Chapter 11

Hermione looked out a slightly dusty library window. The sun was starting to lower in the afternoon sky. It had been a day of perfect weather and yet she and her new husband were in the library rather then in their honeymoon bed. Her stomach was rumbling, they had already skipped two meals. Time to go see how their friends had managed their start to marriage as well. Ron was just sitting in a large overstuffed chair staring off into nothingness. Well maybe she would finish this one chapter.

Ron was frustrated, anytime he had a problem which was beyond him, he had previously gone to his parents, or lately to his friends. This was his; only he could fix it. He sank down into the chair which bordered the restricted section that his wife was now occupying. He concentrated on Snape willing him to answer. His mind screamed "Snape , you better talk to me!". There was silence. "Snape, we have to talk before it is to late."

When the voice came, it startled him it was so close. "What did you want Weasley? What will be too late?"

Ron couldn't see anything in his mind, he didn't even expect it to work but it had. He visualized Snape as he had appeared in the potions classroom.

"Snape we have to come to an agreement about when you can intrude on my thoughts, some things must be private." Ron was still afraid of this man but knew he couldn't award or take points.

"Why would that be to my advantage, Weasley?" the silky voice taunted.

"The only way out for me is to kill myself, Snape." Ron stated matter-of-factly. "The only way to free Hermione as well. My brother is a ghost here and I would wind up one as well." Suicides were often left to roam as ghosts; At least he would have family.

"What do you want? I can't leave. I am tied to you as you are to me. I am also tied to your wife as well. If you or I kill ourselves she will suffer the consequences of our death." The voice was resigned, as he had already thought out all the possible things Ron would threaten. "You realize she will feel it twice as bad? She is just as bound to me as she is to you." Snape knew appealing to Ron's love for the girl was the only way to keep the boy from rushing off and doing something rash.

"But she will have to… you mean that you and she… YOU BASTARD!" Ron spluttered. He looked over to his new bride and was nauseated by the fact that she had consummated the union with Snape as well. How the fuck had that happened?

"Hold on, Weasley.", Snape commanded. "As much as it would be fun to torture you with the information, I believe you should know the facts. YOU and she were engaged in marital bliss when the change occurred. While the two of you were in the midst of the act -- OUR body completed it. She wasn't unfaithful, she wasn't raped."

"Oh….", Ron hadn't thought of that. "Just bad timing then."

"More so than you know, the binding and all its rules are still in effect." Snape was in lecture mode. "That particular type of binding ritual is meant to insure fidelity and to insure children. So there is a compulsion to have sex at least once a month." If he were visible he would have been pacing back and forth with his robes swirling about. "I have no idea why you and she choose this type of binding, but you have trapped me neatly into being in the position of trying to create a child with a former student, something which is truly repugnant to me." Snape didn't mention the joys of the young witch's body, best that Weasley thought it was an imposition.

"Then perhaps it is best to kill myself, rather than have her put up with…" Ron was afraid to kill himself but as he was a Gryffindor he would do what he must.

"She will suffer more if you do that." Snape continued. "She will feel as if half of her soul is gone. Or more than half as there are two of us."

"It will affect her that way?" Ron wouldn't let her be hurt. "But she will still have to have sex with you."

"I would never force her; she will also feel the compulsion to be with me." Snape was actually looking forward to the next encounter. "She could end up in St. Mungos with her brain malfunctioning. It is your body we are in, Weasley. I am just the one dictating the actions so to speak." He paused. "How would your family and friends react if both you and Hermione are dead or in the long term ward?"

Ron thought of how his mother would act, she was already devastated with Fred gone. Even his being a ghost was not much help. She would go spare over him killing himself. Harry was even worse to imagine.

He was so fragile when emotions and losing people he cared for. Harry might follow as well with both of his friends gone and then where would Ginny be? Hermione in St. Mungo's was not to be contemplated. He had a vague image of her in the bed beside the Longbottoms, and maybe her and Lockhart sharing porridge with equally blank looks at each other.

Hermione was standing up stretching, her young body graceful and very compelling. The sun shone on her hair and dozens of colors were highlighted. She was so vibrant, so very alive, how could he hurt her?

" I can't deal with you in my head Snape, if you listen in or interrupt I think I will go mad." Ron was adamant on this point.

"So call me like you did today. There will need to be some times we must trade information. I won't swear to stay out of your head because it isn't possible." Snape was growing impatient.

"But the rest of the time you will stay gone? No chanting or name calling?" Ron wanted to be sure. "How do you call me?"

Snape sighed. "You will need to learn to listen. I will attempt to call you tonight. But don't be disappointed if you don't respond. I am way more advanced at mental discipline then you will ever be."

"So it was Legilimancy and occulmency?" Ron dreaded having to learn this stuff. He dreaded more that Snape was loose in his head.

"Not actually, more just having an ordered mind and being able to overcome the sleep imposed upon it. Speaking to you this way is draining. It may take several years for you to achieve it. I have almost 25 years of experience to draw from on this…it will take you some time."

"How will you treat her? I won't have you being cruel to her." Ron was insistent. "You must be kind to her. I will have your oath on that!"

"I haven't a wand here, Weasley. I can't give you a wand oath as it requires two physical bodies."

Snape was tiring. "I will have to live with her the rest of my life and I have no reason to cause myself more discomfort by having a nagging witch at my heals for the duration. I give you my word that I will respect her, and be as kind to her as it is in my nature to be." Then he reminded Ron. "Besides she sleeps at night doesn't she. I will have the time which guarantees me the most privacy."

"I don't like you, Snape, but we will give it a try." Ron was beginning to feel hopeful. He could tell Snape was tired, that meant there was a drain to his contacting him. He didn't think of how hard it would be to contact Snape, just as long as he had his thoughts to himself most of the time. His stomach rumbled, reminding him how he had neglected it by not eating. With no thoughts to social niceties he abruptly cut the mental connection. Leaving a surprised Severus Snape wondering how the boy had accomplished it.

Ron stood up, walked over and grasped her hand. It was so small and delicate. She looked up, slipped a bookmark into her book and stood up stretching like a cat. "Ready for dinner? You seem in a better mood."

"I am Luv, I will tell you when we are back in our rooms." He paused as a thought hit him. "Do you suppose they will change our rooms? We need to have the privacy; we should ask to have those rooms all the time. He will have his books and familiar surroundings and may be easier to conceal."

"That is very thoughtful Ronald. You must have been thinking rather then brooding. So did you have other thoughts as well?" She smiled up at him. He could do anything when she smiled.

"Perhaps a few." He pulled her out of the Library and the watchful eyes of Mrs. Pince and down a shadow filled corridor. He ducked behind a suit of armor and snogged her senseless. Then someone's stomach rumbled so they looked at each other, smiled and headed down to the Great hall for their meal.