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 40

Severus sighed softly in relief, glad to finally be leaving that blasted meeting with the Bloodline Restoration Act. The meeting, which took an unnecessary three hours, was about how the B.R.A. may or may not be dissolved after the birth of the final heir of the act (Heir Lestrange). There was also mention of possibly finding other bloodlines to participate if they were to keep the act in place—if there were any families left. Severus didn't care either way, so long as they left him and his family the hell alone. Rabastan though, as well as Potter, both stated that they didn't think it fair the Ministry put other families through so much invasion of their privacies, as well as stating that if a family dies out (like the Blacks), then it dies out with no interference from others.

Leaving the Ministry of Magic with Potter and Rabastan, Severus said, "That took longer than it should have."

"I know," Rabastan replied. "I could really go for a drink right now."

"Agreed," Potter said, Severus nodded in agreement.

The three wizards walked down the street and out into the Muggle World, going to a nearby Muggle pub and sitting inside at a small booth. A waitress stopped by and took their orders, all three of them ordering a good ale to drink. She came back a short time later with their steins, and they all took a swig of the bitter liquid. Once they had a few good swigs, Potter put his stein down and said, "I had hoped that now with Hermione and Luna pregnant, and coming to the end of the fulfillment of this act, that there wouldn't be any more meetups with the B.R.A."

Severus hummed and said, "You would think, but they'll find a way or reason to keep calling and pissing us off."

Rabastan chuckled before asking, "So how are Hermione and Daphne doing these days? How is Hermione doing with her pregnancy? And what of you and Daphne with Finley, Potter?"

"Daphne and I are doing great," Potter answered with a smile. "Daphne has taken well to motherhood, and I to fatherhood. It is challenging, I will admit, but I wouldn't trade it for the world."

"Seveus?"

"Hermione is doing well being pregnant," Severus answered, a barely there, infinitesimal smile on his face; he wouldn't dare smile for real in front of them. "She's already glowing with her pregnancy, and I will admit, I am looking forward to fatherhood."

Potter smiled at his former professor's words, easily seeing behind his usual stoic mask how much the man loved his best friend. He was glad he was finally happy and hoped he and Hermione would have a long, happy life together. Turning to Rabastan, he asked, "What about Luna? How has she been?"

Rabastan smiled and answered, "Wonderful, as always. She still insists we are having twins, and I have no reason to not believe her, as I am a twin myself. She thinks they will be either a boy or girls, or two boys."

"What? Not two girls?"

"Lestranges always have boys first in all pregnancies, twins or otherwise."

Severus smirked in amusement as he took another sip of his ale, only to slam the stein back down with a hiss. He felt his ring finger tingling and burning once again along the ring imprint. Looking down at it, he once again saw the same runes he had seen the first time it had happened. He didn't have to think about it again like he did the last time. The message was clear to him once again: his wife was in danger again. But how? And why? What in Merlin's name did Hermione get herself into again? She was supposed to be at home.

Right when he was about to stand and excuse himself, Luna Lovegood suddenly walked through the doors of the pub and over to their table, the swell of her pregnant stomach already being seen. Luna greeted her husband and friend briefly before focusing solely on Severus. Seeing the grave expression on her face and the worry in her eyes, Severus asked, "What is it?"

"The Sprites of Foreboding," Luna said. "They told me to warn you about Hermione. They said your wife is meeting a dangerous friend after receiving a summoning."

Alarmed by the witch's words, Severus quickly stood and left the pub. Ms. Lovegood may speak cryptically, but what she said wasn't hard to figure out. Quickly finding an empty alley, Severus slipped into it and Disapparated to Prince Manor. Entering his home, he practically ran through it, calling his wife's name. He even asked the House Elves, but none of them knew where their Mistress had gone. Going to her office, he looked inside to once again, not find her present. There was no use in continuing to search the manor; Hermione was gone. Just as he was about to leave the office, he spotted a piece of parchment on her desk. Walking over to it, he saw that the parchment was a letter, and recognizing the horrendous scrawl, he knew it was from the Weasley boy. Picking it up, he quickly read it before a furious snarl escaped his mouth.

Damn Weasley! He was so furious with Weasley for kidnapping the Grangers, as well as making Hermione go to him to rescue them. He was also furious with his wife for going on her own without telling anyone beforehand, regardless of the implied threat. Not only that, but he was furious with her for putting not only herself, but their unborn baby in danger.

Stalking out of the office, Severus left the manor and its wards, using the ring mark to Disapparate to his wife's location like he had the last time, but not before sending off his Patronus to Shacklebolt. Though he was sure he could handle this situation on his own—and he planned to—he had a feeling there would possibly be a need for reinforcements.

Hermione Apparated in front of her parents' home, her feet hitting the ground with a crack. She looked around the surrounding area before looking back at the house. It was too quiet to her, and the air around the house was still. Pulling her wand out of her pocket, she held it tightly in her grip before taking a deep breath. Letting it out, she walked up to the front door and cautiously entered it, her wand at the ready.

Looking around, she slowly walked from the front door and into the living room, searching in there, as well as in the kitchen and dining room. Finding no one in any of those rooms, she called out softly, "Mum? Dad?"

There was no sound or answer to her call, and she concluded that the ground floor was completely empty. That left only one other floor to look: upstairs. Casting a Silencing Charm on the stairs to keep her footsteps quiet, she climbed the stairs to the upper floor and walked down the hallway, peering into the rooms up there. She found no one in her parents' bedroom, their home office, the bathroom, or the guest room that she and Severus spent a night in during their stay in Australia with the Grangers. Looking to the closed door next to that room, she knew that was the last room to look in. It was an unused bedroom that her dad planned on converting into another home office or miniature library at some point. But for the time being, it sat empty; that didn't mean it was empty now. Opening the door, she gasped at the sight of her parents against the opposite wall, bound and gagged.

Hurrying over to them, she set to untying their restraints saying, "Don't worry, I'll get you out of here."

Jean looked at her daughter as she helped her get free before her eyes darted several times towards where the room's closet was. Knowing what her mother was trying to tell her, Hermione gave a subtle nod as she took out her mother's gag. She then began to help her father get free before telling them to leave. Her father began to protest, but she insisted that they go. Jean nodded, telling their only child to be careful before she and her husband made a hasty retreat out of the room. Once they were gone, Hermione waved her wand at the closet door, forcing the door open to reveal…nothing. There was nothing inside the closet, but Hermione knew better. She made to leave, but quickly pointed her wand in the closet shouting, "Stupefy!"

The Stunning Spell flew into the closet, slamming into the Disillusioned Ron hiding inside. Ron let out a grunt and cry as he slammed back into the closet, the Disillusionment Charm cancelling itself at her attack. Recovering from the attack, Ron began throwing spells and curses at the brunette, Hermione trading spells back as she began to duel the redhead. Taking himself out of the closet and into the openness of the empty room, Ron continued to throw spells at Hermione, Hermione blocking all of them. Sending three spells back to back at him, Hermione asked, "How dare you kidnap my parents? How dare you hold them hostage? What is wrong with you?!"

"It didn't have to be this way, Hermione!" Ron shouted over the sound of spells being cast, many of them hitting the walls and destroying the drywall or charring the floor. "If you had just chosen me, this wouldn't have happened! I wouldn't have killed those Muggles! This is your fault! It should have been me you married! Not Snape, me!"

"You're crazy! Our time is gone and has been gone! I love Severus now, and always will! My future is with him, and you won't be a part of it! Get over it, Ronald!"

The redhaired wizard snarled and began throwing more spells at her, Hermione blocking them left and right. Needing to put more space between them, Hermione threw the Blasting Curse at him, Ron dodging it as it exploded the wall, her quickly running out into the hallway. Their battle continued, destroying the hallway and upstairs altogether. Hermione threw another spell at Ron, him blocking it and throwing his own at her. At the moment tried to throw up a shield, her magic stuttered and she could not. Gasping, the spell hit her, and she was knocked down the stairs. Somehow, the brunette was able to cast a shield around her pregnant stomach to protect her baby as she rolled down the stairs. She screamed in pain as she felt her leg break, the snapping sound reaching her ears. As soon as she hit the bottom floor, her mother rushed to her side shouting, "Hermione!"

Hermione looked up at her mother before looking around for her father, only to find him nowhere. Frowning, she asked, "Mum, what are you still doing here? Where's dad? Why aren't you with him?"

Before Jean could answer, Ron cleared his throat from where he stood halfway down the stairs. Looking at the Granger women with crazed, blue eyes, he focused on the youngest saying, "You know what, Hermione? If I can't have you, no one can."

Lifting his wand, he pointed it at Hermione and Jean, his hand going through familiar wand movements, one that Hermione knew only meant death. Gasping in horror, she screamed, "No!"

"Avada Kedavra!"

As the green light traveled at them, the sound of Apparation was heard, followed by the Killing Curse being deflected and crashing into the dining room table. Looking up, Hermione saw her husband standing in front of her and her mother, his black robes billowing around him. relieved to see him, she said, "Severus."

Not even looking at his wife, black eyes trained on the young Weasley male that looked furious with his arrival, Severus told her, "I'll scold you for your reckless actions later."

Still looking at Ron, Severus said, "Jean, take Hermione and get her to safety."

Jean nodded and helped her daughter to stand, intent on doing what her son-in-law said, only for Hermione to firmly stand her ground saying, "No Severus, I'm going to help you."

"Hermione, I insist that you don't. You've done enough, I'll handle it from here."

"But Severus-" Hermione started again, only for her mother to drag her away, her hobbling with her due to her broken leg.

The moment they were gone, Severus glared hatefully at the redhead saying, "I'm going to enjoy killing you."

Ron snarled and retorted, "I'd like to see you try, you slimy Death Eater. And when I kill you, Hermione will be mine!"

He threw a curse at Severus, Severus easily blocking it as the two of them began trading curses. Each curse used got Darker and Darker, becoming more and more lethal. Ron, decided to take the fight back upstairs, turning and heading back where he came, Severus going after him. He did this on purpose, wanting to make dodging more complicated with limited moving room. He threw another curse at Severus, only for the Potions Master to block it once again. Before he could cast another one at the man, he was hit with the Stunning Spell once again, only Severus didn't cast it.

Turning around, Severus saw his wife upstairs with him, her wand pointed towards where Ron was, though she was leaning against the wall. She had somehow made he way back up the stairs to help but was obviously in pain from her broken leg. Looking exasperatedly at her, he said, "I thought I told you to let me handle this."

"I want to help," Hermione said, a grimace of pain on her face as she shifted on her broken leg.

"Merlin, you are insufferable!" Severus told her before turning back to the redhaired wizard that had stood back up.

Not giving him a chance, Severus began firing offensive spells and curses at him, not giving the redhead a chance to properly defend himself. Ron was losing, and Severus had the upper hand. He needed to distract the older wizard long enough to best him, but how? Throwing up a shield to block the next curse, he ducked into Hermione's parents' bedroom, Severus following him. Looking past the Death Eater, Ron spotted Hermione and he threw the Severing Charm at the brunette, the spell hitting he in her shoulder. It was quick, and Hermione let out a cry of pain as her shoulder was cut open and blood poured out.

That move proved to be the perfect distraction, as it pulled Snape's attention from him long enough for him to go on the offensive. Ron was relentless with his attacks on Severus, the attacks becoming deadlier as he went. And Severus was unable to properly defend himself as he moved around the room's limited space to try get away, taking hit after hit. Seeing that Snape was vulnerable, Ron pointed his wand at him and once again screamed, "SECTUMSEMPRA!"

Once again, Severus's own curse barreled towards him from the tip of the redhead's wand. And like last time, Hermione threw a shield at her husband to save him. Well, she tried to, but her magic once again stuttered and didn't work at her command because of her pregnancy. In horror, Hermione watched as Severus was hit with his own curse, Ron being successful this time around. She screamed as blood seeped through Severus's dark robes and onto the floor. Ron, gleeful at what he had done, then hit the other man with the Blasting Curse, knocking him off his feet and crashing out of the window.

Tears fell down Hermione's face, a heart-wrenching scream tearing from her throat. Turning her brown eyes to Ron, she let out a feral scream and began throwing spells, curses, and hexes of all sort at him, hitting him with every single one. Ron tried to block them, but there was no relent from the brunette. She was angry and looked hellbent on killing him. Well, that certainly wouldn't do if he was to make her his finally. Finally able to block her spells, he dodged another before pointing at her saying, "Expelliarmus!"

Hermione's wand flew out of her hand as Ron disarmed her, her wand flying into a corner of her parents' room. Walking up to her from where she was slightly crouched, he pointed his wand at her face and said, "Don't worry, Mione. I will fix everything now. And you'll get over this little incident soon."

Ron planned on Obliviating the brunette, wiping away all her memories and time with Snape, and only have her remember and think of him. As for the fetus inside of her, he was sure he could have it extracted from her womb. As Hermione looked defiantly at him, he was about to cast the Memory Charm on her, only for a loud 'bang' to erupt inside the room. Recognizing the sound as a gunshot, Hermione looked over to the doorway to see her father standing there, his own personal handgun—the one he kept in his car in the glove compartment—trained on the redhead. He must have disappeared to go and retrieve it and waited for the opportune moment to use it.

Looking back at Ron, she saw that he was been shot in the chest by her father. Looking back at Ron, she saw him looking down at his chest before looking back at her. Dropping his wand, the redhead dropped to his knees and reached out towards her mumbling, "Hermione…"

He dropped forward onto the ground, the life in him fading until the light in his blue eyes faded completely and he was still. A pool of blood poured out of him, spreading on the floor beneath it. It was all over; Ron Weasley was dead.

Taking a deep breath, Hermione let her father rush to her and hug her close, her wrapping his arms around him tightly to return his hug. As he held her, Robert said, "I'm so glad you are alright, ladybug."

"Me too," Hermione whispered. "Where's mum?"

At that moment, the sound of several cracks of Apparation sounded off inside the house, Kingsley and Harry soon rushing into the room. Harry looked at his friend being held by her father before looking at the now deceased body of his other friend ono the floor. Green eyes stared in shock at Ron's body before turning back to Hermione asking, "Are you alright?"

Hermione nodded, letting go of her father to hug Harry. As she pulled away, she said, "Yes, I'm okay, and the baby is, too."

"That's good. I can't believe Ron did this, but I suppose this was the only befitting end for him now."

Kingsley, who had turned Ron's body over to examine the gunshot wound, turned to Robert and nodded at him, acknowledging him as the one to end Ron's life in defense of his daughter. He then turned to some of his Aurors and instructed them to remove Ron's body, as well as Obliviate any Muggle witnesses nearby, as well as put a ward over home and its property so they could work in private as much as possible. Once his instructions were given and the Aurors went to do their assigned tasks, Kingsley then turned to Hermione.

"Hermione, you should have told someone about Ron's letter to you," Kingsley told her with a hint of scolding in his voice. "It's a good thing Severus warned us, though I do wish we could have gotten here sooner."

"Hey, where is Snape?" Harry asked looking around.

Eyes wide, Hermione remembered how Ron had blasted her husband out of the upstairs window of her parents' bedroom and outside. Rushing out of the bedroom and down the stairs, completely ignoring the pain her broken leg was in, she headed for the backyard, as that was where her parents' bedroom window faced. An Auror tried to stop her, but she brushed past her and stepped outside. Looking around, Hermione searched for her husband. Finally spotting him, she let out a horrified gasp and threw her hands over her mouth. Her knees became weak and gave out from underneath her, her dropping to the ground as more tears fell down her face.