Warning

This story is not suitable for readers under the age of sixteen. It contains sexual content, including some non-consensual, and may offend some readers. If this subject is offensive to you, please do not read this story.

Chapter 30 – Together

Getting back to Severus' home was not quite the easy trip for which Hermione had hoped. The first part was easy enough, with a step into the fireplace at The Star and Spell.

"The Happy Kneazle," she said clearly, and stepped out a moment later into a very different pub. This was quite clearly a wizarding pub, she noted, as three house-elves rushed forward to help her from the fireplace, take her cloak and offer her a drink. She cringed at the sight, and firmly declined all offers of help. Severus stepped out of the fire behind her, carrying her case. A sudden thought occurred to Hermione, and she turned to him. "Severus," she asked, "you don't have a house-elf, do you?"

He regarded her solemnly. "Two of them," he told her, "but I locked them in the basement over Christmas, so you wouldn't have to see them."

It took her a moment to see the slightest of twitches at the corner of his mouth, and she rolled her eyes impatiently. Despite her joy at being with Severus, the argument with her parents had left her strained and irritable. Now was not a good time for Severus to develop a sense of humor!

Knowing that her bad mood was aimed at her parents, not at him, she forced herself to take a deep breath.

His hand reached out to her face, and she had to stop herself from flinching irritably at the touch. His expression was concerned. "I'm sorry, Hermione," he said. "Bad joke! Don't worry, we don't have far to fly – we'll be there soon, and we can relax."

Fly? Oh, God. She hoped that this was another bad joke! He saw her reaction, and looked worried.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

Tears of frustration and tension were beginning to well up inside her, and she fought to keep them back. "I don't fly well."

For a long moment, he stood, looking at her, head tilted to one side, then he stooped to put the case down and reached out to pull her into his arms. Her breathing was ragged as she buried her face into his warm chest. Strong arms were around her, and a hand was stroking her hair. She felt a kiss on the top of her head, and he gently rocked her in his embrace.

When he spoke, his voice was a soothing whisper. "It's okay, my darling," he said softly. "We'll take a carriage." She hugged him, thankfully, feeling embarrassed and foolish for being so upset, but he seemed to understand. It was not often that she felt so young – especially with Severus – but right now she felt like a child, and was content, for once, to have him take care of her.

A few moments later, a carriage, summoned by the house-elves, was pulling up outside the door to The Happy Kneazle, and she allowed herself to be led inside. There, the emotions of the night finally overwhelmed her, and she curled up in Severus' arms and cried. She hadn't realized quite how much the night had disturbed her until she had seen herself reacting so badly to little things like Severus' attempt at humour. She knew that he was puzzled at her behavior, but she could offer no rational explanation. Unable to think straight about anything, she simply cried, letting his strength support her, feeling safe and protected in his arms.

Severus looked down at the sleeping girl in his arms. She had been through quite an upheaval lately – first his own terrible treatment of her, then his unbelievably stupid return, which had forced her into a confrontation with her parents that she had clearly not been ready for. He should have done as she had asked in her letter, and told her where he was – let her come to meet him somewhere, instead of throwing himself into the midst of her family Christmas!

The journey by ground was a long one. There was no direct route through the forests, and they had to go a circuitously way round, taking more than an hour, rather than the ten-minute flight he would have preferred. Hermione had cried herself to sleep more than half an hour ago, and now lay, restless and breathing heavily, across his lap. He had wrapped his cloak around them both, and held her tenderly, stroking her hair with his fingers. He had never seen her look so young.

He smiled as she sighed deeply and snuggled closer to him in her sleep. She was by no means a child, and he could never see her as such, but he found it almost – comforting – to see that she had her moments of weakness, as he did. There had been times in their relationship when their roles had been reversed – where he had felt the need of her support and strength – and it seemed only right that he should be able to do the same.

The carriage began to slow, and he finally dragged his eyes away from her face. Trying not to wake her, he carefully took her weight in his arms and slipped to the ground. A nod sent the driverless and horseless vehicle on its way, and another opened the door to his home. The imagery was not lost on him as he carried her through the doorway. Taking her up the stairs, he laid her on his bed, then turned to conjure a fire in the grate.

As he lay next to her, he felt a sigh pass though his whole body. Finally, she was here. He laughed softly at himself – it was not quite the scene of passion and lust that he had imagined for their first night here, but it was still such a wonderful feeling that he could feel his heart beating fast in his chest, and his stomach knotting inside him.

He pulled a blanket over them both and drew her close, snuggling to her warm body, and held her as she slept. Not feeling sleepy himself, he contentedly lay with her in his arms, and eventually, despite his racing mind, her rhythmic breathing lulled him into a sleep of his own.

Hermione woke, feeling relaxed and comfortable. Severus' breath was warm on her neck, and his arm was wrapped protectively around her waist. She thought back to last night, how she had cried for so long in the carriage, and eventually fallen asleep. Vague memories came back to her of being carried to Severus' bed, and his comforting presence while she slept. She still didn't fully understand why the events last night had affected her so emotionally – she had had plenty of arguments with her parents before – but she felt better for her outburst. She felt refreshed and rejuvenated.

In fact, she thought with a smile, I feel wonderful.

Very slowly, so as not to wake Severus, she took his arm from around her waist, and slipped out from under the blanket. Both of them were still fully clothed – clearly, he had not wanted to disturb her at all last night – and she now removed her muggle clothing leaving it crumpled on the floor. Without her next to him, Severus sighed in his sleep, and rolled onto his back.

God, she loved him! The thought came out of nowhere, wanting to make her laugh out loud with happiness. Forcing herself to stay silent, she reached out to pull the blanket from him. Naked, she lay beside him, and began to unfasten his robes. It took a long time to remove his clothing completely, and she had eventually resorted to magic, as the only way to do this without waking him. His clothes lay crumpled on top of hers, and she studied his body with a smile. Reaching out to him, she gently stroked him with her fingertips, feeling him harden under his touch. Remembering the pleasure he had elicited in her, by waking her one morning, she slowly moved to touch him with her lips.

Planting tiny kisses along the length of his hardness, she ran her tongue to the tip, and felt him twitch under her touch. Pulling back slightly, she blew a warm breath over him, enjoying this andfeeling her own excitement rise with every moment. Again, the twitch. She looked up to his face, and saw a smile at the corner of his lips. He was only pretending to be asleep.

"Severus," she smiled. "You're awake!"

He did not open his eyes, but his smile grew wider. "Of course," he said with a smirk. "I've been awake since you first got off the bed."

Giggling, Hermione threw herself up the bed. He groaned as she landed on him, pinning him down. "Sneak!" she accused.

"Well, you seemed to be having so much fun!"

She was straddling him, and leaned forward to kiss him deeply. Wriggling, she moved herself down his body until she felt him at her entrance. She was excited by their playfulness – wet and ready for him – and she could feel him pressing towards her. His hands moved to her hips, trying to push her down onto him.

"So you want me, do you?" she asked him with a giggle. The response was a throaty growl. "Are you growling at me, Severus?"

"You know I am," he rumbled, "and you know I do!"

This game was fun, but teasing him was just as tough on herself, and she eventually had to give in to what her body wanted to do. "Then I guess I'd better do this!" She rolled her hips, and slid herself onto him, sitting fully upright to use her weight, and allowing his hands on her hips to increase the pressure. After all that time apart – the tears, the sleepless nights – it felt so wonderful to feel him inside her once again. Moving her body rhythmically, she felt his hips pushing up against her – pushing himself into her. She pushed back as hard as she could. She wanted this so much – his touch – his beautiful body with hers – his hardness deep within her. As she climaxed, she threw her head back, gripping his arms with her fingers, and calling his name. A moment later, and his powerful thrusts became deeper and more intense, and she felt his release inside her. Their bodies were shaking, and neither of them moved.

"Hermione, that was so beautiful!" he murmured through heavy breaths.

Keeping him inside her for as long as possible, she fell forward onto him, and their sweating bodies held each other. They kissed. "I think I'm going to like staying here," she smiled.