He didn't know how long it had been now in the rail house.
Weeks? Months? Half a year ?
He'd certainly never stayed this long in one place before.
Sam seemed bigger every day and Severus had wondered why the boy didn't speak.
He'd heard him call her mummy, but other than that he just tended to grunt or gesture with his hands.
"He's hard of hearing, at least half deaf as far as I can tell. He got really bad sick one winter when he was a baby and never really recovered from it"
"I make sure he reads my lips...I wish I could learn sign language to teach him but..." She shrugged then and smiled sadly at him, and he just held her close.
He pulled her into a hug, and didn't question it any further.
Though he made sure that Sam was looking at him when he was talking from then on, so he was certain the boy had understood him.
oOo
They continued to find comfort in each other's arms, though Severus was torn.
Comfort was all it was. Of that he was certain. She would touch him , or blow him and he'd bring her off with his hands.
They never went any further than that, and they never kissed on the lips.
But gods how he wanted to.
He saw the woman she was, what she'd become.
Fierce, Brave, Protective.
They had discussions on potions, charms, arithmancy, alchemy...anything to stop their minds from stagnating.
And he felt his heart constrict whenever she was out of his sight.
He told the traitorous thing to behave.
He was only a distraction for her... someone trustworthy to wile away the hours, and not a serious paramour.
He was just...convenient.
He tried not to let that sting.
oOo
Neither of them knew how much things were about to change between them.
They made the journey to the village once more. Again they decided not to separate.
It was an hour from the house. too far away for one to go alone, so they went together or not at all.
On the way home they decided to detour towards the river, to get some water and to bathe.
It was there they came upon a group of others.
Severus cursed as the group of muggles became apparent at the other side of the river.
The sound of the water had covered their approach, so they didn't see them until they reached the banks.
The river must only have been 20ft across but he reacted instantly and threw himself in-front of Hermione, and dragged Sam behind him... it felt like danger was only a hairsbreadth away.
He had his bat in hand, and Hermione her crossbow, She stood sideways on to him to ensure they weren't being flanked.
Though it was clear from the uneasy expressions on their faces, they had come upon them by accident.
There were four boys, and two girls, each around Hermione's age, when suddenly one of the boys shouted out in a thick Irish accident
"Alright Hermione?"
The others, clearly muggles looked questioningly to the boy who'd shouted.
Hermione's hand on her crossbow didn't waver.
"Alright Seamus"
The half blood boy had grown up muggle, so it was easy for him to blend in it seemed.
He'd grown tall since Severus last saw him, though not as tall as Severus himself.
The boy eyed Severus uneasily, and then his eyes flicked to Sam.
Severus pushed the boy further behind him.
"Is that... Ron's boy?"
"Yes."
"And Ron?"
"Dead"
The boy nodded grimly at that."Anyone else?"
She recounted her and Severus's list to him, and he sent a few back.
Dean Thomas
Padma and Pavarti
Hannah Abbot
Throughout Hermione never dropped her crossbow.
There was silence for a moment as they considered each other , and the other members of his group spoke to Seamus.
"Any screamers about?"
"Not seen any. But immune herd moved through recently. big one"
"Heading which way?"
"East"
"How many?"
"Hundreds"
There was some cursing then from the others, it was obvious that had been their destination.
Once more he eyed Severus distrustfully, and more than one of them were keeping their eyes on the dour man.
"The two of you alright?"
It was clear he meant Hermione and Sam, given the glare he levelled at Severus
"Fine"
A long pause then...
"You want to come with us?"
Severus's stomach lurched. This was where she'd leave him.
Seamus was her friend, a gryffindor and her age.
They had a strong group, including other girls.
He swallowed the stone in his throat, but relaxed his posture and moved slightly to the side.
If she wanted to leave , he would not stop her.
"No thanks, we're good, but best you be heading off yeah ?"
It wasn't a question.
And Severus' heart leapt into his throat.
She chose me.
It was clear they hadn't been expecting that, and a few of the others tightened their grip on their weapons, taking a step forward eyeing them and their bags.
He raised the bat over his shoulder, the movement making his jumper go tight across his broad shoulders as Hermione notched an arrow.
A small gesture from Seamus , a shake of his head, had the others stepping down.
"Be seeing you then"
"Yeah"
"East huh?"
"That's what I said"
oOo
He didn't drop his stance until they were well out of ear and eyeshot.
When he did, he picked the boy up and began to jog, they didn't need to tell each other they were going the indirect route back to the rail house.
Both of them instinctively heading in the same direction, they had no intentions of leading any of them to their safe house.
The indirect route would take them through a large field, meaning they couldn't be followed without being noticed.
Sure enough they caught a glimpse of a boy falling back when they hit the open meadow.
They continued to jog random and obscure paths, meandering through the woods until they were sure they'd lost their tail. Then they doubled back to the river, trecking through it a short distance so that they had no footprints to follow.
Once they reached the rail house, Severus double checked all the fortifications and made sure the armoire was blocking the window.
When Sam had eaten his dinner, Hermione put him to bed.
Once she was certain the boy was asleep, she dragged Severus into the single with her.
For the first time that night, they kissed.
Truly kissed.
As Severus basked in the warmth of the woman in his arms.
I'm not just convenient...She chose me.