Days for Hermione and Snape had now become a muddle of barely-controlled
panic and a frantic attempt to shut down the Mark. Dumbledore released
Harry and Ron from their senior projects and instead offered them credit
for their work on the Mark instead. Seeing the terror in Hermione's eyes
and the worry in her husband's, they picked up the pace on their research -
skipping out on a Hogsmeade weekend, ditching the Valentine's Dance
committee and frequently "forgetting" to go to Divination. 'If she's truly
got the Inner Eye, she'll understand this is more important,' thought
Harry, one afternoon as he bent over his notes in the library.
Several nights a week their experiments kept the foursome up far past curfew, occasionally joined by Dumbledore. After a few nights spent alone waiting in Harry's bed, Ginny finally found her way to the dungeons and was brought into the circle. She quickly volunteered her mother's talents and ideas for healing wounds and removing scars to the cause, and soon Molly Weasley began apparating to Hogsmeade several times a week and making the hike to Hogwarts. Discussions in the newly-expanded group regarding the power of the Mark to force Severus to apparate against his will led to the analysis of lycanthropy and how the moon forces werewolves to change. The next evening, Dumbledore entered the potions classroom with a large grin and a werewolf in tow. After many hugs and a rather stiff, but conciliatory handshake from Snape, Remus Lupin was brought up to speed on their research and their plans.
"If we manage to neutralize the Mark with a potion, perhaps we can figure out how to transmute it into an aerosol form," suggested Ginny late one evening near the end of February.
"Good idea, Ginny," said Molly. "Once we manage to perfect this potion, we can then use it in the air to remove other Marks without their owner's consent. If Malfoy can't organize his minions through the Mark, it will make gaining power once again that much more difficult."
Snape sighed and looked over at the cauldron that held their most promising potion to date. It had been nearly a month since Malfoy had begun taunting Snape with almost daily activations of his Mark. The subject of their concern was sitting limply at his desk, holding Hermione on his lap and protectively covering her expanding stomach with his hand. His face was creased with pain and his skin was deathly white - the preventative potions were beginning to lose their effectiveness and Malfoy's torture was becoming more brutal by the day. He was an exhausted and nearly beaten man.
"Either way, I have to go the next time he summons me," said Snape. "I have to be able to find out who is back so we can dose them with the potion - if it works. And if I try to keep resisting his call, I have no doubt he will manage to kill me via it."
Molly Weasley rose and walked to the couple. She put her hand on Snape's shoulder and squeezed.
"It will work, Severus. Maybe not this batch, but eventually, we will hit on the right combination and it will work," she said. "So you get yourself prepared, get to a meeting, get us our names and let's get rid of these bastards once and for all!"
"Yes, ma'am!" said Snape, wearily attempting a grin.
"You don't want to see that one bloody apeshit, Snape," interjected Ron. "Trust me. I've seen it plenty of times."
"And you will see it again, young man, if you don't watch your language," Molly screeched, her voice echoing on the stone walls as she crossed over to her son and smacked him on the back of the head. "Ronald Weasley! Honestly!"
"Ron, you just *had* to make her mad," piped up the normally-quiet Lupin. "Great job."
The group turned to look at the red-faced Weasley boy and began to chuckle collectively. Tension was released as they left chuckle far behind and descended into full-blown chortles and guffaws. So, that evening at least, it was laughter that ended their work session and laughter that followed Hermione and Snape down the corridor to their quarters.
Once inside, Hermione led Snape to their bedroom and he stood like a perfectly-mannered child as she undressed him and helped him into his pajamas. Slipping into her nightgown, she pulled him into bed with her and listened to his sigh of relief as he hit the cool sheets. They curled up in a secure ball in the center of the bed and lay for several moments - just listening to each other breathe. Snape's hand once again reached for Hermione's belly.
"I would almost swear I felt the baby move today," said Hermione. "You'll be able to feel it soon."
She snuggled into him more and began to gently caress his scalp and face, smiling as she felt the rest of his body beginning to react to her. Her hand dropped beneath the sheets to caress him further and she enjoyed hearing his startled gasp.
"It's been a long time, Severus," she whispered. "Almost three weeks."
Snape shifted so he could kiss her gently.
"*Only* three weeks," he said. "Remember, I'm the man who waited nearly seventeen years."
"That's right," she said, rolling them so she could straddle him and stripping off her nightgown. She leaned down to kiss him as they began to slowly rock against each other. She reached to the nightstand and with a flick of her wand, removed his pajamas. She smiled when she felt his skin touch hers. "I think I have some time to make up for."
"Hermione, I - " he began.
"Shhhh - You just lie there and let me take care of all the work for once. You don't always have to try to be some perfect lover that is straight out of a romance novel, you know," she said, rubbing his chest and beginning to nibble on his ear. It was difficult for him to relinquish control, Hermione knew, and she was worried he would say no.
Instead, he sighed happily and nodded, dropping his hands to rest on her thighs and turning over everything to her. He closed his eyes and let her touch and arouse him as she wished, only opening his eyes briefly when she guided him inside her with a rather mischievous grin. Their lovemaking was soft and gentle that night, but over quickly - much to Severus' embarrassment.
"Hermione, I'm so sorry," he stammered, as she flicked her wand to redress them and snuggled back into his arms. "It must be the stress. And I'm just so exhausted. I'm so sorry, I just couldn't seem to hold back."
"There's nothing to be sorry for, Severus," she said. "Tonight was about you, not me. Didn't you enjoy it?"
She looked up with hurt in her brown eyes. He kissed her softly in reply.
"It was incredible and exactly what I needed, Angel. But, are you sure I can't -" he began, dipping his own hand beneath the sheets and reaching for her. She stopped him with a gentle touch and moved his hand upwards to caress their growing child instead.
"No, love. Tonight was for you. Only you."
A few kisses later, the tired and worried pair dozed off into fitful sleep. At midnight, Snape sat straight up in bed, screaming in agony. The Mark had been activated for the third time that day and Hermione's potions were simply no match for its power. He gritted his teeth and muttered unintelligibly to Hermione, as he shot out of bed and began to dress.
Hermione put on her winter cloak and walked him to the front doors of Hogwarts. A heartfelt kiss goodbye and a small, hopeful smile - and he was gone. He had gone to join the Death Eaters for whatever revelry Malfoy had planned for the night. The couple just prayed that the entertainment wasn't Snape himself. She stood on the steps and watched as he stumbled to the gates and turned to look at her one last time before apparating to Malfoy Manor. Hermione stood still for several minutes, staring at the footprints Snape had left in the snow before gathering herself up and heading into the castle.
She needed to talk to the Headmaster.
Her husband had just officially become a Death Eater once again.
Several nights a week their experiments kept the foursome up far past curfew, occasionally joined by Dumbledore. After a few nights spent alone waiting in Harry's bed, Ginny finally found her way to the dungeons and was brought into the circle. She quickly volunteered her mother's talents and ideas for healing wounds and removing scars to the cause, and soon Molly Weasley began apparating to Hogsmeade several times a week and making the hike to Hogwarts. Discussions in the newly-expanded group regarding the power of the Mark to force Severus to apparate against his will led to the analysis of lycanthropy and how the moon forces werewolves to change. The next evening, Dumbledore entered the potions classroom with a large grin and a werewolf in tow. After many hugs and a rather stiff, but conciliatory handshake from Snape, Remus Lupin was brought up to speed on their research and their plans.
"If we manage to neutralize the Mark with a potion, perhaps we can figure out how to transmute it into an aerosol form," suggested Ginny late one evening near the end of February.
"Good idea, Ginny," said Molly. "Once we manage to perfect this potion, we can then use it in the air to remove other Marks without their owner's consent. If Malfoy can't organize his minions through the Mark, it will make gaining power once again that much more difficult."
Snape sighed and looked over at the cauldron that held their most promising potion to date. It had been nearly a month since Malfoy had begun taunting Snape with almost daily activations of his Mark. The subject of their concern was sitting limply at his desk, holding Hermione on his lap and protectively covering her expanding stomach with his hand. His face was creased with pain and his skin was deathly white - the preventative potions were beginning to lose their effectiveness and Malfoy's torture was becoming more brutal by the day. He was an exhausted and nearly beaten man.
"Either way, I have to go the next time he summons me," said Snape. "I have to be able to find out who is back so we can dose them with the potion - if it works. And if I try to keep resisting his call, I have no doubt he will manage to kill me via it."
Molly Weasley rose and walked to the couple. She put her hand on Snape's shoulder and squeezed.
"It will work, Severus. Maybe not this batch, but eventually, we will hit on the right combination and it will work," she said. "So you get yourself prepared, get to a meeting, get us our names and let's get rid of these bastards once and for all!"
"Yes, ma'am!" said Snape, wearily attempting a grin.
"You don't want to see that one bloody apeshit, Snape," interjected Ron. "Trust me. I've seen it plenty of times."
"And you will see it again, young man, if you don't watch your language," Molly screeched, her voice echoing on the stone walls as she crossed over to her son and smacked him on the back of the head. "Ronald Weasley! Honestly!"
"Ron, you just *had* to make her mad," piped up the normally-quiet Lupin. "Great job."
The group turned to look at the red-faced Weasley boy and began to chuckle collectively. Tension was released as they left chuckle far behind and descended into full-blown chortles and guffaws. So, that evening at least, it was laughter that ended their work session and laughter that followed Hermione and Snape down the corridor to their quarters.
Once inside, Hermione led Snape to their bedroom and he stood like a perfectly-mannered child as she undressed him and helped him into his pajamas. Slipping into her nightgown, she pulled him into bed with her and listened to his sigh of relief as he hit the cool sheets. They curled up in a secure ball in the center of the bed and lay for several moments - just listening to each other breathe. Snape's hand once again reached for Hermione's belly.
"I would almost swear I felt the baby move today," said Hermione. "You'll be able to feel it soon."
She snuggled into him more and began to gently caress his scalp and face, smiling as she felt the rest of his body beginning to react to her. Her hand dropped beneath the sheets to caress him further and she enjoyed hearing his startled gasp.
"It's been a long time, Severus," she whispered. "Almost three weeks."
Snape shifted so he could kiss her gently.
"*Only* three weeks," he said. "Remember, I'm the man who waited nearly seventeen years."
"That's right," she said, rolling them so she could straddle him and stripping off her nightgown. She leaned down to kiss him as they began to slowly rock against each other. She reached to the nightstand and with a flick of her wand, removed his pajamas. She smiled when she felt his skin touch hers. "I think I have some time to make up for."
"Hermione, I - " he began.
"Shhhh - You just lie there and let me take care of all the work for once. You don't always have to try to be some perfect lover that is straight out of a romance novel, you know," she said, rubbing his chest and beginning to nibble on his ear. It was difficult for him to relinquish control, Hermione knew, and she was worried he would say no.
Instead, he sighed happily and nodded, dropping his hands to rest on her thighs and turning over everything to her. He closed his eyes and let her touch and arouse him as she wished, only opening his eyes briefly when she guided him inside her with a rather mischievous grin. Their lovemaking was soft and gentle that night, but over quickly - much to Severus' embarrassment.
"Hermione, I'm so sorry," he stammered, as she flicked her wand to redress them and snuggled back into his arms. "It must be the stress. And I'm just so exhausted. I'm so sorry, I just couldn't seem to hold back."
"There's nothing to be sorry for, Severus," she said. "Tonight was about you, not me. Didn't you enjoy it?"
She looked up with hurt in her brown eyes. He kissed her softly in reply.
"It was incredible and exactly what I needed, Angel. But, are you sure I can't -" he began, dipping his own hand beneath the sheets and reaching for her. She stopped him with a gentle touch and moved his hand upwards to caress their growing child instead.
"No, love. Tonight was for you. Only you."
A few kisses later, the tired and worried pair dozed off into fitful sleep. At midnight, Snape sat straight up in bed, screaming in agony. The Mark had been activated for the third time that day and Hermione's potions were simply no match for its power. He gritted his teeth and muttered unintelligibly to Hermione, as he shot out of bed and began to dress.
Hermione put on her winter cloak and walked him to the front doors of Hogwarts. A heartfelt kiss goodbye and a small, hopeful smile - and he was gone. He had gone to join the Death Eaters for whatever revelry Malfoy had planned for the night. The couple just prayed that the entertainment wasn't Snape himself. She stood on the steps and watched as he stumbled to the gates and turned to look at her one last time before apparating to Malfoy Manor. Hermione stood still for several minutes, staring at the footprints Snape had left in the snow before gathering herself up and heading into the castle.
She needed to talk to the Headmaster.
Her husband had just officially become a Death Eater once again.