By Adriana
trixielou60@hotmail.com
Just a reminder: The characters belong to JK Rowling. I'm just putting my own twist on things. The plot is mine.
Rated R for sexual situations and language. Please keep that in mind . . . this is for grown-ups.
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Confusion never stops, closing walls and ticking clocks
Gonna come back and take you home, I could not stop, that you now know
Come out upon my seas, curse missed opportunities
Am I part of the cure, or am I part of the disease
You are . . . you are
And nothing else compares
Oh no nothing else compares
And nothing else compares
You are . . .
Home, home, where I wanted to go
~ From the song, "Clocks" by Coldplay
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Chapter 19: Home
The dying sun cast soft shadows in the dim light of the bedroom as Severus reached up to snatch a stray candle as it went floating by. Turning to a reclining Hermione, he allowed an evil grin to escape while he tipped the candle towards her, a drop of hot wax landing on her left shoulder blade with a satisfying "plop". She gave him a fake glare and twisted suddenly, thrusting her hips against him. Laughing as a feral growl strayed from his throat, she was soon silenced with a rapturous, blistering kiss. He released the buoyant candle and it joined its companions in the air above them. Severus ran a graceful hand down her back, teasing the ends of her wavy hair as his tongue danced with hers.
Her distress over the Sentient Healing Ritual was temporarily laid aside while they stroked and caressed each other with total abandonment. He was determined to reassure her, murmuring soft words of love as he worshipped her body with unqualified delight. Their movements became more urgent and he gently turned her over, lifting her up to her knees before entering her suddenly from behind. Hermione gave an audible gasp while he closed his eyes to the onslaught of pleasure that rippled through him.
For as long as he lived, he would never tire of her, of that he was certain.
They began making love slowly, almost carefully . . . as if afraid it would end all too soon, but it was a pace they could not maintain. Each savored the feel of the other, prompting a quickening of movements as Severus planted gentle kisses and bites along the back of her neck. Hermione made captivating mewling noises and whimpers, urging him on while his arms tightened around her. He held off for as long as he could and when his passion was finally released, she was right there with him, their cries of completion mingling in the air.
Breathing heavily, Severus dropped his body to the mattress, pulling Hermione with him. One corner of his mouth curled upwards as he turned to look at her. Sweaty tendrils were plastered to her forehead and he reached to brush them away.
"You're very noisy, you know," he said with mock disapproval.
She gave a dainty snort and lifted her head. "You're one to talk."
His smile widened and Hermione caught her breath. Sometimes his beauty caught her completely off guard and she was assaulted by its sheer salience. What was even more endearing was that he had absolutely no idea how attractive he was. With a rush of emotion, she reached for him, hugging him closely. Severus made a soothing noise as he held her.
"What's wrong, love?"
Hermione brushed her lips along his collarbone. "I just want to stay here with you, forever. I don't want to think about what's facing us when I get home." She let a tremor creep into her voice. "I want you with me, especially now," she said simply.
Severus' face softened. "Are you frightened?"
She looked at him ruefully. "A little," she said.
"Me too," he admitted. He couldn't bring himself tell her that he'd always suspected that he wouldn't survive a final battle with Voldemort. It hadn't mattered much to him before. But now . . .
Now he had everything to live for.
Hermione looked at him with poignant tenderness, knowing how hard it was for him to admit his fear. When she'd told him everything she knew about the Sentient Healing Ritual, his calmness had surprised her. He'd confidently told her that they'd find a way around things, that he was certain that with all the resources at their disposal, they would figure out a way to make the ritual work for them in The Plan. "Give me a day," he'd said arrogantly. "I already have a few scenarios playing around in my head." He gave her a reassuring smirk. At that moment, it was hard to believe that he was afraid of anyone or anything.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the mantle clock musically ringing out the present time. Severus' eyes didn't move from her face as her image was burned permanently in his mind.
"It's time for you to go home," he said quietly. Despite her best intentions she felt the prickle of tears, but fiercely willed them back.
"I know," she sighed as she moved to get up from the bed. Severus pulled her back and kissed her thoroughly as he tried to pour out everything he felt for her . . . everything she meant to him.
With a strangled sound, Hermione pushed herself away and stood, looking down at him.
"Don't move," she commanded. "I want to remember you just like this, all sprawled and naked on a clump of rumpled bedsheets." She couldn't help but giggle as he flushed. He tried to glare at her and failed. "You're beautiful," she said with conciliation. "I just want to remember you like this."
His ego soothed, he complied as he laid back and watched her getting dressed.
Before she could fasten the last button on her blouse, they were interrupted by the sound of the Headmaster's voice vibrating in the air around them. It was as if it was coming from within the very walls of the bedroom.
"Severus?" he said tentatively. "Hermione? I'm sorry to interrupt you . . . "
"Then don't!" shouted the Potions Master as Hermione gave him a disapproving look.
"Don't mind him, Albus. Actually, I was just getting dress -- erm, getting ready to leave," she said.
"Well, tell Severus he needs to get dressed too." The Headmaster couldn't hide the amusement in his voice before it sobered. "I'm afraid something has come up and I need to see you both in my office."
"Is anything wrong, Albus?" Hermione couldn't hide the anxiety from her voice.
His sigh was like a gentle wind. "I'm not sure yet," he said. "But you need to come immediately. I'm afraid 'a situation' has come up."
"A situation?" Severus didn't like the sound of that.
"He means me, Uncle Severus," said a sheepish sounding Draco Malfoy.
"Bloody hell!" Severus cursed under his breath.
He didn't like the sound of this at all.
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Draco fidgeted in his chair.
He was seated in Dumbledore's office and had just politely declined a piece of dark toffee that the Headmaster had offered him. Albus gave him that annoying twinkling look as Draco shook his head and muttered, "No thank you." The last time he'd indulged in one of Albus' toffee sweeties, it had taken him almost an hour to get his jaws pried open again. For a few horrible moments he'd thought he was going to spend the rest of his life with his mouth clamped permanently shut, left only with the ability to communicate in "mmmmphs" and wild hand gestures.
He'd almost contemplated suicide at the thought of his tongue forever imprisoned within his mouth. He'd reckoned it would have been a waste of one of his best body parts.
Albus chose that moment to snort, prompting Draco to give him a worried look. Could the old man really read minds? Chuckling, the Headmaster retrieved the book and called out to Severus and Hermione.
While Albus spoke with an obviously peeved Uncle Severus, Draco thought back to the events in Ginny Weasley's flat, half an hour ago.
The music box, with it's sordid revelations, had caught him completely by surprise, but what surprised him even more was that Ginny Weasley had been holding on to this secret for over half of her life. As she spilled her torment to him, he'd resisted the urge to stop her in the only way he knew how . . .but kissing her at a time like this was probably the wrong thing to do.
Instead, he cupped her face in his hands and pulled her away from him.
She couldn't meet his gaze as she hiccuped, tears coursing down her face. He leaned forward until the only thing she could see was his resolute and unwavering pale eyes.
"Ginny," he said softly. "Don't let him do this to you. It's what he's hoping for. He's twisted and sick and none of this . . . I repeat, none of this is your fault." His voice was adamant. "He's just trying to make you feel--"
Before he had a chance to continue, the door crashed open and a young, pimply faced wizard, ostensibly an auror, came running in with his wand aimed at squarely at Draco.
"Move away from her!" he shouted dramatically.
Draco rolled his eyes in exasperation. "You stupid git," he said with a sneer. "Can't you see you've interrupted a 'moment' here?"
The auror looked a little uncertain. Ginny turned to the younger wizard. "It's alright," she said quietly. "No offense, but I think you should just leave right now." The auror lowered his wand and began to stammer. "I'm s-sorry Miss Weasley. This is only my third assignment and my b-boss told me that if I messed up, he'd hang me by my-- erm . . . "
He gulped when he saw the look on Malfoy's face.
Draco couldn't help the seething tone in his voice. "Only your third assignment? Who the hell is running this show? It's Potter, isn't it!" The auror's eyes widened and he shook his head. "No, I was told by Mr. Weasley to look after his sister. Mr. Ron Weasley."
Draco paused before barking at him again. "Well don't just stand there! Go fetch him, you silly boy!"
Ginny gave Draco a horrified look. "No!" she shouted. "I don't want him to know!"
"Trust me on this," Draco said firmly. "You have to tell him." The auror looked confused. Nodding his head towards the door, Draco dispatched him to track down Ron Weasley.
Sighing, he turned back to Ginny.
"Where were we?" he asked with feigned nonchalance. "Oh yes, we were talking about Voldemort and how he's trying to make you feel." He raised an inquiring eyebrow. "So? Out with it, Ginny! What are you feeling right now?"
"I feel . . ." she began, but faltered. She took a deep breath before continuing. "I feel unclean, for lack of a better word. Sullied, dirty, contaminated, defiled, filthy . . . " Her voice trailed off. There was an awkward silence before Draco spoke.
"You've been reading the thesaurus again, haven't you?" he teased gently.
Ginny gaped up at him, an array of emotions playing upon her face. She searched his features for some sign that he was repelled, but instead found him openly smiling at her.
"You're joking with me? After what you've just learned? Are you completely mad?"
Draco shrugged. "I'm not trying to downplay what he did to you, but frankly, he's done much worse." He reached up and gently brushed a tear away with his thumb. "I don't know what you expected from me, Ginny, but what happened to you 13 years ago does not define who you are now. Besides, Harry told me that Tom Riddle was only a 'memory' while he was in The Chamber of Secrets. The bastard wasn't even real and whatever he did to you probably came from a Dark spell. I do know that Voldemort is a complete pervert and to let him affect your life like this is to let him win."
His voice lowered to a whisper. "Don't let him win, Ginny. Don't reward him with your torment. It's as simple as that."
They stared at each other for a long moment until they were interrupted by shouting.
"Ginny? Are you alright?" The door crashed open for a second time, revealing a worried looking Ron Weasley. He stopped short when he saw Ginny standing close to Malfoy. The redhead's eyes narrowed as he studied them.
"You'd better have a good explanation for this, Malfoy. Townsend just informed me that he heard my sister screaming and when he arrived, she was crying." He menacingly stepped forward. "You're not making my sister cry, are you?"
"As if I had that power," Draco said, so softly that Ron didn't hear him. He turned to give the Gryffindor a scathing look.
"I suggest you take your righteous indignation and bugger off ," Draco said harshly. To Ginny he asked, "Are you going to be alright? I can stay if you want." Ron opened his mouth to protest, but Ginny cut him off.
"It's alright Draco, you don't need to stay. But you're right, I need to tell him everything. I should have done it a long time ago."
Nodding, Draco began moving out the door. Pausing to give Ron a considering look, he said, "Don't disappoint me. For once in your life, be an adult. Take her home to The Furrow--"
"The Burrow, you stupid sod."
"Whatever, you manky bollock. Just take her home."
Draco waltzed out the door without a second glance.
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There was complete silence in the room while Severus made small, irritated noises in the back of his throat. His head was bent and he pinched the bridge of his nose with unbridled annoyance.
"Say something, Uncle." Draco was sitting next to the Potions Master and was desperate for a reaction, any reaction.
Severus suddenly shot a hand out and his fingers wrapped around Draco's throat. He hadn't even turned his head.
"Do shut up, you stupid boy. I'm trying to think."
Hermione sat stunned at what Draco had just told them. How could he? How could he be so foolish?
He'd just confessed that he'd told the Dark Lord everything. Well, maybe not everything, but certainly enough.
She drew a shaky breath. When she and Severus went through the portal into Albus' office, Draco had been sitting on the edge of a chair, an apprehensive look on his face. But when he saw Hermione, he'd given her a huge, knowing grin and had winked at her. It was completely endearing and knowing how he'd helped her win over Severus, she'd exclaimed, "Draco!" before launching herself into his laughing embrace.
Now she just wanted to cast an Instant Scalping Hex on him.
Draco hung his head. He knew it was going to be hard to tell them what he'd done, but the look of shock and disappointment on Severus' face was almost more than he could bear. He truly didn't care what anybody else thought of him, but Severus was the one person on Earth whose respect he'd craved. He was pretty certain that he'd blown it. His uncle would never speak to him again.
A heavy sense of loss blanketed over him.
Albus, however, was his usual conciliatory and soothing self. He broke the silence by saying, "All is not lost. Mr. Malfoy has left us some wriggle room, so to speak. Voldemort still doesn't know that Severus is alive and he certainly doesn't know that young Draco here has confessed all to us." He looked at them and smiled.
"This could prove to be the best thing that could have happened."
Three heads lifted to give him an incredulous look. They were all familiar with Dumbledore's quaint eccentricities, but to say this was for 'the best' was a new standard in loopiness, even for Albus.
The Headmaster just looked at them calmly before he spoke again.
"The key to a good battle strategy is to stay a step ahead of your enemy. While Voldemort may know of the Shattering Potion and Spell, he is not aware of our information regarding the Sentient Healing Ritual. That is where we start."
Severus scowled. "I don't see--"
The Headmaster got up to pace slowly, his hands clasped behind his back. Behind him, various magical items twittered and twirled, and an occasional brief surge of colorful magic would streak near his head. He smiled at them indulgently before he spoke.
"Let's start with what we know . . . we know that the Dark Lord has a book that will reveal the ritual aspects of Sentient Healing. We know that he keeps it with him always. It's obvious that we need to know everything about the ritual to come up with a proper plan. Hence, the most logical thing would be for us to simply go to Voldemort to get the book."
He laughed at the collective rolling of the eyes in the room.
Severus tried to keep the derision out of his voice, but he opted for sarcasm instead. "Why the hell didn't I think of that?"
Albus kept a straight face. "Indeed, Severus. Why didn't you? Voldemort thinks you're dead. You're in the perfect position to sneak into his hideout and at the very least, perform a Duplicating Spell on the book. We could get our own copy."
Suddenly something clicked in Hermione's mind. "Tomorrow evening!" she proclaimed suddenly. The three wizards turned simultaneously to look at her. She shrugged her shoulders.
"Draco is supposed to take me to see the Dark Lord tomorrow evening. I seem to remember a certain Potions Master being all concerned about tracking me when the time came. Do you remember the Tracking Charm that Professor Flitwick developed?"
Severus nodded mutely. Hermione could almost see the wheels turning in his mind.
"Yes, we will be able to track the two of you tomorrow," he said slowly. "And while Voldemort thinks that I'm dead, there is another thing he knows nothing of."
With those words, he stood up, lifting Hermione to her feet as well. He inhaled deeply and in a blink, he was transformed as she'd first seen him in London.
A long black snake was draped over her shoulder. He twined himself around her neck and lifted his head to flick a long forked tongue in her ear, before nuzzling it. Hermione playfully scrunched her neck, the gooseflesh rising.
"Kinky," blurted Draco, before he could stop himself. Albus' laugh echoed off the walls.
"Perfect," he said. He impulsively began stroking his snow white beard.
"This has given me an idea."
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Ginny found that coming home to The Burrow was probably one of the better things to come out of the "Voldemort-Sent-Me-A-Perverse-Music-Box" Incident. Molly had clucked over her and waited on her hand and foot, stuffing food into her until her stomach could take no more. She never asked Ginny what it was that was obviously bothering her, certain that it would straighten itself out once she'd been fed a good hot meal and was tucked safely in her old room. In the end, being around Mum had been the best medicine.
It was wrenching, but she found that telling Ron about Tom Riddle wasn't as hard as she thought it would be.
He'd listened impassively, no interruptions, no shouts, and no promises of vengeance. He was very quiet when she'd finished and when he finally spoke, it was in even, measured tones.
"Why did you feel that you couldn't come to me with this? I could have helped."
Ginny jerked away from him. "You were twelve years old when it happened, Ron. You were a total git, if you'll recall. What do you think you would have done, had you known?"
Ron looked shamefaced. "I would have obsessed about it. I would have driven Hermione and Harry to distraction with talk of getting even, of making Voldemort pay for what he'd done to you. I would have managed to remind you of the incident every time you looked into my eyes."
He sighed.
"If it helps at all, I think I understand you now. I could never figure out why you threw yourself at Harry, knowing that he didn't feel about you the same way about you that you felt for him. I suppose you thought that Harry's love could erase what had happened in The Chambers of Secrets. The irony is that you were never able to move on." He looked at her with consideration.
"Do you think you'll be able to move on now?"
Ginny told him truthfully, "I don't know right now. The only thing I know is that I feel like a heaviness has been lifted. I suppose it's the first step."
They'd sat on the porch swing in silence for a long time after that.
After Ron had finally bid her a sleepy goodnight, she'd stayed on, swinging slowly, the springs squeaking out a comforting rhythm in the quiet night. She'd stared at the full moon and had been so lost in her thoughts that she didn't see Harry approaching her on the porch.
"Hello, Ginny," he said quietly. His dark hair was in its usual glorious disorder and he suddenly looked like the little boy she'd known all those years ago in Hogwarts. "Do you mind if I sit with you for a while?" Ginny shook her head as he sat next to her.
Neither said a word at first, until Harry cleared his throat and said suddenly, "I know about Voldemort. I know what he did to you your first year."
Ginny started in surprise. Before she could retort, Harry continued. "I need for you to understand something. After the battle with Voldemort our sixth year, he told me about what had really happened in The Chamber of Secrets, before I found you. It was after he'd kidnapped me from the Dursleys. First he drugged me then he tortured me with the lurid details, laughing as I cried like a little baby. After it was over, I thought that if I never thought about it again, if I never mentioned what I knew, it would be as if it had never happened. I was so wrong."
He looked discomfited.
Ginny just stared at him in mortification. For once, Harry was sensitive to her feelings as he added, "I never blamed you, Ginny. I never thought it was something you did, or that it had been something that you'd wanted. I just simply didn't know what to say to you. So instead, I said nothing. When that auror, Townsend, broke into your house, I was standing at the door with my invisibility cloak. I heard you talking to Draco and I realized that he knew about the Chambers of Secrets. I must admit that he said everything to you that I wish I could have told you years ago." He smiled ruefully. "He's full of surprises, that one." He didn't add that he'd felt a horrible pang of jealousy at the sight of Draco Malfoy gently brushing her tears away. He'd been standing entirely too close to her, in Harry's estimation.
Ginny remained silent and stunned. She'd figured that nothing could surprise her after what she'd experienced today. Harry reached out to touch her arm, but she pulled away from him, as if burned. He thought his heart was going to break.
"I know I was wrong, and I've probably screwed things all up, but I wanted you to know that you don't have to hide it anymore," he said quietly. "I just want you to find some peace with all this. I promised you that I'd stay away and I will. I have only one hope for us when this is all over . . . besides survival, that is. I hope that once Voldemort is dead, we can both be free, free to love and free to go after whatever brings us happiness. That thought is the only thing that keeps me going."
She noticed that he was finally looking at her as if he was truly seeing her . . . as if for the first time.
Harry took a deep breath. "And when it's over, I'll spend the rest of my life making you forget that Tom Riddle ever existed, if you'll let me."
She couldn't hide the astonishment on her face.
"I won't give up on us, Ginny," he said vehemently. "I finally know what it's like to live without you and I've never been more miserable in all my life."
Ginny couldn't believe what he was saying. She began to stammer, but he stopped her. "In case you're wondering, all those women I've been photographed with are just a front. I thought that if I completely and publicly severed all ties with you, you'd be safe. I don't think that's true anymore. The only time you'll truly be safe is when Voldemort is dead. And I intend to see to it."
Ginny got up from the porch swing and walked to the railing, staring out into the untidy Weasley vegetable garden. She was struck dumb for a few moments before finding her voice. "I don't know what to say to you, Harry. It's too much to take in right now. I need time."
Harry nodded. "Take all the time you need. I'm not going anywhere." He couldn't know at the time that he would live to regret those words.
When she turned back to him, he was gone.
She stayed on the porch, mulling over everything he'd said, dumbfounded at all that had just transpired. She didn't notice the Black Falcon that was perched on the willow tree out in the garden, his pale blue eyes narrowed with an almost human-like satisfaction. Only a true bird-aficionado would know that he was actually native to Australia.
He'd been watching her for two days.
TBC
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Author's Note: Since it's been a while since I updated, I wanted to get this chapter out as soon as possible. It hasn't been beta-read, so I hope you all excuse any mistakes. I'm sure I'll be correcting the things I notice in the next couple of days.
Thanks again to all who review! I love you guys!