Disclaimer on Chapter 1 – Don't own them, just enjoy playing with them!
Time Does Not Heal All WoundsWendyNat
Chapter 14
~~~~~~~
In Sevilla, the ISC meetings had just ended for the evening and the attendees were flooding out of the meeting hall, scattering to various bars and restaurants. Viktor and Stoyan hung back, waiting for their friend who had just returned that afternoon from a meeting with a Ministry representative. After shaking too many hands to count, Harry finally joined them and the men began walking to the entrance of Muggle Sevilla. Harry shook his head, breathing a sigh of relief. When he traveled abroad, venturing into the Muggle world was the only opportunity he had to eat in peace. The Famous Harry Potter wished once again that his famous scar had disappeared along with the Dark Marks.
"How did the meeting vith Neville go, Harry?" Viktor asked. He was also glad to escape from the autograph hounds in Sevilla's wizarding town.
Harry shrugged. "As expected. The Ministry will work on it, but no promises. I think Neville may decide to do some experimenting in his spare time to help us out." They were pressing the Herbology researchers to investigate new types of grasses that could be used for Quidditch pitches. The Spanish Ministry was working on a special springy, cushiony type, and the ISC hoped that getting the other Ministries involved would hasten the development so they could lessen injuries.
Stoyan spoke up, "Vell, that is very kind of him. Haff I met this Neville before?" They had reached the restaurant. Stepping in, they were seated quickly. Thankfully, Wednesday evenings weren't any busier in Spain than they were in Britain.
Viktor shook his head. "I don't think so, Stoyan. He vent to school with Harry and Hermione. She's very good friends vith his vife, Susan. You haff met her." Viktor paused while the waiter took their drink orders, then continued, "In fact, I think she vas haffing a 'girls' night' vith her last night vile Neville vas vith you, Harry."
Harry cleared his throat uncomfortably. "Yeah. Actually, I saw her there – I stayed the night at Neville's place." His nose twitched in memory.
Stoyan laughed. "Ah, you are truly very brave, Harry Potter. It is a brave man, or a foolish one, that interrupts this 'girls' night', I am right?" Viktor and Stoyan both laughed.
Harry just shook his head, muttering underneath his breath, "You have no idea." Needing to change the subject before he said too much, he began speculating on who would win that year's Quidditch Cup. Viktor gave him a rather odd look, but readily accepted Harry's change of subject.
After dinner, Harry and Viktor decided to explore a bit more of Muggle Sevilla. Stoyan declined in spite of the other men's good-natured taunts. "No, no, you go. I haff had enough drink this week to last me another month. I vas very ill already – vunce is enough." With a smile and a friendly warning to watch the drink, he returned to Sevilla's wizarding town.
Harry and Viktor finally settled on a brightly lit bar down the street from the restaurant. Putting a hand on his friend's shoulder before entering, Harry said, "Try and remember not to order Firewhiskey this time, Viktor – you really confused that last Muggle bartender." Viktor chuckled, remembering their last excursion.
"Okay, okay. You vere raised Muggle… vy don't you order for us both?"
Harry rolled his eyes. "Man, how am I going to pick up a woman that way? She'll think I'm with you!"
Viktor looked confused. "You are vith me."
Harry shook his head, laughing. "No, mate, she'll think I'm with you."
Viktor rolled his eyes. "Trust me, you aren't my type, Harry." Harry feigned a hurt look, and then laughed and led the way into the bar.
He was pleased to note that there were a number of empty tables. Waving Viktor towards one, he went by the bar to grab two beers. When he reached the table, Viktor gave him a penetrating look.
"Okay, vat happened last night?"
Harry took a gulp of his beer, conjuring an innocent expression. "What do you mean, Viktor? Met with Neville, went back to his house, spent the night in his guest room. Nothing exciting."
Viktor laughed. "Okay, Harry. Vatever you say. You do know that your face… anyvun could read your emotions like an open book – that's the saying, right?"
Harry scowled. "I guess." His face cleared, and he attempted to turn the subject safely back to Quidditch. "So, you really think the Chudley Can-"
Viktor cut him off. "Not this time, Harry. Ve are alone now, I vant to know vat happened that made you haff that strange look earlier. Vat did Stoyan say? Oh, yes – that you vere brave to interrupt the girls' night, and then you mumbled something."
Harry took another gulp of his beer, shaking his head. "Brave is right. That wife of yours has quite a left hook." Viktor sat up in his chair.
"Vat?" Viktor looked incredulous. "Vat happened? Vat did you do to make her hit you? Even I haff never done anything to make her hit me – and ve haff been married five years." Viktor's face suddenly turned very cold and dangerous. "Did you hurt her? Because if you did…"
"No! No, nothing like that, not the way you think – I mean, oh, shit." Viktor's face continued to darken. "Look, Viktor, I didn't do anything to her. She was mad about… about something that happened a long time ago. Okay? No need for any Unforgivables." Harry silently pleaded with whatever deity may be listening that Viktor didn't question him further.
The deities obviously weren't listening.
"Vat did you do, Harry?" Viktor's look suddenly became shrewd. "Vas it something that happened… perhaps five or six years ago?" Harry continued to plead quietly, until he felt a cold length of wood poke into his stomach beneath the table. "You vill tell me. Or you vill find out just vat I learned from Karkaroff."
Harry thought Viktor was probably bluffing, but he wasn't confident enough in his assumption to find out. Silently, he cursed Hermione for going after broody, dark, and violently dangerous men. Hmmm, he thought, looking at the thunderous face of the man in front of him, they even look a bit alike. Sullen, dark, big noses…Another poke from the wand brought his attention back to his current situation.
Raising his hands, he surrendered. "Okay, okay, okay. Quit poking me, you git. I'll tell you." Harry sighed, knowing he'd likely have another broken nose once Hermione found out. And this time she wasn't likely to heal it for him. "Can you promise not to tell Hermione that I told you?" Viktor's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. Harry continued with a pleading tone, "I'd rather not have another broken nose, if it's all the same to you." With a slight smirk, Viktor removed his wand from Harry's stomach and stowed it back underneath his sleeve.
Taking a deep breath, he told Viktor the story. He began with the night six years ago when he had originally told Hermione what he had seen, leaving out the Pensieve, and finished with an extremely edited version of their conversation from the previous night. Viktor shook his head, stunned.
"So you told her that he vas vith this other voman, that he had moved on… ven actually… Merlin. And she now knows the truth… that must be vy she has seemed so…" Viktor appeared to be speaking to himself. Suddenly his head snapped up, eyes boring into Harry's. "Vy did you tell her at all? Vy vould you tell her something to hurt her so much?" His eyes narrowed once again. "Ven did you tell her this?"
Harry closed his eyes. How did I get myself into this? Oh, right, my bloody big mouth. And Hermione's bloody perceptive husband. "Ummm. A while back?" Viktor indicated that that wasn't a satisfactory answer. "Ummm. Well…. I didn't want to tell her… I wasn't going to… but she was crying, and-"
"Crying?"
Harry's eyes darted around the room, hoping for an escape route to appear. "Ummm. Yeah. So, anyway, I told her about it, and she ummm… argued with me until I showed her a Pensieve of the memory." So much for not mentioning the Pensieve, dunderhead!
Viktor looked at him in shocked silence for a moment. Then - "She saw it? Vy vould you make her vatch something like that?"
Harry shrugged. "Well, she wouldn't believe me, and she was blubbering about how guilty she felt being with you when she was still in love with him, how she should break it off wi-" Harry froze. Viktor's eyes had closed, his face twisted. Harry sat in silence, mentally kicking himself.
"So. That answers many of my questions," Viktor said in a curiously dead tone. He opened his eyes, and Harry's mind shrunk from the pain he saw there. "I could tell, this past month, she has been… pulling away from me. No – that's not right… she vas never really all mine, her heart… I thought – I knew maybe she did not luff me at first, but I thought… after time, being together, she vould. And I thought she did." Viktor blinked fiercely, scowling. Harry remained silent. "Now, maybe I think she never did. Maybe I pressed her too far, pressured her to marry before she vas ready. But, I thought it vas you. And ven I saw you together – I could tell you did not luff each other – it vas obvious. So I thought it vas all in my head, my imagination. Well, you had luff like brother and sister, but not like…" Harry nodded in understanding, gripping the other man's arm for a moment in support.
Viktor took a couple of deep breaths and continued in a mechanical tone. "So she knows now that this… Severus… never betrayed her. Never did move on. She came to you a long time ago, upset because she vas- she felt she vas betraying him by being vith me," his voice caught, and he paused for a moment. Harry could find no words, no way to comfort the man in front of him. "And ven I ask her… ven I asked her this veek if she still luffs him, she does not answer." Turning his burning eyes towards Harry, Viktor asked, "Is she going to leave me?"
Harry shook his head. "No… well, I- I don't know. She's… I think right now she's confused. She doesn't know what to do. She hasn't decided… I know she doesn't want to hurt you…"
Viktor's hand tightened on the glass. "Doesn't want to hurt me? Is this better? Being vith a voman that does not luff only me? I do not vant haff of her, Harry. If I cannot haff all of her, I do not vant…" Viktor clamped his mouth shut, staring off to the side.
Harry nodded sadly. "I think she needs to hear that, Viktor."
Viktor shook his head and took a swallow of his drink. "I luff her. I alvays haff, ever since I saw her in the library." He slammed his fist on the table. "Harry - I vant our marriage to vork. Vy didn't she tell me before?" Staring at his glass, he let out a breath. "I vill talk vith her tomorrow. I haff to."
* * * * * *
Hermione sat on the stool, watching the man beside her stirring the next ingredients into a steaming cauldron. The heat from the simmering liquid had plastered his shirt against his skin, and she could see the outline of the muscles along his spine quite clearly. She smiled.
"Are you quite finished gawking at me?" Severus said, turning to her after giving a final stir to the cauldron. Seeing the dark rings under her eyes, he frowned a little. "There really isn't much that you can do right now – the next ingredient addition doesn't require two sets of hands. Why don't you run along to bed, little girl?" he suggested, giving her a quick kiss on the forehead.
She smiled slightly. She was tired. Nodding, she slid off of the stool and then gave him a questioning look. "Are you sure you don't want company? You have another couple of hours before the next ingredient needs to be added."
Shaking his head, he smirked. "I'm sure I can find something to do to pass the time."
She gave him a sly grin in return. "Oh, I'm sure you can." She stretched, arching her back and watching his reaction from under lowered lashes. It was quite satisfactory. "Aren't you going to wish me pleasant dreams?"
He just smiled. "I don't need to."
~*~*~*~*~*~
She was alone in a large tub of silver and green marble. Sighing, she leaned her head back and enjoyed the feel of the jets against her body, running her hands absently over the bubbles. Suddenly, her right hand was seized by the wrist and she was pulled against warm skin. A silky voice murmured, "Hmmm. Not quite the surroundings I had in mind this time."
She opened her eyes. She was sitting in the Potions classroom, in the front row seat that she had claimed in her seventh year Advanced Potions class. Looking down, she felt a little thrill when she realized that she now wore her old school uniform. She smiled widely, looking to the front of the classroom.
Severus – no, Professor Snape – stood there with a familiar scowl. "Miss Granger – what is so amusing?"
Quickly schooling her features into a serious, remorseful expression, she answered in a timid voice, "Nothing, Sir." He nodded, and turned back to sit at his desk. She smiledto herself and stood, making her way silently to his desk. "Umm, Sir? I've finished my potion."
He looked up with a scowl, the gleam in his eye betraying his true thoughts. "Why do you insist on speaking out of turn, Miss Granger? I think that deserves a punishment-"
"But, Sir-"
"Another thing - do you think I haven't noticed your daydreaming in class? What, pray tell, is going on in that mind of yours that is more interesting than my class?"
Hermione blushed, this time in earnest. "Well, I don't think I can tell you, Sir."
He stood and glided around the desk, standing directly in front of her. "And why not, Miss Granger?" Grasping her chin, he turned her face towards his. "Look at me when I speak to you, Miss Granger." The fingers began to caress her cheek and she closed her eyes, sighing. His voice, low and silky, came to her ears, "Miss Granger – I'm waiting."
Opening her eyes, she gazed up at him mischievously. Raising herself up on toes, she reached up and allowed her lips to brush his ear as she whispered, "I'm thinking about you, Sir. About how you look without those robes of yours… how those long, elegant fingers would feel on my skin… how those lips would feel on my mouth, on my throat-" she reached a hand up to his chest, feeling his heartbeat quickening underneath her palm "-how your body would feel, covering mine-" she moved her other hand to the back of his neck, tangling in his hair "-how your tongue would feel-" With a sudden growl, he gripped her waist and lifted her onto his desk, his mouth covering hers in a searing kiss.
He quickly removed her outer robes and shirt, and pulled back to smirk at her when his hands touched skin. "No brassiere? Tsk, tsk. Ten points from Gryffindor, Miss Granger, for an inappropriate lack of underthings."
She smiled and whispered seductively, "You'd better go ahead and make it twenty, Professor." Her smile widened when she felt a hand reach up under her skirt, sliding slowly across the skin of her hip. Grasping her hips in both hands, he pulled her farther forward and knelt smoothly in front of her.
His mouth worked its way along her thigh as he whispered, "I don't think twenty points is an adequate punishment, do you, Miss Granger?"
She shook her head, hands grasping at the edge of the desk convulsively. Suddenly, she felt his lips leave her skin and she looked at him with feverish eyes as he eyed her playfully.
"I expect an answer when I speak to you, Miss Granger." His hands stroked her thighs underneath the skirt. "So, I ask again – do you think twenty points is adequate punishment?"
Shaking her head, she finally gasped out, "N-No!" Looking at his slight frown, she added, "Sir!"
"Very good, Miss Granger." His mouth returned to its prior activity, moving farther up her inner thigh to his goal. "Perhaps a detention would teach you manners," he whispered against her..
Her head fell back, hair sweeping the desk, as she gasped, "Yes, Profes-" and then she could speak no more.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The next morning, Hermione woke slightly breathless. The earlier dream had spurred her subconscious to dizzying heights, and - even without Severus' direct influence on the remainder of her dreams - her heart was still pounding. Shaking her head with a grin, she readied herself quickly and made her way to the Great Hall for breakfast.
When she saw Severus already sitting at the table, she flushed slightly. He turned to look at her, one eyebrow raised in a knowing manner, a small smirk playing on his lips. "Good morning, Hermione. I trust you had pleasant dreams?"
Feeling her stomach leap in response, she took a moment to control her voice. "Why yes, Severus, thank you. And yourself?" He nodded and indicated the chair next to him.
Finally taking note of the two other people with Severus, Hermione said, "Good morning, Minerva, Remus." Turning to Remus, she asked, "How is the Hogsmeade property coming along?"
"That's what we were just discussing. We could probably have up to five people there at a time… in addition to myself." Remus smiled at her. "It's quite comfortable, really."
Hermione smiled into her teacup. "Hmmm. And did Hestia like it?"
"Yes, she di-" Remus caught himself. He flushed slightly when Hermione burst out laughing, Severus and Minerva chuckling along with her.
"Oh, really, Remus – you are certainly allowed… guests, if you wish them. So, Hestia finally won you over?" Minerva asked, smiling encouragingly. Remus shrugged slightly, and Minerva continued in a more serious voice, "I'm happy for you both. You've been alone too long, young man."
"Thank you, Minerva."
Hermione didn't miss the meaningful glance that Minerva shot Severus. It appeared that Remus wasn't the only one she thought had been alone too long. Not for long, Minerva. Not for long.
~~~~~~~
After lunch, Severus and Hermione were sitting in his office, watching the clock. There was only one more hour until the next ingredient needed to be added, and thankfully it would be the last. After that, the potion base just needed to simmer for fourteen hours. The other two batches of base were already complete.
"So, he returns tonight from that Quidditch get-together of his."
"The ISC meetings, yes." She sighed, leaning back into the chair. "He said he'd be back late afternoon, but the potion won't be ready by then. I'll just have to see him later tonight."
Severus picked up a quill, idly turning it between his fingers. "You should go. You need to speak with him," he said, looking at her with a penetrating gaze.
Hermione looked at her hands, suddenly nervous. "I- I had thought to wait until this weekend, actually… he'll be tired from the meetings, and-"
Severus' eyes flashed. "Hermione, waiting will not help the situation."
Hermione shrugged, face averted. "I know… but-"
"There is no 'but.' The longer you leave this, the more painful it will be." He scowled. "For all involved."
Hermione looked at him pleadingly. "Severus, this is possibly the hardest thing I've ever done-"
"Hermione, the hardest thing I've ever done is watch you walk out of my life." He shook his head angrily. "It won't matter when it happens, it will hurt all the same."
"Just stop pressuring me, Severus." Hermione scowled. "I'll do it if it feels right, okay?"
He didn't look up at her. "Just go." She didn't move. Sighing, he looked at her. "I'll finish the potion – just go." She still didn't move. He tossed the quill down on the desk, and said, "Go. Please."
She went.
An hour later, she was sitting in her study, waiting, thinking. What would she say? She shook her head. It was so impossible… she couldn't do this. It was too hard.
But, wouldn't it be even harder to not do anything? To go on living with someone that she knew she didn't love? To hurt the man she did love for the second time? She shook her head, fists clenched. If only… Suddenly, she snorted. If only. There were far too many ways to end that statement, and none of them were really worth contemplating. Deal with the here and now, Hermione. Should she tell him now? Should she wait? Severus seemed to think that the sooner she told him, the better. But was he just concerned about his own feelings? If that was the case, then why did Remus also echo the same sentiment last week?
What was she going to do? She had to think.
Too late, she realized. The front door was opening. A moment later, her husband stood framed in the doorway, his face hidden in shadow. Tentatively, she stood and walked over to him. "Hi, Viktor. How did the meetings go-" she stopped abruptly when she saw his face, a cold feeling in the pit of her stomach. "What-"
He cut her off. "Sit down. Ve need to talk."
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Author's Notes: Hope you enjoyed the chapter! I'm trying a little more citrus in this chapter – I hope it's not silly. Another evil cliffie… Remember, reviews feed the hungry muses…
First of all - DragonRose, Pearle, Electryone – I forgot to give you guys kudos for the plotbunny that came up in the last chapter (Tonks changing form to help Harry get over Hannah). Thanks!! Some other people also had that idea, but you three were the first.
Alexial – Thanks! Convo next chappie… sorry for the wait, but Harry had to have time to spill the beans.
Raclswt – I can't make any promises like that! ;)
Rilla – It was tempting to make her hold it against him, but she knows how he is… he's a true Slytherin. I thought she'd find it amusing – he did drop her enough clues along the way, after all.
Shem – Hmmm. I'll take bribes, most definitely. But trying to bribe me with a useless Ron character – blech. Only if you pack him with Polyjuice so he resembles a certain Potions Master… heehee.
Electryone – My apologies… you will have to wait for the breaking of the heart before the fun punishments, but this chapter has an appetizer-sized portion ;). I'm lol at your different picks for Viktor. If I didn't already have someone in mind, I'd go slash just for you, my dear!
Keket Amunet – Thanks! I'm interested to see what your guesses are, after the next chapter (which will have the "big talk" and Viktor's reaction)
PinkChubbyMonkey – LOL! Luna's hanging around. Maybe I'll think up a sequel and include her… hmmm.
Deb – Thanks! I agree with your Harry comments – he's quick tempered but generally means well, and is a nice guy in canon… I'm trying not to stray too far from that. I've given him a loose tongue, but there is some evidence of that in the books… not to the same extent, but he's older now ;).
Tegan – Thank you! I'm trying my best to balance the angst, romance, and humor – I'm glad you think it's working!
Maddy-Riddle – Another dream sequence for you! The talk won't be the end of the story – I'm going to write a bit of the aftermath. She'll have to deal with the fallout from friends and family, and I have grown so fond of Viktor that I have to make sure he's taken care of wink
Lizzie – Thanks!! LOL @ "senses impending smut… jumps for joy"… I'm still a little shy to write lemons, but I'm slowly getting there, I think. I just want to make sure it's tasteful, so it stays within the tone of the story.
Anarane – Thanks for the review!
Indie Fairy – Thanks – you're welcome for the blood ;). More punishments to come …
Rachel – Thanks! I have a brother and too many male friends to count, so I have many examples I can use to vouch for the guy to guy cheer up method ;).
Louise Luvgood – Thanks so much for your reviews… I know you're working on catching up to these chapters, but did want to thank you. I really liked your woodsy scent story – so cool that it reminded you of my fic!