A/N: Sorry for the delay...Classes started back up this week so updates may slow down a bit. I also just got a new puppy so that is keeping me busy as well...Please enjoy and review.

Chapter 38: Reunited

Hermione gasped in pain as Ron laid her on a small bed in the spare room of Shell Cottage. Remus forced everyone out of the room so they would not distract him.

"How you doing?" he asked the crying girl.

"Horribly..." She tried to smile, but it ended up being a grimace.

"I''ll set you straight...no worries."

Severus, still disillusioned, stood on the opposite side of the bed. Watching Remus carefully, he leant down and grasped Hermione's hand. "It's me. Don't say anything about me being here."

Hermione had jumped, but Remus was too focused to notice. She nodded and moved her head towards him as Remus studied the wounds littering her arm. "I love you," she barely whispered.

"I love you too..." he replied, just as quietly.

"Hermione...I'm afraid these were made with a dagger containing large amount of dark magic. The bleeding has stopped, and the pain will as well...but the mark will never vanish."

Hermione bit her lip but nodded.

"I...umm..." Remus stumbled over his words, flushing a bit. "I need to remove your pants...to take care of the leg wound."

Hermione nodded. "Of course."

Severus watched the man fumble as he unbuttoned her pants and drew down the zipper. He slid them off, Hermione growling in pain as he did so. The wound was deep but not life threatening. Remus cleared the blood before doing his best with the wound. It, too, was made with the dagger.

Remus gently tilted Hermione's head back, dabbing at the small amount of blood with a wash towel. Once this was done, the man gave her a few pain reducing potions. "You should probably sleep."

Hermione nodded. "Could you ask everyone to give me some privacy?"

Remus smiled and nodded. "Of course...but tell Severus that he'd better be careful not to run into one of the boys."

"What?" Hermione tried to act oblivious.

"He's standing next to you...I could smell him from the moment I entered the room...skills you inherit when you become a werewolf. I still trust him...unlike most. Severus...be careful with her, please."

Severus appeared and shook his head, unable to keep a smirk off his face. "Impressive, I must admit, Wolf."

"Why thank you. I trust you can take care of her for the evening..."

Severus nodded. "Of course."

Remus sighed and left the room.

Hermione sat up with a wince and pulled him in, kissing him deeply. "Why are you here?" she asked quietly.

"I love you...I had to make sure you were okay."

Hermione bit her lip and looked down.

"You're angry with me." It was a statement, not a question.

"No, Severus...I understand why you couldn't do anything."

"I'm so sorry..."

She kissed him. "Don't apologize."

Severus sighed and laid down, pulling her into his arms. "Try to sleep..."

"I don't want to sleep..." She turned in his arms to face him. "I've not seen you in so long."

"Hermione...you're injured," he reminded her. "You need to sleep."

"I need you..."

"No...you've only just been healed."

Tears came to her eyes. "Please, Severus...don't you love me still?"

"Are you daft?" He asked, his voice dangerous. "I will always love you."

"Then why will you not make love to me?" she asked.

"Because I will not use Ronald Weasley's left overs!" He was frustrated. It had come out completely wrong, and he regretted every word as they left his mouth.

Hermione sat up, hurt on her face. "His l-left overs? Is that what I am to you? Left overs? A piece of meat, perhaps?" She pushed the covers back and stood, ignoring the spinning in her head. "How did you even find out?"

"About your secret fling?" he growled, getting out of bed as well. "Phineas Nigellus."

"He told yo-"

"I'm begging to wonder if Bellatrix was right..."

Hermione flinched at the statement. "About what, Severus? About me being a worthless Mudblood? Or maybe about the fact that...I don't deserve to be alive because I am such scum? Or both, perhaps?"

"About you going around and fucking both Potter and Weasley on this little camping trip you three are having while your so-called 'friends' are at Hogwarts suffering under the hands of the Carrows..."

"So I'm a whore now, am I?" she asked, tears swimming in her brown eyes.

"That's not what I said..."

"But that's what you insinuated."

"Hermione, I never meant-"

"Get out."

"Hermione..."

"Leave, Severus. Now!"

The man stepped towards her. "You're being irrational."

"You called me a whore, Severus!"

"I didn't mean-"

"But you said it! Whether you meant it or not...you said it." She bit back a sob. "You want to know the truth?"

"Enlighten me..."

"I let Ron fuck me because I wanted to make you jealous. I wanted to make you admit that you still loved me. I laid under him and pretended I enjoyed it. But it felt like Viktor all over again. It hurt, and I felt helpless...I tried to enjoy it, but I couldn't."

Severus felt guilt constrict his chest painfully. "Hermi-"

"I'm not finished! I sat outside for hours afterwards and sobbed because I felt like I had betrayed you. I felt so guilty."

"Why Wesley, though?"

"It's not like I had many options..." Hermione bit her lip and sighed, sitting on the edge of the bed. "I'm so...so sorry..."

Severus shook his head and sat, pulling her into his arms again. "No. I'm the one who needs to apologize. I was completely out of line," he said, kissing her gently.

Hermione smiled weakly and laid down, pulling him onto the bed with her. "I missed you so much."

"And I, you..." Severus sighed. "I'm going to have to leave to go back to Hogwarts early."

"I figured. Wake me before you go?"

Severus smiled and nodded before she laid on his chest, yawning.

"Good night, Hermione. I love you."

"I love you too..." she said before allowing herself to drift to sleep.

Hermione awoke the next morning and frowned, feeling the bed empty. He hadn't said goodbye before leaving.

Turning over, her eyes went wide. The Sword of Gryffindor was sitting in the arm chair. He must have grabbed it at some point while they were in Malfoy Manor. There was a note sitting on her bedside table as well.

Hermione,

I couldn't bear to wake you...you were sleeping so soundly. I would appreciate it if you didn't tell anyone of how you managed to get the sword back. I will stop back in this evening.

I apologize, once more, for my horrid words.

I love you,

Severus.

Hermione smiled and bit her lip before dressing and heading downstairs for breakfast.

A/N: Review please.