So this chapter has feedback for Lucius, and stress relief for Severus, smut alert.

My reviewers have been brilliant, thanks so much. Lots of hugs to all you readers out there. You're why I do this.—Neminiwrites.

Chapter 7

The portrait and article were published the following week. It was a hideous thing to look at when opening the paper for the first time. Unlike the painting, The Quibbler had animated the face of Voldemort again, as it still is on Lucius' back. Luna had published it so that the article could be read without having to see the picture. In that way one could read and understand why such a thing needed to be published.

The response was not unexpected. It fell on two clear sides. One side could not bring themselves to grant the compassion that was requested, and cruelly condemned all Death Eaters to their fate. The other side understood the need for kindness and yes, even some forgiveness, so that all of the wizarding world could move forward with a clean conscience. For both sides had killed in the name of a cause and all needed salvation.

When Lucius received the first positive letters from Luna he was anxious to share them with Severus. They lifted his spirit and restored his pride. Gave him back his right to be part of humanity. The shame and fear was removed from his soul. He wrote to Narcissa and asked her to come home. They had a lot to talk about and he needed her at his side. She wrote back to say she was on her way.

oopOqoo

Severus was bent over his cauldron counting the number of times he was stirring. This was the ninth time he had attempted to create the potion that would free Lucius from his unholy mark. He added the last ingredient and waited precisely twenty-three seconds before cooling it instantly. A dangerous proposition as hot and cold did not tend to get along. He knew he was courting a disastrous explosion, but it was the only way to make three of the ingredients interact.

He stood as far back as he could and cast the freezing charm. The cauldron spun in a circle before it launched into the air. A quick Arresto Momentum kept it from shattering to pieces on the floor as others had done. He would have to wait now for it to thaw before he could judge the contents.

The ingredients were expensive and rare. Draco had already used his contacts to get Severus anything he needed, including extra cauldrons and stir sticks of all kinds. Nothing had worked so far, but he was determined to figure it out.

Hermione called him in to lunch from the back door of the house. His lab was located in an outbuilding on the property for safety and nuisance reasons. The smell and fumes of some of his ingredients and potions could peal paint off the walls. He had even charmed it so it would not bother the neighbors.

They sat together quietly at lunch. He had gone over the formula again and again. The ingredients should work. There was something missing or not done correctly. As he pushed his potatoes around on the plate Hermione knew he needed a break. He needed to get away from what was quickly becoming an obsession.

"Severus. It's a beautiful day. Let's go out and have some fun. How about a ride out of the city. We'll go to that famers market you love so much. Maybe we can get in a picnic or a walk down the woodland trails next to the lake." She was getting no response and had to up her game. Hermione began to stroke his leg under the table. He stopped pushing his potatoes to look in his lap.

Looking up at her, she caught his grin and glint in his eyes. "I beg your pardon are you trying to seduce me? Because it's totally working." Her hand strayed a little farther up as her fingernail played with the zipper on his pants, sending vibrations to places that knew what she wanted.

"Did you hear a word I said?" His cheeks reddened slightly. "I said we need to get away from the house for a little while. What do you say?" He hesitated and rested his head on his hand. "Come on. You know it will be several hours before this batch warms up. Let's go to the lake and have a picnic. Please."

Severus could never deny Hermione anything she wanted. Besides, she was right it would take several hours for the potion. "Okay, but I don't want to drive there. Let's apparate to the rocks in that field outside of town. We'll get some fruit and cheese and go to the lake."

Hermione almost squealed in delight. She had a hamper with plates and utensils, a bottle of wine and glasses, and a couple of cozy blankets to lay on or wrap in if it got cold. They had been to that farmers market many times. Severus loved the place almost as much as a potions lab. You could snack on samples of everything from cheese, and bread, to raw honey and homemade butter. Every fruit on the planet seemed to be there, all with a nice lady who would cut one open for you to taste. They even had a wine and beer booth that was a gloryus topper to the end of your grazing.

Hermione filled the hamper up with wonderful things and they walked to the lake. It was a perfect day, warm and sunny. The air was fresh and smelled of honeysuckle. They found their secret place at the lake and sat down on a blanket to take it all in. Severus quickly added several wards to be sure they would not be seen or disturbed.

The place worked just like a tonic. The beautiful calm lake had yellow and white lilies in the shallows and a pair of swans sailed past. Old willows swayed on its shoreline. Bird song and dragonflies buzzed around them making it impossible for Hermione to stay awake. Severus was able to relax, and soon sweet and romantic notions filled his head. He looked at Hermione laying on the blanket napping. She was so beautiful. Lucius had said he was lucky. Severus didn't consider it luck. He felt he had been given the most precious thing on the planet to call his own. No, luck could never give him someone like Hermione. More like a gift from the gods he would hold and treasure until the last breath left his body.

He leaned over and nuzzled her ear. Taking the lobe in his mouth to gently nip and suck on it. She moaned in her sleep, taking a deep breath that made her breasts rise and fall enticingly. Severus continued to nuzzle her neck and then moved lower. He unbuttoned her blouse and placed gentle kisses on her chest. Hermione was awake but pretended sleep so that he would continue. He did. Cupping her breast in her bra he could feel the nipple stir to life in his hand. The warm globe, soft and delicious. He had to taste it, but he wanted skin not cloth. A wave of his hand and her brazier was gone. Magic could be so helpful. Hermione was grinning by now, but still didn't move. She wanted to know just how far he was willing to go without permission.

She didn't fool him for a second. He was well aware from her rapid breathing that she was awake and enjoying herself. As there was no objection he continued to take advantage. Soon his hand was down her flat belly unzipping her pants and finding the warm moist flesh beneath her panties. She couldn't stifle a moan as his teeth grazed her nipple and his fingers did wicked things. Severus crushed his lips to hers as his hand ravished her body. "Are you still my sleeping beauty? Aren't you supposed to awaken with a kiss?"

"Shhhh, if you wake me up and then I'll have to object to you removing my clothing in public. You wouldn't want that, would you?" Hermione knew they were not visible due to his wards. She could do a strip tease and scream her lungs out and still no one would hear.

His chuckle was molten as his voice in her ear went a mesmerizing octave lower. "And what if I do? What if I want to show the whole world what you look like, what you sound like, when you reach a climax? It's beautiful, just like a sunrise, just like a symphony. His fingers were inside her urging her on to completion. With her eyes closed she hadn't noticed that he had removed all of their clothing. His voice, his lips, his hands, all that sensation at once made the inevitable happen. She blossomed like a rose under him as he took his own pleasure in her. His sounds of ecstasy mingling with hers. They were one, now and forever.

Severus was on his back dozing after their encounter. Hermione's warmth pressed against him. He looked up to see the clouds floating by. As a kid he would see patterns and animals in them on the few occasions he was allowed to dream. The clouds had patterns and flowers in them now. One seemed to be darker than the others. It swirled in the bright blue of the sky. When it finally came to a shape he saw that it looked like a flower. The potions master in him needed to identify it. The list of flowers passed through his mind until it stopped at yarrow.

Severus' eyes grew wide, Yarrow. Used for centuries for skin aliments. Could it really be as simple as that? Adding a strong infusion of yarrow to the potion after it warmed. He wanted another opinion. "Hermione my love, wake up." He shook her until she groaned.