Well folks this is it for now. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did writing it. If you're interested there is a sequel on the way in a few months. Thank you all for reading and your kind words of encouragement. Long live SS/HG -Neminiwrites
Hermione went to the great hall to see how things were going. The last of the Death Eaters were being transported to the dungeons and Kingsley was about to go on to the ministry to see if they needed help cleaning up there. He turned to see Hermione standing in front of the now permanently empty throne. He put his hands on her shoulders and gently massaged them. "Such small shoulders for such an enormous task. Are you alright Hermione?"
She turned and laid her head on his chest, his hand going to her back. "Yes. For the first time in more than a year, I'm going to be alright. Is there anything more to do here?"
He harumphed, "Nothing that you need to do. The prisoners are secured downstairs and are well guarded." He laughed. "Still petrified. Snape said the potion should work for a couple of days. They should be out of here by tomorrow night. I sent a few men to Voldemort's rooms. Poppy said some of the female staff were still alive, if barely. They've been taken to St. Mungos. The elves came into the hall and asked what happened. You should have seen their faces when I told them Voldemort was dead. I've never seen them so happy. It wouldn't surprise me if they had this place back to normal by the morning. It's late Hermione. You need to go to bed and let us handle the rest. I'll see to it the girl's parents are notified to come and get them in the morning. The dawn of a new beginning for us all."
Hermione looked around the room and became suddenly panic stricken. "Snape! What happened to Snape?"
Kingsley was startled as if a dragon was at the gate. "I'm not sure. He said something about my taking care of you, and then he disappeared out the door. I think he was headed for his office tower about twenty minutes ago."
Hermione didn't stop to say goodbye but ran to the tower for all she was worth. She burst through the door and startled Snape as he sat at his desk writing a note. He bowed his head and sighed. "I thought I would be gone before you came back. I'm sorry."
Hermione was out of breath and terrified. "Gone? Where are you going? You can't leave now, I need you!" She tried to appear calm and clinical. "You know, to get things organized."
Snape huffed a laugh. "No, you don't. You'll have this bunch up and running before the week is out. I don't need to be here to remind you of things you don't want to remember."
Hermione came to him as he sat in the headmaster's chair, angry. "Don't tell me what I need. You're not my master anymore!" Snape flinched. "I'm telling you I need you here with me. It's too large a task and I can't do it alone. Especially now that…"
Snape scrutinized her face. "Now that, what?"
Hermione was exhausted and didn't have the strength for a fight. "AREN'T YOU LISTENING? I said I need you." This was the only time he'd seen her with a look of defeat on her face. "Don't you care for me at all? Was all that you said in bed a lie?" Her face suddenly hardened. "I want you to stay, but I won't hold you against your will. Do as you wish."
She climbed the stairs to his room, took her dress off and climbed in bed with every intension of sleeping alone. Tears were falling silently. She didn't have the energy for more, when the bed sagged behind her.
Snape sat on the bed watching her cry. He couldn't leave her like this, but he felt he had no right to stay. She had done all she had done, to gain her freedom and the freedom of the others. She couldn't feel for him as he did for her. She had every reason to hate him in fact. The man who had taken her virginity by force. Had helped evil taint her world and kill her friends. He wasn't sure what to do. He never was a very good at comforting anyone, but he couldn't leave her like this.
He lay next to her on top of the blankets and wrapped an arm around her, pulling her back to his chest. "Hermione I…" He sighed and breathed in her scent of lilac and it calmed him. "I did mean what I said. I care for you deeply, but there are too many bad memories between us. They will throw a shadow over us. I know you'll never forget me leading you around naked on a leash. The wizarding world will only see me as Voldemort's potions master, despite what you say. I'm probably heading to Azkaban myself when it's all said and done. You're a brave, beautiful, brilliant young woman. After what's happened, it wouldn't surprise me if you were made Minister of Magic. I'll just be an embarrassment to you. An old, abrasive, former Death Eater standing in your way. Don't you see it's better if I go. Your life is going to be remarkable. There's no limit to what you can do now. The doors that will fly open for you are forever shut to me."
Hermione rolled to lay flat and stare him in the face. "You could never be an embarrassment to me. I don't want to be Minister of Magic. And even if you won't forgive yourself for that leash, know that I did long ago. Why don't you see how alone I will be. Who will I argue and play chess with? Who's going to call me a know it all? My life will be cold and empty without you in it. I… Severus I love you. If you go, for me, it will all have been for nothing. Please. Don't leave me."
He looked at the woman in front of him with surprise and awe. "You… Love me? That's not possible. Not after what I've done, Who I am."
Hermione was losing patience with his insecurities. "You dunderhead. I love you because of who you are and what you've done. You are the kindest, bravest, most brilliant potions master in the world. You saved my life and the lives of everyone in our world. And if they try to take you to Azkaban, I will shake the ministry to it's foundations. Now kiss me."
Snape smiled "Yes Master."
Severus gave her the most passionate kiss he could. He then stood and stripped and got into bed with her. "I love you too Hermione. With all my heart."
Hermione grinned, "I'm glad Severus." He began to lightly kiss her shoulders and cup her breast.
"Severus?"
"Yes love."
"I'm pregnant."
THE END