Of Rats and Men
He was sitting alone in the dark, sipping his brandy when he felt the stirring in his soul, the calling in his blood. She needed him; no, she wasn't in danger - but she was calling out for him to hear. Getting out of his chair, Severus went to stand by the fire. He had told her that he would go to her if she needed him, and not vice versa. It was far too dangerous for her to come to him; Lord Voldemort had called Severus a trusted servant. Voldemort was paranoid however, and spied on every one of his Death Eaters. Unexpected guests would check up on Severus at odd times, and Severus himself had even been sent to spy on others in the Dark Lord's service. He could not risk Hermione's presence in his home.
Then, there was the other problem that rolled about in his mind – someone was most likely watching him at this very moment; Severus felt eyes on him constantly. How could he leave to go to his beloved, and escape detection? Moodily, he watched the fire crackle away in its hearth. He had a few options open to him, but none would be successful if he stayed away too long. He downed his brandy, torn over the situation. Someone was bound to come sooner or later to 'visit.'
"Damn it!"Severus cursed vehemently as he threw the emptied glass into the fire. 'I hate this! I'm so tired of this constant vigilance that I am forced to keep! Will this war ever end? When can I begin my true life with the woman who is bound to me?' his thoughts raced as his frustration mounted.
Pinching the bridge of his nose, Severus tried to collect his thoughts into cool, relevant logic. Breathing deeply, he then realized that perhaps this is what Hermione needed him for – to relay the Order's plans? Perhaps to alert him to new developments? 'Could it be that the war will end sooner rather than later? Perhaps Minerva...' He shook his head, and decided to concentrate on how to leave unnoticed, rather than dwell on the anxiety that came every time he debated contacting any old acquaintances.
His plan decided, Severus made preparations to leave. Through Hermione's amulet, as well as their bond, he would be able to apparate directly to her side – but not through the wards that were protecting the walls of Hogwarts. The ancient magic that existed between him and Hermione was too strong to keep them apart, would it not be for Hogwart's even more ancient enchantments. He would have to apparate to Hogsmeade, and enter the castle through one of the secret entrance ways there. Severus knew of all of the secret tunnels and such – prowling the hallways after dark for 20 years or so, he had learned many of the castle's old secrets. He would go in through the Shrieking Shack, come out of the Whomping Willow, and then go in through his secret entrance to the dungeons. Only he and Filch knew of that particular way in. Once he was in, he would find Hermione easily. A simple Disillusionment charm could also be used to get passed anyone still up awake; besides, he would be moving quickly, so he was confident he would not be seen. He would wait to talk to the members of the Order until the time that Hermione could warn them of his arrival, as Severus was still unsure about how the Order had taken Hermione's news when she returned to them.
Hermione had no idea of the amulet's magical properties just yet – he was worried that if she did know, she would use it to appear fighting at his side when danger was present; he didn't want her in any danger from Voldemort, or Death Eaters. The secret would have to remain so until this was finished; nothing was worth her getting harmed. She was headstrong and stubborn, a Gryffindor trait through and through. The amulet had many old spells and charms cast upon it, as it had been passed down through his mother's line for generations. They would all help to keep her safe, and let him know (through a special Prince family enchantment) what she was feeling, and where she was. The joining of their souls had only strengthened the potential of the trinket – a factor that had surprised Severus greatly. He had heard of this old magic, but dismissed it as a fable; discovering that the joining was real elated Severus and spoke to him of the many joys he never thought possible for him.
"Soon, my Hermione, this war will be over and the Dark Lord destroyed. Nothing will ever keep me from you again, love." He spoke aloud to no one in particular. Preparations made, Severus muttered his decoy spells and then spoke the incantation that would deliver him to Hermione. He didn't notice the rat sniffing about in the corner.
The rat managed to locate an old bit of twig that he had smuggled in last week. Snape's place was certainly in need of a scrubbing – there were no house-elves here, and so the rat had had an easy time making the corner underneath the large bookcase into a suitable home. 'Why not be comfortable while carrying out Master's work?' the rat thought, as he cheerfully deposited the twig in the center of the room. Letting out a few squeaks that sounded more like little commands than rodent language, the rat began to glow oddly, shaking about while changing shape. There was a bright flash of light, and the rat was gone. In his place, there was a man; his looks and movements were very rat-like indeed. His teeth looked like a rodent's, yellowed and large; his nose was like a rat's, sniffing the air and twitching; his eyes were small and beady as they darted nervously around the room. With a stooped pose and hands up in the air like they were clawing at something, this man was rat through and through. His ears even had little tufts of hair atop them. Oddly though, one of his hands seemed to be made of liquid silver – it looked very strange indeed on such a lump of a fellow.
His eyes wide, Wormtail danced about in glee. He had finally caught the traitor, and it was Snape! "Ah, Master will reward me greatly for this. I AM his most trusted servant! Eeeeeheeehee!" Wormtail thought of the other Death Eaters who had been friends with Snape, the Malfoys, and decided that they may well be traitors to the Master as well. Determined to keep a better eye on that lot, Wormtail apparated out of Spinner's End, and back to his Master's side where he would tell him of Snape's traitorous ways.
After navigating the tunnel between the Shrieking Shack and the Whomping Willow (and after being sure to immobilize it,) Severus finally stood on the grounds of Hogwarts, looking up at the castle. All the repairs were complete, and the old castle looked as it did before. Closing his eyes and breathing in the cool autumn air, Severus felt as if he was coming home after a long absence. He had yearned to be back at the one place where he really felt at home for so long, but had never hoped to dream that he would see its walls ever again. After being gone for what felt like an eternity, he started his way up to the secret entrance he had used often on his nightly rounds.
Moving quickly so that Hagrid or Filch wouldn't spot him, Severus ducked into the low overhang above the cliff on this side of the castle that overlooked the Black Lake. Under the cliff, the lake went in underground – and was viewed from the Slytherin's common room. From this location, Severus was right down the hall from his old classroom, office, and private chambers. Deciding that the rumors of Slughorn's departure from Hogwarts for the final time were probably true, Severus peered into his old dungeon. Dust covered the work spaces, and it was likely that no one had been down in the room for awhile. Satisfied, Severus made his way through the class into his office space. It too was dusty and unused; intricate cobwebs decorated his bookshelves. Piles of old papers were stacked up on Severus' once tidy desk and half-packed boxes were scattered about the floor. He idly wondered if any of his personal effects were still lying about somewhere; when he had taken the DADA position, he had still kept his private chambers where they were. Slughorn had been fine with that, as he had no wish to skulk around in the dark as Severus had. Resolving to check later, Severus pushed aside some boxes blocking the floo with his boot. Hoping beyond reason that Hermione was not sharing a room with any tittering little chits, he lit the fire, grabbed some floo powder, and shouted "Hermione Granger's room!"
Coughing a bit from the excessive dust that had accumulated in the unused floo, Severus brushed himself off and checked his surroundings. 'Ah, Head Girl's room. Of course. She'll be right through here then,' he thought to himself as he silently made his way through the small study and into the bedchambers of the spacious Head Girl's suite. Surprised that he didn't wake her with his hacking from the dust, Severus lovingly gazed at the sleeping form of his witch through a space in the velvet curtains. 'So beautiful,' he mused, wondering again what he ever did to deserve such fortune. He could hear her voice inside his head, telling him before she had left, 'You deserve the world for all that you have sacrificed, everything you have endured over the last twenty years. Never think otherwise, love, or I will have to continue to remind you!'
Easing out of his robes, Severus quietly slid into bed behind Hermione, spooning her. He breathed in the scent of her hair and her skin, and closed his eyes in gratitude. "My love," he whispered as he grazed her ear with feather kisses, "I have come for you, wake up for me." He continued caressing and kissing her soft skin until he heard her murmuring his name.
"Severus?" she asked sleepily, as her eyes fluttered open. When she focused, she immediately embraced him as their lips met in a passionate kiss. Not breaking the kiss, Severus shifted so that his lover could roll over, then he raised himself up so he could cover her body with his. They savored each other's kisses, overjoyed by the closeness that they were experiencing after being apart. As the passion grew between them, so did their bond. It was as if they were one; their bodies moved together perfectly, and each knew exactly how to please the other. Her hands tangled in his hair, and he began to lift up her nightgown, strong hands grasping her hips, and then rising along her sides to claim her breasts. Feeling as if her blood was boiling, Hermione gasped at his touch, arching up to him. She had never desired someone so much before, and she knew in her soul that this was how it would always be between them. Severus suddenly broke the kiss and feverishly looked into Hermione's deep brown eyes. The ancient magic of their joining intensified, and they were each in each other's minds. No words were needed as they were fully of one heart, soul, and mind. An indescribable wave of love and adoration washed over them, peaking their arousal, and pushing them to the brink of control. Severus gently lifted Hermione's gown up over her head, leaving her fully exposed to him. She moaned in delight as he lowered his lips to her hardened nipple, where he gently sucked for a moment. 'Hermione, you are a goddess,' his thoughts reverberated through her mind, as he gasped and pressed his erection against her thigh.
Hermione felt lost in a sea of lust, crazy with desire. She reached for the bulge in his trousers, wanting him to be inside of her. She needed it. All she could see was Severus, and she was so ready for him to complete her.
He grabbed both of her arms, and pinned them above her head. 'We will always be one, I will never let you go,' she groaned in delight as he asserted his power over her, holding her down while he ravaged her body. Taking one nipple in for a slow, sensual suck, he let go and moved to the other one, teasing it with his tongue, evoking another groan, 'Oh Severus, Gods Severus, yesss...please, oh...yess!' The lick turned into a suck, and then a nibble.
Hermione didn't think she could take anymore of this. She was more than ready for him to enter her, and bucked up against him to let him know. He chuckled, and let her hands go to free him of the rest of his clothes. Severus regarded Hermione lustfully as he watched her frantic movements.
He took her in his arms, and kissed her reverently as he gently lowered her back down on the bed. Their eyes locked and Hermione let out a whimper, letting her wizard know that she was more than ready for him. Groaning, Severus plunged in and let out a ragged breath as Hermione's heat fully enveloped him. He was still for a moment, almost overcome by the feeling of complete, seamless love that only came in the presence of Hermione. In this way, Severus felt like he was home; wanted and welcomed into his destiny's warm and loving embrace. Hermione gasped as the power of their joining took over, helping them come undone, deepening their eternal soul bond.