often Nerys peppered their conversations with obscure facts relating to the two historical periods even when there was no reference point for it in their activities. He glanced in the gilded mirror above the fireplace and looked at his own regulation Edwardian-era costume.

'How long have you been interested in Regency and Edwardian history?' he asked evenly.

'Since I first saw Somewhere in Time and a few Jane Austen adaptations on Muggle television and other historical dramas as a child.'

'What did you think of me when you first entered my classroom?'

'I thought you were the answer to my prayers, sent from the Otherworld especially for me by The Goddess.'

'You must have been quite devastated when I proved to be everything but,' Severus said sadly.

'I was.'

'And yet...you still thought that there was something worthwhile in me.'

'Always.'

'I will spend the rest of my life trying to atone for hurting you.'

'Don't! You've wasted enough of your life already on that kind of madness. It's completely unnecessary.'

'You really are quite amazing, Nerys,' Severus said, blinking his eyes rapidly.

Nerys walked over to him and hugged him from behind as his shoulders jerked slightly for a few moments.

'So are you, Severus...in ways I couldn't have dreamed of.'

XxxxOOOxxxX

Severus decided to prepare their dinner himself and shooed Nerys out of the kitchen. The scowl on his face was enough to convince her of the seriousness of his threat to give her a smack on her bottom if she didn't leave him to it.

He would call her when their meal was ready to be served.

OOO

Severus called out to Nerys twice.

When she didn't answer he went in search of her thinking she was probably in their workroom. He had just stepped into the corridor when he heard it – the unmistakable stains of John Barry's haunting theme from "Somewhere In Time". He pushed open the door to Nerys's hideaway and stood transfixed at the sight of her swaying in the middle of the room, hugging herself completely lost in the music.

Nerys had swept up her curls into an elaborate Edwardian up-do and dressed it with decorative pearl combs. A few tendrils escaped to frame her face and neck. She wore an Edwardian dress of silk and gilded lace in deep violet and ecru. It had a butterfly wing effect at the bust above a wide purple silk sash and gold metallic thread woven throughout in applique and underlayers. The bodice was sheer ecru lace with a sculpted stand up collar topped in purple and gold trim and three quarter sleeves edged in wide ruffle. The over-skirt netting had a pouf around her hips and fell gently to just above the hemline of her silk underskirt. She wore matching purple gloves of silk and purple shoes trimmed with gold butterflies on the buckles.

Severus walked in silently and extended a hand.

Nerys reached out for it and allowed him to embrace her in a slow dance. After a few minutes their bodies seemingly merged into one as they lost themselves in the music. They would have the special candlelit meal he prepared later that night, in the small conservatory transfigured by him that they would thereafter use for special moments of togetherness.

But for now, nothing else mattered outside of his acceptance into Nerys's inner Aspie world.

Note:

Nerys's purple dress is near the bottom of this page Dorotheasclosetvintage Vic-Ed . Html and the description in the story is taken from there.