Chapter Seventeen
In which Severus and Hermione have their moment
"They'll find the other mirrors. It's only a matter of time." shrugged Remus as the looking glass on the wall showed only their own reflections again. The overtly affectionate smile that he gave Ginny caused Severus to roll his eyes, slightly nauseated.
"Isn't it time for you to take your potion and go curl up by the fire?" asked Severus, who was not so optimistic as the werewolf.
"I do believe that the time is drawing nigh." said Remus, chuckling.
"Can I come with you?" asked Ginny.
"I trust you can fill the goblet yourself." said Severus as Remus looked at him.
"Fine." agreed Remus with a confident nod.
Severus shivered as he watched Ginny slip her hand into Remus's as they walked out of the bedroom.
"Still disturbs you, hmm?" asked Hermione with a chuckle, guiding Severus back to bed.
"And it appears to be getting worse." snorted Severus, allowing her to tuck the blankets around him and adjust the pillow behind him.
"I think it's rather cute." said Hermione.
"So cute that it's sickening."
"Severus! I didn't think you knew the word."
"Sickening?"
"No, cute!" she laughed, sitting down by his side.
He snorted and then seemed to grow more serious. It was nice, he admitted to himself, hearing her laugh and speak so freely. She seemed happy for the first time since this adventure had begun. Hermione was so lovely when she was happy and smiling. He smiled, but it was a sorrowful smile as he wondered what would become of her in their still desperate situation.
She furrowed her brow in confusion as she watched his facial expression change. It was like watching a strange internal argument that was being played out silently upon his face, only his changing expressions giving his thoughts away.
"I would love to know what you're thinking right now." she told him.
"No, you wouldn't."
"Severus?"
"What if they don't find enough mirrors? Who will stay behind in the end, Hermione?" he questioned.
Hermione shuddered at the thought of one or more of them trapped in the demon world forever and shook her head.
"It won't happen. The headmaster won't let it and neither would Remus." she said softly, looking down at her hands where they were clasped in her lap.
Severus reached and brushed a honey brown lock of hair away from her face. She clasped his hand and held it to her cheek, closing her eyes as tears sprang unbidden into them. As he felt the tears upon his hand, he drew Hermione closer and kissed the top of her head. His heart ached as she wept. She did not weep for herself or even for Remus and Ginny. He knew that she was weeping for him.
"Hermione ..."
"Oh, just shut up." she sniffed, burying her face in his robes. "I don't want to hear it right now."
Severus just blinked and stroked her back with a gentleness he did not know he possessed.
"If you start up about remaining behind or something rotten like that, I swear ... by Merlin's Beard that I'll hex you or ... or something." she told him.
"Hermione Granger! Stop that crying this minute. I wasn't going to say any such thing."
She looked up at him and said, "No? Well, you were thinking it!"
"How do you know what I was thinking?" he asked. "I could have been thinking about any number of things. I could have been thinking about stunning Lupin or Miss Weasley and leaving them behind for all you know."
"You wouldn't do that."
"But I could have been considering it." he said with a smirk.
"You're impossible!" she said, wiping her eyes on her sleeve.
"Well if that isn't the pot calling the kettle black!"
Hermione managed to smile again and said, "I'm flattered that you think we're so much alike."
"That isn't what I meant at all."
"Are you sure?"
"Maybe we are a bit." he admitted. "Stubborn, clever, and better with ideas than with other people."
"I'm just a little ... headstrong. You are a very disagreeable man. There is a difference." she corrected.
Snape raised an eyebrow at her characterization of him.
"Disagreeable am I?"
"Not that I mind it so much, but other people ..."
"To hell with other people then."
"That's exactly what I mean." she said reproachfully. A smile was tugging at her lips.
"What I meant was that as long as you don't mind, it doesn't matter so much to me." he said, looking her in the eye as he made his feelings known.
"Really?"
"Yes."
They looked at each other for a long moment before Hermione slipped a hand behind his neck and pulled him closer, close enough to kiss him. She knew that doing so was one of those things that she would either regret for the rest of her natural life or not regret for an instant. And she had to know which.
His eyes widened in surprise as she kissed him, but only a moment was lost as Severus drew her into his arms and passionately enveloped her lips in his own. Only in his wildest dreams, the more recent ones anyhow, had anything like this ever happened. Hermione's kiss grew more and more fervent almost as though they were each trying to rival the passion of the other.
Hermione could feel his heart beating wildly under her hand that rested upon his chest. She reached toward the top button of his robes, but he caught her hand and moaned what sounded like 'no' into her mouth. She slipped her hand downward again, content to feel his heartbeat and his lips upon hers, knowing that he was hardly well enough for anything more.
He only pulled away when he was breathless and seeing stars. He ran a hand through her hair and smiled at her with tears in his eyes. It had been a long time since anyone had kissed him like that. It had been back in the days when his arms were both white and unmarred by any symbol of darkness. After that there had only been conquests. No love, no affection given or taken. Nothing real or genuine.
Hermione closed his eyes and began to kiss away the tears. He shook with silently sobs as she did so. Hushing him between kisses, she tenderly brushed his raven hair from his face. He had never seemed so beautiful as he did lying there with his eyes closed and all the hardness and shrewd cunning washed from his face. She kissed the bridge of his nose and felt his arms around her waist.
"Hermione ..." he said in a trembling voice.
"Yes?"
"I never expected ..."
"I know. Not in a place like this."
"You can read my mind." he said, opening his eyes.
"We're a lot alike, remember?"
"I remember."
He released her and managed an uncertain smile. Hermione realized that she liked that smile a lot and the man it belonged to as well.
"Promise me, Hermione, that when we get out of here, it won't be like it was before, that we won't go back to that."
Those words were very nearly a declaration of love coming from Severus Snape.
"I promise, Severus, that what we have found here, will leave with us." she said, chuckling.
"Fair enough." he said as she began kissing him again.
Regret was the furthest thing from her mind.
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A/N: That was my stab at romance. I hope that it was satisfactory.
Michelle: I really enjoyed your questions, but I can't really answer them. Thanks for reviewing!
plastic: I haven't either. Thank you for the review!
HunnySnowBunny: I love "The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe". It was one of my favorite books as a kid, though C. S. Lewis lays the religious allegory on pretty thick. Thank you for reviewing!
coolgirlchic16: I don't think I have the focus to write really long chapters. Thanks for reviewing!
Jezebel: I am glad you are enjoying the story that much! Thank you for the review!
SciFi Nut: I probably should at some point credit Lewis Carroll's "Through the Looking Glass" for providing at least some inspiration for my fascination with strange and oddly useful mirrors (though I haven't read it in almost ten years). I'm thoroughly enjoying your story, "When Living is No Longer Enough", by the way. Thanks for reviewing!
Black Sparkles: I have heard the word before, but it never ceases to amuse me (not enough exposure to British slang, I suppose). I hope this chapter met with your approval. Thank you for reviewing!
Helen: I try to update at acceptable intervals. Thank you!
Elfmoon87: It never rains, but it pours. Well, maybe it's not that bad. But then, no one ever knows. The situation could be seriously strange for Harry and Ron. I see your point. Thanks for reviewing!
Dramaqueen: I am glad you are enjoying the story! Thank you for the review!
In which Severus and Hermione have their moment
"They'll find the other mirrors. It's only a matter of time." shrugged Remus as the looking glass on the wall showed only their own reflections again. The overtly affectionate smile that he gave Ginny caused Severus to roll his eyes, slightly nauseated.
"Isn't it time for you to take your potion and go curl up by the fire?" asked Severus, who was not so optimistic as the werewolf.
"I do believe that the time is drawing nigh." said Remus, chuckling.
"Can I come with you?" asked Ginny.
"I trust you can fill the goblet yourself." said Severus as Remus looked at him.
"Fine." agreed Remus with a confident nod.
Severus shivered as he watched Ginny slip her hand into Remus's as they walked out of the bedroom.
"Still disturbs you, hmm?" asked Hermione with a chuckle, guiding Severus back to bed.
"And it appears to be getting worse." snorted Severus, allowing her to tuck the blankets around him and adjust the pillow behind him.
"I think it's rather cute." said Hermione.
"So cute that it's sickening."
"Severus! I didn't think you knew the word."
"Sickening?"
"No, cute!" she laughed, sitting down by his side.
He snorted and then seemed to grow more serious. It was nice, he admitted to himself, hearing her laugh and speak so freely. She seemed happy for the first time since this adventure had begun. Hermione was so lovely when she was happy and smiling. He smiled, but it was a sorrowful smile as he wondered what would become of her in their still desperate situation.
She furrowed her brow in confusion as she watched his facial expression change. It was like watching a strange internal argument that was being played out silently upon his face, only his changing expressions giving his thoughts away.
"I would love to know what you're thinking right now." she told him.
"No, you wouldn't."
"Severus?"
"What if they don't find enough mirrors? Who will stay behind in the end, Hermione?" he questioned.
Hermione shuddered at the thought of one or more of them trapped in the demon world forever and shook her head.
"It won't happen. The headmaster won't let it and neither would Remus." she said softly, looking down at her hands where they were clasped in her lap.
Severus reached and brushed a honey brown lock of hair away from her face. She clasped his hand and held it to her cheek, closing her eyes as tears sprang unbidden into them. As he felt the tears upon his hand, he drew Hermione closer and kissed the top of her head. His heart ached as she wept. She did not weep for herself or even for Remus and Ginny. He knew that she was weeping for him.
"Hermione ..."
"Oh, just shut up." she sniffed, burying her face in his robes. "I don't want to hear it right now."
Severus just blinked and stroked her back with a gentleness he did not know he possessed.
"If you start up about remaining behind or something rotten like that, I swear ... by Merlin's Beard that I'll hex you or ... or something." she told him.
"Hermione Granger! Stop that crying this minute. I wasn't going to say any such thing."
She looked up at him and said, "No? Well, you were thinking it!"
"How do you know what I was thinking?" he asked. "I could have been thinking about any number of things. I could have been thinking about stunning Lupin or Miss Weasley and leaving them behind for all you know."
"You wouldn't do that."
"But I could have been considering it." he said with a smirk.
"You're impossible!" she said, wiping her eyes on her sleeve.
"Well if that isn't the pot calling the kettle black!"
Hermione managed to smile again and said, "I'm flattered that you think we're so much alike."
"That isn't what I meant at all."
"Are you sure?"
"Maybe we are a bit." he admitted. "Stubborn, clever, and better with ideas than with other people."
"I'm just a little ... headstrong. You are a very disagreeable man. There is a difference." she corrected.
Snape raised an eyebrow at her characterization of him.
"Disagreeable am I?"
"Not that I mind it so much, but other people ..."
"To hell with other people then."
"That's exactly what I mean." she said reproachfully. A smile was tugging at her lips.
"What I meant was that as long as you don't mind, it doesn't matter so much to me." he said, looking her in the eye as he made his feelings known.
"Really?"
"Yes."
They looked at each other for a long moment before Hermione slipped a hand behind his neck and pulled him closer, close enough to kiss him. She knew that doing so was one of those things that she would either regret for the rest of her natural life or not regret for an instant. And she had to know which.
His eyes widened in surprise as she kissed him, but only a moment was lost as Severus drew her into his arms and passionately enveloped her lips in his own. Only in his wildest dreams, the more recent ones anyhow, had anything like this ever happened. Hermione's kiss grew more and more fervent almost as though they were each trying to rival the passion of the other.
Hermione could feel his heart beating wildly under her hand that rested upon his chest. She reached toward the top button of his robes, but he caught her hand and moaned what sounded like 'no' into her mouth. She slipped her hand downward again, content to feel his heartbeat and his lips upon hers, knowing that he was hardly well enough for anything more.
He only pulled away when he was breathless and seeing stars. He ran a hand through her hair and smiled at her with tears in his eyes. It had been a long time since anyone had kissed him like that. It had been back in the days when his arms were both white and unmarred by any symbol of darkness. After that there had only been conquests. No love, no affection given or taken. Nothing real or genuine.
Hermione closed his eyes and began to kiss away the tears. He shook with silently sobs as she did so. Hushing him between kisses, she tenderly brushed his raven hair from his face. He had never seemed so beautiful as he did lying there with his eyes closed and all the hardness and shrewd cunning washed from his face. She kissed the bridge of his nose and felt his arms around her waist.
"Hermione ..." he said in a trembling voice.
"Yes?"
"I never expected ..."
"I know. Not in a place like this."
"You can read my mind." he said, opening his eyes.
"We're a lot alike, remember?"
"I remember."
He released her and managed an uncertain smile. Hermione realized that she liked that smile a lot and the man it belonged to as well.
"Promise me, Hermione, that when we get out of here, it won't be like it was before, that we won't go back to that."
Those words were very nearly a declaration of love coming from Severus Snape.
"I promise, Severus, that what we have found here, will leave with us." she said, chuckling.
"Fair enough." he said as she began kissing him again.
Regret was the furthest thing from her mind.
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A/N: That was my stab at romance. I hope that it was satisfactory.
Michelle: I really enjoyed your questions, but I can't really answer them. Thanks for reviewing!
plastic: I haven't either. Thank you for the review!
HunnySnowBunny: I love "The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe". It was one of my favorite books as a kid, though C. S. Lewis lays the religious allegory on pretty thick. Thank you for reviewing!
coolgirlchic16: I don't think I have the focus to write really long chapters. Thanks for reviewing!
Jezebel: I am glad you are enjoying the story that much! Thank you for the review!
SciFi Nut: I probably should at some point credit Lewis Carroll's "Through the Looking Glass" for providing at least some inspiration for my fascination with strange and oddly useful mirrors (though I haven't read it in almost ten years). I'm thoroughly enjoying your story, "When Living is No Longer Enough", by the way. Thanks for reviewing!
Black Sparkles: I have heard the word before, but it never ceases to amuse me (not enough exposure to British slang, I suppose). I hope this chapter met with your approval. Thank you for reviewing!
Helen: I try to update at acceptable intervals. Thank you!
Elfmoon87: It never rains, but it pours. Well, maybe it's not that bad. But then, no one ever knows. The situation could be seriously strange for Harry and Ron. I see your point. Thanks for reviewing!
Dramaqueen: I am glad you are enjoying the story! Thank you for the review!