Author's note: Ok, before any of you beat me up for drawing out an
extremely long and painful courtship, I promise that I will make it up to
you! And I can completely sympathise with anyone who wants to kill me after
this chapter, so I'm already hard at work on the next, which I swear will
be less of a tease... I hope you're all enjoying this, I know I am. Again,
thank you all for the wonderful reviews! So many kindred spirits out there!
-Iphy
Chapter Twelve
The aurors had arrived, and the takeover had been swift and final. The teachers were questioned, convicted, and the headmaster incarcerated. The students were relocated, after a great deal of astonished parents were informed of the goings on, and the school was generally dispersed without a great deal of a to-do. The moment the last auror had brushed off their hands on their robe and smiled at the work they had done, Severus made his rounds as quickly as he could, shaking hands and nodding to the congratulatory praise from the gold-robed figures, and apparated to the gates of Hogwarts. He was slightly disappointed that she wasn't there, although there was no way she could have known he was coming in just then, and besides, it gave him a little time to prepare for the evening ahead. He breathed in the subtle smell of snow and the nearness of spring, and paced up the path to the castle. He felt good, he realized with a sudden start. He had begun to notice this benevolent feeling sometime after the war, and usually concerning Hermione, and the lack of pain and misery in his life. A beautiful day like today, and all would suddenly seem right with the world. This, he thought, as he surveyed the partially frozen lake and the forest that sparkled with melting snow and ice, is what it means to be in love. It improves everything, even this frigid campus, even having been away for a week, he could already feel her presence, and he was comforted by her nearness. As if in response to his contemplation of her proximity, he turned suddenly at the shout of his name from above him on the path. Racing down the hill, coatless and out of breath, was the most incredible vision he had ever had the pleasure to be greeted with. "Severus!" she yelled again, and he caught the end of the far flung word that changed elegantly into laughter. She ran towards him, and he felt himself chuckle as he spread his arms as her landing space. She collapsed against him, laughing outright, and he found himself laughing along with her. They stood in the late afternoon, the sun glinting off the melting snow around them, and laughed in the cold, at everything and nothing, at love. They were soon joined by Dumbledore and Magonnagal, who greeted Severus with pats on his back and congratulations. They noted, of course, that he kept Miss Granger at his side, tucked in his arm, throughout their exchanges. The four wandered up the hill together, Severus recounting his trials of the last week, and Hermione remaining oddly silent. The older two professors parted from them at the door, and walked with linked arms towards the great hall. Severus turned to regard the woman who remained tucked into his side. "I missed you," he admitted, enjoying the way she fitted her body against his own. "I missed you, too. I thought... I don't know. A great many things. I'm glad you're back." Her eyes were closed and she allowed herself to take deep draughts of his scent, her nose lightly brushing his collarbone. "I'm glad to be back. I suppose we should address a number of issues, now that I'm here to stay..." She nodded, solemn finally. "Yes, I suppose so. Where are we headed?" He considered for a moment. "The library, I think. It's common ground enough, don't you suppose?" She smiled, broadly, and he felt his heart lift at the sight. Cursing himself for a sentimental old fool, he took her hand, and they walked up to the library together. *********** She took a seat opposite him, and he could tell from her body language that she was nervous. She regarded his long form in the chair. Though she would have preferred at more private place, perhaps for what would follow their conversation, she was please by his choice. The library was lit well, and warm and comfortable, familiar and cozy. The fire was lit, and they sat in a small reading nook in two large, overstuffed black armchairs. He cleared his throat, and then began. "Alright. I suppose, Hermia, that you're aware that my feelings for you have progressed into something deeper and warmer than what I would term "friendship."" This is incredibly difficult. God, she's beautiful. "I have. and I would assume that you've noticed similar changes in my own outlook, Severus." Oh why does this have to be so hard! Look at him! Oh my god, he's never looked so gorgeous. With the light glinting off him from the fireplace... "Indeed. I would, my dear, wonder how you feel about your affection for a man so much older than yourself..." Oh god, she's repulsed. How could I have reminded her!? "To be honest, Severus, I've never considered it a problem at all. You're obviously in perfect health, and I can't help it if I've found someone who is ideally matched to myself and just happens to be a little past my own youth. I would ask you a similar question. Does the fact that I'm young and a former student of your's bother you very much?" Oh please let him be ok with it. What if he sees me as a daughter or something... well, not if our kisses or touches are any indication... He smiled. "I couldn't imagine an older soul. Or one more suited to my own." He examined her, curled in the chair, her legs crossed and bare beneath her skirt. She smiled, but her smile barely reached her eyes, which were dark with fatigue. Her usually straight back was curved, bent over, and he frowned suddenly, with the realization that she had barely slept a wink while he had been away. "Hermia... You're exhausted... Have you eaten today?" She shook her head, staring at her hands without realizing what she was admitting. She looked up, the fact dawning on her. "I'm sorry, Severus... It's just that," And then she grinned, "I've finished my thesis!" Ah, so that was it. She was elated, though so tired she could barely hold up her head. "Come," he said, smiling and extending his hand, "Let's get some food into you, and then you're going to sleep, and tonight, I will take you someplace very special."
Chapter Twelve
The aurors had arrived, and the takeover had been swift and final. The teachers were questioned, convicted, and the headmaster incarcerated. The students were relocated, after a great deal of astonished parents were informed of the goings on, and the school was generally dispersed without a great deal of a to-do. The moment the last auror had brushed off their hands on their robe and smiled at the work they had done, Severus made his rounds as quickly as he could, shaking hands and nodding to the congratulatory praise from the gold-robed figures, and apparated to the gates of Hogwarts. He was slightly disappointed that she wasn't there, although there was no way she could have known he was coming in just then, and besides, it gave him a little time to prepare for the evening ahead. He breathed in the subtle smell of snow and the nearness of spring, and paced up the path to the castle. He felt good, he realized with a sudden start. He had begun to notice this benevolent feeling sometime after the war, and usually concerning Hermione, and the lack of pain and misery in his life. A beautiful day like today, and all would suddenly seem right with the world. This, he thought, as he surveyed the partially frozen lake and the forest that sparkled with melting snow and ice, is what it means to be in love. It improves everything, even this frigid campus, even having been away for a week, he could already feel her presence, and he was comforted by her nearness. As if in response to his contemplation of her proximity, he turned suddenly at the shout of his name from above him on the path. Racing down the hill, coatless and out of breath, was the most incredible vision he had ever had the pleasure to be greeted with. "Severus!" she yelled again, and he caught the end of the far flung word that changed elegantly into laughter. She ran towards him, and he felt himself chuckle as he spread his arms as her landing space. She collapsed against him, laughing outright, and he found himself laughing along with her. They stood in the late afternoon, the sun glinting off the melting snow around them, and laughed in the cold, at everything and nothing, at love. They were soon joined by Dumbledore and Magonnagal, who greeted Severus with pats on his back and congratulations. They noted, of course, that he kept Miss Granger at his side, tucked in his arm, throughout their exchanges. The four wandered up the hill together, Severus recounting his trials of the last week, and Hermione remaining oddly silent. The older two professors parted from them at the door, and walked with linked arms towards the great hall. Severus turned to regard the woman who remained tucked into his side. "I missed you," he admitted, enjoying the way she fitted her body against his own. "I missed you, too. I thought... I don't know. A great many things. I'm glad you're back." Her eyes were closed and she allowed herself to take deep draughts of his scent, her nose lightly brushing his collarbone. "I'm glad to be back. I suppose we should address a number of issues, now that I'm here to stay..." She nodded, solemn finally. "Yes, I suppose so. Where are we headed?" He considered for a moment. "The library, I think. It's common ground enough, don't you suppose?" She smiled, broadly, and he felt his heart lift at the sight. Cursing himself for a sentimental old fool, he took her hand, and they walked up to the library together. *********** She took a seat opposite him, and he could tell from her body language that she was nervous. She regarded his long form in the chair. Though she would have preferred at more private place, perhaps for what would follow their conversation, she was please by his choice. The library was lit well, and warm and comfortable, familiar and cozy. The fire was lit, and they sat in a small reading nook in two large, overstuffed black armchairs. He cleared his throat, and then began. "Alright. I suppose, Hermia, that you're aware that my feelings for you have progressed into something deeper and warmer than what I would term "friendship."" This is incredibly difficult. God, she's beautiful. "I have. and I would assume that you've noticed similar changes in my own outlook, Severus." Oh why does this have to be so hard! Look at him! Oh my god, he's never looked so gorgeous. With the light glinting off him from the fireplace... "Indeed. I would, my dear, wonder how you feel about your affection for a man so much older than yourself..." Oh god, she's repulsed. How could I have reminded her!? "To be honest, Severus, I've never considered it a problem at all. You're obviously in perfect health, and I can't help it if I've found someone who is ideally matched to myself and just happens to be a little past my own youth. I would ask you a similar question. Does the fact that I'm young and a former student of your's bother you very much?" Oh please let him be ok with it. What if he sees me as a daughter or something... well, not if our kisses or touches are any indication... He smiled. "I couldn't imagine an older soul. Or one more suited to my own." He examined her, curled in the chair, her legs crossed and bare beneath her skirt. She smiled, but her smile barely reached her eyes, which were dark with fatigue. Her usually straight back was curved, bent over, and he frowned suddenly, with the realization that she had barely slept a wink while he had been away. "Hermia... You're exhausted... Have you eaten today?" She shook her head, staring at her hands without realizing what she was admitting. She looked up, the fact dawning on her. "I'm sorry, Severus... It's just that," And then she grinned, "I've finished my thesis!" Ah, so that was it. She was elated, though so tired she could barely hold up her head. "Come," he said, smiling and extending his hand, "Let's get some food into you, and then you're going to sleep, and tonight, I will take you someplace very special."
