AN: The lines from The Paradisio are from teh same source I used earlier.
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How hard could it be to find Severus?
Cormac threw another parchment onto his Burgundy carpet. It became lost amongst the other thirty in the same area. There were still fifteen in a pile to the right of his desk, but if this last one was anything to go by, they wouldn't offer any additional insight.
Cormac slumped into his leather, wingback chair and scowled. In the last three months, he'd found a host of people named Severus. At the time he'd been somewhat jubilant. The more entries, the more likely one of them was his culprit. This illusion was shattered within a few days.
Severus was amongst the top five most popular names for boys for the last six years, reaching its peak in popularity last year when it was number one. Everyone from every house was naming their son Severus in honor of their fallen hero. It was as if everyone had forgotten that Severus Snape was a snarly professor and now believed the pope should consider him for sainthood.
It was enough to churn his stomach.
That left him with this inflated list. It was highly unlikely Hermione was dating a four year old, and even more unlikely that a child could have subdued left him with few other options.
He picked up another parchment. This Severus was over the age of a hundred, his cigarette habit making it appear as if he was a century older. It was doubtful Hermione would ever look in his direction, nor was it possible that he could assault anyone and leave a mark as Cormac's Severus had.
There was another Severus who was twenty-four, and quite handsome. It was unlikely that he was Hermione's boyfriend given that for the last six months he was in prison for forbidden potions charges.
Who could it be though?
Cormac tapped the armrest. Something wasn't adding up, but what could it be?
He stood and stomped towards the bedroom. A good night's sleep would make his search clearer, or so he told himself every night for the last three months. He extinguished the candle on his wall and sneered.
Severus couldn't hide forever.
"Of more to greater, and of less to smaller/In every heaven, with its Intelligence."
Hermione relaxed as Severus ran his finger along the lines of The Paradisio. She lay out on the couch while he sat on the edge.
"Even as remaineth splendid and serene/The hemisphere of air, when Boreas/Is blowing from that cheek where he is mildest," Severus was purring out the words.
Hermione curled her toes. Even months after he began reading to her he had no idea what his voice could do. If she had known what his voice could do, her professor crush would have been on Severus, not Lockhart.
"Because is purified and resolved the rack/That erst disturbed it, till the welkin laughs/With all the beauties of its pageantry…"
She could envision her and Severus atop a cloud, taking in the shimmering star light. In the distance they would hear the triumphant glorias. Even if they were surrounded by saints, they would only see each other. Only the Trinity would surpass their love in beauty.
"Thus did I likewise, after that my Lady/Had me provided with her clear response,/And like a star in heaven the truth was seen."
Hermione would never be Beatrice. She had accepted that years ago, even if Severus did not. He may not be Dante, but their love was no less passionate or real.
"And soon as to a stop her words had come/Not otherwise does iron scintillate/When molten, than those circles scintillated."
She closed her eyes and sighed.
"That is enough reading for tonight."
"What?" She opened her eyes.
He closed the book.
"You cannot do that to me. You can't have me all that excited only to stop."
"You appeared fatigued though."
"I was relaxed and in love."
"Regardless, you should be more focused. Within the hour your laxative will be ready to put into the crescent moonlight. I do not think you should sleep through that step."
"I could always ask you to do it while I relax. You are allowed to touch everything in my lab after all." Her grin grew.
"While your every wish is my desire." He tapped her, sending a jolt of adoration through her body. "At some point you need to learn to create your own potions."
"I know how to create my potions just fine." She sat up. "Still, I could listen to your voice all day. I will forever be grateful to Sirius for suggesting you read to me."
"Even he cannot be wrong all the time," his glow slightly dimmed.
"Severus." She laughed. "There's no need to be rude to him."
"I am being honest, not rude."
She giggled as he gave her a small smile.
After she caught her breath, she continued, "You don't talk like he's the worst roommate in the universe anymore."
"He has gotten become more…tolerable over the last few months."
"Just more tolerable?"
"Yes."
"I suppose that's better than we thought he would be." She exhaled.
"Indeed."
She moved her legs so he could sit beside her. He shifted his position before putting the book on the coffee table.
"Can I ask you something without seeming too needy?"
"It depends on the question."
"Have you," she swallowed. "Have you ever considered staying the night here?"
He raised an eyebrow.
"There was a dream I had where I woke up in your arms." She blushed. "Actually, I've had quite a few dreams like that."
His glow grew brighter.
"I fantasize about it more often than I should really." She wrung her hands. "It's been so long since I've woken up next to someone I love. Actually, I haven't woken up with anyone in years, unless you count Crookshanks."
Across the room, the half-kneazle meowed and glared at her, as if to say he very much counted as a person.
"I thought it would be nice to wake up to someone I loved again."
His glow flickered.
"I don't know if you have a curfew, and if you do, that is acceptable. I was just wondering if you wanted to stay the night sometime."
"Staying the night implies that we have done something, uh, carnal."
"I know, and obviously we cannot, but I would still like the companionship."
"I would love more time with you as well, if only because it would buy me time away from Black."
"But you'd be bored to death since you can't sleep beside me."
"No," he replied. "I would read a book or whisper sweet nothings in your ear, just to ensure you have the most pleasant dreams possible."
"Can spirits control dreams?" Her body tingled at the thought of what types of dreams he could create in her.
"It's doubtful given that I cannot possess anyone, but the thought is enticing."
"It is," She purred.
Severus' essence urged him to draw closer to her. He wanted to bury himself under her skin and fuse into her soul. Everything within him yearned to lay bare all his emotions, hopes, fears, desires, and love before her.
It was an intense yearning he had never experienced. It was exhilarating and terrifying all at once.
"Are you okay?"
"I am fine." He straightened his posture. "I would love to spend the night with you, but I feel it should be approved by Dismas and the Trinity first. It would be terrible if you fell asleep and I was recalled to Purgatory."
"That would be a rude awakening."
"If they approve, then there is no reason we cannot spend the night together."
"Then I will pray he and the Trinity approve."
"As will I."
Hermione's wand emitted a red light.
"I think our potion's ready," she stood.
"Indeed." Severus was floating several centimeters from the ground.
"Perhaps when we're finished with this we can read more Dante."
"I would like that," Severus replied, trying to ignore the lingering urge to fuse once and for all with her soul as he had seen the souls do in heaven.