The next morning at breakfast Hermione saw that as there were so few staying, the custom of teachers and students eating together was to be reprised. As she was late down, having slept in after a long evening brewing with Severus, most of the table was already filled. Dumbledore was sat up the top end of the table, and the teachers were dispersed amongst a few awkward looking students. They were mostly from the younger years, muggles who wouldn't go home in case they weren't allowed back, and orphans who couldn't. The conversation was the quidditch cup, which Ravenclaw was winning for once. Hermione winkled her nose and sat at the other end, away from everyone.
She was helping herself to some French toast when Severus stalked into the hall, back in his forbidding teaching robes with his customary scowl in place.
"Severus!" Called Dumbledore in a jolly voice. "Come join us, we were discussing the last Quidditch match." The headmaster indicated to a chair that had obviously been saved for him.
Severus glanced at it, then at Hermione who was studiously concentrating on her breakfast.
"Perhaps another time Headmaster." He replied, and instead sat down opposite Hermione. "May I join you?"
Hermione looked up, glancing down at the confused faces of both students and teachers with a slight smile.
"I warn you, I'm rather tired after last night, and liable to be grouchy."
Severus poured himself a goblet of dark coffee. "That would make two of us. I suggest we don't stay up quite that late tonight, however carried away we get."
Hermione caught his eye. As she suspected, he was aware of their audience and was milking the innuendo for all it was worth, just to amuse himself. He was smirking.
"Agreed. As much as I enjoyed myself, it was somewhat exhausting. I'm aching all over… are you alright Professor McGonagall?"
Professor McGonagall had spat her pumpkin juice across the table all over a horrified first year. Hermione flicked her wand to clean the unfortunate Hufflepuff.
"No harm done Miss Kirkby. Professor McGonagall didn't mean it personally"
Severus passed a napkin to his stricken colleague. "Though it was most out of character. Is your IBS acting up again Minerva? I have a potion in the dungeons…"
"I think." Said Dumbledore gravely over a spluttering Minerva, "That it was surprise at your and Miss Grangers rather candid conversation."
"Oh there's no need to be concerned." Said Hermione brightly. "He's not stretching me too much."
A recovering McGonagall choked again, and went bright red.
"Indeed." Said Severus. "I thought Hermione's extensive exercise regime in preparation for the final battle followed by a late night brewing a particularly difficult potion would be more of a challenge. But she is rising to it admirably."
"Oh." Said Dumbledore, thrown. "Well good."
Hermione didn't dare look at Severus, certain she'd burst out laughing. He too chose to silently finish his breakfast.
After breakfast Hermione went to change, and was soon ready for her morning run. Herself and Severus had rigidly timetabled each day the night before. She started off with a run after breakfast, and then they worked on the potion from then till lunch. Early afternoon Severus reserved some time to mark essays and make lesson plans for the next half of the school term, time Hermione used to work out in the room of requirement, building her strength up on the weight machines and improving her fighting style and reaction times in scenario's the room constructed for her.
After that, in the late afternoon the two of them would meet up and Hermione worked on whatever area they normally had scheduled, be it curses or defensive charms. After dinner, she'd do her homework in Severus' living room while he read or brewed. In the evenings Severus decided to start teaching her things she didn't have to know, but would come in handy. Hermione had wanted to spend that time relaxing, just being together as a couple but her innate curiosity and thirst for knowledge outweighed her desires.
"Yes Hermione, you can apparate. What I'm saying is it's more difficult to do so in and around Hogwarts. That's why it's generally thought to be impossible."
"So what, I need more deliberation? Or determination."
"No. There's a completely different way of doing it. Its no more like apparation than flying through air is like swimming in water. They look similar, but are very different."
"Than why do you call it apparation?"
"It's easier and it confuses people. Now be silent and read this."
"Shut up! Just shut the hell up, I am going to try again."
"Hermione, you're only angry because by botching your attempts at the Imperius curse the negative energy you're summoning is just going right back into you. And I want you to cease for this evening and take a break."
"I am not 'botching it.' Its not my fault that I haven't mastered it right off."
"Yes, that's exactly right. It's very difficult and I would have been disturbed if you had got it right."
"Why? Because it would mean I'm smarter than you thought."
"No, that's not it at all you're being irrational…"
"Damn right I'm being irrational!"
Severus ducked as she sent a small stack of books hurtling at his head.
"So. The powdered thighbone of a herbivore rhinoceros is not what we want."
"I'd agree oh undisputed master of the understatement." Hermione wrung the explosive results of their last potion batch out of her hair. "Perhaps, like I suggested, the thighbone of the carnivorous rhinoceros would be better suited."
Severus rolled his eyes. "Indeed."
"Have not."
"Have too."
"Have not."
"Have too."
"Have not."
"Have too.
"Have not."
"Have too."
"Severus, Hermione please. We're trying to eat. Can discussions of whether or not Severus has ever enjoyed watching first years cry wait?"
"Oh Merlin."
Severus watched resignedly as Hermione scooped up the squirrel she had just Avada Kedava'ed and started to cry.
"I, I don't know why I'm ssso u-upset." She sobbed. "I'm h-happy I finally managed to k-kill something."
"Hormones?" Said Severus nastily, and ducked as an equally nasty hex shot over his head, blistering the wall behind him.
By Sunday evening, Hermione was exhausted. Drained emotionally and physically knackered she was looking forward to regular lessons starting up again. Severus too was sporting a rather nasty bruise from a wayward pixie that Hermione had forgotten to stupefy after performing crucio on it. Madame Pomfrey was on holiday, and Hermione had used all the bruise diminishing lotions on herself.
"I wish you'd told me you'd finished it all, I could have brewed some more."
"We've been too busy."
"Ordered some then."
"It hardly matters."
"Classes begin the day after tomorrow. I will have a multicoloured green and yellow bruise by then."
"So it'll be vaguely Slytherin coloured."
"You are in insufferable. And it needs stirring once anti-clockwise every third clockwise stir remember."
They were working on what they hoped would be the final test of the permanent potion in the Slytherin secret lab. Severus had insisted on using the very small room in case Albus had questioned why they were still experimenting when the minute long potion was meant to be the full extent of their abilities. Unfortunately, it meant that Hermione had trouble concentrating. Had Severus theorised it was because every time he brushed past her, her heart sped up or whenever he spoke too close to her she shivered, he would have been dead right.
"I know. Just add the rhino will you. Omnivorous has to work."
They both sat under a desk while it simmered though, just in case. Severus had a little trouble, his robes being too voluminous to sit down there easily. Hermione wore muggle clothes when brewing, as they gave her more manoeuvrability than robes, and she felt that if the potion were to splash on her or explode again, jeans would be far more protection than her school skirt.
"You know, if it doesn't explode this time, we've done it." Said Severus.
"I know. Then we can start making plans to use it."
"Have you thought of a name for it? We shouldn't just keep calling it 'the potion'."
Hermione smiled. "Well it has such a ring to it…"
"You haven't then."
"I hadn't thought about it. Have you?"
"I've had a few ideas. But it's your potion, so the honour goes to you."
"Oh its hardly my potion. It would have been impossible without you. It was your idea as an alternative project, and your knowledge has been indispensable."
"But it is your project. Besides, I've named a half dozen potions."
"But this one is amazing. Couldn't we name it together? Like dual namership."
"Alright, that sounds fair. I did put a lot of work in…"
"Yeah yeah alright. So what were your ideas?"
"Well the original potion was never named, the book as you know is called 'the loss of thy foes potency', again not a very snappy name. I imagine they called it at the time something along the lines of, 'you know, that potion.'"
Hermione snorted. "Hypocrites."
"Exactly. I thought something in Latin, it carries more authenticity that way."
They spent the next hour or so discussing possible names for the potion, without getting very far. They wanted it to encapsulate its evilness, in some way explaining through its very name how little it should be used. It also needed to vaguely describe its effects.
"I'm sorry, but Ab Hinc Nulls Vines is too long. Even if it does work. Besides, 'from here on no power' doesn't establish how the potion should be feared."
"Well I don't think Jus In Bello works either. Saying that it's 'law in war' will only encourage people to think that in wartime anything is allowed."
Hermione looked at her watch. "It's been an hour. If it was going to have exploded, it would have done by now."
Severus nodded and the both emerged from under the desk. The potion had gone clear. It looked like gently steaming water. Hermione reached for the dragon hide gloves and filled a syringe with the potion, and went over to the mice cages. Severus set up the apparatus for testing, creating the bubble with the instruments for reading magical ability. Hermione carefully injected the mouse, and placed it inside the bubble. Her mouth was dry, and Severus sounded as nervous as she felt when he asked if she was ready.
Nodding, she cast the spell to speed up the mouse's lifetime, the twenty years it would survive compressed into a couple of minutes. The two of them watched in silence as the dial went immediately to showing no magical ability. As the seconds ticked by, Hermione reached out and grasped Severus' hand, lacing her fingers through his. He squeezed back in acknowledgement, and the two of them waited, holding hands as the mouse's life sped past.
By the time a whole minute had passed, and the magical ability of the mouse had not returned, Hermione inched closer to Severus. He wrapped his arms around her as she stood in front of him, resting his chin on the top of her head.
"Another minute to go yet." he whispered.
"I know." She whispered back.
When the mouse died, after just over two minutes, Hermione felt numb. They'd done it. All the late nights and frantic research. The two of them stood still for a moment, staring at the dead mouse. Then suddenly Severus turned Hermione round and spun her round the room.
"We only went and did it!" He laughed.
Hermione grinned as he placed her back on the ground. "We sure did. Oh Merlin Severus it's done!"
He reached down and kissed her passionately.
"You know you're the best thing that ever happened to me don't you?" He said, suddenly serious as he stared into her eyes.
Hermione took a deep breath. "I do now." She said quietly. "And you're the second best thing that's ever happened to me." Finishing with a cheeky smile.
"Only second best?" Severus knew not to be hurt from the way she'd said it, but was still curious. "Who was best?"
"Finding out I was a witch was the best thing to ever happen to me, but you're the best person to have crossed my path."
Severus sighed with happiness at her answer. "One day I'm going to make you sign something, no making me look sappy more than once a day. Its hardly becoming of a person in my position" He said.
Hermione just smiled and kissed him. "I won't sign."
"And I could never make you."
Suddenly, he swept her up into his arms and kicked open the door between the study and his bedroom. "Although our first kiss in this room was enjoyable, I believe we could do better than a hard desk this time?" He carried her through the door, and as he was about to go into his living room, Hermione wriggled so he lost his grip, and had to set her down.
"Hermione what..."
"Why bother going in there." She said. "When I fully intend to end up in your bedroom this evening anyway." She looked up at him directly as she said it, but Severus saw that she was actually very nervous, wondering if she'd crossed some sort of line.
"Are you certain you want this Hermione?"
"Yes."
Of course she was sure. She'd been more than ready to lose it to Ron at the beginning of the year, and she hadn't even properly loved him.
He kissed her again. "If we do this, I won't easily let you go."
"I don't want you to." She replied. "Ever."
Severus made a growling sound of approval deep in his throat and carried her over to the bed. He set her down on the bed with a gentleness that would have surprised had she not known him as well as she did.
He kissed her again, trying to undo the unfamiliar fastenings of her jeans. He wasn't successful, and expected more discussion from her about it.
"I'll do it." She whispered, and slid the jeans off her hips. She rarely bothered undoing the button or zip, preferring to tug them on and off in a hurry. He took the moments she was busy with her tee shirt and bra to shrug off his own robes. When he next looked up, Hermione was sat naked on his bed, and his breath caught in his throat.
"Oh Hermione." His voice was husky with need, and his loins tightened. He kissed her open mouth fiercely, then buried his face in her neck and sucked warmth to the surface. Breathing hard, he backed off and saw the angry red mark he had made. He took a deep breath, reaching for control.
"Is anything wrong?" Asked Hermione with a worried frown.
"Only that I want you too much. I want to make it right for you, but I don't know if I can. You are so beautiful."
Her frown smoothed to a smile. "Whatever you do will be right Severus."
He kissed her again, more gently, determined not to rush her first time. He caressed the side of her body, feeling the fullness of her breast, the dip of her waist, the smooth curve of her hip. She quivered under his touch. Her nipples hardened in his palm. He kissed her Shadow tattoo, tracing the lines and swirls with his tongue; then sought the other breast and sucked her nipple into his mouth. As he did so he looked up at her face, her hair, tousled on his pillow, framed her face. Her dilated eyes, deep and soft, glowed with hidden fire.
He rose and untied the belt that held up his trousers, and stood looking at her with his impressive cock hard already. Her eyes, to his relief, held only trust and desire, none of the fear he had imagined he'd see in this situation. He lay down beside her, feeling more excited than he'd ever really been before. He wanted this to last, this first time between them. None of the hurried experiences he's been forced to perform as a death eater.
He found her ear, and his warm breath sent shivers of delight through her once more. He nibbled her earlobe, and then suckled it. He found the tender nerves on her neck and throat that excited chills across her body. His hands explored her, felt the silky texture of her hair, cupped her cheek and jaw, and traced the contours of her shoulders and arms. When her reached her hand, he brought it to his mouth, kissed her palm, stroked each finger, then followed the inside curve of her arm.
Her eyes were closed, giving in to the rhythmic surges Severus was eliciting in her. His warm mouth found the hollow in her neck, then followed the path down between her breasts and curved underneath one. He described decreasing circles with his tongue and felt the texture of her skin change when he reached her nipple. She gasped when he drew it into his mouth, and felt a throb of heat himself at her reaction. His hand matched his tongues movement with her other breast, and his fingers found her nipple hard and erect. He suckled gently at first, but when she pushed herself up to him he increased the suction. She breathed hard, moaned softly. His breath matched her wanting, he wasn't sure he could wait. He stopped then, to look at her again, her eyes were closed her mouth open.
He wanted her, all at once. He took her mouth, drew her tongue inside his. When he released it, he found her throat again, and drew wet circles around her other full breast until he reached the nipple. She arched herself nearer to his touch, and shuddered when he answered with a deep pull. His hand caressed her stomach, her hip her leg, then reached for her inner thigh. Her muscles rippled as she tensed for a moment, then she separated her legs. He cupped his hand over her mound of cark brown curls and felt a sudden damp warmth. The answering jolt in his cock caught him by surprise. he stayed where he was, fighting for control, and almost lost it when he felt another surge of wetness in his hands.
His mouth left her nipple and circled her stomach and navel. When he reached her mound, he looked up at her. She was breathing in mewling gasps; her back arched and tensed with anticipation. She was ready. He kissed the top of her mound, felt crinkly hair and moved lower. She was quivering, and when his tongue found the top of her narrow slot, she sprang up with a cry, then lay back moaning.
His cock was throbbing eagerly now, impatiently, as he shifted position to slide down between her legs. Then he spread her open and took a long, loving taste. She could not hear her own sounds as she lost herself to the flood of exquisite sensations coursing through her as his tongue explored every fold, every ridge. He concentrated on her to keep his own demanding need in check, found her swollen clit and moved it firmly and rapidly. He feared he had reached the limits of his self-control when she writhed and sobbed with an ecstasy unknown to her before. With two long fingers, he entered her moist passage and applied pressure up, from inside.
Suddenly she arched her back and cried out, and he tasted a new wetness. Her hands clenched and unclenched convulsively in an unconscious beckoning motions that matched her spasmodic breaths.
"Severus." She cried out to him. "Oh Severus, I need…need you… now."
He was on his knees, gritting his teeth in an effort to hold back, trying to enter her carefully.
"I'm trying…to be easy." He said, almost painfully.
"Ssseverus…" She moaned.
Still kneeling so he could control his penetration, he guided the head of engorged cock into her untried opening. He slowly pushed into her warm, damp, tight well. As she wrapped her legs around her waist he felt the blockage within her. With his finger he found her clit again and moved himself back and forth just a little, until her gasps came with cries and he felt her hips lift. The he drew back, pushed hard, and felt himself penetrate the barrier as she cried out in mingled pain and pleasure.
He pressed farther, and felt himself drawn in, felt her warm moist depths enfolding him until, to his wonder, she engulfed him fully. He drew back and plunged deeply into her gain. He withdrew again, and as he penetrated once more, he felt her wonderful throbbing passage caress his full length. It was more than he could bear. He dived in again and again, with unrestrained abandon, for once giving in to his own need.
"Hermione!" He called out.
The tension was reaching its peak. He could feel it gathering as he drew back once more and Hermione rose up to him with every nerve and muscle taut. He surged into her, revelling in the sheer sensual pleasure of burying himself fully in her eager warmth. They strained together, Hermione called his name, and, giving her his final fraction, Severus filled her.
For an eternal instant, his deeper, throatier cries rose in harmony with her breathless sobs repeating his name as tremors of inexpressible pleasure shuddered through them. Then, with exquisite release, he collapsed on top of her. For a long moment, only their heavy breathing could be heard. They could not move. They had given all to each other, every fibre of their shared experience. After a time, they didn't want to move, didn't want it to end, though they knew it was over.
Severus reluctantly moved off her, knowing he would soon become too heavy, and lay down beside her, drawing her to him in an embrace. Hermione sighed happily against his chest and he felt her smile against his skin.
"Sine Nomine." She murmured sleepily, as they lay in each other's arms.
"What?" Asked Severus groggily.
"I'm calling the potion 'Sine Nomine'. It means without a name."
Some of the sex scene had short passages borrowed from Jean Auels 'The Valley of Horses'.