By
Disclaimer: All items relating or pertaining to the Harry Potter Universe belong to J.K. Rowling, Scholastic Inc., and the Warner Brothers Co. Please don't sue me, I have no money.
Author: Joy
Title: Black Cadillac
Rating: PG-13
Summary: In answer to the 'Snape's Wheels' plotbunny on WIKTT. The year is 1999, and the war rages on. But for two of wizarding kind's brightest minds, the time has come where survival is priority. Can they find escape together? Will they find it in one another? SS/HG.
AN: The title is inspired by Jordan Avenue's song 'Blue Cadillac'. A great song to listen to while reading this fic! Check out the artist at jordanave.com
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"A cat." Severus deadpanned without looking at Hermione, who was clutching her chest and trying to catch her breath. The car was still moving swiftly down the road, but the atmosphere had changed dramatically. The almost pleasant environment had quickly become infused with fear, relief, and anger. "You screamed over a cat."
"I have a soft spot for animals..." Hermione murmured, looking guiltily at the blurred trees flying by.
"You had me thinking that a pack of Death Eaters had suddenly appeared in our path!" He growled out, slamming his hand on the steeling wheel for emphasis. He was not happy. A cat! For the love of Merlin!
"I'm sorry, Severus." She sighed heavily, closing her eyes and slumping down in her seat. They had been driving for over 5 hours now; and Hermione still had no idea where they were going, or what they were to do. "I just..."
"Just... forget it." Severus grumbled and ran a hand over his face. He was so tired. So tired...
"The plan, then. Explain to me about the plan." Hermione quickly changed the subjet, relieved that Severus had opted to drop it.
"We're going to America." He stated monotonously; his voice holding no hint of the sensual lilt she was growing fond of.
"America?" She furrowed her eyebrows. The young witch had figured that to hide they had to go far away, but she had never imagined going overseas. She'd been having wild, fleeting thoughts of Paris or Rome, even Venice! America seemed almost crude in comparison. Then again, the European cities she'd been fantasizing about had been spurned by her overactive, romantisized imagination. America had it's good points as well. New York City, Boston, Hollywood... "I suppose that could work."
"We don't have a choice in the matter. Albus has already arranged everything."
"I see. How are we getting there?" Hermione had always had a curious nature. It was a major factor in her extensive knowledge. Curiosity led her to books; absorbing every fact she could get her greedy little hands on. It had honed her into a find young woman of capacious wisdom. But it had also led her into a scrap of trouble every now and then. Yet she also found adventure exhilerating. Which could possibly be the reason her heart was still beating a million miles a minute; despite the fact that danger had passed.
"We're driving to an old cottage in a remote settlement, located in Northern Scotland. From there, we will portkey to Boston, Massachusetts." The plan was simple, provided that it went off without a hitch. Hopefully Voldemort hadn't got wind of the secret plans; though it was mainly paranoia swimming through the Potions Master's mind.
"And then?"
"We will adopt disguises and assimilate into the Muggle World. Our only contact will be with Albus. He will give us assignments to work on in our spare time; while we also scope out Death Eater activity in the States." Severus took a deep breath as he pulled off the highway and let the Cadillac roll slowly over the rocky, unpaved streets. "Voldemort is only now sending out reconnaissance to the Area. He's been concentrating all of his power on Europe; and as a result, his grasp on power is weakening. He needs reinforcements, which he thinks he can find in the niave minds of the Yankees."
"That makes sense."
"We're here!" Severus exclaimed suddenly, pulling the car to a complete stop in front of a rickety, ancient cottage. The small dwelling seemed to be falling apart at the seems, yet it bespoke of wealth and life and love. As Hermione opened the door and stepped from the vehicle, she was instantly drawn to the small wrap-around porch.
"It's breathtaking." She breathed out, turning in slow circles to take in her surroundings. She could feel the warmth radiating around her, and she took a deep breath in attempts to absorb a fraction of it.
"Yes. It was a refuge for endagered wizarding families during the first rising. Since then, it has fallen into disprepair; but Albus feels it still safe. Voldemort and his minions never gained word of it; and we feel he still hasn't." Severus startled Hermione with his soft words. She hadn't heard him open his door and retreat from the Cadillac; nor climb the squeaky set of stairs to come stand behind her. She glanced up over her shoulder at him, an odd look on her face.
"How do you do it?" She asked suddenly, shaking her head in disbelief and wrapping her arms about her body.
"Do what?" He countered with a quirked eyebrow.
"Live with such passion." Hermione said, turning around so that she wouldn't have to crane her neck to look into his eyes. "Everything you do, everything about you is passionate. When you're angry, happy, sad, confused... You mean everything you feel. You never lack for emotion, yet you hide behind cold, dark eyes. Its amazing and frightening all at once."
"I had no idea I was...like that." Severus was a bit taken aback. Never had anyone spoken so honestly and open with him, about him. Not even Albus, who was like a surrogate father to the forty-two year old man.
"But you are." The statement was so soft that Severus only heard it as a whisper on the wind; gently carressing his cheeks as he watched his former student turn and make her way back to the car.
"So are you, Hermione." He called out at last, moving to stand at the top of the stairs. "What else could your intense thirst for knowledge be classified as? Contrary to popular belief, you are not a frigid young woman who always has her nose stuck in a book. You, too, are the embodiment of passion. In everything you do."
Hermione was entranced by his words. They had so much in common, but until this moment she had never seen it. Never cared to know it. The feelings it evoked were new to her; unfamiliar stirrings of something unexplainable. Something wonderful.
Indeed, she was beginning to look at Severus Snape in an entirely new light.
"It's almost time." His frantic words freed Hermione from her reverie; snapping her to attention as he barrelled down the steps with an tatty, dirty rag in hand. Severus came to a stop mere inches from Hermione, holding out a spare bit of the cloth for her to grab hold of.
Hermione, still in awe of what she was feeling, took the free edge silently.
"Less than a minute... 5, 4, 3 -" Severus began to count down, but was cut off by a sharp tug on his shirt.
"Thank you, Severus." Hermione whispered breathlessly, throwing her arm around his neck and pulling his head down. Their lips met in a soft, yet passionate kiss as the familiar tug pulled at both of their navels.
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Thank you all for your reviews! They are very encouraging! Seen as ff.n seems to not be forwarding all of the reviews, and I can't access most of them yet, I can't leave personal thank-yous! I'll try and catch up in the next chapter, however!
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