Chapter 24

That morning, Hermione, Severus, Emma and Mrs. Granger left the hospital. Besides walking a bit slower, Hermione showed no ill effects from her injury. The cut on her neck was almost healed, but was itchy beneath the bandage. She was worried about it leaving a bad scar.

"Mione, you almost died from a slashed throat, and you're worried about a scar?" Severus asked gently. Hermione did not reply.

They apparated to the front door and Hermione sighed as she looked at the house.

"This place never looked so good," Hermione said. In the house, Hermione cuddled Emma and said,

"You never looked so good, precious," Hermione said. "And you sir, have always looked good," she said looking at Severus.

"Your father will be glad to hear you are doing well," Diane said. "Now that you are home and fine, I would like to return to my home."

"Okay mum, I'll floo there with you to see Dad," Hermione said. "I"ll be right back Sev," she said kissing him.

Severus sat on the sofa with Emma and they talked (well, Emma babbled) and was chewing on a play wand. After ten minutes, Hermione floo-ed back, sneezing from the ash and dust of the fireplace.

"Shit," she said wincing, rubbing her throat. "That hurt."

Emma gurgled and babbled at Hermione. She sat down next to Severus and the three talked and played the rest of the day. A steady stream of well wishers appeared at the house most of the day, happy at seeing Hermione up and about like she was before. Everyone that had come by had left food, so there was enough there that dinner did not have to be prepared. They enjoyed the veritable buffet and chatted as they ate.

"So Mione, when do you feel like going back to work?" Severus asked.

Emma had already been put to bed and Hermione was gathering her things for a bath.

"In a couple of days. I want to catch up with Emma. You?" Hermione asked.

"I'll return to work when you do," Severus said.

Hermione ran a bubble bath and the room was scented with her favorite fragrance of honey and roses. Severus heard her moan as she settled into the tub. Severus went to the doorway, leaned on the doorjamb and gazed at her. She slid under the water to wet her head. She smiled at Severus when she popped back up.

"Care to join me?" Hermione asked. "I'm was getting tired of being sponge bathed by nurses, all I could think about was you bathing me instead."

Severus slipped into the tub, sat back and beckoned Hermione to him. She grinned and sat between his legs, her back to his stomach and leaned back into his embrace.

"Much better," Severus said.

"Mmmhmm," she said.

Severus washed her hair, chuckling at the moans she made when he massaged her head. He lovingly washed each part of her body, placing a light kiss on each part when he was done.

She took the washcloth and said, "My turn," when he was done. So she washed his hair, smiling at the loud sigh when she massaged his head. She lovingly washed each part of his body and kissed each part upon completion, except for one last part.

"Sev, could you sit on the top of the tub?" Hermione asked softly. "I want to wash one last big part."

Severus raised an eyebrow then scooted up as she asked. Hermione grinned when she saw that he was aroused already and thought,

This should be fun!

She ran her hands up his thighs, put some soap on her hands and slowly lathered his balls. She really didn't realize that she had licked her lips until Severus chuckled and said,

"Mione, you look as if you have a piece of chocolate cake in front of you."

She wiggled her eyebrows and slowly stroked his pulsing cock from base to tip for a few minutes. She heard a soft moan and looked up. Severus had his head back and eyes closed. Looking at him, she kissed the tip. His eyes popped open and he said,

"Are you alright to do this?" he asked gently.

She said nothing, but stroked him harder and started sucking him. He gasped and a groan escaped him. She ran her tongue along him while massaging his balls. His hips started to move, so she enveloped him with her mouth, tasting some pre-cum that started seeping out. Back and forth she bobbed, eager to please him while working herself into arousal by just hearing the sounds he was making. She felt his hands on her shoulders stopping her. She looked at him questioningly. He pulled her up to him and buried his face between her breasts.

"Mione," he muttered.

He deftly turned around and placed her at top of the tub and returned the oral favor. When he could tell she was on the edge of orgasm, he leaned forward and asked with his eyes and she nodded. Snape took hold of her hips and slowly entered. She hissed, gasped and arched her back.

She's so tight! Severus thought.

I'm so tight! she thought.

"Show me how alive I am," she whispered.

Severus cried out as he poured all the love for Hermione into every thrust. She wrapped her legs around his waist and was bringing with her hips to meet him. Now they both cried out and moaned passionately at this celebration of life. They were incapable of thought or speech, but content to listen to the sound of their bodies slapping together and the sounds of each other's moans. Severus hung on as long as he could, but with her writhing and groaning in pleasure below him, his orgasm exploded and he shouted out, pumping harder, surprised at how intense it was. Severus held on to her hips and seconds later, Hermione came with a shout as well, arching her back and moving her hips, gasping with pleasure as she rode her climax out.

"Thank you love," Hermione whispered.

"I love you," Severus whispered back. "You're welcome."

Hours later, Hermione was wide awake in bed listening to the sounds of Sev's steady breathing, indicating his peaceful slumber. She quietly got up from bed and went into Emma' sroom. She sat in the rocker next to the crib and put her hand on Emma's back, feeling her breathing and listening to ther sounds of her sleep. How precious everything seemed to her suddenly. How long had she been taking things for granted?

Never again. she thought.

She left Emma's room and went to the living room, walking around and scanning the pictures on the wall. She started crying softly so as not to wake anyone and whispered,

"Sev, I'm so sorry."

She felt a hand on her shoulder and she jumped.

"Sev, you scared me."

"Sorry love. Now, what are you sorry for?"

"Everything, what I've put you through, my parents, friends. What if I had died and left Emma without a mother?" Hermione sobbed and was shaking. "As much as I hate to admit it, I'm thinking of resigning from the order."

Severus was shocked for a minute then recovered. Hermione sniffled.

"I won't deny that a small part of me would be happy for you not to be harm's way. But I know you Mione, and what is called "The Golden Trio" would cease to be that without you. I haven't been summoned to a dark revel in a while, but I do know that the final confrontation will be soon, and I do not think that Potter could this without you or Weasley."

"Sev, do you really think that?" Hermione asked with wide eyes.

"I generally do not say anything I don't mean," Severus replied.

"Thanks Sev, everything over the past year just hit me all at once I guess," Hermione said leaning into him.

"Mione, the best of us have our moments of panic or insecurity. You have been through more in your twenty-one years than most have been through in a lifetime, yet here you are as if nothing has happened, I'm proud of you."

They went back to bed, Hermione now able to sleep.

Monday October 26th

Harry and Ron's wedding announcements arrived just after lunch. Severus opened them and laughed then handed the announcement to Hermione. It read:

You are invited to bear witness the marriages of Miss Kelly Ann Freemantle to

Ronald Bilius Weasley and

Miss Constance Lynn Freemantle to

Harry James Potter when the couples wed in a dual ceremony on

Saturday November 30, 2002 at noon at the Ministry of Magic chapel.

"Why am I not surprised?" Hermione said. "They attached a little note for the wedding party to meet at Wandwavers Saturday around lunchtime. Oh look! Kelly asked me to be a bridesmaid!" Hermione said. Hermione happily sent the Snape's reply and they continued eating their lunch.