"You're mine," he groaned, "my perfect Hermione."

She pulled harder at his hips, encouraging his almost violent thrusts. "Yes, Severus, yes." She gasped out as her second orgasm hit her. "You are mine," she breathed, riding the wave down.

Hers. He was hers. Severus came with a roar, Hermione's name falling from his lips. After a moment he sunk to the floor, cradling his witch in his lap where she settled herself against his body, his semi-hard erection still nestled inside her. This, this was his paradise, the witch he loved naked in his lap where no one would could disturb them. This was all he needed from his future.

…

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX – SEEING GINEVRA

Severus felt himself ease out of sleep and he wondered when the last time he had done that instead of waking up with his eyes flying open and immediately starting the day with dread. But as wakefulness came to him he remembered he had nowhere to be and no one to answer to. He sighed heavily and turned his head to look at the little witch wrapped around him who made a small sound at his light movement. She nestled back into him, burying her nose in his neck. He felt an odd emotion waking in his chest and he let it happen, hoping soon he could identify it. He watched Hermione sleep, enjoying seeing her relaxed and content, until a harsh rapping on the window stirred her from her rest. He sushed her and slipped out of her grasp and the blankets to open the window. A dark brown owl with black markings entered, waited impatiently for Severus to untie the letter from his leg, then flew to a bedpost and perched on it. Severus scowled at the creature and opened the letter.

Severus,

I hope you and Miss Granger got adequate sleep last night. For now, her case is stagnant, and we are waiting to get past some obstacles. In the mean time, there are visitors who would like to see you both if you'll allow.

The owl is yours, he is grumpy just like you. Give Miss Granger my best.

-Minerva

"Who's it from?" Hermione mumbled through a yawn.

"Minerva. She gifted us the ruddy owl."

Hermione grinned but gave him skeptical look and Severus sighed.

"Well she gifted me the owl, but she doesn't know better."

"I like him, he's very surly." Hermione commented, gazing up at the bird who seemed to be glaring.

"Just like me you mean?" Severus teased.

"Now that you say it!"

"Well you name him then."

"I will."

Hermione grinned at Severus as he returned to the bed. He smirked back at her and pulled her back to her position wrapped around him. They stayed like that a long time, Hermione's fingers tracing patterns on Severus' torso. It was a funny feeling not having to go anywhere and neither was sure what to make of it. Hermione wondered about the case McGonagall was taking up with the ministry.

"Will I have to testify or anything?"

"I doubt it. They might want your memories, but I gave them mine."

"All of them?"

Severus raised an eyebrow at her, "I'm not daft. I left out the more personal things. But they do know about what happened at the revel."

"Ah." Yes, that fateful kiss in Malfoy Manor that had started a tidal wave of change.

"How did you know where to find me?" Severus traced the collage of scars on her neck.

Hermione swallowed. "I was so desperate to find you. I hadn't seen you since the duel with McGonagall-"

"You saw that?"

She nodded. "And I wasn't sure if I did the right thing by leaving you with them, so I hid in the tunnel of the willow and tried to find an animal to search for you. But the battle made them all panic, and they wouldn't let me in. I found the only calm mind, which happened to be Nagini."

"Were you… there when she…?"

"No. I pulled out to come get you."

Severus cleared his throat awkwardly. "Thank you."

"Of course, Severus." She fiddled anxiously with the sheets. "Do you want breakfast?"

In response, Severus climbed out of bed, passed her the shirt he wore the night before, and pulled on his pants. Hermione quickly tugged the shirt over her head and followed him down the stairs. Hermione watched Severus' fluid movements as he cooked and relished in his slender form and the way he did each thing precisely. When done, he took their full plates to the large wooden dining table and they sat to eat.

"We should take a look around when we are done." Hermione said.

"Yes. Minerva did mention she converted the barn into a lab, I would like to see that."

Hermione smirked at him around a mouthful of eggs. "Got to make sure it's up to your standards, eh?"

"But of course."

When they finished, Severus set the dishes to washing themselves and he and Hermione wandered about the house. It was spacious and tasteful, with little decoration. All the furniture and appliances were neutral tones, laying a solid foundation in case anyone did feel like decorating. The main floor consisted of the living room, dinning room, kitchen, and an office. The upstairs had four bedrooms, the master they had slept in the night before, and three others, with two shared bathrooms in the hallway. Hermione followed Severus out of the farmhouse and into the barn. She knew Severus heard her sharp intake of breath. The barn-turned-lab was stunning. Six work benched with two cauldrons each were centered long the length of the barn and the walls were lined with shelves. One wall hosted a collection of books, some Severus recognized from his private library, others looked brand new. Another wall displayed a various array of jars, and, like the books, some were from what Severus imagined was left of his private stores, and a collection of new jars that still had the apothecary's temporary label on them. The bookshelves along the longer walls were interrupted by the occasional window and directly across from the doorway in which they stood, was a large cabinet. Severus strode over to it quickly to inspect the tools with in, giving the partially filled cabinet a satisfied frown.

"This is incredible, Severus."

"It's adequate."

Hermione smiled and rolled her eyes. "I'm sure Professor McGonagall will be glad to hear you like it."

Severus only pursed his lips at her and exited the lab, Hermione in tow. "Well speak of the devil."

Hermione peered around Severus' larger form and squeaked at the sight of her former head of house. "Severus!" She hissed. "I'm not wearing pants!"

Severus looked at her over his shoulder and smirked, then advanced on the older witch. "Minerva." He greeted.

"Severus." She glanced behind him at Hermione who was dragging her naked feet across the grass and look just about anywhere but her. Minerva cocked her eyebrow at the man facing her, but he only looked back defiantly. "Come inside, a have a few things to discuss with you two."

Minerva turned on her heel and swept back into the house, followed by Severus and eventually Hermione, who only motioned up that stairs before darting up them and into the bedroom to grab her borrowed pants. Severus sat on the couch across from Minerva, crossing his arms across his bare chest. They stared each other down until Hermione returned, fully clothed, and sat on the same couch as Severus, a respectable distance away.

"What can we do for you, Minerva?" Neither woman missed that he said 'we'.

"I brought with me an elf from the school who quite readily volunteered herself to serve 'the great Master and his Missus'." Minerva looked between them with pinched lips.

A loud crack interrupted the silence and Hermione was grateful for the distraction from McGonagall's scrutiny. "Greyla!"

The little elf hopped her way over to the sitting area, beaming. "Master Snape! Missus! Greyla is being glad to be of service to you again."

Hermione let out a strangled sound and the stunned little elf allowed herself to be hugged but smoothed out her toga in a concerned manner when she was released. "I'm glad you're alive, Greyla."

"Greyla is being a powerful elf, Missus, some of us were being happy to fight the bad man."

Hermione smiled at the elf who smiled back, her large ears flapping as she whipped her head around to look at McGonagall. The intense woman turned her gaze back to Severus and Hermione. "I'm quite aware the only thing unavailable to you both at the moment is clothes." Hermione blushed furiously. "I came with Greyla to ask if you wanted your old ones, what is left anyway, or if you preferred to buy new ones."

Severus and Hermione shared a glance. "New ones." Severus answered.

"I have secured a location for you to be fitted. Greyla will take you, and when you are done, she will bring the robes back."

"What about muggle clothes?" Hermione asked, wanting to have a good pair of jeans available.

"Leave a list with Greyla, I'll send Miss Weasley for them before she comes by."

"Ginny wants to visit?" Hermione said uncertainly.

"You've got quite a few people wanting to see you. I've asked they all not come at once."

"A good idea, I think." Severus responded.

Minerva left with a few customary good-byes and well wishes, shooting Severus a glare before she disaparated with a pop. Hermione exhaled heavily and went back inside and flopped on the couch. Severus joined her and were surprised when Greyla set a tea tray in front of them, momentarily forgetting their company.

"Well that was embarrassing." Hermione mumbled into the rim of her mug.

"Minerva was already… somewhat aware of our relationship. Though I do think she was caught off guard."

"Aware how?"

"When she held me back at St Mungo's, she interrogated me. I felt the truth was the best course."

"What did she ask?"

"If I loved you. If I would protect you."

"And?"

"I told her I would for the rest of our lives."

The weight of his words bore down greatly on Hermione. The rest of their lives was a long time, especially as a young wizard and witch. But what scared her completely was how much she wanted that, even though she had no idea what a future with Severus Snape meant.

SHSHSH

Hermione felt relieved to have their closet full of robes and toiletries in the bathroom. It felt homie and it made her feel more prepared for their first visitors who were arriving any moment. Hermione was grateful for the elf downstairs who had happily cooked a three-course meal that would probably last the couple a week. Hermione couldn't have even made tea with how nervous she was.

"I don't think Miss Weasley is going to be to judgmental about what you wear." Severus wrapped his arms around her from behind where Hermione stood in the middle of the walk-in closet, only in her under things, staring hopelessly at the robes.

"I know, but I also feel like I should dress conservatively, like 'yes I know joined the Death Eaters, but I am really sorry about having to do that'. Can you say that with clothes?"

Sighing, Severus walked her out of the closet and sat her on the bed, telling her to stay. He emerged with a navy blue, long sleeved blouse and a pair of loose black trousers. He handed them to her and dared her to protest with a glare. Hermione pulled the clothes on and tucked in the blouse, wandering over to the full-length mirror she had converted out of the tiny outdated one that used to hang in its place. She played with the long sleeves, her fingers touching the dark mark on her arm.

"The sleeves cover it."

"I know. I don't think openly displaying it will help with uncomfortable conversation."

"Thank you."

Hermione reached up on her toes to kiss him, resting her head against her chest for a moment, before Greyla popped into the room. "The guest be arriving!" Greyla announced."

"We will be right down." Severus said, and they watched the elf pop away.

"We are going to need to establish rules with her coming in here."

"Agreed. We can't have her popping in mid-coitus." Severus smirked at Hermione's blush.

They walked down the hallway, and down the stairs and were greeted by the sight of Ginny and the elf both holding an armful of packages and bags. Glancing at each other, the pair approached the girl, looking at them expectantly from around her stack.

"Sorry I meant to only get a few things, but I'd never gone shopping for muggle clothes and might have got a bit excited. And you know, wanted to apologize."

"Apologize?" Hermione said as she helped unload the pile from Ginny's arms and put them on the chair.

Ginny ran her hands through her hair. "I mean, I guess. I saw-" She looked over at Snape as if she hadn't really been aware of him before, "Your memories." She finished. "And I've had a long time to think, and I've realized if Snape was basically a good guy all along, then it was probably something similar for you." She looked bravely between the pair even though Snape was looking at her like he was less than amused. "And we treated the both of you like trash. You both might have been right gits, but not deserving of how we treated you."

Hermione let out a breath. That was not what she had been expecting. She was, however, trying to refrain from giggling at what she sure Severus thought of the little speech, although he said nothing.

"This doesn't mean that I totally trust you though, you know? You did kill Sirius and he did kill… Dumbledore." Hermione felt Severus flinch imperceptibly. "I know Dumbledore asked you to and all, but still."

"Why don't I tell you everything over dinner?" Hermione suggested.

Ginny nodded and the three of them sat together at the table, where Greyla had excitedly laid out the first course of her large meal. They ate the full first course in silence, not yet sure what to say to each other until finally Ginny cleared her throat.

"So, how'd you end up in Slytherin?"

"Before fifth year started, I was asked to go Dumbledore's office, Professor McGonagall and Severus were there with the sorting hat, and basically I was re-sorted."

Severus knew Hemione didn't catch that she had said his first name, but he saw Miss Weasley looking between the two of them in a confused and suspicious manner.

"Isn't that like, against the rules or illegal or something?"

Hermione shrugged. "According to Dumbledore it had never been done before, so he had no idea it would happen."

"Why did he want that to happen?"

Hermione glanced at Severus. "I think Dumbledore was concerned for Severus' life, so basically, I was to train to be his backup spy. But in order to sell that to the Dark Lord, switching houses was best, I suppose. And I needed to be closer to Severus for training. And eventually my own protection."

Ginny's eyebrows shot higher with each use of the surly man's first name who had yet to say a word about the situation. "And why would you turn from us?" The hurt in her voice was real, as much as the distrust.

"It was Albus's idea." The professor finally intervened.

"Why?"

"Because I'm afraid the one thing Miss Granger can't do is occlude her mind very well."

Ginny noted the sharp look her friend threw at the dark man and became even more curious. "So Voldemort would see she was still friends with them, she'd be killed."

Severus nodded once, gravely.

"Was it your job to keep her safe?"

"Yes."

"Did you?"

Severus turned his head to look at Hermione, to observe her. She is mine! "With all that I had."

Ginny was taken aback by this answer, especially by his tone, something warm and longing.

"But it wasn't enough."

Ginny was waiting for the shock waves to stop coming.

"Severus?"

But they kept coming and Ginn whipped her head around to look and Hermione as she called out the man's voice. Her tone was questioning and concerned. Very concerned, as if she knew exactly what was going on in the mind underneath the long black hair.

"In the beginning, I did nothing."

Hermione knew what he meant. The bullies that came from every house, the dirty sidelong glances from professors. McGonagall's pitying stare. The days when loneliness took over her life. Hermione reached across the table and laid her hand on Severus' arm. "You were there later, when it really mattered. The Department of Mysteries. The revel."

"But when I see it now-"

"Stop, Severus."

Ginny felt that they had entirely forgotten she was there. And she could barely contain her curiosity at the conversation, the mentioned places, the way Hermione got away with demanding the acidic potions master to stop talking. She cleared her throat as the second course was magically cleared from the table and the third showed up. The pair flinched and adopted the exact same neutral facial expression. If Ginny wasn't so confused and curious, she would have laughed.

"What about Sirius? How could you do that?"

Hermione glanced at Severus and knew the truth at this point couldn't help their cause. "I had so much hate about other things, other people. I had to pretend he was someone else."

"But why?"

"Voldemort needed more proof."

Ginny just nodded. They finished their meal and sat in silence for a while. Finally, Ginny stood to leave and was followed to the door by the unusual pair. "Well, it's a lot to take in, but I think there's room for building our relationships up again."

Hermione smiled with tears forming in her eyes. Ginny hugged her loosely and shook Severus' hand, eying him as if she was trying to see straight through him.

SHSHSH

"How was it, Ginny?" Neville asked.

"It was good." She paused, chewing her lip looking around at the roomful of friends. "But there is something weird going on between the two of them.