Disclaimer – I still do not own anything in 'Potterverse,' (however, my letter to J.K. is coming along splendidly) nor do I make any money off it (I could still not care less.)
As always, a big thank you to my boyfriend/beta reader for putting up with me and my craziness with this story… I know I'm a pain in the ass but he loves me anyway… go figure!
To everyone who has reviewed, added WARB to their favorite story list or alerts, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I didn't expect this good of a reaction but holy crow… all ya'll are just amazing, sweet, funny, inspiring, and absolutely wonderful. I hope you like this chapter! Oh, and thank you to those of you who pointed out that it still said 'complete.' That has been fixed.
There is no warning for this one… sorry…. I figured maybe they should just talk for a chapter… just one though! I swear! I will make it up to you next chapter. ;)
"Would you be okay with me telling Minerva that we are seeing each other? That we're in a relationship I mean… monogamously, that is," he asked, stuttering slightly, as they were sitting down. Hermione looked into his nervous eyes and replied.
"I'm sorry you had to ask that, Severus," she sighed.
His face fell. He stared at the beautiful women in front of him, completely confused. He didn't know what to say. He was sure that's what she wanted… right? He was starting to run every conversation through his head, trying to find one where she said she just wanted to shag him senseless and leave it at that, when she put a hand on his.
"Sev, I don't mean it like that!" she exclaimed, seeing the look on his face. "I just mean… I'm sorry I started it off like that." She gave him an apologetic look. "I should have said I'm sorry I made you waste a question. It is kind of a stupid question, actually."
He still looked confused.
She sighed, still smiling. "What I mean is that you didn't even have to ask. Of course you can tell Minerva! I know you were asking, in a round-a-bout way, if I would be in that kind of relationship with you, and that's a silly question. I'd be honored. I don't know about you, but I feel like we've been dating for years rather than… hours, I suppose. I just didn't think it really needed to be asked…."
Severus gave a sigh of relief. "Good." He smiled his crooked smile again. "Thank you for clarifying. I agree with you that it feels like years rather than hours."
"You're welcome," she said, squeezing his hand. "What's your favorite food?"
"Depends on my mood, I suppose," he replied honestly. "I'm kind of a 'soup and sandwich' guy. Not so much tomato soup and grilled cheese… more of a chili and club sandwich."
Hermione's mouth started to water. "That sounds delicious."
"I've also taken quite a liking to breakfast foods… all different types of eggs, fried potatoes, bacon, pancakes, that sort." Severus felt his stomach rumble. "Cheeseburgers, also, I love cheeseburgers. Would you care for some lunch, love? You look starved," he laughed, seeing her eyes widening more the longer he continued talking about food.
"I won't count that as a question," she said. "But yes, I am hungry. I haven't eaten since last night."
"What's your favorite food?" he asked, tilting his head slightly in interest. "And that will count as one of my questions."
"I agree with everything you just named. I'll take one of each," she said, nodding her head in agreement with herself. He laughed.
"Why don't you say we do good old fashion pub burgers?" he suggested.
"That sounds wonderful," she replied honestly.
"How do you like them?" he asked.
"You're using quite a few questions, Severus," she giggled. "I'm only kidding. I like them cooked medium, with cheese, any kind is fine, lettuce, onions, mushrooms, mayo, ketchup, mustard, pickles… pretty much everything but tomatoes, I suppose."
He smiled at her. "I despise tomatoes," he said with a cringe. "You stay here; make yourself comfortable, I'll be back in a few minutes…. If that's all right by you?"
She nodded and he stood. "That's fine, I think I may go sit in your chambers if that's okay."
He gave her an odd look but nodded. "I don't mind at all. Go get comfortable. You should probably go back to your normal clothes; I don't want you getting sick. Oh," he said from the door, turning back to her. "What would you like to drink?"
She thought for a moment. "Just a Coke, maybe."
He smiled at her. "Sounds good. I'll be back, love."
"I love you!" she called at his retreating back, grabbing the parchments and quills they were using for tallies.
He turned his head to look at her. "And I you, beautiful." They smiled at each other before walking their separate ways.
Hermione entered his chambers and instantly went to his mahogany dresser, and was unsurprised when she saw how neat and organized it was. She quickly found what she was looking for. She dressed slowly in one of his many white cotton t-shirts and a pair of black sweatpants she figured he probably used for sleeping. She had to shrink the pants a bit to fit, but all in all, she was very comfortable. But what she loved the most was, even though they were clean, they still smelled unmistakably like Severus… a mixture of fresh parchment, an array of potions all mixed into one, and… wood?
She had barely made herself at home on the black, overstuffed loveseat in his chambers when he walked in, dressed back in his white t-shirt, black pants ensemble, carrying a large paper bag.
Severus let out a low whistle and sat down next to her. "I never thought I'd actually like a woman who dressed in men's clothing, but you look gorgeous."
Hermione blushed. "Thank you." She caught a whiff of the food and moaned. "That smells delicious."
His mouth upturned slightly and he opened the bag, searching through it. He produced two white Styrofoam take-away containers and handed her one of them, along with a large cup with a lid and straw. Hermione hastily opened the lid and her mouth watered, seeing a large cheeseburger with everything she had listed off to him on it, along with a handful of deep fried onion rings. She glanced at Severus as he opened his container, and smiled, seeing he had the exact same thing.
"This looks fantastic." She took a bite. "Tastes fantastic," she moaned after swallowing.
Severus chuckled and began to eat also.
"When's your birthday?" she asked, chewing.
"January 10th," he replied. "Favorite color?"
Hermione thought for a moment. "Black." When Severus gave her an odd look, she laughed. "It reminds me of you. You are the definition of black, Sev. Your hair, your eyes, your clothes. It suits you."
"But black is a shade," he corrected.
She rolled her eyes. "Whatever… the darkest grey, then. Yours?"
"I don't really have one," he said honestly. "But if I had to pick, it would probably be mahogany."
"Mahogany?" she asked, her mouth full of food. He laughed.
"I like woodwork, and mahogany is my favorite." He shrugged. "Longest relationship?"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "I haven't really been in a relationship… I mean, Ron was maybe a month at the most…. I don't know if what Charlie and I had was exactly a relationship, but whatever it was, it lasted about eight months or so. What about Elaine and Zaria?"
Severus shook off the shock of having this perfect woman, who, even when stuffing her face, was still the most beautiful thing he had ever seen, tell him no one had claimed her as theirs for more than eight months. "Elaine I dated for about two years. We rarely saw each other, though, so it was probably more like six months. Zaria and I dated for a bit longer, just over four years."
"And you never got married?" she asked, not being able to help herself.
"You'll get your turn," he chuckled. "Why didn't things work out with Charlie?" He had to ask. Although he'd forever be grateful to the other man for not keeping a hold on Hermione, he was curious nonetheless.
She sighed. "Well, first of all, he was just visiting for the summer, which was two and a half months, and then he went back to Romania… and I'm not much for long distance. I mean, don't get me wrong, I did acquire a very strong liking for him… and we wrote to each other through the first few months of my seventh year, and we met in Hogsmeade a few times, saw each other over Christmas Holiday, but we just kind of drifted apart. We were similar in some ways, but too different to make it work. He wanted to stay there, I wanted to stay here, and when it started to feel a little serious, we talked about it, and when neither budged, we just sort of stopped talking. Why did you never marry Elaine or Zaria?"
"It's somewhat similar to your situation with Charlie… Elaine was too far, and Zaria and I were not exactly good together." He cringed slightly at the memory of the many screaming matches they had been through. "The relationship with Zaria was never on stable ground. We were both hotheaded, and she knew I was a Death Eater and she hated me as much as she loved me. I did love her, in a way, but I was not in love with her. Elaine was the one who broke off our courtship, and I was not fazed too terribly. Zaria and I actually sat down and had a long chat, and we both agreed that it needed to come to end for both our sanity. Do you want to have children?"
Hermione nearly choked on an onion ring. She took a sip of her soda before answering. "I do," she admitted. "I like children, and I wouldn't mind having a few. When I was younger I never really saw myself as the 'get married and have kids' type, but I really am. What about you?"
"I'm the same way," he chuckled. "I used to tell myself I'd be a bachelor forever, but one day it just kind of crept up on me. I'd love to get married and have a handful of kids."
She smiled at him.
"How did you break into my stores in your second year?" he asked, sipping his own soda.
Hermione stared at him, wide eyed. "You know about that?"
Severus very nearly rolled his eyes. "I know everything, my dear. And I will be kind enough to not count that as one of your questions," he teased. "I realized what ingredients were missing, and I didn't even second guess that it was you. I couldn't even think of a seventh year that term that would have had the ability to do it."
"I wore Harry's cloak and followed you to your stores one night and listened to you take down the wards," she muttered, concentrating on her onion rings. "I waited around until you left, I followed you for a few more minutes, made sure you had reset your wards for your office, and I ran back up and went into your stores."
He stared at her, shocked. "I'm impressed," he admitted. Her cheeks reddened.
"Thank you," she mumbled. "What was your favorite year here at Hogwarts?"
"Oh, that's easy… my first year," he chuckled. "As you know, I grew up mostly Muggle like you, and it was just as amazing then as it is now."
She smiled at the far off look on his face.
"What's your favorite holiday?"
Hermione didn't hesitate. "Oh, please, Christmas for sure."
"Mine, too," he chuckled.
"Do you like Quidditch?" she asked.
"Not really," he admitted. "I find it a bit obnoxious, to be honest. I mean, do not get me wrong, I like it when my House wins, but it is more out of pride than anything else. What kind of music do you like?"
"I'm not terribly musically inclined, really. I like more instrumental music, if any at all. You?"
"Same," he agreed with a nod. "Is the 'Golden Trio' still as close as you lot used to be?"
Hermione smiled at the nickname for the three friends she had not heard in a while. "Yes," she said with a laugh. "The only difference is Ginny's turned out to be one of the best friends I've ever had. Harry is still Harry, goofy but good-natured, Ron hotheaded and dense…. How's the term going so far?"
Severus sighed deeply. "Horrible," he huffed. "The fifth years are killing me. I do not know if someone put a hex on the entire class to make them more idiotic than they already were, or what, but God help me…. The rest of the years are doing fairly well. So I'm hoping maybe it's just jitters for their O.W.L.s at the end of the year."
"But it's only September," she reminded him.
"I know," he groaned. "I'm hoping they improve."
"Don't worry," she reassured him, patting his knee, "they have a wonderful teacher."
"How did you do in your NEWTs?" he asked curiously.
Hermione smirked. "Oh, I only managed to tie the highest score in Hogwarts history," she said dismissively.
"You tied my score!" he exclaimed, giving her an incredulous look.
"That I did," she said proudly.
"But that's impossible!" he retorted.
Hermione bit back her laugh at the shocked, yet somehow pouty look on his manly face. "Obviously not."
"But… but," he sputtered. "But Albus didn't even get that kind of a score!"
Hermione could not hold back her smile any longer, which only seemed to set fuel to Severus' fire. "Oh, stop being so childish." He huffed, but stayed quiet. "Did you really mean it when you called me an 'insufferable know-it-all'?"
Severus couldn't help but chuckled. "You were not insufferable, but you were a know-it-all, obviously. And that's not a bad thing," he said quickly, noting her expression, forgetting to be angry. "Do you still have that overly large ginger cat?"
"Crookshanks?" she asked with a smile, shaking her head slightly. "Yes, and he's gotten bigger… that bloody cat has a black hole as a stomach. Do you not like cats?"
"Not particularly, but I'm not terribly too fond of any animals. I am not apposed to owning them, I just haven't gone looking for any, I guess." He smiled at her. "What's your favorite name for a child?"
Hermione blushed. "I have quite a few," she admitted.
"I have plenty of time," he said, urging her to continue. He smiled as she chewed her lip nervously.
"Well," she started, looking at her knees, "if I was to have a child with you, and it was a boy… I like the idea of naming the child after you."
Severus put his fingertips under her chin and lifted it, looking into her eyes. "I love that idea," he told her honestly.
Hermione smiled meekly. "Really?"
Severus smiled her favorite smile. "Of course, love." He ran his thumb along her jaw line. "I think it's a brilliant idea. I won't even count that 'really' as a question if you finish telling me names you like."
She closed her eyes as he continued brushing his fingertips over her jaw line to her cheeks, exploring her face. "I like your name, Patrick, Isaiah, Anderson, Arturo, Piers, Arcadian, Dominick, Zander with a Z, and Quinton."
Severus chuckled. "You really want a boy," he pointed out.
Hermione laughed, her cheeks reddening under his still-moving fingers on her face. "No, those are just the top ten boy names."
"I thought you said handful of kids, not twenty."
"You need to have options," she reminded him. "Why do you always wear black?"
"Oh, no you don't," he laughed. "You haven't told me the top ten girls names, Hermione."
She sighed. "Okay… the first one is spelled a bit funny."
Severus waited, but after a minute, he realized she was too embarrassed to tell him. "Love," he whispered. She met his eyes. "There's no reason to be embarrassed…. My name is Severus, remember? Not to mention that your name is not exactly common. I love your name… I love how unique it is. I like unique."
"But it's a common name," she groaned.
"All the better then… common name, unique spelling, I bet it's perfect."
Hermione recognized defeat. "It's L-e-k-z-i-e. Lekzie. It's usually spelled L-e-x-i or with a y."
"I love it," he said seriously. "Definitely unique and pretty. Now, tell me the rest."
She smiled weakly and took a deep breath. "So there's Lekzie, Rachelle, Kirsten, Jasmine, Annabelle, Hallie, Evelyn, Lorelei, Cassandra, and… oh… the last one is a bit different too. It's spelled M-a-r-i-s-k-a but it's pronounced ma-rish-ka. It's one of my favorites."
Severus smiled at Hermione as she looked away from him, and he could tell she felt embarrassed again. "Those are all wonderful names. I could not have come up with anything better. I love them all," he said honestly.
"Thank you," she murmured, taking his hand from her face and holding in between both of hers. "Why do you always wear black? And I wouldn't complain if you threw in your secret about how you get your robes to billow so splendidly."
Severus chuckled. "I've worn black since I was a child. There's no real reason behind it, I suppose," he mused, sipping his soda. "As you can see, I do not always wear everything black, but it kind of goes along with my 'scary professor' act nicely. The billowing is just a mixture between the robe having slight folds to the material, making them flare when I walk, and how I walk, I would assume. It must just be the way my feet catch the material and how the material reacts." He shrugged. "I never really thought about it. Would you like to quit your job, move to Hogwarts, and be my apprentice?"
Hermione nearly choked. She met his eyes again, and was shocked to see them dead serious. Maybe slightly amused at the look of pure shock she was giving him, but still very serious. "You can't be serious," she finally managed.
"But I am," he informed her. "I'm very serious, Hermione. I apologize for turning down your request before, but I assure you that now knowing who wanted that position, I am more than willing to give it. Now," he said, cutting her off before she could get words out of her opening mouth, "it has nothing to do with our current situation. Two years ago, and even without any feelings for you, I would have accepted you as my apprentice. You are quite possibly one of the only people I would do that for. I find you brilliant, capable, insightful, and I think you would make a damn good Potions professor, and those are strictly the only reasons I would take you on. However, the moving in part is all me asking, not someone wishing to hire you in. You don't have to, you know."
She sat there, looking at his thoughtful expression, his mouth turned upwards. How could she say no to that? "Of course I'm not going to say no. But wouldn't it be odd having an apprentice show up three weeks into term?"
"I'm sure Minerva won't mind, love," he chuckled. "But that's only if you want to do it."
"Severus, I would not have applied two years ago if I did not want it. My mind has not changed," she reminded him.
"If you're sure."
"Positive!" she exclaimed, flinging her arms around him and squeezing him tightly. "Thank you, thank you, thank you! I love you."
"I love you, too," he chuckled, squeezing her back. "You only have one more question."
She sat up and looked at him seriously again. "I've always wanted to know this one…. How do you manage to sneak up on people so unexpectedly?"
Severus laughed again. "I thought you would have figured that out a long time ago. As you know, teachers patrol the halls at night and I believe I am the only one who performed a disillusionment charm."
"I knew it!" she mumbled. "Harry owes me fifty galleons…. Okay, time for your last question."
"I like this," he said with a smile. "What would you say to ten more questions?"
"I like that idea," she agreed with a smile. "I won't even count that as a question." Hermione glanced at her parchment and laughed. "Actually, Severus, we went over by one question apiece."
"Oh, I'm none-too-concerned. Would you like to stay with me tonight?" he asked, looking nervous. "You can use my floo to go to work if you'd like. You don't have to, though, if you would rather go back to your apartment until you start your apprenticeship…."
Hermione placed her hand on his. "I'd love to stay with you tonight, Severus. Tomorrow's Monday, so I don't I have to be at work until 10," she supplied. "When did you want me to start my apprenticeship?"
"As soon as you'd like," he replied, stroking the back of her hand with his thumb.
"Well, I should probably give my notice at work. I know there's a girl down in Goblin Relations that's been waiting for a position to open in my department, so they'll probably let me leave at the end of the week. Well," she said, thinking out loud now, rather than to him, "I have about three weeks of paid vacation banked up, so I'll finish out this week, use the three weeks, start here with you, and then finish the paper work."
"That's probably a good idea," he agreed.
"Thank you." She smiled. "Is Crookshanks allowed to sleep in the bed with us?"
Severus pursed his lips slightly. "Maybe in the same room, but not in the bed. Unless that's a huge problem, of course," he said quickly.
Hermione laughed. "No, I was just messing with you, Sev."
Severus sighed, relieved. "Wait a minute," he said, glancing at the parchment with the tallies. "You just asked two questions in a row."
Hermione looked at both parchments and blushed slightly. "Sorry, I didn't even notice. You can have two in a row."
Severus smiled and waved his hand in the air dismissively. "I don't mind, Hermione. I'll save my double question for later. But in the meantime… are you allergic to anything?"
"Actually, yes I am. I'm allergic to bees, blue cheese… and I'm not sure if it's from the actual cheese itself or from the mold…. I'm hyper-sensitive to adhesives. So band-aids and stickers are out."
"Damn! And to think, I just ordered you these exquisite new Wizarding band-aids, your very own bee hive, a blue cheese and cracker basket, and a five hundred page sticker book," he teased. Hermione laughed. "I can't imagine what it would be like being allergic to anything." At Hermione's questioning look, he continued. "I'm not allergic to anything. However, my mother was allergic to nuts, any kind. She had to check the label on everything."
Hermione watched as Severus' face turned into a smile at remembering his mother. "Do you miss her?" she asked, unthinking.
Severus kept the smile on his face with some force. "I do. She wasn't the perfect mother, no one is, but we had our good times together. She was not a very loving woman, but she was a good woman, nonetheless. I remember," he said, genuinely smiling now, "when I first figured out I was different… I was about eight or so. I was scared to tell her, but she walked outside when I was levitating a pile of leaves, and ran up to me… she scared me so badly, I whipped around and the leaves fell on her. It was absolutely hilarious. She was too busy laughing to do anything else. I was mortified, of course, and I thought she would be so angry, but she was beyond sweet about it… needless to say I was shocked that she didn't kill me. Her and my father had decided to not tell me anything about magic unless I had acquired magical powers. My father was a Muggle, and a bit controlling, and that's what he wanted to do. I always wondered how I never noticed my mother using magic… and even after I figured out I what I was, I never saw her use any. I now assume that my father would not have his wife doing anything other than the hard way." Severus' face flashed an angry expression. However, before Hermione could really register it, he went back to a happy smile. "How did your parents react?"
Hermione smiled. "They thought it was wonderful," she laughed. "They were always very supportive of me, no matter what I wanted to do. I remember a girl that lived down the street always complained that all her parents would let her do was piano lessons and nothing else. All I had to do was ask nicely at the dinner table, and they became over enthusiastic about it. For example, riding lessons. I went through a horse phase and they all but bought me a horse, and when I told them that I no longer wanted to ride, they accepted my decision very gracefully."
"But I'm sure you were always bright, Hermione," he complimented. "Not to mention I'm sure they couldn't resist those beautiful pleading eyes." He put his hand to her face and lightly brushed a curl behind her ear.
Hermione blushed. "What did you want to be when you grew up? When you were little, I mean."
"A scientist," he admitted with a chuckle. "You?"
"Well, you're close to one," she pointed out. "I wanted to be a teacher. Funny how that works out, really. Do you like teaching now? I mean, I'm sure you didn't have to stay on after…." Hermione trailed off.
Severus smiled knowingly. "You can say after Dumbledore died, unless it bothers you. It's not that I don't like teaching… there's some days that can be very rewarding and others that I wish I would have quit the moment I was no longer forced to stay. All together, I guess I do like teaching now. But like I said, I would much rather be a headmaster than a teacher… do some good for this old school. What do you do for fun?"
Hermione quirked her eyebrows slightly. "Well, I work a lot, so I don't really have time for fun… but I enjoy spending time with Harry and Ginny, reading, occasionally turning on the television and watching mindless shows. What about you?"
"I like to read, also," he agreed. "However, I don't partake in any television. I do like to walk through Diagon Alley or Hogsmeade for no reason in particular… I just like walking, I suppose." Severus opened his mouth to say something, but hesitated. Hermione noticed.
She placed her hand over his again. "Severus, you know you ask me anything, no matter what it is," she said gently.
"I know," he whispered, looking at their hands. "It's just… I don't know if I want to know. I mean, I do… but I don't at the same time. I do not want to upset you…."
Hermione placed her other hand under his chin and lifted his worried eyes to hers. "You don't have to ask, Sev, I don't want to make you uncomfortable. But if you do decide to ask, I'll be nothing but honest."
Severus leaned into her palm as she placed it on his face in a comforting gesture. "How did you do it?" he asked after a few silent moments, not breaking eye contact. "Save me, I mean…. I never asked, and no one ever told me anything other than it was you who did it."
Hermione paled a little at the memory. "Well," she said slowly, taking her hand from his face reluctantly, "after Harry had gotten your memories, they turned to leave and didn't seem to notice I was not following. I stood there for awhile… just watching you die." Tears began to well in her eyes. "Harry came back for me and we left… Harry, Ron, and I… but after only a minute in the Great Hall, I couldn't stand it. I kept seeing your face, and I realized that we hadn't really checked to see if you were dead and I just got up and ran all the way back.
"When I got to the shrieking shack, you were still there… I was surprised, actually… I figured Voldemort would have cleaned up by then." Hermione continued to stare into his clouded eyes as tears started sliding down her cheeks. "You hadn't moved an inch since we had left, and I walked over to you and kneeled down…. I placed my hand on your chest, here," she said, placing her hand on his chest. "And I felt what I feel now: a heartbeat. It was faint, but I could feel it. I don't know what came over me, but I had this need to keep you alive… I felt like I had gone mad. I pulled out my wand and started screaming every incantation and spell I knew to try and heal you, but I noticed that the wound at your neck was still bleeding heavily."
She placed her trembling hand on the scar just below his left ear, her tears flowing heavily and she looked to her hand as she spoke. "I placed the strongest protective charm I knew on my lips, mouth, and throat… I knew that I would die if it got any farther than that, but I didn't care at that moment. I leaned down, I placed my lips around the wound, and I just started sucking…. I could taste the venom in your blood… it was terrible… and I spit it out every time my mouth was too full to take anymore. Gradually the venom became less and less…. It took only a matter of a few minutes, but it felt like hours to me. I just couldn't stop. I couldn't just sit there and watch you die." She was sobbing now, her mind replaying the scene like a film. "When your blood tasted clean I enervated you and you sucked in a deep shuddering breath and I just sat there and cried for a minute before performing a disillusionment charm on both of us and I levitated you to the hospital wing….
"I just couldn't leave you," she sobbed, covering her face with her hands. "I couldn't just sit there and believe you were dead, I just couldn't."
Severus placed his hands on hers and moved them from her face. She met his dark eyes and a single tear fell from one, rolling down his cheek. "Thank you," he choked out.
He pulled her onto him, crushing her to his chest. "Thank you," he said again, closing his eyes as tears starting flowing down his face.
Hermione sobbed into his chest, wrapped securely in his arms. "I just couldn't leave you, Severus."
"Shh," he whispered, trying to hold himself together as he cradled Hermione, breathing in the scent of her hair. "I'm here now, love, I'm here…. Don't cry."
Hermione was still sobbing into his chest as he began stroking her hair, whispering comforting words in a hoarse voice. "I'm sorry," she choked out.
"No," he whispered, tears still streaming down his face. "Hermione, do not apologize…. I love you."
She buried her face into his neck as they cried together, Severus still whispering words of comfort and love, until finally her sobs turned into small shutters, and eventually into silence. They sat there for quite a long time, Hermione curled up on Severus' lap, his arms wrapped tightly around her. He almost thought she'd fallen asleep when she mumbled something into his neck.
"Repeat that, please," Severus whispered into her now-tousled hair.
"I said I love you, too," she whispered back, kissing his neck lightly. "But if you ever ask me that again, I will kill you."
Severus chuckled and squeezed her. "I will never ask again," he promised. His eyes started to sting again as he smelled her sweet-smelling hair, thinking that he may have never been able to of done this, had it not been for the brilliant woman on his lap. He took a deep breath, and vanished that from his thoughts. Hermione made a move to get up, but he tightened his arms around her. "I like you here."
Hermione smiled and settled her head on his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heart. "Do you think you could go a whole day without magic?" she asked out of nowhere.
"No," Severus answered without hesitation. "I have been using it for too long, and I honestly do not think I could go a day without it. It's too much a part of who I am."
"I agree," Hermione supplied. "I think I'd go crazy, honestly."
He chuckled. "What side of the bed do you prefer?"
She sat up a bit, looked over to the large bed in the middle of the room, and smiled at the memories that had made, and the many they would make. "Whichever side you don't want. I'm not used to sleeping in a bed with someone for more than a few months," she explained, pulling back enough to look him in the eyes.
Severus' brow furrowed slightly. "Well, as I recall you rolled off of me at sometime this morning to the left side, so I'd say you take the left, and I the right."
Hermione smiled at his serious expression. "How long have you been able to do wandless magic?"
Severus started slightly. "You noticed," he said, a bit shocked.
She smirked. "Of course. Now stop hedging and tell me."
He chuckled. "I first noticed it during my sixth year." He smiled as Hermione gasped. "I, of course, went immediately to Albus, he was teaching then, and told him. Needless to say, he was shocked. He helped me practice, because although I could perform extremely simple spells, it took almost a solid decade before I could do just about everything."
"Wandless, and silent," she reminded him.
"Yes," he chuckled again, "that wasn't too hard though. I've always been very good at non-spoken spells. Not very many people know I can do it, though. I try to keep that to myself a bit for personal reasons." Hermione's head was whirling with questions, but kept them to herself. "I remember you saying the girl down the street complained about piano lessons…. Did you, or do you, play an instrument?"
Hermione smiled. "I used to when I was in Muggle schools. I played the flute."
Severus laughed. "I can't picture you playing the flute."
She couldn't help but smile wider at his musical laugh. "No, I wasn't very good at it. What about you?"
Severus shook his head. "Never had the opportunity to do so. Although, I am quite fond of string instruments and wouldn't mind learning someday."
"Oh, I agree completely," she supplied. "I believe I'd like to learn the cello above any of the other ones. I think it makes the most beautiful sounds."
"I'd have to say I agree, love," he said, kissing her cheek softly. "Maybe one day we'll try it out." Hermione smiled. "If you could go any place in the world, where would it be?"
Hermione's eyes widened slightly. "That's an extremely difficult question," she said, thinking hard.
Severus smiled. "Well, without taking twelve hours to make pros and cons of every little city, just tell me the first place that popped into your head."
Hermione scowled at him before smiling again. "New Zealand."
He gave her an odd look. "Well that's interesting."
"Well, I've been to Australia and it was beautiful there, and ever since I was wanted to go to New Zealand to see it for some reason." Hermione looked at the clock and her eyes widened. "Oh my goodness, it's already midnight!"
Severus' face turned into a shocked expression and looked at the clock also, shaking his head slightly. "I didn't even notice…." He trailed off, looking at Hermione. She did look a bit tired. "Maybe we should go lay down," he suggested.
He was rewarded with her bright smile. "I'd love to." She glanced at the parchments. "Oh, I still have a question left!" She pondered for a moment, shifting her weight in his lap a bit. "Would you mind terribly if someday soon you, Harry, Ginny, and I had dinner together?"
Severus quirked an eyebrow. "I see you left Mr. Weasley and Miss Brown out."
Hermione couldn't help but roll her eyes. "Yes, but that's because I really don't feel like dealing with that anytime soon," she huffed.
Severus pursed his lips slightly, but decided to save it for another day. "I think that would be agreeable. I have actually been meaning to write to Mr. Potter… Harry," he said with a slight cringe, "for some time now. Why a red bow?" His eyebrow quirked with interest.
She giggled. "I just got a picture in my mind of you standing in nothing but a massive red bow… like the ones they put on top of new cars and such. It sounded good at the time."
"I thought it was absolutely adorable," he complimented. "However, I do apologize for giving you such a small bow."
Hermione gave him a very seductive look. "Oh, sweetheart, trust me… I was not disappointed…. It was a very, very large… bow." She shifted in his lap accordingly. "You still have a question left," she reminded him, laughing at the shocked look on his face from her previous statement.
Severus yawned, realizing he was more tired than he originally thought. "I think I'll save it for tomorrow," he said, smiling.
Hermione looked at him with an amused expression. "You do know that you can still ask me questions tomorrow without having to count them."
"I know," he said, running his hand along her arm, causing goosebumps to rise in his wake. "It's just the principle of the matter."
Hermione rolled her eyes and yawned, deciding to let him have his fun.
"Alright, sleepy head," he chuckled, "time for bed."
She smiled sleepily and stood, stretching. Severus eyed her as she threw her arms above her head and groaned as her muscles stretched. He stood and wrapped his arms around her from behind, leaning down just enough to nuzzle his face in her neck. She smiled to herself and placed her arms on his, which were wrapped around her midsection.
"This is nice," she whispered.
"Mmm, yes it is," he agreed wholeheartedly, closing his eyes and relishing in her petite warm body that was pressed against his and the smell of her skin. "I could get used to this."
Hermione's smile widened. "Me too," she whispered.
After a few minutes, Severus pulled away reluctantly, only to swoop down and unceremoniously lift Hermione off her feet, and into his arms. She squealed and giggled, putting her arm around his neck. He placed her on the bed and she scooted over to make room for him, pulling the covers back.
Severus stood before the bed and muttered a spell, and his pants turned into a softer material, with an elastic waistband. He then put his hands to the hem of his shirt and lifted it over his head, to reveal his muscular torso that was lined with faded scars. Hermione looked at him in surprise for a moment, clearly enjoying the view… he smiled sheepishly. He climbed into bed, pulling the covers over them.
"Turn," Severus whispered.
"Which way?" she asked, laying back more comfortably on the silky down-pillows.
Severus smiled. "To your left." Hermione looked at him questioningly, but did as he asked, turning on her side, away from him.
She let out a sigh of relief as she felt him turn and scoot up to her. He slid one arm underneath the pillows and the other around her waist, pulling her into him securely. She sighed again as she felt his toned body fit perfectly around hers, his face nuzzling into her hair, sighing contently.
Hermione brought her hand to his wrist and pulled his hand up so part of his arm rested just underneath one breast, the rest between them, and his hand splayed on her chest, her arm falling over his, holding it there. Her other hand reached up and found his. Severus smiled to himself and squeezed her lightly, lacing his fingers through hers underneath the pillow, sighing very happily. Happier than he had ever felt, he reflected to himself.
He muttered another spell and the lights went out, leaving only the alarm clock on the side table to dimly light the room. "I love you," he whispered into her sweet-smelling hair.
"And I love you, my handsome man," she whispered, her eyelids getting heavy.
"Sleep," he whispered, kissing her neck lightly.
Only seconds later, they both fell into the most restful sleep either had gotten as long as they could remember, wrapped in each others loving arms, a slight smile playing on Severus' face as a plan revolved around in his sleepy brain.
A/N: Sorry this is so long, I just couldn't help it…. Can you believe I even went back and shortened it quite a bit? Nevertheless, have no fear, there will be one more chapter and I think maybe an epilogue after that…. So, hang in there with me, and please review! I am so very happy that you have read my story, and any feedback, pleasant or not, is always appreciated. Thanks again!