Author's Notes: Just a warning... This chapter is rated R!

I need some reader feedback about the events to come after this chapter... but I don't want to give anything away up front here, so please see my author's note at the end! Feedback will be appreciated!

Thank you to all of my readers and reviewers for making this story possible!

Another reminder that you can find a link to my Yahoo group in my profile here at fanfiction.net. Feel free to jump in to discuss HP fanfic (mine, your own, or others), or just to listen to my ramblings. I look forward to getting to know some of you better!

Disclaimer: Harry Potter and the characters from the books in the series are copyright JK Rowling, and are not being used for profit, only for personal enjoyment.

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Chapter 31 ~ "Closure"

Hermione and Severus spent the next few days sharing intimate embraces and tender kisses as they rekindled the flames that had been burning so deep within each of them for so long. He spent each night holding her as she slept, but it never went further than that. This time, they were taking it slow.

One morning, Hermione woke to find Severus laying beside her with Samuel curled up on his chest. Clutched in Samuel's hands were the old blanket and the plush bunny that Hermione had brought with her from her old home. When she gasped, Severus opened his eyes and looked at her in curiosity, "Something wrong?"

"Where did you find those?"

"I unpacked Samuel's things from your trunk the other night... aren't these his?"

Hermione jumped out of bed and rummaged through her own belongings that she had not yet unpacked. She crawled back into bed with the photo album, and turned to the picture of herself situated in a very similar position with her father. Severus eyes lit up as she showed it to him, "These are yours?" he smirked.

"They WERE," she smiled, "The night that I gave them to Samuel, I dreamed of this picture... only, it wasn't my father and me... it was you and Samuel."

"Thank you, Severus, for making that dream come true," Hermione whispered as she leaned over and kissed him.

*****

Later that week, after journeying with Remus back to London to retrieve her belongings, Elizabeth finally settled in to the cottage. Hermione was thrilled to have her mother close by, and with the warm Spring weather, was enjoying taking Samuel on short outings. Besides going to her mother's, they would often enjoy a walk to the village, a picnic by the lake, and Samuel's favorite, a stroll through the gardens. Samuel was just over four months old, and was developing a new awareness of his surroundings... delighting in the vivid colors of the spring flowers, the fluttering wings of a butterfly, the feel of the grass as Hermione would kneel down with him and let his tender little feet touch the cool blades, giggling as he curled them between his toes.

One evening in late April, Hermione took Samuel for a stroll down to the lake, where they sat and watched the sun set. Hermione reflected on the events of the past year. Tonight marked the first anniversary of Voldemort's downfall... the night that had ultimately changed Hermione's life, forever... the night that Samuel was conceived. She leaned back on her elbows, with Samuel tucked close to her side, lying on a soft blanket that she had brought along. He was nearly asleep as she turned onto her side and murmured to him, "No regrets, my son."

"No regrets," spoke a hoarse voice behind her. She jolted up and whirled her head around... it was Severus.

"Severus, I... you startled me," she gasped.

Severus kneeled down to brush his son's cheek with the back of his hand, "Two miracles occured that night," he whispered, "The second of which is laying right here in front of me. My son..." he smiled. Hermione patted an empty spot on the blanket, inviting him to sit down with them. He leaned back and looked at the stars, as Hermione did the same, "The other..." he sighed. He didn't remember the dark mark disappearing from his arm, signalling the downfall of the Dark Lord.

"The night sky is nearly the same as it was..." Hermione got caught up in her own memories, "Those same stars watched over us... kept us safe...." she broke off as she realized where the discussion was heading. "I'm sorry, Severus... you don't remember."

He turned towards her, "I remember..."

"You do?"

He chuckled, "The sky. I remember the sky. It was a clear night just like this one. I remember the battle... I remember apparating you to safety. And then...nothing..." he sighed.

"I'm sorry."

"We've been over this, Hermione. There is nothing to be sorry about," he turned to his side, facing his sleeping son as he reached over to stroke his back.

"Severus... do you want to... remember?"

He sighed, "Yes. I can live without knowing, but I don't like having pieces of my memory missing. Sometimes, I think I remember, but it's probably just the flashes of your memories that I witnessed so long ago, coming back to haunt me. I have come to accept that I may never remember... but I think I NEED to remember... I want to move on, but first I need...," he paused as he tried to think of what it was that he was trying to say, "closure."

Hermione nodded, "I understand, Severus. Two weeks ago, I probably wouldn't have understood your need. I didn't want to go back, to revisit my past. I thought the memories would hurt too much. But now that I've said my final goodbyes, I feel that I can finally move on. I've had my closure," she looked deep into his eyes, "and now, it's time for you to have yours."

"What do you mean, Hermione?" he asked, his voice filled with confusion.

"We need to go back..."

"No. It will be too painful for you..."

"No, Severus. I've had my time to heal. It's your turn..." she stood and held her hand out to him, "Let's take Samuel home. I'm sure Remus will watch him for us tonight."

They walked back to the school, where Remus was more than happy to care for Samuel for a few hours. Holding hands, they walked silently across the grounds and into the Forest. Severus didn't know how, but he remembered the way. His eyes grew wide as they stepped into the clearing, and he dropped to his knees.

"Severus?" Hermione whispered in concern as she kneeled down before him.

He reached over and grabbed his arm, "I remember... the mark..." he gasped and closed his eyes, "The mark disappeared... that was right before..." he looked up at her, "you kissed me!"

Hermione nodded, "And you kissed me back," she smirked. Severus reached out and softly brushed her face with the back of his hand, "You looked so beautiful..."

Her eyes wide, Hermione gasped, "You thought I was beautiful?"

"I still do," he leaned forward and kissed her softly, "but last year... I had never noticed... not before that night."

Suddenly, Severus jumped to his feet and stalked away towards the break in the trees, in the same fashion that he had walked away from her that night so long ago.

"Severus!" Hermione cried, her eyes tearing as she watched him disappear.

A moment later, he reappeared, his face pale and drawn, "Hermione..." he rushed to her, pulling her to her feet and into his arms, "I remember... everything. I'm so... I'm sorry," he whispered hoarsely.

"Don't be," she replied as she reached up and stroked his hair, "No regrets, remember?"

"No regrets," Severus rasped as he leaned in and crushed his lips to hers. Hermione pulled him closer as they tumbled to the ground, touching and kissing each other everywhere, their passion burning hotter with every kiss.

"Severus... I want you..." she murmured, "Make love to me..."

Severus pulled back and looked into her eyes, "Here?"

She smiled at him, "Here... just like the first time."

"No," he whispered, "Better than the first time. I won't walk away. I love you too much..."

It was true. He didn't know it until he said it, but he did love her. Now that he admitted it to himself, he needed to say it to her again, "Hermione... I love you!" he rasped.

Hermione's eyes were brimming with tears as she looked back at him, trying to find her voice as she mouthed, "I love you, too."

A single tear slid from his eye as Severus tenderly laid her down on the soft patch of ground underneath the same tree where they had conceived their son a year before. But this time, it was different. He made love to her slowly, cherishing every inch of her body as he slowly undressed her, kissing her everywhere. As his warm hands caressed her soft curves, Hermione reached out to remove his robes, whispering words of love to him as she unbuttoned his shirt and let her hands begin to explore his body.

They lay there, touching and exploring and loving each other as if it were their first time... realizing that, in a way, it was. It was the first time that they knew that it could be this way forever.

"Severus...", Hermione panted in need as she reached down to guide him into her, moaning as she felt the tip of his shaft gently brushing against her warmth, "I need you..."

He leaned down to capture her lips once more, as he slowly eased himself into her. As they slowly rocked back and forth together, they continued murmuring to each other.

"I love you..."

"Don't ever stop..."

"Never..."

With each slow thrust, they could feel the passion building as their bodies pulsed against each other. With a shuddering cry, Hermione reached her peak as Severus spilled his seed into her. He gently rolled her over to lay her head on his chest, as he pulled his robe over her to keep her warm. They finally put the past behind them as they lay there under the stars, gently caressing each other as they contemplated the future.

When Hermione reached over to grab her wand a few moments later, Severus suddenly grabbed her hand. Rolling over so that she was beneath him, he pinned both of her hands to the ground above her head as he leaned in to kiss her tenderly.

"Hermione... don't do it..." he murmured into her ear, as one of his hands reached down to caress her abdomen.

"But Severus..." she gasped.

He leaned in and silenced her with another kiss before he continued. For everything that he had left unsaid those past months, Severus poured his heart out as he finally admitted his deepest desires, "I love you, Hermione. I don't ever want to be apart from you, again. I love you, and I love our son, and I want..." he paused for a moment, inhaling sharply before he continued, "I want us to be a family. I want to be with you, Hermione... "

"Severus..." her eyes darted back and forth as she looked deep into his eyes, trying to read his soul. For the first time, she could see that he was holding nothing back, "Do you mean it?"

"Every word," he leaned in to nuzzle her ear as he whispered, "Marry me, Hermione..."

"Yes... yes!" she murmured as she turned her head to kiss him deeply.

As their passion began to reignite, Hermione whispered against his lips, "And... this...?" she reached down and placed her hand over one of his own that was still caressing her abdomen.

"Only if you want..." he smiled.

"Do you...?"

Severus began kissing her neck, "One year ago, we conceived a child of passion. That child taught me how to love... YOU taught me how to love. I want to conceive a child of that love..." he sighed.

"Severus..." she whispered as he placed a finger on her soft lips to silence her.

"We can wait... I just wanted you to know..."

"Severus..." she tried to push his finger away.

"If you're not ready..."

Hermione rolled him over and pinned him beneath her, "Severus!" her eyes glinted mischeivously.

He looked back at her in amusement, "Yes, love?"

"I'm ready..." she rasped as she leaned in and kissed him passionately, showing him just how ready she was.

*****

Author's Note: Hermione and Severus have finally come full circle, and this was to be the final chapter before the epilogue... but it's really hard for me to think about not writing this story anymore! sigh Anyway... this time, I think I'll leave it open for my readers to decide. Should I write a few chapters of fluff leading up to a wedding, or just post the epilogue as planned? Feel free to leave your opinion in a review, or email me, or join me at my Yahoo group (link is in my profile).