Rating reminder: This is rated 'R' for various things (language, violence, sexual situations) so if any of those bother you, why are you still reading??
Before leaving Dumbledore's office the previous evening, they had agreed upon the Room of Requirement as their meeting place, so Hermione made her way that direction early as to secure preparations, chiefly seating and perhaps food, but she was startled to find Harry already there a half-hour early. Chairs filled the room completely, around sixty in all if she had to hazard a guess, all grouped in fashion of a semi-circle with an open area at the front. Maps hung on the wall there, the only decoration in the otherwise white room: a few of England, one of the Ministry and Hogwarts, and even one of France. Harry, in jeans and a t-shirt, sat in one of the front-most chairs, staring at the map-covered wall but not seeing it as his thoughts were obviously elsewhere.
The sight of him assuaged a vague worry that had afflicted her since last night after her brush with Snape in the foyer, and she had wondered if he would come back at all, if it was just another ruse, and she felt relieved that she had been right in her gut feeling to trust him, even after everything.
"Hi," Hermione said softly since he hadn't seemed to notice her arrival and she didn't want to startle him, and she made her way towards him.
He woke from his reverie and managed a sad smile as he attempted to flatten his rumpled hair. He had dark circles under his eyes as well.
"When did you get here? I thought you were staying at the Burrow."
"I was, but I couldn't sleep, so I snuck out sometime around five, been here ever since. I figured I could be doing something rather than staring at the ceiling listening to Ron snore like a chainsaw."
Hermione sat down beside him and started to reach out a hand to his shoulder but checked herself and withdrew it. The old Hermione would have wanted to comfort the old Harry, but they were no longer their old selves and she didn't know how the new Hermione and Harry should interact. She asked only, "How are you doing?"
He shrugged, his shoulders barely lifting as he looked away. "It's hard to think of anything but Draco."
She didn't know how to respond and they sat in an uncomfortable silence for a few minutes. Finally, she stood and said, "Perhaps we should have refreshments, since it is so early. Some people might not have eaten breakfast."
"Whatever you think."
Glad to have something to do other than sitting in miserable quietude with him, Hermione pulled out her wand, scooted the chairs by the left side of the room away from the wall and conjured a long table, then she summoned a house elf for coffee, tea, and juice, as well as giving him instructions to bring some sort of breakfast pastry, his choice as she didn't feel like messing with such triviality herself. He and several other house elves returned almost immediately and covered the table with food and drink.
"Does everyone know where the meeting is?" asked Harry after the house elves had left.
Hermione nodded and said, "Minerva is going to have someone downstairs directing everyone up here if they don't already know."
"Well, since it's still early, I'm going to duck out for a bit, if that's alright with you. Be back before it starts."
He left without waiting for reply, his shoulders hunched and eyes haunted. Hermione let him go with a frown, and she poured herself a cup of coffee and sat down, wishing she knew what to do with Harry. Sipping the blistering coffee, she willed herself to think of nothing, not Harry or Voldemort or Severus, to sit in the silence, the calm before the storm.
Harry walked down the hall, his hands shoved into his pockets, and he wished he'd had the presence of mind to bring the invisibility cloak since he didn't much feel like talking to anyone. He walked aimlessly, changing directions whenever he heard a voice drifting his way or whenever he felt like it. Finally he found himself standing before the doors to the hospital wing, and he wondered if his subconscious had been directing him this way from the moment he had stepped foot outside the Room of Requirement.
He hesitantly pushed through the doors and stopped just inside, looking for the mistress of the hospital wing and not wanting to intrude if she was busy with patients. Poppy was working in her office and she stepped out at the sound of the opening door.
"Harry, good morning. Isn't it a bit early for you to be here?"
He managed a sheepish grin and said, "I wanted to see how Albus is doing."
"He's awake, or at least he was a few minutes ago. You can see him for a little bit if you'd like," she offered before adding the admonishment, "as long as you don't excite him too much."
"You know me, Poppy, I'd never get him stirred up."
She laughed at that and retreated to her office, the smile sliding from his face with each step towards the curtained area that hid Dumbledore from general view, no longer was he concealing the depression that weighted his shoulders. He didn't normally bother with Occlumency when he was around the old man, since he was perhaps the strongest Legilimens Harry had ever encountered, and he wasn't going to now even though Albus was in such a weakened state. He was tired of all the hiding.
He reached a hand out and pulled back the curtain; Albus had been sitting up but he jumped slightly, his eyes blinking as he awoke from a small doze.
"I'm sorry; Poppy thought you were still awake so I'll come back --"
"Harry," he said, his voice thick and deep. "I wondered when you'd come to see me."
Harry hesitated at the curtain before finally stepping through and moving to the side of the bed, forcing himself to meet the old wizard's gaze head on.
"Please, sit."
He pulled up a chair, did as he was told, and waited. Dumbledore contemplated him for a time, his brilliant blue eyes dulled by something Pomfrey must have administered earlier, and Harry could feel the Legilimens rattling around a bit in his head, a rarity for usually he could never catch Dumbledore at it, though he was certain the old man used his tricks on everyone. Harry was, for once, quite jealous of Snape in that he was talented enough in Occlumency to keep Dumbledore out of his mind.
"What would you care to talk about?"
"I wanted to explain --"
A kind look cut him short and Albus smiled gently. "There is no explanation necessary: I understand."
"No, I thought -- I thought I could still save everything regardless," Harry stammered, the smile disconcerting him and making him feel like he wasn't getting through to Dumbledore, that the old man couldn't have really seen everything there was to see in his head and interpreted it correctly. "That somehow I could betray everything and save it too."
"I know."
"I wasn't thinking, I couldn't ask anyone for help and not betray everything I was supposed to be working towards --"
"Harry."
The voice was more insistent and the smile was gone, which is what Harry wanted, no needed; he needed to see Dumbledore upset.
But Dumbledore reserved his anger for himself, not Harry.
"I gave you too much burden, between spying on Voldemort and caring for Draco at the same time. Of course it is natural that you would want to save the one you love." He raised a tired hand as Harry opened his mouth to interrupt and he continued, "I should have put more effort into finding a cure for Draco rather than push you further." A sigh escaped his lips and he broke his gaze from Harry's. "Even after all these years, I continue to ask so much of you, as if you haven't already done more than your share."
"But it is my share. Until he's dead," said Harry quietly.
Albus looked up at that, his brow knitted as he looked at The Boy Who Lived. He wished again that somehow Harry could have been spared, that no one would have to bear the same responsibility that this brave child still had to carry.
"I know, Harry. But until he is dead, I would take all other burdens from you to compensate for what you must do."
A silence descended upon them and Harry stared down at his worn trainers as Dumbledore watched him.
"It wasn't just Draco," Harry said at last; and this time Dumbledore didn't interrupt him, because this was more than even he had been able to deduce. "I was running away, from everything, and I had the perfect excuse: save Draco. But maybe he saw that and wouldn't let me betray everything in his name."
"I think you were very lucky to have had Mister Malfoy. It is very rare that one finds such a strong and true love."
Harry's emerald eyes teared up and he forcefully blinked back tears as he looked away from the kindness in the old man's eyes. It hurt so much to think of Draco. He chewed the inside of his cheek, the pain giving him a point of focus.
"You should be going," Albus said finally. "You have a meeting to attend. Poppy says this afternoon I shall be 'released on my own recognizance,' as she put it, which I suppose means she wants me to stay in my bed rather than hers," he added with a smile and a twinkle.
Harry laughed and bid Albus farewell and left the hospital wing just in time to catch Kingsley Shacklebolt on the stairs between fifth and sixth floors and they walked together the rest of the way.
"Kingsley," Harry said in acknowledgement and the older man nodded.
"Harry. I came straight from the Ministry and Alex Jones updated me before I left. Fudge already sent a team of aurors to France to assist the Magical Authority however they can."
"What about sending someone here? Hogwarts will be a huge target."
Kingsley shook his head as slowly as the words trickled from his mouth, "His primary concern is the Ministry, of course, and the Order can remain in charge of Hogwarts. Says Dumbledore can handle things here."
"That fucking imbecile," Harry swore. "We haven't even decided what to do with the students, but if Fudge doesn't send some help, there's no way we can protect everyone."
"We should dismiss the students. They would be safer at home."
"Probably. But we'd have to send them all by Hogwarts Express and that would be quite a tempting target for Voldemort."
"We should discuss it with Albus," Kingsley said, running a hand over his gleaming head. "He will be at the meeting, yes?"
Harry shook his head. "No, he's still in the hospital wing, but he told me he would be out tonight."
They reached the Room of Requirement a few minutes before seven. No less than four people called for Harry as soon as he walked in, but he largely ignored everyone, even the cries of Ron and Hagrid though he threw hurried waves in their direction, instead walking to Arthur Weasley and Minerva McGonagall who stood at the front of the room by a lectern that had appeared since his earlier departure.
"Harry," Arthur said, reaching out his hand for Harry's. "Minerva and I were just discussing Albus."
"I just came from seeing him and he says Poppy is releasing him this afternoon."
"That's good to hear. Did Kingsley fill you in?"
"A bit. He told me that Hogwarts was on its own for the most part."
Frowning, Arthur nodded and said, "Though, I was able to convince him to allow those who belong to the Order to come here instead, with a few exceptions."
"Exceptions?" Minerva asked nervously. "Dare we ask?"
He snorted. "Harry and myself, along with a majority of the aurors."
"What? Those are the best-trained witches and wizards for this sort of thing!" Harry exclaimed, and he lowered his voice when people in the room glanced over. "The Ministry is Voldemort's secondary goal. He'll spend more time and effort on attacking Hogwarts!"
"Albus and I had discussed this previously, and while I agree with you, Albus believes that V-Voldemort will go after you first, regardless of where."
"Because he'll want Dumbledore to be alive so he can rub it in his face," Harry muttered.
"Exactly," Arthur said, pointing a finger at Harry. "While Fudge might want you around for different reasons Albus, I think he would agree with the Minister and want you away from Hogwarts. However, I'm sure Albus will be able to persuade him to allow a number of the aurors to remain."
Minerva glanced away from them, realized most of the chairs were now filled, the occupants chatting amongst themselves, many of the voices querulous and concerned, and she turned back to say, "It is time to begin. Arthur, would you start with the Ministry's plans?"
"Of course."
Minerva went to sit with Flitwick and Sprout, and Harry moved to an open chair in Ron's general vicinity. The two shared grins as Arthur Weasley cleared his voice and the chatter faded away.
"Good morning. I'm sure most of you have heard by now why we're here. Yes, it's true. Voldemort is finally ready to make his move." A few people muttered at the mention of his name, but Arthur ignored them. "The Minister ordered a team of four aurors to Paris to assist the French Magical Authority in anyway possible, and another two to Beauxbatons as well.
"If France is attacked, we will most certainly be attacked as well. We don't have an exact number, but he does have at least eighty Death Eaters ready to assemble in Europe alone, but we expect double that in an attack upon the Ministry or Hogwarts."
He paused to take a sip of his tea then continued, "Our most recent intelligence said that he would be assembling his European forces in two weeks, but recent events may have sped up Voldemort's timetable or nullified it completely."
"So what are you telling us, Arthur? That the Ministry doesn't know its head from its arse?" cracked Mundungus Fletcher from near the food table to a smattering of laughter.
"That wasn't quite the point I was trying for, Mundungus, thank you. We are more inclined, and it is in our best interest as well, to believe that he will be attacking sooner rather than later, for personal reasons." His eyes met Harry's, but Arthur quickly looked away.
The previous evening in the Minister's office, Harry told a highly edited version of events to Fudge and Arthur Weasley which included nothing about Harry taking polyjuice and going to the meetings himself. Instead, they believed Draco had been the spy and somehow his position had been compromised.
"The Minister has not allowed for any extra personnel to be assigned to Hogwarts, other than those already in the Order."
"With exceptions!" Minerva interjected loudly from her seat.
"With exceptions, Minerva is correct. I must continue my duties as Deputy Minister of course, as will most of the aurors and a few more necessary people."
"What!" cried Tonks as she bolted upright, ignoring Remus Lupin's attempts to pull her back to her seat, but she was not the only one on her feet. Ron and Kingsley joined her, as did Tabitha Meadows and Kimball Prewett, two of the more recent Hogwarts graduates that had become aurors and also joined the Order.
"Yes, Nymphadora, we are all outraged, but I hope to convince Fudge to allow a number of the aurors in the Order to be assigned here. Barring that, the aurors will still be expected to be here in their off hours."
As Arthur continued to speak, Harry allowed his mind to drift since he already knew the Ministry's plans to prepare for the Dark Lord's attack.
Albus's words had made him feel marginally better, but Draco was still gone and it simply boiled down to it all being his fault, regardless of how much blame Dumbledore chose to heap on himself. His eyes drifted over to Snape, who sat rail straight and arms crossed on the end of a row with an empty chair on the other side. The Potions Master glared with seeming disinterest at some point on the map behind Arthur Weasley but Harry could tell he was listening intently.
He still couldn't grasp what Hermione saw in the man, Harry's eyes tracking over to where she sat a few rows away as she looked away from Severus back to Arthur, and Harry suppressed a grin. She always went for the unlikeliest of blokes, Victor Krum included. His eyes moved back to the object of Hermione's affection and he forced a cough to cover the laugh that caught in his throat as he caught Snape looking at her in turn.
He decided then to take advantage of Snape's preoccupation with the meeting to try out his theory that he was a better Legilimens than Snape was an Occlumens. He'd made that statement as an idle boast yesterday to Hermione, not thinking that he would actually have to try to break into Snape's mind, but the man had lasted as a spy right under Voldemort's nose for some seven years, and Voldemort was a powerful Legilimens. Now it was a matter of pride for him to break into the mind that even the Dark Lord couldn't. And he was very curious himself to see what had been going on between the two since Hermione hadn't exactly been forthcoming with details.
Harry looked around a moment to find the clearest shot he had of Snape, which wasn't very clear at all, so he casually stood and moved to the table of refreshments and poured a coffee, simply to take a free spot a few rows back from Snape. Without removing it, he pointed his wand inside his robes towards Snape and said in a tiny puff of breath, "Legilimens."
A whirl of images engulfed Harry and he reached out a hand as if he could use physical force to slow the blurring pictures. One flew by and Harry, recognizing bushy hair, concentrated. The picture slowed and he could see it, just barely before another took its place -- the grown Hermione standing over a cauldron as Snape watched from across the room -- Hermione sleeping in his arms on the hospital bed -- Hermione and Harry running at him from across the field as another shock of avada kedavra ripped through his chest -- Hermione writhing under him in the throes of passion.
The randomness of the images threw Harry off and he couldn't make any clear associations until one came up, more vivid than the others. Snape walked down the hallway, away from her but still hearing her voice and wanting to answer. But years of self-preservation propelled him away.
Suddenly, everything made sense and Harry just about laughed from the ridiculousness of it: Snape, who instilled more fear than any wizard besides the Dark Lord himself, was afraid, afraid of losing Hermione at the end of the school year. Harry could see it plain as day, that Snape loved her more than anything and was only doing what he thought best for himself. Harry gently eased himself back out of Snape's mind, somehow certain that Snape would take great pleasure in causing Harry as much pain as possible for witnessing such intimate scenes; he certainly didn't want to get caught on his way out.
He looked back to Arthur who was now answering questions and out of the corner of his eye he saw Snape's head whip around and scan the room until the black eyes came to rest upon Harry. But Harry was ready for him; already he had a picture of Draco naked on their bed sporting an enormous erection as Harry moved towards him, his head lowering --
A blast of repulsion told him Snape had got an eyeful of something he wished he hadn't. Harry smiled, knowing Snape would certainly interpret it incorrectly, though he was truly glad he made the right decision by not trying to block Snape's entrance but rather to let Snape think he'd been occupied with other thoughts.
"Are there no other questions? Very well. Minerva do you have anything to add?" Arthur asked.
Minerva stood and addressed the Order from her place.
"The members of the Order that are not required to remain with the Ministry will rotate standing guard here at Hogwarts. Please remain after the meeting so we can make a schedule. Also, anyone who might wish to actually remain here for the time being may do so."
"When will Albus be back?" asked someone from the other side of the room, Elphias Doge, Harry guessed from the sound of the wheezing voice.
"From my understanding, he will be released from the infirmary today."
Kingsley brought up the subject he had spoken with Harry about previously and asked, "Will you be sending the children home to their parents?"
"I was going to discuss that with the Headmaster, but it is a possibility."
"What about that miracle potion Snape's been hiding?" Ron called out. "Is it ready yet?"
"I will allow Severus to answer that himself," Minerva said then motioned him to stand.
Harry's eyebrow jerked up and his attention snapped to Snape, who most likely wouldn't appreciate the sudden opportunity to speak about his potion, and the Potions Master glowered at the witch but refused to stand, instead speaking from his chair.
"The mortalis fallax potion is as ready as it will be for all intents and purposes. Right now it will allow the drinker to survive three curses of avada kedavra." Astonished oohs and ahhs filled the room, but he quickly cut them off, "Survive, not walk away, and there is a chance of death resulting from the aftereffects of the potion and the curse."
"How much supply do you have, Severus?" Arthur asked.
"I would have to check to be sure but I believe I have enough for one dose per Order member," he answered. "It can take up to ten minutes for the potion to reach full potency and the effects will only last for approximately five hours so it is very important not to take the potion until necessary."
"How long will it take you to have doses for everyone?"
After a moment of thinking, he said, "I can have them ready this evening."
"Very good. Is there anything further? Then we are finished. Remember everyone must see Minerva about taking shifts here at the castle, aside from aurors. You may speak with her later."
Harry stood along with everyone else, grinning as Moody yelled across the rising chatter of voices, "Minerva, I'll be staying here of course. Your students will no doubt need the additional practice in Defence Against the Dark Arts."
He didn't hear McGonagall's reply as Ron had made his way over and started on about Ginny's last quidditch game, acting as though he wasn't worried one whit about Voldemort but Harry was too busy watching Hermione and Arthur Weasley talking at the front of the room and he quickly saw that she was becoming agitated.
"This is unfair, Arthur! I was assigned here for the duration of the year!"
Ron immediately shut up and followed Harry as he went to see what was happening.
"I know, I know," Arthur was saying in an attempt to placate her, but it was obvious to her oldest friends that Hermione was only growing angrier.
"Albus won't allow it, you know it!"
Harry asked, "What's going on?"
"I'm getting fucked is what's going on, by Fudge," she answered with a scowl, her arms folded across her chest.
"Now Hermione, I'm sure Albus will talk Fudge into letting you stay."
"What's she talking about, Dad?" Ron implored, looking to his father.
Arthur sighed and said, "Hermione is included in the aurors that will be staying at the Ministry. She's being pulled from Hogwarts."
"But who's going to take up her classes?" Harry asked.
"Someone from the Order, most likely. But I believe there is a good chance Albus can talk to Fudge and allow her to remain."
"This is ridiculous," Hermione said resignedly. "But I'm going to finish out today at least since there won't be anyone ready to take over immediately."
"Of course," Arthur said. "Excuse me, but I need to speak with Albus before returning to the Ministry."
Hermione stood silently as Harry and Ron discussed whether or not Dumbledore could persuade Fudge into leaving a few of the aurors at Hogwarts. She had assumed she would remain at Hogwarts since she was now a teacher, regardless of what happened at the Ministry, and the news otherwise troubled her. It was not lost on her, the irony of the outrage she felt both at suddenly being reassigned to Hogwarts then and now again suddenly reassigned away from Hogwarts, but the reasons this time were much more personal.
Her eyes scanned the room for the tall figure in black robes and found him, glaring back at her, angry, hurt, and a little disappointed, and she knew he had caught enough of the conversation to know she would be leaving prematurely. Hermione frowned as he stalked out of the room.
"I better go get things ready for my replacement."
"Let me walk with you to your first class," Harry said.
"I don't have a class immediately, but you could join me as I walk to my office to grade papers," she countered.
"Alright. Ron, I'll be back, so don't go anywhere."
"Sure, mate. After I talk to McGonagall, I'll be in the Great Hall. I need a real breakfast -- eggs and sausage and all that. This isn't doing anything for me," Ron said, motioning to the table of pastries.
Hermione rolled her eyes and ignored Ron's comment. "Let's go, Harry."
They edged through all the people still in the room, though neither could escape Molly and had to hug her and Ginny both, though Fred, George and Bill all settled for handshakes, until finally they were in the hallway outside the Room of Requirement and headed in the direction of Hermione's office on the second floor.
"You wanted to talk about something?" Hermione asked as they reached the fourth floor.
"About Snape. This is weird, talking to you about him."
"What's so weird? We used to do it all the time."
"Don't be thick, you know what I mean," Harry said. He paused before continuing, "So I got into his head."
Hermione stopped dead in the hall and stared open-mouthed at him. When he had broached the subject yesterday, she had dismissed it as random bragging. But if Harry had really had entered Severus's mind --
"Well?" she asked impatiently when he didn't immediately share the secret.
"He's crazy about you, 'Mione. That's the problem." Confusion appeared on her face and Harry couldn't help but laughing. "He's afraid of losing you in summer when your assignment is finished."
"Oh gods, and now he thinks I'm leaving immediately!" she exclaimed. "He'll be furious!"
"Think of those poor, unsuspecting students that have to survive that wrath today."
Wringing her hands, she began to pace a four foot patch of hall. "So what do I do? I've always been so inept at this sort of thing!"
Harry bit back a laugh as he watched his old friend fret like a schoolgirl over her crush, something he had never witnessed before with Hermione, who had always been too sensible to let silly things like love stand in her never-ending quest to succeed academically.
"Hermione, you have to talk to him."
"But he'll be angry and it will be impossible!"
"He might seem angry," he replied with a smile, "and he might actually think it too, but 'Mione, I saw it. I saw how much he loves you."
"You're certain." Harry nodded and Hermione smiled as her eyes teared up. She hurriedly rubbed them and sniffed, saying, "Well, I'm glad to have that settled."
She started walking again, with Harry at her side, passing a group of fifth and sixth year Gryffindors returning to the common room after breakfast.
After the students were out of earshot, Harry asked, "How do you feel about him? Do you love him?"
She thought for a moment before answering. "I do. I didn't realize it until just then, but I do love him."
"Severus Snape," Harry muttered. "Who would've thought?"
"Like you're one to talk," Hermione retorted with a grin, which faltered when she realized she was referring to Draco. "Oh, Harry, I'm sorry --"
Shaking his head, he said, "It's okay. I have to get used to the idea that he's gone."
Hermione stopped and grabbed his hand. "You know I'm here for you, whatever you need."
"Thanks, I know," Harry said, squeezing her hand. "Look, I better get back to talk to Minerva. I'm going to stay here when I'm not at the Ministry, so even if you're not here to watch over Snape, I will be."
She laughed and answered, "I was more concerned about the kids, but thank you."
"Now you go kiss and make up."
Hermione walked the rest of the way to her office, went about grading papers and somehow made it through to lunch even though the entire time her mind was preoccupied with one thing: Severus Snape loved her.
During lunch, she caught his eye only once, and then he glared at her, and the rest of the time he pointedly avoided even looking down the opposite end of the table where she sat beside Hagrid. She endured some small talk with the half-giant, and even endured the rest of the school day until finally the last class ended.
Hermione had not decided upon a plan of action as she started towards the dungeons. But then, all she could to do was talk to him and that was the only plan needed. She checked the Marauder's Map and found him in the laboratory, probably preparing the potion for distribution, and no doubt he would need assistance in preparing the potion for mass production.
Severus paced the laboratory in his white shirt, his long coat having previously been ripped off and thrown into the other chair in a fit of irritation, and he glared at nothing. He flung himself into his chair and sulked. He had done all he could with the potion for the time being, had previously read the newest Ars Alchema and now had nothing to do but sit and think.
A knock at the door surprised him, though he was only half-surprised when Hermione put her head in a moment later.
"I thought you might could use some help," she said quietly as she shut the door behind her.
"Thank you, but I have everything under control, as you can see," he sneered, fixing her with a glare to melt steel.
She ignored it and walked over to the potion, turning her back to him. "Have you already started another potion? How are you going to pass out the doses? I would imagine small vials on a string to go around the neck would be a good way to do it."
He scowled at her and crossed the room so that she could see him scowling and know that he did not need her presence. "I have already taken care of that," he growled.
Severus was standing beside her when she turned. Hermione looked at him for a long moment before sighing and looking away. Now or never.
"Severus, I don't want to fight you. I can't do it anymore, not with everything else going on." Her voice was quiet and even, and she finally looked up into his masked eyes. "I just, I want to be with you."
Whatever Severus thought himself ready for, it wasn't that. He stared at her soundlessly as he did not know how to respond. He blinked and looked away, unable to answer her.
Hermione, not quite as surprised at his lack of answer as he was, hoped that she correctly interpreted his silence as meaning he didn't know what to do. She lifted her hand to his face, her fingers running the length of his sharp jaw, and gently turned him back to look at her.
"I don't want to waste anymore time without you."
As his mind reeled, his eyes burned into her but Hermione held the gaze unflinchingly. This was his choice: he could continue to resist her while knowing how much he truly longed for her, or he could just give in and let things end up as they may. She let her hand fall from his face but Severus caught her wrist and pulled her close, feeling a surprised oh! slip from her mouth as he ducked his head to capture her lips with his. His hands slipped inside her robes with the ease of familiarity and came to rest on her hips as her hands immediately moved to his neck and tangled in his hair, pulling him even closer, and without moving away from her.
He kissed and teased her neck, trailing his tongue over all the sensitive spots while his left hand slipped between them and worked its way under her t-shirt to cup her breast through her bra, thumb grazing across the nipple. Her hands abandoned his hair and feverishly went to work on unbuttoning his white shirt, though she was greatly distracted when he dissolved the bra with a whisper and she gasped as he pinched her newly freed nipple and nipped at her collarbone.
"Severus," she murmured, then again louder when he didn't respond. He brought his head up and he nearly growled at the look in her eyes. "I -- I just want you to know. I love you."
And Severus Snape, who had long given up any thought or notion of such ridiculousness as romantic love, thought his heart would explode. He ravaged her lips with a never before felt passion and swept her into his arms and carried her off to his quarters.
Afterwards, they lay together without sheet, allowing the cool dungeon air to swirl around them, Severus spooning up and cradling Hermione, one hand in her hair, the other drawing lazy circles on her upper arm, and his leg splayed possessively over hers. Her breathing evened and she sighed as all the muscles relaxed simultaneously and she melted even further into his arms. He buried his face in the mass of frizzy curls and breathed deeply.
"I love you, Hermione," he murmured, and somewhere, on the edge of sleep, she heard him and smiled.
Hermione bolted upright in bed and Severus was already halfway across the room, pulling on his robe as the pounding came again from the door. A glance at the clock told her it was nearly six in the evening.
"Snape! Hermione!"
She could hear Harry's voice through the thick wood, and through her sleep-induced haze, she heard the urgency and snapped awake. She couldn't find her clothes on the floor, so she just grabbed a set of Severus's teaching robes and followed him out.
Harry stood in the doorway, and Hermione was startled to see that he looked scared as he told them, "France has been attacked, and only the aurors that went to Beauxbatons made it out alive, and then with only about sixty of the students."
"What?" Severus hissed.
"They think there were no survivors from the Magical Authority."
"Oh gods!" Hermione cried.
"It would seem I pushed Voldemort's timetable ahead considerably."
Severus looked sharply at both of them. "We have to get the potion ready, now. Potter, you help too."
A/N:
So to blatantly copy my favorite fanfic author, I have posted a chapter on my birthday, as a present to all of you. (That and it was a convenient deadline for me to make me finish.) So as your present to me, each of you -- and I mean each! -- must leave me a review with three things: 1.) birthday greeting of some sort; 2.) one thing you like about the story; 3.) one thing you dislike about the story.
Ok, so really all three are optional, as is leaving the review itself, really, since I can't really use the threat of not finishing the story because this is starting to kill me now, but that's off-topic. Thanks for everyone who helped to spot grammar and run-on sentences. It seems the new document manager is taking away some of my formating, which is quite irritating. Anyways, I hope you enjoyed it … the chapter kept growing and growing even as I was writing it. School's over so hopefully I can get a lot of writing done over the summer, and maybe, just maybe, finish it! Thanks again for reading!
Also, remember the part where Snape dissolved her bra? Well, that's not mine, I borrowed it from Shiv5468's "Hermione Pulls It Off," another great fic,. Thanks, Shiv….