Insufferable Attraction

SeverusxHermione

Rated NC-17

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or its characters from the franchise. That honor belongs to JK Rowling

Insufferable Attraction

Chapter 35

Kingsley sighed as he locked up his office, happy to finally be going home after a long day. Being the Minister of Magic was a tiring job, but he couldn't say he didn't enjoy it; he preferred being an Auror, though. He walked down the corridor, heading to the Ministry Atrium to enter one of its many Floo Networks. However, before he could, a loud blaring alarm was heard, followed by a voice saying through the intercom speakers, "Unforgivable Curse detected! Unforgivable Curse detected!"

"Damn it!" Kingsley hissed before turning and hurrying towards the Auror Office, knowing his Aurors worked late hours and some were bound to be there still. Reaching the office, he entered and ran to the nearest Auror, her busy pinpointing the location of where the Unforgivable Curse had been used. Looking at her work, he asked, "What do you have?"

"I'm still locating the location, sir," she replied.

Another Auror looked at the Minister and spoke saying, "I've been able to figure out which Unforgivable the wand signature used, though I am still trying to figure out who's signature it is at the moment."

"Which one is it?"

"It is two, Minister: the Cruciatus and the Killing Curse."

The Auror that had been pinpointing the location, she said, "Chelsea is where it is coming from, sir."

Kingsley nodded. "Alright, let's get going. I doubt the perpetrator is still there, but let's see what we can find."

The Aurors available nodded and followed Kingsley out of the Auror Office, happy to follow their Head Auror. Though he was Minister now, he still retained his title as Head Auror. They followed him outside to the Apparation point and Disapparated from their location to Chelsea. Once their feet hit the ground, the Auror that had found the location waved her wand, casting a spell that would take them to the exact point where the Unforgivables were used. Finally reaching it, Kingsley and his Aurors were shocked and horrified by what they had found.

Lying dead on the ground was a young Muggle man, obviously the victim of the Killing Curse, and possibly the Cruciatus as well. And hanging by her hands from the tree was a young Muggle girl, her body covered in lacerations and clothes stained with her blood. If that wasn't bad enough, Kingsley found himself to be completely distressed by the resemblance of the pair to a certain couple. The girl, she looked like Hermione; the boy, he looked like Severus. And the magic still lingering in the air gave way for him to sense the lingering wand signature. Even though he recognized it, he would have known who had committed such a senseless, heinous crime against these Muggles simply based on who they looked like.

Closing his eyes briefly, he opened them and looked at his Aurors saying, "These Muggles are the victims of Ronald Bilius Weasley. His wand signature is still lingering, and I know it to belong to him. I am now declaring an all-out manhunt for him. Have him found and brought to the Ministry to pay for the crimes he's committed against not only these Muggles, but for his attack on Lord and Lady Prince. And find out who these Muggles; their families deserve to know they've lost loved ones."

The Aurors nodded and began getting to work, taking pictures and surveying the scene, some of them immediately heading towards the nearby town to find out more about the Muggles. Kingsley looked back at the deceased pair, him thinking that this was probably a warning from Ron towards Severus and Hermione. He and his men needed to find the redhead fast before he did anything else atrocious like this.

The next morning, Hermione was snuggling contentedly into her husband, still sleeping with her head lying on his chest. Severus's arm was wrapped around her, holding her close as he too slept. However, they were woken up by a persistent pecking and hooting—damn near screeching—of an owl at their bedroom window. Groaning, Severus turned his head to the window, glaring at the bird that seemed to be glaring back at him. Hermione opened up her eyes and lifted her head a bit, also looking out the window towards the owl. Annoyed at having been woken up, he laid back down and pulled his wife back close to him before calling out, "Inka or Pimmy."

A pop sounded and Pimmy's squeaky voice said, "Inka busy, Master Severus. Pimmy here to assist."

"Please see what that bloody bird wants."

Pimmy bowed and opened the bedroom window, the owl flying in and dropping a letter at the foot of the couple's bed before circling the room and flying back out of the window. Closing the window, Pimmy went to the bed and picked up the letter, looking at it before saying, "A letter for Master and Mistress from Minister, Master Severus."

Hermione, having woken up now, sat up a bit and said, "Let me see it, please. Thank you, Pimmy."

Pimmy handed the letter to her Mistress and bowed low before popping away. Opening the letter, Hermione read over what Kingsley had written, her brows furrowing not only how short the letter was, but the sense of urgency she had gotten from his words. Noticing his wife's expression, Severus asked, "What is it?"

"Kingsley has summoned us to his office. He wrote it was imperative we get there as soon as possible."

Severus sighed before nodding, getting out of bed, and heading to the adjoining bathroom to start getting ready for the day. Hermione did the same and twenty minutes later, they were dressed and ready to head to the Ministry of Magic. Five minutes later, they had Apparated outside of the Ministry and walked into it, heading straight for the Minister's Office.

Knocking on the door, the two of them waited to be allowed entrance before hearing Kingsley's deep voice saying, "Enter."

They stepped inside the office, surprise on Hermione's face at seeing not only Kingsley present, but Harry as well. However, the grave and troubled expressions on their faces made her uneasy. Looking between the two, she asked, "What's going on? Why have we been summoned?"

The Minister sighed and spoke saying, "Severus, Hermione, I've called you here to inform you of something rather horrific that occurred last night."

"And that is?" Severus asked.

"Two Muggles were killed last night, and they were killed using magic. A male named Erick Thompson and female named Claire Woods were the victims, the male being killed by way of the Killing Curse and tortured by use of the Cruciatus Curse, and the female physically assaulted before dying by way of multiple lacerations to the body and blood loss." He then handed over some pictures that his Aurors had taken, the brunette taking them from him. "We've found out that they were a young, teenage couple, having been dating for only four months. Just so you know, they aren't pretty."

Hermione and Severus looked at the pictures in the witch's hand, Hermione gasping as she looked at them. Oh, this was so horrible, such gruesome pictures. She was appalled by the pictures and what had been done to these poor Muggles, but what wasn't lost on her was the fact that the female resembled her, and the young man resembled her husband. It was appalling, and even more so the fact her mind supplied that Ron had done this.

As if reading her mind, Harry spoke up saying in a grave voice, "Hermione, Ron was the one who did this; he killed those Muggles."

"It is clear to see that Ron has some sort of vendetta against the two of you, and I believe he killed these Muggles as an indication of what he plans on doing to you should he capture you," Kingsley said as he looked at the Snapes. "Still, upon his eventual capture, Ron will undergo a psych evaluation and then be sentenced to Azkaban."

Severus glared at the other man saying, "Being sentenced to Azkaban is too light a sentence. Him being Kissed would be more justice than that."

"I think that might be too harsh."

"What you've suggested is too lenient."

Harry cleared his throat to take over the conversation. "The Daily Prophet has been alerted to the murders, as well as the knowledge that Ron committed the acts. However, we are keeping them from printing the resemblance of Claire and Erick to you two as a precaution to keep you both safe while trying to capture Ron. I will also be joining in trying to catch Ron-"

"Harry, that's dangerous!" Hermione interjected.

"Yes, but I feel I should be a part of trying to find him. He's hurt you and killed two Muggles. I'm thinking that he'll possibly listen to me should I find him. Anyway, Kingsley and I have both agreed on that, as well as agreed that both you and Snape stay home for the time being until Ron is caught."

Severus bristled at that, his face hardening before saying forcibly, "Absolutely not."

Kingsley sighed, having expected this reaction. "Severus…"

"No, I refuse to do that. Hermione and I are going on our honeymoon in a week, and we won't hide like cowards because Weasley has lost his marbles."

"It isn't cowardice to stay safe and take precaution, sir. Ron is clearly unstable and out to get you both," Harry told him, trying to appeal to reason.

Severus, still not agreeing, said, "I've already said it once. I'm not hiding in my home and I don't need protection from the likes of a Weasley. And like I've told you before Shacklebolt, I will kill that boy myself should I ever get my hands on him."

Hermione gasped at her husband's words, Harry looking just a shocked while Kingsley had a grim, weary expression on his face. Severus looked down at his wife and said firmly, "We're not hiding because of that brat. I refuse to put our lives on hold because of this, and that is final."

Not saying anything else, Severus strode from the room, leaving the three of them behind. As soon as he was gone, Harry huffed and said, "That bastard is so stubborn!"

"Harry," Hermione admonished. Looking at both him and Kingsley, she said, "I'll talk to him. I understand the severity of this situation and understand that you want to keep up safe. But he's right, we can't put our lives on hold for this. Still, I'll talk to him about it and get him to agree somewhat."

"Thank you, Hermione," Kingsley said gratefully. "Though, I don't think it best you two go on your honeymoon right now."

"I didn't even know you two had planned one," Harry said.

Blushing, the brunette said, "He did and surprised me with it. But we can always go later. Excuse me, please."

Hermione left the Minister's Office and walked down the corridor, looking for her husband and where he might have gone. She looked around before noticing a sign that pointed in the direction of the Ministry Potions Laboratory. Having a feeling he might have gone that way, she headed in that direction, saying 'hello' to those she passed that greeted her. Rounding a corner just near the laboratory, she found her husband leaning against the wall, his facial expression not betraying the emotions he was feeling; she knew he was still frustrated, though.

Stepping up to him, she said, "Severus."

Looking at her, Severus said, "I refuse to go into hiding, Hermione. I refuse to do that because Weasley wants us dead and has killed two random Muggles like some sort of warning. I am no coward and will face him myself before it is all over with."

"I know you're not, but Harry is right that it isn't cowardice to be careful. You're right, we can't put our lives on hold because of Ron, but that doesn't mean we can't take precaution. And you will do no such thing in going against him. I don't want you getting hurt or worse."

"Hermione, he's already hurt and nearly killed you. I'm not going to let that happen again."

"Severus, I'm fine."

"But that isn't the point! The point is he's already done it once, and who's to say he won't do it again. He attacked defenseless Muggles that look like us because he wants us dead. I won't stand for it; Weasley is a dead man and will die by my hands."

"Oh my gosh, Severus! Stop being so stubborn and at least just consider not doing that and letting Kingsley and the Aurors handle it! Be reasonable about this!"

"I am being reasonable!"

"No, you're being irrational!"

Hermione took a deep breath, calming herself to not raise her voice again. Once she felt calm again, she looked up into her husband's black eyes pleadingly. "Severus, please be reasonable about this. It isn't ideal, but it doesn't change the fact that we are targets. We don't have to stay hidden at home all the time—I don't really want to get cabin fever—but we'll be on guard should we need to leave. And as for our honeymoon, we can just postpone it. In fact, I implore that we postpone it until things have simmered down."

Severus clenched his jaw, his teeth beginning to grind in his frustration about the whole things. Taking his hand in hers, Hermione gave it a squeeze and said softly, "Please."

He looked into her brown eyes for a moment before sighing, his shoulders sagging a bit as he said, "Fine. I'm still reluctant about it, but I'll acquiesce."

Smiling, Hermione wrapped her arms around Severus and hugged him, standing on her toes to kiss him. Pulling away, she said reassuringly, "Things will be alright, you'll see. And like I said before, we'll be on our guard when we venture out from our home."

Nodding, Severus gave her another kiss before saying, "Alright then."

"I love you," Hermione said giving him a sweet smile.

Not being able to keep a smile off his face, he replied, "I love you, too. Well, since we're already here, we might as well go cancel our scheduled Portkey to Fiji."

"We'll go later and have a proper honeymoon then."

Taking her hand in his, Severus gave it a kiss before the two of them walked hand in hand to the Foreign Affairs and Sports Department, prepared to cancel the Portkey to their honeymoon destination. It was terrible that they had to, but considering the circumstances, it was safer that way.

Time seemed to pass by since that day in Kingsley's office. There was still no sign of Ron, and he still had yet to be captured. Even though Aurors were getting clues as to where he might be, nothing turned up. Like they had agreed to, Severus and Hermione were on their toes whenever they left Prince Manor and its protective wards. As for Claire and Erick, their funerals were held a few days after their bodies were found, and Severus and Hermione attended to pay their respects to them and their families. Even though Thompson and Woods had no idea who they were, they were glad that they were there to attend their child's funeral. As for Claire's mother, she had cried and hugged Hermione, telling her she looked just like her little angel. Hermione had in turn cried with her, as she could only imagine how her own mother would have felt if it had been her.

A month had passed by since then, and in that time, Severus's remodified Fertility Potion was in its final stage of brewing, still simmering away. And a week later, it was finally ready. Standing over the potion, Severus looked at its rainbow colors before taking a phial and pouring some of it into the container. Corking it, he held it up to look at, studying it before nodding to himself, deeming it ready. Leaving his lab, he walked through Prince Manor and outside to the gardens where he knew his wife was busy keeping some of the flowers. Seeing her bent near a bed of tulips with her curly hair in a messy bun, he walked over to her, clearing his throat to get her attention.

Hermione looked up from the tulips, seeing her husband next to her. Sitting up, she greeted, "Hi."

Holding out the phial to her, Severus said, "It is finished."

Brown eyes widened in shock and Hermione quickly stood up. Taking the phial, she looked at the colorful potion asking, "It's ready?"

"Yes, it is. Though, I'd suggest waiting twenty-four hours for it to take full effect."

Nodding, Hermione uncorked the phial and was prepared to drink it, only for Severus's large pale hand to place itself on top of hers. Seeing him looking intently at her, she waited for him to speak.

"You don't have to take it, Hermione," he told her. "After all, we'll still stay married regardless of whether we have children or not. I don't want you to feel pressured into taking it because the B.R.A. says so or because you think I want you to."

The brunette thought it sweet that Severus wasn't pressuring her into the taking the potion, letting her know he'd always be by her side regardless of anything. However, she also knew that she did want to have children one day, wanted to have Severus's children, and start a family with him. She realized that upon finding out the damage her womb had taken from being cursed, and it was still something she wanted now.

Pressing her hand against his cheek, she smiled up at him lovingly before pressing the phial to her lips, turning it upward and drinking the remodified Fertility Potion.