~ Chapter 7 ~
The interior of the castle was as extravagant as it was on the outside. Hermione continued to look around in a daze at the prospect of meeting Merlin, and Severus couldn't stop the warmth that spread around his heart. The more he looked at her, the more he knew that he was happy that she was his life now.
Of course, the idea that Potter and Weasley could come along and ruin it all unsettled him, but a part of him knew that their appearance wouldn't change the way he felt. Who would've guessed that he needed to die to experience the feeling of love again.
Hermione glanced his way and smiled sweetly. "This place is amazing."
"It's rather normal."
"Where would we be without you sarcastic comments?" She nudged him playfully.
"I wasn't being sarcastic."
Hermione laughed. "When we get a chance to be alone, I think we should talk."
He observed her expression to see if it was a bad thing they needed to talk about, thankfully, all he could see was joy on her face and in her eyes. He would have to let her lead the conversation because he would somehow manage to offend her instead of telling her how he feels.
Dobby had left them near the entrance when one of the house-elves appeared and invited him to the kitchens to see the others. Severus heard the faint mutters about Elf Garden, and Dobby seemed set to talk for hours about the charming place.
Severus felt Hermione's hand slip into his and he stared down at her nervous face. He wanted to offer her words of comfort but nothing came from his lips. She'll be fine once she meets him. He looked at their joined hands and a small smile tugged at his lips. There was something inside his mind that couldn't get over how open she was about wanting to be close to him. He'd been met with nothing but repulsion when it came to women giving him comfort. Perhaps he'd been looking for women in all the wrong places during his mortal life?
They came to a stop in front of large, golden double doors. Albus pushed them open and Severus observed the room. Books lined the walls and flew around the high ceiling, seemingly switching places at random. A long oak table stretched along the length of the room, and fancy leather seats wrapped around the scroll covered wood. Stairs led up to a small platform where a round table lay before three stained glass windows. The colourful panes cast a rainbow over the glowing orb in the middle of the table where Merlin stood proudly.
Blue robes trailed behind him and the long sleeves brushed the pulsing orb, and Severus could see the fascination on his face as he stared into the gold light; it was as if he could see something that they couldn't, and Severus gathered that that was the case. Merlin's grey hair curled around his chin and his beard was closely trimmed to his face; his eyes caused Severus to pause by the long table, he didn't expect the bright blue which swirled with gold flecks.
Merlin smiled at the sight of them and made his way to the top of the steps. Severus watched him put away his solid gold wand and place his arms behind his back. Albus took a seat at the table, putting the hawk down and returned Merlin's jolly smile.
"Well, what a lovely surprise," his deep voice almost matched Severus', yet his had a softness about it that could easily lull someone to sleep. "You must be Severus Snape," Merlin bowed in greeting then moved his eyes to Hermione.
Severus glanced back at her pale face. He opened his mouth to mock her starstruck state, but the moment pain flashed over her eyes, he moved quickly to catch her before she hit the floor.
A scream escaped her lips and she clawed at Severus' chest. His hold tightened around her and he glanced back at Albus and Merlin for help. The pair came rushing over and lowered themselves to their old knees.
"Let her go," Merlin said, and Severus reluctantly lay her down on the carpet.
"H-Harry!"
Severus grabbed her hand and placed his other on her arm. "She keeps having these vision which cause her pain," he explained, and Merlin waved his wand over her body.
Albus moved some of her hair away from her sweating brow. "Severus believes them to be visions."
Severus wanted to snap at him for making it sound like his assumption was wrong. I'm not wrong, it's the truth.
"She sees her friends suffering after the war," he explained. "That hawk has been following us since we arrived here."
Merlin raised a white brow. "Hawk?" Severus pointed to the predator on the table and Merlin walked over to inspect it.
Severus quickly bundled Hermione into his arms once more and lowered his ear to her moving lips. He could hear her mutterring familiar names while her body twitched from the sight behind her closed lids. He hoped that there was a way to make these visions stop because he hated seeing her in such a state.
"Severus, we'll figure this out," Albus whispered and placed his hand on Severus' shoulder. "She'll be fine."
Unbeknownst to Severus, Albus was the only one who could see the true pain on his face as he held Hermione in his arms. It was an expression that Albus had witnessed on the few occasions that Severus exposed his vulnerable side; he was sacred because he had no idea how to fix it.
Suddenly, Hermione inhaled sharply and shot up in Severus' arms. She gasped for air and looked around frantically to gather her new surroundings. Severus touched her back gently and she exhaled and looked his way. "I...saw many things." He could see that she wanted to cry, but for some reason she held back her dreary emotions.
"What did you see, dear?" She turned to Albus with a sad smile.
"Harry in danger...him arguing with Ron, and fire. A lot of fire and pain."
"Hm, how interesting?" Severus turned to see Merlin holding the hawk by its left talon. He soon remembered their presence and smiled at them. "I'm glad to see you're back with us, Hermione."
Hermione's face lit up when Merlin said her name. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
Merlin chuckled. "I've heard many things about you. All of those things have been good, and I hear that the scholars were happy to know that you would be reporting information back to them about your travels."
"I should do that while I'm here," she muttered to Severus, and he confirmed her idea with a nod.
"I'll need to think things over before I can give you a definite answer," Merlin said. "You two look like you could do with a good night's rest. Rooms are being prepared for you as we speak — Olga!"
A young woman appeared at the doorway with a bright smile. Her long blonde hair fell in curls down her back and her skin was a clear white plain desert. She responded to Merlin in her thick polish accent which captivated Hermione. She leaned around Severus to get a better look and seemed to glow at the sight of her.
"She's unbelievably beautiful," Hermione whispered to Severus who gave her an odd look. He didn't see the unbelievable beauty she talked about, but that wasn't to say that the woman was unappealing, she just didn't captivate his interests.
"Would you escort our guests to their rooms?" Merlin carried the hawk up the steps and used the light from the glowing orb to observe the markings on its talon.
"More guests!" Olga clapped her hands. "Follow me."
Severus helped Hermione to her feet and they quickly said their goodbyes to the older men. Olga was quick to walk off and they hurried to catch up with her. She led them through the maze of a castle, and Severus found himself looking around quickly to remember his way around the labyrinth of halls.
The cautious side of him was yet to leave him since his arrival at the golden gates. He recalled Olga saying that there were more guests here, and Severus wondered what type of people they were and whether they posed a threat to Hermione. Severus couldn't help but feel worried about her current state of mind; he knew that seeing her friends in pain and distress was a form of torture to her because she couldn't do anything to stop it.
"This is your room," Olga tapped the large oak door. "There is a feast in a short while, but if you'd like to eat in your room then just call for me and I'll get it organised."
"Thank you," Hermione said.
"Remember to call for me if you need anything!" She disappeared with a crack and Severus stared at the back of Hermione's head. I hope there's two beds in that room. He followed her inside the high ceiling room and took in a sharp breath. One double bed. Oblivious to their situation, Hermione sat down on the bed and sighed in relief.
"This room is amazing, and the bed is so comfortable—" she glanced around quickly, then locked eyes with him. "Oh...there's only one bed."
"I'll tell Olga that there's been a misunderstanding—"
"Can we talk first," she started to fiddle with her fingers nervously, and Severus gestured to the sofa in front of the fireplace. They sat down at the opposite ends of the sofa and Severus hated to admit that he was nervous. He played with a loose thread on the arm of the sofa and tried to focus on the positive. He didn't want to lose the friendship that they had developed, but he couldn't get their kisses out of his head. He wanted to kiss her again.
"Would you like to be my lover?"
If he'd been drinking he would've spat the liquid everywhere. He expected her to take a long time to get to her point, not outright ask him such a question. Severus had no experience with such a question, no one had ever wanted him as a lover and he still couldn't understand what Hermione saw in him.
Wait? How long have I been quiet for?
Hermione waved her hand in front of his face, and he suddenly became aware that she was right by his side smiling. "Was I too forward?"
"A little," he muttered back. "Nonetheless...such a question from a woman like you could only be answered with one word — yes."
"Good!" An awkward silence followed and Severus took in the confused expression on her face. She doesn't know what to do next. It amused him that she'd planned to ask him such a direct question but not thought about what to do if he said yes.
Severus decided to take the lead. He reached out and nudged her chin with his finger causing her to look up at him nervously. He leaned down and placed a chaste kiss to her lips, she responded with a huge smile and almost tackled him from the sofa as she hugged him tight.
Hours later the pair found themselves hovering around either side of the large bed. Hermione's cheeks were flushed and Severus awkwardly scratched his face. Even though he cared for her deeply, he wasn't about to bed the woman straight away, so he decided to take the lead. He threw back the cover and got into bed and Hermione followed his actions.
"This is just like camping," Hermione said.
He rolled his eyes. "Exactly like camping."
She blew out the single flame by her bed and darkness engulfed them. "Your sarcasm is your best quality."
"Well I'm glad that I please you," he muttered back.
"Of course you please me," Severus went to roll over but her breath near his face stopped him. Her lips came to rest on his unshaven cheek and he inhaled sharply. Soon enough, Severus found himself relaxing on his back with a bundle of hair nuzzling beneath his chin. He'd never held anyone during sleep before and he was happy that Hermione was his first.
They stayed that way for a long time, Severus couldn't see through the darkness but he was sure that Hermione was fast asleep with her head on his chest. He couldn't quite believe that he was in such a position right now, holding the Gryffindor Golden Girl in his arms while enjoying every second of it.
However, his pleasure was soon cut short when he heard loud voices coming from the hall. They sounded like they were having fun, but they also weren't going away. Severus carefully maneuvered Hermione back onto her pillow and grabbed his wand from the nightstand. He unlocked the door and flinched away from the intruding light coming from the hallway. He stepped out slowly and glanced down the hall only to pause immediately.
Gathered in a laughing huddle were three people he didn't wish to see. Not now, and perhaps not ever.
Sirius Black. James Potter. And Lily.
AN:/ I'm loving all the questions you all have about this story, some will gradually be explained throughout and some I haven't even thought about so thank you for getting me to think in more complex ways! Don't worry, the new arrivals won't cause a rift between Severus and Hermione, and as you can tell the sweet smut will be arriving shortly before the action soon kicks in. Thank you to everyone who favourited, followed and reviewed, let me know what you think about this chapter!