Disclaimer:- I neither earn nor own anything from this story except my plot. Harry Potter and his world are the intellectual property of JK Rowling and her associates.
A/N:- Thank you to LadyWinterlight, for her beta work on this chapter, and to everyone for their reviews and alerts. Life has taken me away from this story, and for that I apologise, but it's good to be back to it now. It is very clear to me that this story is about to resolve, and I believe that the next chapter might be its last, and along with an epilogue it will be finished. I hope you enjoy this next offering after such a break.
Chapter Eighteen – The Start of Summer
Severus kept a strong hold on Hermione as the Portkey whisked them away, and his hold was needed when they landed, as she fell against him for support her head spinning wildly.
"I had a feeling that Portkey travel would not be advisable in your condition," he murmured to her as she attempted to get her nausea under control with some deep gasps of air.
She swallowed hard and glanced around the Portkey arrival chamber in the ministry in Paris. "I'm fine, Severus," she insisted.
However, she looked very pale and clammy, and as they walked from the chamber she kept a strong grip on his arm.
"You most certainly are not fine," Severus hissed softly. "We will be going straight to our hotel, and you will be resting."
"Nonsense, love, I am fine," she told him bravely. "Nothing that a cup of tea and a couple of biscuits won't fix."
Severus looked at her dubiously, and they walked out of the ministry building and towards a nearby café. "Here, sit and I'll go and do battle with them for a pot of tea. They're so obsessed with coffee over here," and he left her watching after him with a fond smile on her face.
It was still relatively early, only just having gone nine, and the early start at home had meant Hermione had not quite overcome her morning sickness before they'd left. Her daily nausea tended to linger until about ten, and sometimes reoccurred late in the day once she was tired, but this morning she couldn't bring herself to care.
She sighed and looked around; they were finally on their honeymoon, regardless of whether it had taken months to get away or not. The truth was that she was already starting to feel better, and tea would fix her up completely, it always did.
As she watched Severus returning, followed by a disgruntled looking waiter who was carrying a tray containing a teapot and two cups, she wanted to snicker. God she loved this man; his idea of going into battle had most probably taken the course of him informing the waiter of exactly what he required, the waiter taking umbrage at being told his job and Severus sniffing disdainfully at him.
She smiled at him and held her hand out to him as the waiter unloaded the contents of his tray onto their table and bowed his head. "Madame," he said softly in obviously respectful tones.
Hermione smiled. "Merci, Monsieur," she replied politely, and as the waiter turned away Severus took her hand and linked their fingers as he sat beside her. "And thank you to you too, my darling," she added. "He most certainly did not look pleased to be serving tea instead of coffee."
Severus chuckled. "You are most welcome, and already you're looking better." He poured the tea into the cups. "But of course, you know that you resting was not the only reason that I wished to get you to our hotel room, don't you?"
"And we really should check in before we visit the Bibliothèque Richelieu-Louvois," and she glanced at her watch. "We have three hours before our appointment with Monsieur Duvall," she added, an impish smile on her face as she drank her tea, discreetly dunking one of her favourite biscuits in it to help fortify herself. She'd packed a supply of her favourite plain biscuits just in case they were not available where they travelled, and she was hoping they did not run out.
Severus watched her, she was starting to look much better again, and he finished his cup of tea. It had not been the proper temperature that tea should be, but at least it had been hot enough for the brew to be flavoursome. He placed his cup back in its saucer and he smiled slyly at Hermione in return. "I can see you've grasped my meaning, and you're looking greatly recovered," and standing Severus pulled her up by their joined hands.
Hermione drained the last of her tea and allowed him to assist her out of her chair, and they took the short stroll to their hotel.
xox
As she walked on Severus' arm behind the bell-boy along the ornately decorated corridor of the hotel, Hermione found excitement starting to bubble up inside her, and she squealed delightedly when they stopped at their door and Severus scooped her up to carry her over the threshold.
"Severus!" she cried, laughing.
"Hush," he replied. "It is a dutiable husband's right," he told her, placing her on the thick carpet and finding a tip for the bell-boy.
Then they were alone, and while Severus opened their luggage appearing to be looking for something, Hermione walked to the doors that opened out onto a balcony. They had a view of the Eiffel Tower and wasn't the entire summer scene around them lovely.
After a few moments Severus came up behind her and enclosed her with his arms. "I have something for you," he told her softly, his lips close to her ear.
She turned her head and captured his lips. "What?" she said, on breaking the kiss.
"Now, whilst I realise that a honeymoon is probably not the appropriate place for this, our circumstances have always been anything but normal, and I wished to show you how very happy you've made me," and he took a deep breath before producing a ring box. "Therefore, I had this commissioned to match your engagement ring," and he opened the velvet lined box and showed her the band inside. It was studded with alternate diamonds and emeralds and her hand came out and touched it before her eyes looked up to his.
"An eternity ring?" she questioned softly.
A smile ticked at the corner of his mouth. "Yes, do you like it?"
"I love it… I love you," she cried, allowing him to place it on her finger. "Oh, Severus, it's beautiful," she said, holding her hand up and allowing the diamonds to glint in the sunlight.
He kissed her forehead, and held her. "I love you so much," he declared, before burying his nose in her sweet-smelling hair. "I love the family we've created, and how whole I feel with you, thank you."
"No, thank you," Hermione replied. "You complete me."
As he held his wife, a fleeting thought of the dispossessed man he'd been after the war settled into his mind, and how he'd railed against the almost smug castle that had saved him. Now he could see what it had always known, he finally had his reward. He could see how the patient and knowing edifice had brought this about, and he was humbled by its power. This was a master that he would willingly serve, this master only had his best interests at heart, and he finally understood the reciprocal relationship he had with it. How such a loathed position during war-time had become his greatest destiny.
Reaching down he swept Hermione up into his arms again and walked her back inside and straight over to the king-sized bed. "Allow me to make you more comfortable," he told her, already working at removing her clothing.
She snickered. She knew where this was going, and she willingly gave in to his desires; after all, they were her desires too.
After undoing the buttons of her pretty summer dress, he ran his hands over her creamy skin and leaning down he kissed her. "Beautiful, so lovely," he murmured into their kiss.
They were words she heard often from his lips, but she never tired of hearing them, and she tugged him closer to deepen their kiss. Her pull unbalanced him and he planted a knee on the side of the bed for stability as his hands landed either side of her. "Hermione!" he huffed.
She made no apology for her movement, just simply entwined her arms around his neck and kissed him again. This man undid her totally, she couldn't get enough of him, the mere touch of his hand on her arm sent thrills through her, and being connected like this made want boil in her belly. Her hands started removing his clothing too, pulling at his tie and fumbling with his buttons.
They were travelling Muggle, interspersed with visits to magical libraries, most of which were annexed to Muggle establishments, and they were staying in Muggle hotels, but were also visiting Magical communities as they came across them. However, all their travel plans went to the background as they became consumed with each other.
Severus' mouth travelled over Hermione's jaw and started down her neck as his hands slipped under her to undo her bra. He smiled against her skin as her luscious breasts spilt out of their lacy prison, and his lips started adoring the creamy skin, and he pulled at the garment as Hermione obligingly lifted an arm. There they lay in front of his eyes; of course this was not the first time he'd seen them today, but to him every time was new. His mouth closed over one rosy bud and he flicked his tongue back and forth as his hand travelled over her stomach and started stroking between her legs.
Her body was already changing as her pregnancy developed, and he was aware that her breasts were often tender. In deference to her sensitivity he was more careful than usual, and she didn't shift, so he knew that she was still comfortable.
Hermione was lost in his ministrations and opened her legs wider to accommodate him. Where this man was concerned, she had a passion that she thought would never be sated; he made want curl deep within her so very easily. His voice was the first thing that disarmed her; he wielded it with such precision, and he obviously knew its power. But just recently, he was so caring of the fact that her body was changing that every time his caution with her undid her just that little bit more completely.
Then even her thoughts were lost as he continued to kiss and lick down over her stomach, murmuring to their babies inside her as he kissed her, and then down further to her last hidden delight. He pushed aside the crotch of her underwear and kissed her quivering cleft, inhaling her delicious scent as his tongue came out to taste her.
She cried out under the exquisite torture. He smiled against her and took a moment to rid her of the lacy knickers so he could feast on her unencumbered. Severus knew from experience that he did not need to do more, she loved this so much that he easily had her coming with simply his tongue, and so he did. "That's it, beautiful," he murmured. "That's it."
She groaned, her breaths coming in pants as her muscles strained.
"Good girl," he whispered against her.
The vibration sent a jolt through her and she moaned, linking her hands with his as her pelvis twisted and writhed. She could feel herself starting to crest and she groaned. "Harder, Severus."
He knew what she wanted, and he delivered. She stilled and then groaned deeply.
"Oh god… oh god, oh god," she moaned, as he lapped at her essence. "Oh god, so good," she muttered.
He chuckled, wiping his mouth on his sleeve as he finally released his aching need.
"Quickly," she encouraged. "I want you."
He sighed as he easily slid home and he stilled for a moment to gain control before he started moving. This witch completely undid him, she was perfect, exactly what he needed, and he'd now learned to play her body flawlessly.
Rising up over her he joined their hands again and set about thrusting into her.
Hermione's voice rose once more as pleasure started to invade her every nerve again, and reaching up she encouraged his mouth back down to hers. She loved this man so very much, and her pleasured brain babbled it to him. "Love you… oh god, yes.. Severus," she cried, between heated kisses.
Neither of them lasted very long, they never did, and Hermione cried out as her second orgasm rolled over her, washing everything but intense rapture away. She felt Severus' thrusts becoming erratic and then he pushed into her and held himself there as he groaned in a long deep whine, pulsing inside her.
He collapsed beside her, spent, and pulled her into his arms. As he lay there recovering Severus kissed her head as it rested on his chest and reflected his lovely wife didn't know it yet, but he'd set their daily routine so that they could take their time enjoying one another every morning and then visit their libraries in the afternoon, only to come back to their room and explore one another again after that. He was certain that she would approve of this plan, and he smiled to himself
The only exception to that pattern for the next week would be in two day's time when they were meeting Narcissa and Lucius in the wizarding quarter of Paris for lunch. That would be a different day, but that afternoon they were also leaving for Zurich, so it made sense to have all their changes in routine on one day.
xox
The next week went quickly, and it was every bit as enjoyable as both Severus and Hermione could have hoped. They'd lazed in bed in the mornings, and Severus made certain that Hermione got everything she needed to get her started comfortably, thereby also minimizing her morning sickness. Then they consumed their breakfast in bed, and only then once she felt up to it did they become more active.
They'd spent three days in Paris and then three in Zurich, and today was the day they were travelling on to Umbria, and they were finally having lunch with the Malfoys. Their lunch in Paris had been cancelled as Lucius and Narcissa—more Narcissa than Lucius in reality—had needed to travel unexpectedly to Italy on business. Therefore, they had agreed to catch up in Umbria. Hermione did not know the details of the Malfoys' rather unexpected trip, but she had been rather surprised when Severus told her that it was Narcissa's business that had required their travel. Hermione was rather gobsmacked that Narcissa had a business of her own, and that Lucius supported her in her venture; that wasn't very pureblood, surely.
The Gryffindor witch was currently sitting crossed legged on their bed jotting down some notes on a technique she'd learned about for preserving leather on aged books that she'd learnt the day before, and Severus was in the shower. She had to admit that she was rather nervous about lunch today; facing Lucius Malfoy was going to be difficult, even after everything that she'd now learned about the man that told her that he was indeed a reformed character.
She was also starting to miss Alice terribly, and as much as she was enjoying her time alone with Severus, she really wanted to see Alice. Hearing the shower stop she watched as after a moment Severus walked back into the bedroom still drying his hair with his towel.
He looked delicious, but she controlled herself, and said "Severus?" as he walked back into the room from the bathroom.
"Mmm?" he replied, putting on his underwear and trousers.
"I miss Alice," she admitted.
"Yes, I have to say that I do as well," he replied, giving her a consoling smile. "Is there any particular reason why you miss her more this morning, love?"
Hermione shrugged. "Oh it's nothing, just a vague feeling I have that something is going to go wrong today," she said thoughtfully.
"A vague feeling?" Severus replied, pausing in his hair drying and watching his witch.
She shrugged again and smiled at him. "I don't know… I suppose I'm just being emotional," and she patted the small bump on her stomach. "I guess it's just pregnancy."
Severus leant down and kissed her. "You're probably right," he said, grasping her chin gently in his fingers and holding her head up as he kissed her again, sweeping his thumb over her jaw-line.
She sighed happily. "Yes, I suppose you're right," she replied.
"I know I'm right," he said, sitting down beside her and pulling her into his arms.
After a moment she pulled back in his arms a little. "I'd be being paranoid if I suggested that we Floo-call Minerva, wouldn't I?" she asked, blinking at him.
He nodded. "Yes, I believe you would," he told her, and he kissed her on the nose and got up to finish dressing.
xox
However, as Hermione and Severus finished their preparations to go to lunch at Narcissa and Lucius' Italian estate, back in England Poppy Pomfrey was having a very frank talk with her friend Minerva.
"I'm fine," Minerva told Poppy quietly, irritated by her friend's concern for her, and not wanting to alert little Alice to a potential problem.
Poppy had been staying with Argus and she'd been present when Minerva had her dizzy spell, and she had instantly noted the slight bluish tinge around Minerva's mouth, and her wand was out in a moment diagnosing the problem, even though the matron already knew what it would be. Minerva was overdoing it, she should never have agreed to be the sole carer for Alice whilst Hermione and Severus went away.
"You most certainly are not fine. Blind Freddie could see that you're not fine. You should never have agreed to care for Alice for so long alone, Minnie. This is why child-rearing should be the province of younger witches and wizards," and then she paused in her speech and her lips tightened. "You haven't told them, have you?"
Minerva cleared her throat. "My so called affliction has not given me a moment's trouble since I recovered from those stunners," she declared defiantly.
Poppy knew otherwise. "Minerva, regardless of your reputation as a tough as nails Gryffindor, taking three stunning spells directly to the chest weakened your heart."
"Piffle!" Minerva declared, not willing to concede. "I returned to my duties… I fought in a war!"
"And it all took its toll, and this is the result now when you over do it. Yes you did recover back in nineteen ninety-five after the episode, and you have acquitted yourself bravely since, but there comes a time when we all must admit that our age is catching up with us. Severus and Hermione will understand, call them," Poppy implored.
Minerva placed her tea down on the side table with a shaky hand and her eyes turned to Alice playing with Molly in the garden. Her eyes narrowed in irritation. "Nothing happened to me when Hermione was being cured of the curse that afflicted her, so why now do you foist a dicky ticker onto me?"
"When you were caring for Alice last time you had Severus and myself to assist you," Poppy told her. "They will want to know, Minnie, call them."
"No!" the stubborn headmistress repeated, but as she did so another wave of dizziness grasped her.
Poppy swept into action. She quickly sent her patronus to Argus who had gone to the barn to take delivery of some hay, asking him to come at once, and she started treating her dearest friend.
Their conversation had been a whispered one so as not to alert Alice, but of course just at that moment, Alice came running over and she was instantly concerned at her grandmother's obviously ill state.
"Nanny Nerva," she cried. "Nanny Nerva," and she was trying to clamber up onto Minerva's knee.
Hearing concern in Alice's tone, Minerva tried to gather her wits together. "I'm fine, Poppet," she told her patting her hand. "You go back and play with Molly," she encouraged.
At that moment Argus arrived and his astute eyes took in the scene. He could see that Minerva was very unwell, and he looked at Poppy.
"Will you stay with little one while I get this stubborn witch to St. Mungos?" Poppy asked, and she bent down to Alice's height and said, "Nanny Nerva is not feeling well, she'd very tired, Alice dear. She needs a little rest, but she'll be fine," she was quick to assure Alice.
"Oh," Alice replied, her lip slipping between her teeth just like her mother's had when she'd been younger and was uncertain about something. "I sometimes needs a nap too, Mummy says I get tired and cranky. Is Nanny Nerva tired and cranky, Auntie Poppy?"
However, Poppy was more concerned with Minerva, and apparated away with her before answering little Alice.
"Don't fret little 'in," Argus encouraged, seeing the little girl's lip starting to quiver and tears gathered in her big eyes. Argus had started to get to know Alice a bit now she'd become more confident around him, and he worked to circumnavigate the beginnings of her tears. "You can play with chicks in ta barn while ol' Argus sorts ta' 'ay that just come, an' Auntie Pop will be back fer yo' soon. Come on, little'n, there's five chicks today."
"O-Okay," Alice said, grasping his offered gnarled old hand. Her eyes were still very wide and focused on the spot that her grandmother had just been as Argus encouraged her away, but she was interested in the chickens, and it took her attention as he'd hoped that it would.
As soon as they got to the barn, Alice's apprehension evaporated and she started playing with the chicks in their pen.
"Hold 'em careful like, little 'en," he instructed as Alice clutched a chicken to her chest happily watching Argus stacking the hay up, and the mother hen clucked threateningly at Molly on the outside of the enclosure as Alice played with her chicks.
xox
Over in Perugia, Umbria, Severus and Hermione were almost at the end of what was turning out to be a very pleasant lunch in the grounds of a medieval castle turned tourist attraction. Narcissa Malfoy was an excellent foil between Hermione and Lucius, a practiced hostess who was used to keeping the peace. Not that Lucius was being particularly troublesome, but he was still Lucius Malfoy.
In any case, they'd made it to coffee without coming to fisticuffs, and Severus was just placing his cup back on its saucer when he felt a great disturbance in the Hogwarts wards. The wards of Hogwarts were always there in the back of his mind, but without warning they were urging him to recognise them most pointedly. In his shock his cup clattered to its saucer with more noise than usual and all eyes turned to him.
"Pardon, my fingers slipped," he stated, and of course neither Malfoy saw anything change in his expression, but Hermione did.
Hermione glanced at him and felt him clasp her hand. It was the signal that he'd said she could use if being with Lucius was too much for her, but here was Severus using it. She instantly drained her cup and smiled. "It's been a lovely lunch, thank you, but we should start thinking about making tracks."
"Making tracks?" Narcissa asked, obviously confused.
"Oh, I'm sorry, it's a Muggle saying. I mean that we should be thinking about going."
"Yes," Severus agreed, and he rose from the table. "We have an appointment at two in a monastery library… Perhaps if you ever take it into your head to return to your manor…" he started, leaving the sentence open.
Narcissa smiled. "Actually," and she glanced at Lucius. "We have been considering just such a move now that Draco and Scorpius are with us."
"Yes, we would like Scorpius to be able to attend Hogwarts as generations of Malfoys before him have done," Lucius added.
"In that case, we might be able to welcome you all to our home sooner than later," Severus stated.
"Perhaps," Lucius agreed, also standing. "Narcissa was wonderfully happy on returning from your little daughter's birthday party recently," he commented a small smile gracing his face.
"Yes, it was a lovely afternoon," Narcissa confirmed. "You must all come to Scorpius' birthday party in two months' time. I am hoping that with any luck we will be back in England by then," she added.
"Excellent," Severus said, offering his hand to Lucius.
Narcissa leant forward and kissed Hermione's cheek. "I am very much looking forward to getting to know you better, my dear," she told her.
Hermione smiled. "Thank you, yes, and I you," and she inclined her head to Lucius. "Good day, Mister Malfoy," she stated as she watched Severus kissing Narcissa's cheek. Curiosity was curling through her, it was so unlike Severus to be affected by something, and she wondered what it was.
Severus offered his arm to his wife and they walked away from their lunch.
"What's wrong?" Hermione questioned as soon as they were out of ear-shot.
"Something is happening at Hogwarts. The wards have closed off," and he didn't add that things like that only happened when something happened to a headmaster or mistress, because he knew the implications of that, especially after what Hermione had said to him earlier about feeling like something bad was going to happen. "I need to ascertain what's happening."
"Go back home?" and Hermione smiled. "We could see Alice."
"I was only thinking that perhaps we should find a place to Floo-call Minerva and see what's going on before we head to the monastery."
"But if there's something wrong we could go home."
"Do you want to go home?" he asked.
"No, but I would like to see Alice," Hermione admitted.
Severus leant over and kissed her head. "Then we will see what's happening, we may have to postpone our appointment."
xox
They were lucky; due to a higher than normal population of magicals in Umbria, there was a small ministry annex in Perugia and they had a Floo-chamber. Hermione sat in an equally tiny outer chamber—the Floo was only designed for one person to use at a time—whilst Severus made the call, and when he returned, she could see the minute signs creasing his brow that meant that he was worried.
"What?" she asked, standing as soon as he'd reached her.
"We do need to return home, Minerva has had a small medical incident."
"What kind? Is Alice all right?" Hermione cried, anxiety already clear in her voice.
"Apparently it's her heart, but Poppy and Argus are with Alice and she also tells me that Minerva is stable and in St. Mungos."
"Then we do need to go home," Hermione replied, her brow furrowed in consternation.
"Agreed," Severus assured the panicking Hermione.
"We need to get home right now," Hermione stated, starting to wring her hands, her eyes pleading with him to make this right.
"Come, we will organise our passage, don't worry, Hermione, I'll get us home quickly," he replied calmly, pulling her against him for support. "Breathe, love."