A/N: Story is dark(ish), twisted with sexually explicit content (BDSM, same-sex scenes, etc.), oh and not to forget...Ron-bashing! I URGE YOU to READ WARNINGS at each chapter.

Keys:

'single quotation without italic' - quotation of someone else's words

'single quotation italic' - inner thoughts and monologues/dialogues

"double quotation" - speech

...italic - memories

Disclaimer: This is a work of fan fiction using characters from the Harry Potter world, which is trademarked by J. K. Rowling. This story is purely for entertainment purposes, no money is being made from it.

CHAPTER WARNING: Ron acting like a jerk

Discomforting

Looking for the thick line of eyelashes as she left the room, Severus chuckled. He placed his book on the table and took a duffle bag from his pocket and returned it to its original size. He wasn't sure if he should feel concerned or lucky being caught in a crossfire between his own emerging daemons and two fiercely intelligent witches.

He didn't plan on keeping secret from Hermione too long, he didn't see her as unreasonable or rash, but he knew that she had to learn about her condition under the certain terms. The girl had an inborn penchant to mistrust for anything that came to her served on a silver platter. While her best friend liked for the information to be served to them in regurgitate state, she was the one to seek and discover. Shaking his head, he had to admit, he did underestimate her, in all honesty, he did think that it will take longer for her to figure things out. 'Merlin knows she wasn't at her prime in past twelve hours. And her thoughts were jumbled in months, even years before.'.

Luna on the other hand…Luna was Luna. His mind drifted to their last conversation…

…Luna was looking through the window, back turned to him when he entered the room. Dressed in baggy pants and simple T-shirt, her hair braided and she had a backpack on her back.

"Luna." he greeted her, but the girl didn't turn to look at him, she spoke softly

"Don't hurt her Severus."

"I think you had that backwards, Luna." he chuckled

Luna abandoned staring through the window and turned to him, paced until she was near and lightly touched swollen bluish lump under his eye.

"You are not listening to me again."

"I am, Luna."

"No, you are not. She is healing, she is becoming more whole, more herself. She is changing, and that is good. Don't change that, Severus."

"Luna…."

"You are healing too, finally. I was waiting for that for years."

"I was under the impression that I healed, years ago." he smiled at the girl, she looked him in the eyes, her face remained mild but her eyes were firm

"Your body healed." she simply stated "You never did." she waved her head, eyes turning sad "Oh, Severus, as much as you both need this, it was the biggest mistake of the century."

"What are you about Luna?"

"You'll see. I have to go now, things you were looking for are on the bed in the bag."

"Luna, I have a favour to ask, if it's possible…"

"Name it."

"Well, …" …

… Of course, he should have known, nothing was impossible for Luna. With another chuckle, he opened the bag and nearly start to laugh, Luna must have robbed the shop. The bag was full to the brim, everything was brand new, packed and wrapped, she even bought muggle made lubricants in several flavours. He'll need to give her money for that later, she must have spent a small fortune.

He rummaged through the stuff Luna packed, variations of cuffs and shackles, neck cuff, waist cuff…he frowned, that won't even be needed. At least six packs of silk cord in ruby red, emerald green and black, two of each. He chuckled again. A multitude of battery-run toys, silicone anal cones in various sizes and even anal beads, he frowned again. Shrunken on the bottom were crop, cane as well and not shrunken larger wood paddle and small leather paddle. Closing the bag, he frowned again, he didn't like the position he was in. With a sigh, he shrunk bag again and place it in his pocket, he won't be needing this in few more days if it was by judging the faint smell that wafted from her breath this morning, she took the pain potion.

~ S ~ S ~ S ~

Bill rubbed his face and took another deep breath, the letter in his hand trembled slightly. He would need to talk to Harry and Severus, and soon. Still undetermined if the news were good or bad. He cringed at the thought that he would have to contact Harry privately, his brother was practically living with Harry and Ginny these days, making their lives miserable.

With sigh, he approached floo and called Harry

"Harry."

"Any news, Bill?" Harry's voice was full of hope

"Some, may I come?"

"Yeah, yeah just give me time to move away."

Stepping through the floo he glanced around room, they were in the library, he could hear faint voices coming from the kitchen, Harry smiled tiredly

"Ginny is taking the head off Ron's shoulders again. I know that he is your brother, hell he is my bleeding best friend, but I swear to you Bill…these days I have the desire to skin him alive."

"I don't know what is wrong with him." Bill shook his head tiredly

"So, what is the news?"

"Read it yourself," he handed, now almost crumpled letter to Harry "I don't know should I be happy or not. There are so many unknown factors."

Harry sat quietly while he was reading, his brows furrowed. Finally, letter was returned to him

"Will you share this with Hermione?"

"I should, it will be in my part of paper anyway. But, I'd like to show it to Severus first."

"If you like to stay the night, we could visit them early in the morning."

"Send them a message."

"I want to go too!" Ron's voice made them flinch, he busted into the library with angry look on his face

"Ooooh, no you won't! Ronald Weasley don't make me hex you, again." the sharp, shrill voice of Ginny reminded Bill of their mother

"But I want to see 'Mione."

"Why Ronald?" Ginny tapped her foot angrily "You are not in love with her, you don't even love her. Why then? And don't you dare to lie to me!"

"To see if he is doing something to her." barked Ron

"I sincerely hope that he is doing her, Ron." snapped Ginny making Bill and Harry cringed

"Ginny!" squealed Harry

"What? I am married to you Harry but I still have eyes. Did you look at him, really looked?"

"He is our ex-professor!" groused Ron

"He is a man, something that you are still not, Ronald! He is exactly what Hermione needs. Not someone who would take her for granted and not take her wishes and desires into consideration. He is smart enough not to be intimidated by her smarts. He won't run and hid if she's bossy. He doesn't need her to mother him or expect her to think for him. So, tell me how is he wrong for her?"

" He is grouse!"

"Ginny, not that I support Ron, but…"

"Be very careful what you are going to say next Harry." growled Ginny

"But Gin…."

"You two are impossible! She needs someone who can meet her head on, who is not afraid of her or ready to manipulate and blackmail her using friendship as an excuse."

"We never…." started Harry

"Never, Harry? I suggest that you sleep on the couch or in one of guest rooms and think about never." she glared at them and stomped out of room

"She's mental." huffed Ron and Harry barked at him

"Yeah, unlike you. Thanks a million, mate."

"So, when are we… ?"

"You are not going Ronald." stated Bill, finally deciding to join in "You've done enough damage as it is. Is she right? You really are not in love with Hermione?"

"I…."

"Why then Ron, why are you perusing her?"

"I never considered any other girl to get married, we are supposed to be together."

"Who said that? Why are you 'supposed to be together'? Because Prophet says so? Because mum thinks that? Why in Merlin's name, Ron?"

"She, she's always there for me, she was…"

"Go home, Ron." sighed Bill "Just, go home and stay away from now on."

"But…"

"She doesn't belong to you, she never did and in all likelihood, she never will."

-We'll see about that." spat Ron and stalked out.

"I'll send a message to Snape." sighed Harry

~ S ~ S ~ S ~

Harry sighed, he was tired and his headache was returning with a vengeance. Snape was apparently still Snape, berating them, insulting subtly and not so subtly and playing games. The maze of Snape's games was too much for him. He nearly jumped when Hermione barged into the library, eyes narrowed, hissing

"I do not appreciate being lied to Harry Potter, what do you have to say in your defense?"

"Hermione…"

"Save it Harry, I know." she lifted her chin

"You told her!" Harry turned to Snape "You, told…"

"I promised you to tell her when the time is right." Snape was annoyingly calm

"Yes, somehow you left us with impression that it will be months even years…"

"And you fell for it Harry?" Hermione barked a laugh "Gods, you are still naïve."

"Hermione, we have to know…"

"Severus didn't tell you?"

"It is not my decision." he shrugged

"As it happens, I have a theory of my own, and for that I need time. I accepted your brilliant plan, for now."

"For now?"

"If neither of you two possess a shred of decency of moral, I do. If in a year's' time, after we leave this charming prison, I don't accomplish what I have in mind, I'll report myself."

"Hermione!" Harry and Bill called in same time

"What? It is, after all, my life."

"But Hermione!" tried Harry, fear gripping his guts

"Do you have no reason left to you, Harry? Look, I do not blame you for the stunt you pulled on me, if I was not available, it was logical to bounce your ideas on Ron. You always do that, I can't really complain. But to go with his insane plan?" she waved her hand in Snape's direction "Do you really want to add to the total of what you already owe to him?"

"Being that Harry didn't curse me…I'd say you owe me Granger, not Potter." quipped Snape

"That's why I won't put you in that spot, Severus."

Harry sighed again, he felt like someone pulled out the floor beneath his feet. Ron was mad at him, Ginny made him sleep on the couch, Snape was…Snape and Hermione was someone he didn't quite knew anymore.

"Well," she asked "what brings you here?"

"This." Bill gave her the letter, she read it and looked around the room

"Well, this goes nicely with your plan, for now. provided, that we activated both parts of the curse, which we did not. So, basically, the bond can be lifted, albeit not as easy as it is described in the letter, given the state of my core. Bill, when do we have to see healer again?"

"Why do you need him?"

"We had a theory, I wanted to check something…concerning…infertility issues we both have." she blushed and Harry nearly grinned, this was more the Hermione he knew

"I would avoid including healer again, but I can learn the spell, and perform it next time we meet."

"That would be acceptable. Thank you. When you boys finish discussing, find me in kitchen Harry, I want to know how's Ginny and why is she mad at you."

"How did you know?"

"You do realize that you look like hell? You either didn't sleep the night or you slept extremely uncomfortable. I do know you, you are my best friend." she smiled and left the library, Harry smiled, maybe his friend was more herself than he first realized.

~ S ~ S ~ S ~

Days tickled into a week, they practised meditation, and what took weeks or months for others, took days for her. By the fifth day, he was teaching her some basics of the Occlumency. Hermione proved to be a diligent student, then again, she always was. On the other hand, days became long and boring, there was no need for their research to continue, so they divided their time between him teaching her and amicable periods of reading.

What bugged him was the duffle bag that Luna dropped a week ago, he was still undetermined what to do or what approach to take. In a way, their bond gave him an insight, one that he might not have otherwise. And even if she became just an echo, present but without the edge that was there before, he still could feel her. And he still knew.

Soon she will ask for other lessons to continue, and he was unsure which path to take. Whether he should lay it all on her and let her stay or run, or should he ease her into all of that, and play it by the ear. Well, more on a fell in this case. He knew what she wanted, what she needed even more than she did. But, would that be correct to force that knowledge on her? Luna didn't think so, and he knew that in so many ways Luna was right. Again, dabbling in that pond could stir some things she might not be ready for.

Hermione walked into the library and took the book, she exited without even a glance. A quarter hour later she entered again and returned the book, taking another. She was fussy, he sighed, he hated fussy. Third time she entered to switch the book he groaned inwardly, she shoved the book into its space on the shelf none too gently

"Miss Granger, what book did to you to deserve that kind of mistreatment?" snapped at her

"What is it to you?" she growled at him, spinning to face him

"I have a penchant for protecting defenceless and mistreated books from overly aggressive miscreants." he drawled, sliding into his old and almost forgotten voice he used during his teaching days "What is wrong with you?"

"My monthly cycle is ended." she blushed, the change in her posture was instant, she stilled in a typical pose he noticed while she was a student

"And is that the reason to take your displeasure on the books?"

"No." her voice was thin

"What is on your mind, Miss Granger? It is obvious that books won't give you answer." he marked the place on the book he was not reading, to begin with, and place it on the near table, leaning on his knees, intertwining his fingers "What do you want?"

"I…I don't know." she nearly whispered, her chin raised suddenly in defiance "I need…something…I don't know what, all right?!"

"Do not take that tone of voice with me young lady, no matter how much you are annoyed you can still remember basics of proper behaviour."

"I… yes, sir." she fidgeted with the hem of her blouse

"I'm not your professor, Miss Granger. That…still do not means that I'll tolerate rude behaviour towards my person."

"Yes…I…I don't know what to do and you are…I feel like…" she stuttered then snapped again "It is not like you care if I'm…."

"Bedroom! Naked on the bed! I'll be there in five minutes, and Merlin helped you if you disobey." his tone was sharp and demanding, she widened her eyes, gulped audibly and nodded, hurrying out of the library.

Severus leant on the chair exhaling loudly, he was hoping that this will wait, apparently, he couldn't postpone it anymore. One thing was painfully clear to him, the girl was oblivious to her own needs and desires. 'How on earth I can teach her to demand something if she alone is not aware of what she needs?' He closed his eyes. Her magic was twitching unpleasantly, she was trying to rein her rampaging emotions, muddled enough for him to make a clear read of them.

He stalked into the bedroom. She was kneeling on the bed, naked as he ordered, her head lowered, hands neatly folded in her lap. Walking, silently back and forth in front of the bed, he observed her from the corner of his eyes. 'She needs a challenge and openness. But, does she need's control? I don't think so. This is going to be difficult for both of us.'

"From now on, Miss Granger, you will get exactly what you ask for, no more and no less. Did I make myself clear?"

"Yes, sir." she whispered, her eyes locked on her hands "Do I have to call you sir?"

He stopped in front of her. Her magic shivered and pulled back. 'She's afraid. Afraid of me?!' Unpleasant stab in his gut told him just how much he disliked that notion. He sighed.

"Kitten, look at me."

Her head snapped up, eye wide and glassy from tears she held back, sheer terror lingered in every fleck of her brown irises. The annoyance risen in him like a tide 'Salazar save me! Would I ever be able to say that without tiptoeing around Golden Trio?' Looking in her eyes he sighed. 'No, she needs a confirmation, she is too damaged to be controlled. At least now we have a starting point.' She did need to discover what she liked on her own, but not by force.

"Come here, Kitten." he extended his hand to her, timidly she reached to wrap her hand in his. He led her to the wing-chair, pulling her into his lap. She curled in his embrace, shivering like a small bird "Eyes on mine, Kitten." he murmured softly

"Yes, sir." her eyes snapped to meet his

"There is no need to call me sir, not unless it is something that suits your needs." he took good care to keep his voice soft, she shook her head "Good. But we do need to talk."

"All right." her eyes fluttered close "But I really do not know what is it with me, what I need."

"I understand, but, Kitten, you have to learn to control your snappy moods. There is a good chance now, if you are snappy I will be snappy too."

"I… I'm sorry. Can I… I want to know…"

"What?"

"How can I ask for what I need if I don't know what I need?"

"Close your eyes." she obeyed "Go in your mind to that place and focus on it." he waited a bit "Did you?" she nodded "Good, now then, can you tell me what do you need?"

"I…need…" she blushed, her eyes opened sparkly and confused "I am frustrated and a little bit aroused!"

"That hardly should be emotions you are unfamiliar with."

"But it is. I mean, it is not the urge, it is just…normal I think."

"It is a normal feeling for any sexually active individual, regardless of gender or age." he could feel her magic settling "But before we continue with your lessons, we should talk. Set some rules."

"I, I know the theory, but…"

"Kitten, I do not desire to control you, and I have feeling that you do not want that either." she nodded blushing. "Good. We will start with revising the things we already did. Tell me what did you like so far?"

She looked at him with eyes that spoke volumes to him, uncomfortable as she might feel she will need to learn to push through that discomfort.