They settled into a routine and for a number of weeks it became so domestic that you could almost forget the state of the rest of the world.
But then there was a problem.
Severus had been fortifying the surroundings of the rail house. He'd been bringing fallen branches and sharpening them into spikes around the perimeter.
Sam had been making mud pies when he'd began to point and chatter at something.
Severus had turned and felt his stomach drop.
In the distance just breaking through the tree line...Immune.
Lots of them.
Alone or in small groups they were easily outrun , outmanoeuvred.
This was a herd.
Some strange instinct led the immune to gather together, and they would at time form large 'herds' that slowly moved through areas in search for food.
Severus had dropped what he was doing and ran to Sam , scooping the boy up and throwing him over his shoulder which caused to boy to giggle in humour.
He'd climbed the wall quicker than he'd ever done before, quickly passing Sam to Hermione who was waiting at the window, having hear the mad commotion when he'd dropped what he was doing.
Following the boy through, he moved the dresser in front of the window, sealing them in.
The rest of the herd reached them during the night , and when they awoke in the morning they were completely surrounded.
Hermione looked at him worriedly and Sam started to cry but he just held them close, and promised to protect them both.
oOo
Severus had actually gained some weight for the first time in years. And was going to bed on a night both into the waiting arms of a hot little witch, and minus the crippling hunger pains that had become an old friend over the years.
They'd been doing well since they'd been in the rail house, with both the apple trees outside and Hermione's hunting ability bringing home fresh meat , but now as they had been unable to leave building, with the three of them having to survive solely on the rations inside the building, their supplies were dwindling fast.
They laid low for almost two weeks.
Two weeks that it took for the herd to move through the area and for it to be safe to leave the building.
Sam was the one who struggled the most.
The boy had spent all of his life on the move , and couldn't understand why they were confined to the room, having never done so before.
He was getting upset and loud , until a tearful Hermione had no choice but to calm him with a spell, a weakened imperio, as she was worried about him having an asthma attack.
Severus held the now quietly sobbing boy to his chest until he fell into an exhausted sleep.
Hermione had wept from the guilt of her actions but he'd not let her blame herself, and pulled them both into his arms.
oOo
When it was finally clear enough for them to leave , there was no excuse for it, they had to go into a town.
They needed supplies, supplies that would last.
Meat and Apples were great for now , but neither of those would keep for longer than a few days in the house and if ever they had to wait out another herd , then they would need non perishable items. Dry goods and tinned items which right now they had precious little of.
It was wordlessly decided they'd all go together.
With the herd passing through , it wasn't safe to split up.
They needed to be together.
Severus knew there was nothing the way he'd come from the south , and likewise Hermione knew the way she came from the east was no good either so they moved North.
It was a hard decision, deciding what to take and what to keep with them.
They left some items at the house, but carried most with them.
And it wasn't an easy choice to leave their safe house empty either.
There was always the chance that someone would discover it in the meantime and take it over.
But a stony look from Severus during that conversation was all she needed, and Hermione had set her jaw and simply nodded her agreement in responce.
The message was clear.
If he had to, he would kill for them. To keep them safe.
And Hermione would let him.
They had no desire to harm anyone , but their own safety came first , and if someone attempted to take their safe-house then they would take it back.
oOo
They came to a villaeg about an hour walk from the rail house , they'd travelled in a straight line and were just about to turn around when they saw the signs.
The first thing they had done was climb a large oak tree and listen.
They'd sat for a good quarter of an hour, listening.
There was some shuffling noises, could be an animal or a few immune.
But there was no voices , so signs of footsteps that were precise or clear like it would be from a person.
And most importantly no howling.
After those 15 minutes, Hermione got down and jogged into the village, even as it made Severus's stomach clench in worry.
Severus was a better fighter and physically stronger , but she was smaller, faster and more agile.
After a harrowing 5 minutes she returned to the edge of the small village with a nod and Severus got out of the tree and began to walk towards Hermione , with Sam on his shoulders.
They'd only gone as far as the first two buildings, very aware of the amount of time they'd already spent away from the safe house.
Once their bags were full they made their way out slowly , Sam wanted to walk so Hermione took the lead and Severus followed, with Sam in the middle of them.
This time when they reached the rail house , it was Severus who went first.
Once he'd cleared all the building they made their way back inside and blocked the entrance.
Sam was already tired, it'd been a long day for the boy and he was done in.
Hermione put him to bed , and then met him in the hall.
oOo
She turned to face the bedroom door.
Her head and palms were resting on the wall beside the closed door as she took a few deep steadying breaths.
Severus didn't need to be told why she was shaking, and taking such deep breaths.
Relief.
They were home. They were safe.
So many things could have gone wrong today.
But here they were once more.
He walked close to her, standing behind her, his body a hairsbreadth from hers.
Almost instantly he heard her breathing become more rapid , and when he pressed his body against her back she let out a soft moan.
His left hand planted on the wall next to hers and his right snuck around her front.
He knew what she needed.
Roughly he shoved his hand down to her jeans , pushing them until they were just below the swell of her arse.
Groaning he rubbed his erection against the soft curves of her arse as his other hand, that was not on the wall , shoved into her knickers.
The moan that toar from her was deep and low, and he felt her shift her feet slightly, spreading herself further for his attentions.
He pushed himself more firmly into her arse, enjoying the friction and as he worked her he left teasing nibbles on her shoulder.
Her hands were both still planted on the wall , along with her forehead and she was moaning and gasping at his touch.
At one point she went to move back a bit but he pushed forward , pinning her to the wall and she whimpered in responce , hips arcing into his touch.
It didn't take long for her to crest , and then he was moaning at the feel of her body shaking in orgasm.
Once she'd come down from her high and pulled her jeans back up, she'd spun around and dropped to her knees in front of him.
He planted his other hand on the wall for support as she freed him from his jeans and promptly took him in her mouth.
She didn't bother with the cleansing charm this time , instead just grasping his cock and easing it into his mouth.
Hissing in delight, he couldn't help it if his hips began to rock into her movements.
And she moved so well with him it wasn't long before he was grunting her name in warning.
Once more she swallowed all he had to give and he couldn't help but sag against the wall a bit when she stood , as his legs were having trouble holding him.
When she stood in front of him, she absentmindedly tucked his hair behind his ear and he looked at her.
The moment when she jogged into the village plagued his mind.
I could've lost her today.
And he crushed her into his embrace.
Holding her tightly to him, pressing his face into her hair and inhaling her scent.
She just held back , just as tightly .