She had fallen into a sleep early that evening. She hadn't even had the chance to eat her supper before she was overtaken. As usual, he carried his little witch up to her rooms. He lay her on the bed and slowly disrobed her. He admired how the late afternoon sun kissed her skin, giving it a warm glow. He shucked his own clothing and joined his angel.

He took his time arousing his witch. He teased her nipples while kissing her neck. He ground himself against her until they were both slick and slid inside of her. He hissed at the sensation. She was always so tight, so warm and wet around him. He rocked into her over and over while whispering words of love.

"Oh, for fuck's sake, Severus! Not again," a voice boomed from the doorway. The potions master quickly withdrew and threw the sheets over Hermione to preserve her modesty. His heart was beating wildly as he turned to face Lucious Malfoy.

"Lucious, what are….why are…it's not what it looks like," he sputtered.

The other wizard sneered down at him, "Really, Severus? After all this time, you think you can lie to me?"

The potions master scrambled to pull on his trousers as he cursed himself. He'd been a careless fool. He'd forgotten that he'd told Lucious of a rare book he'd recently acquired and had suggested he stop by to view it. "I'm not lying…" he started.

"Stop," the blond interrupted. "First Evans and now Granger. I admit that I had my suspicions, but I truly believed we were better friends than that. Apparently, I was mistaken."

"Lucius, it's not about friendship. I love her…" he tried again.

"Just like you loved Evans? Merlin, what is it with you and mudblood tail?" he asked.

"Don't you dare call her that word!" Severus shouted.

Lucius simply rolled his eyes at the man's bluster & continued his inspection. "I take it you modified the curse to ensure you're the only one who can cure her?" he asked. "You wouldn't want someone else swooping in and curing her themselves again, would you?"

"Of course, I corrected it," he spat thinking of how James had delayed and ruined his plans, leading his sweet Lily to an early grave.

"Did you mean for it to be so aggressive?" the other man asked. "You very nearly killed her."

"How did you know?" Severus responded, eying the man suspiciously.

"It's my business to know. I've cultivated a….friendship of sorts with the woman," the blond responded. Then added with a shrug, "She had potential, and I thought she would be helpful in redeeming my family's name. You didn't answer my question."

The potions master looked away. "It was a mistake," he whispered. "I made only a few small modifications, and…and…" His eyes snapped back to the other wizard. "Lucious, it was vicious. It fought me. Me! Its own creator! It started eating her magical core. It tried to kill her. I never wanted that. I just wanted a reason to be near her. I didn't want her to die," he confessed.

Lucious rolled his eyes again and walked past the man towards the bed to get a better look at the sleeping woman. He ripped the sheets away to observe her more closely. He took in her firm breasts and wet, rosy cunt. "Have you had her ass yet?" he asked conversationally.

"How dare you!"

"No, then," the blond surmised. "How about her mouth?" he asked as he took off his cloak.

"Of course, not. I respect her!" the potions master protested. He grabbed the sheet and moved to cover his angel once more. The other man just chuckled and started to unbutton his robes. "What the fuck do you think you're doing?" Severus asked rounding on the other man.

Again, Lucious ignored Severus's anger and replied calmly. "I'm taking my due. You promised me Evans and never delivered. I'm simply correcting your oversight."

"You will not lay a finger on her!" the wizard seethed.

The blond laughed, "Oh, I'll be laying much more than a finger on her."

Severus swung at the other man who deftly ducked the blow. He grabbed the potion's master by the shoulders and slammed him into the nearest wall. "Now you listen to me. We had a deal, a promise to one another, and I kept my part of the deal. I let you have my wife, my wife," he ground out. He gestured to Hermione with a nod of his head. "Have you any idea how much time and money I put into that girl, just to have you take it all away? She was on track to be Minister of Magic, and you ruined her!"

"She's not ruined," the potions master protested.

Lucious slammed Severus back into the wall. "No!" the blond shouted. "It's still my turn to talk. Now, I'm going to go sink balls deep in that mudblood whore over there, and you won't say a thing about it. I have enough to bury you," he hissed. "They'll take away your pretty witch. Not that she'll want to have anything to do with you after she finds out what you did. But don't worry, I'll be there to pick up the pieces. I might still be able to get back part of my investment," he sneered at the other wizard. "And don't even think of killing or obliviating me. I've already made arrangements should anything happen to me." He released Severus and stepped away, patting him on the back. "Sorry to be so forceful, old friend. Just want to make sure there are no misunderstandings."

Severus stood motionless as the horror of the situation sank in. He would lose her. He would lose her, and she would die. He'd been impetuous when he'd accepted Lucious's offer to test his curse on Narcissa, but it had seemed such a perfect solution to his dilemma. His price had been high, but when he threw in Narcissa, herself. Well, that had been a temptation too far.

He closed his eyes in resignation as his friend disrobed. He had failed his love once more. He finally moved, walking towards the door. Not wanting to witness his angel's debasement.

"Where do you think you're going?" Lucious asked from behind him.

"Where do you think?" he snarled at the other man. "I will not sit here and watch you use the woman I love."

"Oh, you're not going anywhere, and you'll be doing a lot more than just watching," he replied evenly. "Narcissa was never so tight as when she had your cock forced inside her alongside mine. I mean to experience the same with this one. Now, come back and disrobe," he ordered.

Severus knew he was doomed when he turned and walk to the bed, unbuttoning his trousers once more.

*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*

Severus sat on the edge of the bed looking down on his broken angel as Lucious redressed. She was littered with bruises and bite marks. The blond had done far more than nipping and nibbling. Some of the bites had drawn blood. Her inner thighs were also smeared with blood due to the rough treatment of both her back and front passages. He had never wanted to cause her such pain, yet here he was.

"Sorry for all the ugliness," Lucious said quietly as he prepared to leave. "I wish you had trusted me with this. I could have helped you. I could have at least watched her for you," he said gently.

The potions master sighed. "I know. I should have trusted you. I was just so caught up, and I…I…" he was lost for words.

The blond put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "I know, old friend. You deserve love. It's your turn to find happiness. Does she make you happy?"

Despite her injuries, Severus smiled down at Hermione. "Yes. Yes, she really does. With her….it's so easy. Nothing has ever come to me so naturally," he confessed.

Lucious smiled down at his friend. "Then I'm happy for you," he responded. "I shan't impose on you both again until after you wed." He paused as he turned to leave. "I have missed you, old friend. The war may be over, but we're still brothers."

Severus looked back at the man. "I know. I'm sorry for my neglect," he apologized.

This time it was a sad smile that graced Lucious's lips. "Then come call on us from time to time, like you used to. Poor Nissa thinks you're upset with her," he said.

"Never," the potions master responded. "How could I ever be upset with her. I shall come calling," he vowed.

"Bring Hermione as well. When she's up for it. Nissa would so enjoy it."

"Yes, I'm sure their friendship would do them both good," the potions master surmised.

Lucious's smile turned into a leer, "And after you are duly wed, I would so like to see the two of them together. I haven't put her under in so long, but can you imagine how they would look side by side, fair and dark. Ah, it would be divine," he declared.

Severus laughed good naturedly, "I'm sure it would be."

*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*

He had no choice but to leave Hermione to sleep as she healed. He knew he was being overcautious, but he was terrified of her waking in pain. It was bad enough that she had to experience it at all, let alone feel it in her waking life. He had bathed her as carefully and reverently as he always did. He was diligent in tending to her wounds which were substantial.

He kept glamours on her during the day, in case someone stopped by unannounced. He didn't want to concern them, and he wanted to keep their private matters, well, private. He didn't think his angel would approve of everyone knowing the details of her sex life.

Everyone grew concerned with the length of this sleep. She'd never staid under for so long before. Severus knew she would awake when she was ready, but he was grateful none the less, when her former caretakers quickly stepped in to assist in her care. While he was well versed in administering nutrition potions and cleansing charms, he wasn't prepared for calisthenics and watching for bedsores. Her family had prepared for this. The healers were thankfully positive about her prognosis. Her health remained stable, and they saw no indication of deterioration in her magical core. There was no reason to think she wouldn't wake like every other time.

Lucious often sat with him in the long nights. He understood the need for the woman's sleep and helped him pass the time. They often spent evenings sipping on Firewhiskey and reminiscing about the past. Severus would tell him about Hermione and their time together. The blond would catch him up on the events of his life and tales of Narcissa and Draco. Sometimes, Lucious would soothe him in other ways, in secret ways. In ways like how they did when they were boys so long ago, when the Malfoy heir took him under his wing, when he called him pet and his special baby boy.

Severus sometimes found himself on his knees with his mouth around the other wizard's cock, worshiping it like he'd been taught. Sometimes, he bounced on his daddy's lap, his cock lodged firmly up Severus's ass. He treasured those moments and the ones when he had a caretaker watch his angel as he visited the Malfoys. Narcissa was ever the gracious host, and clearly happy to have her friend returned. The three of them spent many a night together in conversation. When Narcissa turned in for the night, the men would retire to the study for a glass of firewhiskey before joining Narcissa as she slept.

*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*

After almost three weeks, Hermione woke. All drew a sigh of relief. She seemed overly tender upon waking, like her very skin was alien to her, and she was quiet. So very quiet. She shied away from touch and rarely spoke to anyone. They tried to respect her silence, but it was uncharacteristic. They were all worried.

Severus started finding her door locked when he came with breakfast. He'd set her tray at the door and retreat to his own rooms. She didn't join him for any meals and avoided him all together. When her friends would visit, she was short with them or completely distracted. They tried to coax and cajole her into joining their conversations, but she could not be stirred. Even baby Albus wasn't able to cheer her.

As her despondency increased, the sleep came on her more often and for longer periods of time. Her weight started to drop again. Severus was frantic with worry. He worked to get ahead of the curse once more. He had a great deal of control of the curse. He could cause her to sleep and he could keep her asleep for longer, but he couldn't stop them all together. He also couldn't wake her when the curse wanted her under. His proximity was key for her recovery. The longer she hid from him the weaker she would get.

He spoke at length with the Weasleys and Potters about her despondency and declining health. They decided that the best course of action was a direct confrontation. Severus volunteered. He had the most access to her and thus would have the best chances to speak with her.

*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*

He found the opportunity a few nights later. He was delivering her supper when he came across her reading in the upstairs library. He'd set it up for her after she became more mobile yet still couldn't transverse the stairs. He'd thought the new locale, extra reading materials and different view of the gardens might do her some good. And it had, until now.

He set the trays aside and picked a book from the shelves. He moved to sit beside her next to the fire place. When she didn't acknowledge him, he simply turned his attention to his book and read. After about an hour, he looked up to notice that the witch had set her book aside and was staring intently at the fire. "You've been quiet lately," he said.

"I thought you might prefer that," she replied her eyes still focused on the flames.

Snape frowned. "Whatever gave you that idea," he asked. "I quite like your company, Miss Granger."

The woman didn't answer immediately but continued to stare into the fire. Eventually, she sighed and she quietly asked, "Why are we doing this?"

"Doing what?" he asked.

"This! Trying!" she answered, tears glistened in her eyes. "I thought I was getting better. I thought I would…." she shook her head. "I knew this wouldn't work. I told myself I was being foolish. That I wasn't being a greedy, self-centered bitch for allowing yet another person to get sucked into this. But I was. Now, I keep asking myself why I'm even pretending anymore, because I am pretending," Hermione said looking over to Severus. "I'm pretending that any of this matters. That all of this isn't just some very dark time in the lives of the people I love. That this isn't something that they are going to need to overcome and move on from…without..me." She said the last words slowly as if she knew they would take time to sink in. "So, I wake up every day knowing, that I am only drawing that darkness out for them. It's time for everyone to move on," she ended as her tears started to fall. She turned back to the fire.

Severus was shocked. He hadn't expected such and outburst, and he wasn't prepared for the depth of her pain. This couldn't be happening, he thought. She can't be giving up now. Not when they were so close, and they were close. "Miss Granger," his voice sounded gravelly so he cleared his throat and tried again. "Miss Granger, you are not dying. This has been a setback, yes, but by no means is it a defeat. I simply got complacent in your improvement and lost the lead but not the race."

Hermione shook her head. "No, don't you see? I'm hurting you. This isn't your fault; it's mine, and I'm so sorry for doing this to you," she whispered.

"Doing this? Miss Granger, you aren't doing this to me, you're doing it for me," he replied. "You're my riddle, remember?" He tried to joke. "Something come into my life to help me pass my lonely, empty hours."

The witch smiled sadly. "Some riddles don't have answers," she said.

"All riddles have answers," he countered firmly.

She shook her head, "Not this one."

"No, Miss Granger!" he retorted angrily. "This one has an answer. I am close, Miss Granger. I let myself get distracted by it, it caused me to grow complacent in your care." He took a breath to gather himself. "I….I sometimes get so focused on the end, that I neglect the journey. That is my fault, and one I had long before I met you," he said with a gentle smile. "Please give me more time. I beg you," he pleaded.

"For what?" she asked. "For. What? What's my life going to be after this? What could it possibly be after this?" she seethed. "All my life, I always had this clear picture of my future, and I never doubted it. Not during the war, not even under Bellatrix's knife. I didn't doubt it. But now, now, I can't stop thinking how the longer this goes on and the more damage this does to me… I'm not even a witch anymore. I-I I don't know what comes next..." she trailed off.. "I don't know if I'm being pessimistic or realistic, but I just don't know if the future I planned is even feasible any more, or if I even want it," she confessed. "I'm so tired of being that person. I'm tired of being strong, I'm tired of feeling helpless, I'm tired of being patient, I'm tired of being a burden, I'm tired of being in pain, because everything hurts, my joints, my muscles, my very skin aches, and I'm so goddamn tired of it all."

Severus's heart ached for his witch. She wasn't alone in this. They were in this together. He'd never leave her. "Then let me bare some of your burden. You don't need to be strong, not for me, not for anyone. Let us, let me take care of you, truly care for you. I know you're tired of being "tended", but think of me as, as your servant, appropriately compensated of course," Hermione smiled a little at his jest. "I'll be your servant, at your beckon call."

The witch shook her head. "No, you've already rearranged your world to accommodate me. It's time to go. I won't have you sacrificing even more of your life out of some sense of obligation or appreciation…."

"It's neither," Severus interrupted.

"Then why?" she shot back. "Because this isn't part of the fucking riddle, sir. Merlin, haven't you realized yet that you're only delaying the inevitable. You're battling symptoms not the bloody disease! All this time and I've not felt even a tinge of my magic, and I still sleep. So, tell me why am Idoing this. Godric, I feel like I've been fighting from the moment I first stepped off that fucking train. I'm so tired of fighting, "she confessed, sobbing.

"Then stop fighting," he returned. "Stop fighting for a future you don't even know if you want. Let me care for you, indulge you, bare your anger and comfort your hurt. I don't need you to be strong, Miss Granger. I just need you."

"Why?" she asked again. "If it isn't gratitude, if it isn't obligation, then what is it?"

He didn't know what to say or what was appropriate. "Miss Granger," he started.

"Still so formal, Professor?" the witch scoffed. "After all this time? Merlin, we bloody live together. Just please tell me why," her words giving way to her tears.

Concerned, the man approached her. "Miss Granger?" he asked. When she gave no response, he added softly. "Hermione?"

The woman laughed through her tears. "I'm so sorry, Professor. I didn't mean to complain."

"You owe me no apologies," the wizard responded. He crouched beside her. "We've been worried. You know you can talk to us…you know you can talk to me."

The young woman looked at him so sweetly. "I need to go. It's time to move on," she said with resolution.

"No!" he cried. She was leaving him. She was choosing death. He needed to say something. He needed to convince her. He needed to tell her the truth. "Love," he answered. "My answer is love. That's why."

She seemed surprised, although he couldn't tell if it was due to his confession or that he'd actually said it. "I didn't mean to burden you," he quickly added.

"How could you possibly…" she started.

"How could I not?" he countered. "I've loved you for so long." He frowned. "But not too long," he amended with a look of distaste. "It wasn't until a few years after the war that I saw you as a woman. I remember we hadn't seen each other since shortly after the final battle, and then there you were. This beautiful, bright woman with confidence and a good heart. Someone as stubborn as me," he smirked. "The more I got to know you, the more I loved you." He looked into her eyes, then he saw it. Just a flicker, but it was there. Hope. Severus was relieved. She still wanted salvation.

"That was the problem though. I was much too old for you. I still am," he admitted. "So, I tried to stay away, but once I realized how ill you were…. It's why I've stayed formal. You deserve better than myself, by far." He took her hands in his. "All I've done, it wasn't out of obligation or gratitude, Hermione. It was an act of love. Every minute with you has been a joy. It's far more than I ever dreamed possible, and far more than I deserve." He watched the woman's expression. Hoping for any indication of how his confessions had been received.

It didn't bode well, when the frail witch started to cry in earnest. He didn't hesitate though; he gathered the woman in his arms. He sat on the floor and rocked her as she cried for a long time. Eventually her tears dried up and she was silent. Still, he held her. It was near midnight when she spoke. "I need to not be in control for a little bit," she whispered.

Severus closed his eyes in relief. "I will see to everything," he vowed, and He felt her melt into him. Within minutes, she was asleep. The potions master scooped her up like he'd done so many times before. He brought her to her bed, placing her between the sheets. He carefully gathered her hair and put on her bonnet. Afterwards, he leaned down and kissed her forehead. She smiled. Severus's heart skipped a beat. That was a first. It was with joy in his heart, that he left her to her dreams.