AN: Thank you so much for all the support! It is very deeply appreciated!
The local news was proving less than helpful in locating Magical Milwaukee. There were no reports of strange sightings, mysterious deaths, or people with extraordinary powers. Severus knew Magical Congress of the United States of America excelled at hiding their citizens, but there were usually signs of magic an observant person could find, some indication that a wizard and witch were not alone. So far, Severus was coming up empty.
The only mystery being reported was why some muggle named Aaron Rodgers had fallen so far in the NFL draft. Severus still had no clue what the NFL was or why anyone would wish to be drafted into it. At first, Severus wondered if Rodgers may have some magic given how glowingly the muggles spoke of his talents. A few muggles on the TV were claiming he could perform amazing feats. For a moment, Severus thought he may be the key to locating the Magical World. After a few clips on the news, it was determined that Mr. Rodgers was simply a muggle who excelled at throwing a misshapen oval ball twenty yards down a field, which was hardly a sign of magic.
"This program is almost as boring as Quidditch." Hermione pulled the white blankets over her body as she lay down in her bed.
"Indeed," he grumbled as another commentator droned on about the mysterious NFL draft. Nothing about the NFL made sense. What was the difference between an offense and defense? Was this some kind of war zone? If so, why was everyone clamoring to get into it? Why did some involved with the NFL need defense and others did not? What was the goal of the NFL?
Why couldn't one muggle make the slightest attempt to make sense?
"We need to sleep," she began.
"I'm awake."
"I know, but it would be wise to get some sleep tonight."
"You may close your eyes while I continue to seek some clue as to where the Wizarding World is." He turned to her. "Unless the light is going to bother you."
"The light isn't bothering me. I only want you to take care of yourself, which means getting some rest."
"I am taking perfectly good care of myself."
"You haven't slept in almost twenty-four hours. That's not great for your health."
"I have gone longer without sleep and had no ill effects from it." He suppressed the urge to yawn.
"This isn't the war anymore. You're free to get some sleep."
"How can I sleep when we are fighting for your freedom?"
She cocked her head.
"Unless I find Wizarding Milwaukee we cannot begin to clear your name," Severus changed the channel. "In order to do that, I must stay awake."
"Hi, Billy Mays here for Orange Glo. Powerful cleaners..."
Severus scowled before changing the channel. Now, there was a muggle dancing upon a dimly lit stage.
"Severus?"
He grunted as he flipped the channel again.
"Severus."
His eyebrow was raised at the woman stirring a batch of what he guessed to be biscuit dough. Muggles actually watched other people cook?
"Severus!"
He turned to her and frowned. "What?"
"You're exhausted," She said.
"No, I'm not."
"Yes, you are."
"Given that you are not in my body, how would you know if I was tired or not?"
"I can see it in your eyes. You're completely exhausted. You need to sleep."
He considered telling her that his eyes hadn't been drooping for the last half hour, that his body wasn't growing weaker with each crawling minute, and that he could stay up until he knew where the Wizarding World was. What would be the point? He knew he couldn't hide his emotions from her, not without his shields. What he wouldn't give to perform occlumency one more time.
"Please," Hermione's voice was softer. "We're going to miss clues if we're too tired to pick up on them. It's better to get a good night's rest and tackle this problem in the morning."
He glanced at the television. The muggle displayed her white batch of dough while humming about how delicious it smelled. She was going to prove less than helpful, as were the rest of the programs he'd seen.
Before he could dwell on the thought too much, footsteps echoed from the hallway. Hermione's eyes grew as muffled voices spoke to each other outside. One burst out laughing while the other said, "I really don't know why I bother anymore. He's so stubborn. He'll never change."
"That's married life for you."
"Tell me about it."
Severus and Hermione were silent until they heard the voices no more.
"Do you want me to stay up to keep guard?" She whispered.
"Guard?" He whispered back.
"Yes, when I was on the run, two of us slept while the others watched out for Death Eaters. Should someone keep watch for aurors and mafia members?" She asked.
"No," he whispered. "We won't know who to watch out for."
"True."
"Besides, it is highly unlikely anyone from teh Magical World will find us here."
"You seem overly confident of that."
"I have every reason to be confident we won't be discovered right now. Nobody knows we're in Pleasant Prairie. I doubt anyone in Britain even knows this place exists," he began. "Neither of us has used magic, so the aurors can't track us with their spell. Everywhere we've been has been outside the Wizarding World. We've either been at an airport full of muggles, in a car where hardly anyone can distinguish one driver from another, or in this hotel room, only leaving to retrieve our pizza. There's no reason for any witch or wizard to suspect we're here."
"Airports have security cameras, and does the lobby of this place. They could still find us."
"Yes, but how many wizards are smart enough to ask to look at the footage?"
She bit her lower lip.
"Even if they did ask for the footage, they'd have to explain why they wanted it. That would take time, and they may need to expose more than they're willing to discuss."
She seemed to consider his points.
"Besides, in order to capture us here and now, they risk us creating a ruckus when we fight back. We will draw attention to ourselves from muggles. Muggles will wonder how they got in when nobody saw them come through the lobby. Questions will be asked. That's the last thing anyone in Britain or America wants."
"In other words, we're hiding behind muggles. So long as we are near muggles, our freedom is assured."
"Yes," he said. "So long as we are amongst muggles the chances of us being captured are fairly low."
"So, we infiltrate the Wizarding World by day when we can defend ourselves. By night, we sleep where there are muggles in order to maintain our cover."
"Yes, we'll live like squibs. It's the best chance we have of escaping with our lives and our freedom."
"It makes sense," she replied.
"Of course, our plan depends on us finding the Wizarding World." He returned his attention to the television. "Something I have had little success in doing."
"If we're going to hide amongst muggles by night, why not sleep and wait to find magical Milwaukee until the morning? We'll be much fresher when making a plan if we do."
"Because I need to know what we're doing now."
"Why?"
"To begin with, we won't be in this hotel tomorrow. We have to leave by noon."
"Yes, and Milwaukee's less than an hour away," she answered. "We'll have time to find another place to rest and think of creating disguises. With any luck, we'll figure out how to put something together there. Only then can we realistically infiltrate the Wizarding World without getting caught."
"How do you plan on putting together a disguise when we don't know where to buy our supplies?"
"I don't know," she admitted. "All I know is the answers won't come tonight, not when we're both sleep deprived."
He let out an exaggerated sigh before picking up the remote. "You make some fair arguments."
The television clicked off, leaving the room dark, save the glow of the streetlights filtering in through the window.
"Thank you." He heard Hermione shifted until her head was on the pillows.
"Indeed."
The only sound which could be heard was the low hum of the cars on the highway.
He cleared his throat. "Earlier, I did inform you of my sleeping habits."
"And I did inform you that I am no prude who has never seen a male friend naked before," she said.
The word "friend" stung his heart more than it should have. He would only be her friend. Unless he accepted that soon, he would ruin things between them, as he did with Lily.
"Go ahead and do what you need to do. I'll divert my eyes as best I can," she continued.
"Very well then." He stood and began strolling towards the bathroom.
"Oh Severus?"
"Yes?" He paused with his finger on the bathroom light switch.
"Do you snore?"
"Not that I'm aware of."
"Neither do I, but if I do, feel free to roll me over or wake me. I'm sure I'll stop then."
"That won't be necessary." He flipped on the bathroom light. "I've slept through much louder than a little snoring."
"I suppose so," her voice was soft.
"Indeed."
When she didn't respond, he closed the door. He took note of how small the stark white bathroom was. The bathtub was not long enough for him to stretch in, yet it took up half the room. Adding to the lack of space was the toilet at an odd angle. That little shampoo bottle wouldn't be enough for her, let alone both of them.
As he stripped and folded his clothes, he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror. In his own home, he'd never allowed himself enough light to truly look into a mirror. His wand was always too far away to provide proper lighting. Under the unforgiving, nearly blinding, florescent light, he could see every red and silver scar scattered about his chest. Then there was the remains of the Dark Mark. Whatever disguise he wore needed to be long-sleeved in order to avoid as many questions as possible. Merlin knew the muggles would be curious about it. How would they react to knowing he took that mark after he vowed to kill each and every one of them?
Once he shed the last of his clothes, he considered his predicament again. He'd spent his childhood dreaming of a way out of the muggle world. For a time, it appeared as if he'd accomplished his dream. Spinners End may have been in his old neighborhood, but the neighbors left him alone long enough for him to perform magic at will. Never did he imagine a life where he would willingly return to the muggle world without any hope of performing magic.
Where had his life gone so wrong?
After finishing his preparation for bed, he exited. In the glow of the light, he could see Hermione's head buried in a pillow, her curls obscuring her face.
He gazed at her, wondering what appropriate decorum would be in this situation. Most people would say, "good night," but he didn't want to draw anymore attention to himself than possible. Perhaps it was best to allow the moment to pass.
After putting the blankets over him, he took a deep breath. His body relaxed as his eyes closed.
"Severus?"
He hummed.
"If you are afraid of me seeing you naked tomorrow and you're awake before me, just tell me when you're getting up and I'll avert my eyes. I don't want you to be uncomfortable," she moaned. "Also, I promise to look at you as little as possible if I'm awake before you."
"I appreciate the sentiment, but there is no need to worry," he answered, ignoring the desire welling in his chest. "I am growing more comfortable with allowing you to see me undressed."
"Really?"
"Yes, you made a point about us being in this together. Given how small these rooms are, it is inevitable that we'll see each other undressed at some point. I'd best get used to it now."
"Okay."
"Please excuse any awkwardness on my part. It has been quite some time since a woman has seen me naked," he said.
"I shouldn't ask this, but who was the last woman to see you naked?"
"Gertrude Friedman."
"The hundred thirteen kilogram Mediwitch with a thick accent?"
"Yes, she did my dressings after the snake bite. Not always the gentlest soul."
Hermione giggled.
"I am glad my pain amuses you," Severus grumbled.
"I'm sorry, but I can see you grousing at her because she is taking the bandages off too roughly, and her giving you an equally intimidating glare."
"There was a reason they gave me a German Mediwitch who'd never had me as a professor."
"You two must have made quite the pair." Her giggling grew louder.
"I would imagine we were quite amusing to the other patients and medical professionals."
"Yes, but I'm sure deep down inside you appreciated her."
"I appreciated her as much as I appreciated that snake bite," he grumbled.
"You lived to tell the tale anyway."
"For better or worse I did."
"It's for the better, I assure you."
"Or so you say."
Silence fell between them. He shut his eyes, feeling sleep overtake him.
"Severus?"
He moaned as he opened his eyes.
"Thank you for talking to me about your mother."
He was now wide awake.
"I know that was hard for you to remember her, but I needed to hear her story. Thank you again," she continued.
"You can thank me by taking what I said seriously."
She propped her head up on the pillows.
"You are much braver and stronger than she ever gave herself permission to be," he replied. "Do not ever forget that."
"I'll try not to."
"You need to succeed in doing so." He locked eyes with her. "No matter what happens in Milwaukee, remember you are worth being treated like an amazing witch. You deserve someone who will never hurt you."
"I want that," she replied. "My parents never hurt each other. I've always wanted what they have."
"One day you will have that."
"I hope so anyway. I admired them so much as a child. I still do. I just wish…" Her voice trailed off.
"You wish?"
"I wish I could talk to them, to get their advice on a few things. There are so many times these last few years I've wanted to talk to them, to ask them if I was doing the right thing." Her throat tightened. "I'd give anything for one last conversation with them."
"The second we clear your name is the second we will resume creating the potion to restore their memories."
"I know we will. I just," she sighed. "I just wonder what they would think if they knew where I was. They'd be so worried for me. They would be doing everything possible to contact me."
"I would imagine they would be very interested in locating you."
"They would be relieved knowing I wasn't alone, that you and I were taking care of each other. They would at least have that comfort."
"I will do my best to care for you."
"I know." She took a shaky breath. "Thinking about them, it almost makes me wonder if anyone outside of the mafia and law enforcement cares that I'm gone."
"I can only speak for myself, but I care that you're here and free," his voice was soft.
"Thank you." She gave him a soft smile.
"There is no need to thank me for telling the truth."
"I know, but I appreciate hearing it all the same."
Silence fell between them again.
"Good night, Severus."
"Good night, Hermione."
With that, Severus closed his eyes, allowing fatigue to overtake him.