Dreams

It was the third day into the making of the potion. Both Hermione and Severus had agreed it would be best that Hermione slept in the castle that night as they would have to be up at three am to complete the second stage of the potion. Hermione had fallen asleep with Andromeda while reading her story.

Severus was woken up by the tugging of Andromeda. He flipped on his back and looked at her expectantly.

"Mommy's having a nightmare." Andromeda wiped her eyes sleepily. "She's scared but she won't wake up. She's asking for you daddy." He eased Andromeda into the bed and pulled up the cover. "You going to protect her daddy?"

"Yes." Severus clambered out of bed and crossed the room to Andromeda's bedroom. There on the bed; book face down in her lap was Hermione. Twitching at her dream. Mumbling incoherently. Severus climbed into the double bed and pulled Hermione close. Listening carefully to what she was saying;

"Severus still loves me!" Hermione whispered in desperation. "He still loves me. You can take me, but it will not be me, it will not be me." Severus took a tighter grip on her as she fought. "No. No! NO."

"Hermione it's me." Severus whispered into her ear, rocking her gently. "I'm here."

"Severus?!" Hermione doubted the voice. "Severus? I knew you'd find me."

"I did." Severus wouldn't let himself cry. He had to be strong for her. "I found you."

"Tell him you love me. Tell him you'll never let me go." Hermione was talking about the Juggernaut. Severus would have to play along.

"I Severus Snape, love Hermione Granger with all my heart. You will not take her." Severus answered valiantly pulling Hermione's sweat drenched hair from her face.

"Hermione Snape." Hermione corrected. Severus' stomach lurched she was dreaming of a time inside Ocularis. A time when Hermione still believed Severus was going to charge in on a horse and be her white knight. How wrong she had been.

"Hermione Snape." Severus kissed the back of her head as she relaxed into his arms. Severus fell into a deep sleep instantly, forgetting how comforting it was to have Hermione in his arms.

It felt right. Hermione thought when her mind stirred from sleep, finding herself entwined with Severus almost an hour later. She vaguely remembered the conversation. However she thought it nothing but a dream. Now here she was. She'd found her way back to him. She turned to face him while remaining in his tight embrace.

All sent of Alisha had been purged from his skin, Hermione thought. All she could smell was him. A warm fire on a winters day. That's what he smelt like to her.

It won't last. Hermione thought aware of his skin touching hers. Not wanting to open her eyes. Allowing her sense of touch and smell take over. How her hands knew his body well. The sun would rise and they would be back to square one. Hermione's resistance was because he would never allow himself be forgiven for this. Did he really want to be tortured forever for his mistake?

Hermione opened her eyes, expecting to see Severus sleeping. Instead she was greeted by an extremely awake Oliver. She jumped from his arms only to find it was in fact Severus. She closed her eyes. Damn, and I thought Severus was the only one who couldn't let go. She calmed herself and returned to Severus. He slept peacefully, his hair unruly tucked behind his ears. It appeared he was growing it out naturally. His face was think with stubble that begged to be touched by Hermione.

How she thought she'd tamed him. She smoothed out his t-shirt. Had she really? Without her touch would he return to the bat he had been personified as? She would help him seek his own forgiveness. She had fought for him once; she would do it again. One day, not so distant. They would be together again. Right now she would leave him. It was three am and the potion need to be seen to. She didn't have the heart to wake him She would just have to finish the second stage herself. Hermione slipped out of the bed and made her way out of the room.

The air was thick with the sense of war. The school had broken up two days previous. The war would begin by the weekend. Remus was taking Andromeda and Elizabeth away tomorrow.... Today, Hermione reminded herself. Hermione had a fleeting thought as to whether they were right to bring Andromeda into the world at such a time. Really they should have waited until after the war. Then Severus would have been able to have joined her in her search for Albus. But would she have gone if it hadn't been for Andromeda?

"And what are you doing roaming the halls missy?" A voice disrupted her thoughts as she made to go into the potions classroom. Hermione stopped as Ron joined her.

"I've got to finish this bloody potion." Hermione answered her friend. "You can help if you like."

"Yea, sure. Why isn't Sevi with you?" Ron questioned as Hermione opened the dungeon door to be met by a sickly sweet scent.

"Please don't call him that. I didn't want to disturb him." Hermione led Ron in. It had been a while since she had spoken to her friend and she was glad of the company.

"What is that?" Ron inhaled the fumes from the potion. It smelt like the nicest chocolate pudding in the world. Ron got to close, Hermione pulled him away.

"We're not sure. Neville found the potion a few years ago when he went on a herbology dig. He didn't realise it's potential until now. With a few modifications in the third step, it should allow us to detonate the germination with a simple spell." Hermione took the cauldron from the heat. "It should be ready by tonight." Hermione began stirring. "Ron. I need to ask you something."

"What?" Ron sat on the desk opposite the one Hermione was working at. She left the cauldron after adding the grounded dung beetles and faced him. Her hands on his knees.

"Stop Harry from going out into this last battle. I know I've ask him to-"

"No."

"But why?! He'll be killed." Hermione gripped his legs.

"Because this is his fight. Just as much as you won't stop Severus from trying to kill Alisha."

"How did you know?" Hermione was amazed.

"Because I know you Hermione." Ron answered flatly.

"At least someone does." Hermione sighed, returning the cauldron to boil.

"He knows you Hermione." Ron assured her. Hermione returned to him. Contemplating what she was about to say.

"You know I always thought we'd end up together?" It came as a surprise to Ron. And to Severus who had appeared in the door way. Oblivious to the knowledge of Hermione and Ron. "Me and you. I'd named our children. Daisy, Paige and Quinn." There was a point to what she was saying. "I didn't know you enough to know you were gay." Ron kissed her, his hands on her cheeks. A little more than a friend. A little less than a lover. Severus however, didn't see it that way. He saw it as little more than passion, a little more than lust. He slinked away, thinking he's lost Hermione forever. First to a womanising Quidditch player. Now to a born-again Quidditch fairy. He had been awake, once again, when she left. This time he had followed her. Instead of letting her run away in the night. Now, he was wishing he had.

"I'd named our children too Hermione." Ron blushed at his honestly. Hermione was the only woman he had ever loved. She was the only other person after Harry that could win his heart. Yes, there had been Draco. But that was pure indulgence. If he was going to be gay, he wanted the cutest gay accessory. Draco had been it.

"Hope you don't kiss Harry like that. There was no passion there." Hermione giggled. Ron had been her re-bound who turned out to be love. When Oliver left, Hermione had looked to someone more grounded. More.... Her league. She was settling for Ron. That was until she realised the man of her dreams had been criticising her for the previous five years of her life. Severus Snape, the man who matured her, in so many ways.

"Hermione. You are not going to get another chance." He hit home. She knew what he was getting at.

"You did." She smiled. He did not.

"That was my the grace of your daughter. You will not be so lucky Hermione. You've been locked away in Ocularis for ten years. So you of all people should not take true love for granted. You could die in this war. He could die in this war. You will not get a second chance to tell him you love him. Tell him how you feel."

"So, what did you name our children?" Hermione changed the subject.

A/N: Ok short chapter. There was going to be more but I have sunburn OUCH So the rest will just have to come in another chapter. I'll have to be brief with my shout outs today.... Don't mean you have to be brief with your reviews.... the longer the better. lol

poetrychik: Think it's going to have to be Hero/Alisha that he kills.

Crimson Regret177: They will be back together soon. I hope. I'm just liking this getting them together bit right now. Think it's because I want to start a new fic where I can get them together again. Maybe one where Sev likes her, but she doesn't like him.

Anarane Anwamane: Very deep. And deeper in every chapter

JasperPress77: Awwwww, thank you. How about this one?

bunnyrabbit228: He was going to originally be the one to bring the information about what Voldy was turning into. However that got passed onto Hermione. So at the moment, he just got brought back because everyone was mad I killed him. lol. However he did proove useful in this chapter.

NeopianClayniac: I really am sorry if I offended you. If you really hate it. I will change it.

queenbonnie: There was a glimmer. And hopefully you can see a bit more in this chapter. As for the big ending. what do you think? Got any ideas?

What's next?: before my case of burnt skin the second half of this chapter was going to involve seeing Severus drown his sorrows in the bottom of a whiskey glass. Then going to help Hermione with the last stage of the potion.... almost wrecking it. It'll contrast with the chapter in You Had Me From Hello where Hermione got drunk

toodles

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