"Oh! Severus!"
Responding to the cries of pleasure coming from Hermione, Severus redoubled his efforts. She was laid out before him atop the desk of their study. He remained seated in the chair, but his hands were working the pebbled buds of her breasts and his tongue was alternating broad strokes along her cunt and swirling around her swollen clitoris. He trailed one hand down her torso, ghosting it along the curve of her hip to gently touch her inner thigh as it worked toward her wet center. He could hear her breathing hitch, and a hand began to grasp his raven hair. One finger slipped between her folds and curled to brush the inner spongey tissue. Hermione's hand pulled at his roots, he growled at the pleasurably painful sting. "Fuck! Severus! Now! Please, please, don't make me wait."
He ceased all ministrations, raising his eyes to look at the beautiful, chestnut haired woman sprawled wantonly across his desk. His eyes raked over her glowing flesh, flushed cheeks, and vibrant eyes. She had agreed to marry him. Severus couldn't stop the swell of pride at knowing she would be his. Instead of smiling though, he smirked darkly. His right index finger was still inside her, unmoving. He shifted his left hand from her breast to the buckle of his pants as he stood. "What is it you want, Hermione?"
She licked her lips. He unclasped his buckle. She gave a small pant of indignation, but he knew she would voice her desires. He popped the button and began to draw down his zipper. She still had not spoken, eyes steadily fixed at his left hand as he worked to free his throbbing cock. Severus reminded her of his question with the briefest of wiggles of his right index finger. Hermione moaned and gave a shocked inhale. "I want you to replace that finger with your cock and fuck me into this desk. Then I want to hear you call for me when you come inside me."
He removed his finger, raising it to his lips and his trousers and pants fell away. "Still a bossy little witch."
Severus gripped his cock, giving it a pump as Hermione rose to a seated position. She moved herself until her ass was just at the edge of the table. He stepped between her wide legs, nudging her entrance with the head of his dick. She stuttered a breath and reached for him. Her hands ran up his arms to link behind his neck. "I'm your bossy little witch, now. I hope you don't have any regrets."
Severus looked straight into her whiskey colored eyes, aiming true as he thrusted into her. "Not anymore."
—xx—
IS SEVERUS SNAPE BACK FROM THE DEAD? EX-DEATH EATER'S WILL FOUND AT HOGWARTS
In a shocking revelation, The Daily Prophet has learned that Minerva McGonagall, Headmistress of Hogwarts, recently overturned a previously unfounded will of one, Severus Snape. The Ministry of Magic has had said document for a week checking for its legitimacy and the potentiality of Snape being alive to plant it in his former office. This publication has just been informed of the contents of the will of the ex-Death Eater turned spy, and there is no limit to the profound shock it has caused amongst the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.
According to The Prophet's sources close to the investigation, Aurors assigned to the case can confirm that the will does belong to Snape and was hidden in a secret drawer of the Head's office before the Battle of Hogwarts and his untimely death. The will reaffirms the account Harry Potter relayed to the Wizengamot after the war regarding the motivations of one of the darkest wizards in Voldemort's service to play spy for Albus Dumbledore. It explains of his childhood friendship with Lily Potter née Evans, and how her death would lead him to fight against the dark forces he had previously held rank with. It appears this love for a muggleborn witch is extended in death, as Snape's will leaves all of his possessions, assets, accounts, and titles to Hermione Granger-best friend of The Boy Who Lived.
Listed amongst the inheritance include a sizable Gringott's account, the contents of a private potions lab from Hogwarts, all penseive memories recovered after the war, a modest home in Cokeworth that has been vacant, and all monetary and proprietary connects to the Prince family-one of the oldest pure blood lineages in Britain. The connection to the Prince family, through Snape's mother, will give Miss Granger a seat on the Wizengamot and a title of Lady Prince should she choose to claim either. While she may be a muggleborn, Miss Granger has just significantly raised her profile amongst the highest echelon of wizarding society. Per usual, The Prophet has not been able to secure comment from her.
Stranger still, the emergence of Severus Snape's will has opened an investigation into his death during the Battle of Hogwarts. A body was never recovered, despite the testimony of Potter, Granger, and Ron Weasley that Snape was killed by a fatal strike from Voldemort's familiar, Nagini. The Golden Trio attempted to recover the body of their former professor, but it has disappeared. The Prophet's sources within the Ministry can tell the public that Auror Harry Potter has been tasked with leading the investigation, and the Minister for Magic himself, Kingsley Shacklebolt, is working with him.
How was all of this possible? Did Severus Snape escape death? Where has he been all of these years? Does the public have anything to fear from the former dark wizard? What does Hermione Granger have to do with all of it? Stay attentive, dear readers, The Prophet will come to answer all of these questions and more.
—xx—
Severus sat in the library of Grimmauld Place eyeing the blonde witch opposite him on the couch. Luna Lovegood was seated with her perpetual dreamy look affixed to her face, but her blue eyes were sharply taking in all of his own features. Hermione had left to gather tea before the beginning of the interview he had agreed to.
It was a month after their engagement, and while they hadn't told anyone the impending news, Severus knew the time had come for him to re-enter society. Harry had secured the necessary legal documents and favors to facilitate a smooth transition on paper, but after the news broke of his will being "discovered", Severus was unwilling to idly sit as the gossip continued to be rampant.
Hermione entered the room, Harry, Ginny, and Ron close behind. Severus internally groaned. He had agreed to all of this, but wasn't fully prepared for it to be witnessed by so many people. But, he had been convinced by Shaklebolt that it would be a benefit to the situation if Potter was present. Potter could smooth things over with the DMLE if he could claim he was there for the re-emergence of Severus Snape. Hermione took a seat next to him on the double couch as Harry and Ginny took residence on the larger lounge with Luna, and Ron occupied himself near the desk. He felt Hermione shift her weight so that she leaned closer to his body, and he angled to allow himself to accept her presence. "You may begin, Miss Lovegood."
"Oh, of course, Professor," Luna spoke. "But I'm not entirely certain what it is you would like me to do?"
"Proceed with your questions. That is the point of this exercise, no?" Severus could barely contain his distaste. "And I am no longer your professor."
"I don't have any questions, sir." Luna continued, and Severus wasn't sure if she had heard him or was just ignoring him. "Hermione and Harry explained how you came to be here. I can write the article with that information."
"Then, what are we doing here?" Severus addressed looks at all the occupants of the room. He was reassured to see that they all wore confused expressions similar to his own.
"Having tea." Luna pointedly replied as she took up a cup. She sipped the beverage and looked between himself and the witch next to him. "It's a perfectly common occurrence between friends."
Severus looked down at Hermione. She just shrugged and reached for their cups. She fixed his tea and her own before handing the porcelain over. They both sipped quietly, but Severus felt as though there was something more left unsaid. His guard was up, and he was waiting for the other foot to fall. Harry and Ginny drank in similar silence. Ron walked back to the coffee table to nick a chocolate biscuit from the plate. Severus felt the tension grow.
"Although," Luna began and he tensed. "Since we are here, perhaps you can flush the article out more by telling me when the two of you will be married?"
He felt Hermione straighten her spine next to him. Her relaxed body now strumming with anticipation. He shifted his eyes subtly to the occupants of the lounge. Luna looked unperturbed, Ginny was valiantly suppressing a grin, and Potter was stone faced. He needn't look to Ron, he could hear the man cough around the biscuit he was attempting to swallow. Hermione's voice drew his attention back to her. "I'm not sure what you are talking about, Luna." She paused to place her teacup back on the table. "Yes, Severus and I are in a relationship-"
"And you've agreed to marry him. It's painfully obvious from the aura surrounding you both." Luna finished for her.
"How could you possibly...?" Hermione questioned back. Severus was looking again at Ginny and Harry. He could see the redhead's face break into a bright smile. Harry looked concerned but not angry. He did look to Ron, then, and his mouth was slightly agape. Severus watched Luna lean forward from her seat.
"You are soulmates." She began. "It's not uncommon to progress the relationship so quickly once souls have been bonded. It's just like Harry and Ginny. Once they entered sexual congress, they were destined to be together. It's why no one was surprised by their swift engagement and marriage. As soon as you two slept together it was going to happen."
Severus blinked. He had never been one to believe in soul magic, much less soulmates, and he knew Hermione was equally as skeptical. He watched Hermione's cheeks pink at the mention of their sexual relationship. He shifted uncomfortably at Luna's bluntness. He heard Ginny release a slight giggle, and Ron let out a discomforted grunt. Hermione spoke again. "Luna, you can't possibly believe that Severus and I were destined for each other and are now eternally tied together? That would make our entire history distressingly perverted!"
Severus couldn't help but agree with her. He knew that people would question the timeline of their relationship, and the truly deprived may attempt to insinuate that he had prayed upon her when she was his student. While neither of them were particularly distressed over the ravings of the disgusting, the adage of soulmates made the conversation more concerning.
"That's not how soulmates work, Hermione." Luna replied. "In our world, soulmates come in many different forms and can be aligned for many different reasons. Not all of them are driven by romantic love, and some are not triggered until fate intervenes and prompts the connection."
Severus felt Hermione lean forward. He recognized her shift into academic mode, and he mirrored her. He was admittedly interested in what the blonde was discussing. He noted Harry had pulled Ginny closer and place a kiss upon her temple. He posited that the duo already knew what Luna was going to say.
"When we were in school, Professor Snape was never marked as your intended." Luna clarified. "You had no bonded romantic soulmate during those years. But you did have a soulmate, and that connection ran deeper than any other."
"Harry." He heard her whisper and lock eyes with the boy with black hair. Severus watched Harry gift her a heart achingly sincere smile, and Severus thought of his friendship with Lily.
"And what of Mr. Weasley?" He couldn't help himself, he had to ask. The red haired man shifted uncomfortably near the desk.
"Betrayal can break a soulmate bond. It might not cause the relationship to collapse completely, but it does ensure that the bond will never be sustained romantically." Luna explained. Hermione nodded, as did Harry. Ron simply looked to the floor, intensely focusing on a spot that wasn't there. Severus remembered Hermione's story of the Horcrux hunt, and Ron's abandonment. It hadn't spelled disaster for their friendship, but the betrayal must have been deep enough to ruin any chance for a romance. He again thought of Lily. He had betrayed her trust too, and it meant that she was never supposed to be his. Severus wasn't sure if he felt relief or sadness-perhaps a bit of both.
"And Severus and myself?" Hermione prompted.
"I think when the professor was saved, it triggered a soulmate bond between the two of you," Luna continued.
Suddenly Ginny spoke up. "That makes sense. Hermione tried to save him in the shack, and then she didn't give up searching for him for months after the battle."
Severus nodded. Hermione looked at him, smiling as she spoke. "And you did reach out to me unexpectedly."
There was a heavy moment of silence. Severus accepted that everything discussed was logical. Emotional, but it also aligned with the pragmatic part of himself. He hadn't truly been able to understand why he had allowed Narcissa to carry the message to Hermione, he just had felt deeply compelled to settle his curiosity about her. He postulated now that it must have been the soul bond at work.
"Once a soulmate had been identified," Luna had picked up her tea and was continuing with her treatise. "It is at the discretion of the mates to determine its course of action. If it is a romantic match, then the individuals are not bonded until they act upon their desires. Once the bond is formed, though, very little can break it. I only know of betrayal and death as causes to sever a soulmate bond."
The room lapsed into silence again. Ron broke it this time. "So, you guys are engaged, then?"
Severus grasped Hermione's hand. She beamed up at his small token of public affection. "Yes. Apparently, I have found my soulmate."
A/N: Anyone see that twist coming? I'm not entirely certain I hit my mark in adding the soulmate level to this story, so I would LOVE to hear what all of you have to think. Next chapter, Severus makes his grand return by running into the least likely of people. Much love to you all! Drop those comments. -Archer
