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Snape watched as Perpetua waved the wand over his head and muttered a few chants. Red sparks flew from her wand only to dissipate like snowflakes when they touched Snape's body. After she finished muttering, she smiled and announced, "Done!"
"Am I free?" Snape asked.
"Yes. Here's your wand," Perpetua answered as she pulled out Snape's wand and returned it to him.
"Thank you," he answered as he held it in his hands. His eyes flashed in excitement when he felt its magic return to his body.
"Are you ready?" Hermione asked as she approached him.
"Yes," he answered, unable to hide his joy.
"Let's go then," she answered.
Snape followed her out of the room and into the station. From the corner of his eye, he could see Adrian's displeasure. He smirked in victory. "We're going to my hotel room first!" Hermione announced before Conway noticed the gesture.
Snape shuddered in a different kind of excitement than he'd previously been experiencing. "Really," he drawled.
Hermione gulped, and decided to look straight ahead. If she even so much as glanced at Severus, he'd notice just how aroused she was at the moment. Damn focusing too much on her career! Maybe if she'd had more fun she wouldn't be lusting after a client.
She flung open the door leading out of the station and thought, then again, fun is ultimately the reason I came to America. Shit! I need to get my head straightened out after all this is done.
"We're collecting my stuff," she began, not daring to elaborate on where they were going after her hotel room.
When she reached the stairs, she realized that she could no longer hear Severus' steps behind her. She spun around and saw him staring at the scenery in front of him. He smiled expansively and took a deep breath. "I didn't think I'd ever be out of there," he began just above a whisper.
She approached him and touched his hand. Even that gesture sent electricity up her spine, but she tried to hide it from him. "Enjoy your freedom. If anyone deserves it, it's you."
"Thank you," he choked. "Thank you so much."
"You're welcome," she whispered.
Severus gazed down at her and put her hand in his. Before he could say anything, he heard, "If I were you I'd get moving soon."
They looked up at the voice. Adrian stood over them, his expression a little less bitter than before. "Why?" Hermione asked.
"I told the media that Mr. Snape here was bein' released in half an hour. I figured y'all wouldn't want to speak with the media, though I wouldn't mind another press conference," he replied.
"Thank you," Hermione answered before turning back to look at Severus.
Adrian raised his eyebrow in confusion as he examined them. Hermione's eyes were glowing as though she were a newlywed while Snape was staring at her as though she were some kind of goddess. Neither seemed to be aware of anything around them, except the other. Adrian shrugged. Maybe they were just happy he was free, but it's possible they were a little too happy. Either way, that was for the ethics commission to figure out and deal with, not him.
"Anyway, I'd get goin' while the gettin's good, but that's just me," he replied before reentering the building.
"The sun's already starting to go down," Snape began. "We should probably collect your things before it gets too late."
"Probably," Hermione answered before sighing.
They walked to Hermione's hotel room in silence, each too deep in contemplation to speak. When they entered Hermione's room, she asked, "How did it feel to take a walk again?"
"It feels like I'm a person again," he replied with a smile.
"Those jails are dehumanizing," she began as she opened a closet.
"Speaking of prison…" Snape began as he sat on her bed.
"Yes?" she asked as she turned around.
Snape sighed and frowned for the first time since being released. "Tell me, how do you really feel about this arrangement?"
"It's wonderful! You deserve to be free!" Hermione answered.
"No," Snape replied. "Don't tell me how I should feel. Tell me how you really feel about this. You're giving up your life to baby-sit me. You're moving into my house, monitoring me when you have far better uses of your time, and you're going along with it like it's nothing. I know this isn't what you signed up for when you took my case."
"You're right," Hermione sighed as her expression became serious.
"Hermione, you are stronger than most people give you credit for. Still, you don't deserve to have another burden placed on you…"
"Severus! Do you think you're a burden?" she asked in shock.
"Don't act like I'm not," he answered.
Hermione sighed and walked over to him. She sat down beside him and answered, "Severus, you are a cherished friend. You've seen first hand what I will do for my friends."
"Yes, but they've never asked this out of you," Snape replied. "They've never asked you to put your entire life on hold just so they could be free."
"No," she sighed. "But really Severus, I can still find a way to investigate, and as for everything else I'm not missing out on much. I really wasn't looking forward to spending another day alone eating pizza and reading some book I'd already read ten times. No, I'd rather be with you."
He gave a little smile and held her hand again. "I'd rather be with you too." Then, his expression became serious. "Still, if this becomes too great of a burden and you can't take it anymore, I'll turn myself in and give you your life back."
"Severus," she whispered before smirking. "I'd be more afraid of you being able to tolerate me and my questions."
He chuckled. "I think you'd be surprised how many questions you can ask before I'd reach my breaking point."
She laughed, causing a strand of hair to fall onto her face. Severus noticed it and brushed it back into place. Hermione stopped laughing, surprised by his touch. "You had…" he began.
"I know," she whispered.
They stared at each other for a few moments, willing the other to make a move. Finally, Hermione cracked. "It's dark out, and I could really use some help getting my things packed."
"Sure. Is there any certain way you'd like your things packed?" Snape asked.
"No, just shrink and throw my clothes in the brown suitcase and my other things in the green one. I know some ironing spells to straighten them out," she answered.
"Okay," he answered.
They stood up together and set to work. Hermione asked, "What kinds of potions are, or were, you working on?"
"Well," he began both shocked and pleased she cared, "I've begun a new batch of Wolfsbane, though I'll have to restart since I didn't add the moonlight in time…"
She listened, enjoying the sound of his voice.
Listening to his voice every day wouldn't be burdensome at all.
