Hermione looked at Harry's trembling shoulders and suddenly her heart dove into an icy pool of fear. She turned to Ron and shook her head in denial. No, that couldn't be. She wasn't here again. This nightmare has come and gone. She has lived it once, which was one too many.
"This must be a dream." She whispered.
"Shush…" Harry admonished.
She needed to get out of here…but how? She turned to Ron who was kneeling next to her. "Ron this isn't real…it's a dream."
"Not now Mione…" He hissed and that is when they heard the hauntingly deep voice of Severus from inside the boat-house.
"You have performed extraordinary magic with this wand my lord in the last few hours alone."
Hermione closed her eyes and felt all the blood draining from her cheeks. What kind of demon forced her to relive this traumatizing experience again? She shouldn't be here for more than one reasons….
"No…no…I AM extraordinary, but the wand resists me." Came the icy reply.
"There is no wand more powerful than this. Olivander himself has said so. Tonight when the boy comes it will not fail you, I am sure of it. It answers to you and you only."
Hermione remembered those words so well. Everything she heard up to now and everything that was to come. She had never been able to forget them. They burned her mind like a hot rod along with Snape's memories. The guilt of being unable to help him when he most needed them returned with a vengeance.
"Does it?"
"My Lord?"
Hermione closed her eyes and tightened her fists. She remembered well how she had felt back then. Terrified beyond reason…unable to take a step forth. Simply hoping that she'd disappear…that she wouldn't hear anything more.
"The wand, does it truly answer to me? You are a clever man Severus. Surely you must know. Where does its true loyalty lay? "
"With you of course, my Lord."
Hermione reached out and grabbed Ron's sleeve. She pulled it viciously. "We have to stop this now!"
"How?" -He whispered- "Do you think we are well equipped to take Voldemort by surprise?"
She shook her head, not knowing what to answer, feeling tears coming to her eyes. The last time she was here she didn't feel such desolation and pain…she felt only fear…Her throat dried out when she heard Voldemort speaking again.
"The Elder Wand cannot serve me properly, because I am not its true master. The Elder Wand belongs to the wizard who killed its last owner. You killed Dumbledore Severus, while you live the Elder Wand cannot truly be mine. You've been a good and faithful servant Severus, but only I can live forever."
She sprang to her feet and bolted to the door, unwilling to remain a simple spectator in this tragedy again. Harry grabbed her upper arm and pulled her down forcefully. "Stop! What do you think you are doing? He is going to kill us!"
"If we don't get in there now, he is going to kill Severus!" She hissed.
"Severus?" Ron asked.
She ignored him and tried to get released. "Let me go Harry!"
"My Lord?" Severus' whisper made her freeze.
Then came the chilling command.
"Nagini…kill…"
Then the rushing of the snake's huge body upon the wet floor…and a finishing thud against the window pane.
Everything was so familiar…yet somehow different from last time. Something was stirring inside her…an elusive feeling…something she couldn't grasp. She stood up and threw herself against the door with an urgency she didn't remember from the first time… ready to stand against death himself in order to help Severus. Still she was too late, even in her dreams. No one was there apart from him. Lying motionless against the panel, but this time the blood was not gushing from his throat. It was sipping through his fingers which were pressing his upper stomach in a futile effort to stop death. With each pained exhalation bubbles of blood were popping between his parted lips. How did Nagini strike him under the chest, didn't the Dark Lord slash his throat?
She rushed to him, barely aware of her surroundings. She knelt beside him and drew a small vial from her satchel. Just as she remembered. She needed to save his tears. They were so important…he…he was so important…he couldn't die…not AGAIN…
She tried…her shaking fingers run down his temple and touched his warm tears. "You will not die again...you cannot. I am here! Look at me!"
He took a broken breath of lament and turned to her. His endlessly dark eyes burrowed into hers, much like they had done at the Wizengamot just before he gave her that captivating kiss. Her heart complained loudly and her hand covered his over the wound. "I am not going to let you die! Do you hear me? I am not going to let you die again! Not like this! Not for us…." She barked angrily.
He didn't ask for her to save his tears, despite the vial that she held next to his cheek. This time it was indeed different. His eyes blinked as if in slow motion and a ghostly smile appeared on his bloody lips. "Whom shall I die for then?"
Hermione's eyes overflowed with burning tears as his warm blood flowed through her fingers. The sense of utter desolation made her wake up with a cry. "NOT AGAIN!"
-.-
"Miss Granger stop!" He winced as he tried to restraint her flailing arms.
"Not again!" She shouted.
His long fingers wrapped around her thin wrists and kept them in place. "Miss Granger!" -His voice was authoritative- "Hermione! Wake up!"
"Not for us…not again!" She repeated.
"For heaven's sake girl, open your eyes!" He commanded.
She fell back like a lifeless rag doll in his hands and her eyelids fluttered timidly. Slowly they opened up. "Professor?" She whispered.
He frowned slightly. "Welcome back to reason."
She looked at his hands that were secure around hers. "Oh thank Merlin, It was just a dream…"
"Just a dream? I'd say more like a nightmare." He released her slowly, wanting to make sure she wasn't going to collapse.
She rubbed her stinging eyes. "I am so sorry for this. Did I scare you?"
He smirked. A glass begun forming upon his stretched palm, along with the water that slowly filled it up. "I am not so easily scared, yet I won't lie. You worried me." He offered it to her.
She took it reluctantly. "What time is it?"
"Three in the morning."
That is when she noticed how tired his eyes seemed. "Did I wake you up?"
"No. I was studying." Came the quiet reply.
She saw several scrolls open upon the coffee table. "I slept again on the couch." She realized with a drop of embarrassment.
"You seem to enjoy it more than the bed of the guest room." He noted and then begun rolling up the scrolls.
"Indeed I do, but this way I am overtaking part of your personal space too. That is not appropriate." She said quietly. The nightmare was still lingering behind her open eyelids. Whenever he averted his eyes, her gaze turned to him profoundly deep as she longed to affirm that he was alive…that he was there with her. That he didn't fade away from a stab wound on his upper stomach.
-Stab wound?-
"I assure you that I have no problem. My house is at your discretion." He reassured her evenly.
She smiled and looked at her now half-empty glass. "Did you come in late from work?"
His nod was soft. "Yes."
"How were things at the Ministry after our performance yesterday?" She dared. She knew that after they finished with the Wizengamot and they came home, he was actively trying to avoid her. She wanted to believe that it wasn't their kiss which made him seem so withdrawn….that it was all those people who witnessed it… He must have felt embarrassed to give me such a kiss in front of so many of his colleagues.
-That beautiful kiss…that very gentle and careful peck that turned so unexpectedly passionate that I lost all sense of the world for a few moments- Her mind reminded her.
Whatever happened between them at the Wizengamot, she was certain of one thing….she didn't want to lose his attentions in a sea of guilt or remorse. She was not sure of what took place between them…if she wished for it to be repeated or she was afraid of it, but she certainly didn't wish to see him pulling away...that thought distressed her.
He humphed. "I am sure that we have stirred the cauldron hard enough to create a lasting affect across the Ministry, but I wouldn't know anyway."
Another timid smile from her. "No one approached you about it? Didn't anyone wish to talk about it?"
He shook his head.
"No one dared to ask?" Her lips formed a lopsided smile in understanding.
Another shake of the head. "No."
"Even after …" –She cleared her throat- "…our very convincing performance in the end?"
"No one would dare approach me about it. I assure you." He tightened up almost instantly and she saw it.
That was it then…it was the kiss that made him look so distant and aloof. She felt her stomach dropping. All those emotions from yesterday got entangled with the terror of her recent nightmare and left her feeling raw. "You can become very unapproachable when you wish. That is true." Her voice was a musing whisper.
"Was that a reproach?" A small frown bothered his brow.
She pressed her lips. – Yes it is- "No, it's not."
He settled back and conjured a glass of …an amber color liquid for himself…. Then he took one slow sip while remaining silent.
She looked at it pointedly. "What is it?"
"Wolfsbane Potion." A small hairpin formed at the side of his mouth.
She stood in muted confusion.
His smile widened discreetly. "Scotch Whiskey, Fernet Branca and some rather muggle Coca-Cola if you wish."
She felt her taste buds exploding. "And why am I drinking just water?"
He smirked. "You just woke distressed from a rather serious nightmare. You think feeding you alcohol would be the best choice at three in the morning?"
She placed the glass down and tilted her head. "It most certainly would be, but I'd prefer a Butterbeer instead if it isn't too much trouble."
He was silent, but the drink appeared on the table within seconds of her request.
She looked up with another smile. –These smiles keep coming with such ease- She noticed. "That was fast. Thank you."
He lifted his glass. "Here is to no more nightmares for you."
Her smile faded, but she drank to his salute. "Indeed." -She muttered and a small frown twisted upon her brows- "Why didn't you wake me up when you returned?"
"Who am I to destroy such a peaceful rest? You weren't bothering me while sleeping here and hopefully I wasn't bothering you either." He rejoined.
Her eyes consumed almost hungrily his chiseled profile when he wasn't looking. The scars of Nagini were there, hiding under that buttoned up shirt. In order to stop herself from checking him out so rudely she turned her attention on the scrolls. "You are a walking prodigy Severus, aren't you?" She said suddenly.
He scowled. "What?"
"You are the best Potions Master of our age, you possess an equal mastery in the Dark Arts…"
"Greater." He corrected.
She smiled. "Greater…of course and you were hiding pretty adequately how well versed you are in Runes as well."
"Dark Runes." Came the next correction.
She nodded. "Dark Runes…sure. How many subjects of magic have you mastered?"
"Only what was needed for me to survive…" He replied solemnly.
"I understand. I didn't want to make you feel uncomfortable….however academically I find your vast knowledge in so many subjects very…enthralling." –Admit it to yourself Hermione… you find the whole of him enthralling. You always did- That unbidden thought almost broke her composure.
He smiled wistfully. "The brilliant Hermione Granger…always keen to learn more."
She blushed. "Is that a folly?"
"By all means that is the foundation of what makes a great witch." He admitted calmly.
Her blush spread towards the tip of her nose and his black eyes were drawn there. "A great witch? I thought you believed I was a little-know-it-all."
His features shifted into an unexpectedly handsome expression. "You make it sound as if one attribute negates the other, were in reality they are complimentary to one another." He noted.
She smiled and looked away, more for the benefit of regaining the self-control his last smile had stolen from her.
"Nevertheless that appellation stuck with you all this time…. Had I known earlier…that it would have such a deep impact…" He trailed off thoughtfully.
"You wouldn't have used it?" She rejoined in anticipation.
He took several moments to reply. "I would have said it to you much sooner."
Her lips turned down. "Was that a joke?"
"More like a wholesome tease. Someone should explain to you this appellation is an appraisal, not contempt."
"It sounded as such in the past." She said quietly.
His pursed lips drew her eyes like magnet. "I may have used that nickname on you once or twice…."
"More than." She warned.
He sighed. "Very well. I used it several times and I may have sounded belittling…."
"More than…." Another intervention from her.
A ghostly smile appeared on his lips. "Indeed…however being called a know-it-all is hardly disrespectful. I could have used far worse insults had I wished to hurt you in the past."
She nodded and looked down musingly. "That is true."
He scowled at her thoughtful silence and observed the scrolls that she had open in her lap. "Looking at you right now…I cannot help but think…."
She looked up.
"Where is that little know-it-all? Where is the little girl with the unruly hair that was always trying to get the attention of every teacher?"
"The war killed it Professor. This here is what remains of me." Her voice filled with bitterness.
His eyes didn't leave hers. "I meant to say that I am now seeing the little girl all grown up…into a very impressive woman. I don't see a human tragedy in front of me as apparently you do. And do call me Severus. We are supposedly getting married soon."
Her smile was genial, but sad. "What have we become Severus? Mere ghosts of our former selves."
His brow creased.
She continued with a pensive tone. "Remember how much people expected out of me in school? How many have I let down I wonder."
"By not choosing to follow the path they have carved out for you?" His frown deepened.
"A mere nurse….a nurse that got caught in a spider's web. I think I expected more of myself too." She sounded desolate.
He stood up and placed his drink on the table. "What does success mean to you Hermione?"
She looked surprised at the question. "A better carrier, a bigger home, more stability in my life, not having to hide from the government…."
"Not having to marry someone you don't want in order to appease the same goverment?" He smirked.
She looked up flustered. "No! I assure you that I wasn't thinking that…"
He waved her off. "No matter how much we demand of ourselves, the end will never be in sight. Even if you landed yourself a Ministerial job, if you had a bigger house, if you didn't get entrapped in this nightmare, if you had married the man you loved….still you'd wish for more in the end…or maybe for less. We all do…that is why so few of us are happy."
She looked at him mesmerized.
"If we were more content with what we have now…if we didn't allow our need for something better to overtake our lives…then we would be happier…" His tone turned thoughtful.
Her fingers tightened around the scroll, at a loss for words. Was he mistaken perchance? No…
He shook his head, but she was quick to catch the amused look in his eyes. A sight so rare. Then he sat heavily next to her and leaned over to the scroll upon her lap, deciding to divert her away from those dark thoughts. "Don't let us get ensnared by these nebulous thoughts Hermione. Let the past lay exactly where it is….in the past. We have too much to take care of in the present, don't you agree?"
Her smile blossomed. "Yes." She agreed eagerly.
He pointed at the open scroll. "These are rather complicated combinations of the ancient Morgana Runes, mostly used with incantations, either through a wand or by thought alone for the advanced witch or wizard. They can be used in potions, but they are rarely chosen due to their unstable quality. The stability of each incantation or combination depends on the power of the wizard and the sheer volume of magic he wishes to draw from them." –He pointed at one particular rune- "The Eleventh Key is the nexus of these schematics. It is what brings everything together so to say. The spark of ignition…"
"The Morgana Runes? They are highly illegal." She looked up startled.
Both his brows seemingly touched his hairline.
She smiled. "Of course they are."
"I am trying to create new combinations that will allow my partners and me to move through the darkness of the Underworld with more safety." He rejoined quietly.
She felt his eyes on her, intense. "Why are you not using Dark Potions in the Underworld?"
"I do, when necessary, mostly before entering as protective measures. However the incantations are more direct which is more useful when the Dark Magic down there floats around you. it is as thin as the air you breathe…almost invisible and always present. The Dark Runes are much more offensive, while Dark Potions are more defensive." The frown on his brow deepened.
She had to stop herself from reaching out to smooth it over. "Was Voldemort aware of your abilities with the Underworld or with the Dark Runes?"
The silence was long from him….too long, but his gaze didn't waver.
She pressed her lips tightly. "I went too far, right?"
He sighed deeply. "I worked at the side of the Dark Lord for several years before deciding to join Dumbledore Hermione. One can expect that I have used my Dark skills widely during that time for Voldemort's benefit."
That was the only thing he was apparently willing to say and she couldn't blame him. She reached out and cupped his hand. "I am sorry. I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable."
He remained unmovable under her, but his voice was somehow thicker when he spoke next. "Those are times that I do not feel comfortable discussing with a former student."
She felt her stomach tightening. "Is that how you see me?"
A small shadow of uncertainty passed from his usually steady stare. "I shouldn't?"
She shook her head. "You shouldn't. Remember? Your little-know-it-all turned into a very impressive woman…Your words, not mine."
She felt his hand twitching under hers. "True words."
She removed her hand from his carefully, not willing to make him feel uncomfortable. Then her eyes fell back to the scroll. "Would you ever teach me these if I asked you?"
"Most probably, but why would you need to learn them?" He frowned.
"So I can help you." She turned to him.
"In which way?"
"Enter the Underworld and find out what is happening with this damned law…with all these abductions…with all the birth defects in the Muggle-born community." With each sentence she sounded more fixated.
He leaned his elbow on his thigh and rubbed his forehead. "I told you before that is a request I will not be able to fulfil."
"Because I am a simple nurse. Incapable of dealing with the Underworld? Too inexperienced to snoop around Dark Magic or understand the Morgana Runes? Had I been an Auror like Harry would you have accepted me?" Her eyes fell on him heavy.
Those words froze him. "I would never subject you to the Underworld willingly, Hermione. You wish to help? Do it out here…in our world. Now you are free. You are able to do so much."
"Like what? I signed the papers to marry you. The world expects me to become a quiet Muggle-born house wife, not the hero of the day."
"And you intend to listen to the world?" He scowled, but his lips turned into an amused side-smile.
She scoffed. "No."
"Good." -He tilted his head- "Look we signed a few papers, but that means nothing. I told you so at the Ministry. You are a free woman."
"If I choose to live in another home, without you, won't Wizengamot chase me?" Hermione's eyes were serious.
"I can make them loose your tracks indefinitely and our marriage will still be legal enough to keep the Aurors off your tracks. You will be able to move freely and they wouldn't know anything about it."
Her heart warmed up to him. "What if I wish to remain in your home?"
He was slightly taken aback. "You can."
"And become your real wife." She continued while a playful smile was dawning on her lips.
His brow shadowed. "What?"
"Caught you off guard, didn't I?" She raised her brow.
He kept her eyes. "Indubitably."
"It was a joke…." She leaned over and clasped his hand, reassuringly.
He didn't smile.
She pressed her lips and looked away, unable to hide how awkward that last exchange felt. –Why make such an inappropriate joke in the first place?-
She touched her forehead and closed her eyes. "Forgive me for sounding so forthcoming. I tried to make you smile, but I am still out of sorts. Confused…from the dream."
"You never told me what you saw." He said.
What happened next she would have never anticipated. She didn't even get the chance to recount her dream to him, not that she would ever get into any details. Her mind didn't allow her. Her lips tightened as the memory of his pale mask of death rushed to her so quickly that she lost all sense of reality. That is when everything around her got muted and she heard it again… The small blood bubbles that were popping at the side of his parted lips… She made an attempt to use words, but they didn't come. Trapped as she was in this unexpected vortex she felt his hand clasping hers, but it was not enough to keep her there. She was momentarily trapped…kneeling next to the other Severus back in the boathouse, begging him not to die again from that deadly stab wound.
-Stab wound-
"Stab wound?" He whispered.
She inhaled deeply and pulled her hand away. "Did you use Legilimency on me?" She scowled angrily.
He shook his head calmly. "No Hermione. You projected your thoughts to me so forcefully that I couldn't stop them."
She cupped her neck and closed her eyes. "You are too sensitive when it comes to mind-reading. I did nothing of the sort."
"You didn't realize it. I swear I wouldn't intrude your mind without an invitation." His resonating voice, gave the sincerity of his tone another depth.
She flinched. "What did you see?"
"Just your pale face etched in panic and those words. Nothing else." He pressed his lips and cupped his hands over his knees.
Her eyes fell on his neck…which was as always hidden under the high collar of his black shirt. She didn't know if her weird mood pushed her to act so carelessly towards him at that moment, but suddenly her fingers were touching his collar. She was happy that he didn't use Legilimency on her and that he didn't relive the terror of his death through her dream. However the image of his face twisted in pain, the sound of those blood bubbles popping between his lips…the gargling noise that had replaced his breathing…the blood sipping through his fingers that were curled around under his chest….everything still felt so real for her. She had to see…at that moment she just had to see. Her fingers pulled the collar down gently.
"What are you doing Hermione?" His deep voice seemed so far away.
"Do they hurt you still?" She whispered towards the deep scars that decorated his neck.
He tried to pull away…she felt him, but she didn't allow him to do so. "Not anymore."
Her eyes suddenly welled with hot tears. "I wish I could have done more for you back then."
He gave her an intense side-glance that she missed, but didn't speak.
"There was so much tension between you and Harry …between you and me before the war. We never understood why…we never realized until it was too late." Her voice was barely heard.
"I never demanded such an understanding out of you." The profound serenity of his voice resonated through her soul.
She closed her eyes and her forefinger traced one of the scarred pathways down to his collarbone. "I wish I could turn back time and change that day….I wish I had more courage to stay back and help you…we left you to bleed out…we left you to die."
"You left me for dead. There is a difference." He said calmly.
A deep crease appeared on her forehead. "We abandoned you."
"Any delay could have cost us the victory Hermione. Every second counted….remaining behind to help one, might have sacrificed the lives of many." Came the cold reasoning.
"We all abandoned you…even after the war was over. Nobody searched for your body." She murmured, feeling overwhelmed by emotion.
He reached up and clasped her hand. Then he drew it away from his neck. "There was no body to be found." A small smirk adorned his usually strict features.
She liked that. "Where did you hide in order to heal yourself?"
"In the very same place no one dares to enter." His words sounded cryptic, but she understood.
"The Underworld?"
He tilted his head silently. He neither denied, nor agreed.
Her fingers grazed the roughness of his palm. Those were hands that had been timeworn….skin that was never given a chance to rest it seemed. She felt the need to caress him, but didn't know if he would accept that gentle touch. "Forgive me for not helping you when you needed me the most."
He pulled back seemingly surprised. "Where did all that guilt come from?"
She stippled her fingers through his and held her breath. He didn't pull away. A small victory. "Forgive me please…"
He was silent.
"You helped Harry for so many years. You protected him…protected us…helped all of us and when you needed us the most we left you to bleed out."
He opened his mouth to interrupt her, but she didn't allow him. She pressed his hand tightly. "You stepped up to help me even now, after so many years without any thoughts about your career, your peace, your safety…or your ….relationship." The last one was forced out.
He humphed. "I was never in a relationship with Maxine."
"You are helping me still, yet I was never there for you." Hermione continued heavily, barely registering what he said about Max.
His gaze was intense. "It is alright Hermione. You were just children."
"I am not a child anymore." She frowned.
His countenance became serious. "Oh, I know…." He let the thought trail.
She felt a knot tightening in the pit of her stomach as her eyes seared into his. "Do you believe in foresight Severus?" Her question was sudden, but the tone of her voice solemn.
He seemed surprised. "In a world ruled by magic it would be a folly to say no."
An anxious smile turned her lips up. "When are you going to enter the Underworld?"
"In a few hours." He scowled.
"You are going in today?" Her eyes grew wide.
"It is my turn." He rejoined.
She pulled his large hand into her lap and scooted closer to him. "No, you can't." Her lower lip was shaking. She was unable to hide the wave of apprehension that washed over her on those words. –He cannot go into the Underworld after what I saw. Not today…no-
"It is my job, what are you saying Hermione?" He sounded annoyed.
She closed her eyes and leaned over to him. Her forehead touched his cheek. She didn't care if she looked frail right now…she just couldn't allow him to enter the Underworld. Not after that dream. She would do anything to keep him there. "Not today Severus…please." She murmured.
His hand came up her forearm, but the reluctance was noticeable. "Why not?"
"Because I need you here with me…" –Because now it is my turn to help you- Her lips slid over to his jawline and she shuddered at the roughness of his stubble.
He didn't speak, but he was not trying to get away from her either.
She didn't hesitate when her mouth touched the side of his…that exquisite softness was there again, making her stomach instantly tighten with longing. She hadn't fantasized that riveting tension between them at the Wizengamot, had she? It was there once again more ardent than before. She felt it at the strain of his breath that was grazing her cheek with its scorching heat. "Don't go today…please." She murmured.
His fingers wrapped tightly around her arm. "There is no one here to see us Hermione."
She closed her eyes. "I know."
"You don't need to prove anything to anyone by acting like this." He whispered.
That warm murmur send her over the edge. She turned a little and her lips caught the softness of his. Instantly her body tensed and a liquid warmth spread inside her slowly. "I know."
He remained immovable there with her for several breathless moments. She felt his body tensing, his fingers around her arm shaking slightly and his breath accelerating, but he didn't move to demand a kiss out of her. He slowly pulled back. Something that almost drove her to insanity. She was pulsating with the need to taste him, but he left her hanging. She forced herself to open her eyes.
His were closed. A palm was rubbing his forehead. "Hermione I think that right now we are both too tired to handle a game with fire."
She didn't want to lose his eyes. She cupped his cheek tenderly. "Please don't enter the Underworld tomorrow. Stay here…I will cook for us. You can show me a few things about the Dark Runes. I can…." What would be tempting enough to keep him there? Her kiss apparently was not.
His smile was tired and dare she thought…adorable? "I cannot stop working. Not now that we have so many things at stake."
She shook her head and cupped his cheek from the other side too. "I am just asking to stay away from the Underworld tomorrow, not indefinitely. Please, doesn't that kiss…awkward as it was deserve that favor?" She tried humor…hoping against all hope.
She counted the seconds along with the wild beating of her heart. Finally he sighed deeply. "Fine, just this once…for that awkward kiss."
The sigh of relief was audible from her. She wasn't sure she believed in foresight either, but having him stay with her tomorrow felt right for some reason. She smiled widely and released his face. "Thank you."
He pressed his lips and offered her a ghostly smile. "Now we must go to sleep Hermione, because tomorrow I still have a lot of work to finish and so do you."
"Are we going to study Dark Runes?" Her eyes lit up.
"You are going to cook for me and I shall consider showing you a few basic things about them. Is that a deal?" He offered her his hand.
She grasped it tightly. "Deal!" She felt as if a ton of weight got lifted from her chest.
"Deal then…and just for the record…you don't have to use your feminine allure, which is profuse in order to convince me to do things next time."
She felt the doubt in his voice and a playful streak woke up in her heart. "I never did."
His brow creased and she loved the look of confusion in his usually skillful eyes. "You don't have to kiss me to get things done." He explained.
"What if I'd like to kiss you just in order to see what it feels like?" She raised her brow.
He pulled back even more disarrayed. He weighed her for several moments were her stomach was tickling her with mirth and then looked away. "It is too late to handle you and this conversation Miss Granger. Go to sleep…" He said and stood up.
She lay down willingly, feeling more content than she had been in ages…safe and almost happy….almost but not exactly. Then she pulled the blanket up to her chin. "Yes, sir!" She chirped.
He turned to her sternly. Opened his mouth to say something. Regretted it and then walked away mumbling. "Goodnight Hermione."
"Goodnight." She whispered and looked at the open scrolls upon the table. She didn't know what to think about the first kiss at the Wizengamot that got so easily out of control and turned into a scorching fire that almost burned her alive. She didn't know what to think about the timid second half-kiss she initiated, but remained unfulfilled.
She was just happy that she had convinced him to remain home tomorrow. That for her was enough to allow her body to relax into a dreamless sleep, which was very restful and lasted until late at noon.
