Okay, this chapter's
a bit shorter than my others. I have now read book 6 and while I
could probably go back and fix this story to mesh with it, I'm not
going to do it. Terminal laziness. Thus I ask that you suspend the
reality of Harry Potter fiction and succumb to my world for this
story.
Lil was my super-quick
reviewer again but not so with this chapter since she's visiting
me!
Soulsearching06: I'm
glad you're enjoying this! Thanks for reviewing!
Fiona McKinnon: You're
awesome for reviewing!
SlytherinsDarkAngel:
I'm very happy that you're sticking with my story despite having
read HBP…It would take a hell of a lot of work and backstory to
make it work if you didn't just pretend book 6 hasn't happened so
I thank you for saving me the work.
Danielle: the update
fairy still hearts you! This is all yours!
Draco'sladylove: I'm
glad you're enjoying this. It'll pick up a bit from here since
we're getting close to the end!
Iloverfireyredheads:
we're not finished yet, I'm glad you enjoy!
Tammy: Here's a spot
of light for your dark summer. I'll try to work a bit faster. And
I have no clue what 'inspirational' phrases I included last
chapter. The only inspirational words I have for the world is that
wine is always a good thing. Drink it. Your heart and social life
will thank you.
Evil Crazy Willow:
We're not finished yet! We're going to hit the mature rating on
this fic before it's over.
Siaynoq'sBride: Thank
you for the lovely review and I truly appreciate your going through
and reviewing every chapter!
On with the show, eh?
--aimes
Hermione awoke with a shiver. The fire had gone out and the warming charm had dulled, she assumed, and she automatically snuggled closer to Severus, yawning widely. She fumbled for her wand and heard a grunt.
"That is not your wand, Hermione," he growled, turning onto his side and enfolding her securely in his arms. He released his grip for a moment to reach over and grab his own wand and restart the fire. For a moment he pondered casting a warming spell, but Hermione pulled his arm back toward her body.
"Come on, then. Does it really take this long to start a fire?" Hermione kissed the bare skin exposed by the gap in his pajama shirt and he sensed hesitation.
He settled her in his arms and kissed her gently on the forehead. "Are you having second thoughts, Hermione?" he asked. It came out harsher than he'd wanted but he was scared that perhaps she might say yes.
"No," she replied softly, not seeming to notice his tone. "Are you? I was a bit concerned that you might change your mind after a good night's sleep."
"No," he assured her. "I am not particularly good at expressing myself, as I have proven on countless occasions, but I respect you, Hermione. I would not have you in my arms if were at all unsure of my intentions." He pulled back slightly and she looked up at him. "I care about you, Hermione," he told her in a low, velvet voice. "And while I cannot yet call it love, I care for you more deeply than I have ever cared for anyone."
Hermione smiled at him, eyes glowing. "Likewise," she responded, kissing him soundly.
The kiss was slow and lazy as they began to acquire the taste of one another. Severus caressed her soft skin with something akin to wonder as he sucked on her bottom lip. He was sure that she'd change her mind and push him away at any moment but instead she whimpered and pressed more tightly against him, her hands tangled in his hair. After several moments they broke the kiss and Hermione pressed against him once more, head tucked under his chin, body against his. She dozed once more, enjoying the feathery light strokes of his hands on her body.
"So you propose we use floo once we return to Hogwarts? Do you really think we can keep this from Albus?"
"He's wise but not omniscient, Severus," Hermione teased.
"I wonder about that," he grumbled. "What about…when you graduate?" he asked tentatively.
"Thinking long term then, aren't we?"
"It was a hypothetical question," he replied defensively. Hermione smiled against him and kissed his chest once more.
"When I graduate we'll find a way to make it work. I'll live at the castle and apparate to work from the edge of the grounds every day or something."
"Living with me, hm? Now who's thinking long term?" he teased gently.
"Me," she responded simply. "Somehow I don't think this is going to be a fling."
"Good," he said softly, possessively. He yawned. "When is your friend arriving?"
"Nine, I think. What time is it?" She buried her face against him, shivering slightly. He rubbed her back for a moment to warm her before shifting to grab his wand once more, casting a warming spell on the room. Hermione sighed as the cold began to recede.
"It is seven o'clock," Severus informed her as he glanced at her watch on the side table. He re-tucked the covers around her and tangled his fingers in her hair, tugging gently at her curls. "Get some sleep," he encouraged, his low baritone vibrating through her.
Hermione yawned.
"You know, that's not how most men would respond to this situation," she teased, sliding an arm around him and letting her eyes drift shut.
"I would never want you to think me predictable," he responded lightly. "Besides," he said softly as she drifted to sleep, "I have all the time in the world with you now."
"Mmmm," Hermione agreed faintly. Severus pulled her body tightly against him, caught for a moment in a wave of unfamiliar and almost uncomfortable emotion, a desperate need to protect her and make her happy and keep her close forever. Hermione sighed in her sleep and nuzzled him and Severus felt something tug on his heart.
"Merlin, I'm in deep," he sighed, closing his eyes.
When Hermione woke again, she smiled. She shifted slightly and nibbled at Severus' bottom lip. He sighed and began to wake and Hermione kissed him full on the lips, sucking on his tongue and feeling his body begin to respond. Suddenly she wanted nothing more than to feel his naked body against hers and feel him inside her. She wanted to fuck him so badly her body almost ached with it. Hermione straddled him, massaging his shoulders as she kissed him and only vaguely registering the loud knocking intruding on her moment. The knocking became more insistent and her cell phone began to ring. Severus groaned as Hermione pulled away, sighing, vowing to herself that she'd be in his arms again soon.
"That'd be Vanya," she said wryly. She grabbed her phone and answered it.
"I'll be right down to let you in, Vanya," she said. Hermione climbed off Severus and hunted for some clothes.
"Take your time getting dressed. I'll handle Vanya," she told him as she headed downstairs, buttoning her shirt.
Severus watched her leave before rising and heading for the bathroom. He switched on the shower and stepped into the steamy water with a sigh.
He wondered how he would deal with this new development in his otherwise simple life. Not an unpleasant development, by any means. Reluctant as he was to admit it to himself, he knew he was in love with her. He was a bit nervous about how others might react to their involvement. Of course, he reflected, Hermione was more than capable of handling herself and he suspected that she would give any opponents a very large and vocal piece of her mind.
The thought made him smile as he turned off the water and stepped out of the shower. It took him only a few moments to dry off and get dressed, and he proceeded downstairs pulling on a sweater.
He hesitated on the stairwell and watched Hermione hug a man he presumed was Vanya and shut the door. Hermione turned away from the door with a smile and looked up at him curiously.
"I'm leaving the harp here, I think, until I can figure out where I want to keep it. I'd love to have it at Hogwarts, but that'd be way too difficult, logistically speaking." She yawned and stretched as she started up the stairs. "I need a shower." She stepped onto the stair above him and leaned down to kiss him. "You smell pretty good, though."
"Indeed," he replied silkily, letting an arm slide around her and pull her closer.
"Mmph, I'm going to lose my balance," Hermione protested, steadying herself by putting her hands on his shoulders. They remained locked in the kiss for several moments before breaking their embrace.
"I'll be down in a bit, after I've showered," Hermione told him before turning and heading back upstairs. Severus watched her go, unashamedly enjoying the view of her bum before finishing his descent down the stairs and angling toward the kitchen.
Hermione stripped off her clothing quickly and hopped into the shower. She allowed the smug grin to spread across her face as the hot water streamed down her body. Severus Snape. Not exactly the prince charming she'd envisioned when she was a child, but prince charming was overrated. She closed her eyes as she rinsed shampoo from her hair.
If someone had told her when she was a first or second year that she'd end up with Snape, she'd have probably recommended committing them to the loony bin. She supposed it was a testament to the fact that you never really knew what was ahead.
She rinsed the conditioner out of her hair and soaped her body. She rather doubted anyone would really object to their involvement. Harry was not fond of Snape on a personal level but respected him after all that had happened and, oddly, had commented to Hermione several times that Snape was probably the only person in Hogwarts as smart as she. Ron, she knew, was beginning to grow up and it had started when he'd faced the fact that Snape had saved his life. Twice. Ron would probably understand better than anyone, in fact, because he realized that life was unpredictable and that as long as someone was good at the core, some things had to be overlooked.
The only people who would put up a fight were Molly Weasley, who would take this as a personal insult, and her own parents. Hermione suspected that Molly would be appeased when she found out that Ron and Luna were seriously involved, and Hermione knew that Ginny would speak up in her defense. As for her parents…well, there was no need to tell them until it was absolutely necessary. And it would only be absolutely necessary when Hermione was pregnant. With her third child. Considering her personal opinion on children, this would not happen in her lifetime.
Hermione finished her shower quickly and got dressed. There was no point in lingering: they were probably already missed from Hogwarts, though Dumbledore had surely covered for them. Still, there were explanations to be thought up and released to the rumour mill.
When she got downstairs she saw that Snape had packed his belongings and set them by the door. She dropped her bag by his and went to find him. He was sitting on the couch in the living room facing the roaring fire. He heard her footfall and looked up as she walked toward her.
"Have breakfast, Hermione," he said, gesturing at the toast, fruit, scrambled eggs, and bacon sitting on a plate on the coffee table. She sat down and took a sip from the cup of coffee resting near the plate.
"Thank you."
They regarded one another for several silent moments as she ate. It was he who broke the silence.
"I am not a nice man."
"I know. It doesn't trouble me." Silence again.
"I can be impulsive and obnoxious and very Gryffindor."
"Yes. I rather like that about you."
Hermione finished the last of her coffee and set it on the table. "You like that I'm insufferably full of myself and a bossy know-it-all who never looks before she leaps?"
"You're not insufferable in any way. You were a know-it-all once, but you're not a child anymore, my love. You were too young to know how to deal with your own intellect. Obviously that is no longer the case." He watched her unsure expression. "And if you looked before you leapt… I would not have you. You would have realized after contemplation that a relationship with me is unadvisable. So I must admit that your impulsiveness and confidence have worked in my favor." He cleared her dishes and offered her his hand. Hermione took it and stood, still mulling over what he'd said.
"We should return to Hogwarts and face the music, shouldn't we?" she asked with a sigh.
"Interesting choice of words," he observed. "But yes, we have been gone too long. We should return."
Hermione nodded and grabbed her bag. Snape picked up his own bag and took her hand. "I shall apparate us to the edge of Hogwarts grounds. From there we should proceed directly to Dumbledore's office."
"Sounds good." Hermione took a deep breath and gripped his hand. She closed her eyes and heard a pop as they disappeared.
