Hands Entwined

by Verity

Somehow, they end up in his sitting room, though later Hermione is never sure quite how – for the only thing in her mind is the gentle pressure of his fingers entwined in hers. She is surprised to discover that she trusts him.

"Why?" she asks him once they're in his sitting room, a fire lit in the grate.

Severus knows what she's speaking of. "I knew you were bright – always knew that, but never… thought much more of you. You were always with Potter and Weasley – I though they'd made a lackey of you, using you for their own ends… I was wrong," he adds. "When you went in there – by yourself – after they had fallen – I had never seen that side of you. And when you came out, cover in blood, drenched in it, with that hideous, empty triumph in your eyes, like some vengeful warrior goddess… I thought you were dying, and I knew that if you died, I would. I couldn't understand why. Then."

She smiles, sitting down on the imperious-looking but surprisingly comfortable couch to lean her head against his shoulder. "I always understood," she says quietly, "I only tried to stop myself from comprehending."

With one long finger, Severus tilts her head up to his, brushing her lips slightly with his in a manner than leaves her breathless. After what seems light years but is probably only a moment, he kisses her in earnest, a kiss that is very different from the grave-and-almost-chaste one they shared in the Astronomy Tower, and Hermione wanders away in her mind… to some space that is still untainted, that has yet to be defiled by the ravages of humanity, or of a lack thereof…

When he finally pulls away, her cheeks are flushed, and she feels a sudden urge to murmur No, no, don't stop, please… into his ear. Her own recklessness frightens her.

"Would you stay here?" Severus asks her.

"What?"

"As a professor, I mean," he explains, slightly flustered. "Minerva was meant to tell you, but I don't think she'll mind that I – will you?"

"Of course," she answers, surprised but equally delighted. It is then that it comes to her, what he is offering – a chance to get to know him truly, a chance to make something more of this than stolen kisses in the night, a chance… that she will gladly take. "Thank you." She looks into his eyes until he nods, understanding, and perhaps a little bit relieved.

"You're welcome."

The night's events and the fact that she hasn't had a decent night's sleep in weeks are beginning to take their toll on her, and she leans back into the comforting warm of arms, her head against his chest; she sighs a tired, happy little sigh. The soothing, rhythmic beat of his heart lulls her to a dreamless sleep as he strokes her hair.

She wakes as the sun rises, with Severus still asleep next to her. The one window in the room, close to the ceiling, lets in a river of dusky morning light. The fire, though almost guttered out by now, is still bright in the fireplace.

Unexpectedly, Dumbledore's head appears there amidst the flames a few minutes later.

"Ah, Miss Granger, I had rather thought I might find you here," he says, as though it is the most natural thing in the world for her to be sleeping in the Potions master's quarters.

Hermione nods, letting a small smile play on her lips. Dumbledore's eyes twinkle.

"I suppose you've decided to stay on as part of the faculty…?"

"Of course," she says, "I'm honored."

"But that is not what I meant to speak to you about. Your friend Harry has awakened." The Headmaster smiles, a wide, joyous smile.

She lets out an involuntary cry, which to her dismay wakens Severus.

"Hmm?" he exclaims groggily, tightening his arms around her protectively.

"It is only I, Severus," Dumbledore says reassuringly. "Harry Potter has returned from his sleep, thanks to the draught you've been preparing. That is all." With that, the fire in the grate suddenly succumbs to a lack of fuel and extinguishes itself.

I will not burst into tears. I will not burst into tears, Hermione thinks, and oddly, she's rather unsure why she wants to do so. Severus, who is slightly more awake by this point, sighs, so she squeezes his hand as a gesture of comfort.

"You don't have to take care of him anymore," she tells him.

He laughs. "True. True."

She stands up, straightening her dress, and runs her fingers through her hair. "Let's go. Together."

Severus smiles up at her, takes her hand in his, and strangely, she feels more together than she's ever been.

Thanks goes to all my reviewers: Chrissy (ah, another reader of Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging, I see), VenusDeMilo (and so I did), Bellemaine Chercoeur (how nice of you! And indeed, I rarely wander straight down the yellow brick road as I write… *wink* ), and Nikki (thanks so much! I've gotten terribly behind on your story and ought to catch up – are you on ffn?).

Also, thanks to Fier for sitting behind me in LMS and reading all of it. *grin* Now, I want to read more about Etari….

Verity