Disclaimor: All things Harry Potter belong to J.K. Rowling.
Thank you Corazon for all your help and advice with this story and beta reading it!
Hidden Truths
Chapter 17
"I love your arse Severus," Hermione squeezed that part of his body.
"I'm glad you approve, I feel the same about yours," Severus murmured against her neck.
Hermione's stomach rumbled at that time. A tinge of blush crept up her neck to her cheeks.
"Somebody's hungry."
"You can't say your not, especially after what you did."
"Hmm... true. Well, let's go get some food."
Severus and Hermione put on dressing gowns. Hermione had a silk one, deep crimson that reached just above her knees; Severus was more practical, his was black terry cloth that reached his feet.
"That is the most useless robe I've seen," Severus opened the bedroom door and let Hermione walk out.
"I like how it feel against my skin," Hermione simply said.
Severus followed closely behind and whispered, "Better than me?"
Hermione knew her parents wouldn't be out until 8 and they still had another twenty minutes alone. Hermione walked backwards to face Severus, "Nothing feels better than you against me." Hermione was about to kiss Severus.
Severus, being totally focused on Hermione, didn't notice his surroundings.
"Gross!" Ron yelled.
Severus' head snapped up, Hermione spun around to face her friends who looked embarrassed. Almost as embarrassed as she felt, "Harry, Ron, Ginny. What are you doing here?"
"Uh... Dumbledore said we could have Christmas here." Harry stammered out blushing.
"Right. I forgot. Um... we'll be right back." Hermione said as Severus pulled her back into the bedroom.
"Ron, why did you yell that?" Ginny demanded.
"Because it was! I know you're right about Hermione, but hearing that was too much."
In the bedroom Severus was embarrassed, but he would live. "I'm so sorry Severus. I really did forget they would be here for Christmas and this early."
"Understandable. Much took place last night, some things were bound to slip our minds."
"Yea."
"Let's get dressed love."
"But your clothes, you don't have clean ones here."
"Dumbledore set the Floo up for your bedroom fireplace also."
"When did he do that?"
"When he set the other one up."
"But you never told me," Hermione accused.
"I know. I felt you deserved time alone and did not want to crowd you Hermione. And I didn't want to risk your parents walking in."
"You're probably right. But I still missed you at night."
"I'll make up for it, now you take a shower and I'll go get my robes and join you in a minute," Severus suggested.
"Taking a shower together will delay us longer."
"I'm very aware of that," Severus smirked, then Floo'd to this own chambers.
Hermione did get in the shower and was joined by Severus a few minutes later. After both of their pleasures, they continued to get ready. When Hermione and Severus made their exit of the bedroom, everyone was at the dining room table for breakfast. "Good morning dear, Severus." Candace greeted.
Eventually all said their greetings along with Happy Christmas. Hermione and Severus sat next to each other. Candace and Reed told Severus to call them by their given names, which Hermione knew then they accepted him and was happy about it. Severus accepted this change and did so easily.
"Hermione, how are you feeling this morning?" Candace asked.
"Fine Mum."
"Good, I was hoping there would be no after effects."
"After effects?" Hermione questioned.
The rest of the table sat in silence and ate breakfast listening. "Yes, sometimes there can be more shots of pain, looks though you are one of the lucky ones."
"After yesterday little shots of pain would be manageable," Hermione muttered.
"I can imagine," Candace sympathized. "This afternoon we need to go over some techniques to control your new power."
"What do you mean?"
"You need to learn how powerful you are magically so you know not to use too much power when doing things," Candace glanced at Severus also.
Severus understood what she meant with the look and he gave a nod. "All right Mum."
Ginny interestedly asked, "Why do the witches in your family go through such a change when turning 18?"
"I've been told centuries ago another witch cursed one of the witches in my line. The curse was to drain all magic at 18 for all witches in my family. But the witch in my family was not able to get rid of the curse, but was able to make it where the magical powers double sometimes tripled the strength within the witch. I'm not sure if this story is true, but it is what I know." Candace explained.
"Why was my change more than yours Mum?"
"No one can ever say for sure but I can only estimate."
"What have you concluded?" Hermione's curiosity was triggered.
"Well your father's line helped increase your power. You know what happened there," Candace started vaguely. "Your own power was unique and I'm guessing another reason is because..." Candace hesitated.
"Go on and tell her dear, it's important for them to know." Reed encouraged her.
Candace shot a thank you glance at her husband. "No witch before ever found their true love before their 18th birthday. I'm guessing your love for Severus and his love for you intensified the change for you."
Harry, Ron and Ginny looked to Severus and Hermione while they gazed at each other. After a long moment Severus looked back to Candace, "So my feelings for Hermione made the pain worse for her, you are saying." Severus sounded disgusted and Hermione could tell it was self-loathing.
"No, just the opposite. The other two reasons would have made the experience as bad. I believe since how you feel, Severus, you were able to be near her and survive. Also being able to reduce some of her pain by being near her. When you were holding her, did you feel any pain at all?"
"Yes, but I was not worried about it. Hermione was my concern," Severus answered.
"You must have taken some of my pain then, I just thought you had lessened, but did not feel it yourself," Hermione said solemnly.
"Yes, we believe he did." Candace finished.
Reed could tell they needed a distraction and he wanted to move onto the presents for another reason himself. "Time to open presents."
The mood changed. Everybody left the table except Severus and Hermione. This was a revelation for them. Hermione stood up when Severus did; she placed her palm on his cheek, "Thank you."
"Hermione, there is nothing to thank me for, I love you."
"That's what I'm thanking you for."
"Then I thank you in return for your love," Severus said with emotion.
Hermione smiled and pulled on his hand to join the festivities.
To Be Continued...
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Thank you Corazon for all your help and advice with this story and beta reading it!
Hidden Truths
Chapter 17
"I love your arse Severus," Hermione squeezed that part of his body.
"I'm glad you approve, I feel the same about yours," Severus murmured against her neck.
Hermione's stomach rumbled at that time. A tinge of blush crept up her neck to her cheeks.
"Somebody's hungry."
"You can't say your not, especially after what you did."
"Hmm... true. Well, let's go get some food."
Severus and Hermione put on dressing gowns. Hermione had a silk one, deep crimson that reached just above her knees; Severus was more practical, his was black terry cloth that reached his feet.
"That is the most useless robe I've seen," Severus opened the bedroom door and let Hermione walk out.
"I like how it feel against my skin," Hermione simply said.
Severus followed closely behind and whispered, "Better than me?"
Hermione knew her parents wouldn't be out until 8 and they still had another twenty minutes alone. Hermione walked backwards to face Severus, "Nothing feels better than you against me." Hermione was about to kiss Severus.
Severus, being totally focused on Hermione, didn't notice his surroundings.
"Gross!" Ron yelled.
Severus' head snapped up, Hermione spun around to face her friends who looked embarrassed. Almost as embarrassed as she felt, "Harry, Ron, Ginny. What are you doing here?"
"Uh... Dumbledore said we could have Christmas here." Harry stammered out blushing.
"Right. I forgot. Um... we'll be right back." Hermione said as Severus pulled her back into the bedroom.
"Ron, why did you yell that?" Ginny demanded.
"Because it was! I know you're right about Hermione, but hearing that was too much."
In the bedroom Severus was embarrassed, but he would live. "I'm so sorry Severus. I really did forget they would be here for Christmas and this early."
"Understandable. Much took place last night, some things were bound to slip our minds."
"Yea."
"Let's get dressed love."
"But your clothes, you don't have clean ones here."
"Dumbledore set the Floo up for your bedroom fireplace also."
"When did he do that?"
"When he set the other one up."
"But you never told me," Hermione accused.
"I know. I felt you deserved time alone and did not want to crowd you Hermione. And I didn't want to risk your parents walking in."
"You're probably right. But I still missed you at night."
"I'll make up for it, now you take a shower and I'll go get my robes and join you in a minute," Severus suggested.
"Taking a shower together will delay us longer."
"I'm very aware of that," Severus smirked, then Floo'd to this own chambers.
Hermione did get in the shower and was joined by Severus a few minutes later. After both of their pleasures, they continued to get ready. When Hermione and Severus made their exit of the bedroom, everyone was at the dining room table for breakfast. "Good morning dear, Severus." Candace greeted.
Eventually all said their greetings along with Happy Christmas. Hermione and Severus sat next to each other. Candace and Reed told Severus to call them by their given names, which Hermione knew then they accepted him and was happy about it. Severus accepted this change and did so easily.
"Hermione, how are you feeling this morning?" Candace asked.
"Fine Mum."
"Good, I was hoping there would be no after effects."
"After effects?" Hermione questioned.
The rest of the table sat in silence and ate breakfast listening. "Yes, sometimes there can be more shots of pain, looks though you are one of the lucky ones."
"After yesterday little shots of pain would be manageable," Hermione muttered.
"I can imagine," Candace sympathized. "This afternoon we need to go over some techniques to control your new power."
"What do you mean?"
"You need to learn how powerful you are magically so you know not to use too much power when doing things," Candace glanced at Severus also.
Severus understood what she meant with the look and he gave a nod. "All right Mum."
Ginny interestedly asked, "Why do the witches in your family go through such a change when turning 18?"
"I've been told centuries ago another witch cursed one of the witches in my line. The curse was to drain all magic at 18 for all witches in my family. But the witch in my family was not able to get rid of the curse, but was able to make it where the magical powers double sometimes tripled the strength within the witch. I'm not sure if this story is true, but it is what I know." Candace explained.
"Why was my change more than yours Mum?"
"No one can ever say for sure but I can only estimate."
"What have you concluded?" Hermione's curiosity was triggered.
"Well your father's line helped increase your power. You know what happened there," Candace started vaguely. "Your own power was unique and I'm guessing another reason is because..." Candace hesitated.
"Go on and tell her dear, it's important for them to know." Reed encouraged her.
Candace shot a thank you glance at her husband. "No witch before ever found their true love before their 18th birthday. I'm guessing your love for Severus and his love for you intensified the change for you."
Harry, Ron and Ginny looked to Severus and Hermione while they gazed at each other. After a long moment Severus looked back to Candace, "So my feelings for Hermione made the pain worse for her, you are saying." Severus sounded disgusted and Hermione could tell it was self-loathing.
"No, just the opposite. The other two reasons would have made the experience as bad. I believe since how you feel, Severus, you were able to be near her and survive. Also being able to reduce some of her pain by being near her. When you were holding her, did you feel any pain at all?"
"Yes, but I was not worried about it. Hermione was my concern," Severus answered.
"You must have taken some of my pain then, I just thought you had lessened, but did not feel it yourself," Hermione said solemnly.
"Yes, we believe he did." Candace finished.
Reed could tell they needed a distraction and he wanted to move onto the presents for another reason himself. "Time to open presents."
The mood changed. Everybody left the table except Severus and Hermione. This was a revelation for them. Hermione stood up when Severus did; she placed her palm on his cheek, "Thank you."
"Hermione, there is nothing to thank me for, I love you."
"That's what I'm thanking you for."
"Then I thank you in return for your love," Severus said with emotion.
Hermione smiled and pulled on his hand to join the festivities.
To Be Continued...
----------
