Chapter Ten: Encounters

Hermione opened the new roll of parchment and took a deep breath. So intoxicating! After a quick, cold, rinse in the shower, she had resumed packing her books. Well, reading and packing, until she had come across Secrets of the Darkest Art, the book she had Summoned from the headmaster's study just after Dumbledore's funeral. Handling the leather-bound tome had reminded her of a project she had wanted to tackle when things settled down after the war: chronicling the tale of Voldemort's demise.

To that end, she had come down stairs to the drawing room, to the desk in the corner, to the drawer she had stocked with a plentiful supply of parchment when she had first moved into Grimmauld Place. She sharpened a quill, dipped it into the inkwell and began.

Defeating the Dark Lord she quickly wrote at the top of the scroll. For most of the wizarding population, it was still too early to refer to Tom Riddle as Voldemort. She tapped the feather end of the quill against her lips. Experience having taught her that it was always best to start with a brief outline, she quickly listed each major point from the time she, Ron, and Harry had left school at the end of their sixth year until they came back to Hogwarts for the final battle and Voldemort's defeat. When she arrived at the point of her future narrative where they thought they had watched Severus Snape die after giving Harry his memories, she paused. Something was niggling at the back of her mind. She spent a few moments trying to coax it onto paper, but it remained elusive. No worry , she thought, it will eventually reveal itself as I work through the story.

She heard the front door open. Severus said he'd be back for lunch - maybe he was a bit early? Hermione nervously sat up, smoothed her braid and straightened her clothes - the same jeans, pink camisole and white blouse. Hey, it had worked earlier that morning.

"Hermione?" Ginny called out to her. Oh. Not Severus. One hand automatically went to her cheek as it heated up. Well, that shower certainly hadn't worked.

"In here, Ginny." Hermione quickly waved her wand over the scroll to ensure the ink was dry and then rolled and returned the parchment to the desk drawer. She stood as her friend entered. Ginny had an intense look of concern on her face as she crossed the room. Hermione was still battling the feelings her body had thrown at her when she thought it was Severus home early.

"Hermione," Ginny began, but stopped when Hermione wouldn't look at her, preferring, at this moment, to study the intricate design of the Persian rug on the floor. "Hermione," Ginny said softly and placed her hand on Hermione's arm. Hermione took a deep breath and looked up at her former future sister-in-law.

"Hermione, as your friend, I'm concerned about you." Ginny looked at her intently. "Is Professor Snape still here?" When Hermione shook her head, Ginny continued. "Ron . . . Ron told us what happened this morning."

"What do you mean?" Hermione was confused. She thought Ron would have been embarrassed by the scene he had caused. But apparently he had told Ginny, at least. Probably Harry too. After what he had put her through, he was now trying to mess up whatever was developing with Severus? He hated her that much?

"Is he . . . is Snape . . . is he forcing you?"

Hermione's hand flew to her mouth, covering it and smothering a small sob. Tears sprang to her eyes so quickly that they instantly spilled down her cheek. Overcome, she couldn't speak and so was only able to shake her head.

"I'll kill him." Ginny growled. "I'll kill him with my bare hands."

Mutely, Hermione shook her head again, tears running down her face. Ginny took her by the elbow, guided her to the sofa and then sat down next to her, arm around her shoulders.

"Harry and Ron are with me on this, Hermione. With the three of us, they'll never find the body."

"No, Ginny," Hermione forced herself to speak. "No." Ginny conjured a handful of tissues and handed them to her. "It's not what you think." She wiped at her eyes

"That's not how Ron tells it." Ginny frowned.

"Ron!" Hermione scoffed derisively. The surprise on Ginny's face reminded Hermione that her friend was still Ron's sister and she would have to step lightly.

"Ginny," Hermione said, carefully. "You have to promise to keep this to yourself." Ginny looked confused. "Please. Not even Harry." Ginny finally nodded and Hermione drew a deep breath. "You have no idea how much I don't want to say this. If I've been abused . . . " she exhaled, " . . . then Ron has been my abuser."

"What?" Ginny sounded incredulous. "What are you saying, Hermione? I thought you and Ron were in love and everything was perfect. I mean, before . . . " Everything Hermione had figured out in the last few days about her relationship with Ron came spilling out.

"Mine and Ron's sex life was abominable, only I didn't know enough about sex to understand that." She wiped at a few more tears that threatened to escape down her cheek. "Ron was always so rough with me. At the beginning, I tried to protest and begged him to be gentle and he would just get so upset. He told me he had more experience - yes, with Lavender Brown and Katie Bell, apparently - and that this was one subject he knew more about than I did. Ginny, he had me convinced that I was frigid. Sex was a difficult ordeal and I submitted because I loved him. But now I know that he didn't love me enough to consider the real pain I experienced every time we . . . were together. This realization has devastated me." The tears welled up in her eyes again. Ginny shifted uncomfortably next to her and gripped the arm of the sofa.

"Worst case scenario was that he wanted some kind of revenge - that his ego was damaged because I was so much smarter than he was and that he wanted me to suffer for his imagined injury. The best case scenario was simply that Ron was ignorant of what he was doing to me. I prefer to believe the latter." With a final sniff, Hermione's tears were gone. She vanished the tissues and turned to her friend. It was hard for her to see the look of devastation on Ginny's face. Hermione nudged elbows. "Are you okay, Ginny?"

"And Snape?" said Ginny. Hermione smiled shyly, cheeks pinking once again.

"Well, it turns out I'm not frigid. In fact . . ." now her cheeks were red, " . . . I find I quite enjoy sex."

"With Snape?" Ginny was incredulous.

"He's amazing, Ginny." She put her hands up to her cheeks to cool them off. "Can you get addicted to a person? Because all I can think about since we got out of the Ministry is when we can be together again."

"What about Ron?"

"What about him?" said Hermione. "Ginny, Ron is married. That was his choice, no matter what he told you."

"He still loves you."

"He was an Auror-in-training. He would not have been forced to marry someone else. He could have explained what happened and come and got me. He did not. He chose Katie. What's that say about his feelings for me? He can't have it both ways." Ginny was quiet for a few moments.

"And Snape?" she asked finally.

"He treats me so well, Ginny. He is surprisingly . . . shockingly gentle, considering his background and what we know about him." She looked thoughtful for a few moments. "I think he is someone I could fall in love with." Ginny looked stunned. "In fact, I'm mostly there already." But then Hermione faced the truth head on. "There is the obvious problem," she said, feeling her heart tighten in her chest.

"Lily Potter," Ginny said softly.

"Yes," said Hermione. "How hopeless would that be? Falling in love with a man who would never love me back?" She hesitated and then said, "But I believe he truly committed to the marriage when we finally decided to accept it. I think he would consider it a point of honor to remain, especially if there were children." She felt another blush coming on. "And there are some compensating benefits as well."

Ginny suddenly threw her a sly grin.

"So Snape is good in bed?" Ginny asked, glint in her eye. "Have you given any thought as to how that happened?"

"What kind of question is that?"

Just then a pop sounded, muffled, from the front porch. Both women looked up. "That must be Harry with lunch," Ginny said.

"Not a word, Ginny, you promised me. I prefer to just drop the whole mess with Ron and have both of us move on."

"Harry's going to want to know why I've changed my tune."

Hermione nodded and sighed. "I suppose he will. Tell him he has to find out from me, okay?"

The front door opened. "Ginny?" Harry called. "Chinese today." The two women rose from the sofa to meet Harry in the hallway. Ginny gave him a hug and a quick kiss as he closely watched Hermione.

"Hermione, we need to talk to you about Snape." His voice was grave. "I've asked Ron to lunch and he'll be here any . . ."

The door opened and Ron and Katie Weasley nee Bell stepped inside the now crowded hallway. From the look on Harry's face, Hermione could tell that he hadn't expected Katie to be there as well. This could get very uncomfortable very quickly. On the other hand, they couldn't very well confront her with Katie in on the conversation. And what on earth was Ron thinking, bringing his wife along? She cast a quick look at Ginny. Her friend was fuming.

"Katie," Ginny said stiffly and threw a glare at Harry. But Harry was glaring at Ron, who tried to unobtrusively shrug his shoulders and gave a barely noticeable shake of his head, as if to say 'There was nothing I could do about it, mate.' Hermione did her best not to roll her eyes. You could have not come at all, you twit, she thought. Katie took hold of Ron's hand. Hermione was surprised at how she felt about this: she couldn't have cared less. She was not uncomfortable at all, though everyone else seemed to be. Maybe some of Severus was rubbing off on her. Her hand went to her cheek. Perhaps it was best not to think of rubbing and Severus in the same breath. Besides, it was time to take control of the situation.

"You brought lunch, Harry?" she asked. When he nodded, she turned toward the kitchen. "Then let's eat." If she set the right tone, she doubted Harry and Ron's intended topic of discussion would come up at all.

They all trouped into the kitchen. Ginny Summoned the plates and Hermione began making duplicates of the Kung Pao Chicken Harry had apparently procured from a Muggle Chinese take-out. It smelled delicious, but maybe that was just because she was hungry. Harry and Ginny didn't look too enthusiastic. It didn't matter with Ron. Over their entire friendship, Hermione had never known him unable to consume vast quantities of foodstuffs under any condition. The thought now warmed her heart. She wanted to be friends again. She glanced quickly at Katie. She really was a good match for Ron.

"You know," Ginny said, poking at her meal with a fork. "Would Professor Snape mind cooking while he was here? Breakfast was brilliant."

"I don't think he'd mind," Hermione said and saw Harry nod grudgingly after Ginny apparently gave him a kick under the table. Ron was too busy eating already. Katie didn't count. "We need to chip in with chores while we're here, anyway."

Hermione heard Ginny groan and when she looked up, the little squirrel Patronus was scampering down the center of the table once again.

"Miss Weasley," it began, flicking its tail nervously.

"I'm coming," Ginny interrupted the message and flicked her wand at the jittering little Patronus, dissolving it on the spot. She had barely finished half her meal, but scooped another forkful into her mouth, stood, and quickly headed to the hallway. Ron reached over and pulled her plate into his sphere of influence.

Snape Apparated to the front porch of number twelve Grimmauld Place. The potion was on track and should be ready later that evening. His mission would be completed before dawn the next day.

He performed a quick cleaning spell on his clothing. Hermione had come very close that morning to sussing out that he had been brewing potions. He didn't want to risk giving her another chance to think about what he might be doing at Spinners End, especially since he hoped they would be getting physically close again very soon. His mouth quirked into a half smile. He had been pleasantly surprised to find the witch was not only willing to go to bed with him again but very eager to do so. Perhaps this marriage thing might work out after all. He was looking forward to taking up where the two of them had left off earlier and it had been a long time since he had something he had genuinely looked forward to.

Just as he reached for the handle, the door jerked open and Ginny Weasley joined him on the porch, closing the door behind her. Severus nodded. "Miss Weasley," he acknowledged and attempted to move around her, but the woman stepped in front of him, blocking his way. He stared down at her, noting she was just a bit taller than Hermione. One raised eyebrow questioned her right to delay his entrance into the house.

"Professor Snape." Ginny met his glare calmly, eyebrow and all. "Hermione is my friend. I'm very concerned about her well-being."

Severus stared at the knocker on the door. He thought about why he had to kill this woman's fiancé. Yes, he also had Hermione's best interest at heart. He had everyone's best interests at heart. But that was neither here nor there.

"Are all Weasleys so nosy that they must involve themselves in the relationships of everyone around them?"

"What's wrong with watching out for a friend?"

"Because it's none of your business, Miss Weasley," said Snape. "Would you welcome my interference in your relationship with Mr. Potter? That can be arranged." It has already been arranged, thought Snape, but that wasn't quite the point he was making right now. Ginny's eyes narrowed as she studied his face.

"I suppose not," she said and somewhat reluctantly stepped away from the door, letting him enter.

He heard the "pop" of Disapparition as he closed the door behind him and stalked down the hallway toward the stairs that led to their bedroom. But then he heard noise coming from the kitchen, smoothly changed directions and headed for the sounds of a meal in progress. He blew into the kitchen, as he often had Potions class - at a firm pace, robes billowing about him and with similar effect: the four sitting at the table quickly silenced their conversation and all eyes fell to studying what was left of the meal in front of them as if they had put the wrong ingredient into their cauldrons. He strode up to stand slightly behind and to the right of Hermione and acknowledged her tablemates.

"Mr. Potter." He nodded to Hermione's left. "Mrs. Weasley, Mr. Weasley." He nodded to Weasley's wife, but then fixed a black glare on Weasley himself, who was sitting directly across from Hermione. Maintaining calm, but emphatic, eye contact with the whelp, he reached down and gently tugged on Hermione's braid.

"Upstairs, wife," he commanded.

"Yes Sir...everus," Hermione managed to morph the word at the last moment. Her face flushed, she jumped up from the table and fled the room. He watched as Weasley fumed furiously, mouth clamped shut. Severus flashed him a full fledged smirk.

"If you will excuse me, I have a . . . promise . . . to keep," he said and swept from the kitchen, leaving two stunned faces staring after him and one inflamed with rage.

Hermione bolted into her room in a near panic. She could hear his footsteps coming up the stairs; he would be here any second. Sudden realization hit her: she was married to Professor Snape! What had she been thinking? These past days, while working with him on a way to escape the Ministry's clutches, he had become Severus to her, a different person entirely. The man coming up the stairs was a Death Eater, a murderer, a hard and vicious spy. She turned to face him as he came into the room, filling the entryway with his black, black robes. The door slammed shut behind him. With a flick of his wand the shutters on the windows banged closed, leaving the room in semi-darkness. She felt a tingle of magic as, with another flick of his wand, he set up some kind of warding.

She swallowed, hard, and backed away a bit too fast. The bed was suddenly there and she fell back on it - not the place she wanted to be right at that moment. Scrambling onto her hands and knees, she crawled as fast as she could to the other side, but didn't quite make it.

He grabbed one of her ankles and hauled her back across the bed. Lifting that leg, he reached under and across, took hold of her other ankle and flipped her onto her back. Panicking, she tried to kick her legs loose, but he was too strong and was on top of her before she could think of what to do next. His weight pinned her to the mattress, one of her arms trapped between them, the other he had by her wrist above her head. With his free hand, he grabbed her jaw and forced her face up to his.

"Please . . . please don't." She was almost in tears, struggling against his overwhelming strength. He lowered his mouth and gently pressed his lips to hers.

"You are always in control, Hermione," he said. In an instant, her Severus was back and with him, desire surged through her body. He went to roll off her, but all the driving heat she had felt earlier that morning was back with a vengeance and she wasn't going to let him get away this time. She loosed her hand from his slackening grip and pulled his head down to kiss him.

"Please stay," she whispered.

"You're sure?" he murmured against her lips. She responded with an ardent kiss she hoped would leave no doubt and wriggled her way back under him. When he groaned at her movement, it rumbled deep in his chest and vibrated against her own. He whispered something incoherent and their clothing disappeared. The sudden, warm contact of skin against skin made her gasp into his mouth. Giving her no time to recover from that sensation, his entrance was gentle but firm. Oh yes, very firm indeed. A few more kisses and he lowered his head beside hers. She knew what that meant from their first time.

"Wait! You might . . . have to hold me down again," she said. "Just until I get used to it."

"That," he said softly, "would be my pleasure."

He then began his efforts in earnest, gradually increasing the frequency and strength of his thrusts. She tentatively tried to coordinate a few thrusts of her own, but was quickly overwhelmed by the still novel sensations and had to settle for clinging to him as he exercised himself on her behalf. As the intensity built, she strained against him, barely able to handle the exquisite pleasure that radiated from where they were joined, forcing itself into every fiber of her body.

He held her tighter as she started to thrash about. Reaching down, he hooked his hand under one of her legs, pulled it up over his hip and wandlessly cast a Sticking Charm. She cried out as his subsequent thrust entered her, stretched and taut. A few more and it was over, her body arching against him as orgasm found her. A few more after that and he, too, found release.

As before, with kisses and touches, he withdrew and gently tucked her against him. Damp and somewhat overheated from their exertions, they drifted off to sleep.

Drowsing toward consciousness, Hermione felt soft kisses lightly touching her lips. It was such a warm and comforting sensation that she responded in kind, never wanting it to end. He leaned further over her and his kiss became more insistent. Then she felt something rubbing against her belly. She broke the kiss with a gasp.

"Is that . . . ?"

"Mmm."

"Are we going to . . . ?" His lips prevented her from finishing the question again. His kiss left her dazed.

"Oh, yes," he said and lifted up and settled over her. When she had fallen asleep earlier, she had felt quite sated. She was amazed that his obvious desire to couple again had pushed all thoughts of satiation from her mind and her own desire flared once more. She accepted his body into hers and, when his head moved to the side, she was pleased that this time she was able to stay with him the entire time, climaxing together and drifting off for another nap.

Sex was an arduous business.

She felt his fingers gently work their way between her legs, softly stroking that extraordinarily sensitive spot. Before her body responded too quickly, she took hold of his wrist and pulled his hand away.

"Severus?"

"Hermione?" He murmured and spread his fingers across her belly.

"It will be dinnertime soon and, um . . ." Hermione took a deep breath to fortify herself, " . . . and during lunch you were elected resident chef," she said, hoping he wouldn't be bothered by her decision. Behind her, he lifted up on one elbow and began nuzzling her neck just under her ear.

"And my wife was the dissenting vote?"

"Unfortunately, the balloting was unanimous."

"I see. A very democratic process if one doesn't consider the subject of the vote."

"True. But I finalized your election with the requirement that we wouldn't have to do any other chores about the place."

"We?"

"I'm attempting to stimulate what little Slytherin tendencies I might have," she said. Severus loosed a soft snort.

"Well, you're certainly stimulating a Slytherin right now." He pressed against her and she had to admit that was true. And it wasn't little.

"Besides, did you notice how quiet everyone was this morning at breakfast? They were so focused on shoveling your lovely meal into their gobs, they were too distracted to engage in any conversation at all."

"Now that is an incentive," Severus conceded. "And we won't be here much longer anyway." With that he went to roll out of bed, but Hermione tightened her hold on his wrist and he hesitated. She pushed his hand back where it had started and his fingers resumed their gentle explorations. Hermione reached back and took a handful of his hair. Twisting her head around, she pulled him down for a kiss and moaned as he pushed a finger into her.

"Are you rewarding me with sex?" he whispered into her ear.

"No," she shook her head. "I'm rewarding me with sex." She wiggled around and he groaned until she was facing him and nibbling at his jaw. She tried to sling one leg over his hip, but he preempted that move by flipping her on her back and settling down between her legs.

Snape held the door open for her and they headed toward the stairs. He watched the gentle sway of her hips as she walked and fought the urge to bend her over the banister and take her right there. He gave his head a sharp shake, attempting to banish the image from his mind. This was taxing his will power much more than he had ever imagined. It didn't help in the least to know that, after her ardor this afternoon - the witch had elevated squirming to an art form - she would most likely accept such attention from him with enthusiasm. Another shake of his head. He had to make it down the stairs with some semblance of dignity.

They were almost to the landing when Weasley and Potter's voices could be heard coming from the kitchen. Hermione halted suddenly and Snape almost bumped into her. That required another head-clearing shake.

"They're still here!" she hissed, hand flying to her cheek. "They know that we've been . . . why aren't they at work?"

"It doesn't matter. I warded the room with Silencing spells. They can only guess what we were up to. We'll just make dinner and go on as if nothing happened." Snape said and passed her on the stair, entering the kitchen in the vanguard.

As he pushed the door open, Weasley and Potter stood up from the table, wands drawn and glaring at him. Apparently they could guess quite well.

"What do you two think you are doing? Put those away," she said sternly. The sight of the wands had apparently overcome any potential embarrassment she had felt.

"We are going to protect you, Hermione," Weasley stated forcefully.

"I don't need protection," she said calmly.

"Ron's right, Hermione," Potter added. "I saw how he treated you, like some kind of . . . like a . . . like a . . ."

"Like a Death Eater's harlot," Weasley sputtered, red in the face. "I've heard the stories about the Death Eater revels; orgies with Death Eater . . . whores . . . debaucheries and . . . and worse!" he cried.

"Unfounded rumors," Snape said cooly, but the smirk that accompanied his denial seemed to belie that statement and only served to enrage both boys.

"How on earth did you two idiots come to that conclusion?" Hermione demanded.

"Who else would have him?" Potter blurted out.

Snape stared directly into the boy's eyes, lifted one brow and said, "You don't really want me to answer that question, Potter." He watched the boy's features as angry realization dawned.

"That's a lie ." Potter spat out. "That's a damn lie. I don't believe you! And I'm going to prove it." He raised his wand into Snape's face.

"You do and I promise, I'll force you to watch everything." Snape said softly.

"Harry!" Hermione stepped in front of Snape. "Harry, you don't want to do this."

"Yes, Hermione, I think I do," Potter said, staring into Snape's eyes. "So you're going to hide behind a girl, Professor?" He taunted. "This proves you are a coward."

"Nonsense," Snape scoffed. "You have to direct that spell at my head, Potter. She doesn't even come up to my shoulder. Your aim is still that bad, is it?"

"Legilimens!" Potter shouted.

A/N: Okay, only three more chapters to go! Please pay close attention to their titles - as I think I chose particularly clever ones.

Reviews are greatly appreciated!