7. Settling in.

He woke later than he had wanted to, due to the potions and his exhaustion stemming from months of systematical torture. Rising, he made his way to the bathroom, took a shower, then discovered the robes he had worn when he came here hanging in the closet. He got dressed, then opened the door, wondering if he would be free to go down to see Hermione.

Not surprisingly, he was met almost immediately by Vincent Crabbe. They likely had his door warded to alert them when he left his rooms.

"Where are you going?" the boy demanded.

"I want to see Hermione," he replied.

"Wait here."

Severus nodded and waited, and after a few moments Malfoy walked up.

"Want to see your girl?" Malfoy sneered.

"Yes." The time for fighting was over, and he didn't let himself be goaded.

Malfoy shrugged. "Come."

He followed Malfoy down to the cells. Even though he knew what he would find, he was shocked when he saw Hermione. The bruises had colored dark and her left eye was swollen shut, and it was obvious she hadn't slept much, even as exhausted as she had been. She had pulled her clothes back on, but every part of her body that showed was bruised or scratched. She got up when she saw him, supporting herself on the bars. Malfoy didn't unlock the cell, so Severus reached out and held her through the bars.

"Hermione," he said quietly.

"Severus," she replied. "I'm sorry."

He gently stroked a tendril of hair out of her face. "You have nothing to be sorry about."

Hermione bit her lip. "You're here because of me, and now you've agreed to help him because of me. It's all my fault, I should've been stronger."

"Hermione, you're the strongest woman I know. I'm the one who couldn't stand it any longer. And I'm the one who should've known better. I knew our relationship would make us both vulnerable. I'm sorry for everything you had to endure." He half and half expected her to protest again, but arguing over who was at fault didn't really help their current situation. He continued. "I'll be working on the Philosopher's Stone, I have rooms upstairs, and a potions lab. I can't leave and the Dark Lord does not trust me with a wand, but it is rather more comfortable than down here. You can join me if you promise to hold to those restrictions, not to try to escape and not to do anything to endanger the project."

"Do I have any choice?" Hermione inquired bitterly.

"He will keep you locked up here if you do not agree. He won't hurt you, but you will have to remain in the cells."

Hermione glanced at Malfoy, who was listening to everything they said. "And I take it there isn't much chance of getting out of here."

Severus shook his head. "No. The place is full of Death Eaters, there are wards all over, and Dementors outside." He flinched involuntary at the thought, Malfoy had sometimes let them in to feed on his thoughts.

Hermione sighed and was silent for a few long moments. Then she looked up. "Al right. I promise. I will not escape, and I will not do anything to stop you or anyone else."

Severus let out a breath he hadn't known he was holding. He hadn't been at all sure she would agree.

Malfoy unlocked the cell with Alohamora, and Severus helped Hermione up the stairs.

Severus was almost carrying her when they reached his rooms. Their rooms, now. He helped her sit down on the couch.

"Have you had anything for breakfast?" he asked.

She shook her head.

He nodded, then summoned breakfast from the kitchens. At least there was Floo powder for inter-house communications, although of course their fireplace was not connected to the outside Floo network.

He hadn't eaten yet either, and he was hungry –and tired, the few potions Malfoy had given him the previous evening had only healed the worst of his injuries and carrying Hermione up the stairs had already worn him out- but he checked the potions lab first.

As he had expected, it was large, well-stocked and in excellent shape. Cauldrons, glasswork, burners and any other equipment he could wish for were stored in racks, ingredients, neatly labeled, were on the opposite side of the room, and book shelves lined the far wall. A long lab table and a large desk stood in the middle, and a fire was burning in the fireplace. Well-ordered as it was, it didn't take him long to find that there were no finished potions at all.

He considered starting on the healing potions right away, but he knew he would have to eat something himself, first. It wouldn't do either of them any good if he collapsed before he finished brewing. Apologizing to Hermione, he sat down and ate breakfast with her.

As soon as he had eaten, he set to work, and before too long he had some basic healing potions, pain relievers, and a morning-after potion. He didn't know whether Voldemort would approve of him making these but he didn't ask; he knew he wasn't going to be able to concentrate on any research as long as she was still hurt, not to mention all that was left of his own injuries. The Philosopher's Stone wasn't a project of days or weeks, he'd take these few hours for themselves.

Hermione was sleeping when he came out of the lab with the potions, and he woke her up. She started, but quickly smiled when she saw it was him.

In the afternoon he began with going through the books, and discovered the notes his predecessors had made while working on the project. Taking a few of them into the living room he spent the rest of the day reading, while Hermione fell asleep again on the couch, clothed and all.

Which reminded him they only had the clothes they were wearing, and he called the house-elves. Soon there appeared several changes of clothes and night wear. He put everything away, then continued his perusal of the notes.

Meals were delivered by the house-elves at lunch and dinner time too, which suited Severus just fine. He didn't care to go out among the other Death Eaters, not for himself and certainly not with Hermione. Yes, their quarters were a prison, but it was better than the last.

After dinner, Hermione felt better and told him what had happened at Hogwarts while he was gone. He didn't care much for Neela Lennarts, she wasn't even a Potions Mistress, but then there weren't that many who were and still were willing to teach at school. He wouldn't have, if he'd had a choice. At least Sinistra would do well with his Slytherins.

It was still early when they retired. All day, Severus had been unsure how Hermione would react. They'd been lovers, but they'd hardly lived together, and under any other circumstances he wouldn't have suggested it so soon. Mature or not, she was still young and he had preferred not to push her. Now, circumstances had done it for him.

He gave her her privacy while they got ready for bed, worried she might be uncomfortable being seen naked after all the Death Eaters had done to her the previous night. Instead, she came out of the bathroom without even a towel wrapped around her.

"Severus?" she said softly. "Please take me. If you still want me after last night."

He quickly got up, gathering her in his arms. "Hermione, of course I still want you, don't even say that. Don't ever say that."

"Then take me. Now." She kissed him and pulled herself close to him. "I missed you so much."

He stroked her back as he replied. "I missed you too. Are you sure you are up to it?"

"Yes, yes. Severus, I want to know how good it can feel again. I need to."

As a reply, he took off the bathrobe he had been wearing and let her lead him to the bed.

He tried to go slow, knowing that she would still be sore in more than one place –no potion could take away the pain from Cruciatus completely- but she was hungry and fierce, urging him on. He relented and took her, still gentle but without further hesitation.

She came quickly, breathing his name in between hungry kisses. He came as well, then lay next to her, holding her close. She looked exhausted but very satisfied.

"Thank you," she breathed.

"Hermione, I love you, I will do anything for you," he replied.

She smiled sadly before replying. "I know. I love you, Severus."

He pulled her close and soon they were both asleep.

The next morning after breakfast Severus returned to his research. He was extremely relieved Hermione was looking better. Of course, she didn't have much to do now. She walked around their quarters, ordering a few things from the house-elves he hadn't thought of, then took a look around the potions lab. Finally she emerged with one of the books from the shelves and started to read. Of course, as long as she had something to read she wouldn't be completely bored.

It took days just to check through the notes. Finally, he started to set up some minor experiments, mixing two or three ingredients to see the reactions described in the notes. He soon found Hermione looking on with interest, some of the notes in her hand. Soon, she handed him the ingredients he was adding.

"You don't have to help," he said. He knew how much it disgusted her what he had to do.

"You are going to do it no matter what," she stated.

He nodded.

"Then I may as well help. Even I can't read all day every day, with nothing to work on."

He glanced at her. Her eyes were sad but calm. He nodded.