The Human Cure

Chapter 10: The Side Effects of Living

Disclaimer: Rowling owns it all; I just play around with it.

To all of you awesome readers: Thanks so much for showing this story so much love. At this point, this story only has maybe three or four chapters left, but I have another idea for a vampire Snape story that isn't as complex as this one. Let me not jump too ahead of myself. I'm already at work two other stories. (I can't help it; when an idea hits, I have to run with it.) Once again, thanks for taking the time to read, and please review and let me know what you think.

Severus woke up to the sound of his shower. He couldn't help but smile when the smell of sex invaded his nostrils. What amazed him was that he felt he experienced only a small shred of the passion that came from Hermione Granger. In all of his years at Hogwarts he never imagined she would be so forward with such things. She wasn't shy when it came to sex, even though she appeared to be in their conversations, and that did nothing but turn him on.

Looking out the window, the morning sky was cloudy, an indicator that he would be able to step outside today. Figuring the two could go back to her flat and work in the lab, he felt an encouragement he didn't think existed anymore.

Not paying attention to the shower being turned off, he continued to look out of the window when Hermione Granger, clad in a towel, walked into his bedroom to grab her clothes.

"Anything interesting out there?" Hermione asked.

"The only thing I see that is interesting is standing in front of me."

Hermione walked to him and kissed him as she reached for her shirt.

"I'm sorry, but that isn't good enough to crawl back into this bed with you."

"Minx."

"Vampire." She responded.

"I am going to go to Diagon Alley to pick up some base ingredients today. Is there anything you need?" Severus offered.

"No thanks. I'm going to head back to my flat. I have some of my stem cell research notes I want to review over." As she slid her shoes back on and walked out of the room to find her handbag, Severus got out of the bed and stretched out his muscles.

Before leaving, Hermione walked back into his room and into his arms.

"You amaze me; do you know that?" Severus whispered into Hermione's hair.

"Tell me that again." Hermione replied, reminding herself that five years ago this man would of never told her such a thing.

"You…amaze…me." Severus repeated.

"I have to go. You are making me adopt bad new habits Professor." Hermione said before kissing his lips. "I'll see you later."

After taking a quick shower, he brewed himself a cup of tea and grabbed the morning paper that was waiting outside of his flat. His mind wasn't exactly on the news of the day, but he needed a distraction over what had happened the night before.

Figuring it wouldn't take him too long to grab what he needed in Diagon Alley, he rang Judith to see if she was interested in grabbing a quick lunch.

XX

"So have you told Hermione?" Judith asked.

"You don't beat around the bush, do you?" Severus replied.

"Of course not." She said, grabbing her glass of water.

Knowing that it was a lie, he spoke, thankful that his years as a spy helped to make his lying skills impeccable.

"She wasn't very happy, but you were right. She accepted the news rather well." He knew that in his wildest dreams, that would be her reaction. He hoped that if he wished for it enough it would work out the way he claimed it did.

"That's great! I'm so thrilled for you Severus."

"Me too." Severus added, hoping that Judith wouldn't notice his untruthfulness.

"So, did she sing for you?" Judith asked, without shame.

Always good with decoding her innuendoes, Severus knew exactly what direction she was going in.

"We haven't gone that far yet."

"I applaud you Severus. You were never one for, how shall I put it, restraint."

"She's different."

"I know."

"So you can understand why I hesitate to rush things."

"I really am happy that she has accepted you, despite the issue with her parents."

"You were right about her; she can see to the heart of the matter when it is necessary."

All of his talk led him to believe that things really could work out in his favour when it came to telling Hermione the truth. He still had no idea how to approach it, and just when he thought the time to be appropriate, he would back away from the idea.

Wanting to discuss anything but his relationship with Hermione, Severus directed the conversation in a different direction. Anything was better than having to reflect on the lie he told Judith moments earlier. Luckily, for the rest of their time together, Judith was more than happy to talk about her husband and daughter. Severus listened, hoping that one day he could enjoy such a new life.

XX

"Did you know that Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin accidentally?" Hermione asked a few days later as Hermione and Severus walked through the Fleming Museum.

She insisted on showing him the museum that used to be the lab of Alexander Fleming. There weren't too many visitors that day, so it was an odd comfort to hear her boot heels on the floor as she focused her attention on every piece of information offered.

He smiled as he listened to her talk about the drug, a walking textbook almost of knowledge that he was sure wouldn't be offered at the museum. She was amazing to watch, both in the lab and outside of it.

Severus had trouble reconciling his two images of Hermione Jean Granger. The first one was the studious woman who never wasted an opportunity to offer knowledge even if it was useless. The second one was the woman who wasn't shy to talk dirty in his bed. He had always heard that one should look out for the ones you don't expect much from in some departments. With Judith and every other lover, what Severus saw was what he got. With Hermione, he loved that every day was a new discovery for him.

"Before the war I visited this place once, maybe twice. My parents liked to visit, but I could never really put together penicillin and dentistry. But when I came back to London, this place became a new home to me. Our home in Golders Green was destroyed, so this sort of took its place. I visit this place a lot when I need inspiration. To think that Dr. Fleming created one of the most important advances in medical history in this very lab continues to astound me, even if I'm allergic to it." Hermione added with a laugh.

"If I may, how does this inspire you?"

"I can't really explain it. It's just that I see this building and it makes me want to move forward with not just my work, but also my life. For the first time, in a long time, I feel like everything will be all right. I don't have to live in this constant state of fear or worry. It just seems like everything is falling into place."

Severus stared at her, not aware of it until she reached out and grabbed his hand. Not knowing what to say, he squeezed her hand, reassurance that he was there for her.

Later that evening, the two were heavily snogging on the couch in her lab. What had started off as a simple foot massage while the centrifuge did its work had quickly moved to Hermione sitting in his lap. It seemed that she was content with what they were doing, but it soon grew a bit redundant and she wanted more.

"Let's go to your room." Severus whispered as he felt her lips on his neck.

"No. I want to stay here."

"That contraption of yours needs to run for at least an hour."

"You don't get it, do you?" Hermione said, resting her lips against his eyelids.

It then dawned on him.

"You really are a minx."

"I'm not saying we have to consummate our relationship on this lovely piece of furniture, but the least you could do is make me come while we are on it."

Severus began to unbutton and zip down her jeans as Hermione began to assault his face with kisses. As he snuck his finger into her wet center, he couldn't but help but ask her a question.

"So tell me my little lioness, just how many times have you thought of me touching you this way on your quote unquote lovely piece of furniture?"

"A few." Her breath caught in her throat as she started slowly riding his finger. "I…I can't remember."

"Ah, but I believe that you do; you don't have to be shy about it. You tell me yours, and I'll tell you mine." With those words, Severus began to pick up the pace, loving the look on her face.

"At least five times. You…you were sleeping here. I wanted nothing more than to have you notice me, yearn for me."

With that admission, Severus brought his lips to her ear and whispered, "But I did Hermione. I did."

She brought her lips back to his as he inserted another finger; the pace of his fingers slightly picked up. He could feel her nipples harden under her shirt, and while he wanted to ask her about her other fantasies involving him, he couldn't. Too entranced with her soft moans and grunts, he was rendered speechless.

Severus thought that there was something beautifully sexy about having a woman shatter apart with all of her clothes on, and as he swallowed her screams with his mouth, he realized that his fall into love would be for her. Removing his fingers, he brought it to his lips and licked her essence clean off of his appendages.

Watching her, he realized that would die for her without even giving it a second thought, and as she wrapped her arms and legs around him, he carried her to the bedroom.

As the two undressed each other, Hermione could tell that Severus still wasn't ready to fully give himself to her. Only questioning why inside of her head briefly, she felt his fingers trace over her skin as she let do what he wanted.

Crawling into her bed clad only in their knickers, Hermione didn't hesitate to begin kissing his chest. Severus knew what she planned on doing, and he was too weak to deny her as he felt her move lower and lower. He felt his dead blood flow to his cock before she even reached that part of his body.

Feeling her remove his slick member, he surrendered to her. He couldn't help but watch her as she ran her tongue slowly up and down him before taking him in her mouth. Trying to contain his groan, he decided to surrender that to her too. Her right arm moved up towards his chest, fondling him. If her fingers could of reached his mouth, he would have sucked on her digits.

Knowing that she didn't necessarily know what she was doing, Hermione went only on what responses she heard from Severus. She felt him slightly buck into her mouth, knowing that he was so close. Bringing her other arm up to touch his chest, she used her weight to hold him down.

He was trying to be gentle. He was trying to take it slow. No longer watching her, he placed his hands on her head, softly running his fingers through her hair. And then he heard her speaking to him in her mind…watch me. Looking down at her, her eyes directly on his, she continued her task. Moving his hands from her hair and meeting her own hands, he gripped them tightly as he emptied himself into her. After removing his flaccid penis from her mouth, she rested her cheek against it.

Taking a moment to collect himself, he soon whispered.

"Come to me."

Keeping her eyes on his, Hermione crawled back to her lover and lay by his side. As they continued to stare at one another, Severus didn't even think about the following words that flowed off of his tongue.

"I don't think I can live without you. For so many years I thought I was living, but I wasn't. Now that I feel like I am, I can't give you up…I won't."

Severus kissed her lips and the two continued to look at one another until Hermione broke the silence.

"You never told me about yours."

"They weren't on your sofa, but I may have to make room for that one."

Hermione smiled as she wrapped her arm around his chest.

"If I fall asleep, would you check the centrifuge?" Hermione asked drowsily.

"You need not have asked."

XX

As Hermione strolled through Waitrose, trying to figure out what she wanted to prepare for an evening meal, she wasn't paying attention to the redhead pushing her trolley towards her.

"Hermione?"

"Judith! It's so lovely to see you." Hermione said before giving the same warm greeting to Abigail.

"How are you doing?" Judith asked.

"I'm…I'm well. I'm going to go back to university in two weeks, so that's something to look forward to."

"And Severus?"

"He's fine and back at my flat working on some samples."

"So you two haven't…I don't know how to say this without trying to be crass, but you two haven't tested the cure?"

Hermione felt herself blush.

"No we haven't. It's just that…"

Not knowing what to say and somewhat embarrassed at the potential of talking about her private life in a grocery store, Hermione wanted to steer the conversation in a different direction, at least in a different location.

"Would you and Abigail like to grab some coffee or tea with me?

A few minutes later the two were sitting outside of a cozy café, catching up as if they had known each other for years.

"How else is it different? I mean, what else have you noticed ever since you became human?" Hermione asked.

"I'm getting wrinkles. I won't lie, I miss the vampirism when I notice that, but my husband constantly reminds me that such lines are really marks of character. According to Drew, laugh lines mean that I am happy soul."

"I think you believe him." Hermione said, smiling.

"I do. I really think I do."

"You look so happy. How do you forget what you've done in the past?"

"I don't. I can't. There are days when I ask myself if I'm ever going to tell Abigail what I once was and all of the bad things I did, but Drew reminds me that one can't live in the past. It's a good thing to remember, but if too much time is spent remembering then the present and the future is meaningless. I think that's why Severus may be so hesitant to really try anything with you. He can't get over what he was, or in some way, still is. Plus, there was the whole guilt thing with the war."

"One of the many side effects of living I suppose."

"Look, I wasn't involved in the war, so I won't pretend to know how you suffered and how much you lost. Severus does care for you greatly, and I think it's wonderful that you were so accepting of the predicament he was in. I don't think I would have handled it so gracefully."

Grabbing her tea and wondering just what Judith was talking about, Hermione's curiosity was piqued.

"Of course! He was a double agent. I couldn't have done such a thing, going back and forth between two people who viewed him as a pawn on a chess board"

"Yes, which is why I told Severus that you would understand why he didn't say anything about your parents."

"My parents?"

"Of course! It's royally screwed up that he knew what Voldemort was going to do to them, but I told him that you would understand that it was all a test of his loyalty."

Hermione almost dropped her cup. She immediately felt as if she were hyperventilating, her hands began to shake slightly. As Judith watched Hermione's reaction, the realization dawned on her that she was duped by the vampire that later became a spy. A look of shame flushed across her face that she made a huge mistake.

"Severus didn't tell you, did he?"