Once again the disclaimer:  I bow in awe of J.K. Rowling genius.  All characters and things in the Harry Potter world are hers. Please do not sue me.  I make no money and you would undoubted piss readers off if you delay in continuing the saga as we anxiously await your next book.  I have cited other fan fiction articles which have inspired me to incorporate their ideas in this story as well.  I encourage you to read them.  Please read and review. Thanks~ Leyna

Chapter 19:    Revelations

She sank into the tub slowly letting the hot salts seep into her bones. She felt old. Ancient. At that thought, she wondered how Severus would respond when she revealed her secrets so long incoming to the fore. She had her reasons for keeping them. And she feared rejection. He was a guarded and private man, She was really rather conceited to believe that she could slip underneath that hard exterior.

So complicated. Why did it have to be so complicated?

She closed her eyes and tried to banish the thoughts of Malfoy from her mind. Not soon would he sleep well. Rose, she'd have to get in touch with Rose. They had obliviated parts of her memory just to help her cope. Rose Levi was forever changed. Her abdomen disfigured with scarring, unable to have children. She was at St. Mungo's for two years, a miracle of survival if there ever was one.

Rose might have some peace.

She washed her hair, and dried herself with a large towel, her hair with an incantation. Her golden brown tresses fell down her back and brushed against her legs. It had steadily grown since her sixteenth birthday, since she first connected with her elemental responsibility. She separated it into sections, twisting and tying each into braids and knots until it resembled the far shorter, studied negligence that had unknowingly captivated the potions master's eye. She reached for her lotion and applied it to her still damp skin, an effort to recall familiarity in scents she called her own. She continued to stock the China Lily lotion from her younger years and it still suited her tastes. Her hair bunched at her shoulder and she pulled a toile print flannel pajama set over her head, slipping on the matching loose pants.

In her bare feet she walked into the bedroom and den, ready to face the man who so often frequented her dreams.

He looked up, again relieved by her presence, and finally Crookshanks made his way out from under the sofa. She heard a 'mew' as the ginger mess practically hurled itself at Hermione and she caught him, carrying him to the chocolate divan. "It's ok, Crookshanks. S'alright. I'm ok."

"I wondered where your familiar went," he offered. Don't press, let her talk.

"He likes to hide. Since I left school he doesn't see too many people except Harry. He's been kind of shy since." Then to the cat holding him by the scruff of his neck, "This is Severus Snape. You're going to be seeing a lot of him, so get used to it ok?" She scratched him by the ears and the cat stood to explore and sniff out the guest. To her surprise, he climbed into Snape's lap and began kneading him, turning around and settling into a ball. He wasn't planning on moving until he had a catnap.

"Wow, you should be flattered, he never does that. You passed." The cat started purring.

"I didn't realize I was being interviewed," Snake said silkily with customary sarcasm. He going to be seeing a lot of me. Severus didn't know how that made him feel. Nervous, happy? Hopeful? He dismissed the thought. It was inappropriate. He reached back to the table behind him without standing and passed her a cup of tea. He hoped it hadn't steeped too long.

"Thank you." She sighed with a groan and took a long drink.

"Armor, Hmmm?"

That got a laugh out of her, and she grinned. "I suppose you didn't see that one coming. I hope I didn't shock you too badly."

He did the thing again with his eyebrow. "I'd have to say it's a pretty original use for bondage accessories. Care to elaborate?"

She blushed and took another sip. "It's a hex-proof, indestructible, body corset. Well, corset is an understatement. And I purchased it way back when I had my first visions of Malfoy…" she stammered. She paused, and changed the direction of her sentence. "It takes eight and half hours to be removed, by someone other than the wearer. I thought that might buy me plenty of time to be clever enough to get out of Malfoy's grasp. And that was at 16. I wished…Rose could've worn it."

Gods,16. So young for that kind of premonition. "I'm glad your safe Hermione. Harry came by earlier. He said Malfoy was admitted to St. Patrick's. His condition was listed as critical."

"You bet it is." Her tone was icy. Her eyes glazed over.

After along moment he asked the hard question, "What happened? What happened after he took you?" He held her gaze.

And she told him. Everything. But when she got to the part where she freed herself with wandless magic, the part where she connected…she stopped. He noticed.

"Were you at the Manor?"

"Yes."

"How did you? How did you leave if you can't apparate? I turned around and you were here, you didn't make a sound."

"Severus." She reached out and clasped his hand. "There is so much more to tell you and it's such a long story that I'd prefer to finish over dinner next week, if you don't mind. Suffice it to say, I got loose, slammed Lucius against the wall and he suffered a concussion when I was through with him. Before I left, I just made sure he wouldn't forget our little meeting." She released his hand and Snape sat up a bit at hearing this. He tried not to recoil as he heard Hermione out. "I forced him to relive Rose's memory of what happened that night. I wanted to deprive him of the pleasure of that memory from his point of view. I don't expect him to feel remorse. I don't expect him to serve a single day in Azkaban prison. But he robbed Rose. And he robbed me. I lost months of my life to those horrors, reliving them over and over again, as if they had happened to me! They were intended for me. I doubt he'll sleep a wink, potion or no, for several weeks." She choked out the last words and a single tear streamed down her left cheek. She took another long drink. Several silent minutes passed.

"You should retire. It's late."

"It's early. About three in the morning I guess. My bedtime perfectly. Hmmph."

A joke. She's going to make it.

"Thank you. Thank you Severus. Thank you for being here." She liked hearing his name on her lips. She felt safer than she had in years. She held the picture of his face in her mind and closed her eyes to commit it to memory.

He took her mug as if it were a well rehearsed routine and she slipped into bed sleeping more soundly than she had in years. She did not wake until Tuesday morning.